Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

80 BLACKEYRES. the three Americans. They perceived that the forms which they had dimly seen seated against the walls were long-haired and dark-featured Indians, dregsssed in short breeches and woolen jackets, and armed with short, heavy swords, like matchetes, In one corner stood @ vailed woman, dressed in black, and in another was seated the girl who had just de- scended the ladder. She, also, was attired in dark colors, picked out with dainty ribbons and bits of lace’ From under her short dress peeped one delicate foot, like a-young chicken pecring at the world beneath the shadow of its mother’s wing, and one of her bright black eyes, hardly hidden by the fanci- ful folds of her reboso, easily outshone the feeble glimmer of the candles. In the middleof'the room was a long table, and on the walls were hung ' Gatholic pictures of the Virgin, and of saints, strangely mingled. with uncouth figures of earthen ware, Which looked much like the idols of the ancient Aztecs. There was no other’ visible furniture of the room, except « few benches and chairs. Moar s nile Padre. Abrojo furnished - the Americans with ‘seats, and politely offered to relieve them of their weapons. Bent and’ Royston quietly gave up their. rifles, but Bill Ward ob- jected to. this procedure, and was only induced by the persuasions of his companions to yield up his faithful weapon. eeagE | ets 8 ; The rifles were taken into another room, from! which some supper was brought out and placed’ on the table, and the thiee: friends were invited to draw up their chairs and eat. They’ willingly complied, and partook of their tortillas and coffee in silence, as the Mexicans showed no disposition to converse. | When they had finished,the padre took @ candle and requested then to follow him to their sleeping apartment. Heed them through a door in the side of the room, which they had not previously noticed, and-down ® short flight of steps, into a’ dark place that seemed like a cellar, He# then opened an- other door, ushering them into ® square room, placed the can- dle ona bracket, bid them good-night, and: bolted the door upon them, Directly they heard the key turn in the door at the head of the steps. : fear cs a — 3 rete Cconmiclooolks.comn)