Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

116 The Sioux Village. Accordingly he deliberately called out to the figures squatting about the fire: “Hello, there!’ One of the Indians at once shuffled toward him, his figure outlined against the starry heavens. Cuth- bert looked keenly at the fellow, but it would have been an impossible task to have recognized even a friend in such dim light, and rigged out in the tog- gery a Sioux brave delights to don when on the war- path or a horse-thieving expedition. “How!” grunted the dusky child of the wilder- ness. “See here, can’t you let me up. I’m tired of lying here, and besides, hungry, too.” Cuthbert spoke boldly enough, having resolved to let these fellows who had stampeded and run away with a portion of the saddle horses belonging to Sunset Ranch see that he did not fear them—know- ing full well that this was the best ad to win their respect. “Um,” grunted the Indian, “me see.’ He returned to the fire and held a brief consulta- tion with some one, coming back presently with a clean proposition. “White boy give um promise not to run away, me untie hands and feet.” “You bet I will, and be quick about it,” said Cuth- bert, who ached to stretch himself. Apparently the Indians were not quite ready to fully confide in the honor of a paleface. They may have had cause to regret such faith in the past, for, while Cuthbert’s bonds fell away, his waist was en- circled with the noose of a tough rope, to the other end of which, only a few yards away, the dusky guard hung out. At least this was a hundred per cent. better than lying there like an old log. He stretched himself mired and then walked directly up to the fire. CoOnnicloooks CO