Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

90 BLACKEYES. The next morning he received an unexpected visitor, in the person of Padre Abrojo. When the priest entered, Ward stood up, took a position near the corner in which he had concealed his rifle under a blanket, and stared defiantly at his visitor. “ Good-morning, my friend,” said the padre. ‘“ How goes it with you to-day ?” “As well as may be, no thanks to you.” “You ought to be thankful that I give you your life and something to support it, as you are an American and an enemy. I have come to do you another favor, to make you a splendid and generous offer. We are about to rise and throw off the yoke of the Yankees.” | “YT understand all about that. What do you want?” “You are better at guesswork than I had supposed. Briefly, then, we want such men as you, and I have come to propose to you to join us, If you will, you shall have life, liberty, and a position; if not, you must die. Your friend, the young officer, has already accepted my proposition?’ “T am glad to hear that the boy is alive, but I know you are lyin’ when you say that about him. Jest put me down as sayin’ no, squar’ and plump.” “T expected that you would refuse at first, as he did. I will give you until to-morrow morning to consider. If you do not then accept, you must die.” ‘“ Look-a-here, you, whatever you call yourself,” said the hunter; “thar’s no use in words. I know you, Pedro Colatzin, and you know me. I don’t want to hurt you, and I advise you to git out of this place mighty quick.” “T call myself Padre Abrojo,’ said the priest, with an angry look. ‘I am a rock, as my name indicates, I tell you that you must accept or die, and I leaye you to make your choice.” | {Ie left the room, and Ward smiled, as he thought that before morning he might be beyond the reach of his enemies. It was but a little after dark when the hunter again receiv- ed the signal from his wife, and this time he took his rifle with him when he went up into her room, as he did not ex- pect to return to his*prison. Anna welcomed bim warmly, and was much troubled when commicloOolkks.cohn