The Island Bride — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

BILL. CHOKE. 6) “ You /” exclaimed the young sailor; much surprised, “I overheard you say—” “ Ay, ay,” interrupted Bill “ you heard me. speak to them other two as if I was willing to side in with their plans. But it was only done, upon my word—though p’raps you think — the word of a convict don’t amount to much—in order to blind ’em so that I might help you and yours. I have com- nitted crimes, in my time,” he added, “t but. murder was never mong ’em. The crimes I have been guilty of, dye see, was caused by my being led into temptation by them that was older than me and ought to have known better. Still; ?m far from being a good man, and I knows it, though I may get reformed after a while. Certain it is, hows’ever, that I haven’t the heart to disturb a couple like you, and am determined to help you out of your scrape; and in order that you may know I ain’t deceivin’ you, I will begin by giving you this.” And taking Wilkes’ pistol from his pocket, he presented it to the young man. “Tt’s loaded and capped,” he remarked, “and with that in your possession you are master,of the island.” : “Thank you! thank you cried Harmon. “I certainlp can no longer doubt your good faith. But, how did you con- trive to get hold of this weapon ?” “T took it from the pocket of one of my companions Both are asleep in the hut nearest to the lake.” “T will go at once and order them off the island!” cried Harmon. “TI will force them to take to the raft.” “Wait a minute,” said Bill— wait till I have crawled back to the hut and laid down. I don’t want my comrades to think that I’ve had any hand in this bizness.” Weldon eyed the man suspiciously. “1am at a loss to- ynderstand this!” he exclaimed. “If you are as anxious to help me as you have declared, why do you—” “I know what you would say,” interrupted Bill. “ But you wrong me by your ‘ suspiciousness ? upon my word you” do. My reason for not wishing them other two to know what I’ve been about is, that if they did they’d certainly pitch upon me and murder me after we got aboard the raft.” | “ Why not remain on the island? You need not bein a hurry to quit it. We will probably see a sail before long—-” | commicboolks.conn