Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

252 Sunset Ranch. try on duty day and night, to report the coming of any force that might be sent into the Bad Lands by the Government, or, possibly, the settlers and ranchmen, irritated beyond endurance by the fre- quent raids of these lawless characters. Where this guardian of the camp was posted the Indian had not been able to declare, but believed it must be some place along the trail, which was the main reason he had wished to cache their horses, even when a mile or more away from the village. So it happened that Karl was fated to make the acquaintance of this fellow in a manner not at all calculated to please him. Without the least warning, he suddenly found himself face to face with a strapping, big-bearded chap, who surveyed him with astonishment. The row from the village had, of course, excited his curiosity, and he was debating as to whether he had better remain on deck where he was, or hasten back to the assistance of his allies, when he thus came upon the cowboy, leading a horse, on which was seated a midget of a little woman. “Halt, thar! What’s all this ruction about?” was the way the hairy giant saluted him. Karl had received a shock at sight of the other, but, with true cowboy instinct, his hand had in- stantly gone in search of his gun. “The Indians have stampeded the stock, and I reckon they’re cleaning out the whole place. It ain’t safe, nohow, and I’ve concluded to levant— that’s’ all.” He was surprised at himself for the coolness with which he made this reply. “Tnjuns, hey? and cleanin’ out the stock, be they? Well, the boys hev been jest spilin’ fur a scrimmage this long time back, and I’ve an idee they kin wallop any pesky red varmints as may drop down on ’em. COMIC OOKS.EO