Beadle's Dime Library No. 826 — 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 Sharp-Shooters. the braves, Buffalo Bill and the other Paw- nees set to work to build a number of camp- fires on the range, for night was near at hand, and the idea was to make the Sioux believe a large force of cavalry was camped there. By this ruse the little parfy could get a full night’s start it was hoped. She Surgeon Scout having decided to be the courier to the fort stripped his horse of all extra weight, carried only a hittle food, and after a few words to Buffalo Bill, started off, determined to reach the fort in the shortest time possible. He knew the country well, and would fol- low no trails, taking a course as the crow flies, as near as it was possible to do so, and hoping to reach the fort by noon the next day, and at once start a force of cavalry to the rescue. At the fort anxiety deepened for the fate of Buffalo Bill, and a dread was also felt that the desire of Surgeon Powell to rescue his friend would cause him to be even more reckless than was his wont. Since Captain Emory’s return there was a general gloom over the fort, for Buffalo Bill was popular with all; he was the idol of his band of scouts, and a great favorite with all the officers, who always treated him as though he held a commission. Colonel Murkham had begun to consider the request of Buttons the scout to go out with the ey ie of Men in Buckskin under the command of Buffalo Bill, to search for their chief, and to send with them Captain Emory and a couple of troops of cavalry. He had just decided that he would do so, when it was reported to him that a horse- man was coming rapi ly to the fort. The colonel soon iearned that the horse- man was urging the animal he rode bard, and soon after that his horse had fallen with him, and failing to rise, the rider had at once started on for the fort at a run. Instantly a Jed horse wasdispatched to his aid, and met him a mile from the fort, when he was seen to mount and dash on at full speed. ‘‘It is Surgeon Powell!” cried the officer of the day as his glass revealed the straps on his shoulders,. and he recognized the tall form and handsome face of the daring officer- scout, A cheer went up from the men as the Fighting Surgeon dashed into the fort and, raising his hat courteously, rode rapidly on to headquarters, threw himself from his sad- dle, and was met by the colonel with ex- tended hand and the words: ‘‘Welcome back, Powell. news of Cody?” ‘ Yes, sir, and will you order a troop at once ready for a hard ride, sir, with two others anda couple of light guns to follow, for there isa large force of Sioux hot on the trail of Cody, anda party of captives, men, women and children brought from the Paw- nee village. . ‘‘T will guide the relief, sir, by the most di- rect trail to the rescue.” Colonel Markham saw that Surgeon Powell wasin deadly earnest, and he at once ordered a troop in readiness, with Cody’s band of scouts as well, with acouple of other troops and two light guns to follow with supplies as goon as they could be gotten ready. Then he said ‘You have ridden hard, Surgeon Powell, and your face shows it.” ‘‘T hardly thonght it possible to reach here before noon, sir, but it is just nine o'clock. ‘*T killed my horse, but that is of small matter in a rescue of human life, ‘‘Lleft Cody at dark last night, sir, and the demand for aid is most urgent. “ T will go tomy quarters, sir, and be back in time to guide the relief.” ‘* But, you are not able to go, Powell.” ‘* Oh, yes, sir, for lam as tough as a pine knot, you know,” ‘* But tell me something of Cody and those captives.” ‘‘ Tecan tell you nothing, colonel, as I know only that I came upon Cody, his captives and a bandof young Pawnee braves, who are, strange to say, bis allies. ‘“They were iv a tight place, besieged by Sioux, and my coming gave them a loop- hole of escape, when other Sioux appeared and Buffalo Bill, the captives and the Paw- You have x e - + e ad Ah 21 | 4 ‘ P tose ligt. (eS Ae it F tama nees are pushing forthe fort with all speed and about half a thousand hostiles upon their trail, while I cameas a courier for aid.” ‘* And nobly have you done your work, Surgeon Powell; but I dislike to see you tax yourself so severely, when the scouts can guide the expedition.” ‘* T know the direct trail, sir, and can save several hours, and that means much. ‘‘] will go, sir, and be ready when the command is,”and the Fighting Surgeon hast- ened to his own quarters to prepare for the long trail. CHAPTER XIL FLYING FOR LIFE, Wuewn Surgeon Powell had left the party under Buffalo Bill the latter prepared to make the best of his situation, but said to the captives, who seemed to feel that they were doomed to be captured now by the more cruel Sioux: ‘*Tf any man on earth can bring us aid Doctor Powell is that man. ‘*He has a wonderful horse there, and he knows the country thoroughly, so while he is striving to help us we must do all that we can for ourselves,” The camp-fires along the ridge had been built, were a score in number, and the wo- men and children had been sent on ahead, one of the braves serving as guide toward the fort, while Buffalo Bill and the Lasso- Throwers remained behind to check any ad- vance of the Sioux. Reconnoitering with his glass, Buffalo Bill felt sure that the Sioux would not tarry longer than the first peep of day to advance, and be ready in position then to attack, Of course they would fiad their foes gone, but with the captives and several wounded, the party could not travel very fast, and it was a long trail to the fort, so that the Sioux, if well mounted, could overtake them by the following night. Buffalo Bill set the pace of retreat, slow but sure, halting when necessary for rest, and at dawn they had gone all of twenty miles over the