## Buffalo Bill's victories. Chapters 84-94

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Buffalo Bill's victories. Chapters 84-94
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Buffalo Bill stories
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Buffalo Bill
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New York
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Street & Smith
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English
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1 online resource (31 p.) 28 cm.: ;

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Dime novels. ( rbgenr )
Western stories. ( lcsh )
Buffalo Bill -- Fiction -- 1846-1917 ( lcsh )
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University of South Florida
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University of South Florida
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The University of South Florida Libraries believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries.
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435787909 ( OCLC )
B14-00026 ( USFLDC DOI )
b14.26 ( USFLDC Handle )

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Dime Novel Collection
Buffalo Bill Stories

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PAGE 1

issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 Per year. Entered as Second C lass M atter a t New York PiJs! Offi c e b y SrREET & SMITH, 238 W i1liam St., N. Y No.26. Price, Five Cents. "YY GOD! TREY HAVE HANGED MY PARD, AND SHALL RUE THIS DAY," CRIED B UFFALO BILL, AS ltE BEHELD THE SUSPENDED FORM (CHAPTER VU.) PAGE 2 .. 'ftlp[:nn[?[?/A\l1 .ffi0[1[S A WEEKLY PUBLICATION DE-VOTED TO BORDER HJ-S>TORY Issued Weekly. By Subscription$2.so fer year. Efltcred as Second Clas I.fatter at tlu: N. Y. Post Oj/iu, by $TREET & SMITH, 2.J8 Wi7/(am St., N. Y. Entered accordif,r to Act of Cvngrcss i'n tltc year IQOI, in tlte Office of tiu: Librarian of Ccngress, T-Vashing'!On, D. C. No. 26. NEW YORK, November 9, 1901. Price Five Cents. B ffAtO BILE'S VIClORlt:S. By the author of "BUFF ALO B!LL" CHAPTER LXXXIV. A CRUEL JILO Moonlight on the prairie! The crescent moon shed a dull light on the wi,de ptairie, which stretches mile mile away, until it breaks against a distant range of hills that-rise along the horizon to the westward. Gently waves the long grass beneath a balmy breeze, and, excepting the whining howl of the wolf, prowling around for a midnight feast, no sounds awake the deep sleep of nature. And yet this quiet scene, this calm union earth and heaven is polluted by the impioi. foot of man, for winding along through the prairie grass are two dark forms, rudely breaking the repose of nature, and yet seemingly impressed by the calm beauty' of the hour. Side by side are two horsemen, the one a paleface, as the whites are termed in that Southwestern fron tier, the other a negro, whose black skin shines with a polish in the moonlight, and whose generous mouth, half-open, indicates a desire to break forth into some weird melody of his race, but whose musi cal propensities are subdued from a fear of the con sequences, for the two horsemen are in the land where the ring of ,the Indi.an's rifle is oftener heard than the crack of the teamster's whip. moonlight reveals that the white man's features are cast ii; a brave and determined mold, and the loo) of courage hovering around the handsome mouth -p'toves he will dare attempt any deed his gay and reckless mind might plan. Like a thorough horsen1an he sits in the saddle, a styiish Mexican tree with silver, and reins back with the heavy bit his restive horse, a dark bay of good size, and. with every indication of possessing great speed and endurance. His companion, the negro, is also well armed, and the horse he bestrides is evidently a fair match for the dark bay in be;:i uty, though he lacks the same indications of speed. "vVell, Tony, the hills loom up br.a.vely, and in an hour more we will be near home; so come, let us have a canter," said the man, addressing the negro, and, at a word, the two animals sprang forward into a long, sweeping gallop, Tony repiied: ''I'sc willin ', massa; de Lord knows dis 111ggcr PAGE 3 THE BU ff 1'1.LO sn.J .... chile in't goin' to grumble at chance to see hoecake soon; oh, golly! how glad all de folks be to see us, sab. "I guess Missy Daisy be mighty pleased, too, for she PAGE 4 THE BUFF l\l O B ILL STORI ES. 3 with one hand, and dragged the scout from his horse with the other. Drawing his knife, the scout rushed upon the bandit chief with a cry of rage; but E l Sol sprang back, and a lariat settled over t h e scout's shoulders, and he was dragged violently to the ground. A moment more and he was securely bound hand and foot, a prisoner. El Sol, the leader of q1e band of renegades, was a man whose name was feared far and wide, and his terrible presence in the midst of the valley settlement was a cerlain sign that bioodshed and ruin woul d follow in his track. Surprising the small but peaceful settlement, he had cruelly begun his barbarous work, murdered those who resisted, and, once ha v in g, like the panther, tasted blood, his passions were unbridled, and his human fiends were allowed. full reign, and women and children, as well as men, fell beneath their deadlv knife m1til all had perished-no, not all, for several of the young maidens were to be borne off into a life of cruel captivity. El Sol was a mah of striking appearance, six feet in height and perfectly formed. His bearing was military. his manner graceful, and commingling both ease and sternness. His face was a study to look upon; the brow massive intellectual and determined, while masses of light-brow11 hair fell in a negligent manner upon his shoulders. Browned by long exposure, his face was yet, to a certain extent, pale, for there was no color in it, and had it not been sunburned would have appeared ghastly. His head was sheltered by a remarkably broadbrirnmecl sombrero. encircled by a small scarf of sil Yer thread net work. and upon the front, an inch above the crown, \\as an ornament which gave him the name he wore El Sol-the Sun. It was a diamond representation of the sun, full y three inches in diameter, and supported upon a gold pedestal. It was so fastened as to turn like a wheel, either by the motion of the wearer or the influence of the wind, and constantly shed forth innumerable lights as it wheeled and caught the r ays of sunshine or moonlight. If the master was remarkable looking, the steed he rode was not less so, for he was a tall, long'imbed, long-b odied animal. gaunt as a hound, and perfectly black, while his eyes flashed v i ciou sl y and his giittering white teeth were displayed w hen any one approached him, excepting El Sol, to whorn he was ever most obedient. The men of the band were a strange commingling I of nationalities, for among the palefaces were the jolly German, the blond Englishman, the luck-andgo-easy Irishman, the passionate Spaniard, and versatile Frenchman-all men who had been in honorable pursuits ere they were branded by crime and driven for refuge to seek a life of clanger and cruelty upon the boundless prairie. with vvonderful s kill El Sol held his men together, his slightest word beinglaw and gospel among them, and in their pasti mes in camp h e was never wont to join, ever holding him self aloof from the crowd, and brooding over the bitter, damning past, whatever it might be, for no one knew aught of him, other than that he had appeared as a highwayman some years before, alone in t he country, until his daring adventures and wonderful successes at length drew around him a band of congenial spirits in blood and rapine. For several years E l Sol and his band had held an irrepressible power, raiding upon both American and Mexican territory, and lying in wait for the rich trading trains th a t were wont to wend their way from one country to another. Also the emigrant train, the lonely ranch, the sparsely-inhabited settlement, and, sometiL.es, even the small village or border towns were visite d by his reckles s who generally escaped with quantities of plunder,-and, being well armed and mounted, besides under perfect discipline, they invariably de feated all attempts to punish them. In a distant and lonel y range of hills, El Soi had his robber stronghold, and many were the strange stories told of this banclit retreat; yet no one could ever say, unless he belonged to the band, that he knew aught of the rendezvous, other than from hearsay. Such was th e man who had at last brought ruin upon the valley home of Oscar Hillary, and the reader can easily imagine how little mercy the scout might expect from a bandit chief who defied the Jaws of God and mankind. As the first of the cabins burned lower, and the night was far spent, the sound of strife and cursin g gradually died away, until shortly after mindnigl:t the bivot;ac of the bandits was as quiet as the dead. PAGE 5 4 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIESo whose bodies yet lay in the moonlight, their faces lighted up with the glow of life, from the reflection of the rudely coals. The sentinels had been set, and paced their monotonous beat in silence, the Indian and the pa\eface wrapped his serape around him and had lain down to rest, and all was still in the ruined settlement. Yet El Sol had not squght rest; for, with moody brow and compressed lip he walked to and fro before the glowing coals that marked where once had stood the Hillary cabin. With his hands clasped behind his back, he had thus paced up and clown for some hours, his thoughts far away from the scene of bloodshed his hand had wrought, and his eyes paying no heed to the cold, upturned faces of the dead. Suddenly he i1aused in his walk, turned quickly, and walked a slH)rt distance away, tow.:ird a clump of low trees, where stood a guard half asleep; but who hastily turned around when he saw his chief approach. "Pat, where are the prisohers ?" "Is it the gal beauties yer honor means?" "Are they not all together?" "Di vii a bit, yer honor; for, yer see, the gals was sint over yonder to stay for the night in the log hut afore this Satan's imp vvas after coming along," and the Irishman pointed