Buffalo Bill: His Life and Adventures in the Wild West — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

49 rs True, but not until I had killed John Leigh, the Danite leader,” and the youth ma st with a savage earnestness that told the scout how deep was his hatred for the man. “ Come, let us go back up the canyon and see what can be done, and we'll doubt- less surprise those fellows, as they’ think I’m scared off for good, ” and the youth laughed lightly. “i am your ally, little pard, so lead on,” was the pleasant remark of Buffalo Bill, and side by side they went up the canyon, where soon they saw that the escape of “Satan’s Pet,” as he said he was called in the mines, had created an excite- ment that had not subsided. White men, painted as Indians, were bending over fallen comrades, shot down ' by the “daring youth, and three were pre- paring to mount horses, as though to go in pursuit of the enemy who had dealt them such severe blows. “Tl tell you what you do, sir; open on them with your rifle, and run them back into the cave, and they'll think I’ve re- turned, for they did not notice I carry only revol vers, | am certain,” said Pet, addressing Buffalo Bill. “A good idea, and we can keep them | besieged there until night, and then, as they come out, follow them, and make a dash to rescue the young ladies,” “We need not wait until night, for yonder cave is one of my haunts in these mountains, and there is another entrance, which they do not suspect, and I will go there and see if I cannot steal the ciris out.” ‘‘T hate to have you go alone,” “YT am generally alone; I told you I had no friends, and, besides, you must stay here and keep them in that cave.” cE ow, let them know they are not for- gotten.” Buffalo Bill raised his Colt’s repeating- rifle, the only repeating gun then known, and, with the flash, a man fell dead in front of the cavern entrance. Back, pell-mell, into the cave went horses and riders, and only the slain were left without. A boyish laugh broke from the lips of the youth, at the sudden stampede of his foes, and he cried, gaily— “That's the music; just sing them the same song each time they appear, and Tj be back in an hour or so.” He left his horse lariated out with that of the scout’s, and hastily disappeared in & canyon that led farther into the hills, while Buffalo Bill. protected by the "BUFFALO ae Ny A boulder, rept his ve fixed upo n tl oo) cavern. Once he caught sight of a pees mo in far back in the shadows of the cave a instantly his eye ran along the sig ights and his finger touched the trigger. — i A smothered cry followed the shot, @ the scout knew that his aim i el) true. At last he came to the conelusion the occupants of the cavern were pr ing some surprise for him. AS He could hear their horses movir in; about on the rock flooring, and | thei voices were echoed back to him in ea I nes conversation. 4 . Presently, out of the cavern, riding i n group, dashed six horsemen at full spes Then Buffalo Bill knew that their f Ia was to charge upon him en masse, man trusting to luck not to be tho on who got the rifle-shot, and, feeling con fident that their weapons, at close quar ters would quickly put the youth to flight for it was evident that they believed. a their foe guarding the cave was 1 other. But they had not taken inte consider tion the deadly aim of Buffalo Bill. Hardly had their horses given hal Ita dozen bounds before they saw thei take, for one man and two steeds ha goke down under the scout’s fire, ¢ and” fourth shot broke the arm. of a sec¢ ni rider. rai A narrow canyon, with steep sides, led to the shelf upon which the cave openet and, feeling that it was safer to ret re their way to the cavern, than keep on fo a hundred yards under that. fatal ‘ fire they drew rein to go to the right abou tC. But during the temporary. check, the unerring rifle poured in its fire, ¢ and il wild terror, they started back to. then retreat, But suddenly, the three men left, r back their horses, with cries of te ee : out of the cavern bounded a ee Ort a revolver in each hand, and 1 opened upon them. : With horror they beheld the very one they believed had been firing upon 1 pe m from over the boulder, and, as antl horse went down beneath his aim, the darted to the steep side of the | oanyiae and deserting their animals, clamber od Uy the embankment. But Satan’s Pet was detarnsiestt no Ck let them escape so easily, and sent anothe) shot after them, which broug nt a baa ee oda eee canyon, aot ula came in We a C) micbooks.co com ay YY - 4 i ot mis : ‘ antly a