Beadle's Dime Library No. 826 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

| ; { Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shooters. 23 in finding his way back to the lone tepee he had first seen in entering the lines. The family had turned in for sleep, for he saw no one, only an ugly looking dog made a rush at him, his instinct felling him that which the Indians had not discovered, that there was an enemy in the camp, A stern command to the dog did no good, and to fire a shot would simply arouse the village and betray him. The dog was a savage one, and very large, and recognizing Buffalo Biil as a foe in dis- guise in the Indian village, he rushed fiercely at him. Quickly Buffalo Bill whipped out his bowie, and as the dog sprung at his throat impaled him upon it, the blade piercing the heart. Buffalo Bill dared not leave the dead do there, so he grasped him in his arms, an folding his blanket once more about him strode on at a rapid pace, When he at last reached the starting point he found that he was the first of the three to arrive. He wrapped the dog in his blanket, to let no trace of blood fall upon the ground, and then stood gazing at the picturesque scene spread out before him. There along the valley for miles lay the vil- lage, the lights from a hundred camp-fires visible. But all was still now, save the vicious barking of Indian dogs who seemed to scent danger in the air, or know by instinct that harm had befallen oneof their kind. In spite of his danger, Buffalo Bill enjoyed the scene, and was standing with folded arms lost in deep meditation, when with no sound of a footfall being heard, he heard a voice at his side. In an instant his hand fell upon his kuife, and when he turned he grasped the hilt. It was a Sioux brave, and he carried a string of game hung across his shoulder. The quick glance of Buffalo Bill showed that the Sioux was alone, and, as he had wrapped his blanket about the dog, he could not hide his face and of course his mustache and imperial would betray him, with his growth of beard for days, Once the warrior saw his face, and in spite of the war-paint and the darkness he would _know that he stood in the presence of a white man playing Indian. Under the circumstances there was but one thing to do, and the scout did it, He turned quickly toward the unsuspect- _ing red-skin, and while his left hand grasp- ed his throatin a grip that prevented any outcry or soynd, his right drove his knife hard against his side, and the blade sunk deepand did its fatal work, Gently the scout laid the Indian upon the blanket enveloped dog, for the relaxed mus- _Cles told him that he was dead, and hearing a step behind him he turned quickly to face any new danger that threatened. CHAPTER LI, A PRISONER. WueEn Buffalo Bill turned to confront the one whose step he had heard close at hand, he was nerved for whatever danger he might have to face. To his great relief though he heard the words, as he saw two forms approaching: ‘*Is it you, Bill, or an Indian?” **T’m on hand, Frank, but that is not Scalp Taker with you?” ‘‘ No, it is a gentleman whose company I was forced to keep, ‘I’ve got him bound and gagged, you see.” ‘A prisoner?” ‘* Yes,” ‘* Look there!” The scout pointed to the heap at his feet. **Ah! a dead Sioux?” “c Yes.”’ “Two of them?” ‘‘No, the other is a dog, but I have got him blanketed, to keep him from leaving red stains that would look ugly by daylight. ‘“‘The savage brute attacked me, and I caught him on my knife; but, you hear the mourning the rest of the canines are keeping up for him.” ‘Yes, they scent dauger; but, we have more on our hands than we wish.” ‘<Yes, a dead Indian, a dead dog anda prisoner. ** We will have a picnic carrying them, so let us get away before we have to take the whole tribe along.” ‘* Have you seen Scalp Taker?” ** Not a photograph of him.” ‘*Tt will not do for us to remain here, for we will make slow time with this funeral procession.” ‘You bet we will, too, and we had better move before we become chief mourners, for Scalp Taker, not finding us, will pull for ar Ks ‘* Yes that was our understanding, ‘*‘ But, Pll strap thedog to this prisoner, and we will shoulder the dead Injun between us, if we can find a pole to swing him on.” A pole was soon found, one that had served as a tepee-pole, and wrapping the Indian’s blanket around him, the scout and surgeon bound him so that each should bear equal weight. The dog was made fast on the prisoner’s back, and the latter was then made to walk between the two scouts and then they moved It was slow and tiresome work,'strong men that they were, and Surgeon Powell asked, after a couple of miles had been gone over: ‘* Bill, do you remember that we passed around a narrow shelf of rock?” ** Yes, it is not far from here,” ‘* Scalp Taker said there was a small river at oe base, and that it flowed very rapidly?” “¢ Tes.” ‘‘How about this dog going over there for a cruise?” “Frank, it is the dog’s jumping - off place.” ‘And the red-skin?” ‘Well, I'd rather bury him, but graves are great tell-tales, and we would be late in reaching the camp, if we carried him.” ‘* Well, let us send him after the dog, for this is no time to take chances,” ‘*No, the Injun goes after the dog.” The cliff soon came in sight, and a halt was made, the dog unstrapped from the prisoner’s back, unrolled from the blanket and swung over into space, The stream was