Buffalo Bill: His Life and Adventures in the Wild West — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

pa but full in the light fire, while almost at dead comrade, Again and again they spoke to Billy, but he gave no reply. Then they threatened to make 10 warm for him, and one suggested that they male a break for the door. But, each one seemed to feel that the revolver covered him, and none would make’ the attempt, for they had ocular demonstration before them of the deadly aim of the eye behind the weapon. To poor little Billy, and we suppose to the men, too, it seemed as if ages were passing away, in the hour and a quarter shat Davie Dunn was gone, for he had bounded upon one of the outlaws’ horses and ridden away like the wind. But at last Billy heard a stern voice Bay— ‘‘ Boys, you is our meat.” | At the same time severai pistots were | thrust into the window ana m came the door, burst open with a terrific crash, which was music to Billy's ears, whilst in dashed a dozen bold settlers, led by Farmer Dunn. Not only were the three outlaws cap- tured, but, being recognised as old of- fenders, they were tried by “ Judge Lynch,” as, you know, wild justice 1s named on the border, and swung up toa free. Billy and Dave became boy heroes, and the former was voted the lion of the iog cabin school, for had he not “killed his man.” You musi keep in mind that physical prtress % the grea; thing in wild lie, end that fife = abeut the only valuable article—surrounded by gold a man may starve in the terrible warfare waged by nature’s thousand imps. “ He has killed his man,” makes a boy ten years older in esteem at a jump. Such is, and ever has been, border warfare. from the flickering CHAPTER Ii. SHOOTING FOR A PRIZE HORSE, HILE Mr. Cody was an Indian trader at Salt Creek Valley in Kansas, his son Billy laid the foundation for that knowledge of the red- skin charactér which served ‘him so well in after years, and won lim a name as scout and hunter that no one else has ever surpassed. For days at a time Billy would bo in BUFFALO BILL, their feet lay their | go with the warriors on | free, they will be harder to take than real . you a reward of ten dollars for every o 16 the Indian villages, and often he w ul their buffalo and game hunts, and now and then would join, a friendly band in a war-trail against hostiles mar Another favourite resort of Dilly’s was” Fort Leavenworth, where his handsome. face, fearlessness, and manly nature, made him a great favourite with both officers and men. eae On one occasion while at the fort ‘a large Government herd of horses, lately brought up from Texas, where they had been captured wild on the prairies, stam- peded, or ran away ina mass In @ pan °, and could not be retaken, 7 ae Once or twice Billy had com into the fort with one of the fugitive herd which he had captured, and the quartermaster said to him— } ere / i" “ Billy, if that herd remains much lon yer aie wila norses,80 go to work and I'll give you bring in, for the Government autho- rises me to make that offer.” = = This was just to Billys taste, and — 1 went at once home and spent a cou ale of days preparing for the work before him, and from which his mother and sisters tried to dissuade him; but the boy saw in it a fortune at two sovereigns por horse, and would not give it up. ) flis own pony, Rascal, he knew, was not fast enough for the work ahead, so he. determined to get a better mount, and rode over to the fort to see a sergeant who had an animal not equalled for speed) on the plains. | a Rascal, some sixty dollars (£12), whick he had saved, a rifle, and some well-tanned skins, were offered for the sergeant’s horse and refused, and in despair Billy knew not what to do, for he had gotten to the ond of his personal fortune. caer “ Sergeant,” he suddenly cried, as 4 bright idea seized him. i © Well, Billy 2” ) ge Se “They say you are the crack shot in the fort.” | 2 pe “T am, too, Billy.” i, “Well, I'll tell you what I’ll do to win your horse, Little Grey. Tl put up all. I have offered you against your animal, ane shoot for them.” 2 “ Why, Billy, I don’t want to win you pony and money.” 4 a “ And I don’t want you to; but. gC shoot with you for your horse agains mine, and all else I have offered.” The sergeant was a grasping man, an comfident of his powers, at last assentet comicbooks.com ot aie