Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

68 BLACKEYES. the truth, that you are ‘not to be offered up as a sacrifice by the worshipers of the Sun; but are reserved for another des- tiny, which may be more agreeable to you, though less -giori- ous. Your life is to be spared—aupon a condition.” “ What is the condition? This is another of your rascally tricks, I suppose; but I may as well inquire your Meaning.” “You are aware that we are about to strike a blow for our liberty—that we intend to expel the USsUIpers of our soil.” “ “You have told me so.” “In order to accomplish our purpose, and to hold er we gain, we must have an army. We have men enough, but they are not properly organized and drilled, and we have few in- telligent officers.” “TI know what you mean to say, and [ assure you that it will be useless to make any such proposition to me.” “Do not be too hasty, my son. Men have been ruined by deciding too quickly. Are you “acquainted with the science of military engineering ?” 3 “ T'sttidied it at West Point.” “You can be very useful, then, to the Army of Liberation. If you will join us your life will be spared, and you will have an honorable and lucrative position. If you refuse—” “Then you will murder me, of course. You may under- stand me as refusing, distinctly and finally. Nothing can ever induce me to betray my country.” “You are entirely too hasty, and must think better of it. I will give you until to-morrow morning to reflect. Then, if you do not decide to join us, you must die. The same prop- osition has been made to your friend the hunter, and he has accepted it.” “I do not believe it. Ward would never be so base. For . my part, I need no time for reflection, as I have already de- cided.” “You are too young to die, and life is always preferable’ i an ignominious death. I am sorry that you have been de- prived of the opportunity of dying gloriously, but the priests of the Sun have found a more suitable victim for the bacrifice —a beautiful maiden of your nation.” se Binge “Fanny Buttress,” instinctively exclaimed Bent, with great excitement. _ | . CoOMmicbooks;eom