Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 936 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

s dh % . ay c. ts “ . ye = x at TS “is oe Ae, t ' “se i. PP ye ow 1 od ® oo a) y ; he JY: - U - a i y oy ove i> L¥ hat aS — ee —— ———— oe P They had not long to wait before Buf- falo Bill, who stood near Captain Baldwin with his boy pard close to his side, said in a low tone: “They are coming, sir!’ CHAPTER XXII. NIGHT-HAWK GEORGE ARRIVES. The Indians arriving from the fight at the hill and reporting to the chiefs what had happened, caused an immediate call for a midnight pow-wow. Whatever had been the motive of the redskins sneaking with a large force into Red Canyon Neck, they decided to carry out without longer delay their purpose, and not wait to be discovered there, and have their intention thwarted. It was a large force, larger than Buffalo Bill had supposed, and such a number hurled upon the mining camps by day, when the miners were at work, could sweep along without resistance, causing death and destruction on every side, Where they could not approach by day from their country they had cleverly come by night, going to a retreat most safe by way of the bed of a stream, which would cover up their large trail. But Buffalo Bill's keen eyes had noted their trail, try to hide it as they did, and discovering that they had been in council with the outlaws, he knew that mischief wus brewing. Standing in line of battle, Ned Osmond awaited the ordeal with great interest. Every man there was ready for action, with nothing to hamper him, for the two outlaw prisoners had been sent on to the fort with the wounded. 3 It was half an hour yet before dawn when Buffalo Bill had said to Captain Baldwin: “They are coming, sir.” ' Soon after, in the darkness, a shadowy mass of moving humanity Was seen com- ing out of the timber and moving across the open space toward the ridge where the troopers were lying in wait. It was a plucky thing to do, for Captain Baldwin, with his Small band of soldiers, to attempt to check that large force of savages, for now it could be seen that the column was 4 heavy one, and the end was not yet. | As they bore toward the left, it was zi known that Mountain City was their des- Ooms tination, for a ride of a couple of hours -—s- would take them there by soon after sun- -—s yise, and then would begin the orgie of But between them and the red carnival ‘ . Att, a* Batty y 7 . ‘ae ma, they sought to enjoy was that little band of boys in blue. —s Nearer and nearer the head of the col- umn came, and when not a hundred yards away, Captain Baldwin spoke a low word to his bugler. wv ee a -—sYnstantly, with startling distinctness, the fk . a #4 dreaded notes of the bugle broke the still- -s-ness of the early dawn, and following it ss eame the roar of forty carbines, while the accompanying rattle of Buffalo Bill’s re- ss :peating rifle resounded like echo after echo. | The head of that red column seemed fo * r= - melt away under the hurricane of lead, Be and warriors and ponies went down never .. . to rise again. _ —s * Wire steadily, men, and be ready to mount at command,’ was heard in_ the cool, even voice of Captain Frank Bald- win, and he added, encouragingly: ss #* Me firing will hasten forward the com- ss aud to our aid.” --*» furning to Ned Osmond, he continued: “Now, my bor you will see what au --* Indian battle is. Ds Mead i Keep close to Buffalo Bill’s side, or wine, and fire only when you can pick ss: your _man.” Is | se + F S S.. - * " ¥ | 7 » , , se Ws ‘ ‘ , si of “es fe <f ‘ry | . A * « > a “ a . a es i i . . “ ¢ 7 oe, i ™) By oe rah, | yo wEFt a . . A. + af ae ip . ry a. oy sa, aw >. Oe 4 . wi. : bs yt 2 bee ou nf te nl : Pi ie, ° Gs ees 4 “ _*% +4 : ’ Ces ee) ler’ os : AS . < ‘ P* 7 ; we me > . rt t ‘ y s “e o; Sa he - . : ade 4 . a - . as —_ * a i. ae. “sate hy %) wn. a en es m 5 M - ‘ "y he ae > ve. gh SA r i 7 * Yu! ”“ L * $6 : ee 2 nate Buffalo Bill’s Boy Mascot. ‘Yes, sir, I will,’ was the quiet reply of Ned, The Indians had surged back under the surprise and galling tire, and those in the rear had hunted the shelter of the timber. But after the first shock was over they began to rally, their chiefs, confident in their numbers, feeling sure, though their plans were thwarted, they could break through the line. , Their well-trained ears had told them that their foes were not very numerous, they had heard no steady infantry fire, there had been no “wheel guns” roaring at them, so the force must be the same that had fought at the hill. Again then they moved out to make the rush, this time coming with their ponies at a run. But Buffalo Bill had made a suggestion which Captain Baldwin quickly seized upon. It was for the troopers to fire in squads of ten men cach, the first and second squads having time to reload and fire to- gether by the time the fourth squad had delivered their volley. Then the troopers could all draw revolvy- ers, except the fourth squad, which could reload the carbines and join in with the lighter arms. With this plan well carried out, it would give the redskins staggering blows when they supposed each volley was the last and let them have the impression that the force was larger than they supposed. Without a miss the well trained cavalry- men carried out their orders. But the red column of rushing horsemen still pressed on. Nearer and nearer they came, and it was only when the fourth squad again poured in their fire, aided by the repeating rifle of Buffalo Bill and the revolvers of Captain Baldwin, Ned Osmond, and the bugler, re- served for the last moment, that the red warriors again reeled, wavered, and stag- gered back to shelter from the galling fire. ‘We cannot do that a third time, for their tactics will not be the same when they come again, sir,’ Ned Osmond heard Buffalo Bill say to Captain Baldwin. “No, Cody, and we lost half a dozen men, too. ° “Oh, that the force from the fort would come!"’ “Tt will not do to sacrifice your men, sir, and there are enough Indians there to massacre all of them, once they break into the lines.” : “Then you advise a retreat?” “Tnder the cireumstances,. Yes, sir. We have given them a very severe lesson, and can pursue hard when the command comes.” “Then retreat it must be! this?” “ Night-Hawk Powell, Captain Baldwin, and I have over a hundred mounted min- ers with me.” The dignified captain found it hard to restrain a cheer at this good news, but said: , “You have ridden hard, Powell, and have saved Us. “Where are your men?” “Planking to your rear, Sir. “We heard the fighting, and rode hard, for the yells of the Indians told us there were hundreds of them, and greatly out- numbering you.” “T have only my command, for rein- forcements have not come yet.” “Then your courier failed to reach the fort, sir.”’ “T told the captain I feared he had been killed, but here come thé miners, 80 we will place them quickly, for next time counts,” said Buffalo Bill. Ah, who is The men were quickly placed in position, , and not a moment too soon, for Ned had +t *> ‘. ye ye Pe sa y . x éd 4 ~ . id i Saree ae ; been doing a little reconnoitering on his own hook, and now called out: “Look there, Captain Baldwin!’ CHAPTER XNIII, HOW IT WAS WON, What Ned Osmond had discovered was) that ihe redskins were not coming as be- fore in a solid column. They had divided into a dozen different columns, and were charging from as many directions, . Not heading directly for the spot where they had been repulsed twice before, they were all centering toward a different point. But just there the miners had been placed, and the nature of the ground was such that they would have to go slow over it. To the surprise of the Indians, as they centered on the given point, they did not receive a fire from the soldiers now on their flank. But they had little time to consider, for in thetr faces streamed out flames of fire, and a hundred rifles sent their Jeaden rain upon them. Naturally they recoiled, and as they did so the carbines on their flank tore into their midst. The neck, as has been said, had cliff banks all around, so escape in that direc- tion was impossible. To return to shelter 2nd make a fourth charge would be madness. The soldiers had been reinforced, knew, and others might be coming. They must break through, and then. As they huddled together, a loud cheer rang out on their flank, a bugle sounded the charge, and Captain Baldwin and his men rode down upon them, Buffalo Bill and his boy pard well in the lead. This was the deciding blow, and the In- dian braves, no longer. thinking of bear- ing off their dead and wounded comrades, made a wild dash for the rear. Again the rifles of the miners spoke, wild yells, war-eries and cheers, thunder- ing hoofs and a constant roar of rifles and revolvers lit up the early dawn with ghastly glare and made the scene appear like a battle in Hades. - Driven to frenzy, the warriors gained the ridge and force of numbers carried them through and over the miners’ line. Then, realizing their own large force, in spite of losses most heavy, and that they outnumbered their pale-face foes five to one, their chiefs shouted to rally and avenge their slain. 7 An instant of suspense there came to the whites, and then Captain Baldwin's bugler was heard sounding a rally around him for miners and soldiers alike, for in that was their only safety. But the redskins were in ugly mood, revenge Was sweet and a butchery would wipe out their woes, so they, too, rallied quickly. Another moment and the battle to the death would have begun, when lo! sweeter than a siren’s song there was heard in the gray dawn the notes of 2 second bugle, followed by boom, boom, boom! as three field guns were fired, and the quick crash! crash! crash! as the shells burst into the yery midst of the redskins. . There were wild yells then from the miners, cheers from a hundred troopers, yolleys from the infantry, the thundering of hoofs, and, saber in hand, the cavalry just arrived were charging upon the now flying Indians. they “the battle was won, the redskins were fiying for life and the sum Tose OD a gory fold where Night-Hawk George Powell, no longer a fighter now, but a humane 4 a ‘Fo “4 * ; Ph oe _ < \ ° « . ‘ ? sar : =1 ° ; + -ty p 2 Te 7 - +e ‘ a ‘ “re : e. » el as oe. 10 ¥ 4 te ¥ » « ¢ ” at < ? > . » 4 r, « “~ — ‘-. . ! ’ “Ph, Fs “, ‘7 > o y« ~ a -, ' — 1* - - a" Sem