Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

122 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. upon him. He smiled feebly like a child; he had no longer the strength to speak. Minerva had given directions. to be driven immediately to the pier. The captain stood in readiness, the usual formalities were hurried through, and in a short time the,poor invalid lay on a bed of down, surrounded by careful friends and the best ~ of nurses. A skillful doctor pronounced his case one of slow starvation and complete inanition, giving it as is opinion that a year’s time would scarcely complete the process of restora- tion, so entirely had all his faculties succumbed. “And I think if you had delayed till to-morrow,” he added, “he would not have been alive, the light was so far spent.” Minerva listened in silent gratitude; she had no words, but thankful tears. cComiclooks.corn