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Article THE WRECKER. ← Page 9 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wrecker.
" A stone might do it , " said a third . " Yes , in a hand ! " remarked a fourth— " or a hammer , " he added . "Tis more like the blunt end of an axe ! " observed he that hail spoken first . A chill ran through the veins ofthe Wrecker . For the moment he was bereft ofthe power of speech or motion . The speaker
continued" I'd swear to it ! " he said . " Tis the blunt end of an axe , or ' tis nothing . Here is the edge all round as plain as the palm of my hand Put your fingers here , " he cried , addressing his neighbour , " do you feel ? I would not be Black Norris for all that the whole of you have got by this day ' s work !" " Why ? " roared Black Norris , making a desperate effort , and advancing to the foot of the table . "Why ? " echoed the other ; " why , who was it that stove your father ' s forehead in ?"
"No one " replied the Wrecker . "You lie ! " rejoined the man ; "it was yourself !" Scarce had he spoken , when the hands of Black Norris were at his throat . "Say that again , and I'll tear your tongue out ! " vociferated the Wrecker .
" I'll say it and swear it ! " persisted the other , though gasping in the Wrecker ' s herculean gripe . " Let him go ! " cried several altogether . The Wrecker paid no heed to them . Three or four of the strongest and the boldest rushed together upon Mm , overpowered Mm , and rescued the almost suffocating man . The Wrecker drew his knife and brandished it . They rushed
npon him again , and wrenched it from his hand . His wife now ran towards him and sank before him , with one hand clasping him round the knees , while with the other she supported her infant . A blow—and wife and child were stretched upon the floor ! For a second or two the Wrecker stood glaring round the apartment like an infuriate demon . ' then suddenly vanished into the other room . He searched here and
there for sometMng , uttering the most savage imprecations every time he was disappointed in finding what he wanted . At last he laid his hand upon a pistol , then upon its fellow , and presently he found a pouch filled with bullets , and a powder-horn . He leisurel y loaded and primed the weapons , and proceeding to the door with one in each hand , advanced a stride into the outer apartment .
" Now ! " roared he , " who is the man to come on ?" A wild , shrill , piercing laugh , was the reply to Ms challenge . The maniac was standing at the head ofthe table ; the Wrecker ' s axe was in her hand , the blunt end resting on the forehead of the corpse . " Ha ! ha ! " she cried exultingly , " Welcome , Black Norris ! wel-VOL . i . So
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Wrecker.
" A stone might do it , " said a third . " Yes , in a hand ! " remarked a fourth— " or a hammer , " he added . "Tis more like the blunt end of an axe ! " observed he that hail spoken first . A chill ran through the veins ofthe Wrecker . For the moment he was bereft ofthe power of speech or motion . The speaker
continued" I'd swear to it ! " he said . " Tis the blunt end of an axe , or ' tis nothing . Here is the edge all round as plain as the palm of my hand Put your fingers here , " he cried , addressing his neighbour , " do you feel ? I would not be Black Norris for all that the whole of you have got by this day ' s work !" " Why ? " roared Black Norris , making a desperate effort , and advancing to the foot of the table . "Why ? " echoed the other ; " why , who was it that stove your father ' s forehead in ?"
"No one " replied the Wrecker . "You lie ! " rejoined the man ; "it was yourself !" Scarce had he spoken , when the hands of Black Norris were at his throat . "Say that again , and I'll tear your tongue out ! " vociferated the Wrecker .
" I'll say it and swear it ! " persisted the other , though gasping in the Wrecker ' s herculean gripe . " Let him go ! " cried several altogether . The Wrecker paid no heed to them . Three or four of the strongest and the boldest rushed together upon Mm , overpowered Mm , and rescued the almost suffocating man . The Wrecker drew his knife and brandished it . They rushed
npon him again , and wrenched it from his hand . His wife now ran towards him and sank before him , with one hand clasping him round the knees , while with the other she supported her infant . A blow—and wife and child were stretched upon the floor ! For a second or two the Wrecker stood glaring round the apartment like an infuriate demon . ' then suddenly vanished into the other room . He searched here and
there for sometMng , uttering the most savage imprecations every time he was disappointed in finding what he wanted . At last he laid his hand upon a pistol , then upon its fellow , and presently he found a pouch filled with bullets , and a powder-horn . He leisurel y loaded and primed the weapons , and proceeding to the door with one in each hand , advanced a stride into the outer apartment .
" Now ! " roared he , " who is the man to come on ?" A wild , shrill , piercing laugh , was the reply to Ms challenge . The maniac was standing at the head ofthe table ; the Wrecker ' s axe was in her hand , the blunt end resting on the forehead of the corpse . " Ha ! ha ! " she cried exultingly , " Welcome , Black Norris ! wel-VOL . i . So