Rocky Mountain Sam — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

32 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. that has been spilt; but their fighting fury has been fairly aroused, and I can’t guess how it will end. I wish to Heaven a detachment would come down from Fort Benton! Do you think there’s any likeHhood of it?” ‘Not fur this day, kernel,” said Big Horn; who then gave a brief account of his visit to the Fort, and of the scouting commission he had received from the commandant. ‘What! you and Sam are going to cut north, then? But you won't go to day, I trust?” “‘Not while you’re in this muddle, if we know ourselves, colonel,” cried Rocky Mountain Sam. ‘‘But here comes one of their bucks to palaver with you. Lucky for you that Big Horn’s here. He can act as interpreter, you know.” Big Horn exchanged some words with an Indian who now cantered up to their line, and then turned to the colonel and coolly said: ‘Their leader’s Firefoot. He sends word as how they'll all disperse peaceable, notfurstandin’ the bucks as has been wiped out, ef you’ll guv ’em a hundred steers and surrender up to °em me and Sam.” This proposition was indignantly rejected in language more forcible than elegant; and the savage herald, giving a sreat grunt of disapproval, rode away. : “By jingo! they’re preparing to attack,” cried Sam; and, there being every indication that such was the case, the colonel ordered his gallant little band back, so that their rear was supported by the front wall of the quadrangle sur- - rounding the ranch—well knowing that the walls were too high for the enemy to attempt to scale it, the Blackfeet In- dians but seldom leaving their saddles to fight on foot, if they can help it. Only about one-third of the men were mounted—a bare dozen; aud these were separated from the others, being sta- tioned a little to the right and rear, so as to be ready for a charge at the proper moment. The Indians came swooping down upon them, after their usual manner of fighting; that is, describing short circles at full speed, discharging their weapons when near to the eae and then swinging out of range as rapidly as possi- e. Nearly all of them were armed with bows and arrows, and as yet they had. not effected much damage, though now and ecomicbooks Eco nm