Red Plume — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

42 RED PLUME. ° Steele stood for a few moments, looking around 1rresolutely, and then concluded that the Indian was right, that he could do nothing, single-handed, to aid Ellen, but could only make his escape, and bring a strong force to her rescue. “You speak truly,’ said he. ‘“ Lead on, and I will fol- low.” Swiftly and silently, and still holding the hand of Le-la, the young warrior hastened down to the plain, where the horses were grazing quietly. Selecting two of the finest, he placed the young woman on one of them, and mounted the other himself, while Steele also made his choice from among them. As soon as they were mounted, they rode down the bank of the stream for a short distance, guiding their horses with the picket ropes, and then struck off into the open prairie. For hours they rode on in silence, or nearly so, very few words being spoken between them. The Indian woman was quietly happy in feeling that she was free, and that her lover was safe from pursuit; Kotselo meditated about his love and his revenge; and Frank Steele was entirely occupied with thoughts of pretty Ellen Carver, whom he had been com- pelled to leaye behind in the power of the red-men. There | was no help for it, however, and he consoled himself with the thought that they would not be likely to injure her, and that he might soon be able to effect. her release. They rode rapidly, desiring to put as much distance as possible between themselves and thoge who might be pursu- ing. Steele had taken his bearings carefully, and guided the party in what he supposed to be the direction of his father’s camp. They often looked back, to watch for signs of pur- suit, but they saw no human being on the broad prairie, un- til the sun was nearly two hours high. Then an exclamation from Kotselo attracted their attention to a small speck that was slowly approaching them, from the direction in which they were proceeding. As it drew nearer, they made it out to be a mounted man, and they began to think of their safety. It was only one man, to be sure, but they were bound to consider eyery one they met as an enemy, until he proved the contrary, and they had no arms, with the exception of Kotselo’s bow and wo COMICDOOKS.C Com