Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

An Indian Brave. 133 inhabitant of the village came out to ascertain what was the matter, and added their whoops and laughter to the din. Cuthbert had accomplished what he wanted—but he deemed it wise to carry a stick for some little time, lest the dogs rise against him, and by a con- certed movement give him trouble. But they had received a severe lesson and learned to respect his valor. Wherever he went they snarled, but slunk out of his way. Heroic measures had accomplished what other means could hardly have done, for these mixed In- dian curs do not seem amenable to kindness, having too much of the treacherous wolf strain in their make-up. That day Cuthbert put in after the manner of an adventurous mariner on a voyage of discovery. He roamed all about the town, and even its out- skirts came under his observation. Seeing some squaws bearing steaming bowls of food along a trail, he had the curiosity to follow in their wake. He knew a lounging brave kept an eye on him, to round him up in case he made a break for liberty; but Cuthbert had not the slightest intention of at- tempting so foolish a move until he could be in better trim to meet the dangers of the prairie. To his surprise he presently found himself in the cemetery of the village. Standing Elk’s people had evidently been located here for many years, or else this was one of their several village sites, for the burial place of the tribe indicated as much. First of all Cuthbert saw a circle of white, glisten- ing skulls. A young squaw was squatted upon the ground fondling one of these relics, crooning tribal songs, cComiclooks C©