Beadle's New Dime Novels: The Specter Chief — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

THE PHANTOM CHiEF 41 ; « Rouse the men, Ovlonel! treachery—1 rifle—for God's sake, quick!" Colonel Victor was already engaged in awakening some of the crew, as hi had perceived the situation of the boat ‘to be such as required prompt action. Snatching a couple of guns from a place where the rifles had, for convenience, been collected on the approach of night, he hurried to the Ranger, whose judgment getting the better of his wrath) at what he had seen, had prompted him to seize the helm ! . . The fact was that he had not looked closely enough at what he took for the form of the suppose convert. Tuoat Andividual had pr fited by the sleep of the erew, and the abstraction of the Colonel and Butler, to dispose of his garments in such a manner as to resemble a human figure lying with the limbs drawn up and the head covered; and he had stealthily crept along the shadowed part of the beat to the back of the cabin, where, watching a suitable moment, he plunged his knife with good aim into the heart of Watson, covering his mouth to prevent éxclimation. Then seizing the oar, he gave those vigorous impulses : which brought Butler to the place. , The peril of the boat will be at once appreciated by the - _-Feader, when he understands the details of the locdiity in”. _ which she was floating. She hal been kept consider- — = - ably within (i.e. to the left of) the middle line of the - Yiver, and had reached a point where the main land runs out into a broad and rounled promontory, around which the stream sweeps southward by a sudden bend. Just 4 beyond the turn was an island lying near the Virginia __ shore, a strong current setting in between the two, The ; _ boat had been so guided, that unless she were instantly brought about and good way obtained, she mast ra: on a the of the island. In the fresh seasons, the flouing ‘umber and brush, then much more abundant than at tine : ‘present day, were thrown up against the upp re! of = 2 the island, and rendered it difficult for.a boat once ce $e gled to be set adrift, the embarrassments of thecrew being og a. by the force of the stream. At-the geet oF ee = . a ae ~ eo : — te xs <« “2 anil an, ~