Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

A Dakota Blizzard. 77 determine that the quartette of Indians had wit- nessed their appearance with a consuming rage, doubtless under the belief that, but for their pres- ence, the entire herd might have fallen into their hands as prizes. For the time Cuthbert forgot all about these dis- appointed braves; the excitement attending the chase was enough to hold his attention. Often had he read vivid descriptions of just such a scene, and it was hard to realize that he was ex- periencing its joys now. Karl did not urge his broncho. A few miles more or less between themselves and that ugly quartette of red hunters would not come amiss. , Destiny brings these rivals together many times in the chase, and tragedies have followed. At the proper time a little burst of speed would place them alongside, and in a position to give a- good account of themselves. Several times Karl turned in the saddle and looked back. Doubtless even his cautious soul was finally satisfied, for he gave the word that meant the closing scene in the hunt was about to occur. When Cuthbert found himself riding alongside a bull with a massive head, he had considerable diffi- culty in getting his gun aimed, for it takes much practice to shoot with certainty on horseback when careering over the prairie at full speed. Thus his first and second shots appeared to only wound the great bison, and the next thing he knew his horse had shied just in time to avoid the cruel black horns of the bull, that had charged with his head down. The old fellow evidently believed in turning the tables, for he organized an immediate chase. It was exciting enough, to be sure; but, somehow, cCommicloooks C©