Beadle's Dime Novels No. 96: Little Moccasin — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

PETER SMITH. 4 28 —s » much as I can; for long stories at this time of night are hardly the thing, hey, Captain Gage ?” “Long or short, sir; suit yourself and we shall be satis- fied.” “ Weli—many years ago there was a young man living on the borders of New Hampshire, who had a great reputation through all that part of the country, for wrestling and running and leaping. Before he’ was eighteen, he had carried off two or three prizes at Montreal and Quebec against the picked men of the garrison; and once, on being pitted against a Devonshire boy, he received a kick on the shins from the horn-lipped, thick-soled shoes they wrestle with, which took - away his breath, and he was barely able: to say, “ Don’t do that again ;’ and when the fellow tried it a second time, he let fly and broke his Jeg, notwithstanding it was padded an inch thick—all which gave him such a reputation for strength and quickness, that few were willing to encounter him.” “That’s your sort !” said Charley, and the others began to Touse up and shake their heads and rub their hands. “ But What was his name, though ?” “Well, my friends, we may as well call him—let me see— Peter ; yes, Peter will ariswer our purpose for the present.” ‘“ His other name, if you please, major,” whispered Gage. “ His other name ?—oh, certainly; let us call him Smith: Peter Smith.” “Go on, if you please—” “And no more interruptions,” muttered Charley. _ “Hold your yop, Charley Frost!” yelled Hannaford, clap- -Ping his huge hand over the fellow’s mouth; shet clam !” “ Cock-a-doodle-doo!” screamed Charley, through the sprawling fingers of Hannaford. “ Who cares for you ?” “ Boys, boys!—no interruption, if you please. Go ahead, major.” “Well, Smith was never known to: seek a quarrel, nor Would he go much out of his way to avoid one. At all the raisings, and general musters, and wrestling-matches, and turkey-shootings for-a hundred miles around, he was sure to be heard of. He had come, too, of the best old revolutionary stock. His grandfather was out in the Old French War, with Amherst and Wolfe. His father fell under Stark, at the battle comicbooks.conn