mountain trail, They felt sure that this distance at least was between them and their pursuers, yet could not hope that it would long remain thus. There was a long halt then made for rest and breakfast, and when the march was re- sumed aguin the pace was more brisk, as by daylight they could better see their way. Arriving at a range through which the trail wound, the Pawnee braves halted and talked together excitedly for a few minutes, and when Buffalo Bill came up he learned from them that they were anxious to ambush the Sioux there. The scout examined the position and saw that the braves couid hide themselves there, leave their horses on ahead, deliver a fire upon the Sioux, and then running to their ponies, who would have had a rest, readily escape before they could be attacked by the main force. ‘‘It is a good idea, and I will be with you,” said Buffalo Bill, and then he: told them that from a point some distunce back he bad seen the advance guard of the Sioux pushing on, ‘There were about fifty of them, as well as I could see with my glass, and they must be well ahead of the others,” he explained to the braves, Then word was sent ahead for those in the lead to push on until they came to a good camping-place, and one that could be well defended, for the horses were getting tired out and on account of the women and children the scout felt that a halt must be made, perbaps a stand at bay to fight for life, and that the ambush contemplated would check the Sioux*he fondly hoped. The ponies of the young braves were staked out a mile beyond the ambush, and the party went into hiding along the ton of a cliff at the base of which the trail ran, and thirty feet beneath them. The plan was to deliver a hot fire upon the advance and then fly while they were in disorder, cutting off as they could by being on foot, a distance of a quarter of a mile which one mounted would have to ride. It was a wait of little over an hour when the Sioux advance came in sight, and every vA Pa ees Se ee, at Pea ee eee fe Pawnee stood ready with bow and arrow, while Buffalo Bill crouched in a position from which he could deliver a raking fire with his Winchester, There were some sixty Sioux in the ad- vance, and this was a sure indication that they had a large force following, one they knew was strong enough to dare go near the fort with. The Sioux were pressing their ponies. hard, for they had discovered by the trail that there were not over thirty in the party they were pursuing, and they wanted every scalp in the outfit. They had also seen that they had run from a false alarm, that there had been no cavalry force come to the rescue, no soldiers around the camp-fires, and the rapid retreat of their enemy showed that no help was near at hand, while, as they expected to have a long start, and they would not expect the Sioux to push near the fort, they would be the more readily overtaken, Enraged at their losses, their being driven off by a ruse and the escape of their foes, the best mounted men were pushed ahead to capture the fugitives or bring them to a halt. until the whole force came up. CHAPTER XIII. A FAIR CAPTIVE. On eame the Sioux, their ponies pushed hard, for they felt that their foes could not. be over six miles ahead and they must catch them before sunset, That a small force such as they were would halt for an ambush, or a fight, they did not consider, and hence they rode into the gap with nothought of danger to sudden- ly have come down upon them a perfect. shower of arrows, a silent rain of death. And following this rung out the deadly music of Buffalo Bill’s repeating rifle, and the air seemed filled with dark, whirling clouds as a score of lassoes went swirling downward to catch over the heads und forms of the surprised, terrified and struggling mass of red humanity in the narrow gap. Out of the three score that had met that. silent shower of deadly arrows, bad faced the: rattling ring of Cody’s rifle and then been entangled in the fatal coils of the Jassoes, about half went down, the others wheeling about and flying almost without a return fire. With wild yells of triumph the deadly Lasso-Throwers then felt no desire to fly to. their ponies, but half falling, half leaping down the steep sides of the canyon, they sprung among the dead and dying Sioux with their scalping-knives and each one of the Lasso Throwers waved aloft one or more: gory scalps in triumph. But the warning cry of the cool-headed white ciief called them to retreat, and away they sped on foot ere the amazed advance guard of the Sivux had rallied in their flight when seeing that they were not pursued. Tt was a rapid, hard run to their horses, and mounting, they pushed on, frenzied. with joy over the deadly blow they had struck, while at their head rode Buffalo Bill, stern and determined, as he muttered: ‘*T want this band of Pawncees for Indian scouts to fight the Sioux with, and allied with my brave Boys in Buckskin at the fort, I would not fear to face ten times our num- bers,”* The young braves rode along elated over their victory, and regarding their white chief with more awe and admiration than ever. for he had planned the blow and re- treat, though the thought had occurred to them. Then, too, they had seen the deadly exe- cution of his matchless rifle, and they were sure that he could lead them again to vic- tory. Oc ebiite the captives, Buffalo Bill found that they had halted in a piece of timber just off the trail, and through which wound a small stream. There was a rise there, with open country about them, while beyond for many miles there were level plains, and no chance to stand at bay if overtaken there. * Buffalo Bill did much to introduce friendly In- dians into the army, and his Pawnee Scouts after-: ward became a battalion under Major Frank North., Ce Ma of N ee