The Yankee Champion — page 185: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

<= Ss 178 THE YANKEE CHAMPION. oe writhing and twisting in fierce strength, each try- ing to get upon his knees and keep the other down. Walter would have fired, but he dared not, for fear he might shoot his own friend, and knowing not what course to pursue, he stood for a moment a silent spectator of the scene. But he could not re- main idle long. He knew the aims of Ryan, and he felt it to be his duty to interfere in behalf of Luke. ‘‘Luke,’’ he cried, leaping toward the spot, “‘throw me your knife. Where } is 10?” The sound of that voice seemed to startle Silas Ryan, and he turned his head to see who had spoken. In an instant Luke saw his advantage, and disengaging his hand with a powerful effort, he seized his adversary by the throat. Then, with one mighty heave, as he gathered all his strength for the trial, he turned the villain upon his back, and a moment more he was uppermost with the right hand free. Walter saw a knife gleam suddenly in the light, and on the next instant Soper sprang to his feet, the wound he had received being but a very slight one on the thigh. ‘There, Silas Ryan,’ he uttered, ‘‘you have made | your own end. God knows ’twas no seeking of mine.’’ The villain started upon his elbow and glared wildly about him. There was a hot glow in his eyes as they rested upon Soper, and he vainly endeavored to reach the knife that was sheathed in his girdle. soon, however, he placed his hand upon his left breast, from whence was pouring a purple stream, and as a deep groan of pain escaped him, he ut- tered: ‘Luke Soper, you’ve killed me,” ‘You tried to kill me first, Silas Ryan.”’ ‘ Pas « a - dor Se - : bc ¢ : $° “-hy