Rocky Mountain Sam — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

122 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. As no one seemed disposed to question the accuracy of his statement, he resumed his pipe and retired to his former seat ut the fire, witha self-satisfied air. The next moment the professor tore up the anchor, and with a parting cheer from her crew, the balloon shot up into the cool, clear atmosphere. ‘The wind is almost directly in our fayor,” said the pro- fessor, giving the fan-wheel half adozen turns. ‘‘We must. make directly for that steep range to the north. I saw the renegade, and a dozen or more with him, ride out of the battle in that direction. You may rest assured that he has hid away his captive in some of its gorges.” But Sam only heard him in a dreamy, drowsy way, for entirely overcome, he had wrapped himself in a blanket and was fast sinking into unconsciousness on the bottom of the car, while Fayaway had followed his example in another corner, and was already sound asleep, with her head bowed upon her breast. ‘Well, well, they do indeed need rest,” muttered the old man, upon whom the loss of sleep seemed to have no effect whatever; and bringing out his telescope he proceeded to scrutinize the country over which they were passing with an earnest gaze: It was some time before his observations were rewarded by the re-appearance of any living objects other than herds of buffalo and a few flocks of antelope; but at last, at the end of about an hour, he espied Firefoot and his few re- maining adherents pushing their way over the hills. ‘Ha! there they are!” he muttered; ‘‘and, thank Heaven! we will be before them in reaching the poor captive; that is, if we can discover her whereabouts. He was about to arouse his companions, but, upon a mo- ment’s reflection, decided to let them rest still longer. The car now began to.swing over the jagged spurs of the mountain region. It was evident that Firefoot and his fol- lowers were aware of the presence of the balloon, and they probably guessed the intentions of its occupants, for they could be seen spurring and whipping their jaded animals to still greater speed. But they soon faded from view, and the professor was ab- sorbed in piercing and exploring the many gorges, canons, and little valleys over which the balloou was passing. com (‘@) 200ksS.co mn