Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 948 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

—— 2 Pae: — The Don now appeared and told the scout the senora had breakfast ready, and he would guard the prisoner while he ate. ‘*No, Don, I’ll take him with me,” was ‘tthe reply, and this was done. The senora was all smiles, and con- gratulations when Buffalo Bill appeared, and, turning to the prisoner, said re proachfully: * And to think he has been our guest, and would treat you thus. “For shame, Panama. “T fear the Vigilantes will hang you when you reach 1] Monte.” But her kind heart enabled her to heap the plate of the prisoner with a good breakfast, and the Don’s offer for his wife to guard the prisoner while he and the seout went out to get the horses ready being declined, Panama was taken along also to the corral. “My son is looking up a stray horse of his, and the peons are guarding the cat- tle,’ explained the Don, without being asked, and Buffalo Bill- made a mental mote of the fact, as also that the three were missing. The scout’s two horses were saddled, that of the prisoner also, and the Don refused decidedly any pay for the night's lodging he had given, but seemed most particular in his directions to Buffalo Bill as to the trail he should take. Telling the Don that he would pay the peons for burying the two dead men, upon his return, he bade a courteous farewell to the senora, shook hands with his host, and rode away with his prisoner upon the trail the Spaniard had directed him to take. But Buffalo Bill was not to be caught napping, and he reealled that Wild Wid had iold him to be sure and take the river trail, That certainly was not the one he was then on, he felt sure, so he asked the pris- oner if the other trail was not the short- est. “No, the longest,” said Panama, shortly. “This is the direct one, then?’ “* Yes.” “‘The other lies yonder, does it not?” “*No, in this other direction.” That agreed with the advice given by Wild Kid. So he said, while he watched the prisoner closely: * We will take the other trail, then.’ Buffalo Bill had observed looks pass be- tween the Don, the senora and the pris- oner, Which he felt were intended to con- vey to the prisoner certain information. He now saw that his avowed intention of taking the other trail caused the pris- oner to start and grow anxious. “You will have a hard ride of it, if you take the river trail, and are just as likely as not to run upon a band of redskins that way,” urged Panama. » “I’ve met redskins before, and am pretty well armed and mounted, so I can run if I cannot fight, and your horse is a Zood one, too; but should I have to leave you behind it will save you from being hanged, as you certainly will be, North Adams.” ‘he prisoner was white faced now, and brought forward several strong arguments of why the scout should not take what was known as the river trail, as it fol- lowed along the stream for several miles, and crossing it, recrossed after some dis- tance, rendering it considerably longer than the ome that ran directly across country from the old mission. But Buffalo Bill was determined to £0 his own way. and turned out of the trail to cross country a mile or two to the other one. The moment he did so the looks of the prisoner showed that the scout had saved Buffalo Bill’s Snap-Shot. himself from an ambush and kept Pan- ama from being aided in an escape. A muttered imprecation in Spanish from the prisoner told how deep was his disappointment at the action of the scout in regard to the two trails. CHAPTER XVII. A SIGNAL AHEAD. Buffalo Bill soon came into the other trail, and turned in the direction he had been going on the first one. He was sure that was the right one, as Panama told him it was not. “Tll chance it,” he said, with a smile. Then he was bothered as to his meet- ing with Wild Kid on the trail. The youth had said he would meet him, but nothing had been said of having the prisoner along. Would Wild Wid think it wise to show himself while Panama was along? That Buffalo Bill determined to leave to the boy to decide. He would naturally see him, and that he had a prisoner with him, before he al- lowed himself to be seen, and so would know best how to act. So the scout continued on his way, watching only that he was not surprised by any one on the way, as he did not know but that the Don’s people might have guarded both trails. Then, too, the prisoner might have been right in his dread of meeting a band of Indians. Some ten miles from the old mission the scout came upon a little prairie, a mile Across, and with a range of hills in the distance. There the trail crossed the river and wound