to where Buffalo Bill was bound against a tree, his head drooping upon his breast as though asleep. "WeH, sir, I have come to have a word with you," and El Sol stood before the scout. The scout raised his head; his face was pale, and was pinched with suffering, while he seemed in a kind of stupor. But catching sight of the chief his whole manner changed, his lips were compressed, and his eyes blazed with a deadly light. "You do not like me, I judge," said El Sol, with a sneer on his face. "I love you so dearly that I would joyfully give my life for-yours!" hissed the scout. "vVell, you have had cause to hate me, I admit; but you are doomed, and your sands are ebbing fast, for I mean to kill you !" It would be impossible to portray the extreme vin dictiveness of manner with which El Sol spoke. "Because I shot one of your prowlingband a few who ?.ttemptecl to steal my horses, did you have cause to bring rum upon the Hillary home?" said Buffalo Bill. "\i\That care I how many of my hirelings you slay? My revenge toward Hillary and you is different. But this is idle talk. I came here to ask you if you valued your life?" "Not in the least." "Hold! You value your life more than gold?" "Why do you ask?" "A year ago you guided a train of prairie men across the prairies, did you not?"' "I did." "You were caught upon the prairie when it was burning, were you not?" "Yes." "Your horses were all burn eel to death, and you and the prairie men only escaped by making a shelter of your wagons; is it not so?" "Yes." "In that train there was a vast quantity of gold, which the prairie men took to some spot and buried until they should come after it; am I right?" "Yes." "You know where that gold is buried?" "Yes; I carried them to the spot, and hen they reached the nearest town they were to return with wagons and get it." "They never returned." "How do you know this?" asked Buffalo Bill, with surprise. "First answer me. one question; how many prairie men were there who knew this secret?" "Eleven; they were all rich traders." "Good! I say they never returned for their gold -because-I put them all to death." "El Sol, you are a prairie bloodhound!" "Be sparing of your epithets; yes, I put them all to death, because they loved their gold more than their lives, for they would not tell me where it was hidden." "They were brave men." "They were fools; now you have a chance for your life; here, Pat, go and fetch this man's horse and arms to him." "It's meself will be afther doing that same, yer honor, for he's a loikely man, is he." "Silence, you prating idiot, and obey!" "I wiJI hold me breath, yer honor; until yer honor tells me to spake again." PAGE 6 THE BUFFALO BILL STORlES. "Curses on you, if you speak another word, I'H send a bullet through your brain!" cried El Sol, in a rage. "I'm dumb, yer honor!" The chief drew a pistol, but the nimble Irishman darted behind a tree, and so dodged away to obey the order given him. In ten minutes he returned with the scout's horse. "Now, Bill Cody, I will mount my horse and accompany you, if you .will tell me where that treasure is buried, and then you are free to go. "If you refuse, you shall die as soon as I reach my mountain stronghold, I swear it!'' "What does the oath of a liar and murderer amount to?" sneeringly said Buffalo Bill, while Pat really did hold his breath with amazement and fright to hear his chief thus bearded. "By Heaven! do you dare me?" yelled El Sol. "You would gladly commit any crime I dared you to,'' quietly returned the scout. "This is wasting words; will you take your life on the terms I offer?" "The prairie men refused, did they not, the same terms?" "Yes. "Then I will do as they did, and, El Sol, you can kill me whenever you feel inclined." But just then in his ears rang the clear c1y of the night hawk, and his heart beat quickly, for .it gave him the assurance that he was not forsaken, as the weird shriek of the bird he knew came from human lips. \i\Tith the hope of escape came a fierce thirsting' for revenge. Silently El Sol had stood a moment in deep thought, and then he said, just as a second wild cry of the night hawk pierced the air: "Buffalo Bill, you have sealed your fate; you die when we reach the stronghold; but you have until morning to reconsider your determination. "Pat, take the horse back again, and then watch this prisoner; if he escapes I will scalp you alive." The Irishman led the horse away, at the same time affectionately rubbing the top of his red head, as he already felt the keen edge of the knife. Witheut another word El Sol walked away, just as the cry e f the bird was again heard, and' thi time only a !hort di!tance off in the forest. Once more the scout was alone, but his grief was \ deadened, as the hope of escape and rcveEf;'e swept over his heart, changing him in a moment from the sorrowing man to an avenger. CHAPTER LXXXVI. BAFBLED. \Vhen the Irishman returned, after having led the horse away, he walked up to Bnffalo Bill and closely examined his hands, remarking: "\ell, honey, you see it's mesilf will be sku!ped if yez afther getting away wicl yer, so yez excuse my sa rcumspcclion .. The scout made no reply, and the guard walked off to a si11all fire twenty feet from where he had been before :.tationed. Leariing aga in s t a tree and toasting his shins before the hot co3.ls, he now became drowsy, and,.if not asleep, was very near it, for he failed to observe that hi s prisoner had suddenly awakened from his seeming stupor and was earnestly glancing into the dark recesses of the glade. Presently he heard a low, hissing sound, in imitation of a snake, and the 11ext moment a small, dark form glided toward hin f and took refuge behind the tree to which he was bound. "Minne-Blue-Eyes!" exclaimed Buffalo Bill, in surpnse. "You have come to save me?" "Minne-Blue-Eyes remembers the time ;,.vhen the paleface brave saved her life; he is free," replied the young girl, for such she was. ''You have made a lasting friend of me thi:; night, Minne. and you will find you have turned a blood hound loose. upon the trail of El Sol and his band." The scout with deep earnestness, and then, with great caution, the two stole through the glade, leaving the Irish guard dreaming of his home in the Emerald Isle. Having gone rapidly along for the distance of half a-mile, they came to the edge of the glade, and, pausing in the moonlight, the maiden turned tO\varcl the man whom she had risked her life to save. She was strangely beautiful for an Indian girl, a lo v ely wild flower of the prairie, and the moon disclosed the cause of her name, for she had blue eyes. Yes, large, dreamy blue eyes, wells of love and passion, that were bent upon the scout with most earnest regard. PAGE 7 " ,.. _,,..... ______ .. 6 THE BUFF l\.L O B}LL STORIES And it was a nut-brown face, in strange contrast to the dreamy blue eyes. "Will the paleface brave seek shelter in the village of my people?" asked Minne-Blue-Eyes, in soft tones, as she paused in the moonlight, speaking almost perfect Englis h. "No, Minne; I must have no rest now until yonder band has paid dearly for this night's work. "I must at once for the settlements and equip my self for the warpath," said Cody, earnestly. "The great white brave has no fire guns; he will starve, for he has no horse." "Fear not! I will not long be dismounted or un armed." "\iVill the brave have the rifle of Minne-BlueEyes ?" and, stepping up to a clump of trees, the maiden brought forth a small, beautifully-mounted rifle. "You are a noble, generous girl, Minne, and I thank you for saving my !if e; but I will not take your rifle, for I have plenty of money to buy me one in the neighboring settlement, and hate will keep me alive until I get there. "Yet, tell me, girl, how did you know I was a prisoner?" "The blackface with the short s calp locks came to the village of my people, after Minne-Blue-Eyes' brother, to t ell him the wicked White Chief of the Sun had made a of the paleface who had saved the life of the Indian girl. "The brother of Mini1e-Blue-Eyes was on the w a r t;ail of the Apaches, but his sister would not let the white brave die." "And you nobly served me, too: but where did Tony go after leaving your village?" "To the camp of the paleface warriors." "After the soldiers? Well, it is too late for them to do a ny good, for my poor friends and all are dead, the valley is in ruins; but I am free-free to follow El Sol and his band to death. "Now, Minne-Blue-Eyes, you must be off for my escape will be discovered and you will be over taken." "And the bra -c-where will he go?" "I will hide in these hills until the renegades have gone, and then I will seek the settlement. "If Tony comes to your village, tell him to wait there for me." "Minne will tell him; good-by," and the Indian girl held forth her hand, which the scout warmly grasped, again thanking her for having saved him from the power of El Sol. Throwing her rifle across her shoulders, the' girl then walked quickly away, leaving Buffalo Bill where she had parted with him. How long he stood there he knew not, for his thoughts were busy with hi s sorrows; but presently wild ye lls broke on his ears, and like the hunted d ee r h e b ounded away and disappeared in the glade, just as El Sol and a dozen horsemen dashed up to the spot where he had been standing, lost in bitter meditations. The gray light of dawn had come, the silvery moonlight was fading away, and quickly the Indians who accompanied El Sol took the trail, and followed on after the scout, pursuing him through the glade for half-a-mile, when they suddenly came to a halt, where all trace was lost at the base of a lofty, forestclad hill. In vain they searched wr the trail, it was nowhere to be seen, and after an hour's hunt the angry chief gave up the pursuit and returned to the valley, bit terly cursing Buffalo Bill for his fortunate escape. I When the scout disapp ea red in the glade he bounded forward at a tremendous rate of speed, un til he came to the abrupt hill where his pmsuers had lost sight of the trail. The hi!lsicle was thickly grown with timber, and up one of the t2.ilest trees he has t ily scrambled, until he had reached a considerable height, when he hal ted a moment to rest, for there we r e no place s against the smooth trunk ere he reached a limb fully fifty feet from the ground. This limb bra1:ched out toward the abrupt side o f the hill, and rested upon a small projection o f the rocky precipice, and with bold step he walked out upon this frail bridge, stepped upon the narrow ledge, where he could s ca rcely hold his footing, and after ten paces came to a l arge r shelf on the rock, in which was visible the mouth of a small ca ve Here the scout sat down, just as his pursuers re a ched the foot of the tree, and his face was de fiant in expression as he watched the fruitless attempts of the Indians to find his trail ; and saw them glance up i nto the trees, to see if he had sought ref uge among the branches. "Hunt on, you savage devils, I am safe, and ere long 1 will be on your trail, and then look out. PAGE 8 THE BUffi\LO BILL STORIES. 