Rocky Mountain Sam — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

152 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. and Sam was noiselessly reaching for his, while a quick, sus- picious glance passed between them, when a heavy knock upon the door caused it to shake and rattle against its oaken bars. It was a strange place, and a wild, strange hour of the night for such an interruption. ‘Shall I call Teddy?’ whispered Sam, for already the Irishman’s sonorous snores came rumbling in from the other apartment. —. - Max nodded, but at this moment, a rough voice was heard demanding admittance. : ‘It’s Big Horn!” cried Sam, dropping his rifle, and run- ning to let down the bars, without an instant’s hesitation; and a moment later the redoubtable hunter came lumbering in, with the rain-drops glistening on the hair of his coon-skin cap, and running off in little rivulets from an oil-skin cape which protected the upper portion of his burly form. “You needn’t mind *bout the horse, I tied him under the shed myself,” said he, throwing off his cap and cape, and drawing up a stool to the still cheerful fire. He didn’t speak for several minutes, but presently stretched out his mighty paw to Sam, with his customary, “Pard, put it thar!” nodded to Max, and then inquired if there was anything to eat and drink. Max produced a bottle and tin cup without a word, and then began to put some cold meat and potatoes on the table, for theold Indian woman had long ere this gone to her rest. 7 ‘‘Where on earth have you been for the last ten days, and what brought you here on a night like this?” said Sam, when the surly guest had finished eating and drinking, and had commenced to fill his short pipe with evident satisfaction. ‘One question at a time, pard, ef you please,” said Big Horn. ‘*I'hankee, Max, I will take anothernobbler. Ha, but it does touch a raw spot on a night like this,” he added, drawing a long breath after his draught. ‘‘Never mind whar I’ve been. fur the last ten days, pard; this ’ere’s what brought me hyar to-night.” As he spoke he loosened something from his belt, and dangled it up betwixt him and the firelight, with grim satisfaction. His companions started and stared, for the object was a fresh and gory human scalp. . “‘Jist let it hang up thar to dry a bit,” said the great GComicbooks:co