The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

a 158 THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE. possess the faculty of scenting a foe at long distance. - Would she show wrath or pleasure now? Could he believe his eyes? Was it possible that he had a friend in this wilderness? If Vixen was to be relied upon, that was the exact truth. For, instead of expressing anger, she actually bounded into the . air with apparent delight. Closer and closer came the rider at his reckless pace. It was time to check his career, ere he should dash straight over them. “Halt! Who goes there?” cried Ryan, in com- manding tones. The horse reared to its haunches almost against the hunter’s form. The animal was covered with foam, its eyes were dilated with excitement and fatigue, and its nostrils trembled as the breath came and went in short, quick throbs. ‘‘Krom the back of the tired hired horse came an answer to the challenge. ‘If you are, as I suspect, Posey Rea Sycamore Dan, and Esther Harper, I am a friend.” It was the voice of Jack Robinson. “Ye’ve guessed it, young feller. But what d’ye want?’’ , ‘Listen and you shall hear.’’ The scout and his friends beat their heads atten- tively, but at the same time kept their eyes in full range of the man who had just arrived. Sounds fell upon their ears at once. More horse- men were approachiug in the distance. “Well,” said Dan, after he had identified the noises, ‘““what are we to learn from that?”’ “You may learn that four of Persimmon Bill’s gang are following on my trail. You may learn that {am hunted like a dog, for trying to save you from comicbooks (Efe)