Beadle's Dime Novels No. 300: The Crested Serpent — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

82 THE CRESTED SERPENT. The fight had been disastrous to the twenty Liberals. All — were killed, and but five of the enemy destroyed in return, as the surprise wascomplete. Their rifles, pistols, sabers, hcrses, and accouterments, were taken as spoil, and the dead bodies — Jeft to fester in the sun. _ “ Bring the prisoner!’ said Boussard to a guard standing near. Steager was brought to the marquee where Boussard Was silting on a camp-stool. The prisoner being offered a seat gladly accepted it, as his limbs were stiff and sore from the fall he received in the encounter in the valley, “ What is your rank in the Liberal army %” “ Stéager is a lieutenant.” “That is your name, then ?” “Yes; Steager.” “Ag bekve a man as you have proven youtself to be shoula — stand higlier in the roll, What rank would induce you to — enter the service of Maximilian ?” “Steager wants no rank. AJl he asks is a good horse and trusty saber.” “Would not the position of Rose na iy colonel tempt on diets “ Not even the position of emperor.” “ Murieta !” said Boussard, and he stepped hurriedly away. The folds of the tent opened, and Murieta, dressed in fault- less attire, came out. She bowed low to Steager, who_re- turned her salutations in as Breet a& manner as his fastened limbs would permit. “You are bound,” she said. ‘“ How cruel!” and a compas- sionate look rested on her beautiful brown face, and with her ~~ own hands she let go the bands that confined his arms. “Steager is grateful to you, madam, and wili not forget this act of kindness.” She entered the marquee and returned with a goblet of pure wine and offered it tohim. The eccentric Steager loved wine above all other drinks. The night-air had cooled it, and it sparkled as the thirsty lips of the brave soldier touched it. He sipped it, then with one great pulp it disappeared down his throat, “ Good—very good; no better wine than that. Steager is a judge. He knows the pure wine from the bad. That is Ree Wine.” = comicbhooks.com) se: * - se! . ee 34.7 Ws, oe a ee —! | ..