The Blockade Runner — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

246 THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. They gathered around him. “ Captain Powers!” exclaimed several. “ We thought you were on board the Destroyer.” ‘“ Would I be here if I was?’ was the answer. “I am the victim of one of the most infamous conspl- racies on record. A Yankee sailor commands the De- stroyer. You can guess what his intentions are.” “Who is he ?” asked a voice that made Powers start. Captain Powell confronted him. “Who but Bentham,” said the baffled privateers- man. ‘Curse you, Powell! If it had not been for © you this itn scheme would never have been consummated.’ The speaker glared fiercely at the blockade runner. ‘So, Bob Bentham has eloped with the Destroyer, eh?’ laughed Captain Powell sardonically. “ By Jove! This is the hugest joke of the war!” — “Joke? It’s a lasting stain on the Confederate navy !” | ‘“T can’t see how the scheme was carried out.” “T was secured by Throxton and Bentham after a desperate resistance and compelled to sign an infamous order to my first officer, directing him to turn the com- mand of my steamer over to the bearer,” said Captain Powers, the last word ending with a hiss. “ Having secured the paper, I was then detained a prisoner in ~ order to give the conspirators the opportunity to put — their plot through. I effected my escape a short time ago and came straight here, only to discover that Iain too late.” “ Rather rough on you,” said Pow ell. “Rough !—but no matter. Youcan do your country a service, Ralph Powell.” COMIC OOKS oo : nat 5 ee ee .