Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

84 BONNY JEAN. ‘knocked the ashes from it against a railing near by, expecto- rating freely meanwhile. : ‘‘If he keeps that up long,” muttered Lester, to himself, ‘* he'll have the lake over the deck, I’m afraid. Queer old cus- tomer, if ever there was One.” ‘“No, sir,” the captain went on, slowly and deliberately. ‘‘I ain't much of a hand to go up yonder. ‘That thar allus was a tight place ever since La Fitte had a rendezvous on its banks. Any way, this is my last trip over the lake fora longspell. I’m goin’ to build a vessel myself, and sha’n’t git out on the water agin till she’s done. Hope your trip's been a pleasant one, Mr. Lester ?” Harry Lester tossed his burned-out cigar overboard with a little sigh. ‘‘It has, indeed,” he returned. ‘‘ You see we city chaps get tired to death, sometimes, of the noise and confusion, and long to escape from it all fora short time. My profession is such (I believe I told you, Captain Piper, that Iam an actor?) that I get used up entirely before the end of the theatrical season ; and when the theater closes for the summer I’m at a loss for a quiet place to pass my vacation. Don’t want any bustle or gayety, you know, for it’s res¢ that I need, and especially thissummer, when I was working on my own drama. That was how I came to take a trip on the Mayblossom, and I must say I have enjoyed roughing itimmensely. Halloa, captain! what’s that?” For, clearly and distinctly over the water, came a shrill, musical call, rising and falling upon the breeze like a plaintive wail. Captain Piper laid his pipe aside, and sprang to his feet, = Ahunderation !” he shouted, his ruddy face growing fear- fully pale, ‘‘ we're in for bad luck this trip! That ain’t no vessel around, Lester, or we'd see their lights ; so it must be a—a”—_ the old man’s voice shook audibly—‘‘a speerit |” Lester laughed aloud. “Spirit or not, I’m going to answerit !” he cried : and before (E(0) Eomicbooks