71 "Lucky is it for me," he conlinuecl, after a while, "tlut I had the pluck to follm\ that wildcat up to her den here that clay, or I should have been again in the hands of El Sol." \Vhen his pursuers disappeared clown the vailey Buffalo Bill arose and entered the mouth of the cave, and then started back Si.!ddenly with a cry of fright, for t\:o balis of fire met his eyes, and well he knew that. some wild beast held poss ession of his den. At first he was about to retreat and descend the tree again; but a daring light swept into his eyes, and drawing from his pocket a large jackknife, he drew off his buckskin coat, and wrapping it round his left arm, advanced boldly into the cave. Still the eyes glared upon hi111, and a low growl greeted his ears, a warning to him to depart. "It is either a panther or a bear; but no matter which, I will not let him drive me away," he firmiy mutteredJ and then w.ith a loud yell and sud PAGE 9 ' THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. A few moments more and the bandits disappeared from sight, and Buffalo Bill once more set forth upon his work of discovery A hundred feet further on the path abruptly ended, for a deep fissure in the rocks, fully fifteen feet wide, barred his progress. Upon the other side, however, was another shelf, and the mouth of a cave, and the scout felt certain there must be some way of getting from there to the vailey below, and, determined not to be conquered, he retraced his steps to the acre plot, and with hi::> knife, which had served him so well in his encounter with the panther, he began to cut down several sap lings. It was slow work, but he worked steadily, in spite of the pain of his wounds, and i n three honrs' time had completed what he had determined should serve him as a bridge. Shouldering the long poles he bore them to the spot where his way had been stopped, and, with his shirt cut in strips, bound them together. It was a dangerous and fragile barrier between life and death, for a misstep on the shaky structure would hurl him a hundred feet below; but carefully he ventured, and safely crossed to the other side Boldly entering the cavern, he found it was a tunnelway similar to the one he had already traversed, and led him, at one pbce, around the edge of a preci pice, on a shelf hardly four feet wide. Below him were the tops of the trees, and he knew to fall off would be instant death. "Yet a horse can be trained to follow this path, for it is suf-ficiently wide," he muttered, taking in the advantages as well as the of his dis coveries Again the path led into a narrow passage between two lofty hills, and, descending gradually as it went, he soon came to where a small stream flowed into the cafion. But it was shallow and did not bar his progress, being little over ankle deep. Rapidly the passageway of the stream descended, until, turning a rocky corner, a cry of delighted sur prise burst from the scout's lips as he beheld before him the r{rnin stream of the river that wound through the valley. ';Thank God, I have made this discovery I" he cried, and a few steps more hrought him to the river bank, along which bordered a path he had often traversed, but never before suspecting that the little stream, from which he had time and time again quenched his thirst, flowed through a rocky passageway that led entirely through the range of hills which sheltered the valley. "Yes, this shall be my retreat, for a horse can easily traverse every step of the way to the cave on the other side, which I will make my home; and I defy even the most cunning Indian trailer to track me, and if I was followed I can hold the place against a hundred men." Then Buffalo Bill strode at a quick step along the pathway leading down the valley. Oscar Hillary and his beautiful wife, six years be fore the scenes enacted in the opening chapter of this story, had come to the Southwest border to find a new home. The cause of their coming none knew, for upon that subject both the husband and wife were pecu liarly reticent. Once, however, they had possessed wealth, and perhaps it was the loss of his property that had caused Oscar Hillary to seek a home on the frontier, bringing his refined and lovely wife from the midst of civilization to a life of hardship and danger in the land of the hostile Indian. Yet Mrs. Hillary never murmured, and when they joined a wagon train of emigrants, she "put 'her shoulder to the wheel" and worked with the same will as did the less refined, but good-hearted, wives and daughters of the other men. The valley where they had at last settled was se lected on account of its numerous advantages for agricultural pursuits and stock raising. besides being in an Indian land where the natives were friendly ro white settlers. With marked taste and comfort Oscar Hillary built his cabin; and, with several old family servants, who had followed his fortunes, soon had a home on the frontier that was the envy of all who saw it. With open-handed generosity toward all, the Hil larys soon became most popular with their fellowemigrants, the hunters who came that way, and the friendly Indians; and, if not happy, tl:iey were content. Guy was their only son, and his parents were as careful to have him devote himself to his studies as to his guns and horses. And Guy was a good student, though he passed PAGE 10 THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. 9 the greater part of his time in hunting wild animals and chasing wild mustangs, always accompanied by his dark shadow, Tony, who shirked all kinds of work, but would run half-a-day long to get a shot at any animal whose skin he could turn to profit. Thus Guy Hillary grew up to his nineteenth year, and, a successful trapper, he had saved up a number of valuable skins, which he carried to a distant town and sold at a fair profit. His succe.sses in this line made him most enthusi\astic in his work, and he daily accumulated, with the aid of Tony, a number of rare skins. Also a fine horseman, he frequently would bring down a buffalo, and, having become an expert in throwing a lasso, he was wont to catch wild tang colts upon the prairie, and, training them thoroughly, would turn them into a marketable commodity, usin6 them on the trip to the settlement as pack horses to carry his skins. CHAPTER LXXXVIII. THE SCOUT LIFE-SAVER. \Vhile thus growing up to man's estate Guy Hil lary, who had won the title of the Boy Hunter, first met Buffalo Bill. It was upon one of his expeditions wit!:! Tony that a band of hostile Apaches had been met with, and but for the appearance upon the scene of the great army scout, Buffalo Bill, then on duty in that part of the country, the youth and the negro would have been slain. Single-handed, at the risk of certain death, it seemed, Buffalo Bill had attacked the Indians, slain several of them and wounded the others. Guy would have Buffalo Bill accompany him to his home, and from that clay the Hillary home was as his own, while he was regarded as a loved member of the household, for all knew hmv much they owed to the great scout. Upon one of his scouts upon the prairie, Buffalo Bill had met a wagon-train of prairie men, returning from i\Iexico aiter a most successful sale of their goods. In an engagement with some Comanche bc!ians their two guides had been killed, and also a number of their horses. He sugg-ested that they should accompany him to the Hillary home, where they would get horses for their train and fresh supplies, and then promised t_o guide them to the nearest tovvn on the trail. They willingly accepted the offer, and that night encamped in the valley, where every kindness was shown them. Having fully refitted with horses, and obtainec.l what supplies they needed, the prairie me11 again set forth, with their guide at their head. For two clays all went well, and then, when in the midst of a boundless prairie, Buffalo Bill suddenly discovered that they were entrapped, for the whole east was a wall of flaming fire, from which there ap peared no escape. "Form a corral uf the wagons, and protect yourselves as best you can!" cried the scout, and eagerly the traders acted upon his advice. Rapidly the flames came on; it was impossible for the six wagons to protect the horses also, and they were turned loose to save themselves, if they could. Like an avalanche of fire the mad flames rolled on, and low crouched the terrified men beneath their frail barrier. Away darted the poor then, in mad speed, and the wall of fire was upon the wagons, cracking, roaring, scorching as it hovered momentarily at the obstruction in i ts way. The white tilts of the wagons were torn off in burning threads, the woodwork was charred, and the heat to the group of human beings tas intense. But it did not last long, and the wall of fire passed on, but leaving a wreck of the wagon-train. From their shelter beneath the wagon crept the men, and sadly they gazed around them, though thankful for their own lives. To continue was impossible, with their golden treasure. and so it was agreed to bury it, and, underthe guidance of Buffalo Bill, a safe spot was found, and the traders moved on, intending to return with a train for their when they reached the nearest settlement. The next clay they came upon two hunters who were going ro the settlement, and here the scout left them. with many thanks and a rich reward for his services. Pootsore