The Blockade Runner — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLOCKADE RUNNER. D0 times dat him got his eye on de young missus; but mebbe you’se got de best claim dar, an’ so him got no show—yah! yah!” Jupe’s last sentence set Bentham to thinking. He knew nothing of this Captain Powers who was to command the new privateer almost ready to sail. It might be true, as the negro hinted, that he had a rival for Norah’s hand; but what kind of a iad man was he, and was he ae a rival ? “ Look hyer. Massa Bob, I didn’t stop you to set you tinkin’ dat way,” resumed the negro, breaking in upon the young man’s meditations. “If you’se goin’ to leave Wilmington dar’s no time to be lost, fo’ dar’s no tellin’ who dat eavesdroppin’ nigger’s carried his news to. He tinks de world ob Cap’n Powers, b’lieves jes’ what he b’lieves, an’ is allus huntin’ fo’ some way to serve him. I[ don’t trust dat nigger, Massa Bob. [| hates de new flag, but Tom him likes it. He tole me so himself.” Bentham heard the darky through. It might be that he was in danger. What was to be done $ He was forced to put this appeal to Jupe, whom he knew could be trusted. The answer was not delayed. “You must git to de Yankee fleet!” said Jupe. “ De storm am about ober, an’ de ships will soon be comin’ back to de ole stations. Dse watched ’em so long dat I know just whar dey will be. What’s de use ob stayin’ hyer a minute longer dan you can help, Massa Bob? Tom, de mean nigger, knows jes’ whar to find Cap’n Powers, an’——” “We will go,” said Bentham, unconsciously speaking his resolves aloud. “I long to train some loyal cannon comilcloolks (©) =}