Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

232 The Raid on the Bad Lands. larger, and presently Karl was possessed of the con- viction that they had entered a chamber of some sort. In anticipation of this, the Sioux had picked up some bits of wood while en route, although dead branches of trees were scarce enough in this deso- late region, where vegetation seemed to grow only under protest, and then of a stunted and gnarled va- riety. Karl had hold of the Indian’s heel. He figured that they had passed some yards into the chamber, and was wondering why his companion did not speak or make a move toward gaining his feet, when a low growl reached his ear that sent a cold chill through his heart, since he realized on the instant that they had, in thus entering the hole in the wall, invaded a wild beast’s den. Whether the animal were wolf, panther or big grizzly bear could only be guessed, but each possi- bility had lurking in it all the chances of desperate adventure the boldest spirit could wish. Little Buckshot no longer advanced. The growl came from one side, and doubtless his head was immediately turned in that quarter. Karl heard him give a grunt. There was no exclamation of surprise, no expres- sion of alarm. These things were not suited'‘to a young warrior who had proven his right to wear the war feather by means of the rigid methods of his tribe, whereby his endurance and power to stand acute pain had been thoroughly tested. “What is it?’ whispered Karl, fumbling for his gun in true cowboy fashion; for that weapon is the prairie rover’s stay in almost every time of trouble. “Me see um eyes. Wait; can soon tell. Ugh! him bear, I think,” came the reply, with no quaver in the voice. ConniclooOokks.€©