Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

. ay al times, one, a long stop, two, three, quick, then you kin know that ['m in danger. If I give it once, wait long enough to count three, and give it again, then that means I want Capt’in Larry. If you git it once alone, follered by the scream of the panther, that means danger for you. So lay low and keep dark, and let this coon work /” Bill prepared himself in his own way. He stripped off all _ superfluous clothing, wearing only his greasy buck-skin trow- sers and a calico undershirt, with a belt about his waist, into which he thrust his knife upon one side, and the dagger of Austen upon the other. His rifie he left upon the floor of the = room, and was about to go out, when a thought seemed te strike him. _ “ Let no man undertake any sech work as this on an empty stomach. Id hate to die hungry,” he said. “ Ain't you gota bite of something handy ?”’ : “Ruling passion strong in death,” said Austen, laughing. “You see in this the strength and weakness of Bill Epps. ye About to go out on a heroic undertaking, he tarns back to satisfy the cravings of an unnatural appetite.” “ He needs it, I am sure,” said Perdita. “This critter is pooty hungry,” was the pathetic reply. “Most gone, Bill Epps is.” “And yet he devoured nearly a pound of venison steaks and bread in proportionate quantities not half an hour ago,” said Austen. “There, get him something to eat, the humbug. I believe he’ll turn cannibal some of these days.” _“ What's a kannible?”’ demanded Bill. __“ An eater of human flesh.” z “Then that ain’t nothin’,’ rejoined Bill. “I’m a kannible already, ef that’s all. I'll tell you how I cum to be one.” . _ “If you begin in that strain now, we shall be bad friends, = Bill Epps,” said the captain. “Get him something to eat quickly, Miss Perdita, and stop his mouth, or he will be telling _ some of his disgusting stories about eating snakes and toads, 2 ow ae wy . - “ a te Beat o Peres TEA = F “ Now ain't he got an awful temper, miss? I leaveit to e you. Did you ever hear tell of such a chap ?” . “3 Perdita laughed, and set before the speaker a plentiful sup- ae ply of venison steaks and corn bread, the staple food in that 2 - ; 4 — ee ty | Comicbooks:com + fe Ses