Beadle's Dime Library No. 826 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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16 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shooters. Buffalo Bill seemed to read the girl per- fectly and to appreciate the way she felt, so, when she came out with her flat refusal he urged no more on that subject, but replied: “Well, Singing Dove, we will not talk more about it now; but I am glad we got here in time to save you from the Sioux.” ‘¢- Yes, [am very glad.” “They knew of you as the Snow Lily of the Pawnees, and so they sought to capture you alive, feeling that it would give them a ; great power over their foes. : ‘¢ You made a brave resistance, and were > fortunate in finding a place where you could beat them back.” “ And kill them? “What would your chief’s wife and the ae five ladies at your fort think of a girl who . killed men?” There was a sneer in the tone mingled with sadness. ‘*They would think that you were a brave girl to be able to protect yourself, and ap- plaud you for it. ‘*The mission of soldiers is to fight and kill, to beat back foes, and they would re- gard you as a licroine indeed, ‘No, no, you must not feel that way.” “Well, I did not scalp them, did 1?” she said naively. ‘* No indeed, you left that for the warriors to do. * But lam going on to the village with you, Singing Dove, to see the chief, for the colonel has sent him some presents. ‘Had the ladies known that you would om not return, many gifts would they have sent ag to you. ly ‘* Ah! there comes our rear guard with ten ——s pack-horses,” and as Buffalo Bill spoke the Ns ndians left to come on more slowly, and yf. after whom a guard had been sent by Sioux Slayer, to show them the camp, came up. xs Camp was at once pitched on the bank of asmall stream and two and three together _-—s' the Pawnees came in from their chase after the Sioux. They were all elated over their victory and Sioux Slayer said to Buffalo Bill: **The great white chief makes the belts of fat. the Pawnees heavy with Sioux scalps. a ‘‘TJe takes no scalps himself, but he leads us on the war-path Bene our foes and my. ~~ *+braves get plenty—I will call my white |. brother Ma-ne-ka-ta. ’* - Buffalo Bill could not show any distaste to the name he was honored with, and so ire, thanked the young chief, who at once de- | parted to make known to his braves that he | had christened the great scout of the nale- faces Mn-ne-ka-ta. Supper was soon prepared, Singing Dove cooking her own and Buffalo Bill’s, and then 'a double guard was placed around the camp and their own and the captured ponies, for it was feared that some Sioux might at- | _—s temptin the darkness to get a remount and | ——s revenge at the same time. But the night passed without a disturb- ance, the fugitive Sioux being only too ' —s anxious to get as far away under cover of | ___ the darkness as they could. Rat After breakfast the scout had the dead | -—s bodies of the Sioux buried and then the trail | -—-s-was taken forthe Pawnee village. Jt was late in the afternoon when sing- ing their victorious war-song the Red Ropers --rode into the Indian village with Buffalo ~ : * Tp ee {"?>> = er . co 2 ho te *) oe LBA Ged S i --Bill and Singing Dove riding close behind Sioux Slayer, who was in the lead, the braves following them and their hearts filled with pride at their victories and to see the whole tribe turn out to welcome them. BG CHAPTER XXXyY. Se A CHANGE OF HEART. . Bvurraro Bit_ found a warm welcome _ ¥ from his friend, the chief Knife Killer. -* The wounds he had received in his des- —-perate duel with the Sioux chief were nearly | healed, though he had been a great sufferer | and had a close call from death. He realized fully that not only had Buffalo _ Jil kept the knife of the mortally wounded Sioux chief from being driven into his heart, ‘put t! the would never, but for the kind- ness «f the scout, and his skill in caring for his wounds, been able to leave the timber ‘Where the combat was fought. Then, too, he had seen the scout beat ~ Uke Sam ett?y. . a « on es 4 7, 2 back the pressing Sioux, and felt that he had, after arriving with him in his village, re- mained to see that he was out of danger be- fore he had left him, When he had made the offer for peace be- tween the pale-faces and the Pawnees the Knife Killer had readily agreed. His tribe was not powerful, as that of the Sioux, he was nearer the pale-face forts and settlements and he had only revenge to gain in a general way in keeping up the fight. On the other hand Buffalo Bill had once before shown a friendly actin warning his tribe of an intended attack by the Sioux, and he had everything to gain for his people by an alliance with the whites. So he had readily yielded to the scout’s demand that the captives he held must be released, though he had hoped that the white medicine-chief and his daughter would remain willingly. When Buffalo Bill had sent for a band of braves to come to his rescue, Knife Killer had shown his willingness to aid the whites by sending the large force that he did. The Scalp Taker, the young Pawnee who had slipped through the Sioux lines and brought the word, had told of the meeting of the large Sioux band and the fight Buffalo Bill made against them, and the rescue by the also nod feared Fighting Surgeon. He had told of the surgeon’s ride to the fort for help, the camp in the timber to stand at bay, and he had ridden like the wind to the village to ask Knife Killer for his braves. The day before the arrival of the party ip the village a band of braves had returned from the Hermit Pass battle-field with the wounded warriors, save a few who were so severely hurt they had been left in the hands of the surgeon to care for. They told of the grand victory and their belts were heavy wih scalps, while they had with them a couple of hundred ponies captured from the Sioux, The chief in charge of the band was loud in his praises of the way the great white scout had commanded them, and how the pale-face warriors had fought, while ail were awed atthe braves