In Search of an Unknown Race — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

VAN. 221 off his shoes with a fast-beating heart, for the situation was beginning to look decidedly serious. At any moment Smith or Briggs might come out of the cabin, and— ‘‘What the blazes are you doin’ down there in the channels, Pedro—been at your old tricks of listenin’, £ spose!” exclaimed a gruff voice almost in Van’s ear; and before he could obey his first impulse—to spring into the sea—he was collared. Taken thus at a disadvantage as he stood on the narrow wooden ledge outside the rail, Van twisted and wrenched in fierce desperation, but the noise of the struggle brought Bates on deck. ‘*Give me a hand here, cap’n,” growled Van’s assail- ant, who was no other than the redoubtable Smith. ‘“«?’ve caught that there Pedro sneakin’ round the quar- ter ag’in.” Captain Bates clutched one of Van’s arms, and despite the fatter’s furious struggles he was dragged in and quickiy overpowered. ‘‘Why—what—this isn’t Pedro?” exclaimed Captain Bates. Kneeling on Yan’s chest, while Smith deftly secured his ankles with a bit of seizing stuff, Bates passed his hand over thecaptive’s face. ‘‘ Bring a deck lantern aft, one of you—d’ye hear?” ‘¢ By—the—livin’—Jingo—if—it isn't that young Bris- coe!” gasped the dwarfed sailor, as the yellow glare of the lantern was flashed in Van’s face. Captain Bates himself uttered an ejaculation of amazement, as the captive, pale but undaunted, returned the lowering gaze of the half dozen desperadoes who were crowded about him, Comichbook