At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

7 . ‘e “a Ne Oe a . SS i i Sed ee TY aa nd * ea “ve, “ - —_ 4 UF 4 i tS Pm -. > 2... - : . oe . : a rs oe - : = - ; - 80 AT A GIRLS MERCY. blew down, and the boat drifted, drifted, drifted, rocking like a child’s plaything on the waves, now turned to the left, now swung to the right by a sud- den sweep of the tide, and then—— © Crus-s-sh, grate-grate! They had struck a sand bar or a pebbly bank out in the water, and they dared not venture to push, the boat off, for the noise would attract attention, and the gunboat was so near they could almost see the flashing of the sentinel’s arms. Could it be that they had escapéd so far only to fall into the hands of the Confederacy after all? Could the God who had kept them so far have deserted them at this time of need? Was the end to be death after all? Jim leaned forward, and laid his hand over Lola’s as she sat quite steady and still, the other women around her in an ecstasy of terror. ‘‘Dere ain’ nothin’ we kin do, honey,”’’ he said, his lips against her ear. ‘‘De end ob it es ter be de’th; *tain’t no use a-tryin’. - But I sw’ar,’’ his hand closed _ over hers till she winced with the pain, “‘I sw’ar yo’ doan’ fall inter dere han’s. No, sah! Wekin use dis ef de wuss do cum!’’ She felt the touch of cold steel against her throat and a long, half sobbing shiver ran through her. It was to be death after all, though she had hoped God heard her prayer. God, up in His high heaven, and she a fugitive slave! Then the calm of utter despair again fell upon her, and she lifted her face bravely to his. “De good Lawd has kep’ us so far, Jim,’’ she said, ‘‘let us Jes’ trus’ Him de res’ ob de way. We all lie right down in de bottom ob de boat an’ pray de Lawd ter help us de res’ ob de way. ’Tain’ no use f comichooks.com