The Mission of Poubalov — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

210 HIDE AND SEEK. tion, that Patterson was still but a short distance ahead, With painful anxiety, however, he saw that Patter- son was making for the ferry, before which a rapidly increasing line of vehicles stood waiting for a chance to cross. Mike whipped up energetically, and aged to beat several drays and express wagons on the way in, and when at last he had to pull up and take his place in line, Patterson’s was the carriage directly in front of him, ‘Smart, ain’t ye, ye loafer!’’ said Mike, disdainfully. Patterson did not notice this remark, or any other the many with which Mike assailed him while they waited for an incoming boat to discharge its cargo. When at length the gates were opened for the waiting vehicles, Mike was on the alert to take advantage of any opening that might occur to enable him to forge ahead, but none occurred. Pi Policemen and ferry officials kept the teams to their places, and if Mike had attempted a trick, he would have been compelled to go back, and thus lose more than could have gained. One by one the carriages and wagons went on board, and just after Patterson had passed the barrier the gates’ were closed. ag ‘‘Hold on there!’’ howled Mike, beside himself with disappointment and rage, ‘‘don’t yees see I’ve got to get aboard?’’ The gateman laughed and told him to make himself easy; and Patterson, from his place at the very stern of the ferryboat, stood up in his seat and beckoned to Mike ironically. 4 The unhappy chap fumed in vain and got down to tell Clara about it. a ‘*We’re shook, miss, shook entirely,’’ he said despond- ently. a When Cara understood the unfortunate meaning of his words, and saw that Poubalov had won in another skir- mish, she herself was in a quandary. comicbooks.com