The Island Bride — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

IN A QUANDARY. | 69 L “* The sooner you leave this island, the better,” said Harmon, pointing his weapon toward them. “ Well, blast me!” cried Wilkes, recoiling, “ if it isn’t that young lubber with his wife. He has stolen a march on us] I hadn't any suspicions of his being armed, though,’ he added, as he felt in his pocket for his pistol. His astonishment may be imagined when he discovered that it was gone. “ Leave the island at once, I say, or you are dead met 2” sei? Harmon, sternly. “ The raft is ready for you, alongsale of the beach !” “ We'd better go,” suggested Bill Choke—* seeing as we haven't any arms to resist with.” “What! three men run away from one!’ cried Wilkes; “that goes mightily against my conscience. We've got to die some time, and may as well die first’ as last; that’s logic !” “ Ay, ay !” cried Clark, “ that’s always your way of talking, and at the same time you're never in a hurry to act up accord- ing to it. If youll take my advice,” he added, drawing his knife, “ the whole three of us will make a rush at this young- ster. Its likely one or perhaps two will drop when he fires, but—” “ Ay, ay, p’r’aps three !” cried Bill Choke. Clark uttered a contemptuous grunt and thrust his knife ‘nto his belt. “Tm not anxious to do any thing unless I’m backed,” said he. “ What d’ye say, men—-will you help me, or will you not?” he added, turning to his companions. “To throw ourselves upon a loaded. pistol,” said Choke, ‘would be acting like madmen; that’s my way of think- ing.” “ And, though I believe that we may all as well die [%t as gat,” cried Wilkes, “T ain’t in favor of anybody’s dying for nothin,’ which would be the case if we ‘ attackled’ the young ster under present circumstances.” “Tf yon don’t leave in another minute, I shall fire,” said Harmon. “ Your best policy, if youll take my advice, is to go at once.” “You've got the better of us this time,” ~ growled Wilkes, “but if we ever get you into our clutches— “I care not to bandy words with a man of your stamp,” in- > comicbooksie coms