José — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE, | 259 at that point, from every side of which the gun bar- rels protruded in menacing array. “Keep a watch on the ford and shoot down who- ever shows himself there!” cried McGregor, who was standing within the circle before his pale com- panion, as if he were determined to protect her with his body; at the same time was heard the crack of his rifle and the horse of an Indian, who was in the act of dashing up the shore, was seen to make a convulsive leap backward into the water. The shot was answered by a wild howl as of an enraged beast, from both sides of the stream; the Indians could plainly be seen along the entire length of the opposite shore, urging their horses into the water, regardless of the depth, those who had crossed joining in a body and with lances leveled sweeping toward them with the speed of the whirl- wind. <A volley received them, scattering them to retreat, leaving men and wounded horses writhing on the ground; but just beyond range they again formed an aggressive position. McGregor was dis- mayed to see the Indians, fording the deep stream, momentarily increase in number, a short distance up the trail, and finding himself surrounded on every side, was compelled to acknowledge that in his present position it was impossible to check the joint onslaught of the two forces. Slowly the savages pressed on; they seemed deter- mined again to expose themselves to the rifles of the defenders and subsequently to crush the little band of whites by the force of superior numbers. Mc- Gregor swept the surroundings for a way of escape. Suddenly the crack of rifles was heard up the trail, a wild commotion ensued in a wing of the Indians there stationed, and as if acannon ball had abruptly Eomichboo Ss (E(e)