Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

46 — CEDAR SWAMP; OR, WILD NAT’S BRIGADE. em > 4 CHAPTER vit. THE ASSAULT UPON THE BARN AT BLACK RUN. BEN GRAHAM was by no means a man of small importance, as one might suppose from the manner in which he was. spoken of in the letter which Nat Ernshaw had received. On the contrary, he was a man well-off in every respect, being wealthy, and, I spite of his manners,—which, as a general . matter, were by no means worthy of i itation,—was_ pos- sessed of influence among the farmers Pi lived in contiguity with Black Run. . Though suspected long since by Ernshaw with having a greater love for the British than was to be desired by an American-born citizen, yet he had nevel any reasonable amount of proof to justify him in denouncing Graham as a tory. Now, although Hunt might pe mistaken,—which was very improbable,—the predilections of the wealthy planter were about to be determined with a certainty, # When the shadow of night had fairly clouded Over all, the first of the tories made his appearance jn front of Grahams house. Each one to be admitted into the tory council was intrusted with a secret sign and Password. With these this first-comer was acquainted; go Ben, who was enjoying the night, and apparently taking his ease, sitting on his porch invited the man to take a seat, . " Soon two others made their “appearance, each giving the mysterious password. All three were directed to go to the old barn, where Ben would meet them So soon as their num- ber was complete... In the course of half an hour thirty men were congregated in the old barn, when Ben ‘ppeared, bearing a lantern, and bringing with him three more men, Jt did not take the meet- ing long to organize, for every one was in a hurry to learn what precise advantage it would be to them to be members of the tory regimen CoOmichoolk<s.com