Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 656 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 force of Indians, and that they were following their trail, so he had ridden with all speed and given the warning. Rapidly the thirty wagons had pressed on, going at a pace that threatened to end in de- struction; but where they were was an open prairie, with no tree or shelter near, and it was miles to the nearest place where a halt could be made, and with any hope of a successful de- Lense, He would have ridden on to the fort and given the warning, but he was the only one who knew the way, and Lieutenant Nye refused to allow him to depart. At last the clump of timber was reached, and there they found a shelter, with, however, no water for themseves and stock. Small trees were hastily felled, the wagons placed in a circle, earth thrown up to make a breastwork, and before they had completed their limited means of defense the Sioux ap- peared in sight, a hundred in number. Up to the timber they dashed in a charge, and the scout said that he was sure that their leader was a white man, but this only himself and Lieutenant Nye had noticed. Though beaten off, the fire of the Indians had killed a number of their horses and wounded sh a for the animals could not be sheltered well, Then the red-skins surronnded them and be- gan a siege, charging them time and again. Their lieutenant, a gallant officer, fell early in the fizht, others followed, and a number re- ceived slight wounds, while they suffered terri- bly for water. But Buffalo Bill knew what he was about, and the Indians were worsted after every charge, They knew not that help was near, and ex- pected none, other than that the firing might be heard by some scouting or hunting party, and bring relief. For this reason the scout bad kept up a con- stant firing day and night, for ammunition was plenty, as two of the wagons contained supplies for the magazine. Then came at dark, the night before, tke other band of Sioux, and Buffalo Bill knew that the dawn would usher ina charge of the com- bined forces that must prove successful, Yet he did not despair, and his light-hearted manner and splendid pluck cheered his com- rades, a number of whom were wholly unused to border warfare, and were unnerved py the wild yells of the savages, When the final charge came, Buffalo Bill and his men stood ready to meet it. He had heard what the red-skins had not noticed, and that was a sound like many hoofs, and he knew help was near, or that more foes were coming. Hardly had the rush begun when the cbeegs of the troopers from two quarters rent the air, and the Sioux, on the very verge of success, were shot down, beaten off and put to flight, Calling to a few of his men to follow him, he had captured some riderless Indian ponies and joined in the charge. , Such was the story told by the scout, and the appearance of the train proved that the attack and defense had been desperate in the extreme. When the wounded were looked to, and travois eut for carrying them back to the fort, the dead were buried, and it was seen that both pale-faces and red-skins had suffered severely, the latter, however, in a far greater degree, The wagons were gotten out from the tempo- rary breastworks, and horses of the troopers pressed into service in place of the slain animals, for Indian ponies had been captured by scores, The next morning the train pulled out for the fort, whither Lieutenant Will Barden had gone the evening before with a squad of men to report the affair to Colonel Carter. It was an all day travel to the fort, but the victors were royally saluted when they drew near, and wounded soijdiers had their hearts gladdened by this tribute to their courage, When Lieutenant Barden entered the colonel’s quarters, his daughter, pretty Mattie Carter, a maiden of sixteen, was with bim and heard the report of the young officer. | ‘It was a soy oe victory, Mr, Barden, as you report it, and I congratulate you and your command upon it, wkile the Sioux will be taught a lesson they will long remember. But the supply train was a most valuable one, and Cody shall be most honorably mentioned for his gallant defense; but you say that the scout is sure that the red-skins were led by a white man?” ** So he says, sir, and he spoke to Lieutenant Nye about the fact, attracting his attention to the man, he says.” Butterfly Billy’s Man-Hunt. ss ‘‘Some contemptible renegade, whom I would like much to capture and make an example of. - ' But the renegade was not killed or wound- ed? ‘No, sir, for Captain Rosafy was the last to see him, and he said that he was riding away with the Pony’ Express Rider dashing along by his side.” ‘* A prisoner?” ‘We all thought not, sir, and that is the strangest part of it.” ‘* How strange, Mr. Borden?” . ‘* Well, sir, the plan carried out in the attack by Captain Allen was that of Butterfly Billy, as the Pony Rider is called, and yet, after the ar- rangements were made he was not seen again b any one, until observed riding along in the muid- dle of the Sioux, and afterward alongside of the chief whom Cody said was a white man, as though they were friends.” ‘Tf that means that Butterfly Billy is a rene- gade also, Lieutenant Barden, it is as false a charge as ever was placed on the head of an in- nocent man!” ’ Sharp, terse, and with an angry ring the words were uttered, and from the lips of Mattio Carter, who had been stung by the insinuation into defending her hero—the one who, before the eyes of hundreds, a year and a half before, had saved her from a fearful death at the risk of his own, ‘‘ Yes, Barden, I cannot believe that this means aught against Butterfly Billy, but rather that he bas been captured by the Sioux, and will be put to death unless we can same him,” ‘‘T made no charge, Colonel Carter, for I honor the gallant youth; but I merely told you Low it appeared to all who saw him in the midst of the Sioux. ‘‘ tf he isa prisoner, then Heaven have pity upon him, at the mercy of that mad band of savages!” , 2 Father!” And Mattie Carter sprung to her eet. ‘* Yes, my child.” ‘‘The Pony Rider must be