Beadle's Dime Novels No. 300: The Crested Serpent — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

$80 | THE CRESTED SERPENT. eoariinli his being as the waters of the Nile overflow its low banks. He uttered in subdued tones: “Marta! Enough. You are now lieutenant-colonel of Ar- naud Boussard’s regiment. The late incumbent was killed in battle. Your name ?” “ Hernando Vidal.” Paula left the quarters of Mendez a commissioned officer of the Tigers. Now she would be near her foes, and revenge would be within her grasp. CHAPTER IY. THE AMBUSCADE AND THE ARAB SONG. On the morning that Steager and his guard of twenty braye Liberals were skirting the mountains, at the hase of which rested the old stone mission (now inhabited by priests and used as a chapel for worship), Arnaud Boussard, com- manding fifty men, was ig the-saddle, hid in the undergrowth and chaparral, expecting a body of Mexicans from ‘in the di- rection of hacienda Santa Luzia. Boussard’s appearance was much changed. He was now dressed in a complete suit of buck-skin, and the jacket he wore was plated with steel, and extended down to his waist. His feet were incased in heavy & cavalry boots, and upon his head he wore a closely-fitting cap, from which extended a single dark feather. In his hol- sters were the two fine pistols before mentioned, around his waist was buckled a belt the scabbard of which, hanging on the right-hand side, contained another, and from his left side dangled a huge cavalry saber. His scouts informed him that a troop of twenty horse was. advancing from in the direction of Tula, but that they could — not ascertain whether they were friend or foe. x “They cannot be friends or they would be on the other side of the valley. My position is well known at head-quarters. _ Prepare to charge them,” said Boussard, in a haughty tone. ae On came Steager and his little command, their eyes riveted ve : | COMME OO K<S.COMn) \™%