Beadle's Dime Novels No. 300: The Crested Serpent — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

d TREASON. | 8o Vidal felt satisfied that there would be no pase Ea in! the | reply that hung on his lips, and he slowly said : * Tt would.” “Your hand, Senor Vidal. The standard could be raised here, on this mountain, and before the passage of a month we would place the Imperial diadem upon the head of a man who could rule Mexico.” “Shall I be plain with you, Senor Boussard? I will speak though it may be called treason. Your name, Arnaud Bous- surd, las been spoken of in the south. . Being descended from Lturbide, the first emperor of this country after Spanish rule commenced, my whole soul is centered in an’ Imperial form of government. But it must be strong. ‘Your warlike spiritand valorous deeds have caused the eyes of the whole south of Mexiecu to be turned to you. This inspired me with &® hope that the empire would not die with Maximilian; and knowing that a vacancy existed in your regiment, I applied for the position of lieutenant colonel, so that I could be near you, and learn, at any risk, whether you wouid be willing to declare against the Austrian, command the people of: the south, and advance on the city of Mexico.” There was a pause, and in the face of Boussard were evi- Gences of a joy he could hardly restrain. The peoplé of the south calling for him! His deeds of bloodshed and: ra- pine called deeds of valor! The people he had savered, hung up by the necks, driven from their homes, calling for him’ to lead them against the proud Austrian! Already he felt the diadem encircling his brow, and grasped the scepier that was so hard to retain. Yet he would keep it if be had {0 erect scaffolds in every town and city in betrayed and blood-stained Mexico, He was fast reaching the hights of his “&mbition and soon would cross its disk for the golden fields that lay beyond. “Can I trust the people, Senor Vidal ?” “You can trust them until you gain a strength that will — ‘Make them fear you. Will you co-operate with me and ty friends in the movement, and lead us to victory and the Imperial government; and will you accept the diadem 2” — “T will, and now enter into a compact with you to that effect ; and. when success crowns our efforts, Hernando Vidal © 800 2 a = =_—_ - . EFS . ~~ comicbooks ‘com =: ey ine