Rocky Mountain Sam — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

118 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. But the oil soon burnt itself out, and the effulgence of the fireworks was rapidly fading from around the balloon. ‘Wall, I’ve seed redskins wiped out purty fast afore,” commented Big Horn, leaning upon his rifle, and wiping the perspiration from his brow; ‘‘but chop me in two ef tuat ain’t the wust I ever see.” “Tt is horrible! horrible!” said Dutton, sinking down to rest upon a fir-log, while most of the command followed his example, reloading and firing, without rising, as opportunity offered. ‘But, hallo!” continued Big Horn; ‘‘whar’s the gas bag? Oh, thar she is, only I reckon the fire sizzles is “bout gin out.” : He had no sooner spoken than a message fell among them from the car, and Dutton hastily picked it up, and by the light that still lingered from the burning oil, read it aloud: ‘““HRIENDS:—The storm is over, and the day is beginning to break. If you can muster up sufficient strength, mount your horses and charge the enemy upon the open plain. ‘They still outnumber you four or five to one; but be not dismayed; we have not done with them yet! ‘‘Max Arry, D. B. F. R. A. A.” ‘“l'o horse!’ cried Dutton, staggering to his feet, white and exhausted as he was. ‘‘See! the dawn is indeed breaking; and we have seen what assistance can be rendered us by the balloon.” A cheer—perhaps a little feeble, but ringing and hearty for all that—was the reply to this gallant order. The storm-cloud had disappeared, and the dawn was dimly lighting the east, when the brave little band left their fortified position, which they had defended so well and so long, and, dashing out of the narrow pass, thundered out upon the open plain, at the farther extremity of which the renegade, after recrossing the stream, had succeeded in get- ting together the fragments of his command, which still numbered over a hundred warriors, who were moving briskly about in the ruddy firelight still emitted by the burning brush-heaps. ; ) A yell of revenge arose from their ranks as they saw the mere handful of those composing the desperate charge, and, putting their ponies in motion, their line spread out like a fan, preparatory to surrounding and crushing the little band at one fell swoop, . <¢om ee (Q) 900KsS co Jive. ae hee - Pe P e 0 Oe tte ee Se