Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

20 BLACKEYES. advantage of a convenient opportunity to send young Bent — ont of the way for a while. I suppose that will suit you, Andrew ?” “J am not at all uneasy, sir. I was only speaking for the benefit of the command. By the way, major, do you know what sort of a road we shall find on the other side of this mountain-range ?” “We shall have to descend about fourteen miles over a very rough and mountainous section, a8 Bent informs me, and then he says that we will reach a good camping-place. I have found him very useful in. many respects, though I have been careful not to excite his vanity by telling him so. I don’t see how he gets held of so much information.” “ He makes it a point to talk with all the hunters and mountain-men he can pick up. For my part, I am not fond of rooting in such mire. I was asking about the route, major, because I understand that the section on the other side of the mountains is a great resort of the Indians, and it is possible that we may meet some of them before long.”. “Bent suggested to me, a while ago, that he thought we would soon come up with the copper-colored scoundrels who tried to stampede us last night, but I am inclined to think that they are far away from us by this time. » I have scouts out, however, and we may be able to catch them before they get wind of our approach. As for their catching us, you know that it is out of the question. «Tt is possible that. they may find us where we had rather not be found. This isa bad defile that we are in.” “Tt looks rather dangerous, I admit, but our scouts are in the advance, and there is no danger.” As a rather inappropriate ending to these confident words, a few dropping shots were heard in front. Major Buttress halted the column, and sent Captain Sardis ahead to. learn what was the matter. The captain soon returned, as rapidly as the nature of the ground would allow, followed by a portion of the dragoons who had been detailed to act as scouts. Then arose Indian yells, wild, shrill and fierce, from each side of the defile, and vollies of musket-shots and arrows were poured into both flanks of the party. Several soldiers fell at the first fire, and the command was thrown “into temporary COmcoooks.conn