The Island Bride — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

rr CAPTAIN BUNT’S SUSPICIONS brought out the remark. I don’t take anybody aboard my ship that sails under false colors !” x “ Disguises! False colors!” stammered the parson. “YT don’t understand you.” a “ You don't know that some convicts lately escaped from a transport, eli !—don’t ye? You don’t know that, don’t ye? - Ay, ay, sartainly not !” And the captain thrust both hands beneath his sdltbibea Ras and eyed the parson narrowly. “You are right,” answered the latter, “we have heard nothing about it.” “Right! I know I'm right!’ cried Bunt, “which means that you know every thing about it. If you and the others ain’t them convicts, then ?m no judge of human natur’ [”’ “Qh, dear! dear!’ screamed Miss Trundle, “the idea of our being taken for convicts! it’s an insult—an insult to me, and { call upon somebody for protection {” “Captain Bunt!” exclaimed the first officer, stepping for- ward, “I think you @re mistaken. IfI remember right, they were men—there wasn’t any woman in the case—who escaped from the transport.” “Ay, ay, Mr. Spike, I know that,” replied.the skipper ; “ the transport’s captain spoke plain enough to be understood, seeing as we wasn’t more, than ten fathoms apart when his ship cross: ed our wake; but how d’ye know, how do J know, that this — s a woman oD he added, pointing to Miss Trundle. “I never saw sich a rig as that before on one of t’other sex: blow me, if I don’t feel quite sartain that it’s a man in disguise!” _ “Hear him!” shrieked the spinster ; “ oh, dear! oh, dear!” what an insult! Won't somebody scratch his face? Won't somebody tear his eyes out ?” * She’s a woman,” said the mate, after he had scrutinized her — fcr some time, “ ay, ay, she’s @ woman, Captain Bunt !” “Thank ye, Spike,” said the shipper, “I wouldn't a’ blieyed it if you hadn’t said so; but I have parfect faith in your judgment, seeing aa you've had some exper icnce Witt them that wears gowns.” The story of the shipwreck, the rescue, ete., etc., was then — related by the parson, and listened to by Bunt with indiffer. ence if not with contempt. CORNICOOOKSnCOMi), \