Beadle's Dime Library No. 362 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

| 6 Buffalo Bill’s Grip. **The Feather Feet will trust him. ** Let tae medicine-chief and his braves come with the Feather Feet.” The renegade muttered an oath and a threat, and then followed tbe Indian girl, his warriors stalking slowly after him. Buffalo Bill watched them until they disap- | do peared in the gloom of the gathering night, and then muttered: ** Though dead, gallant Custer, you still hold the field.” ‘ pith sims oly iste CHAPTER IX. THE MAD HERCULES, In a lovely valley tLrouga which wound a small stream flowing into the Yellowstone, a cavalry command was encamped, a few days after the battle of the Big Horn where Custer and his men fell to rise no more, It was not yet sunset, but the troopers had ridden hard, and the order to encamp bad been given at an early hour, when the command came upon a lovely spot for a bivouac, and the guide reported that the ridge before them af- forded no good camping-ground, Tbe horses were soon lariated out, and scores of camp-fires were kindled along the banks of the stream, while the soldiers began to prepare for the coming night as best they could. Leaving his servant to prepare his frugul sup- er, the leader of the soldier band strode up the illside toward the summit of the ridge, as though to get a better view of the country about, while daylight yet remained. “‘Be careful, general, for I hain’t scouted ahead, an’ I looks ter jump Injuns hereabout at any time,” called out the guide, a wenther- beaten, buckskin-clad old son of the prairies. “ All right, Frank, (ll call if I run upon any red-skins,” answered the fearless officer, and he strode on alone up the hill. Once or twice he turned to enjoy the scene of beauty laid out before him, with the lovely val- ley and the picturesque bivouac, and at last, just as the sun touched the top summit of a dis- tant and lofty range of bills, be reached a point from whence he could behold the country over which the morrow’s trail would lead him. Below him all was shadow, for the sun had set to those in the valley; but the hill-tops were batbed in golden light, and unconsciously speak- ing aloud, he said: ‘No wonder that the poor red-skins love this land so well that they fight for every foot of it, as the march of civilization drives them before ‘*Tt seems that one could dwell here at peace with man and God.” “* Well said, sir officer! but I’ve got the drop on you,” Tne general started as the voice broke upon his ears, and dropping his band upon his sword- hilt turned to face the speaker. Before him, and noté six paces distant, having bus just stepped out from a dense thicket, he beheld what at first appeared to be hardly hu- man. | And yet none other was near, and from the lips of the one upon whom his eyes rested had coven the words that had told him he was not alone, , ‘*Who or what are you?’ asked the officer, sternly, his eyes fixed upon the intruder, and beholding a man of giant size, clad in the skins of wild beasts, that had at first caused him to appear like a huge grizzly bear reared upon his hind legs for an attack upon bis foe. About his waist was a red foxskin helt, in which were two revolvers and a large knife upon his bead was a panther-skin cap, the tail banging down the back, and upon his feet were moccasins of black bearskin. _ ‘ Hair black as night, tailing to his waist; beard of the same bue, maine and unkempt, and a revolver held in bis left hand and cover- ing the officer, made up the general appearance of the beiag that had so unexpectedly broken the reverie of the general. A glance had shown the officer just what I have described, and it also was sufficient to see a dark, haggard face, with eyes of strange blackness and brightness gazing straight into his own. : ; In hoarse, deep tones the strange being said while he still heid his revolver at a level, an in a hand that had not the sligbtest tremor: “You ask who or what I am?” ‘‘ Yes,” and the general watched him with the eye of a hawk, hoping for some chance to draw a revolver, which would place him on more equal terms with his giant adversary, for sucb he felt assured he would prove. “4 madman !” The answer was fairly shouted from out the be rded lips, but the man’s attitude did not change in the slightest. In spite of bimself the general started at the savage response, but said, in a kindly tone: ‘*My poor man, put up yon weapon and go with me to my camp, and I will care for you.” ‘‘ Never!” was the savage reply. ‘‘But, my dear fellow—” ‘“‘ Hold! address no words of kindness to me, for they are thrown away upon one whose duty it is to kill. ‘Hast ever heard of the Med Hercules?” ‘*Ha! Ihave heard of such a character, re- rted as dwelling on the Yellowstone,” ‘*T am the Mad Hercules, and if you know of me, you will understand that my mission is to Lill, and mercy I show to none, not even one who wears the epaulettes of high rank as you ‘No, no, I spare neither my own race, for I am a whi'e man, or was, before I became as a wild beast, and red-skin, too, is my foe. ‘* All are alike to me.’ The man spoke with intensity in tone, though not a muscle moved, and the iron hand still held the revolver at a level, covering the officer’s heart. ‘‘ But how have I harmed hei my poor man?’ ‘You are buman, and all mankind are my foes,” was the trembling response, and then he cried out, in a louder tone: ‘‘Come, the night draws near, and I have yet to run down my game for my supper. ‘‘Come! if you know prayers, say them, and when the sun sinks wholly behind those hills, I drop you dead in your tracks,” be officer saw that the mudman was a giant in strength, as well as size, and many strange stories of the Mad Hercules of the Yellowstone bad been told around the camp-fires of his im- mense power and deadly aim. To cope with him he knew would be impossi- sible, and a movement toward drawing his re- volver, with which he was armed, would be the signal for his death. ; In full view below him was the bivouac of his men, the camp-fires burning pata in the gath- ering gloom; but to call for aid wonld pre- cipitate the end, and he waited in silence, hoping some freak of the madman’s humor might save him. If the Mad Hercules kept his word, he knew he had not more than a minute to live, and to see how near the sun was to disappearing behind the hills, he turned his eyesin that direction. Instantly his face flushed, and with hope, for his gaze fell upon the form of a horse and rider. They were a long way off, and upon the spur of a hill, and just where the sunlight fell upor them, revealing both ea pak The horseman had been evidently about to de- scend to the valley, when his eyes fell upon the scene upon the opposite hill, and though the madman and his intended victim were fully six hundred yards away, he seemed to understand at a glance what was taking place, and instantly he drew rein, just as he was recognized by the officer who unconsciously allowed his name to break from his 1 Yn in a quick, hopeful whisper: “* Buffulo Bill |” The keen ear of the Mad Hercules caught the name, and turning like a tiger at bay, his gaze fell upon the scout on the distant spur. Quick as a flash, as he turned the general had dropped his hand upon his revolver and jerked it from his belt. Throwing it forward he drew trigger, and the hammer fell with a click upon the nipple, no report following. ut the sound caused the madman to turn upon him once more, and the officer saw him bound upon him, throwing aside his pistol as he at Ao and drawing his knife in his wild passion to , But, even in that awful moment the officer’s eyes turned upon the distant spur, and he be- held the rifle rise to the horseman’s shoulder, and knew that, desperate as were the chances, Buffalo Bill intended risking a shot to save him, CHAPTER X. THE SHOT AT LONG RANGE, In moments of deadly peril our thoughts fly quickest, and in an instent almost, when death stares us in the face, and seems inevitable, we think almost volumes. So it was with the general officer in the mo- ment of his deadly danger, when the Mad Her- cules was rushing upon him with uplifted knife, as though that alone could aid him in satiating his revenge upon his foe, the pistol and bullet being far too tame as the means of gratifying the passion for hatred he seemed to feel against all mankind. ; In that instant, after the hammer of his re- volver fell without causing an explosion, the general remembered that only that morning he had cleaned his weapons thoroughly, and not having the cartridges near him just then, had slipped them into his belt, intending to load them as he rode along on the march, Had he not forgotten so to do, brave and nervy man that he was, added to the fact that he was a dead shot, he could bave killed the Mad Hercules, once he got his weapon leveled upon him. Realizing the uselessness of his revolvers, he at once whipped out his sword to meet the fe- rocious attack, though with little hope of con- testing against the madman with any degree of suceess, : He had recognized in the horseman, as his horse stood on the spur, when the last glimmer of sunlight rested upon him, one whom he knew as the King of Bordermen, Buffalo Bill. He saw too in that moment of peril that Buf. falo Bill had caught sight of the scene upon the ridge, when