Rocky Mountain Sam — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

160 , ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. two knives from the bodies of the fallen. Now he would spring forward, dash a couple of riders to the earth, and supporting himself by seizing the riderless steeds about the neck, free himself from those who pressed upon his rear by dealing out slashing blows with his double-bladed feet; only to release his hold and recover his feet by plunging forward head first, and diving and twisting his terrible head-gear this way and that, while the knives in his hands and at his elbows were kept energetically at work on either side. At one time, upward of a dozen dismounted Indians sprang simultaneously upon him, like a wave, to bring him to the ground, and for a moment it seemed as though he would be overpowered. But he merely braced himself into an upright position, and whirled himself around like a hop- per in a coffee-mill. ‘he effect was very much like a straw- cutting machine, asthe knives appended to him buzzed around, lopping off limbs, slicing open heads and _ breasts, and sending a dozen or more scarified redskins hopping away to rub and nurse themselves as best they could. Even savage nature could not stand up against this mode _of warfare for any considerable time, and those around him rolled back horrified and dismayed. - And at this moment, the hunters and troopers with the gallant young lieutenant at their head, burst from their cover among the rocks, and charged upon the main body of the Indians with a ringing cheer. : 7 | The savages, notwithstanding that their superiority was still almost in the ratio of four to one, were taken com- pletely by surprise, and driven back:several rods with great slaughter. — 3 Here, however, they made a successful stand, and their assailants returned to their former position among the rocks, carrying with them Big Horn, who wassadly in need of a breathing spell after the extraordinary exertions he had gone through. | He was covered with blood from top to toe, and. every Knife upon him was dripping and clotted with the gory trophies of the fight. | “Noble fellow!’ exclaimed Dutton, grasping him by the hand, and making no effort to conceal his emotion; ‘what do we not owe you?” | — ~~ comicbooks.com > > W } ’ ‘ = . — Cg 47 — =