Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

_~ os RE ee ME ee eo CHAPTER X. THE PONY RIDER’S PLOT. CAPTAIN ALLEN was an old soldier, and a good one; but he was not too proud to take a suggestion from a mere boy, and one who he knew was not given to going wrong ip bis ideas, So he listened to just what the Pony Rider had to say, as they rode along, and decided to carry out his plans in the rescue of the supply train, ‘‘Of course it will be easy enough, Rosafy,” he said, addressing Captain Rosafy of I Com- pany, ‘‘to rescue the train; but, as my young friend here suggests, it will be far better to completely wipe out the Sioux, and I shall take his advice and divide my force when we camp to-night.” ‘“*] agree with you, Captain Allen, and cer- tainly Butterfly Billy bas won by his deeds re- cognition of any advice he has to offer, and it will be a great thing if we ean give the Sioux a lesson for them to long remember,” answered Captain Rosafy, while Lieutenant Barden, com- manding E Troop, remarked: ‘* f did not believe there was.a red-skin on the war-path witbin a hundred miles of the fort.” ‘‘Tt is because Buffalo Bill went East a month ago to bring the supply train out, for they knew that he had gone without a doubt, and at once became bold and made this raid,” Captain Allen returned, and he added: ‘But for you, Butterfly Billy, the supply- train would have been cartured.” “T only hope that we will be in time,” said the youth, in a tone so significant that Captain Allen gave the order at once for the pace to be quickened. Night soon after set in, but still the guide did not falter, but beld on his way unerringly. At last, after hours of riding through the darkness, he told Captain Allen that it was well to call a halt for rest, and the troopers were halted upon the banks of a stream, and in the edge of some timber. utterfly Billy then, as soon as all had their supper, explained to the three officers exactly the situation. **Tf Captain Rosafy, with his company, fol- lows up this stream, Captain Allen, he will ar- rive about daylight in the valley through which the Sioux will have to retreat, and can bide in the timber and ambush them, while you and Lieutenant Barden can press on to a stream about five miles from here, and there divide so as to 1 ass on each side of the motte where the Sioux have the supply-train concealed— Hark! do you hear that firing?” wy All heard a few shots far in the distance, and the men could hardly refrain from cheering, for it told them that the supply-train still held out, ‘* When you get into a position to charge, you can sweep the Indians before you and rush them into the valley upon Captain Rosafy, so perhaps it would be as well to let him have a few eXtra men, for if they prove too strong for you, and you cannot drive them, then he can tell it b the firing, and come to your rescue; for the red- skins may bave received reinforcements, though I doubt it.” ‘** Butterfly Billy, you area soldier, every inch of you, and I shall carry out your plans ver- batim, and the victory is yours when won, for we will not think of failure,” said Captain Allen with enthusiasm. After three-quarters of an hour’s rest the horses were resaddled, watered, and the troop- ers mounted to continue on their way, {t was a sad, silent parting as Captain Rosafy moved away up the stream with his men, for all felt that some were parting to meet no more, Then, in parallel lines the companies of Captains Allen and Barden moved forward, the young guideinadvance. _ They went at a canter for several miles, and then came down toa walk. |. All the trappings of the soldiers were wrapped to prevent jingling, and when they halted at a stream, not over a mile from the corraled sup- ply train, the scattering fire of the rifles of the defenders could be distinctly heard, showing that they were expecting a surprise and wished to let their red foes know that they were not to be caught napping. <* From the sound of the firing, the position of the train was taken, and the two troops divided, Butterfly Billy going with Captain Allen. It was agreed that if they got into position without being seen, a revolver rapidly fired three times should be the signal of attack; but if discovered by the red-skins, both troops should at once charge, and drive the enemy toward the valley, where Captain Rosafy lay in wait for them, It was nearing dawn, and the darkness‘had | Butterfly Billy’s Man-Hunt. become intense, for the skies were overcast with dark clouds that threatened rain, Suddenly through the darkness rung out a burst of demoniacal yells and the tramp of hoofs in a mad rush, The soldiers knew well what it meant—that the red-skins were charging the train from all quarters, to carry it by storm. Flashes of flame burst forth from the dark timber where the train was encamped, and cheers greeted the wild yells of the red-skins. ‘*Nowis ourtime! Forward march—charge!” and the words rung out loud from tke lips of Captain Allen, and with a rousing cheer the troopers charged. | Their cheer was answered from a point half a mile away upon the prairie, and it told them that Captain Barden and his troop were also rushing on to the rescue of the train, and fol- lowing these cheers came a response from the besieged train people, answered by yells of fury from the now surprised red-skins. Thus far Butterfly Billy’s plan had worked to a charm, CHAPTER XI. A MYSTERY. As Butterfly Billy bad feared, the Indians had been reinforced by another band, and it was the coming of this force that had decided them upon carrying the timber by storm, in one grand rush from all quarters. The trainmen had proven themselves thor- ough figbters and true marksmen, and they had been certainly well commanded, for at every point they had beaten off their foes, But with scarcely more than two dozen fight- ing men, in spite of their good position and the barrier of wagons, slain horses and earth thrown up, not to speak of the shelter of the timber, they would bave been overwhelmed. Also, but for the suggestive remark gf But- terfly Billy, that ‘‘he hoped they would arrive in time,” which caused Captain Allen to quicken the pace, they would have gotten there too late, for ten minutes later would have seen the fight ended, as the rush of the Sioux could never have been withstood by