Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

Sunset Ranch. 261 “Make every shot tell,” said Karl, with a strange tremor in his voice, for which he could hardly be > blamed under the circumstances. “Me wait—moon come soon mebbe. You, Karl, tell me when shoot,” replied the Sioux, by which he meant he would hold his fire until the cowboy gave the signal. Karl swept a glance aloft; it was even as Little Buckshot declared—the moon was already trem- bling on the edge of the cloud, ready to smile upon the silent earth once more. But the onrushing horsemen were perilously near, so that when the illumination came it must be the signal for their opening fire. That moment was a supreme one in Karl’s young life. It seemed as though he lived ages in a very few seconds of time, and his shoulders had to bear the world’s burden, as did those of Atlas of old. Now the light began to come. ; He meant to call out again to Little Buckshot to steady him, though such a thing were hardly needed with the Indian, but, just at this juncture something brushed Karl’s elbow, something that was more in his mind than his own safety. It was Polly! The girl had, in some manner, secured a pistol while among the cabins of the outlaw settlement; perhaps Jasper Hosmer had placed it in her pos- session in order that she could defend herself from insult. Be that as it might, she was full of pluck, and quite determined to share Karl’s danger, no matter what followed. He could not deny her the privilege, knowing what grave issues were at stake. Indeed, there was no time to speak, for the moment had arrived when action became a paramount issue. And now the oncoming posse of horsemen gave tongue, just as Karl expected; but he was almost ConmmiiGcIooksrco