Beadle's Dime Novels No. 300: The Crested Serpent — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

38 THE CRESTED SERPENT. chill breath of the ice-bound polar seas, had touched her shapely form? Was it from a presentiment tbat evil was about to burst upon her—or had the dark eyes. of Vidal _ pierced her heart and laid bare the poison that had nestled there in aspic folds for years? She trembled, aad as she bowed to the handsome lieutenant-colonel, and spoke in re- turn to his polite words, a tremor pervaded her voice, and Boussard raised: his head and Tooked at her in surprise. ‘Senor Vidal, we will furnish quarters for you to-day.” “Thanks, Senor Boussard. You hold the post of honor in the army: Ramon Mendez spoke of you and your command in glowing terms.” | “ Mendez is a true General. He fights the enemy with a bloody sword, and has already sbot a number of Liberal Gen- erals. It is the true policy. If I were commander-in-chief [ would shoot all who failed to renounce their allegiance to the Mexican cause. I now have a prisoner, captured a few days ago, who must hang before long. He is a pales fellow, and — therefore a dangerous enemy to live.” “ His name, Senor Boussard ?” “He calls himself Steayer.” “Steager? Iam not familiar with the name.” “He is confined on the edge of the mountain,” and be pointed to a small tent near the spot where Humfredo had © lain in agony as he witnessegthe execution of his kind mas- ters | “When will you execute.him ?” “Day after to-morrow, at sunrise,” answered Boussurd,” “Is the Imperial cause progressing in this district, Senor Boussard 2” He cast a quick glance at Vidal, as he ‘replied “T fear not. Maximilian is no favorite here.” “Nor in the south of Mexico.” “ Not a favorite in the south of Mexico? Then where is he a favorite? Not in the north or west.” “There is better material in our army than in all Austria,” Vidal said, in a meaning way. “ Have you thought ser iously over this, Senor Vidal ?” “T have.” ‘“And would you like to see a change ?” ~ Comichooks: com>, 1h ites ba) Oi th Se ee wea a + -