Red Plume — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

66 RED PLUME. “Tknow that bottle,’ said young Carver, as he examined the article. ‘It is cousin Eben’s pocket-flask, that he carried his spirits in. Shouldn't wonder if he has put it there on purpose, td give a hint to such as might come after. Yes, there’s a paper in it, too. Come and take a look at this, Mr. Steele.” David extricated the paper from the flask, and read as seri lows: “ Allright: Nelly is safe so far. Soam I, but in a ticklish fix. Don’t know where we are going. Lots of Injuns with us. Tell that young Steele that he needn’t think any more about Nelly, as she knows who sticks to her in time of trouble. : &¢ EE. G? “That is good news, anyhow,” he said, when he had finished. “I am glad to hear that they are safe, especially sister Nelly. Inever feel troubled about Eben, as he seems to get out of scrapes as easy as he gets into them, and that is saying considerable.” “ Judging from the tone of his note,” said Steele, “I think he has impudence enough to carry him through any thing. Come, now, let us follow up this trail while it is warm.” The trail was easily followed, for there was a small army of the Indians, including their women and children and other live stock, and they had left a track that even David Carver would have called as plain as a wagon-road. Consequently, our friends traveled at their leisure, wishing to keep well in the rear of the Blackfeet, as it was far from their desire to provoke an encounter, or to be discovered. It was late in the night when they reached a high bluff, which overlooked a broad and beautiful valley, through which, as through the valley of the Saskatchie, ran a stream of water. Here Bush ordered a halt, and crept forward to the edge of . the bluff, and looked down into the valley from a position at which he could see without being seen. He soon discovered ‘that the Blackfeet camp, as he had supposed would be the case, was located there. He called his companions, and showed them the wreaths of smoke that curled up, here and there, above the tops of the trees. “The practiced eyes of thé trapper and the Indian told them that a large force was’ camped in the valley. 4 commiclooks.Cconn