Rocky Mountain Sam — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

120 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. hunters encamped upon the plain, preparing for their break- fast, and the balloon anchored near at hand. Mutual explanations and congratulations followed; but the appearance of the field thichly strewn with Indian slain, and of the near-running stream almost choked up with the carcasses of ponies and redskins, was eloquent enough of the desperate nature of the battle that had taken place, and the hunters were too tired and hungry to go into details. CHAPTER XVI. THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. Naught can restore the pallid cheek And sunken eye of captive maid But liberty; the first fair streak Of dawn upon the dusky shade Of sorrows’ night is not more blest Than freedom to the sore-oppressed. The remnants of the quarter of bear-meat which the bal- loonists had provided for themselves on the previous morn- ing, had to be sacrificed in getting up a rather scanty breakfast for all hands; but Sam consoled himself with the remark that there was plenty more where that came from; and during the discussion of their repast, ample time was afforded for exchanging hasty notes of the recent fight. The troopers from the fort Hstened with amazement to accounts which surpassed anything they had ever dreamed of, and gazed upon the members of the little band, and especially upon the balloonists, with feelings akin to awe. ‘What do you think of the roasting we gave the varmints on the river, Big Horn?” said Sam, gieefully, helping him- self to another bit of roasted bear. ‘“Wust I ever see!” replied the bravo, beginning to fill his short pipe. ‘‘You.remember, Sam”—pnuff, puff, from the pipe—‘‘that ere scrimmage we had two years ago”— puff, puff—‘‘with the Cheyennes on the Yallerstone”’—puff, puff,—‘‘nigh unto the big Rosebud Creek, whar I cleaned out Squattin’ Klik an”—pufi—‘“‘his pard”—puff—“‘Lone Wolf.” ; ‘‘Well, I should think I did.” | , | “Wall, Sam,’—pufi—‘‘the ‘fair o’ las’ night an’ yester- day”—puff, puff—‘“‘laid over that two to one.” comicbooks.co a _ 7