and weary, the scout walked on to reach the Hillary home, to come at nightfall upon a broken-down wagon upon the p::-airic, and <1.pp:.lr ently clPsertecl. PAGE 11 iO THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. In that wagon, asleep, wa s a young girl of apparently fifteen years, v ith a \Vealth of golden hair. With surprise the scout gazed upon the beautiful creature, and his look awoke her, and she sprang up with a cry of terror, turning her \\'ild, blue eyes upon him with dread. A few kind words from the scout reassured Iler, and, looking intently into his face, she trusted him, and said faintly: "Oh, I'm so tired and hungry!" Instantly he gave her food from his haversack, and while she was eating trred to learn from her why she was there; but some strange shock had come upon her, and she could only remember that the wagon-train had been attacked by Indians, and many of the people had been slain, while she had fled away and hidden in the long prairie grass, and lay there until morning. Then all day she had wandered, until, coming upon the broken-down wagon, she natl crawled in it to sleep. That night the scout wrapped her in his own blan ket, and when morning broke the two started for the valley settlement, where they arrived completely tired out and almost famished, for they had had nothing to eat since the night before. Gladly did Mrs. Hillary and her husband receive the little waif of the prairie into their household, and, by no reference to the past, endeavor to make her forget the terrible scenes she had witnessed, and in time Daisy became a pet with all, for she had lovely manners and was as beautiful as a prairie flower. Guy Hillary considered her his protegee, and taught her to ride and how to a rifle and re volver, until she became quite a proficient markswoman, and would daringly mount any of the half wild mustangs the youth was training. One day Daisy accompanied Guy on a gallop o ver the prairie, and, returning after nightfall, they came suddenly upon two horsemen, leading after them several horses. Not recognizing th' e men, Guy called out to them, and was answered by an oath and a shot. Instantly he returned the fire, and one of the men fell dead, while his companion, releasing the led horses, darted away across the prairie. From that day Guy Hillary became a hero on the border, for the man he had slain was recognized as the licutenan t of El S o l and a most des pe r ado. A short while after rum o rs vvere afloat that Comanches were on the warpath, for a number of depredations had been committed along the frontier. To warn his friends of dang:er, Buffalo Bill was on his way when this story cpens. CHAPTER LXXXIX. BILI/ S O.\TH. When Buffaio Bill left the hills, he wended his vvay slo;vly along, his face growing paler as he approached the spot where the ruins of the cabin alone remained. A walk of fifteen minutes, and he stopped short, for before him lay the unburied remains, their colcl and ghastly faces clothed with blood stains. It \Vas the beautiful face upon which a crnel death had placed its seal; a refined, lovely face, youthful, and with an expression of almost childlike inno cence. But the light of the beautiful eyes had gone iorever, the gold-brown h_air was matted and gory, and a bullet wound in the white bosom showed that the poor mother had been ruthlessly shot down, while with a shudder of horror the scout beheld that the scalplock had been torn away. Suddenly he arose, his face cold, hard, and stern, all the sorrow he felt having given place to a look of deadly determination. With quick, nervous tre?-d he walked to where the fat\1er lay; a tall, handsome man, with a long, flow' ing beard. Then _he looked about him and the bodies of others with whom he had passed so many happy hours. Alas! they had all fallen by the rifle or knife, and all bore the hellish mark of the savage upon their head-the scalplock was gone. "But where is Daisy? I almost dread, after all I have seen, to gaze into her dead face," he murmured, and nervously he walked about; carefully scrutinizing the slain. "No, that is not Daisy, but it is Mrs. Moore, and there is little Bertie. "And poor Tom Henderson lies here; oh I my God! what devilish work fJr human beings to be guilty of!" PAGE 12 THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. 11 And thus he went from one to the other, until he had gazed into the faces of all who had been slain, faces he knew so well. "But where is Daisy?" he murmured; and after a while he added, "and Nettie Moore, and her sister? By Heaven! El Sol, I believe you have borne them away as prisoners, for they were all young and pretty. "If so, I hav e another death-hold upon you, and I pray God to aid me to hunt you and your band off the face of His be a utiful green earth. But he had determined upon his course, and after considerable search he found a spade among the rubbish the bandits had cast aside. With this he went to work, and, forgetful of his wounds, worked unt iringly for hours digging a number of s hallow g raves in the dark, rich earth, in the glade where the night before he had been held as a prisoner. Then he collected the bodies of the Hillarys and laid them side by side and carefully covered them over, after which he brought to the same spot the remains of the other slain and buried them with the same care, placing each family in a separate grave. -Night came on ere his work was finished, but still he struggled on, and t he silvery moon poured her light upon him. Soon all was fini s hed, the graves were each one marked, and then h e thought of himself, and sought around' for food. He found some buffalo meat which the bandits had cast a side, and, cutting off pieces of thi s he ate vora ciously for some time. after which he sought the river and quenched his thirst. Food he had h ad, s u c h as it was but sleep he most neede d ; and, remembering tha t one small house up the valley, a log structure for hay and fod der, had es c a p e d the g en e r a l c onflagration, he s o u ght it, and crept into it for shelter. It was a d e lightful haven of refuge, for there was a loft filled with soft hay, arid there he could rest free of danger fr o m the wol v es who having scented blood, howled mournfully around the valley. Seeking a comfortable sp o t, he almos t instantly dropp ed off into a de e p slumber, unmindful of the sorrows tha t h a d befalle n him and the pain of hi s wounds, received in his encounter with the panther in the cave. So prostrated was the scout with fatigue and loss of blood that the n 'ight passed away ere he awoke from his de e p slumber. The sun was shining bri g htly outside, the birds were chirping merrily in the trees, and momentarily he did not recall his sad losses, and his face was serene. But then the past flashed upon him, the blood forsook his face, and it became hard and stern. Springing down from his perch, he was about to ste p out from the small log barn, when the hooftreads of a horse btartled him, and caused him to draw back. Glancing throug-h a crack, his face flushed quickly, for his eyes fell upon a horseman approaching. A glad light shot then into his e y es, for in the rider he r e c o gnized one of the renegade band-in the animal he bestrode, he beheld his own noble bay steed, Flash. At a cautious pace the man approached, his eyes glancing quickly around him, and with joy Buffalo Bill saw that he was coming directly toward the log hut. "Oh, that I had a rifle or pistol! but I will spring upon him with my knife," and he drew his jack knife, clasping it firmly in his right 1tand. Twice the horseman slowly passed the door, and. riding up to it, glanced within. Like a statue stood the scout on one side of the entrance, and then, leaning far over from his horse, the renegade attempted to get a better view of the interior, evidently not caring to dismount until h e was certain the hut contained no enemy. As his cruel face peered into the aperture, a strong hand suddenly seized his throat, and he vvas dragged from hi s saddle across the log entrance. Once, twice, t hrice, the keen knife was driven into the hard heart. My first victim! and more shall fall!" One glance upon the man at his feet, and he sa : th a t he was dead. "N,ow, I'll see what brought you back here alone; ev id ently you have hidden some booty you feared t o le t your comrades know you had-oh.! I have it, you searched me and you have my belt of gold!" Quickly the scout through the hay, and p r e s ently came upon his belt of gold, with another batch of the precious metal rolled up in a handkerchief. PAGE 13 12 THE B U ff ALO BILL STO R l r:S 'Now I will seek my horse; dear, good, old Flash, i O bring this devil right into my clutches." So saying, he stripped the dead renegade of the arms he wore, which were his own revolvers and knife, that the robber had taken from him, and then gave a loud, shrill whistle A distant neigh answered, and immediately the ark bay came galloping up, only too glad to hear o nce more his master's call. CHAPTER XC. THE PRAIRIE WHIRLWIND. "Well, old fellow, we are companions once more; oh, here is my own rifle strapped to the saddle, and my lasso; all complete, and ready for the war trail. "Ha! what is that?" The sound that had attracted his attention was like a subdued roll of thunder. But instantiy his quick and practiced ear detected the course of the sound, and he cried: "A drove of wild mustangs from the prairie, as I live." Springing into his saddle, the scout wheeled his horse and glanced through the trees out upon the prairie. A low, joyous whistle, followed by a chuckle, was the result, while his face sparkled with delight as he said: "It is the drove of the Prairie Whirlwind. "Oh, if I could catch that black stallion, I would <.leiy every horse on these plains to catch me. "Be quiet, Flash, or you will spoil all; and don"t J e jealous, for your fame would be as great as Il}ine we caught the Prairie whirlwind." On came the drove o f wild mustangs, directly oward the glade, and i n t he direction of the log : ut, behind which he a\;:.iited with anxious impatencc. Approaching slowly to the glade, the wild herd J .lted, and eagerly peered before them; but, as if :::enting danger, they came on at