Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

56 BLACK ARROW, TIE AVENGER. than a whole world full of knives. You are mine now, lady-" bird. Come to me!’ _ As he advanced with outstretched arms, Rose’ Landry be- fieved that the time had come to try her courage and het weapon. She started up, drew the bowic-knife, and flashed the bright blade before his eyes. “Stand back!” she exclaimed. “Don't come a step nearer, or I will drive this knife into your heart!" St. Clair let his hands fall at his sides, and’ burst into a roar of laughter. “ Mighty good tragedy airs!” he said, mockingly. “ ‘Never saw them beat at-Orleans. It's ‘a pity to show them for noth- ing. I that you had my knife, lady-bird, and thought I could make you show it. ‘Will you give it to me, or wil! you make me take it away from you?” ©” - Rose still brandished the bowie threateningly, and bade him advance at his peril. With a mocking smile St. Clair slowly ndvanced , keeping his eyes fastened upon hers. Rose struck at him viciously when he came within reach; but he easily avoided the blow, and the next instant he seized her hand, and wrenched the knife from her grasp. She sunk upon her couch, ‘and burst into tears of grief over this new defeat. “Thank you, lady-bird !” said St. Clair, “ Hope I’ haven't hurt you. I can’t allow children to meddle with edged tools. Let me see what you have heen doing with the knife. Ha! there is dirt on the blade and onthe handle. Three to one you have been digging with it. This must be looked into.” ‘He rummaged about the room, and soon found the hole that Rose had dug and carefully concealed. He pulled away the blanket, and laughed as he looked ‘at it. '“T reckon it’s no laughing matter to you, lady-bird,” he said. “It is a pity that those sweet white hands should have been working so hard in that rough dirt, and all for nothing. Perhaps a man might dig his way out of there ina week: but it would be a poor paying business for you, lady-bird.” Rose made no reply, and St. Clair soon went away, after explaining that he had but a few minutes to stop, as he was very busy ; but that he would soon take her to Galveston, where he would be withr her ai} the'time. 9 | ~ conmmcloooks.conm