Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 662 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

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Then, too, they were placed so that they could get to the water near if they wanted to, Hiding their saddles and bridles near, they went on foot toward the chasm. ~ grange 3 the pass searchingly, they discov- ered that there were tracks here and there made by the hoof of a horse.” “T think you are right, Billy,” said Buffalo em and they climbed up the rocks upon one side. They found a tree to which they could make one end of the lariat fast, and beneath it a tem- porary camp was made, The lariat was then fastened by one end, and the other with the noose, and then coiled, was placed near the edge of the rock, which looked over into the pass, Here was Butterfly Billy’s stand, and then the two went to the other side, and Buffalo Bill was soon fitted out in his temporary camp, with the trap ready to spring upon the ghost of the Her- cules, should he pass that way. Their provisions were then cooked, away back in the hill, their canteens filled with water, and by sunset they were on watch, they having arranged between them to relieve each other on duty. The night passed away in quiet, except that they heard a muffled sound like hoof-falls, but it was so intensely dark there in the shadow, that they could not see a form if it passed through the chasm, The morning passed, and noon came, and as the sun n to brighten they heard a loud, shrill whistle in the distance. Then an answer came, strangely near, from just beyond a clump of cedars, and yet they had eard no sound of any footfall approaching. Soon after the further whistle was repeated nearer, and the nearest one further away. It told both the watchers that the signal had recalled the one who was going toward the pass. But they could do eganry 3 but wait, and then a moment after was heard the sound of voices. Still as death and watchful, the two waited for the next act in what might soon become a edy. Soon the voices ceased, and there came, not long after, around the thicket of cedars, a horse- man, It was the Hercules, mounted upon his huge black horse, The shadows in the pass had deepened, for the sun was nearing the horizon, but there was no mistaking the gigantic forms of the Giant Gen- eral and his steed, | _ In full uniform, with military trappinzs upon his horse, bolt upright in his saddle, and with his wide-brimmed sombrero not wholly hiding the whiteness of his face, the Giant General came on. Suddenly he balted, and just beneath the man- trap set for him. For a moment he seemed about to turn back, for he half turned his horse, and then, as if de- cided upon his movements, he started on his way once more. As he did so there came a buzzin : sound, and the two coiled lariats shot forth an down- Buffalo Bill and Butterfly Billy’s lariats were thrown unerringly, and man and horse were taken fairly. The Specter of the Overland and his steed were caught, CHAPTER XXII. A RED-SKIN PARD. Hap Buffalo Bill not been in such alarm for the life of Butterfly Billy, he would have seen, when he rushed to his aid at the retreat of the Hercules upon the hill-top that day, that there was some one else near, other than the fallen man, the wounded youth and himself. > That he had also y Eig to the scene by the shots fired, but he had not arrived by the trail upon which the scout had come. _ Above the hill-top, and across a deep chasm or rent in the hills, was a higher peak, running back into a range of inaccessible hills. This chasm, or rent was scarcely over twenty feet in width and some feet higher than the hill upon which was the cabin of the Hercules. On the otber side was a border of scant bushes, trees and vines that had long grown there it seemed, Upon the other side, and looking down upon the lower hill appeared the form that had come at the sound of the shots. It was an Indian, yet not a Sioux, for his cos- fume and appearance indicated the Comanche far away from the hunting-grounds of his own people, He glanced at the scene, and yet from his point of observation and tbe trees on the bill- top, could not see what was going on. 0 he remained silently waiting, and watch- ing all he could. At last he saw the tall form of a man going down the steep trail leading the black horse of the Hercules, and upon the animal’s back was what appeared to be a wounded Indian, Waiting until they bad disappeared in the valley, and all was silent upon the hilltop, the Comanche began to perform strangely. He first pulled back from the brink of the cliff a few bushes, which were now seen to be grow- ing ina hollow log that looked like the edge of the rocks, This log was upon rollers, sawed off of small saplings, and it was not hard work to roll it out of the way, Beyond the open space rested a long, narrow bridge, with railings on either side. It was a rude, crude structure, but strong and readily handled by ropes, which looked like grapevines fastened to the further end. A windlass back among the trees set the bridge in motion, and it passed out over the cliff and was lowered to the edge of the chasm on the lower bill. Thus the chasm was spanned by a frail-look- ing but yet strong bridge, over which a horse could cross in safety. Down this the red-skin went, before Buffalo Bill had gotten fairly out of sight, and he held in his hand a repeating rifle, Approaching the cabin, be did it with the cau- tion of his race, peered in, then glanced about him, and uttered an exclamation as his eyes fell upon the newly-made grave. Quick as a flash he sprung toward it, and dropping his rifle, began work to throw off the barriers