Rocky Mountain Sam — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

92 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. : and behind, and then reported on the state of the ther- mometer. ‘Ha! this is something like,” exclaimed the professor, as the balloon began to eddy and plunge in the in- fluence of a stronger current. ‘‘There’s life enough in the old gas-bag yet. Give that old fan-wheel a turn or two, Sam. ‘That’s it. We’re just crossing the headwaters of Teton River, and I see the silver thread of Miry Fork in the distance.” There was a silence for half an hour or so, when sud- denly he cried out: “Lord alive! look at the Indians! Big Horn was right. Firefoot, in contempt of the insignificance of our force, is going to offer battle on the plains at the foot of the mountains.” This brought both Sam and Fayaway to the side of the car in an instant, and they could plainly discern the In- dians in large numbers on the plain to the north. “But what is that burning down there? Have they set: fire to the forest?” said Sam. ‘“‘No; they are simply burning the brushwood off to give free scope for the movements of their ponies,” said the professor. ‘‘But pull the throttle-valve a little, Sam; we must let up a bit and drop a message to our friends. If I am not mistaken, this bids fair to be the biggest fight out.” CHAPTER XII. MIRY FORK. A bosom of fire in the foeman’s path, | ' Like the Angel of Death from the mountains it- came; The pine-covered steeps shriveled up in its wrath, The prairies were all aflame. 2 When the balloon had descended into the calmer at- mosphere the White Hermit waited until Big Horn and his band came directly beneath, and then dropped them the following message, attached to a stout stick: — . ‘‘Firefoot is preparing for battle on the plain near Miry Fork, fifteen miles to tho north-west, with perhaps two hundred and fifty warriors. We will wait till you open the fight before participating. | | “Max Atry, D, B, F, BA, A,” d ua comicbooks.com —