Beadle's Dime Library No. 362 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

i j ee OS a te ee 18 by a mighty effort, and losing no time, at once began to dig a grave near the cabin. The earth was soft there, and with the im- plements found in the cabin the melancholy work was soon accomplished. Then, wrapped in the huge buffalo-robe taken from the floor of her own little room, the poor girl was placed in her last resting- place, and with a sad heart the scout left the spot, descending to the valley below by the same perilous means he had used in ascend- ine. A hasty grave was then dug for the shat: tered remains of the dead outlaw; and mount- ing his horse, Buffalo Bill rode gladly away from the spot just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. A rapid gallop of fifteen minutes brought him to the spot where he had left off follow- ing the trail of the Mad Hercules, and there he camped for the night, feeling more utter- ly lonely than he had ever before in his adventurous life. CHAPTER XXXII. BULLDOZING RED-SKINS. It was just light enough for Buffalo Bill to see the trail left by the Mad Hercules and his kidnapped herd of ponies, when he start- ed upon his way, and he pressed on rapidly, for he knew that his enemy had a long start of him. Keeping Red-skin at a gentle lope, the scout followed the trail for several hours be- fore stopping to take his breakfast, and then he halted cnly long enough to give his horse the necessary rest. Flanking the scene where Custer’s fatal battle had been fought, the trail of the mad- man had Jed toward the Rosebud, and the scout felt certain that he was making for his old range vorth of the Yellowstone, where he had been frequently seen by hunters and trappers. ‘rom the signs he had to judge by, Buffa- lo Bill knew that he was gaining upon the madman rapidly. He seemed not to understand driving po- nies, and the scout could see where they had wandered off here and there, and evidently given their crazy herder much trouble. As the trail still bore in the direction which he knew Sitting Bull must have tak- en, Buffalo Bill was the more willing to fol- low it, as he wished to settle affairs with the Mad Hercules before going on to the Indian village. One afternoon, when near the Yellow- stone, he suddenly came upon the body of a dead man. It was dressed in buckskin, and the scout recognized it as the body of a half-breed friendly Indian, a Pawnee, whom he had fre- quently seen at the border forts, and knew was faithful to the whites. He had a bullet wound in his head, was scalped, and yet had not been robbed of ‘iis arms, or a sealed envelope, which Buffalo Bill took from an inner pocket in his hunting- shirt. The envelope remained as it had been iven to the Indian courier, and was ad- ressed simply: ‘To a Untrep States ARMY OFFICER.”’ Without hesitation, as a Government Scout, Buffalo Bill tore open the envelope and read, written ina bold hand: “Tam, with fifteen cavalrymen, one white and one Indian scout, corraled on the Yellowstone, three miles below the mouth of the Rosebud, by a large force of Indians, a part of Sitting Bull’s band. “Weare well fortified, but have provisions and ammunition to last us only a few days longer.so I beg aid from any officer of the army whom these lines may reach, ** The Indians in our front ene about two hun- d. . Burr, “ Capt, 0.8. A.” The date on this communication was only the day before, and Buffalo Bill at once de- cided upon the course he should pursue, To go back to search for any command he might find upon Sitting Bull’s trail would, perhaps, occupy some time, while if he went straight to the mouth of the Rosebud he -might in some way be able to effect the res- cue of Captain Burr and his men. ‘The killing of this half-breed is the work of the Mad Hercules, that is certain,” said Bill to himself. xnav ——————— Buffalo Bill’s Grip. ee ee Rosebud by the nearest course, and arriving in the vicinity after nightfall, he at once sought a safe hiding-place for Red-skin, and set out on foot to reconnoiter. It did not take him long to find out Cap- tain Burr’s little fort, which had been selected at a point that was a natural fortification, and which Bill remembered to have passed on several other occasions when hunting and scouting in that region. Creeping as close to the Indian lines as he dared, he soon discovered that they had thin- ned out their force considerably, leaving on- ly about fifty warriors to keep watch over the little party they felt so confident of starv- ing out at a very early day. Iaving discovered the true situation of affairs, Buffalo Bill set out to find where the Indians placed their ponies. To his delight he found them in a little vale, and the closest search showed him but two guards over them, as the red- skins were not expecting any foes in that vi- cinity. Having made this discovery, Buffalo Bill went back to where he had left his horse, and with the aid of the war-bonnet of Yellow Hand, whom he had killed, and other Indian paraphernalia, it did not take him long torig out in a costume that made him, in the dark- ness, look a red-skin of the deepest dye. Boldly then he rode toward the corral of ponies, and only drew rein when called to by one of the guards, His knowledge of the Sioux tongue gave him an advantage, and he instantly answer- ed the guard that he was the Cheyenne chief, Yellow Hand, the ally and friend of Sitting Bull. ‘* Let my Sioux brothers mount their po- nies and fly, for the pale-face soldiers come in the dark upon them, and they are as many as the leaves upon the trees, ‘* Quick! for the pale-faces