On the Trail of Geronimo — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

328 ON THE TRAIL OF GERONIMO. young heir to the Apache throne for Lieutenant Whitcomb and the female captives. The three Indians appeared to be surprised by this proposition. The one who carried the flag of truce and who did all the talking, turned his head and had a brief conference with his com- panions. ‘¢ The words of the white man are strange to us,” said the messenger, turning back to the officer ; “ we must take them to Geronimo and bring back what he says.” “ All right; you needn’t hurry. This young scamp that we have in camp is getting uneasy, and like enough will try to give us the slip; if he does, our men are ordered to bore him full of bullet holes—but take your own time.” This statement seemed to startle the listeners, and there was another brief consultation, just as the captain expected there would be. If any ill should befall the precious son of the Apache leader through the blundering of his messengers, they would be forced to suffer a fearful penalty. They gave the captain to understand that they would soon be heard from again, and wheeling about, galloped off, taking a course parallel to the COMmlCcoookKks (CO)