Rocky Mountain Sam — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

208 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. tained the necessary supply of gas. ‘They soon reached the / spot, and the air-ship descended in safety. ‘Temporary lodges were constructed for the ladies, as the repairs would detain the party at least three days. When this time had elapsed, the balloon was once more sound, and the professor _ decided to start at daybreak the next morning. ‘The infla- tion was accomplished without any trouble, and in the still, early morning the air-ship with its occupants arose grandly into the clouds, to the relief of every one. It was the intention, should the wind prove even partially favorable, to steer at once to the south-west, for Lieutenant Dutton’s camp, at the junction of Birch and the Marias Rivers. But ‘‘man proposes and God disposes.” ‘They had hardly reached the altitude of the low-lying storm-clouds before a tempest burst upon them in all its fury, and they found themselves in the very teeth of a hurricane, against which the grinding power of the fan-wheel was worse than useless. | At noon the storm had abated sufficiently to enable the occupants of the car to catch glimpses through the breaking clouds beneath them of the green earth, wet and shining after its bath of rain. The professor was the first to take cognizance of the actual position of the balloon. “Well, I swan to glory!” he exclaimed, looking down be- low, with-his eye to his telescope. ‘‘We’re jist right plumb over Fort Benton. ‘Teddy, my boy, jist jerk that throttle- valve line.” | “But Lieutenant Dutton is not at Fort Benton, nor my father,” said Miss Mollie, falteringly. | “‘But you have plenty of lady friends there, if I remember rightly, my dear young lady,” was the old gentleman’s reply, as bis subordinate obeyed his orders, and the balloon began swiftly to descend in’consequence. ‘They will soon replen- ish your wardrobe in a manner befitting the daughter of Colonel Chapman, of Chapman’s Ranch; and besides, will it not be best for you and your friends to remain there in comfort until we can send your father and the lieutenant to your” . | ‘I had not thought of that,” said Mollie, still not exactly falling in with the idea. ‘I—I thinkI would rather go and meet them at once.” “Tam satisiied you will agree with me as soon as you have ~-cComicboo ‘S