José — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 179 have the means,” he said, thrusting a limb into the muzzle of his rifle. “At all events by so doing we shall have no cause to reproach ourselves.” “I'd prefer to run ina ball on top of the other,” growled the freighter, mercilessly forciag half of the limb into the muzzle of his weapon. “However, Pll shut my mouth and obey orders!” Baumann, who had begun to show signs of ex- haustion in consequence of the unwonted exercise to which he had been subjected, brightened up at the hunter’s words; and even Bill’s face relaxed when Bob raised both hammers of his double-barrel, and substituted new caps. “While I hardly think we need be alarmed,” said the hunter, “there is no harm in being cautious.” “If you don’t come to us, we’ll go to you! that’s the cackle!” said the freighter, nodding, while to- gether with Baumann he followed Bob’s example, and both carefully examined their pistols. _ The trail now ran parallel with the brook, except when at intervals it extended in a straight direction where the brook formed a bend, the grass seeming to grow taller and fresher as they advanced. At the lapse of several hours Bob at last halted on the crest of a prairie ridge and with a “Here they are!” beckoned his friends to apprvach. In a vallev of concave form, through which the brook wound its meandering course, a number of rawhide tents were scattered in picturesque dis- order, leaving an open square in the center of the improvised village, in which groups of warriors, squaws, and children mingled in a motley throng. Upon the open plain, surrounding, horses were grazing unrestricted. The whites had passed but few seconds in silent contemplation of the scene GEomichboo cS (E(o)