Beadle's Dime Novels No. 95 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

80 EPH PETERS. “ He was talking with General Lyman about half. an hour ~ ago, down by his quarters. Let us walk down and see.” They walked down together, and inquired for the person in question. An officer, lounging in front of the quarters, said that Peters was in the hut, and went in to call him out. He appeared in a moment—a green, uncouth man, who had evidently never seen any other soil than that of the Colonies. He held in one hand a huge piece of bread, and in the other © a slice of bacon, of which he was disposing, with equal impar- tiality to both. He greeted the two officers with a nod, but without: pausing in his agreeable employment. | : “ You are busy, Eph,” said Putnam. | “ Rayther,” said Eph. “ You are wanted, Eph; come to my scare” said Ronald. He followed without a word, and went. into the tent, still engaged upon the bread and bacon, which was rapidly van- ishing under his terrific assaults. As the last huge mouthful disappeared, Eph licked his lips, as if to make sure that no morsel of the luscious viands should escape hin, gave a great sigh of satisfaction, and nese / “ Drive on, durn you.” Eph Peters, green-looking and uncouth rome 4 he was, was known in the border war as one of the best scouts and spies in that section. He had repeatedly ventured into the camp of the enemy in disguise, and brought away valuable infor- mation for the British Generals. He was a regularly enlisted man in the company of Ronald, but was allowed to come and go at his pleasure, in consideration of the information he was sure to bring in on his return. Ronald, knowing his man, waited patiently until he had disposed of the food in his hands, wiped his bushy red beard, and proclaimed himself ready to listen to whateyer his su- perior might be disposed to say. asad” “You haven’t done any thing lately, Eph ?” “Sp’iling, cappen ; raaly, neow, I am.” “Tam going to set you to work,” “Dew tell! Youain’t! That’s the best news I’ve hern sence I was a baby. Why, dot rot it, what dew yew think a feller is made of, to lay around in this way? ’Tain’t natur’, cappen.” commicbooks.com