Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

138 REYNOLDS’ WORKS carry off the son of the captain-general, and hold him as a hostage for the safety of the band. Nay, more, it was even calculated that an immense ransom might be obtained for his restoration. This proposal was received with en- thusiastic acclaim by the members of the band, and the women themselves welcomed it with delight. It would have been a project of sheer madness were it not for the friendly disposition of the occupants of the farm; but under those circumstances it was one which presented every chance oi being successfully carried out. ‘“ Accordingly, a little before midnight, Christoval and ten of his followers — two remaining behind as sentinels — set out upon their expedition. During their absence I re-- mained with the Catalan women in the common room of the tower, for I naturally felt anxious as to the result, and could not possibly retire to rest. IJ feared that in case of failure a pursuit might be instituted by the troops, and their arrival at the tower might promptly follow. Besides, although not entertaining the slightest affection for Don ~ Diego, — and indeed having much reason to be displeased with him, — there was nevertheless a certain friendly feeling which I experienced toward him, at all events sufficient to render me anxious for his safety. The Catalan women chatted cheerfully and merrily; they appeared to be con- fident that the enterprise would be crowned with success. And they were right. For between two and three o’clock in the morning, Christoval and his men returned with the captain-general’s son as their prisoner. He was a young man of about five and twenty, of middle height, slender, and well made. His countenance was not handsome, but might be termed prepossessing, and was invested with an air of mingled heroism and intelligence. He bore himself with a dignified hauteur, and was by no means cast down by the position in which he was placed. Ishould add, for the better understanding of what is to follow, that he was dressed in a blue frock coat, fitting tight to his person and buttoned up to the throat, plain dark trousers, and the usual Spanish shako. It appeared from what I subsequently learned © that the capture of this young officer had been effected all in a moment, with the utmost ease, and without a shot being fired or a blow struck. From information secretly given to Don Diego by the farmer himself, the aide-de-camp, being Gomicbooks (ee) mn