Rocky Mountain Sam — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

we ha 3" i ae Son - te” “. ~~ — > - ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. 107 “Don’t run arter em no furder,” gasped Big Horn. ‘‘It’s no use. They’ve got a big force on the plain as ain’t been in the fight, you know.” ‘Then looking up, wonderingly, he exclaimed: ‘‘Why, whar on-airth’s the gas-bag?” — ‘Where, indeed?’ echoed a dozen voices, and all eyes were anxiously raised upward. The balloon had disappeared. CHAPTER XIV. HAND TO HAND. Fails the carnage and fades the fight, And the Day, like a conqueror, bursts on the Night; But many there be on the blood-sodden plain Who never will joy in his glory again. But as the hunters wearily and anxiously returned to the little hillock which they had defended so successfully and valiantly—but, alas! at what acost? with nearly half of their number killed or wounded—and as the enshrouding smoke of the encircling brush-fires cleared away, they perceived the balloon directly over their heads, at such a lofty alti- tude as to appear little more than a speck in the unclouded vault. Almost at the same moment, a paper missive, weighted with a heavy stick, came fluttering down to their feet. Lieutenant Dutton opened it, and read its contents, as follows: “CoURAGEOUS FRIENDS:—The immediate danger is over, and we go to replenish the gas in our balloon, as well as to repair damages suffered during the fight. We will be near you again to-night. In the mean- time, stay where you are, and do not risk an attack unless you hear from us to the contrary. The Indians still hold the plain, and have over a hundred fresh warriors, who were not engaged at all. ‘ “Max Arry, D. B. F. R. A. A,” ‘Good enough!” commented Dutton; ‘only there’s no need to bid us stay where we are—we’re too tired to do any- thing else. What do you say, boys? We've got enough oose-meat to makea capital meal on. While apart of you attend to the cooking, the rest of us will take care of the dead and wounded. It is only alittle after midday, and we've got plenty of time before us.” Gomichboo CS ete)