Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 *©Oh no, you are worth more on the border than the money you have with you that you have robbed poor miners of.” ‘Who are you?” hissed the man. *“ Butterfly Billy, the Overland Detective.” ‘*Curse you!” ‘*Thank you; but your curses are going to be like chickens, aud go home to roost,” ‘“‘ What do you intend to do with me?” al Deliver you over to Colonel Carter, of Fort ** He will hang me!” wailed the man, ‘* Doubtless.” “Ts this your friendship for me?” ‘si have none.” ** See how I treated you.” “ How id ‘*T saved your life.” * You thought I was a fugitive, and so saved me. ** And are you not one?”, ‘* Not I, for I only put these irons on when I saw I was unable to escape, and I have the key with me. ‘* They are intended for your friend, the Giant General, whom you meant to murder and rob, and had I gotten a treasure, as I told you, then you would bave killed me in my sleep and es- ea with all,” ‘ And that money?” ** f simply told you a gigantic lie—that is all.” ‘* Oh, curses upon you 1”? ‘* Come, « don’t like this neighborhood, for it is too near the Devil’s Dominions, meaning your own, so we will depart for safer lands,” The youth turned and found that his horse had strayed some distance away, and so, forcing the renegade to mount his own animal, be bound his feet to the stirrups, and hitching the horse se- eurely, started after the one that had gone astray, It was no easy task to get near him, and in the pursuit the youth suddenly came to a halt and dropped his hand upon his revolver, His face flushed and paled, as he stood there gazing down into a canyon, and then he moved Tyna along the ridge and crept down the nill. Turning into the canyon, he walked noiseless ly along until he came to a horse staked out to peed upon the grass that grew plentifully on all sides, It was a large, long-bodied, long-limbed horse, black as jet, and the youth muttered in a joyous ne: ‘* The black horse of the Giant General; so the man asleep yonder is the robber himself.” Just a hundred feet away lay the form of a man hidden in blankets, and his face concealed by his wide-brimmed sombrero. With his revolver in his hand, Butterfly Billy noiselessly moved on up the canyon until he came to within a few feet of the sleeping form. Then his revolver covered the man, and he sternly uttered the words: ‘You are my prisoner! Don’t force me to kill you, so surrender!” The man threw aside his blankets at the sound ofa buman voice, sprung to his feet, and re- vealed, not the massive form of the Giant Gen: eral, but the tall, wiry figure of Buffalo Bill, CHAPTER XX, PARDS WELL MET, THe surprise of Buffalo Bill at suddenly dis- covering Butterfly Billy standing over him and covering him with a revolver, seemed about equal to the amazement of the Pony Rider in beholding the scout emerge from the blankets. **Oh, Mr. Cody! how glad [ am to see you but I thought I bad the Giant General, sure,” eried the youth, as he replaced his revolver and seized the scout’s hand. ‘*Thought I was the Giant General, Butter- fly?” and there was just the shadow of a sus- picion in the scout’s manner, It flashod upor him haw strange it was to find the youth just then, when he had been with the red-skins when last seen. Not noticin the suspicion in the scout’s man- ner, Butterfly Billy responded: ‘** Yes, for [came upon the horse feeding be- low in the canyon, and would know him among a thousand as the General’s,” ‘* Ah, yes,” and Cody’s face quickly cleared. ‘““} found the outlaw’s horse tied to a tree on the trail one day over a year ago, and 80 appro- riated him, as you had gone; but he really be- ongs to you, for you captured him, and the Giant General kidnapped him the night of bis escape.” The face of Butterfly Billy flushed at this, for he recalled how be had aided the outlaw’s es- cape for infermation be had given him, and that Butterfly Billy’s Man-Hunt. he had promised him ho would leave the superb black horse at a certain place on the trail on a given day for him, the Pony Rider, to, go and et. > He had gone his way to Texas, and the outlaw leaving the horse as he had promised, the animal had been fouad and appropriated by Buffalo Bill. The scout saw at once how it was that he had been mistaken for the Giant General, and the Pony Rider added: , ‘‘ ‘You are a large man, anid wrapped in your blankets, with your sombrero hiding your face, aod the horse, staked out yonder, I was sure I had the Giant General.” ‘* And what a disappointment for you to find only me,” ‘“ No indeed, for of all men you are the man I wished most to see, and I’ll get the Giant Gen- eral another time; but I am more than glad to find you here, for you can help me.” ‘¢? gm your man, Butterfly.” ‘*Ob I know that, Mr. Cody; but come, help me to catch my runaway horse, and I will show you something that I have done. ° ‘‘ Tc was while trying to catch my horse that i saw your 2amp from yonder ridge.” “Yes, it was night when 1 camped here, and now I see the place by day I was very negligent to halt in such a place; but I was worn out, and must have been very sound asleep not to waken up when day broke, and when you came, Why Black Bravo even went back on me, and he is as good asa watch-dog and always warns me of danger.” ‘‘ He knew me, I guess, for you know I was his master for some time; but will you go with me pow?” “ Certainly,” and quickly saddling his horse, while the Pony Rider rolled up his blanket, the scout was ready in five minutes, ‘*] don’t wish to remain any longer in this neighborhood than is necessary,” said the youth, and they set off invsearch of the runaway horse, Mounted upon his black the ‘scout soon spied the horse, and riding near dropped the lariat ovet his head. Then Butterfly Billy mounted his horse and the two rode back up the range to where the Pony Rider had left his prisoner, ‘* What are you doing here, Mr. Cody, in this dangerous neighborhood, may I ask, for [ sup- ysed you had -gone on to the fort?’ asked the Pons Rider. ‘Tt wason the tip end of my tongue to ask ou the same question, Butterfly; but as you aye the call on me J will say that 4 was search- ing for you.” ‘For me?” 66 Yes,” “ And why?” ‘* You were the one who saved the train from capture, I hear?” ** Yes, [| saw the danger you were in, so rode to the fort and brought aid.” ‘ And you planned the attack?’ ‘*T told Captain Allen what 1 deemed was bes‘ to be done,” ‘‘/t was just the thing to do, andif you had been a half hour later, not one of the train would have been alive. ‘*T owe you my life, my dear boy.” ‘‘ Well, ’m glad | was ablo to serve you, and happy that the train escaped. * But did you not go on with the train to tho fort?” ts Yes,” ‘¢ But you are here now?” ‘* 1] am,” ‘* Please tell me why?” ** Weil, i had but a big short stay in the fort, after our arrival, before I was sent for to go to Captain Allen’s quarters, and though the order came from Miss Mattie Carter I obeyed it as though it had come from her father the colonel. ‘** | found there Miss Ivy Allen and Miss Mat- tie, and their object in sending for me was to have me go in search of you,” ** Of me,” and the youth’s face flushed. ‘* Yes, for they are as truly your friends as f am, and Miss Mattie was determined tbat I should go and rescue you from the clutches ot the red-skins,” ‘* Tt was so good of her, but it was forcing you to take big chances, my friend.” ‘‘ Well, Billy, I owed you my life, and I want- ed to save yours, and then Miss Mattie’s pretty little head got up a plan that would be of great help to me.” | ‘* And what was that, may I ask?’ ‘‘ We bad some thirteen red-skins who were wounded in the fight and captured, and whom we carried with our wounded to the fort, so Miss Mattie wished me to communicate with the Sioux in some way and offer to exchange these warrior priscners for you.” ‘* Bless her sweet soul.” ‘‘ The Sioux would have done it, and the only trouble was to get a chance to communicate with them and this l intended to do hy Ni peice an Indian sentinel and sending him to White Buf- falo with a message as to what I would do, and to bave him send an answer to the Lone Pine, for then I could guard against treachery.” ‘¢-Yet you would have run a terrible risk; but after all I was not to be deserted, was [?” ‘‘ By no means, for you have true friends in Fort M , you may rest assured.” ‘* Yes, and a true friend not now at the fort, whose name is Buffalo Bill; but you had gotten this far on your mission?” ‘“ Yes—but look yonder!” and as quick as lightning Buffalo Bill was on his guard, for he had caught sight of a horse and rider in the thicket ahead of him, and once more a thought of suspicion against the youth flashed through his mind, for the one he saw, a glance had told him was an Indian, ; ; ‘Oh, don’t mind him, for he is a prisoner,” said the Pony Rider, noticing the scout’s move- ment, ‘* A prisoner?” of Yes.” ** An Indian?” ¢¢Oh, yes.” . ‘* And a chief, for I saw his head-dress of feathers.” ‘* Yes, it is the White Buffalo.” “6 The White Buffalo? Chief of the Sioux?” ‘¢ Yes, and be is my prisoner,” was the cool reply of the young Pony Rider, and Buffalo Bill . gazed at him in wonder, and a look that plainly demanded an explanation. CHAPTER XXI. THE THREE HORSEMEN, THe look upon the face of Buffalo Bill when the Pony Rider coolly informed him that the horseman whom he saw through the bushes was none other than the White Buffalo, head chief of the Sioux, and his prisoner, caused Butterfly Billy to burst forth in laughter, He said then as he rode forward: “ Come, let us get White Buffalo and move out of this, as I do not wish to remain longer in so dangerous a locality than there is actual need for, and Sioux scouts may come upon us at any minute.” ‘Toad on, Butterfly, for Iam at your heels,” and the scout went prepared for any surprise that might greet him. But he soon discovered that the horso was made fast to a tree, and that the rider was bound to his back. | . A closer look showed that the rider was a chief, and an ejaculation proke from the lips of Buffalo Bill as ho cried: ‘Tt is the chief who led the attack on the train!” ‘* Yes.” ” And that is White Buffalo?” “¢ He is.” ; ‘¢ And White Buffalo is a white man?” “True,” ‘“7 knew that the man i saw as chief of the Sioux that day was a white man,” ‘You were right, for there he is,” “ And a renegade?” ‘© Of course; but here we are.” As he spoke, Butterfly Billy rode up to the chief and said: ‘©¥ was anxious about leaving you so long, chief, but my horse led me a dance; yet I am lad of it, for in following him I came upon @ one camp, and found an oid friend init. “Tet me present you to Buffalo Bill of whom you have often heard, for your warriors are as afraid of him as of an evil spirit.” ‘““This was a weil arranged trap of yours, boy, and I was a fool to trust you.’ “You certainly were; but come, we must be off, for just now we are not red-skin hunting,” ‘“No,"you fave gamo enough for one day, Butterfly,” and turning to the prisoner the scout continued: “Well, Mr. White Buffalo, I never knew you were a renegade white man before; ‘but you have shown yourself equally cruei with the la- dians, and I guess it will go hard with you.” ‘‘Tt will be no more than hanging,” growled the prisoner. * ; “No, i guess not; but hanging strikes me as being just about as bad as can be, ‘» Well, jet es move, Butterfly, for as you say this neighborhood is sickly for pale-faces,’’ and the’ scout led the way down the hill, while But- terfly Billy followed side by side with the rene a -- oss a | | | |