Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

“ Wild Life on the Ranch. not waste words when unknown danger seems in the air. “Indians off their reservation, and lookin’ for trouble,” grunted the newcomer, who, having ridden fast and far, was more or less winded. ‘“Squaws with them or not?” asked the ranchman —for when ona hunt the red man of the plains takes his family along, but never when going on the war- path or bent upon a cattle-stealing raid. “Nary a squaw seen—all bucks and rigged out strictly for biz,’ came the reply. At this, looks were exchanged among the em- ployees of X bar X ranch; it meant a change of venue, that their work was evidently cut out for them, and that it would be of quite a different nature from the humdrum routine of the last few weeks. Among such wild spirits it could only be expected that a prospect like this would arouse more or less enthusiasm. A brush with the Indians meant danger, and that is what the cowboy enjoys above all things. “Say, where’d ye meet ’em?” asked the ranchman. “Down river,” said Old Sile, laconically, with a nod of his head. “Enough to wipe out Sunset. Heard as how these Sioux fellers was makin’ trouble with the cow- boys of Lone Star and Double Cross outfits.” "we did?” “Yep; and they made toward the range. Guess - they've an eye to scooting with some of the cattle quartered thar.” All was excitement in the camp, but presently order came out of chaos. Kelly was a man of great presence of mind. This was not the first time, by long odds, that in his experience as a ranchman he had been called ConniclooOckks.€©