on top, put there to keep off the wolves, anc to fairly tear the earth out of the grave, Unceasingly he worked, and with an energy that svon brought him to the body below, The earth was thrown from the blanket, and then with a strength that was wonderful, the form within was dragged from the grave, yet warm, and stranger still, gasping for breath, The red-skin seemed not to be unnerved by his discovery, for he threw off the blanket and saw that the Hercules was not dead ! Into the cabin he dashed, and obtaining a cup, got water from a spring near, and dashed it into the face of the gasping man, At last the eyes fopened and met those of the red-skin. He spoke the name hoarsely, and with sur- ‘Yes; the Red Dog saw the foes of the Big Chief, and came, ‘*They had put him in the grave,” ‘* Ah, yes,” and the man shuddered.” ‘“They thought I was dead; but I saw only the boy.” ‘‘The Long Hair was here.” ‘‘ Buffalo Bill! Well, they did not kill me, for I yet live.” * But the boy?” ‘The Long Hair took him away upon the horse of the Big Chief ” ‘ ‘‘Curses on it, they have nearly killed me, buried me alive and robbed me of my horse. ‘But I was shot here, and yet my head ins,” and the Hercules put his band first upon is broad heart, then upon his head. : ‘Ah! the bullet entered kere, for here is the wound; but I can feel with my finger that it glanced on the rib just over my heart; but the shock knocked me down and in falling my head struck a rock and stunned me. ‘See, here isa cut upon my head, Red Dog; but I am not dead yet.” “Let the Big Chief go to the high hill.” Fs are right, Red Dog, for they may come CK, ‘Ah! I have it, we will play that Iam dead. _ “Come, you must help me, forI am as shaky as an old toper.” He rose with difficulty, though dided by the chief, and with an effort Booker, the bridge to the higher peak, Then, back in the undergrowth was a plateau, with a spring sending a small stream out over the bill in a fall, while grass was in abundance, A large black horse was picketed out to feed, and not far away another, a roan, A cabin was among the rocks, well-built and comfortable, and a good shelter for the horses, This was the real home of the Hercules, the cabin on the lower hill being but a blind, should he be trailed there. ‘‘IT must get to bed, Red Dog, and you can dress my wounds, “The bullet has lodged in my back some- where, so will do no harm, and my skull is not fractured: but with the two wounds and the burying, I am badly used up.” The Comanche proved himself equal to the task, and when the Hercules was in bed and feel- ing easier, he said: ‘*Red Dog, I must be supposed to be dead, that is certain, ‘*T noticed that Buffalo Bill did not even take my arms, so be will come back for them. ‘*T recognized the boy, disguised as be was ag a young Sioux chief, as the Pony Rider, and he may have had only the scout with him, and yet there may be more. ‘** Now do not touch a thing in, or about the cabin, leaving all as he saw it; but ae gt Auten horse and go to t!\e cabin of the Mounted Miner they call Baby Bill.” ‘*The big white giant?” ‘¢ Yes, for he is very little smaller than I am, and might pass for me if not looked at tov close, ‘You have threatened to ki!] him because he knocked you down one day, so you can get the chance,” ‘“*Red Dog glad.” ‘‘ Tell Baby Bill that I want to see him, that I have a job for him to help me with. ‘‘Guide him here, and when he is here just kill him,” ** Good! heap good!” said Red Dog. ‘Shoot about where this wound in my side ~ and then give him a lick on the back of |} ead, ‘*T will then try and help you dress him up in my old uniform, and we can plant him in the grave, wrapped in the blanket they had around me, and if they open it to see if the Giant General is really dead, they'll be convinced, for no one will know the difference.” ‘* Heap, much heap good,” said the tickled Comanche. After giving his faithful red-skin pard a few more in ctions, the Hercules saw him mount the aa horse and ride away on his tragic errand, ‘CHAPTER XXII. A SUBSTITUTE. BABY BILL was an overgrown, awkward fel- low, who, at a glance might be mistaken for the Hercules, but not after more than a casual in- tion. He was about the same height and weight, and his hair, eyes and beard were black, the latter were about the same length. In fact, Baby Bill had been told by his outlaw companions that he resembled the Giant Gen- eral, and he aped him all he could, . He was one of the gang of mounted, outlaws,, who, originally a dozen without their chief, had lately been cut down toan alarming ex- tent, and when Red Dog went after him on his fatal errand, had dwindléd to Dermot and six: men, The Mounted Miners lived far apart in cabins, nb ge to be miners, and only assembled for wless work upon the call of their chief. Baby Bill’s cabin was not very far from the retreat of the Hercules, only a few miles, and be was found at bome by Red Dog, who was known to tbe band as the red-skin pard of the Giant General. The Comanche delivered the message with the gusto of one who had sometbing good in store for the outlaw, and Baby Bill mounted his horse, also a large black animal, to further | imitate the Giant General, and followed him on the trail to the retreat. Not one of the Mounted Miners had been let into the secret of where lay the retreat of the Hercules, anc Baby Bill felt flattered that he was to have so much confidence placed in him. ‘‘ Where is the General, Comanche?” he asked, ** Home.” At bis retreat?” **Do you intend to take me there?” “e Yes,” ** Ah! the general can me trust me,” te Ob, have heap trust in big Baby Bill—love im, | a < nn . ~s ~ - 7 = , : ns arr, Py 4 .* i . * 2 7. ~~ "