Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 958 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6. oe “Tell us the whole oie Cody, for we are anxious to hear it, and see if there is any connection between it and something I have to tell you.” “T decided that it would not be wise for me to camp at Soap Springs, as that. would be the very place to come to look for me, and so I sought a break in the cliff, what I supposed was a shallow can- yon, to spend, the night; though, not hav- ing a chance to fill my canteens at the river, I had to make a dry camp of it. “Wishing to see if I could discover my pursuers, I staked out my horse and climbed up the cliff to a ledge of rock fifty feet high, and it was unfortunate that I did so.” Buffalo Bill then went on to tell the story of his having seen the black mus- tang and his bound rider dash past his horse down in the canyon, and straight across the plain toward the Coloraco River. “My God! can it have been my boy? “You say that he was a youth, or maiden, you believe?” cried the colonel, excitedly. “As nearly as I could see, sir, for it was just sunset, and I was looking down upon him and all of a hundred and fifty feet away from the mustang as he flashed out of the canyon.” “Tell me again just what you saw?” asked the colonel. “ A large black mustang, sir, a splendid animal, apparently, without bridle or sad- dle, but with one or more girdles around him, and strapped to them, the head to- ward the neck, and resting upon the broad shoulder of the animal, either a young man or woman.’ “Go on, Mr. Cody! go on!” “He was secured by thongs about the arms, the waist, and knees, as well as [ could tell, and I ‘did not know whether he was dead or alive, for it must have been a man, though the eyes Were wide open.”’ “ He uttered no cry?” ‘‘None, then, sir.” “You can tell how he was dressed?” “ Yes, sir, in buckskin leggings and hunt- ing shirt, while he also wore moccasins, and his hair was dark and rather long.” os My God! Fairbanks, that was my poor boy,” groaned the colonel, while the major said, sadly: ““T very much fear so, born.” Colonel Dear- CHAPTER X. THE SCOUT-DETECTIVE. There had been a look of dread upon Major Fairbanks’s face as Buffalo Bill was telling’ his story, which the latter could not fail to observe. The major had begun to fear that the unknown Mazeppa would prove to .be none other than the colonel’s son, Little Dick. | When he had replied as he did to Colo- nel Dearborn he turned to the scout and said: “TY wish to tell you the situation as it is, Cody, and I was anxious for your re- turn that you might help us out, for I ap- preciate what you can do.” “Thank you, sir.” “When the colonel came to take com- mand here, he brought with him his son, a youth of fifteen—may I tell Cody, sir, something of your son’s history?’ “Certainly; let him know all, for we end upon him to save poor Dick.” ee Fairbanks then told about the . early life of the missing youth, and that if ‘the had been captured by Indians he feared the shock would, kill his poor BS i a mother, who was in the Hast, not having ‘been well cnough to come out there with me ber husband “Buffalo Bill’s “Now, Cody,” sansitesed the major, “Little Dick, as the soldiers all call him, is a little wonder, and was the idol of the ; Whole post, ‘He could ride, shoot, and, in fact, was far in advance of his years, and daring to recklessness. “He rode away from the fort two days ago to hunt, as he had done before, and failed to return. “The whole post was searching for him yesterday, but in vain, but the scouts brought in word there were signs of In- dians about, and the trail of Little Dick’s horse led right to where these signs ap- peared, so that seemed to be proof un- doubted that he had been captured by red- skins, and I was telling the colonel not to despair until you had returned, taken his trail, and given it up, and just then the orderly announced you.” ‘May I ask on what kind of horse the young man rode away from the fort, sir?” said Buffalo Bill. “A very pretty, spotted mustang.” Botti officers looked eagerly at the scout, awaiting what more he would say. oe was quiet for a moment, and then said: “How far did the seouts follow his trail, sir?’ “ About ten miles from the fort.” “Was he in the habit of going that far away, sir?” ‘* Never before,” the colonel said. “There was but one trail, sir?” ** Yes.” ‘* And when the scouts lost it they found the Indian trail?’ sé Yes,”’ ‘In about what force, sir?” “Some thirty, it was said.” nnd which way did their trail lead, sir?” “Toward the Colorado River, and since you have reported these men in the camp there, I begin to believe they were not In- dians, after all.” “* Have you lost any of the fort horses of late, sir?’ “None,” “Have any scouting parties of cavalry captured any Indians, sir?’ * Not one. | “Why do you ask both Cody ?” “*T came upon a trail, sir, crossing mine, some dozen or so miles away, and it was made up of both shod horses and unshod ponies, and I was sure that the redskins had stolen some of your animals, or the cavalry had captured some Indians, “There were about thirty or forty in the party, more unshod ponies than shod horses, and I followed tees until the nature of the ground gave no trail.” * And this trail bore toward the Colo- rado?”’ “Tt did, sir, in that direction.” “That would mean that both Indians and whites had captured the boy?” “Yes, sir, and that the lad was bound to the horse, as I saw him, goes to show that white men did that, for Indians would not.” “Colonel Dearborn, in addition to being a perfect plainsman, Buffalo Bill is a natu- ral-born detective, and had his lot been cast in a large city he would have made fame for himself as a shadower. “Now I feel that he is on the right track in this matter, and I wish him to feel at liberty to ask any question he feels disposed to, and also to have full sway to eall fot all the aid he may need in this matter, “T have seen instances where Cody’s de- tective skill has won a case against all others working agatnst him, and T helieve. if he undertakes to find your son, he will do so, be he dead or alive, and more, run questions, Bane SENESAT | coments you.’ “My dear major, let me say to you and to our good friend here, that I will answer any questions, do anything, lend all aid in my power in every Way that he wishes me to, if he will only ferret out the mys- tery of my poor boy’s disappearance, “TI see ‘already, from the way he goes about it, that Mr. Cody is going to get at bottom facts first, and then work out his plot, and he has but to call upon me in any way he déems fit, to have me re- spond most promptly,” and the colonel spoke with great earnestness. CHAPTER NXI. THE COLONEL’S CONFESSION. Buffalo Bill was silent for a moment after hearing the ecolonel’s words, and neither officer interrupted him. He was thinking that he thought he could solve the mystery of the boy’s fate, for he recalled how, as he believed, the black mustang had gone over the cliff into the Colorado River to sudden death. He remembered the cry he heard, and to him it seemed as a despairing shriek in the presence of an awful doom, just such as dashing down to destruction would be. But he would not yet tell the poor father what he had seen and heard. He would wait until he was sure. He would give the father hope to feed upon until there Was no longer room for hope. So he asked, suddenly: ‘Pardon me, Colonel Dearborn, but have you any foes out here?” — The colonel started at the abrupt ques- tion, and he bit his lip as though angered by the interrogation, but he answered with no show of resentment: “No; I know of none out here.” “You said you would answer my ques- tions, sir, so you will pardon me if I seem personal, for I wish to get at the foundation of this mystery and track it up.” “* Ask what you will, Cody, for I see that you are indeed a detective in your work,” “Are there any of your men, sir, Who have served on the frontier before? “T mean, of course, sir, those whom you brought with you?” “There are two troops of cavalry that were stationed out on the frontier be- fore.” “Have you punished any man among them, sir?” “T have not.” “Do you know of any of your immediate men—pardon me again, sir, but I will in- clude officers also—who have any reason to hate you for just or imaginary cause?” The colonel allowed a smile to flit over his sad face for an instant, while Major Fairbanks began to look slightly annoyed. But the colonel maned in the same even tone: “I know you are a £00d scout, Cody, but I think you would also have made a most excellent lawyer. As I am on the witness-stand, however, I will frankly an- swer. you, for I feel that you are asking questions that good may come out of them.” “T am, sir.”’ “T do not just see why you include offi- cers, Cody.”’ said Major. Fairbanks, | _ “ Because, sir, I know that officers have sinned. have been revengeful, and they certainly have more nower to work evil than their men have, Major Fairbanks. * “You are right—go ahead. “The use of the word revengeful tells. . me what vou are looking for—a motive.” “Then, Cody. Tet me tell von that if ¥ dow n the men who have torn him from » 5 ~. Pe, i < *¢ ~ “ - ‘d «ts > . é r *~ 3 ~ e "4 - - 4 x a) * have ho ay any officer or man of my ’ : 4 ¢ ey . 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