Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

y a i] ' é \¥ 4 ba . « . > =~ s iu 4 beg « : - i wie, esr Se . ine wt « ‘ f ; é / 12 . THE WHITE HERMIT. splash. The contretemps was so sudden, and the retr?bution so just, that even in the act of falling, Captain Austen laughed aloud. The laugh was brought to a sudden termination by a rush of cold water. He released his hold of Hungry Bill, and stood up as soon as he could, and the pair stood facing each other in about three feet of cold water, two of the most ridiculous looking objects in the good colony of New York. As they stood there, a merry laugh sounded in their ears, and a boat shot out of a little sheltered cove near at hand, and passed within a few yards of them, the occupant singing a merry song, evidently reflecting upon the unfortunate predica- ‘ment of the captain. Austen turned, and saw the boat not twenty yards away. “Ha! ha! ha!’ rung out the sweet, clear voice. “The biter is bit! Remember the old proverb, mon beau capitaine.” - “The deuce!” muttered the captain. “ Bill, who is that?’ But the oracle was mute. Climbing out of the water, he sat down on the bank, looking at the boat, which lay lightly upon the surface of the lake, not moving except as the slight wind touched it. “A pair of impromptu bathers,” cried the occupant of the boat, turning her face toward the shore. “Alas, poor gentle- men! I fear you are very wet.” “Madame,” said Austen, “I shall esteem it the greatest pleasure of my life if this wetting shall give me the great honor _of your acquaintance.” _ But, unfortunately,” said the lady, “it will not do any thing of the kind. I do not propose to make myself ac- quainted with you, and I already have your name, as you see.” Austen looked hard at the boat and said nothing. A wo- man, and one evidently young, occupied the light craft. She was dressed in a garb suited to a forest life, although it was of ‘rich material. A sort of kirtle, of strong blue broadcloth, reached nearly to the knee, set out by skirts with a red border, _ which showeil below the kirtle and reached to the knee. A _ pair of Turkish trowsers were fastened at the ankle by small _silver buckles, and her feet were covered by dainty moccasins, worked with a skillful hand. Her hair was of a rich brown beeen ree» Soe tmnt oh ha eee ee comicbooks: com