Beadle's Dime Novels No. 127: Bald Eagle — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

SANCTIMONY. 71 prisoner, and only outraged at the rude manner in which her poor garments were searched in quest of what she might be Supposed to carry. When deprived of his own dispatches, he saw that his whole mission was at an end. No sooner did he see the body of poor Dora decently dis- posed than he mounted his horse, and attempted coolly to go on his way, assuming at once the aspect of a clergyman. Slightly relaxing his muscles, and drawing his hair down upon his temples, the goodly youth wore an aspect so sancti- monious, as might well lead his captors to doubt his identity. “Here, where are you going ?” demanded a soldier, who had watched his movements with some scrutiny. , “Even as the Apostle Philip exhorted and instructed the Eunuch riding in a chariot, what hinders that we should here turn aside and worship ?” “No, no, you young hypocrite, didn’t we catch a sight of you tearing along the road as if Satan were in pursuit of his own? Besides, we have a bone to pick with you; so dis- mount and wait further orders.” “The Lord forgive you, ye sons of Belial; if I rode in a manner unsuited to a messenger of the Lord, know that these are times when even we are commanded to gird on carnal Weapons, to subdue the flesh, and be instant in service. If ye found carnal writings upon my body, of which ye have despoiled me, am I responsible for the doings of those who may have converted a vessel of the Lord to ungodly pur- poses ?” “Ha, ha!’ cried the soldier, dropping the reins of his horse. “So young a head to carry such a withered-up heart ;” and, intent to carry the Intercepted Dispatches speedily as possible down to New York, they wheeled about, thinking time of more value than even the punishment of a foe. “ Look here, you spooncy of a man, look here; these will do the job for you. Go back and tell him that sent you, we are ready for him. Yes, go; you can return with the joyful tidings! Ha, ha!” With this he held up the Dispatches, with the signature of Washington. ‘ - By this time the men put spurs to their horses, and Mon- tagnie, looking after them till out of sight, did the same, Comiclbooks.conm