saved!” ‘(My child, were we dealing with a civilized people it might be done, but with red-skins it will be no easy task, for I have not half the force I would need to attack the Sioux in their strong- hold,” was the reply, and without a word Mat- tie Carter arose and left the room, Late that evening the train and its escort ar- rived at the fort, and among those who watched their coming two were most deeply interested lookers-on. CHAPTER XIII, A FAIR PLOTTER, THE young girl who bad so sharply spoken in the defense of Butterfly Billy, upon leaving her father’s office, at once wended her way to the pretty quarters of Captain Allen, the senior —. of the gallant —th Cavalry, 7 Seated u»on the piazza, anxiously awaiting news from the field, was Ivy Allen, the captain’s beautiful daughter, a maiden of nineteen, and who had justly won the title of the Belle of the Border, She arose as Mattie Carter entered the little yard, and said anxiously: “Tam so glad you have come, Mattie, for I saw Lieutenant Barden return with half a ddézen men, and am dreading bad news,” “Don’t worry about your father, Ivy, for he is all right, and won a great victory, too, SO will be on, with the train they rescued, late this afternoon.” ‘‘T amso glad of this; but your face shows that theré is cause for sorrow on some one’s ac- count—Captain Rosafy is not—” ‘‘No, he was not hurt; but Lieutenant Nye, who was in command of the train, was killed.” ** Poor fellow.” ‘Vos, isn’t it sad? but then it isa soldier’s fate, you know. ; ‘‘ Buffalo Bill then took command and beat the Sioux off, though they were ten to one against them, until the troopers arrived.” ‘Brave Buffalo Bill! it is just like the noble fellow,” ‘Yes, and they suffered greatly, for all the horses but twelve were killed, and these were wounded, and but for the arrival of the troopers all the brave men would have been slain.” “IT am so glad that father and his men ar- rived in time,” ‘* Yes, in the very nick of time, and Lieuten- ant Barden said that your father sent word that all.the credit was due to Butterfly Billy who brought word of the train’s danger and guiding the relief party planned the attack.” ‘* Splendid boy! he will yet be a gallant army officer for all he has done, Ivy, Butterfly Billy is not such a boy as he was. ‘‘Indeed! and when did you discover this fact?” asked Ivy Allen, with a smile, that brought a blush to Mattie’s face. ‘‘T saw him ride in when he gave the alarm, for I looked through the blinds of my window, and he is so manly grown, and oh! so hand- some,” ‘Yes, 1 don’t doubt that, Mattie, and I ad- mire your young hero immensely.” “Your young hero, you mean, for did you not, at the risk of your life the day the Indians killed his horse and were rushing upon him, ride toward him, take him up behind you and save his life? “Oh, no, Miss Ivy Allen, he is your hero.” * Well, {i don’t deny it, but he is yours, too, for he is just about my age, and some four years your senior, Miss Mattie Carter,” and Ivy aughed, “But, Ivy,” said Mattie, seriously, “I came to have a talk with you about Butterfly Billy.” “Yon donot mean that harm has befallen him, Mattie?” : ‘‘ He is a prisoner to the Sioux.” ‘*God have mercy upon him!” “Oh, Ivy! he must not die, he must not die!” and Mattie’s eyes filled with tears, ‘* Tell me of it, Mattie.” “He told your father, so Lieutenant Barden says, just what to do to surprise the Sioux, and bis plan was followed to the letter. ‘‘The Indians charged the train just as the troopers came up, and from that minute Butter- fly Billy was not seen with the soldiers. ‘Captain Rosafy had taken up a position in a valley to ambush the Sioux when oar re- treated, and he and his men saw Butterfly Billy riding in:the midst of the Indians,” ‘** A prisoner?” ‘““That is what bothers them all, for they say he was not a prisoner, and Captain Rosafy saw him ride up to the side of the chief and the two dashed on together as though they were friends.” ‘‘ This is strange, indeed.” “Yes, Ivy, and Buffalo Bill says that the chief is a white man.” * Ah! a renegade?” * Yeu.” **T cannot ee it all.” “Nor I, but I flew up at the insinuation that Butterfly Billy was also a renegade.” “1 donot blame you, if Lieutenant Barden meant to say that he was.” ‘He says that he did not mean that he was, only the fact of Butterfly Billy being with the Sioux and not a prisoner was most mysterious.” ‘‘And so it is; but I cannot believe aught agninst the young man, in spite of the mystery hanging over bim.” ‘* He is a mystey, Ivy, for [ never knew even his real name, for be as much as told father when he was Government messenger on the Overland, that he was entered on the books of the company under a name that was not bis own.” ‘‘ Where has he been all this time, Mattie?” ‘‘ No one knows.” ‘‘ But he has come back to the fort again?” ‘‘ Yes, and told father he was to ride Express again,” “ He is certainly a mystery, but I will not be- lieve harm of him until I have the best of proof.” ‘‘ Nor I, Ivy, and I am so glad to hear you say so; but what is to be done to save him?” ‘* Ah, Mattie, that is a question your father must answer.” ‘* But he says his force is not half large enough to attack the Sioux village, and of course they will not hear of a flag of truce. ‘“‘Then we can only put hope in one thing, Mattie, as far as I can see.” ‘What is that hope, Ivy?” __ ‘Tn the young Pony Rider himself,” ‘‘Oh, what can he do, a prisoner in the midst of a thousand warriors, for of course they will take him to their village and torture him to death?” ‘‘ Butterfly Billy has had many hair-breadth escapes, and I have ney in his powers and cour- age to extricate himself even from the hands of the Sioux, so cheer up, Mattie.” ‘‘-You give me bope, dear Ivy; but then he saved my life, and—and—I can never forget him,” and the tears again dimmed the beau- tiful eyes of the young girl. | In the afternoon when the train with its escort peeve Mattie again sought Ivy Allen, and said eagerly: Ah, Ivy, there is hope,” ‘My father bas just told me all, Mattie, and - * 4 a - 5 : ' A : a pes = : : 7 : : : : ™ ts a xe Ue Pe 7 x ify ne * ‘ -