Beadle's Dime Novels No. 87: On the Deep — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

62 ON THE DEEP. and screeching, these wild men gathered round him, closely scrutinizing the glasses, and tapping them with their fingers. But, when the professor pulled them from his eyes, the aston- ishment of the natives knew no bounds, All started back with cries of superstitious horror, except one, who had learned a few words of English from the interpreter. He stealthily advanced, and touched the eyelids of the professor with one of his thumbs. “Funny eye,” he muttered, “ one—two: take off one eyes, oder eyes still dere. Dat queer; nebber see before |” “Why, its the simplest thing in the world, my dear friend,’ replied Quill. “I was born that way. With my double eyes, I can see objects a hundred miles off! Oh! dear me—yes " So ‘saying he sat down, put the glasses upon the ground, and quietly folded his arms. “ Mudder hab two eye, dat same way ?—and fadder ?”?— inquired the native, as he closely scrutinized, wMhout daring to touch them. ‘“ Say—speak-ee me—was dat how come wid double eye ?” “ Certainly, my dear sir—certainly !” “S’pose dese eyes you takee off, break—what den ?” “That would snap a nerye and kill me at once—it would, really !” The native’s whole countenance was now twisted into such a ludicrous expression of wonder, that Quill could scarcely refrain from laughing, The wild youth communicated the startling “truths” he had learned to his brother warriors, who then advanced, and, stooping upon their hands and knees, began to scrutinize the wonderful glass eyes lying upon the ground. This was exactly what the professor desired : there was now an opportunity for the occupants of the cave to escape. Nor were they slow to take advantage of it. They cautiously glided-from the cave, their feet making no noise upon the soft damp earth, and struck into a path bordered by thick clumps of shrubbery. The noise made by the brushing of their garments against the leaves and branches, was un- heard by the natives amid the tumult of their excited voices ; and the party were soon many hundreds of yards from the rock. | ~ comilcbooks.com