José — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 185 thoughts, for he looked long and steadily before he lowered his eyes. “Tron-Fist’s tongue has never yet been blackened with a lie, and the red man will trust him. Let my brothers follow me,” he said, returning to his lodge. Three Indian women arose from the ground as the two whites entered the airy abode of the chief- tain, and disappeared through a rear opening. The interior of the lodge betrayed the fact that the “flying town” had hardly been established. Pots and skillets, robes and blankets, saddles and leather accouterments were scattered in wild confusion over the ground, from the adjustment of which the women appeared to have been frightened by the unceremonious entrance of the strangers. In the background were several open barrels of flour and corned beef, which Bill quickly recognized as hav- ing belonged to the ill-fated wagon train, as also a number of small bales and sacks besides them. “And in what manner does my white brother intend bearing witness for the Comanche if he himself will follow the Apache trail?” the Indian said, turning to Baumann, having previously taken great pains to close the entrance. “TI shall give you a message to the commandant of Fort Atkinson,” the latter replied, producing his pocket- -book. “I shall let him know what your warriors did in behalf of the white man during the onslaught of the Apaches, and what you are about to do to aid us in finding the missing. Our two friends here will sign their names to it, and it will be as if our lips had spoken.” “The pale-faces can talk with each other by means of signs, even when they are widely sepa- rated,” said the Indian, lowering his head; “but Gomichboo S (E(o)