a cautious trot, vidently heading for the river bank to quench their hirst. Soon they had passed through the glade, and at a trot were. crossing the open plot of land on which the log hut stood, giving it, ho\Yever, a \Viele berth, a s if dreading th a t it concealed an enemy. It was a he:rntiiul stirring sight. a!' they trotted along, with flowing tail and mane, and the sunlight glancing upon almost every variety of color of black, sorrel, bay, white, brown, roan, and hues too numer1 ous to mention. The leader of the wild drove was a perfectlyformed black stallion, the largest of the herd, and at a glance discovered to be the most magnificent ani mal of the lot. The forelock, mane and tail were jet black, and exceedingly long, the jaws had never been subdued by the bit, the back never pressed by the saddle. He was a free rover, a monarch of the prairie, who for several years had defied all attempts at capture, although as many as four score enemies at a time had endeavored to entrap him with the faste s t horses. A desert-born, equine king, he had nobly held his own, and his speed had won for him the n ame of the Prairie Whirlwind. His every movement i ndi cate d strength, his build was that of a thoroughbred r acer, ?..ncl his keen eye and expanded nostrils prayed endurance and cour age. His hide was satinlike in s oftness, jet black, anJ every limb muscular and perfe c t in symmetry, while his small, well-shaped head, delicate ears and gaunt body were indicative of the best prairie "blood." Was it a wonder, then, that Buffalo Bill longed to capture the Prairie Whirlwind? With reins well in his left hand, his circled lasso in his right, and seated firmly in his saddle, he awaited patiently, yet full of excitement, for the mustangs to reach the river, gradually drawing his horse back to keep the log hut bet\v een him and the drove. Suddenly the Prairie Whirlwind baited, his head was upraised, and hi s blood-red nostrils loudly snuffed the air; but as if reassured, he moved on to the river. and bent his proud he a d to the water, while the cavalcade clustered around him, eager to quench their thirst. Like an arrow shot the nobl e Flas h forth from his concealment, and the clatter of h i s hoofs startled the wild mustangs, who turned in confusion to fly. With savage bounds the Prairie Whirlwind burs t through the cavalcade, and attc:11ptecl to dash by the daring h o r se man, his e y es fla s h i n g his nostrils expanded, his white teeth glitteri n g :Cu t \Yi t h a firm an PAGE 14 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 13 thrown, the coil settled down over the proud head, and Flash, well trained to his duty, threw himself back upon his haunches, a tremendous jerk upon the lariat, and Prairie \i\Thirhvind was thrown to the ground. One loud, long, exultant yell broke from Buffalo Bill as he leaped to the ground, freed the lariat from his saddle, and quickly formed a "bow stall," which is more effective than a severe curb bit. Then, loosening the noose around the neck, the mustang king at once began to recover from the effects of his choking, and strug1:,led to his feet, but with a snort of terror he darted forward, for Buffalo Bill had nimbly sprung upon his back. Savagely he shook his head to rid himself of the bow stall, and then in sheer surprise stood momentarily still. But only for an instant, and then he realized he was in the hands of an enemy, and bounded high into the air, then sprang forward with prodigious leaps. Changing his tactics, the stallion then reared, and almost upright, but with catlike tenacity his daring rider clung on, and the steed was baffled once more, to, the next moment, attempt to tear the enemy from his back with his gleaming teeth. A severe jerk upon the bovY stall thwarted this savage pian, and with a cry of terror the maddened prairie king bounded forward in full pursuit of the drove of mustangs, fully a mile distant upon the prairie, and rapidly flying away. A shrill call to his horse, and Flash came behind. Like a perfect the mad animal rushed on, and the ground under his feet seemed to fly from beneath him, and witl1 joyous excitement Buffalo Bill kept his seat, for the stallion was rapidly overhauling the flying herd, and in spite of his great speer! Flash was being left far behind, although he had only the weig;ht of the saddle to bear. When Buffalo Bill lassoed the Prairie Whirlwind he little knew that he had three spectators to his bold act, who were coming clown the pathway of the hills when they beheld him dart forward upon his prey. One of the three wa an Indian brave of scarcely twenty; a tall, well-formed son of the prairie, riding a half-wild mustang, and armed with a short rifle, lance and hunting knife. The face of the young Indian was strikingly handsome, determined, and with a look of nobleness in it seldom seen in his cruel race. He was dressed a s a Comanche warrior, wore full war paint, and in luxuriant masses his hair hung down his back and rested upon his shoulders. Besides the weapons already spoken of he carried a bow and quiver of arrows hung at his back, and a horsehair lariat hung from his low saddle. Behind him came two persons with whom t)le reader is already acquainted, one of them being Minne-Blue-Eyes, the Indian maiden, mounted upon a clean-limbed and handsome mustang, and the other that black worthy, Tony, who, when last seen, w as following the scout at full speed in the direction of the valley. But Tony's horse was not as swift-footed as was Flash, and, arriving upon the hill, the negro boy dis covered that Buffalo Bill had recklessly darted into the midst of the renegades been made prisoner. "Dat's no place for dis here hansome chiJe, I done tole you; so I gits. "But whar's I goin'? "Golly 1 I'll never grow no more, case I'se so skeert. \ "Oh, Lord in heben, j's.t guide dis belubbed lamb of yourn, case he don't want to be skulped by de Injuns." So said Tony, seated upon his horse, a perfect object of abject terror. At last, after another careful scrutiny of the fiends in the valley, and their devilish work, Tony continued: "Wid de blessin' ob' de Lord, I'se goin' to dig. case dis here ain't no place for 'spectable cullud pussun like I is, now clat Massa Bill gone and done gN cotched. "So I just leab dis diggins, and I go see dat Injur; man dat dey call \Vhite Wolf, and he will help m<.' get Massa Bill out of dem black debils' hands." So saying, Tony wheeled his hvrse and darted away; taking a trail leading along the base of the hills. After a ride. of ten miles he turned up into the hills, and in a sheltered spot suddenly came upon an Indian village, nestled snugly away. The village contained some half a hundred lodges, and was the regular home of a trii)C of the Comanche nation, who for a number of yea.rs had been PAGE 15 14 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. on peaceful terms with the white settlers along the border, especially with their near neighbors in the vall ey. "Don't shoot, Mass a In jun; it's only p oor nigger boy," yelled out Tony, as he beheld the form of a warrior in the moonlight. The Indian seemed reassured, and approached the trembling Tony, who quickly said striving to imi tate the Indian style of speaking: "Me no enemy! me big black chief; me full blood! lo v e Injun heap! Injun' s friend." "Ugh!" was the only reply of the warrior; and Tony, not thinking he had made as favorable an impression as he desired, continued: "You big reel chief! me little black chief--" "Black nigger heap fool," suddenly interrupted the Indian, and Tony humbly answered: "Yas, Massa Injun wise man." "Ugh! me great brave; me scalp much; mgger scalp no good muc : 1; dam bad. "Yas, Massa, it dam bad skulp for big In jun chief; it dam good skulp for dis nigger chile dough, de b est he got, he, he!" added Tony. "What nigger want?" suddenly asked the warrior. "Me want to see de big young chief, White Wolf. ' "Who asks for White Wolf, the brother of Minne-Blue-Eyes ?" asked a sweet voice, in good Eflglish, and the Indian maiden approached the spot where T ony awaited. In a few words Tony told why he had come, and. telling him to await her coming, the young girl strode quickly away, and soon returned mounted upon a small, wiry mustang, and armed wit h her rifle. "Let the blackface go on to the camp of the white warriors, and tell them that El Sol is in the valley. "Vlhite Wolf is away on the warpath of the A paches, but Minne-B lue-Eyes w ill go and save the paleface brave, for he saved her life." The maiden spoke with strange decision for one so young. "Lor' bress your soul, Missy Blue-Eyes; don't you dare done down yonder, for de dam cusses will cut you u p into sausage meat, and den kill you beside." "Minne-Blue-Eyes has spoken; she goes to save the paleface chief. "Let the blackface go for the white warriors." "Just as you say, Missy Blue-Eyes-I'se off like a shot," replied Tony. and away he went the fort after a squadron of soldiers, for, having been on the prairies almost constantly with Guy, he knew the country \vell. Watching him depart, Minne-Blue-Eyes then set forth for the valley, and that her daring enterprise was crowned w ith success the reader has already seen. In the meantime the faithful Tony sped on, and at daylight he arrived at the to find that all the a v ailable troops were on a scout to the northward. Halting just long enough to rest and feed his horse, Tony set forth upon his return, to aid as best he coulcl, for, in spite of his peculiarities, he was, at least, as brave as a desert lion, as Guy had more than once discoverecl when the two were in danger together. Directing his steps first to the Indian village, to discover what Minne-Blue-Eyes had accomplished, for he had great faith in her powers, Tony arrived late in the night, to learn Buffalo Bill was free. With joy at his heart at the escape of the scout, and completely broken down, as wa,; also his horse. Tony willingly accepted the invitation extended him by the Indian girl to remain in the village, and was soon fast asleep. The next morning white 'vVolf hturned, and, hav ing heard what had transpired in the valley, he determined to at once set forth, and Minne-Blue-Eyes .and Tony accompanied him. The young warrior was the son of the chief of the tribe, and t he most promising young brave of his village, and between himself and the scout there ex isted a warm friendship, for once his p a leface as he called him, had warned his village of a raid to be made upon it bv a roving band of Apaches and through the battle had nobly rema ined and fought for his red neighbors. Another time Buff aro Bill had s aved the life of Minne-Blue-Eyes by attacking anJ killing a huge rattlesnake just as he had coiled hi!flself to spring upon the unsuspecting maiden, who was gathering wild berries in the forest. Wit h this double hold upon him besides the scout's numerous acts of generosity toward bot!