Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

118 The Sioux Village. Cuthbert winced at the prospect before him, but realized that if the intentions of the chief were car- ried out he was in a fair way to learn more about Indian life than had ever entered into his philosophy, even in his wildest dreams. That the halt was merely a temporary one, to rest the animals and get a bite of refreshment them- selves, was now made manifest; for at a gruff sig- nal from the leader the young bucks kicked out the sunken fire at which their primitive cooking had been done and scattered to attend to the stock. All became temporary confusion—hobbled ponies were brought up, men sprang upon their backs and some led a captured animal. Cuthbert had already eagerly looked around, in the hope of discovering his own good steed among these latter, scrutinizing each in turn, but in this dis- appointment met him. He did find Buckskin, however, though it was a mystery how the marauders had ever captured the yellow broncho, since his hatred for anything In- dian was so great that he would lay back his ears and look ugly if even approached by a copper-col- ored gentleman. Yet there he was, and apparently as docile as any tired cayuse in the lot. “Ah, there, Buckskin!’ he cried, as he walked up to pat the animal. Buckskin gave a whinny of recognition, for he had come to love Cuthbert only second to Karl. “Poor old chap!’ said Cuthbert, sadly, as he stroked the velvety muzzle. “You can’t think what we've gotten into. Don’t you know your master may be out there scooting to the dear old ranch with a pack of these fellows whooping in his ear—or he may be lying dead on the prairie ?”’ The last thought was too much for him and his eyes filled with tears, while the prairie steed,looked ConniclooOokks.€©