The Island Bride — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

RAFT, AHOY. worn by the convict Wilkes, who stood near the edge of the :. raft. 5S She pounced upon the parson and tremblingly leaned sania 3 a ; him while she pointed toward the raft. — “That's it !” she gasped, “ the brown cap ; the same one that | I saw upon the island.” . “ Are you sure ?” “ Yes, indeed ; I couldn’t mistake the shape of that cap! Yd know it from a thousand. Oh, dear! oh, dear !” The convict Wiikes heard every word she said. “ Boys,” ne whispered, “ there’s one of ’em tht will be the means of ‘ spotting ’ us, seeing as it seems she spied my cap while 1 was— “Ay, ay,’ interrupted Clark, “ and so it ’ud be mighty in- convenient to have her on board the same ship withus. The best thing we can do is to get hold o’ that boat, put off for the vessel ahead of us, and when aboard tell the captain, if he asks about these two ‘ queer-looking fish, which we'll put up- on the raft—that they’re bound for the island and don’t wan't to ve picked up, which I thinks be really the case.” This proposal was received with approbation. | As soon as the raft was alongside of the boat, the convicts — sprung iuto the latter, and ordered Miss Trundle and the par- gon to step upon the floating platform of spars. “Verily, this is our raft !’ said Trust ; “ you must have come from the very island we are seeking, my friends; but why do you wish us to leave this boat, which certatnly is not aes: property ?” - “We have no time to answer questions !” roared Clark. * Jump upon the raft, both of ye, if you don’t want your heads broken !” “Qh, dear! oh, dear!” screamed Miss Trundle, “ was ever there a lady so persecuted asI am! Parson Trust, I call upon you for protection from these godless men! There’s a certain expression in their eyes as they look at me that fairly makes me shudder! They wish-to insult me! I know they — do! I know it well; but they shan’t tear me from you, par son; no, no, I will cling to you through every thing!) % Away ye go, on the raft!” cried Wilkes, drawing his cata “away you go if you don’t want to be food for the “sharks!” COnnicbooks.co / ~