Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 936 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

* + wv —- é s ~~) : ee ae ao * , Png Y Stet ta ¢ zt “ ar. - “Te 40 Seats 4 - = - 12 There were thirty picked braves in the band, and they were sure of success. Under ordinary circumstances’ they would not attack at night, but this was an exception, for they knew their ground, they were aware of the force that they had to meet, and felt that they would soon have Buffalo Bill in their power. They passed through the cedars, and then came to the barren belt encircling the hill’s slope, They crept across this noiselessly, and soon came within a hundred feet of the bowlders on the summit. They expected the noted scout would be on the watch. They looked for the flashing of his ter- rible rifle, but then they would be upon him at close quarters, and he was but a ‘man. The others they looked upon enly as being man to man. They reached the rocks; then, with one “wild chorus of yells, they made the rush. But all was darkness, all was silence, save for their own wild yells. They stood dismayed. There were no flashes of the appalling rifle, there was no answering war-cry of defiance, , What could it mean? six horses! There were the two dead outlaws. In a frenzy they threw themselves upon the dead men and tore their scalps from their heads. Then a shout arose. A diseovery had been made. ‘The lariat over the cliff had been found. In frenzied fury they gave vent to cries that were demoniacal. But suddenly the cries ceased, and clear and startling the wild notes of a bugle were heard sounding a charge. Then came a wild cheer, and up the hill came the pounding of iron-shod hoofs as half a hundred cavalry dashed to the res- cue, while in adysnce rode the well known form of the docter of Mountain a be Night-Hawk George Powell. “Heaven grant we are in time!” came 4n the voice of Captain Frank Baldwin. “Yes, for those cries were of rage, not of triumph, captain,” answered Night- Hawk George, while the troopers were busy popping away at the now stampeded redskins, who had a gantlet of death to yun to make their escape from the hill. * All safe!” cried a voice, and Night- There were the - Hawk George shouted: “Buffalo Bill’s voice among a thou- sand!” Ay, it is, and thanks for the rescue. “ Come, boy pard,” and Buffalo Bill's head and shoulders appeared over the edge of the cliff. There was a cheer from the troopers, and over the edge of the cliff sprang Buf- falo Bill, behind him, sullen and reluctant, game the two prisoners, while Ned Osmond ‘brought up the rear. The welcome was a hearty one, and Cap- tain Baldwin said: “You owe your rescue to Night-Hawk Powell, here, Cody, for he came after us, riding his horse to death to reach the fort, and we were in the saddle in ten minutes, -and he led us a hard ride to this place. “But we we in time, and my boys ae the Indians they have not ed.” “They certainly have. sir, and I am most thankful for your coming, while you, Night-Hawk, have given yourself away as the rescuer of my boy pard here this morn- ing. __ “I aid exnect to Iie low. Rill. but after he left me T had a feeling that he might “yet get into trouble, so followed, dodging ‘some horsemen T saw coming in a hurry —two on one horse.” Buffalo Bill's s Boy Mascot.. “4 They v were your friends, Ned.’’. “Yes, sir.” “¢ Now, how did you have time to do us the great service you have, Night-Hawk?’ “I was in sight of you when I saw you run for this hill, and I knew I could help you but little as one man with you, so I saw you beat off the first attack, and swimming my horse across the river, I flanked this place and rode for the fort.” “You are a dandy for riding, Night- Hawk, but I wish to tell you and Captain Baldwin something,” and Buffalo Bil led them to one side and held an earnest con- versation with them for some minutes, in which he told them that several hundred braves had gone down into the Red Can- you Neck of land and await a signal of the outlaws to strike at Mountain City, for they would not dare attack the fort. He had seen the large trail, and where they had crossed the fort trail they had done so at the crossing of a stream, thus trying to hide their tracks, and he knew they had been in coungil with the Mounted Miners. “ My boy pard, here, and I saw enough this morning to show that there is trouble ahead, and we were going to the fort when the band jumped us here, Captain Baldwin,” The result of this talk was that the cap- tain despatched a courier at once to the fort with full information, and asking the colonel to please send a force of cavalry, mounted infantry, and a couple of field guns with all haste to entrap the Indians then hiding in Red Canyon Neck. “Now, Ned, you'll see a regular Indian battle,” said ‘Buffalo Bill, and the youth answered: “Tam more than anxious to, sir.” OHAPTER XXIL THE NIGHT MAROH, It was decided, as the soldiers were re- turning from the chase, to go into camp half a mile back on the trail to the fort, to give the impression to the red- skins who escaped that the force had ac- complished their mission and returned, Both Buffalo Bill and Night-Hawk