José — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

194 JOSE. “Seriously speaking, a man’s stomach is the most refractory and unreasonable Mormon on earth,” — Dutch Bill began, after a brief pause. “A fire we dare not start and couldn’t if we dared, because there is nothing to start it with; yet, in the face of all these arguments, there is my stomach ordering coffee, just because itis night. Well, stomach, you will have to accommodate yourself to the inevitable for once.” Baumann appeared not to have heard the other’s words, uttered in a low voice, and intended only for his own ears. He was busy, thinking. “Have you ever heard of the nondescript which they call the Prairie-Devil, Bill?” he at last in- quired, rising to his feet. “Plenty of deviltry afoot on the plains, sir, and - the Indian’s skulls are full of it. They have a thou- sand devils of their own. I’ll leave it to them to square their accounts, and that’s all I know about it!” replied the freighter. “If Old Bob talks about prairie-devils and such things, why, it is because he knows whom he is talking to; but he can’t palm it off on the Apaches, since they don’t understand a word of English or German.” So saying, he pushed his hat far ‘iar over his face and leaned back, supporting his head in his hand and apparently absorbed in thought. Nearly an hour had passed away in silent wait ing, varied only at intervals by Bill re-adjusting his hat and casting expectant glances in the direction in which the hunter had disappeared, or Baumann changing his position, for they seemed both intent — on taking full advantage of the repose they were permitted to enjoy—when the freighter abruptly straightened up to a sitting posture. Eomicbooks co a