The Island Bride — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

THE TRUTH ABOUT IT. 89 Whether they are crazy, drunk or sober, it is our duty to pick — Ke ‘em up; so man the boat, Mr. Dumps, and go after ’em.” The boat lying alongside was soon ready to stort. About an hour after, the parson and Miss Trandle, stood upon the quarter-deck—the former giving a graphic account of the shipwreck, of the reseue by Harmon Weldon, and of other incidents with which the reader is familiar. “ There!” cried the captain, bringing his fist down upor the capstan, with great force, when the narrator had con- cluded, “all this proves the story of them three men to bea confounded lie. Ay, ay,” he added, solemnly, “I think I see how itis: them three are the escaped convicts, after all. They swum to the island, they kept hid until Weldon and his wife were left by themselves and then murdered one or both of ’em.” “ Ob, dear! how shocking !” cried Miss Trundle; “ this matter ought to be investigated; it must be investigated! I shall certainly work myself into a fever unless it is.” “ As soon as a breeze springs up,” said the captain, “ I shall work the craft toward the island, and go ashore with Mr. Dumps.” “ And I will accompany you,” said the parson, rubbing his hands, “ most gladly will I accompany you.” “ Well,” said Dumps, “ the first question is, what shall we do with them three convicts ?” “Tt is our duty to make prisoners of ’em,” promptly re- plied the captain, “they must be handcuffed and confined in | the run.” “These had better be stowed in the cabin,” whispered Dumps, motioning with his head toward the parson and Miss Trundle; “they'll be in the way in case we have a fight with jigm chaps, who are sart’inly desp’rit-looking customers.” “There won't be much fighting,” answered the skipper ; “at aay rate, 1 don’t think so. ell provide ourselves with our revolvers, which I think will soon bring the rascals to terms. The first thing to do is to h’ist up that boat. While you are superintending that work, I'll conduct these two people into the cabin, and when I return to the deck, Pll bring up your pistols and mine too. The steward will come rext, with the handouts.” | scitticioat | * a