Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

260 | Sunset Ranch. They took the place by storm. Hardly had they gained the inclosure than Little Buckshot landed lightly on his feet.. Karl was hardly a whit behind him; and Polly did not wait to be assisted down, since she had long ago learned to be independent in all matters pertaining to horses at least. | All seemed working as well as cae had any rea- son to expect. But there. was no time now to more than cast one quick glance around. That look gave Karl renewed confidence, for it showed him the natural strength of this oasis in the desert, apparently destined to become their little Gibraltar. Seconds counted for much. The thunder of approaching horses’ ticle was in the air; but a brief interval, and the foe would be upon them. Could he and the Indian hurl them back? It seemed to the boy as though the supreme mo- ment of his life had arrived, and that he must arouse himself to the utmost in order to meet the emer- gency. With a cry to the dusky offspring of a chief he sprang to the stockade. As he looked over, he could see a confused med- ley approaching. | The capricious moon took occasion at this par- ticular moment, when her light was most valuable to our young friends, to hide her face behind a pass- ing cloud. This seemed a bad omen, since it must, of neces- sity, injure their aim. Beggars must not be choosers, however, and, under the circumstances, they would have to do the best they could. . Closer still swept the cavalcade. Connicloooks CO