that devoted band, brave as they were. With Captain Allen’s troop on one side, Lieu- tenant Barden and his men on the other, and the trainmen to also open upon them, the In- dians were utterly demoralized and started in wild flight for the valley that would lead them into the mountains to safety. There were a dozen men who ran out of the timber, seized riderless Indian ponies and swept on in pursuit, Tbe two troops soon obliqued toward the center, where the men from the train a dozen in number, with Buffalo Bill at their head were in hot pursuif, Dawn was just breaking, and in the gray light fhe flying Indians and their pursuers looked like phantoms. The carbines of the troope s were firing mer- rily, and the red-skins were returning the fire as they ran, and both sides were suffering. ‘Bravo, Captain Allen, you saved us all, sir,” cried Buffalo Bill, as, mounted upon a chief’s horse he dashed up to Captain Allen, who responded: ‘‘Pam delighted that we did, Cody, but the praise is not for me, as your old protege, Butter- fly Billy is back again, and on his way to the fort he saw your danger and rode full speed for the fort and warned the colonel, while he also planned the attack,” ‘Hurrah for Butterfly Billy! back again you say. sir; but where is he?” ‘On ahead somewhere, I guess, for I could not restrain him once the fight had opened.” ‘*T hope that be has not met with harm; but ab! if we only bad a force abead to fire on these red-skins,” ‘* Which -we have, for Captain Rosafy and thirty-eight, men are in the valley yonder! and this too at the suggestion of Butterfiy Billy.” ‘* Ah, he’s a great boy, Captain Allen: but do you know that the red-skins number two hund- red warriors?” ‘*T supposed not so many.” ‘* Yes, sir, they were reinforced last night, and have fully that number,” “* Had, rather, for they have lost a score in the fight thus far, I am sure,’ __. True, sir, but_ they are hemmed in now, and if Captain Rosafy leaves his position to charge them, I fear that he and his small force will be overwhelmed,” . ‘‘My God, Cody, you are right, and I am sorry that I did not give Rosafy more men, for our surprising the Sioux was a great thing in our favor,” ¢ — “I only hope, sir, that he will stand his ground, and if the red-skins cannot break his line he and bis men are safe,” replied Cody. The two had been riding side by side as they talked together, and the scout’s dozen men were between the two troops of cavalry and following their leader, The entrance to the valley was near, and the red-skins were rushing pell-mell into it, while their pursuers crowded close at their heels. ‘Who commanded the supply train, Cody?” asked Captain Allen, after awhile, ‘** Lieutenant Nye was in command, sir, but he was killed, and so I took charge,” ‘‘T thought’ so, and kept the Sioux at bay as you know how to do so well, Cody. ‘*T congratulate you; but poor Nye, he was a brave fellow.” ‘* Yes, sir, and balf a dozen brave fellows went with him, while two-thirds of the train- men were more or less severely wounded, and, but for your coming we would all now be dead. But see, the Sioux are in the valley.” As Buffalo Bill spoke, in the early dawn, the mass Of charging warriors dashed into the val- ley. ‘* Where is Rosafy?” gasped Captain Allen, who had begun to dread the ordeal through which that gallant cfficer and his men had to pass, But, even as be spoke the dark entrance to the valley was lighted up by a line of flame, and the carbines of the troopers in ambush poured in a deadly storm of lead upon the Sioux now s0 near them. The Indians recoiled, and then rushed to and fro like the waves of the sea dashing against a rocky shore, The sides of the valley were steep, and the en- trance narrow, and tbe timber held a deadly foe, Then behind them came other foes equally as deadly, and for a moment the red-skins wavered, surged, and then with one wild burst of vells charged on into the valley to gain the mountains beyond where their safety Jay. The troopers hud reloaded their carbines and another volley met them: but though staggered, they moved on with a mighty rush, returning the fire, and meeting tbe rapid rattling shots of the revolvers, ‘““Thank Heaven Louis Rosafy stands firm,” cried Captain Allen, and bis men were urged on to greater speed to hur] themselves upon tie rear of the flying Sioux. Buffalo Bill and bis dozen trainmen, and Lieu- tenant Will Barden with his troop were also driving spurs deep to catch the Indians in the trap; but all saw that it was well for Captain Rosafy that he bad held bis position in the tim- ber and bad not charged forth to check the panic- stricken Sioux, for in that case hismen would haveebeen ridden down and slain, for a regiment could not have headed off the warriors in their mad flight for life. On they swept, and after them wheeled Cap- tain Rosafy and his men, and the hot pursuit was kept up until the leading Indians reached the highlands and stood at bay. Then the troopers, knowing their own weak- ness, and that the Sioux could swell their num- bers in a short while, retreated slowly down the valley, gathering up the trappings and horses, caring for the wounded and burying the dead. Thus they retreated to the timber where the train awesited them,a train of thirty wagons rich in supplies for the fort, and there awaited the coming of Captain Rosafy and bis men, They came soon, and Butterfly Billy was not with them. | But he bad been seen riding along in the midst of the Indians, W nat it meant even Buffalo Bill could not com- prehend, for all who saw him were sure that he was nota prisoner, and rode by the side of the chief. CHAPTER XII. UNDER A CLOUD, THE camp of the troopers at the timber, which had been made the stronghold of the train, was for allof that day and the next, as there was much to be done. The train had lost most heavily in horses, for there was not an anima) that had not been more or less severely wounded, while two-thirds had been killed by the shots of the Indians. This left the train without the means of going on to the fort, Buffalo Bill had reported that the Sioux had come up from the rear, following rapidly upon their trail, and that fortunately he had been scouting around, and seeing signs of red-skins had been on the watch. Afar off, from a hill, he bad seen the large ee oe e “ ' kes