On the Trail of Geronimo — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

226 ON THE TRAIL OF GERONIMO. Apparently at the very base of the mountains, a faint pencil of smoke was observed. It did not sway from side to side, or take any of the peculiar motions which it would have shown had it been a signal smoke of Indians or hunters. On the con- trary, it was stationary as if it were a stain left by some giant brush swept upward from the horizon. An inexperienced eye, even with the aid of an instrument, would have seen nothing significant in the sight ; but as the reader will understand it had a world of meaning to the five men who were scrutinizing it through their glasses. Even with- out the knowledge of what had taken place the night before, they would have guessed that the vapor marked the site of a burned building. Controlling his emotion as best he could, Lieu- tenant Whitcomb remarked, as he lowered his glass : ee Beyond all question Harland’s ranch was burned last night.” “ That’s as clear as if we stood by and saw it,” added Joggens. “Pm thinking,” said Windstrom thoughtfully, “that from the devilment that has been going on COMnniEclooe «Shi