have slain the warriors of the Yellow hand, and he flies alone to the villages of the Sioux. In loud, earnest tones Buffalo Bill spoke, and having delivered the warning, he dashed away, leaving the two guards almost wild with ep ' Quickly there came the note of alarm, and every brave sprung to his feet, and listened to their hastily-told story. All knew the Yellow Hand, the Cheyenne chief, and that his warning would not be idly given. ‘Where went the Yellow Hand?” quickly asked the Sioux chief in command. “Toward the north, on the trail of oar oo was the answer of the braveto whom uffalo Bill had spoken. The red-skins were loth to give up the scalps within the little fort, and were about to discuss the possibility of taking the forti- fication by one gallant charge, when afar off was heard a loud, ringing voice, giving stern orders, as though to men going into battle. Some there knew enough English to un- derstand the words: “Forward, men! ‘* Steady along the line!” This was enough for the Indians, and with wonderful alacrity they threw themselves upon their ponies and rode away like phan- toms in the darkness, Hardly had they disappeared from the position they had been besieging, when in their rear, some distance off, came shot after shot, fired in quick succession, stern orders, and the tramping of hoofs, with now and then a ringing war-cry. With mad speed the frightened red-skins kept on, believing that an army was at their heels, following hot on their trail to avenge the Custer massacre, while the little garrison were on the alert, and feeling that help had come, made the timber echo with their cheers. Then up to the fortification dashed a single horseman, and his words were. ‘*TIo, Captain Burr, be up and stirring, for there is no time to lose!” “Hello! I should know that voice, “Ts that you, Cody?” camein manly tones in reply. ‘‘ Ay, ay, sir,” answered the scout. ‘* Boys, it’s Buffalo Bill. ‘Give him three rousing cheers!” cried But I must drop him to look after the | Captain Burr. captain.” Instantly he struck for the mouth of the And with good will they were given; but | the scout called out: ‘Mount your horses and away, captain, for you have no time to lose, for those red devils may be back upon you.” ‘But where is your force, and who are they, Cody?” asked Captain Burr, as he came forward to where Buffalo Bill sat upon his horse, having taking off his Indian tog- ery. ‘Tm all, sir,” was the calm reply. ‘* Nonsense! who is with you?” ‘* My horse and myself, Captain Burr.” ‘* But who was that yelling, giving orders, and firing?” “T did it all, sir, yelled, commanded imaginary soldiers, and emptied my repeat- ing rifle a few times, ‘“Fact, captain, for I found your courier dead, read your dispatch, and came on with a kind of an idea that my usual good luck would help me get you out. ‘*But if you don’t get out of this, those reds will be back upon you.” ‘““ Tl do it, Cody, God bless you,” said the captain, fervently. ‘* Where are your horses?” ‘*Tn our little fort.” ‘*And well rested, so let them go hard, and strike for the Big Horn, and you'll run upon some of the columns,” ‘But you, Cody?” “I’m going on a visit to Sitting Bull.” ‘* Are you mad?” ** Perfectly sane, captain; but your men are ready, so let us move out of this, and I’ll go a short distance with you; but how came you cut off way up here?” ‘“Went scouting. got chased by a large force and headed off, and had to make the best of it here, and a good little fort we had too,” ‘Your holding it so well proves that, as well as your own valor, captain; but who is your guide?” ‘*'Tom Sun, and he has saved us.” “Then you need no aid from me, with Tom Sun along.” ‘‘ Strike for the Big Horn, and don’t tarry if you kill your horses. ‘“Good-night.” ‘‘Cody! Ho, Bill, what ails you?” cried out the captain, as Buffalo Bill, with his last word, put spurs to his horse and suddenly dasheg away in the darkness, ere the little band of heroes had all gathered around their dashing young commander, who muttered, as he rode off, followed by his men: “That was Buffalo Bill, I'll swear; but what in heaven’s name ails him, I wonder?” ‘‘It was Bill, cap’n, for I heard his voice, though I didn’t get up to speak to him before he was gone. ‘‘And he’s stampeded the whole gang of reds, and let us out of jail, so my addive is to scatter for safer quarters,” said the guide, Tom Sun, riding forward and joining his commander. ‘Your advice is good, Tom, so head for the Big Horn. ‘‘Forward!” and the little band started off at a rapid gallop, happy in being released from what had threatened to be their tomb. CHAPTER XXXIIT, A GHOST-HAUNTED HERCULES. Arter leaving Captain Burr so abruptly, Buffalo Bill rode rapidly on, following the course taken by the stampeded and thorough- ly bulldozed red-skins. He had perfect confidence in the speed and bottom of Red-skin to carry him away from any danger where fleetness and endurance were needed, and he also felt assured that he nis extricate himself from any ordinary peril. Having started the Indians on the run, he was not certain but that they would soon discover the cheat, and return after the cap- tain and his men. True, his having played Yellow Hand so successfully aided him greatly, for the In- dians could only expect from that chief ad- vice well intended, and that there certainly were foes outside of the little fort, and mov- ing upon them, he had every reason to feel that they would believe. But, to still aid the captain’s escape, he had suddenly darted away, as his keen hear- ing had detected the clatter of hoofs some distance off, Eomicbooks (E (0)