Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

Under the Waning Moon. 165 and not forgetting that prince of rogues, Caleb Cross, whom Satan help if he ever comes back to Sunset Ranch and the boys’ clutches. Why, hello!” This second exclamation was uttered in a tone of voice quite different from that in which he spoke the rest of his soliloquy. It indicated surprise—a sudden apprehension. For the whole hunting party had come to an ab- rupt halt about a mile away. The first thought that entered Cuthbert’s head was that they were debating as to the choice of routes, one being shorter, but more difficult, than the other. Then he realized it must be something of an en- tirely different nature, since several of the Sioux had vaulted from their ponies, and seemed to be search- ing for some lost article amid the short grass. Even as yet Cuthbert only growled at the delay as serving to keep him there, when he so ardently desired to push on. What could they have lost that was of so precious a nature as to cause the whole troop such a period of delay? For the life of him, he could not guess. Perhaps it was the last scare he might have; after this clear sailing awaited him. Ah! what did that fellow mean by pointing straight in his direction? Sure enough, it was the identical sharp-eared chap who had looked so suspiciously in his quarter at the time Buckskin relieved himself of that treacherous neigh. Then it all burst like a thunderbolt from a clear sky upon Cuthbert. They had, by a disgusting piece of ill luck, chanced upon his trail—he remembered he had skimmed along that ridge ere making for the depression where he took his rest. comiclooks C@©