Beadle's Dime Novels No. 316: Hurricane Bill — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

A TRYING MOMENT. » 95 to the eye. But a myriad frogs, efts and insects of different kinds were swimming and darting about, until the water seemed fairly alive. The margin was fringed with water- plants, some of them in bloom. With an extraordinary dis- play of gallantry, Hurricane set out to pluck a bouquet for Carmela. But he soon desisted, in disgust. Though beauti- ful, some of them wondrously delicate in form and hue, the flowers Were impregnated with a sickening, fetid odor. Their food dispatched, all save Hurricane Bill lay down to take a brief sleep. He was to keep guard, though there was | little need, for neither Indian nor bandit would willingly venture mear the Devil’s Temple. After an hour, he was to arouse Mustang Sam. ‘Two hours would be rest enough, as they hoped to reach the rancbo before another day. With his pipe lighted, Hurricane Bil] sat leaning against a lava block, his eyes fixed upon the face of Carmela, who was buried in a deep slumber. Of what was he thinking? Well, reader, you can guess as well as I, He had confessed that the soft-eyed maiden bad “corraled’? him—that he was “ dead-stuck ;” that is, in love. Isn’t that enough ? Half an hour passed by. The pipe is extinguished. The head of Hurricane Bill drops forward. He is asleep on post. Yet what can that matter? All is safe. No enemy is near. So he believed. But he was mistaken. A soft rustling in the grass. <A long, beautiful, yet loath- some form glides out upon the lava beside the sleeping maid- en. It rears its lance-shaped bead, and seems about to launch its hideous length upon the slumberer, But then it resumes its silent progress. Its curiosity appears satisfied. This is put a curious shape of lava. It glides vp beside the maiden. Then its head passes beyond hers, doubles around as though meaning to pass by. Perhaps its denis near. But Carmela, with a faint moan, slightly moves her* head. Like a flash | the serpent flings its head and neck around. A black, forked and glistening tongue plays silently just above the maiden’s cheek. The fiery eyes seemed riveted upon hers, despite the closed lids. Another movement, however slight, and, Car- mela’s death-warrant is sealed, For this the serpent appears to watch. At this moment Hurricane Bill opened his eyes. A glow conicloooks.com)