José — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

118 | JOSE, here, a half-breed Indian, a sort of chief among the Apaches that live hereabouts, who had all the vices but none of the virtues of the red man, and we had a great deal to suffer from him and his tribe, in the way of depredations upon our herds, until one day he fell into the hands of our men. My father always pursued the policy of living with the redskins on the best possible footing, and so he allowed the rascal to go when he had promised to leave the neighborhood and join the northern Apaches; and in order to convert an enemy into a friend, my father promised him an annual present of ammuni- tion, tobacco and coffee, for himself, as well as for several of his most prominent warriors, so long as the depredations were not repeated. From that time forth we lived on a comparative peaceful foot- ing until I took charge of the property and can- celed the arrangement as an unwarrantable tribute. We remained unmolested notwithstanding, and only on my arrival yesterday, | was apprised that the half-breed has either returned or is soon expected by his tribe—evidently with no good intentions toward us. I hope, however, to get him into my hands at the first offense; and then, I think, he will trouble us no more.” The young lady had silently listened to the ex- planation of her companion, and now urged her pony into a quicker gait. “Are you, then, really so timid, Miss Mary, that a possibly unnecessary act of precaution is able to cloud your enjoyment of our verdant landscape, and this invigorating morning?” resumed McGregor, causing his horse to keep pace with hers, while Brown checked his animal and followed the couple at some distance in the rear, “I almost came to Eomichooks,;com