said that the escaped Indians would at once make for Red Canyon Neck and report the affair to the main foree. The Indians had suffered severely from the attack of the troopers, nearly half of the band having been wiped out, and they had not had time to secure the horses and outfit on the hill, while, having come up on foot, they had been driven to fly for their lives and leave their ponies, which had been captured. A couple of the troopers had been killed, and half a dozen were wounded, and Cap- tain Baldwin ordered a small party of soldiers to continue right on with them to the fort, wishing to remain unhampered should he have to move quickly. The dead Indians were at once buried, and those that were wounded were sent on to the fort. Night-Hawk at onee decided that it would be best for him to return to Mount- ain City and acquaint Captain Luke Leathers with the situation, so that he eould give a warnildg and have the miners prepared for an attack, should the force of redskins in the Red Canyon Neck make their move sooner than was anticipated. “Tr they have not moved by daylight, Captain Baldwin, we can march out from Mountain City toward Red Canyon Neck to join the troops, and thus catch the red- skins between two fires,” said Night-Hawk George. “ A good idea, Night-Hawk, and I will so acquaint the o1.ieer whom Colonel Benham sends in command, if he does not come ae which is likely, for he is very fond | of a brush jin the field pec: rene FF tate answered Captain Baldwin, who” ome third in rank and acting major at Fe Vidette. 3 Ten minutes after Night-Hawk Powell was off on his mission, the night ride back to Mountain City, and the command took © up the march on the trail toward the fort, but soon after went into camp. Ned Osmond had been a close observer of all that had taken place, and an atten-, tive listener. “T am certainly in it to stay,’ he mut- tered to himself. He was proud of his perilous adventure with Buffalo Bill, and watched all that took place, as he said, to “get the tender- foot pin feathers off of him as soon as possible.” Vhen the command went into camp it was ten o'clock, and Buffalo Bill stated’ that by hard riding the courier had already reached the fort ,and the command could reach the entrance to Red Canyon Neck by dawn, or soon after. Captain Baldwin had forty men with him, and after consulting with Buffalo 3ill he decided that he would move before daybreak down to the entrance to the neck, five miles distant, and take up posi- tion to check the Indians, should they de- cide to move out, fearing to be caught. With this decision, all sought their blank- ets for several hours’ sleep, the sentinels being told when to arouse the camp. Ned was quickly asleep, but he was on his feet at the first call, and leaving a courier to notify the commander of the force when it came of what he had done, Captain Baldwin pulled out for the Red Canyon Neck. Ned saw Buffalo Bill ride to the front as guide, but Captain Baldwin called¢him to accompany him, and thus in the darkness the troopers took up their march, the thud — of their horses’ hoofs alone breaking the silence, save now and then the sharp yelp of a prowling coyote. Ae « ae ‘ i The dawn had not yet appeared, when | Me Bin i the narrow neck of land was reached, and © the command halted, while Buffalo Bill said he would go on alone and see just — where the Indians were encamped. As has been said, the neck was formed by a great bend in the river, and the land was seanied with canyons of red clay, hills, and heavy timber, with meadows of rich grass. There were thousands of acres in ‘the neck, but on account of the rugged land, the entrance to it was not over half a mile wide, and if the force could command = this they would b*ve the Indians in a trap. It was here that Captain Baldwin went into camp on a ridge that commanded the entrance to the neck pretty effectually. The men were told to keep their horses saddled, build no fires, and rest as best they could, but they had not gotten much chance to sleep when Buffalo Bill sudden- ly rode into camp and called out: “The Indians are moving, and in ten minutes will be here.” * You saw them, Cody 2” quietly asked Captain Baldwin. “Yes, sir; their camp is not over a mile from here, and they were saddling er ponies.” “ What is their force?” “A very large one, sir.” “We will try and check them at least. “If we fail, I can retreat tothe a trail, for if Colonel Benham has come he — is not far away. “To your posts, men!” and Captain Bald: win spoke with the calm courage of a mie who had passed through many such scenes - ‘ hg . tie 3 - ‘ * 72 ¢ > : ‘“— i @ . * + < F ey i - (tio J . 4 o> Ce o k a i é 4 rs on a w * Fe e ts i =, > ‘ . . . ee \ ay : » . UM a” 5 ‘ ‘ 4 * * ] &, 7 P 4 “& i 7 :* py - ¢ As « 2 7 ie ys / Mees | : aw jt AY ' ~ <i. a * a and was not disturbed regarding the Te- _ sil sult, | The troop was well posted, and’ the men were dismounted, to make the fire of ang iS carbines more effective. J Q a “ao” . »)4 * a : ae . Seite cs A a : wn ee ie ad <* me i . ay 4 : pot ie tea a expt bis eomichpaeee ai ae eL wv x a tee Sse te * d hs) : - ae , A a 4 - . SS a ace rene (