of the big wheel guns, > He told how the rest of the band had gone on with the soldiers to meet the big chief at the fort. Of course there was mourning for the slain, but the grand victory and the trophies taken were a panacea that greatly soothed the red- skin heurt, Under such circumstances, and when he had another triumph to his credit and the rescue of Singing Dove, there wus of course a warm welcome for Buffalo Bill from Knife Killer and his braves and also from every squaw and pappoose in the village. The return of Singing Dove was a glad surprise to the Indians, who had hated to give her up, and Buffalo Bill fearcd, now that she was again among them and felt as though she had come among kindred, as it were, she pny not yield to his pleading to go to the ort. But to his pleasure and surprise it had the contrary effect, for when she returned to the tepee where she had lived happily with her futher and found that he was not there, that her call for him was unanswered, that all about her reminded her of him, and she would, without his pre-ence, his protection find life very different in the Indian camp, she at once made up her mind to act, Seeking Buffalo Bull, the day after their arrival in the village with tears in her beauti- ful eyes, she said in a plaintive tone: ‘* Will you take me back with you, Buffalo Bill, after I refused to go? ‘*T cannot stay here, for my poor father is gone, and Iam not an Indian, these are not my people and I wish to go to the fort and live among those of my own race. ‘*T can work hard and pay those who are kind to me, those who care for me. ‘* Will you take me?” _‘* Yes indeed, Singing Dove, and we will start back to-morrow, for I have a duty to perform that must not be delayed,” was the scoul’s earnest response, CHAPTER XXXVI. | THE DUTY TO PERFORM. scue Singing Dove from a" ee __ SN fits Gesire lo Fe ~ * the li eshe had led in the Pawne e vill Age, @ mile on thelr way * * <L . oP nme re a ones i a” be ; : oc | re Buffalo Bill had not forgotten others who he felt had au equal claim upon him. Those were Private Frank Fenton,the dash- ing young soldier, and the two who had been captured with him the day of the Hermit Pass battle. The scout had a belief that the Sioux might delay in putting their captives to death for ashort while, and thus enable a rescue to be attempted. He well knew that it was out of the question to think of moving upon the Sioux village, for there were not soldiers enough at the fort, added to the company of settlers and the Pawnees as allies also, to invade the Sioux country with any hope of success. The Sioux could put over four thousand warriors in the field, not to speak of the old men and boys who could aid in the defense of their village, while the trail there was one that they could have defended against an equal force of soldiers even, But strategy, Buffalo Bill well knew, would accomplish that often which strength would not, and so he decided to plot some means of escape for the prisoners. He had been much pleased with the man- ner in which young Scalp Taker had per- formed his mission in getting through the Sioux lines and going to the Pawnee village for braves, The young warrior spoke the Sioux language like one of the tribe, he knew their village, their ways and their country per- fectly, and he was anxious to distinguish himself in some signal manner. So Buffalo Bill determined to give him a chance to do so, and accordingly took him aside and had along talk with him. | He told him of his desire to rescue Private Fenton and his comrades, and that he be- lieved that it could be done with his aid and that of the Surgeon Scout. The Scalp Taker could go with them into the Indian country, on foot if necessary, and he could enter the village, locate the prison- ers, and arrange for the rescue. Once they knew where the prisoners were held, and the guards over them, Buffalo Bill felt that he and Surgeon Powell, aided by the Scalp Taker, could enter the village, disguised as Indians, and free the three pris- oners, At least they would make the desperate attempt to do so. When duty and regard for Frank Fenton would prompt Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Powell to take the risk, the Scalp Taker was promised a fine horse, military saddle end bridle, and a rifle and revolvers, with blan- kets and other gifts, not to speak of the fanie he would win, and the chance of securing a scalp or two. This was too much to resist taking any risk, and so the compact was made and Buf- falo Bill was to have the Scalp Taker accom- pany him on his return. It was also decided that the Sioux Slayer and fifty young Red-skin Ropers should also go along to scout as far up into the Sioux country as it was thought advisable, and serve as a support to the party in going and coming on their rescue expedition, This the Red-skin Lasso-Throwers were delighted to do, their young chief feeling no envy of the regard felt for Buffalo Pill, but rather being desirvus of following his lead. The Knife Killer was let into the secret, and frankly said that he was glad to have his young warriors go with the white chief. e was delighted with the way they bad been treated at the fort, and more than pleased with the presents sent to him. among which was a supply of provisions from Mrs. Markham. : He knew, too, that the large band then with Major Melton’s command would be equally as well treated, and that they would also return well laden with presents. The only regret that he had was in again losing the Pinging Dove, but then be was silent as to his desire to have her remain against her will, as she plainly told him that she wished to return to her people, and yet would prove that she had not forgotten him and those she cared for in the Pawnee camp. It was just sunrise the next morning when Buffalo Bill and Singing Dove rode out of the village at the head of the Red-skin ‘Ropers under their young chief. — : eevee Tat The whole village es orted ‘them | 6 nantins wé sone | “?, ee = s % -4 aa ; La Joss it), <a * ee * 5 * ie Ad -—F ate Coie <i ——~ — = - ecomicbooks.com.