Beadle's Dime Novels No. 309: Mountain Ned — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

88 MOUNTAIN NED. "he Q can gain our end peacefully, we will ride back as we comme without harming a hair of an Indian head.” The escort halted, and with a celerity which would: fave done credit to the best cavalry foree.in the world, formed * double line, through which the party rode. ‘Advancing gravely, the chief aided the senor in dismounting, and gav® im the fraternal embrace much in pogne among tbe, Co” “manches. “My father is welcome,” be said, .“ Let him. enter mJ lodge and rest, for he is weary,” Castelar, his son and Lievtenant De Forest followed pi into the tent, and twelve warriors formed a.line:to: keep ov! intruders, Within the lodge was no one save. the prophet a one other chief. Couches of skins had been ranged. in ® circle, and upon the most luxurious of these the party wee seated, and the pipe of peace was lighted, For a moment there was utter silence, in the lodge, as ‘pe pipe passed from lip to lip. . Imitating the stoicism of. the In- dians, Castelar was silent until every man in the room bal drawn a few whiffs of the fragrant weed, Silver Lance. waé 7. the first to speak. ys, “ My father has come on a long journey, with many braves: We do not know whether he comes in peace or war, for bis young men are of the fighting blood of the Texans, and theif rifles are swift to shed the blood of the Comanche.” “We come in peace, if you will have pence,: said Castelat, briefly. “The. Comanche are men of. peace,” said the chief, with @ sly twinkle of bis dark eyes; “but they are. not cowards When the blood is hot, they ean strike, and strike hatd. I myself have killed men in battle ; you, may see their scalps o0 the lodge-pole. I hope to slay more, for a great chief hss many enemies. What seeks my father in the Jand of ase Comanche te “T "seek my daughter, who was taken from Chihuahua ‘twelve years ago by your hand.” “T have taken many maidens from the children of ‘the South, Twelve summers ago, when we came back, wo brought a hundred prisoners with us. How can I tell whic was your child?” | : pf ae : . ~*~ P ¥ , , comic vooksrcom |