Red Plume — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

A PAIR OF HOTSPURS. 23 to believe there were hostile Indians in the neighborhood, and — he feared for his Gear ones, - He had already regretted that he had undertaken such a long and perilous journey into the wilderness with such a small company, and was glad of a chance to place himself under the protection of a larger and more experienced party. His wife and daughter also were pleased with the idea, because they wished for company, and were impressed by the good looks and easy manners of the young stranger. David, also; favored the move, because he shared his father’s fears; and the silence of the Delaware; as usual, gave token of assent. The only voice that was raised in opposition was that of « Eben Gookin, who denounced the proposition in a style that Was very impolite toward Steele, — quite offensive to all. “Tt jist seems to me,” said he—“if you will allow a man to talk who has sailed the sea these seven year, and who ought to know somethin’ of the world—that you are all run- nin’ crazy in a minnit. I always kalkilated, uncle Nathan, that you were a cool-headed, cautious, and slow-thinkin’ man, not likely to rush off in’ this fashion, without lookin’ “two inches ahead of your nose. I don’t wonder at cousin Ellen, who is always ready to start out after every thin’ new that comes along, ’specially if it’s in the shape of a young man ; or at Dave, who is young yet, and lackin’ in experience; or at the Delaware, who cares precious little what becomes of. us, so long ashe gits his pay; but you, uncle Nathan, who have always been considered a kurful and kalkilatin’ man—I wouldn’t ever have thought that you could be led off in this way, and made to go to a place and people you don’t know nothin’ about. Who can tell who and what these folks: are? Who can say that they ain’t a band of thieves and pirates worse than any red Injuns? Here comes a feller, nobody knows who, loafin’ in here, jist about nightfall, and you all want to run off after him, without stoppin’ to ask whether he’s an honest man or a rascal, and it’s sart’in that he wouldn’t be so anxious for you to go, if he didn’t have some object into it.’ / : “Sir!” exclaimed Frank Steele, who had been listening to this harangue with flushed face and angry eyes. “Do you mean to hint that my father and his party are a band of 7 comicbooks.com