Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XVII. THE RAID ON THE BAD LANDS. Little Buckshot was as good as his word. The second day they were in the midst of the Bad Lands, and moving slowly forward, since they must be near the headquarters of the lawless spirits into whose power poor Polly had fallen. So accurate had been the predictions of this dusky ally with whom Karl was now associated that on this second day they actually came upon a trail of six ponies leading in the same direction whence they themselves were bound; and among the confused tracks the keen-eyed prairie boy immediately picked out the hoof prints of Polly’s little nag. Later on they found where this animal and one other had started off at right angles from the main bunch. Evidently Jasper and his charge wished to part company with the choice companions who had thus far been a bulwark of strength to the daring cause he represented. And yet Karl was not greatly surprised when a few hundred yards further on they once more dis- covered the hoofprints of the outlaws. The young Sioux explained the seeming mystery - in his laconic, matter-of-fact way. “Ugh! He think him go away with um Polly— bime-by others change mind, follow up and no let xo. How!” Karl could guess the secret of those confused tracks, and it depressed his spirits. The lawless fellows, after taking Jasper’s money for lending assistance had conceived a sudden idea that possibly the girl might be worth her weight in ConniclooOokks.€©