along the banks, which the scout’s knowledge of the lay of land in general cony:nced him that the river must wind around and run along at the base of the distant hills. He asked his prisoner, but the latter Wis in a mood not to reply. It was evident that Buffalo Bill had taken the wrong trail—for Panama. The river was easily forded, the trail followed down the bank, and as the hills were approached the trail seemed to lead away from the stream. As the slope was reached Buffalo Bill's eyes were upon the trail ahead, going imong the hills, and his keen eyes caught sight of a form ahead, appearing for a moment, and then gliding out of sight. “I think I shall reconnoiter on aces alone, Adams, but I'll see that your horse does not run away with you,” and Buffalo Bill proceeded to tie the animal ridden by the prisoner securely to a tree. The prisoner was already bound secure- ly to his saddle, Riding on ahead Buffalo Bill advanced with caution, though he felt sure the form he had caught sight of must be the Wild Iwid. If mistaken, then it would be man against man; but great odds never dis- turbed Buffalo Bill to any alarming ¢x- tent. After several hundred yards the’ trail wound into the timber belt along the range of hills, and as he was lost sight of to the sharply watching prisoner, he be- held ahead the Wild Kid, for it was a youth he saw. There he stood in the. trail, handsome-faced and waiting. The scout was at once impressed with the appearance of the youth, just sneh as he would expect to find his friend of the night before to be. “T’m the Wild Kid, Chief Cody,” in- formed the youth, with a smile. * Yes, I am sure of that, for though I did not see you last night, you are just upright, 9 about like what I pictured you, and I have kept a searching lookout along the trail to find you.” “I saw you several miles back, but dared not signal, as I perceived that you had company, so I came on here and took the chances. “It is Panama you have, I suppose, but did he see me?’ “No; and I simply explained that I would reconnoiter on ahead.” “Good! Now, you were going to El Monte with your prisoner?” “ Yes, he really is North Adams, a de serter from the army, and a double mur- derer and thief. I thought I had killed him, but was mistaken.” ‘So I heard you say last night to him.” “You heard me?’ in surprise. “Oh, yes; for I was on the roof and heard and saw all. “You see I didn’t know just what the Don and his layout might be tempted to do, so I lay low until nearly dawn, and I know that Juan and the peons went out before day to ambush you on the other trail. “I therefore kept near and was glad when you took my advice and followed the river trail, for you missed the am- bush. But if you had been attacked, Wild Kid would have been in the game for all I was worth.” “You are a true friend, Wild Kid, as I have had the best of proof.” “Then take the advice I now give you. If you do not you'll get into big trouble.” “T'll do it, for I feel that I can trust you,”” was Buffalo Bill’s earnest reply. CHAPTER XVIII. WILD KID’S ADVICE. * Now, Chief Cody, I don’t know what your business at El Monte is, but you are a brave man to come alone, though I heard ,your bluff to the Don last night about soldiers following.” * You are a Keen one.” “If you needed soldiers here you'd get them from the fort, sixty-five miles south of here, and where I wish you to go now.” *< Wiy?’ ** Well, the prisoner you have is a de- serter, you say?’ Tes,” “Down here he is a gambler and a secret member of a very dangerous band. “I’m not dead sure, but I think the Don is in the gang also, but by pretending not to suspeet him we can catch him in a trap, is my idea.” “The yery thing, Kid,” ‘‘Now, if you take Panama into El Monte, brave as you are, and a man to face any danger, he will be taken from you, for his gang is a strong one, and the good men there will not put their lives in jeopardy, and their homes, too, by taking sides with you. “ You might kill half a dozen, but a bul- let will kill a buffalo, and you are but human.” * You are right, Wild Kid.’ ‘So I say to you to skip this trail right here, follow the range right along. I'll sketch you a map of the country and trails, and get into the fort as quickly as you can. * Leave your prisoner there. and make your way back ¢o this point by day after to-morrow noon, and I’.l be on hand to join you. “Tl go into El Monte and hear what story the Don has sent in of the affair, and see just how the humor of the men stands, for they think Iam a bad one, and so will talk freely before me. “T'll see how matters stand, too, about the attack on Lady Beauty, of Idleresf Ranch, and when you return I'll take you~