Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRANGER. eer ee s ae down to the beach. Here, drawn up on the shining sand, was the light boat in which the Jady who called herself Perdita was seen that morning, The stranger stooped and remoyed two of the forward thwarts, so that they could Jay the patient in the boat, “You must Jeaye your comrade here, Epps,’ said the stranger. “I beg your pardon, sir, but for reasons I can not explain, I must beg of you not to go with us, but to remain where you are for the present. As soon as we have placed this noble Indian in a place of safety, Epps shall return.” “T am only grieved that you will not trust me «s well as my grate” replied the young captain. “ But let it be as you say.” “ Epps nas already gained possession. of my secret,” replied the stranger. “In what manner I need not say. He has kept that secret nobly, even in the fuce of persecution, and I regard him as my best, I had almost said my only, friend in this colony.” “ Git out,” said Epps, bashfully. “I ain't done any. thing a yit, but you just wait till I git a chance, and if I don’t help — you then I’m a sucker.” “T can trust you,” replied the old gentleman, quietly. “ You — know I trust you. At some future day, sir, perhaps I may be able to explain to you why I ama hermit in this wild region ; not now, not now.” Epps tek his place at the oars; the gentleman—for es gentleman ke undoubtedly was—took a scat in the eiern, and the boat shot out upon the tranquil surface of the take, seat- tering the myriad water-fowl before it, leaving Captain Austen standing upon the narrow belt of sand along the water's: edge, Who was this strange old man, who came like a speeter — and vanished? Why had he trusted Epps, as the girl had done? and how had the guide been able to find him so — quickly ? The boat, under the sturdy strokes of the oars in the hands of Bill Epps, passed ont of sight behind the same headland — near which he had last seen the lady, and Laurence Austen _ felt a deep feeling of loneliness come upon him, such as he- had never felt before. He was alone—alone in the deep for- est. Before him the bright water over which he could not — EOMmiclbooks.c —~- a