Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 958 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ee -_ > oy | ne le ie * : wp = e08 bay 4M Santa Ry “14. ¥, Pail - 7 S, me eed J y <4 et . hpi deS, —, — p— awe - ‘a et ~~ ee es ee el —_ a2 ot 4 ~ ix? . — : Oe “7 - — « hi a r P ’ . ~m “Well, we got the boy, and the captain seemed to hate him worse than an Indian -¢an hate, for he tied him to the back of a black mustang and thus carried hin along.” * Well?” “ At our first camp at night the mustang ran. away with the boy, for the captain would. not. release him, and told the In- dians they could take him to their camp and torture him to death. “We all tried to catch the mustang, and. divided forces the next morning and loolsed. for him. > “But we got to the river here, and having sent a man on ahead to see if the black mustang had crossed, we saw you and thought you was our pard, but it was .a mistake.” ‘Yes, a slight one, but it served me well - just then to be mistaken for an outlaw.” ‘Tt did; but we went after you, and the -eaptain got it in the head. *“ But we were anxious to catch you, and So pressed on, but you gave us the slip. “While we were after you, Talbot, “whom we left to guard the camp, with others who were to bury the captain, robbed us and skipped out, and you got him too.” “Yes, and his booty.” “Well, I wanted it, and when Captain Charlie said we must push across and back for New Mexico, I played sick and got left, determined to kill Talbot when he eame to cross, and get the treasure, for I felt sure he would not dare go the other way up through Utah. “T wanted help, and I tried to ring in the ferryman, for Talbot was a bad man to handle, but the ferryman was too good, and then you chipped in and ended my plans. “Now you have the whole story, and if you wish me to guide you on after the band I'll do it, if you spare me, give me a couple of horses, a good outfit, weapons, provisions, and a few hundreds in money.” “ All except the few hundreds you shall have, but we will give you some money, and advise you to try and lead a better life in future.” “Ts that all right, Lieutenant Keyes?” ‘‘Yes, we can promise him that, and if the ever comes up into this country again that he’ll be shot.” “T’m not coming, sir; but let me tell you that the captain left some papers which Captain Charlie has, so you may find out who he is by them.” As it was nearly dawn, and as the other two parties had arrived while Buffalo Bill was at the, ferryman’s cabin, the order was given to go down to the river to cross, CHAPTER XXVI. THE WIPE-OUT. — The hermit ferryman’ was at the tree to which his canoe was made fast, and had the other one with him. A scout volunteered to take the second canoe, so, saddles and traps were first taken over, two led horses swimming be- ‘hind each little boat. | A dozen trips to and fro were made, and the party that were going were all over in safety. The surgeon, two of the scouts and six soldiers had been left in the camp with Little Dick, who was showing signs of improvement. The ferryman had wished him carried | to his cabin, but the surgeon did not care to remove him, particularly as the man —— \ et eee “he as ee a a - ¥ we -c “. fe 7 ~ _- = * ~~.” > CF. io td - + - i an mt Lo ~~ - RAY Orr ny ~ ~] = _ gaid that he and his wife would do all they could to make the poor fellow more » . €omfortable; so, ferrying the little com- 4 . mand across, he carried out his kind in- ‘In the mean time, bound to his horse, the outlaw had ridden ahead with Buffalo Bill and said that he would readily pick up the ~" : ; > a oF 84 der, “J VAS ese * ~ ‘2 ona) 7 of + . wr ‘ : : ' >. aa : : * ‘ ; A . ' 14 J . . : " . me Se: a 7 / ® 5 , 2 “>. pe is Bs ¥ 1, a +s - ; 2u'VG& ‘ ae fo, “ S monn ae | : : AS Oh ee ED aoe De og 7% aC * . Naty a : .-A) ate pod im te ns Dae -% : rl Pee fe bts ee Pea > Baal Ste 2 ; ; a eae 1a y Lae Oe A ; ; ahe«ws © = ttt wD a a ‘ , a wa trail of his comrades when the pursuers came to where the ground would reveal their tracks. Arriving at Navahoe Springs, some miles from the river, they discovered that the outlaws had camped there, and refilling canteens with the cool spring water and giving their horses a short rest and a few bites of grass, which grew near, they pushed on, the outlaw saying to Buffalo Bill: * We will catch them in their camp to- night, never fear. ** But remember, when I show you their camp I’m to light out, so have all fixed for me to go, for if any of them escape rll be the one they will suspect, and they’ll go for me.” “ Never fear; there will be no escapes. This will be a case of kill or capture all.” “A wipe-out, eh?’ a * About that.” The prophecy of the outlaw was veri- fied, for pushing ahead rapidly, soon after dark they came to a valley where camp- fires came into view. The outlaw described the locality to Buffalo Bill, who then went ahead to reconnoiter, accompanied by the dashing young commander, Hdward Keyes. They were gone an hour, and their plan of attack was formed. “Now you can go, and you had better push the breeze pretty lively for whatever point you like, so you do not come our way again. “ Here is your money, and as you have your two horses and your outfit, be off!’ “ Pard, I will, and I thanks you for act- ing square by me, and wishes you luck. “ Good-by, lieutenant, and Buffalo Bill, when I hears people say. they has heard of Buffalo Bill, ’ll tell ’em I know him—that he’s square, and a man clean through.” The outlaw, with this, rode away in the darkness, leading his extra horse; and a minute after the scouts were creeping in to surround the outlaw camp and capture their horses, while Lieutenant Keyes fol- lowed slowly with his troopers in two columns, ~ charge in upon the band, who then were little dreaming of the impending danger. Suddenly, right close to the camp, a wild war-cry rang out, Buffalo Bill’s well- known signal. The scouts fired upon the camp, when at once in dashed the soldiers and surrounded the whole gang. The outlaws were surprised completely, but they rallied quickly, and a fierce fight followed, though a short one, for in a few moments their cries for quarter Were heard. . “ Five prisoners, sir; all the rest killed. “ A corporal, a soldier and a scout killed; three soldiers wounded, and a loss of three horses for the command,” reported. Lieutenant Ogden Ross to Lieutenant Keyes, who asked: “How many outlaws killed?” ** Twelve, sir.” * And five prisoners, Ogden?” sé Yes, sir.”’ | ‘“ All present or*accounted for, then, for ‘there were seventeen. “ A wipe-out, as Buffalo Bill called it,” said Lieutenant Keyes. ; CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. The soldiers went into camp in the val- ley where the battle had been fought, and ce tired men and horses were soon rest- ng. ; They were early astir, however, break-. fast cooked, the dead buried—those of the ‘command apart from the others—and then with the prisoners and captured outlaw | horses, the march was begun for the Colo- rado, some of the wounded ously injured. | | _-— - : “V5 PP . : . LD F : a wr? - ’ hy i ¢ i “he — ~ . oY = « 7 a g ru * fe ‘ © Pe A ° * ~- 4 C- my 7 “ae * * > ‘ 7 - e t- , . 2 a*. 1 a-Chase. ing sett. A rapid ride brought them to the OColo-— rado at sunset. The ferryman was there > with his two canoes to take them across, the horses now being turned loose to swim over in a bunch, which they did. The ferryman had good news for them, — for he told how Little Dick, under the devoted care of the surgeon, had returned to consciousness, and though weak and suffering, was in a fair way to recover. “Cody, we must stay here for a few — days until Little Dick is able to travel by easy stages to the fort, and we will then nmke Soap Springs the first night, Jacob’s Pool the second, and Fort Farewell the — third. : 3 “TF wish you to start in the morning for the fort, and to report to Colonel Dear- born, telling him the good news of his son’s rescue, and prospect of soon being with him.” : After an early breakfast Cody had a look at Little Dick, who was improving rapidly, and then, mounting his horse, started for the fort. When Colonel Dearborn saw him at sun- set coming at a canter up to headquarters, he said in a low tone to the major, who was with him: “Is he coming to tell me My boy is dead?” Before the major could reply, Buffalo Bill took off his sombrero and called out: “ Allright, sir! Little Dick is found and on the way to the fort! | Then the two officers heard Buffalo Bill’s modest story of the whole expedi- tion, and the colonel received the papers handed him with the remark: “These belonged to the outlaw chief, whose real name was Kenneth Carr.” “Cody, you have made me your devoted friend for life, and let me tell you that in becoming a scout, a splendid detective was lost to the world, for it was your clever- ness in ferreting out this whole deal that Saved my boy.” Three days later the command under Lieutenant Keyes retumned, and Little Dick was able to tell his father how two Indians had ambushed him, seized his © pony, and, though he killed one, the other captured him and his horse was made to carry him and the dead redskin to where Captain Carr was waiting. He told hit, too, that he had seen Buf- falo Bill’s horse, but not the scout him- self, and how nearly the black mustang had come to going over the Colorado’s banks, how he had freed one of his hands and feet, and thus had been able to sit up on the horse until too weak to do so, and then he lost consciousness, adding: “And Buffalo Bill says I am to have the black mustang, father.” The colonel, meanwhile, had investigat- ed Private Bradley Moore, of B troop, and found in him Brad Moorhouse, his boy- hood friend, and a cousin of Kenneth Carr. He also, from a search of his traps, found that he had been in correspondence with Kenneth Carr, and the two had en- tered int8 a plot to further dog Colonel Dearborn. Upon this proof the traitor soldier was arrested on the charge of “conspiracy to kill,” tried, and sent to an Eastern prison, where he was shot in trying to make his Mrs. Dearborn never learned of the ¢an- - ture of her son until she heard it from his own lips when he went East to attend col- lege. which he left. after a yerr, to enter the. West Point Militery Academy, from which he graduated with honor, and is now a first HNeutenant in the army, and has - rendered gallant service out on the fron. | tier. where he is still remembered br old ms he