Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

: those dispatches to Santa a for the old bear,” THE LITTLE CAMP. 23 know what is meant by ‘ as soon as possible, and shall consult my own convenience and comfort. This will give you some work, Lieutenant Bent, which will probably please you, as you are so so fond of galloping about the country. I will hand you some dispatches, in the morning, Which you are to carry to Santa Fe. When you have delivered them, I wish you to report, yourself under arrest, and I will prefer charges against you when I arrive at Santa Fe. You may take Sergeant Royston with you, and direct him’ to return with any dis- patches that the General may wish to send me, and to'meet me at Taos.” The young officer merely bowed, while his: commander ‘smniled grimly, and turned away to-join Captain’ Sandis.!: aa CHAPTER ITT. THE PUEBLO. Av the foot of one of the southernmost spurs 3 of t the Rocky Mountains, on an elevation which overlooked a portion of the rich valley of Taos, was encamped a small party of Ameri- cans. The party consisted of Lieutenant Charley Bent, his friend Bill Ward, and Sergeant Royston, of the dragoons. Luke Royston was a medium-sized young man, well and com- pactly built, wtth blue eyes and curling light hair. He pos- sessed a cheerful and smiling countenance, and a generous and © impulsive disposition, which was about all he Seen in this world. The evening was quite hot, and the three men, having thrown off their coats, were cooling themselves on the rich grass, under the dwarf oaks, whose scanty foliage hardly served to shield them from the burning rays of the western sun. In a little hollow, a short distance from where they were lying, was a small fire, at which a few pieces of meat were toasting, “Pears to me Charley,” said Ward, ag he raised himself to & sitting posture, “that you ain’t in much of a hurry to carry " a COMICHOOKS.COM) i