Rocky Mountain Sam — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. 163 gles, and the Indians fell back a little, giving them a brief breathing-spell. ‘“Courage, mates, courage!” cried the well-known voice of Rocky Mountain Sam from somewhere up above the smoke and dust. And the next moment the balloon-car—armed at every point with long scythye blades, after a manner of a chariot of old—swept over the plain, literally mowing down the closely-arrayed warriors by dozens and scores, while Sani, Teddy, and old Max, each with a revolver in either hand, were cheering and shouting atthe top of their voices. ‘“‘Hurrah! hurrah! we’re saved!” cried Lieutenant Dutton, who had Big Horn’s head upon his knees, laving his fore- head, and holding a flask of spirits to his as yet moveless lips. - ‘Upon them once more, my hearties!” Such was the variable nature of the wind, that Max, by a dextrous management cf the steering apparatus, was enabled to guide the balloon again and again back and forth over the plain, the scythe-bristling car at each trip mowing down whole ranks of the savages, while those who remained upon their feet fled in shrieking dismay. The white men remounted their horses and dashed after them in the track of the balloon, which soon had leisure to devote itself to the mounted savages, knocking them out of their saddles like ten-pins, and shaving off many a pony’s head as clean as a whistle. As the smoke cleared away, the entire remaining force of Indians was revealed in panic-stricken flight. The injuries suffered by Big Horn were severe, but not dangerous. The usual appliances restored him to con- sciousness, and he smiled grimly as Sam informed him that the redskins* had been ‘‘whipped clean out of their moccasins.” “Tt is nearly sunset,” said the professor, ‘‘and Sam and Teddy, and I will have to pass the night ina volcanic canon to the north-west in order to renew our supply of gas inthe morning. Isuppose you will push straight on, lieutenant?” “Yes; even if they do not see fit to reinforce us from Fort Benton,” said Dutton, somewhat bitterly. ‘‘I shall press on till Irescue my dear—I mean Miss Chapman—or perish in the attempt. ” At the suggestion of the professor, Lieutenant Dutton de- comicbooks ‘co