Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

alt pon . «i Ls , H r “4 * J a i z SEE: RACs ee env oe - ae : ; " 2% ' ’ : Ns os : - . ‘ es * : > : are ~ : : . nt hs ee - at . “1 f i ’ ’ ’ o \ allow that you were hired to herd cattle.” “ Correct, boss.” ‘You are not cowards !” “Waal, Il guess not.” | “You can see that your employer i is in hard lines just now.’ “That’s all right, friend.’ “ Now there is hot a man i you afraid to fight, Vl venture to say.” “ Now ywre talkin’ sense !” “All right! You can see just now that the major wants fighting men and not herders.” “ Exactly !” “Now he will hire you for fighters. You must stick by him to the death.” “That’s all right, pilgrim,” cried the spokesman of the party, “but if we’ re goin’ ter fight, we want fightin’ wages.” “ Oh, that’s: it, eh P” said Frank. “ You want more pay! p” Jes’ so 1’ Major Vose turned ina waved his hand to enjoin silence. ‘You shall have the increase,” he cried. ‘ But I want you to fight.” A wild cheer of approval went oe from the cowboys. ‘Show us ther way, boss! “Lead us on!” “We'll foller yer over Jordan !” The difficulty was settled. But Frank was not altogether satisfied. Major Vose wanted to head an im- petuous attack on the stockade of the Star Ranch. However, Frank said, coolly :\ “Wait a moment, Major Vose. I want to talk with you! Y ¢ What is it, Mr. Reade: BY. “ Come this way.” The major complied. “Tt is very evident to me,” said Frank, somewhat brusquely, “that it would be a foolhardy and dangerous thing to attempt, to attack the ranch with our limited numbers.” The major became grave in a moment. “TIT am aware of, that, Mr. Reade. 97? But what can we do ?” “T have been thinking out a plan. Suppose we besiege them ?” “That would be all right, but it would mean along and tedious wait. I think some determined move should be made at once to rescue my daughter.” “It would be absolutely fatal, and a sacrifice of all our lives.” a! h A SCOUTING TRE. gk * Do you think so P” Or OR.” “Very well,” said the major, desper- ately. “TI will leave it to you. Do as you please.” ‘Then I would counsel the soda “So be it.” “Perhaps we can work some little stratagem to get into the enemy's strong- hold and rescue Helen. It would seem to be our only hope unless we sent for rem- forcements from the fort.” “ths “That, is the plan!” cried the major. “Twill send to Fort Phillips for soldiers. Until they come we will hold the Star Ranch in a state of siege.” “That is exactly my idea.” “Then it is settled ?” in 66 Vog.”’ | [om . “T will send for all the men at my > ranch. Then I will send messengers at i onee for the troops. I know that Colonel Hamlin will not refuse me.” | “That is good !” yi The major rode back to his men, and fr ank went to the waggon, where Arthur > Bentley was, together with Barney and Pomp. 3 Frank told them what had been decided upon. : “6 Well, I hope it is for the best,” said Az Arthur, é but i wish that there was some way to vet Helen out of the villain’s” es power at once.” Lae ‘Perhaps there is!” said Fragile | “ How ?” asked Arthur, eagerly, . © “ Have you the nerve to attemptatrip into the place disguised ?”, noes “T have nerve “enough for anything,” Nee | declared Bentley, earnestly. = We ac: “Then it is settled. We will try it. pote tf Barney and Pomp, you are to remain < on here with the Steam Horse. Take no chances, and keep where you are until 1 | ee | get back.” . A om i “ A’right, sah.” = ! “We'll obey ordhers, Misther Fraaile? m uy e Then Frank and Bentley at once began aud to make their plans. ¥ oe It was decided to go at night, and enter , a a | the stockade from the rear, by going through the deserted mine. They were to be disguised as cowboys, and would commingle with the ‘out, Bi: throat gang of the Star Ranch. | ARS as Fi ay - —_ - = = - e ea row a « 2s — os ales is “ > . 4 a = a 3 4 = - a J ss = Seco ee ee = a = 5 “A wey. * ae — = . ~ - « =. ees & 0 5 cha =~ ‘ oe 7 d ° - * 2 $ “3 a “Fd ‘ny igi « * 3 : ~<a = cha ~ ~ — ——— oe = — ew . ; ~ a is * a 2 6 = = t : ~~ ee —" ww « - — >> ‘ ‘ » > — S: tS >! » <n pees /- iy - io - a god — = = - With the exception of Major Vose and ‘ af Barney and Pomp, nobody knew of the ‘ a ‘ scheme. a Frank rigged up some clever disguises, * - ya " A * : J + : aay “a. > ‘ = < ’ 7 i cm ? hae 4 , r Yo “ad Fs x * < » J - Or . ? ad ' h of yh teas > =e . <e4 \ | i : rs * apa i oF 9 * _s,0°% , gt he Pe BEN ad ~ : : : j vt + wy! ad 4 fe < = . = > t & J |. | \ 4 thom, 4 R ( f * 4-4 > : s ff a” ‘ Ps 4 i . j \ fis y } me} ; : ; + tae . = 4 : ee = ' = « a, —«-T] % « af a * we -~ ee ~~ 4 a “ 7) “4 ” . 7