-1 himself 2.nd the pride of the prairie tribes, MinneBlue-Eyes, it is not to be wondered at that \ i\lhite Wolf was anxious to befriend his paleface friend The three friends of Cody had reached within ... v. s urpri:;<::, dart fortl) from behind the log hut, mounted PAGE 16 THE BUfF 1\LO BILL STORIES. j.S upon his own horse, th: ow his lasso skillfully over the neck of the P r airie \Vhirlwind. The three spectators uttered a wild cry of joy, for they all recognized the famous stallion, and had be lieved it impos sible to catch him. Dashing rapidly do.vn into the valley, they arrived to find Cody far o"ut upon the prairie, and, having passed through the wild drove of mustangs, beheld the flying stallion wildly rushing on far in advance. "Y ender comes Flash back agin, case he clone gin it up, for he ain't got no business wid dat skootin' animile," said Tony, pointing to the dark bay as he came rapidly back toward the glade, neighing wildly, for, as soon as he saw he could not overhaul his black rival, he turned back. Darting right into their midst, he was secured by Tony. just as a loud yell was heard, and a dozen Apache warriors, in all their grim war paint, \Vere seen rushing upon the little party. CHAPTER xcr. A FRIEND IN NEED. The speed of the Prairie Whirlwind, the wild joy at his capture, and pride at having accomplished a feat which had baffled the bravest horsemen of the prairies, caused Buffalo Bill to feel as though he would dare any danger. Like lightning the noble, terrified animal flew on, his mighty bounds quickly gaining upon the mustangs ahead, and almost before their daring rider was aware, he was in their midst. With terror the frightened mustangs sheered from his path, though at their speed the stallion swept through the drove as though they were stationary, and soon the leaders were left far behind. Once upon the open prairie he urged on the splen did animal with voice and a lash from the end of his las s o, gradually the swaying of his body and 3. steady pull upon the bow stall, guiding the steed toward the hills once more, at a point near the Indian village, the home of Minne-Blue-Eyes. Glancing backward, the scout discovered that Flash had given up the chase and turned back, and, anxious to bring his new steed under full control, he still urged him on, until he was within half-a-mile o( the Indian village. The sentinels had discovered his approach, and the whole village, warriors. sriuavYS and chiluren, turned out to behold him. for at a they recog nized the Prairie \i\Thirlwind, and many a brave felt a twinge of envy to feel that a paleface had done what no red man could do. Steadily drawing upon his bow stall, Cody gradually slackened the speed of his horse, and then again the enraged animal went through a series of determined struggles for :kee PAGE 17 THE BUFF f\LO BILL STORIES. But, fresh though their hors es were the P r airie 'Whirlwind would soon h a ve di&tanced them had not the white rider checked his speed continually. It was nearly an hour ere the cavalcade reached the valley, and thering of rifles rang in their ears, proving that the White Wolf still brav ely held h i s own against his foes. Wheeling round the l:iase of the hill and armed with a bow and arrows he had b orrowe d in the Indian village, Buffalo Bill uttered his loud, defiant yell, and gave Whirlwind full rein, as he d as h e d upon t he surprised Apaches, sending arrows right and left in his rapid flight. Instantly the A pache s began to seek cove1 ', but, discovering the body of Comanches approaching they darted toward the glade where their hors es were tied. But again the rifles of White Vv olf and his companions rang forth from the log hut, and in the frightened enemy knew not which way to fly, and in despair darted into the river. Swiftly came the avenging Comanches upon them, however, and of the entire band, consisting of a dozen warriors, only two escaped, for half their num. ber had fallen beneath the unerringrifles of White Wolf, Minne-Blue-Eyes and Tony, who had, with their horses, retreated into the log hut when first they beheld their foes rushing upon them. In vain was it that the Apache warriors h a d charged upon the little fort; its trio of brave defend ers stood firm and with true aim beat them back, for when the rifles were emptied, Tony drew his revolvers, while white vVolf used the scout's weapons which the scout had bound to his saddle when he prepared to lasso the stallion. "Great golly, ma s sa, you is de very debil h i sself for riding," cried T o ny, rushing toward scout as he approached the log hut, w ith Whirlwind quietly following behind him. Buffal o Bill smiled slightly a t the compliment, and warml y g r asped the hand of his black friend, while he replied: "Tony, I have the best hors e in the world and see, he i s not tire d althoug h after m y rough ride on the prairie, I came down to the valle y like the wind to see that you were in trouble, and I wen t back for reinforcements to the village-ah, Minne-Blue-Ey es, you have had a hard battle, I see, and you, White .. Wolf, my friend have a string of scalps for your be! t. "Yes; m"e glad s ee p a leface brother; White Wolf h av e three sc a l ps, Minne-B lu e -Eyes h a ve tw o s calps and bla ck face have t w o scal ps," s aid v V hite Wolf, proudly, and then. he fasten ed three s c alp s to his handed two more ble e din g .trophies to } ,tlinne Blue-Eyes, and offered the remaining two to Tony "No, tankee, M as s a v V h ite \ V olf you keep elem for de little p apoos es, an' tole em dat Tony, de bi g black chief, send em to 'em," and Tony r e spectfull y pushed back the hide o u s trophies he had hon orabl y w on in battle. "Sca lp s no good for papoose; much good for big brave; take scalps, blackface. "No, s ah, tankee bery much; but gib 'em to your mudder for her back hair, hone y," and Tony again motioned the warlocks a.way, and with a grunt of surprise White Wolf added them to the number already in his girdle. After a short stay in the valley the warriors, he aded by White Wolf and MinneBlue-Eyes, took their departure for their village, le aving Buffalo Bill and Tony alone in the midst of the ruins that had once been a happy home, for it was the intention of the scout to at once p1:epare for the warpath against El Sol and his murderors band of desperadoes. When the Comanche band had departed, he turned to Tony, and again thanked him for his noble efforts in his behalf, and then made known to him all that had transpired in the valley, from his capture by El Sol, up to his lassoing the black stallion. The large eyes of the negro filled with tears as he heard the s tory, and glanced around him upon the ruin that El Sol had left behind, and the mounds that marked the ne w-made graves. "What's we gwine to do novv, Massa Bill?" "I'll tell you, Tony; all are gone excepting you; you I have with me, but others are in the power of El Sol." "Who dat, Mas s a Bill?" "Poor Daisy; she was not sl a in, but spared, I fear, for a worse fate in the end, s a dl y returned the scout. ,.t "Can't w e git her avvay from de debil, massa ?" "Tony, that i s just what I intend to try and do; al so I intend to avenge the de ad. "But d o you know wh e r e G u y Hillary is for his body I did not find among the dead?" PAGE 18 THE BUFFALO STORIES. 17 "He went to de big town settlement, sah, ter git somet'ings fer bis mudder." ''.Which she will never need; but his going saved him from sharing her fate." "An' mighty glad I be sah.'' "Yes, indeed; for he is a brave, splendid boy, and will join us in..our work of revenge.'' "Yes, 1fassa Bill, so be kin. "De good book do say to leaf vengince to de Lord, but I guess it take too long an' we kin gib Him a helpin' hand, sah."1 "I am sure that we can, Tony, and we must find Guy; but my God! what a story we have to tell him. "Now, Tony, listen to me.'' "Yes, sah, I am hearin' all yer says.'' After a few moments of silence, in which Buffalo Bill was lost in deep meditation, while Tony watched him almost with a look of awe, the scout said: "In the cave where I told you that I fought the panther is to be our home, for from it are two passages, one by the tree, the way I went up, and the other through the hills and by which we can carry our horses.'' "You don't tole me so?" "Yes, Tony, I found it out yesterday; well, my plan is this: "First, to uncache the stores poor Mr. Hillary buried, and which these renegade devils did not find. "In that underground storeroom, you know, are provisions in plenty, ammunition, blankets, ropes, and all that we could desire. "With the ropes I intend to make a ladder to let down over the ledge at the mouth of the cave, and we can haul up that way plenty of firewood, and also some stout sticks to build a bridge for our horses, and one which we can take up or put down as we need it across the ravine. "The blankets will serve us well, especially in win ter, and the provisions and ammunition will last us a long time, while the horses will have a nice plot to feed upon, and cannot stray away." "Golly, dis is fine, massa; won't we live spf endid ?" "\/I/ e will live in security, Tony, and the whole of El Sol's band will not be able to drive us from our retreat, even if they can find us, which I believe im possible. "Now, let us to work." A short distance back of the ruined cabin Buffalo Bill beg-an to dig up the loose dirt, and soon came upon a kind of subterranean storeroom, which the foresight of Oscar Hillary had placed there. in case of their being burned out of house and home by the Indians. As fast