heard far below, rushing rapidly along, and the plunge of the dog’s body reached the ears of the two men. ‘** Good! he did not fall upon the rocks, so we must toss the Indian the same way, Frank.” ‘Yes, but let us wrap him in his blan- <et,”” This was done and the body was thrown off over the cliff and went downward out of sight into the darkness and depths below, The loud splash was heard as the body struck the water, and just then the prisoner made a sudden bound to escape, for he seemed to fear that he would be the next one thrown over, But he was not quick enough, as Buffalo Bill tripped him and he fell heavily, while, but for the scout’s firm grasp upon him he would also have gone over the cliff, ““Good! I had not suspected him of that clever move, Bill, though I should have looked for it. ‘‘It is fortunate you tripped him or he would have gone, sure, and we would have had to getout of this, as by daybreak we would have had a thousand warriors upon our track.” ‘* You bet we would; but he is safe now, and we will move on rapidly with him, for day will break in an hour, and it will take us all of that to reach camp.” So, with the prisoner between them they moved on once more, forcing him to keep their rapid gait. a CHAPTER LI. THE SURGEON-SCOUT’S STORY, Tue Sioux pHponer was gagged, so could not speak, and Surgeon Powell knew how to placea gag so that it would admit of the person giving no sound. That the Indian was greatly alarmed there was no doubt, but he did as he was told, and seemed to uccept the fate in store for him stoically, On pushed thetwo men with their pris- oner, never minding their own fatigue and only anxious to get to the camp, 4 ’ ~ rr e 5 * fy ; " + i ‘ ne WA os , (% ottibd 2. Leer Big at i ee ee eee ee ee ee eee ee ti *= =! =§=£]}° 2... nnn e ee Enna They wondered why Scalp Taker did not overtake them, for he was noted as a runner and knew the trails so well he did not have to hesitate as they frequently had to do to find their way. Day had dawned when at last they enter- ed their camp in the canyon. Buttons had been astir early, in his anxiety for his chief and Surgeon Powell, and had the Pawnees all up. As they came into camp it was at first sup- posed that the prisoner was Scalp Taker; but this was soon seen to be a mistake and all gathered around the Sioux, hen the surgeon removed the gag from his mouth, but kept his arms tied as before, and said to him: “We will do you no harm if you behave yourself ddoas we tell you.” His f ere then bound together, so that he could run off, and he was given some water to drink, as Doctor Powell well knew how his mouth must feel after having a large silk handkerchief forced in it and tied there for several hours, The Sioux prisoner made no reply, drank the water given him and seemed relieved, while the Pawnees appeared greatly inter- ested in the gag which had so long kept him uiet. The Red Ropers looked as though they would enjoy turning him loose, catching aE with their lassoes and then scalping him. Buttons soon had breakfast ready, and the tired scouts ate with a relish, the prisoner being also tempted to dispose of a good meal. But both Buffalo Bill and the Fighting Surgeon were most anxious regarding the non-appearance of Scalp Taker. They explained to Buttons and the Paw- nees, just how they had divided, and when Buffalo Bill had told of his walk through the part of the village he had reconnoitered, what he had heard in the Council Lodge, the killing of the savage dog, and then how he had been forced to take the life of the Sioux, he said: ‘‘ Now, Frank, what of your reconnoiter- ing expedition, for 1 have not had a chance to ask you?” ‘‘IT went into the village between two te- pees where there appeared to be a happy family reunion, for they were having a good time, ‘‘This Indian prisoner here called to me to come to the tepee, but as I was seeking no new acquaintances I went on without thanking him for his invitation, ‘*T soon after got into the thick of the vil- lage, and a miserable cur began to follow and snap at my heels until I gave him a pain by # kick in the ribs. “‘T began to fear the dogs would betray me, so many of them did I meet, and they seemed to know that I was sailing under false colors, ‘But I went among a crowd of red-skins and got rid of the pups, after which I was wishing to steer clear of Indians and dogs too. ‘In knocking about the eamp I could find no trace of where the tepee for prisoners was, and fearing, as there were a number of red-skins roving about for so late an hour, I might yet be detected, I concluded to start bass to the meeting-place, going by another trail. ‘This I did, and I was just passing the ah of the tepees when I saw the prisoner ere. ‘‘He was on his way to his tepee, I judge, but seeing me doubtless recognized me as the one who had slighted his invitation to join him. ‘* At any rate he called to me. **T walked on and he came after me. ‘**T quickened my steps, and then he came at a run, determined to see who I was, and evidently thinking I was some one he knew well playing it on him. ‘*When | got down into a gully, and away from the tepees, I turned and drove my fist into his face and down he went stunned. ‘*Then I held him by the throat with one hand and tied his hands behind him with the other, forcing the gag into his mouth as I saw that he was reviving and would tune up for help. comicbooks - 7 ‘ £ s-> hak C ——4