Beadle's Dime Novels No. 92: The Twin Scouts — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE TWIN SCOUTS. regulars, tastefully laid out in squares. In the center of these, above a large marquée, floated the great banner, bearing the lilies of France, designating the tent of the baron. Through the intervals between the tents guards paced to and fro, having the erect bearing of the trained soldier, saluting their officers as they passed with military precision. Two young officers were conversing in one of the squares, talking with the volubility peculiar to the Frenchman. “What think you are the baron’s plans, Ernest ?” said one, in the gay uniform ‘of an aid-de-camp. “How can I tell! The baron is close-mouthed about these things, I tell you. I think, though, from what I have heard him say, that he means to attack Fort Edward.” “ Of what use will it be to us when. we take it ?” “ What do you mean ?” “ Just what I say. When we have taken these forts in the woods, of what use are they to us ?” “Zounds, man, you are crazy! After we have taken these forts and Oswego, we have a perfect chain of posts. to the very mouth of the great river. We have confined the English to that strip of country to the east of the mountains; we have all the trade of the west; and, in time, we shall sweep the English into the sea.” | “Umph,” muttered the other. “ Very well to talk, but still I doubt the feasibility of the scheme. These confoundéd Iro- — quois are in our way more than the petty posts at Oswego and Edward. Once get them in our interests, and our work will be easy. Then it will do to talk of sweeping ihe English | into the sea.” “You oppose your opinion to that of the baron.” “Did you ever hear the baron express an opinion upon the. subject ?” . rz No. a4) “The baron is a soldier of France. His emperor says, ‘ Go,’ and he goes. He would not be a true soldier if he did not; but he never said what he thought of the plan.” “For all that, I think he likes it.” “ “No, my word for it, he doesnot. Weare harassed by the scouts of the English. We have no such force as the English. think; and, taking all together, our attempt is hopeless.” — comiclbooks.conn