Rocky Mountain Sam — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

26 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. issued incessant streams of sulphurous and other gases, whose odor was far from pleasant. These were the gigantic retorts and laboratories of nature, and it was easy to see that the ‘‘perfesser” had an unlimited supply of gas to inflate all the balloons he might ever pos- sess. All he had to do was to place a funnel-mouthed tube connected with the neck of the balloon over one of the smoking holes, and the gas-bag would be filled in a few moments. ‘Allis well, my dear,” said he, rubbing his hands, ‘‘the gas-works are in fine operation. I think at any moment I could get ready and makea start with twenty minutes’ notice. We will now goto the shed and ballast the car of the big balloon. I wonder where ‘Teddy is; your hands are too dainty to handle sand-bags. Ah, there he is coming out of the shed,” he continued, as his single assistant, a broad- shouldered, uncouth-looking Inishman made his appear- ance. ‘Teddy, we must load up for the big sphere and have the pony and wagon ready to run her over to the gas- works at a moment’s notice.” : At daybreak on the following day, after a hasty breakfast, Big Horn and Sam, accompanied by little Fayaway, who was determined to visit her patroness at the Chapman Ranch, set out upon their journey, each mounted upon a wiry pony supplied from the White Hermit’s herd. The canon was accessible from the outer world to ordi-. nary travelers by a narrow and difficult pass, known to but few, and made pretty secure against Indian intrusion by their superstitions concerning the Booglebooby. The day was brightening, and just as they were entering this pass, little Fayaway pointed up into the sky. “White Hermit!” she ejaculated. “By hookey!” cried Sam; ‘‘the old fellow is in the clouds bright and early. Look, Big Horn!’ The elder hunter only glanced once at the balloon, which was already a mere speck above their heads, and then pushed on, making his usual surly comment about ‘‘them ’ere gas-bags.” <¢om .OOKS (ee) A nm