Rocky Mountain Sam — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

142 : ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. with some tackle on the ground; the wind was high, causing the gas-bag to tug violently at the anchor-line, impatient of restraint, and at this moment. the line broke. At least it was supposed to have broken, though Sam ever afterward insisted that the lady had in some way sev- ered it, for the severance took place suspiciously close to the edge of the car; and the liberated balloon shot up like an arrow from a bow. | Sam would have pulled the throttle-valve at once, but he ~ was prevented by his companion—she weighed about a hun- dred and ninety avoirdupois—flinging herself into his arms with a shriek of affright. , “Oh, dear, what shall we do? I shall die, I know I shall!” she exclaimed. ‘‘Just let me jerk that ere rope, will you, and we'll be down in the shake of a ram’s tail,” panted Sam, striving in vain to release himself from her terrified embrace. ‘““What, and leave me to myself? Oh, how awfully cruel you are!” | “Well, it wouldn’t do any good now, anyway,” said Sam, submitting to the caresses with a very poor grace, and throwing a despairing glance over the side. ‘‘If we were to land now it wouldn’t be within three miles of the ranch. The wind’s havin’ it all its own way. We're in a regular whirlwind.” “Oh, Sam! Sam! you don’t say so? I shall die, I know Ishall! But, thank Heaven! I have your strong arm to protect me!” And again the fair dame almost smothered him with her frantic clutches. ‘“You must have been balloonin’ afore this, you take it so cool,” said Sam. “Cool? Why, Pm scared to death!” “You look like it, but if you’ll just glance over the side of the car fora minute you'll see that we’re likely to be dashed against the side of that mountain.” She uttered a scream of real terror as she glanced abroad, for the storm was bearing them against the rocky mountain wall with incredible rapidity, but still clung to Sam—who, however, had entirely recovered his nonchalance. : ‘“‘] suppose you're fond of death?” said he, quietly. ‘If yon are, I am perfectly agreeable. Anything to oblige a ady. ~-comicbooks.com —