as they took the stores out they packed them upon the horses, Whirlwind calmly submitting to his fate like the other steeds. Having taken all they could carry, they set off for the upper glade, and soon halted at the base of the tree by which the scout had climbed to the cave the day before. "Here, Tony, these wounds in my shoulder are very sore, and you'll have to shinny up the tree." "All right, Massa Bill; I jist git up dat tree like a Thomas cat goin' to visit he sweetheart," and, tak ing the end of a small rope in his mouth, Tony soon demonstrated his ability to climb, and before long stood upon the ledge. Rolling the stores in a large blanket, with t he four ends tied together, the scout attached the rope and steadily Tony drew them up. A dozen loads thus went up to the cave, and Tony, descending, they once more returned to the storehouse, and took from it all that remained then;in. In like manner these were taken up to the cave, and then the two set to work, with axes they found in the storehouse, chopping down small trees, con sidered suitable for a bridge across the ravine. These were then hauled up, one by one, to the ledge, and then they stopped for supper, and made a good meal off of smoked buffalo meat and crack ers, after which they retired into the glade to pass the night. They slept soundly, and awoke wit h the first streak of dawn, greatly refreshed. "Come, Tony; let us eat our breakfast and get to work." "Ise wiliin', Massa Bill," and the faithful negro sprang to his feet. Then from the settlement they collected all that could be found of any value, and, having hauled it up to the cave, returned for the hay, corn and fodder which was in the log hut, and which the scout kiiew would come in well for the horses. The transferring of this was no small work, for there was a quantity of provender. and, being anx ious to cover up his tracks, Buffalo Bill was particu- PAGE 19 18 THE BUFFALO STORIES. lar that no straw or blade of fodder should betray him. It was late in the afternooq before the horses were loaded for the last time, and then Buffalo Bill led the way by his new-found passage. Great was the surprise of Tony as he followed into the secret and wonderful pa ssageway, and he continually was saying as they went along, leading their heavily-loaded horses: "\i\Telf, I declar; dis am de debil's own road." Coming to the ravine, the horses were halted and tied, and, crossing the frail structure which he had constructed the day before, the scout went on to cave, and in an hour's time, with their newly-cut trin ber, ropes, nails, and the boards of old boxes, they had made a most resp ectable bridge, fifteen feet in length by three and a half in width. This movable bridge was so constructed that with ropes it could be raised up or lowered at will. Calling to \Vhirlwind to follow him, the noble ani mal instinctively obeyed, crossing the seemi ngly frail structure without the slightest hesitation. Flash came next, but not without considerable fear and trembling, and with Injun, as Tony had named his horse, they had considerable trouble; but at last the three horses were safely over, and at dark were browsing the luxuriant grass on the plot in front of the cave, or slaking their thirst in the crystal waters of the rivulet. "'vVell, I do declar, dis am a part of hebben, I tink; case you see, massa, we done got place for de horses, and Injun am as .bappy as a flea on a dog, bress him. "Den we got fine storehouse, all fixt up for us, and nice back door to get out ob, if de debil come in at de front door, which we has, too; and den clere's de rilmlet for to drink and make de coffee, and de blankets to sleep on, and plenty ob wood to burn, and lots ob hay, and de provisions for us to e:tt, and PAGE 20 THE BUFFALO B ILL STORIES. 19 W h en leaving the valley, El Sol, with a small escort of Indians and whites, dashed rapidly on ahead, leaving the plunder1laden animals and the remainder of the band to follow more l eisurely. I t was nearly sunset ere the chief ascended the mountain, in the recesses of which was his home, !1is fort where he co u ld defy his enemies. Up a narrow and rocky trail the way l ed, along the edge of a precipice, where a sin g le false footing would hurl the careless rider or pedestrian hundreds of feet below. But El Sol rode along with a reckless a i r, which proved that he had no fear, or was thoroughly aware that his horse woul d nobly stand the test. At length a lofty plateau was reached, from which the view was unsurpassed for mi l e and miles around. The plateau was heavily wooded in parts, and in other places was open, while a large stream wound its way along the base of a range of hills that bounded it to the north. Scattered here and there along the bank of the stream were the rude cabins of the outlaws, and dotting the open land of the plateau were hundreds of horses, mules and cattle. In front of the cabins lounged a motley crowd of men, women and a few young children, a ll of the females and youngsters being mostly Mexi cans o r Indian squaws, and fully as evil-looking as w e re the men. In a distant motte was the cab i n home of El Sol, so situated as to command a view of the entire plateau and thither the chief wended his way, while followers, who had acted an escort, turned off toward the lower huts, where t h eir arrival was greeted by a wild yell, as soon as those who had not gone upon t he expedition learned of the great succ ss that had attended the band. The cabin of the chief was of heavy logs comprising four rooms, each divided from the other by a wide passageway, or hall, and all being under the same roof. A large but rude piazza encircled the house, giving it the appearance of a Southern plantation home, and altogether it was far from bein g uncomfortable. Around the piazza were trained clinging vines, and in front of the doorsteps were numerous flowers that displaved careful attention, while at the front windows white dimity curtains. all proving that some femin ine hand rule d the household. Standing upon the piazza as the chief approached, was a woman dress e d i n pure white. It was a l o ve ly face that was turned toward the coming chief; ._1e of those subdued, s:id fac es that show a sympathetic and nobl e heart. Appa r ently not more than thirty years age there was yet a look of intense sadness re sting upon eve r y feature that made her look perha ps older. But the features were carved with delicacy and refinement, and the figure was slight and gracef ul The dark, sorrowful eyes gazed wistfully upon El Sol as he rode up, and a sweet sm i le of welcome swept over her face as dismounting, he l hrew he r a kiss. "vVell, Violet, I am back again. and safe. yo u see," said Sol in a strangely soft voice for one oi his nature to use. "Yes, brother, and I am glad to see you. for it is very lonely here without you," and the woman shuddered slightly as, leaning forward to receive the chief's caress, she saw a blood stain upon h is jaclet. "You were in an enRa;2:ement, brother?'' "Yes, Violet; we met the enemy and defeated them with ease; but yo u must not a$k me any more questions, si:ster mine about mv wild liie, and it would only p ain you to hear of de,eds of bloodshed and strife Come, I haYe had nothing to eat since ea r ly morning, and am almost famished," and the chief assumed a playful tone. "Oh, brother Sol! if you would cease your life of turmoil how happy I would be. "Think, Sol, you have nothing to live for now but me, for fat her, mother, all are gone, and I have oniy you. "Listen to me, S ol. and turn from your cruel Lfe "Once you were noble. good, all that man conlrl be. a nd now--" 'Now I am an outlaw. Violet. the chief of a ba nd of renegades and Indians. and yon are all that I love in the world "True, there was once a time, long years ago, when we 1vere children together, that I abhorred wrong; but then a woman one whom I loved above all else, p layed me false, and--" "No, Sol she did not play you false; she admire d and respec t ed you, but did not love you." "Curses rest on her and upon her memory; ay. and mv embittere
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20 THE BU ff ALO BILL STORIES. tween me an
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THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. 21 and she believed me also dead; by some miracle she escaped then, and a second time has dire misfortune overtaken her, for those who befriended her, she has just said, had fallen before her face, and had I nut been here to befriend her, what would have been her fate? "Bear with her, Sol, and grant me one request." "And that is--" ''To give me my child, ay, more, brother, let her young friends go with me, and together we will seek a home in Mexico, where I can de\ote myself to the poor, lonely children. "Sol, do this for me, and I will bless you. "Remember, I have ample means, and with Daisy
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BOYHOODS OF FAMOUS MEN. This department contains each week the story of the early career of some celebrated American. Watch for the.se stories and read them, boys. They are of the most fascinating interest. Those already published are: No. 1..-Buffalo Bill; No. 2.-Kit Carson; No. 3.-Texas Tack; No. 4. C.01. Daniel Boone; Nos, 5 and 6. -David Crockett. No. 7.-General Sam Houston. General Sam Houston did more for the State of Texas than any other man. A wonderful general, be was the conqueror of ::lanta Auna, thereby wresting Texas from the bands of the Mexicans. Then be became the first president of the repub.lic which was then formed of Texas. Finally when Texas was annexed to the United States, General Houston became a United States Sen11tor and permanent fame as a statesman, general and administrator. General Sam Houston was 4orn the 2d of March, 1793, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, seven miles east of Lexington, at a place known as Timber Ridge Church. The day of his birth he was, many years afterward, to celebrate as the anniversary of the birth of a new republic-for it was on his natal day that Texas declared her self free and independent. His ancestors on his father's and mother's side are t rac ed back to the Highlands of Scotland. They are there found fighting for ''God and liberty," by the sichools, had still l ess to boa:>t of forty y ea rs ago. 'rhc 8 t,1tc m;ide little or 110 pro,is ion, by law, for the edm:atiou of its citizens aud each neighborLood was obliged to take care of ils risiug population. Loug befo r e this period Washington College had been rellloved to Lexington, au cl a ''Field schoo l ''. was kept i n the rni11ed oh\ edifice 011ce occupied liy that instituti on. This school seems, from all accounts (and we ha\e taken so:11e paius to inform ourselves about this mat ter), to have heeu of doubtful utility. Hous tou is :-aid to ha\'e learned lo read and write, and to have gained some imperfect ideas of ciphering. Late in the fall a11d the winter were the ouly seasoDs he was allowed to improve even the dubiolls advantages of such

