Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

218 Where Karl Went. blizzard to save the imperiled cattle placed in his charge. His first act was to top the nearest rise and sweep the surrounding prairie with eager eyes. Disappointment followed, for, while a few ante- lopes were seen here and there, not a sign of a hu- man being came under his observation. Nothing remained but the trail. Could he ever find that? First of all he marked the spot where he had slept, so that he might not wander away; then a sys- tematic search was commenced, beginning in the quarter he considered it most likely he would find traces of the trio. It took him all of twenty minutes to succeed, and he was almost wretched with suspense and doubt when finally he came upon the trail. Without further delay he made a start. Evidently the boy possessed all the elements that go to make up a good trailer—caution, dogged per- severance and a quick eye. At the same time he deplored the great start gained by the fugitives, and also the fact that, try as he would, the chances were they were gaining on him constantly. | He was hungry enough to eat any old thing with- out question, nor could he much longer stand the strain. Two hours after sunrise he sighted a single horse- -man ahead, riding in such a way as to cross his path. The bold lad who had followed five determined rascals mile after mile was not apt to turn aside on account of a lone rider, even if he was on the border of that country that had long served as a hiding place and nest for the vipers who had been scourged out of the border settlements. So Karl never swerved an inch, but kept along the trail of the three horses. ConniclooOokks.€©