Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

232 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. smile; a curious scarlet cloth cap was on her head; her hair hung straight and jetty down to the hem of her short blue cloth skirt, which was fancifully decorated with the wings of thousands of small rare birds; her feet were brown and bare and exquisitely delicate, yet sinewy, her bosom was covered by a scarlet jacket, covered with blue embroidery; strings of silver coins were on her neck and arms. This gay personage took me by the hand and pulled me out of the hustling, whispering children. ‘‘ Welcome to Adynma’s camp,” she said, with great dig- nity. | i turned a look of agony on my escort. *‘Js this the end of my journey?” I gasped; ‘‘have you given me to a gang of gipsies?” «* No,” said Morecombe, with an involuntary softening; ‘‘vou were tired, and I stopped to give you rest. We have yet farther to go. By the blessed Saint Magdalen, that is true.” I suffered the woman to lead me into the largest camp of the three. ‘There Iwas waved gracefully to a seat; then, as the queen retired, a beautiful chlld, clad in green silk, danced lightly towatd me, and fanned me with a broad swamp leaf, Presently the woman returned with a bowl in her hand which steamed with some savory stew which revived my sense of hunger most keenly. Sinking on one knee before me, she offered me a heavy silver spoon, and murmured with her dazzling smile: «« Kat from Adynma’s hand.” I gratefully accepted the invitation, and began to eat some curious mixture of different kinds of flesh, garlic almonds, and pistachio nuts, highly flavored and not unpleasant. Had my appetite been less keen, I should probably have turned from it in dismay. ** What place is this?” I asked, when my appetite was somewliat appeased. _ IT do not know, lady,” answered Adynma. ‘*Do you not live here?” ‘‘Oh, no, lady. Weare strangers; we have crossed the great river. We are wandering.” «The great river? Niagara? You have come from Canada?” _ Gentle lady, yes,” Eomicbooks:co