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, 32 THE BUFFALO BILL STORiES. Certain it is that bis early life among .the Indians was, as the eveut proved, a necessary p ortion of that wonderful training that fitted him for hi s strange destiny. There he was initiated into the profound -mysteries of the red man's character, and a t aste was formed for forest life which made him, many years abandon on c e more the habitations of civilized men with their c o ld ness, their treachery and their vices, and pass years among the children of the Great Spirit, till he finally l e d the way to the achievem ent of the independe nce of a great domain, and the consolidation of a powerful commonwealth. Certain it is that no man whose history we know, h a s lived on this continent, who has bad so compl e te a knowledge of the Indian character-none who could sway so powerful a control over the savage mind. During his entire administrntion of the government of T e xas not an Indian tribe viol a t e d a treaty w ith the r ep u b l ic ; and it is nearly as safe to say that during the administration of others, not a tribe was known to make or regard one. During the latter part of Jun., 1846, General Morehead arrived at Washington w:n:h. forty wild Indian s from Texas, belonging to more than a dozen tribes. W e saw their meeting with General Hous ton One and all ran to him and cla s ped him in their brawny arms, and hugged him like bears to their naked breasts, and called him father; beneath the copper skin and thick paint the blood rushed, and their faces ch a nged and the lip of many a warrior trembled, although the India n may not weep Tbese wild men knew him, and r e vered him as one who was too directly descend e d from the Great Spirit to be approached with familiarity, and yet the y loved him so well they conld not help it. These were the men 'he bad been," in the fine language of Acquiquash, whose words we quote, ''too subtle for, ou the warpath-too powerful in battle, too magnanimous in victory, too wise in council, and too true in faitlL" They had flung away their arms in Texas, and with the Comanche chief who heade d their file, the y bad come to Washing ton to s e e their father I s aid these iron warriors s h e d no tears, when met their old frieudbnt white men who stood by, will tell us what they did. We were there and we have witnessed few scen es in which mingle d more of what is c alled the mo ra l sub lime. In the gigantic form of Hous ton, on wh os e a m ple brow the ben e ficent lo v e of a father was struggling '"ith the sternnes s of the patriarch w arrior; we saw c ivili z a tion a w in g the sa v a ge at hi s f ee t. We n ee d e d no interprete r to tell us that this impress ive su p r ellla c y w a s gained in the for e st. But \Ye have lost the thread o f our story This wild life among the Indians lasted till bis eighteenth y e a r He had, during bis vi sits on c e or twic e a year to bis fam i ly, to be refitted in his dress, m a ny little articles of taste or utility to u s e amon g the India n s In this manner be had in curred a debt which he w a s bound in honor to pay. 'l'o m ee t this engage m e nt, h e bad no other resomce left but to a ba n don his ''dus ky comp a n ions," and teach the chi l dren of p a l efaces A s m a y Jjaturall y be suppo s e d it was 110 ea sy m atter for h im to get a s c h o ol, and on the first st art the enterprise mov ed very slowly. But as the idea of aband011i11g any thir. g on which b e had Ollce fixed his purp o s e w a s n o part of his character, he perse v e re d and iu a short time he had more scholars to tnrn a way than be bad at fir s t to begin with. He was also paid what was con si d e red an exorbitant price. Formerly no master had hinted above $6 per annum. Houston, who probably thought that one who had b e en graduated at an Indian university, onght to hold his lore at a dearer rate, raise d the price to$8-one third to be p a id i11 corn, d elivered at the mill, at 33 1-3 cents per bushel-one-third in ca s h, and on e-third in domestic cotton 'cloth, of v a rie gale<1 c o lors, in wbicb our Indian profe s sor was dres sed. He also \Yore h i s hair be hi 11d, in a snng qn e ue, and is s a id to have been very much in love with it, probably from an idea that it added som ewhat t o the a dornme nt of his person-in which, too, he was prob ably mista ken. When he had made money enough to pay his debts, lre shut up his school and w ent back to his old master to study. He p11t Euclid into his hand s. He carried that ugly, unromantic bo o k b ack and forth to and from the s ch o ol a few days, without t rying to solve even so much as .the first problem, and then came to the very sensible con cl usiou, that he would never try to be a scholar! This was in 1813. But fortunately an event now took place which \Yas to d ecide his fate. The bugle had sounded. a nd for the second time America was sunimo ned to meas.ure her strength with the mistress of the s e as. A recruiting party of the United Sates army came to Maryv ille, with music, a bauner and some well -dresse d sergeants. Of course, young Houston enlisted-anybody could have guessed as much. His friends said be was ruined-that he must by no m eans join the army as a common soldier. He then made his first spe ech, as far as we can learn: ''And what have your craven son ls to say about the ranks? Go to, with your stuff; I would mnch sooner honor the ranks than disgrace au appointment. You don't know me now, but you shall bear of me. His old frien d s and acquaintances, considering him hopelessly disgr;:ic e d, cnt his acquaintance at once. His mother ga v e her consent as she stood in the door of her cottage, and handed her boy musket: ''There, my son t ake this musket," she said, "and never disgrace it; for rem e mber, I had rather all my sons should fill one honorable grave than that one of them should turn his b ack to save his life. Go and rememb er, too, that while the door of my c ot t a g e is open to brave men, it is etern a lly shut a gainst c owards." H e m a rch e d off. H e wa s s o on promoted to a s ergeant. In a short time he b e came the b est drill in the regiment --soon aft e r be as m arched to Fort Hampton at the h e ad of the Muse l e Shoa ls in Alaba ma, where he was p romot e d to an en s i g n. R eturne d t o Knoxville-assiste d in drilling and organizing the E as t ern Battalion of the 39th Regiment of Infantry ; and from the nce marche d to the Teu Islands, where lie remaine d encamped for some time. His boyhood -was now over, so what followed in hls life belongs to anothe r time. But y o un g as be was he had already shown the traits which w ere t o m a k e h i m a g r ea t m a n

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JESSE JAMES STORIES WE were the first pub-lishers in the world to print the famous sto ries of the J at.nes Boys, written by that remarkable man, W. B. Lawson, whose name is a watch word with our boys. We hav e had many imitators Jesse James. and in order that no one sha11 be deceived in accepting the spurio us for the real, we are now publishing the best stories of the James B oy s, by Mr. Lawson, in a New Library entitled "The Jesse James Stories one of our big five-cent weeklies, and a sU:re winner with the boys'. A number of issues have already appeared, and these which follow will be equally good ; in fact, the best of their kind in the world ; STR E E T & SMITH, Publishers, New York. BUFFALO BILL STORIES The only p u bl ication auth orized by the Hon. W m F. Cody (Buffal o Bill) Buffalo Bill. W Ewerethe of the first sto ry ever written of the famous and .world-renowned Buffalo Bill the great hero whose life has been one succession of excitmg and thrilling inci-dents combined with great successes and accomplishments, all of which will be told in a series of grnnd stories which we are. now pl acing before the American Boys. Th. e popularity t .hey have already obtained shows what the boys want, and is very gratifying to the publishers. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York. NICK CARTER STORIES THE best known detec tive in the world is Nick Carter. Stories by this noted sleuth are 1s sued regularly in "Nick Carter \\ e kly" (price five ceuts ), and all his Nick Carter. work is written for us. It may interest the patrnns and readers of the Nick Carter Series of Detective Stories to know that these famous stories will soon be produced upon the stage under unusually elab orate circumstances. Arrangements have just been completed between the publishers and Manager F. C. Whitney, to present the entire set of Nick Carter stories in dramatic form. The first play of the series will be brought out next fall. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK. DIAMOND DICK STORIES THE celebrated Dia mond Dick stodes can only be found in "Diamond Dic k, Jr., the -Boys' Best \\'eekly." Diamond Dick. Diamond Dick and his son Bertie are the most unique a11 d fascinating heroes of Western romance. The scenes, and many of the incidents, in these exciting stories are taken from real life. Diamond D{ck stories are conceded to be the best stories o f the West, and are all copyrighted by us. The weekly is the same size and price this publication, with hand some illuminated cover. Price, five cents. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, New York.

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