A Silver Brand — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

150 | A SILVER BRAND. and I promise to send you word the first hint of intelli rence that comes to us.”’ : The poor old grandmother turned obediently to the boat, “T’ll do as he says, itis all Icando. You may row us home again, Luke,” she said, mournfully. “And try to keep up a good heart. Believe me every- thing shall be done that can be,” repeated Nat. “What makes you so interested, sir?” demanded Theo- dosia, suspiciously. ‘“ What are these girls to you?” “They are my dear little friends. I loved them both,” returned Nat, with dignity, ‘‘and I will do my best to save them if they are in danger, or to ascertain what fate has ‘overtaken them. And every moment is precious, and we waste them here in idle recrimination. I am going over to the town at once.” | Paul and Urban Foss had been conversing together in low tones. The latter advanced again. “T will accompany you if you have no objection, Mr. ‘Nathaniel. As you say, the search for one is the same as _ the search for the other. This Serena, I understand, taught school over yonder, and is therefore compara- tively well known, while our niece, of course, is a perfect stranger off of the island. Would it not be well then to give prominence to Serena’s name and description? We shall offer a liberal reward, of course, as much and more indeed than our means warrant. But let it be offered for the recovery of the schoolmistress and her friend. Your own purse, I judge, will hardly warrant much outlay. Let our reward go for the pair.” : : Nat nodded his silent acquiescence. “The manis a brute who wants a reward for such a deed,” quoth a _ grizzly-headed old fisherman standing near. “Them two pretty creatures I’ve- watched ’em often, walking below on the beach, and times enough I’ve said ‘another such handsome pair wasn’t to be found in the country.’ We’ll find ’em, Mr. Nathaniel. Yes, Mr. Foss we'll find ’em without any reward. But it does beat all natur that we hain’t the first idea what become of ’em.” One of the speaker’s neighbors here crowded forward. “T’ve been turning over something in my mind, sirs,” said he, “mebbe you’ll make something out of it, and mebbe you won’t. But that ’ere strange sailor that came this week, and hired to go fishing with me, was asking lots of questions about Miss Lina, and he was always a speer- ing round up the path to Rock House. I don’t know as he’s a thing to do with this ugly business, but I can’t find Gomicbooks |;cO