Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

& SOLITARY HORSEMAN, 79 ~CHAPTER_XIT.: THE CARAVAN. . A CARAVAN was slowly wending its way across the’ upper “forks of Trinity river. It was not # large caravan, compris- ing only eight wagons, of which two belonged to emigrants, and the otliers to traders. Two traders owned the wagons in parinership—John Wilson, from Mississippi, and Tom Bulkley, from nowhere in particular. The emigrants were from Mis- sissippi, andthe families were those of Nathan Boyd, with his wife and his som Henry and daughter Miriam, and of Samuel Ryan, with his two grown sons and three daughters. There was a teamster to each of the traders’ st eae ik, ‘all, *~ thirteen men attached to the caravan. ~ ' It was a smull force with which to traverse the wast wilder. ness of northern Texas; but no danger was apprehended, ex- cept from Indians, and it was believed the rifles of the party would be a sufficient protection against any bands: of savages that might be met. Had John Wilson supposed that there could be any real danger, he would have employed more men, and would have paid them out of his own purse, for the sake af Mitheas:Bogd, whase ng: Mankwe Wes msuch joe proeious _. o ornament the wigwam of a savage. — As the caravan was about to cross the: west: for the! Inat of hint dinates of streams, a solitary borseman came in sight, who was at first supposed to be an Indian, but was recognized as a Wlhiite man’on a nearer view. He rode up to the party with- out any hesitation or ceremony, announcing his name as Bell Sparks, and his occupation that of a hunter and trapper. Having vouchsafed-this information, he proceeded to fraternize with the company in true ‘hunter’s style, and was liberally re: galed with strong liquors, of which there was abundant store in the wagons. —~ In return for this hespitality, Bell Sparks opened his stock of. knowledge concerning the country and routes, with - which he was thoroughly acquainted, and made himself so use- comcbdooks.com