Beadle's Dime Novels No. 298: The Hussar Captain — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

"THE HIUSSAR CAPTAIN. CHAPTER I. & RUNNING THE GANTLET. A FIERCE, relentless wind swept howlingly through the al- most deserted streets of the city of New York, one stormy night in the year 1776, and the driving rai had caused all to _ seek shelter, excepting those whom stern military discipline, or necessity, compelled to face the fury of the blast. The English army, under General Howe, held possession of the, then as now, metropolis of America, and the soldiers of a hated king walked the thoroughfares by day, and stood guard over the quiet streets by night, their heavy tread echo. ing sadly in the heart of all patriotic citizens, and crusbing by mere force all freedom of speech against his majesty, in tlie presence of his loyal subjects and hirelings from over the sea. ‘ The grenadier on guard in front of the General’s quarters had drawn himself far buck into his sentry-box, to escape the rude blasts that swept by, and neglecting—momentarily rigid duty, was leaning upon his gun and thinking of his far-away home in old England, the little cot around whose fireside were perlieps then gathered bis wife and little ones, talking of him, the husband and father, who in the service of bis sovereign was used as a heavy weigat to help hold down a people strug- gling for freedom from tyranny, and the right to be an inde- pendent nation of the world. So intently was the grenadier engaged in thought, that he filed to notice a quick, firm tread upon the stone pavement near him, until a tall, cloaked form suddenly passed near, the sight of wikten at once recalled his wandering senses, and in a deep, soldierly voice, he cried : _ “Halt! Who comes? friend or foe ”” et comniclboolkks.conn