the Mad ‘Hercules. clothed in the | skins of wild beasts, was springing upon him, in | uniform, and the sun’s setting rays revealed the difference between the two Senn The one look of the general, as he stood on ard to meet the attack, though he could but now how it mus‘ end, showed to him tat Buf- falo Bill had suddenly thrown his rifle to his. shoulder, and that the muzzle pointed toward hem : Fearful indeed were the chances against him; | but Buffalo Bill was the man to take just such risks. And he did take them. Just as the blade of the madman was poised above the head of the daring officer, whose nerve did not fail him, there came the puff of smoke from the scout’s: rifle and the general sprung aside to avoid the shock of the giant’s fall, for down upon his face he fell heavily, burying bis knife deep in the earth, and with a red streak across the top of the head where the bullet had cut its way. ‘Bravo, brave Buffalo Bill! I owe you my life, and Heaven knows I never fought at closer quarters with death,” said the officer, as he gazed an instant upon the huge, fallen form, and then turning toward the spur, where he bad last seem the scout, he took off his hat and waved it thrice around bis head, while he gave a ringing shout, But the spur was already vacated, and up from the shadows came a ringing, answering cry, while he could see the horse and rider mak- ing for the valley. itis shout remained unnoticed in the bivouac of his men, doubtless drowned by the noise of the camp; but the clatter of the hoofs of the scout’s cored came distinctly to his ears, and soon after he beheld the animal mounting the hillside toward him, and his daring rider urging him on, With rapid bounds he came from the shadows below into the glimmering twilight above, and, drawing rein, the scout threw himself from his horse and confronted the officer. **Cody, God bless you!” “‘General Carr, as [ live!” Such were the words that came from the uke of the two men as their hands were clasped in warm and friendly Beets. ‘* Always in the eee place, just when you are wanted, Bill,” said the general. ‘*T came pretty near being in the wrong place, general, for that was a long way off to take the chances, as [ feared I might kill you; but it looks like the ‘Great American What-is-it,’ that I have knocked over,” and Buffalo Bill turned to the prostrate form of the madman, while General Carr said: “Tt is the poor creature they call the Mad Hercules, and whose existence I half believed was only in the imaginations of old trappers, until ied f Cody.” ‘**T bave heard of him, Renetal and they say he was a cruel demon; but I guess his evil works have ended. ‘‘ Now, sir, I have sad, sad news to make known to you, and I was seeking the command nearest to the Big Horn, when 1 saw you, and as I at first believed, a grizzly bear.” ‘*It was worse, Cody; but what news have ou? seks Quick! tell me, has that Indian General, Sitting Bull, caught Merritt, Gibbon, or the dashing Custer in a trap?” said General Carr, anxiously. | “You have said it, general, for the gallant Custer and three hundred of the Seventh have been slain.” ‘““Great God!” and the brave and noble- hearted Carr, who never flinched under the fiercest fire and deadliest danger, fairly stag- gered under the blow, while his voice trembled as he asked: ‘**Can this be true, Cody?” ‘**T saw Custer and his men dead on the field, general,” was the sad reply. ‘Then there can be no doubt; but when and where?” **Upon the Big Horn, sir, where General Cus- ter found the villages of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horss, -nd boldly attacked them. ‘* They were surrounded and overwhelmed by thousands of warriors, but fought to the end with desverate courage as every trace shows.” “And 3enteen and Reno?” ** kno-7 nothing, sir, and suppose they were not in the fight, or had gone off on other trails, ‘*T came upon the field about sunset, and left it an hour after, to try and find you, General Gibbon, or General Crook, and make known the fearful tidings, and at the same time deliver the warning of Sitting Bull to those who follow on his trail.” ‘ “Ha! did you see that wily old chief?” **No, general; but one who represented him,” and Buffalo Bill went on to tell the strange story of his visit to the fata) field and all that bad occurred to him, while the two descended to the valley together, the scout’s horse slowly following, and the Mad Hercules, seemingly for- gotten, left lying where he had fallen, CHAPTER XI. GONE! HAtF a score of red-faced men were congre- gated in the tent of General Carr, listening to the story of Buffalo Bill of how he had found Gomicboo (E (@ . i — Ss .