Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

The Raid on the Bad Lands. 229 misdeeds, was something of more than average im- portance, something of which they might well boast in future days, when telling, around the peaceful camp-fire, the story of their adventurous quest. It was of prime importance that they learn all about the settlement, so that when the hour for business arrived they might be prepared to strike with telling effect. The first and most vital point was to mark the tepee, or hut, in which Polly was to find shelter. Then the corral engaged their attention, as it con- tained many horses that had, from time to time, been stolen from the various ranches, and such a fact necessarily appealed to the cowboy spirit that predominated in Karl. There was another reason why they should desire to know the ins and outs of that stockade; should no assistance arrive, and the work of rescue be thrown entirely upon their young shoulders, it might become necessary for them to cover their flight as Cuthbert should have done when he quitted the Sioux village, by a general stampede of all the animals connected with the settlement, which would delay pursuit and give the fugitives a better chance of getting away. This survey might be the more easily accom- plished when the hour grew later, and sleep had overcome the now noisy denizens of the camp. So they quietly crept away, sought a retired nook and took a much-needed nap themselves. The Indian awoke his companion. Karl glanced up at the moon. “Why, it must be long after midnight!” he ex- claimed, “and yet I can’t believe I’ve slept more than a few minutes.” But, according to Buckshot, it was time they were on the jump if they hoped to accomplish any scout- ing that night. Comicoooks C©