Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 942 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

o” 4 PORT, - J 7 — be. . ¥ ow |. *+% L: 4S S88 . « ot =? & At 4'v + «= ave. ~~ er idan SS a ~~ DN - » ae ———- . = =? > P a - a a ey - a - dicen ~ _ ae ~~ > . ‘ t~ a? ? reg 4.- _- t * em EVP x Bete: 3 tia Ve - ater =a Wi AN is AieS —— --- “It’s aS easy a the reply. “ Does it not tire yj over half a mile?” “ Ah, no; I can keep this pace up for many miles.”’ “Then you learned that trot from the Indian runners?” * Yes.”’ “1 cannot feel comfortable riding your horse and you running along on foot.” “Oh, don’t mind me, for I’m all right,” came Don’s usual answer. * Yes, you appear to be; but how far is it to the place where you leave me ?”’ ** About three miles, for there is a break in the range there.” * Let me at least carry your rifle. * No; it is not heavy’ Buffalo Bill said not more. He saw that the youth was running swiftly along without an effort, and he felt that he was anxious to get him to the place where he would part company with him. So he kept the Pinto at a canter until the boy halted where there was a narrow canyon penetrating the ridge. If he breathed more rapidly, if his run told on him, it was not evident to the scout, who regarded him now with admi- ration, and said: * Well, boy pard, you beat ‘em all, for I don’t know just where to find your match.” Don smiied, as though the words of praise from a man like Buffalo Bill pleased him, and replied: ‘Here is the canyon, and when you pass through it you will come out into the big valley through which the Indian trail runs, and which will lead you to the fort, but TU go up on the ridge and signal you if all is clear through the pass, for Sioux may be hanging about.’’ “It is something new to have some one looking to my safety, for it’s my business to take care of other people; but I confess I do not know this country, having only come to Fort Belvue a week ago. “Some day I'll square the debt of gratitude | owe you, boy pard,” ** No; let it be as it is. “TVll go to yonder high point and wave my hand if it is all right, and if not I'll come back and guide you to another pass half a dozen miles further on. “ Good-by,” and Buffalo Bill again held out his hand, which this time was grasped firmly in return. : Going up the steep hill with apparently gait as walking,” was rou, for you have come a) no effort, the youth approached the point he had referred to cautiously, and after a moment waved his hand, As he did so, he moved his position, dis- appearing from sight, and Buffalo Bill rode on into the pass. The other end of the canyon ended in abrupt cliffs, and Buftalo Bill was almost under their shadow when he suddenly saw a puff of smoke shoot out from the heights above, a report followed, and an “Indian brave leaped to his feet from be- hind a rock not a "undred feet in front of the scout, but dropped dead as he was bounding away. Instantly Buffalo Bill was on the alert, but from the cliffs he heard the words: “My shot will warn them, so dash out - into the valley and run for it. “Fle was the sentinel of the band.” “ And leave you?” oried the scout, re- “proach fully. , “They ‘will know nothing of me, think- PT Bate you killed him. I'm all right, so go!’’' uffalo Bill did not half like the idea. - of leaving the brave youth, but he realized at ot omne truth of what he said, and felt that he | resistance, Whatever his intention had been, he had to quickly make up his mind to act. There lay the dead brave, his rifle by his side and. cocked, showing that he must have had his aim upon the scout when the youth discovered him from the cliffs above and fired the fatal shot. But then, too, coming up the valley at a run, was a string of red horsemen, alarmed by the shot, and evidently just coming out of a camp a short distance off, Buftalo Bill was within range of his rifle he knew, but he did not fire. The way to the fort was open to him to escape, for the Sioux came from the other direction. He glanced up at the ridge, fearful that the youth would fire upon the redskins ad- yancing. But he had Cisappeared. So away he went at a run on the trail toward the fort, and as he looked back he Saw that the red pursuers were increasing in number. Urging his pény to better speed, he dis- covered that there were some fleet animals ridden by the Indians, and as seyeral seemed gaining, after a run of over an hour, he brought his repeating-rifle to bear and fired, A moment after he dashed upon the com- mand of Lieutenant Arthur Lowery on the search for him. CHAPTER XIII. BEATEN BACK. | It was a relief to Buffalo Bill to see the troopers, for he was already looking about for a place where he could stand at bay if the redskins drew still nearer to him. ‘The pony he rode. Was a good one, and fleet, too, but he had already been hard pressed in the rides of his young master, and the scout’s weight was so much greater that it told upon him. But the sight of the troopers changed the aspect of affairs greatly, for Lieuten- ant Lowery at once formed his men in line of battle and they advanced with ¢ar- bines ready to fire, ri to follow a volley with a charge with revolvers and sabers, The redskins took in at a glance the sit- uation, that though they might outnumber the soldiers, they were no mateh for thei, so they halted to at least make a show of while Buffalo Bill called out: “There are not over fifty of them, Sir, and a volley wil stampede them.’ As there was DOW no danger of hitting the scout, sche ag Lowery ordered a halt for steady and the carbines be- gan to crack all eid the line, With a result that several Warriors fell from their saddles down. “ Charge!’ shouted the lieutenant, as Buffalo Bill wheeled by his side, and the troopers were off with a cheer. Still the Indians made a show of resist- ance to get their dead and wounded, and a shower of arrows and bullets met the sol- diers, hitting a fatal blow here and there. But the rush of the cavalry was irresisti- ble, and the Sioux fell back, at first slow- ly, then rapidly, and. as the. troopers were and as many ponies also went upon them, revolver in one hand, saber in. the other, it became a perfect stampede. For half a mile they Were pursued, until every individual brave seemed to have scattered in a different direction, and then the reéall was sounded by the bugler,. and the victorious men rode back to go into camp and look after the dead and wounded, A good camp ground was found in some timber, where there was a small lake, and the men were busy looking after their. wounded “comrades, some half aj _——— heavy, no wounded, but over a seore of dead. & “ Well, lieutenant, I brought you a fight!’ said Buffalo Bill, as he joined Lieutenant Lowery in his camp after the battle, “ Yes, Bill, and a good one, for we them a severe blow, though we ean but regret our own loss—still they met a sol- dier’s fate and so we must look at it.” “You know we were searching for you?” “ Searching for me, sir?” “Yes; for all were anxious to know what had become of you, after we saw you fire at the intended assassin of Col- Onel Doan on the cliff.” “To quote from a boy pard of mine, sir, I will say , ‘Oh! I was all right!” said Buffalo Bill, with a smile. “That we did not aEOW and after the battle the colonel readily granted. me leave to bring a force in search of you.” “Then you had a battle, sir?’ ‘* Oh, yes, for the redskins, live hundred strong, pursued us and brought us to bay just as reinforcements came up from the furt, and we gained a great victory. “Colonel Doan was not badly hurt, then 2” “A mere bruise, but it was the closest call of his life.”’ “It would have been. bad enough had he been killed, but terrible, indeed, if he had fallen before the eyes of his wife and daughter.” “I am so glad it was no worse, sir, for that shot was well aimed.” “And the assassin, Cody?’ “1 lost him, sir.” ‘Does that mean that you killed him?” “Oh, no, sir; but I wounded him, tracked him for miles, and then lost his trail in a lava valley.” “Too bad.” “ Yes, sir; but you were warned oe dan- ger by a boy # 3” gave + Ah! you know that; but you must, as you are riding his pony.” ‘He saved me, yes, twice, I may say, — and merely told me he had told Colonel Doan of an ambush prepared for him, that. Indian Dick was a txaitor guide leading him into it, and that he guided him around the Indians in hiding.” “He did, that boy?” “It was just the question I was going to ask you, sir.” “You met him?” . indeed; but, Gody, who is. ** Yes, sir; Fi tell you about it,’ and.» ‘i Pal Buffalo Bill did so. Then the lieutenant told of the youth's coming to their camp, his charge against Indian Dick, how they had been guided around the ambush by the young un- — Known, and then of the pursuit and bat- ied tle that followed. Buffalo Bill listened with deepest atten- tion to all Lieutenant Lowrey said, and then remarked: | “You left the ambulances in the camp, sir, so they must bé there yet.” rar ee et ters “Yes, and we ought extra horses Mase ese along to take them Peak with us, if the" Indians had not burned them, for bt fea baggage of the ladies we cached.” le. “We can go on to that camp, sir, if you will, and the ambulances will be just What we want for our wounded, so can be sent oh to the fort under a small. eS- cort, for Tam going to ask you to do: mea | favor, Lieutenant Lowery,’ ‘said the: scout, earnestly. se Moen Ne seater (eh CHAPTER "XTVO ee BUFFALO BILL'S RESOLVE, Sa ahhit Ch rtainly, Cody, with great palate ; | What it is you. weer, ne 10 ao a a amply able to ond ens of gone cote an number, and their dead, rig iis say ba ich : 2 spat, th e| th Pes ers had Deen killed ou an newer Lieutenant a " : eo ~~ b ele 4 st i tig Sins te loss | to the reds ius Ww ng to, ie the scout had ay Muar ve ae ‘4 es Leeees eo i sii poe a bea a Rati eh ph ss Mg ft oP ae ve ee Ver a i ra ce hs te Res . ’ ” VEE ong % ayy oS fide les ae ve $ fi ct i: Fi rt ab "yi a 4 ees if ay fit me OMEb Oo “com