Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

50 The Indian Foray. leaped to the ground the boy from Virginia was not a whit behind. The bullets were singing overhead and all around. Cuthbert could not but compare them to an en- raged swarm of bees seeking the youthful destroyer of their peace—he had, like most boys, passed through this warm experience during visits to the country, and the impression made under such con- ditions remains a lifetime. He was surprised to find himself so calm, and began to entertain a better opinion of his abilities than heretofore. Just as he expected, no sooner had his comrades touched ground than they sought shelter behind their horses. It was a thrilling moment with those wild riders circling around, drawing closer to fire their guns and then galloping off to reload. ‘Old Sile did not mean to remain there long to serve as a target for these markSsmen—it was true that as yet they had done no damage, but a ran- dom bullet might presently cripple one of the horses forming the barricade. He spoke a few quick words to Karl, who imme- diately turned to Cuthbert on the other side: “Let me have your rifle—it’s the only one in the, crowd, and those skip-jacks manage to keep out- side pistol shot. Watch how surprised they'll be when Old Sile opens on ’em.”’ They surely were, not having expected to be so ‘warmly received. The man who had been with Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack and Wild Bill Hickok on many a stirring trail had not forgotten how to handle a rifle with good results, even though he had little use for such a weapon in his business as cow puncher. His first shot tumbled over a horse, and the sur- ConnicloOolkks.€©