Beadle's Dime Novels No. 37: Godbold, the Spy — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

40. GIDEON SpEmPED. “Then we will have it.” Horace, however, was 80 excited with what he heard and gaw, that the approach of a stranger had escaped his notice, until he heard a voice, addressed to the Generals, saying: “Yes, Generals, that’s a troublesome spot.” Both officers looked at the speaker, but neither replied. “ That ’ere stone,” resumed the intruder, pointing to the fort, “ought to be rolled out of what I call the gateway of the hill country.” Horace listened with tirade as he recognized in the speaker Gideon Godbold. He took not the slightest notice of Horace; but seemed determined to extract some reply from the Generals, to whom he addressed his observations. They were annoyed that an utter stranger, and possibly a spy, should thus impertinently intrude upon their privacy, when his remarks assumed a somewhat bolder form : “There is difficulties,” he continued, “ some of which I can, and some I can’t remove. Now, you must get at em on the sly ; but thad’s difficult. There is sentinels you don’t see— _ they’re allus awake—allus on the watch—and the garrison and the sentinels you see, ha’ confidence in'em and listen for their voices. “Ha,” he continued, seeing both Generals unconsciously direct their eyes beyond the marsh, “them is not to be seem; but jist walk foward that marsh at night and ye’ll hear sich cries of warning as ‘ill make them sentinels prick their ¢ars and fire their guns.” “Who are you ?” demanded Wayne. “T’m Gideon Godbold.” “ And what is your object. here ?” inquired Wayne, angrily. “ Jist to offer my sarvices,” replied Gideon. “ Jist to state that ef you intend to takg that fort, I can perform three parts in the ’venture and gi’ ye advice besides,” “ And pray, what are these parts ?” asked Wayne, scarcely able to restrain his temper, but determined that Gideon should not depart. “ First,” said Gideon, drawing a dagger from his hilt, upon which all but Horace kept their eyes, “Tll with my own hand cut the throats of all them sentinels that I speak- ing of—fifty in number—which p’raps you my share of blood; but IJ don’t; secondiy, Pll lead you across ‘ Cconmicloolks.conn ——— 8 5