José — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

50 JOSE. CHAPTER IV. CAMPING ON THE PLAINS. Baumann rode on. Not in many vears had he ex- perienced that blithe feeling of activity that was at this moment invigorating his entire being. He felt free in the midst of the infinite plains, stretching away in every direction—the silence unbroken save at intervals by an indistinct sound from the cara- van. His past life, with its narrow limits and re- strictions seemed forever blotted out of his exist- ence. He seemed entering upon a new career, in which the fondest hopes of his heart were to be realized; and he abandoned himself unreservedly to his illusions. | In this frame of mind he silently pursued the trail for some time, when suddenly he detected three Indian horsemen approaching him. So sudden was the discovery that they seemed to have risen out of the ground before him. Baumann, in his journeys through the north-western fur regions, had been among several Indian tribes. He had always found them peacefully inclined, almost submissive where- ever their interests had been at stake, so that the romantic notions with which he had come among them were forcibly dispelled. His views took a new turn, however, when he noticed the many precau- tionary measures that had been adopted in fitting out the train against the danger of these same docile people. Drawing rein, he unstrung his rifle, but instantly after reproached himself for having done so. The three riders had meanwhile ap- Eomichooks sco m