On the Trail of Geronimo — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE TRAIL OF GERONIMO. 255 learned that the second company of Apaches was led by Geronimo himself. After his exceedingly clever escape from Captain Campereaux, he fol- lowed and watched the troopers, as they withdrew in the direction of Fort Grant. Several attempts of the dusky leader to entrap the whites were defeated, and finally he switched off to make a visit to the Harland ranch. It has been stated that it was a cause for the keenest regret on the part of Lieutenant Whitcomb and his comrades that they did not stay at the latter place over night; but it may be doubted, after all, whether their presence would have availed to save the women, though it would have rendered the struggle more desperate. The Apaches managed, with little trouble, to apply the torch, after which — they had only to stand back in the gloom and use their pleasure, as their victims came within reach. Buck Bragg and the two cattlemen had been slain, as was proven by the discovery of their remains near the ruins. The absence of anything else of that nature showed that the females had been carried off prisoners. Geronimo recognized the fact that they were much more valuable to him alive than dead. CoOnniclooo SH (C(O) mM