BUFFALO BILL’S Entered accordingto actiof Congress, in the year 1875,'by Burns AND Anaus, Last and Best Story, and a Full Page Portrait of the Author, Next Week! to 5) in'the omceof the Librarian of Congress at Washington. around! 0116..) Vol. VI. ’ - - YORK, SEPTEMBER; 4.1875. One Trans IN Anvascsg One copy. one you, . . . 3.00. N 0 2 8 6 Two copies, one year, . . 5.00. O 0 copy, four months, $1.00. A Boss rnon min mm. " j M'EBEN E. “3031). Here is a blossom from her hair; She gave it to me, years ago. I see her standing on the stair, , To hear the music’s ebb and flow, *' Just as she stood that‘summer night, _' Sweet with the fr rances of June, A radiant vision, all n white, ‘ Touched with the glamour of the moon. I see the distant'dancers glide To sweet waltz~music down the room, As if some dream’s enchanted tide Went seaward, drowsy with perfume 0f rose, and heliotrope, and musk; I wonder if it was a dream, Born of the music and the dusk— Of summer and the moonlight’s gleam But, dream or not, it was so sweet! I shut my eyes and see it all, And hear the tread of happy feet, And voices echoing down the hall And she stands smiling down at me, This blossom in her ellow hair. From the Ian years 0 memory How dear o d dreams and faces are! I whisper low some 'quaint conceit, Found in the lover's happy lore, And feel my wayward pulses beat To swifter measure than before, Because her eyes are meeting mine— Those radiant eyes—so deep, so blue! While on her cheeks the rose-tints shine. Oh, fairest face I ever knew! I feel, as she leans down the stair, The south wind fragrance of her breath; She smiles, and gives me, from her hair, This blossom, drooping to its death. I take it as a sacred thing ~ - To keep and cherish through the years. ’Tis strange that dead flowers will not spring To life again, if wet with tears! The lights 0 out. The music dies. The face as vanished from the stair; I only have my memories, And this dead blossom from her hair. But ah! I never can forget That night, and her who gave to me This flower which holds a fragrance yet- A fadeless flower in memory. Idaho Tom, ~ THE YOUNG OUTLAW 0F SILVERLAND ; on, ‘ The Hunters oi‘ the Wild West. BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR or “DAKOTA DAN,” “BOWIE-KNIFE BEN,” “RED ROB," are, ETC. ’ CHAPTER X. A BOLLICKING TIME AMONG THE BOYS. THE scene was as ludicrous as it was provok- ing to the three friends, Dick, Frank and Per- ry—the scene presented by Billy Brady and Bold. Heart, as they sat facing each other astride of a log, lost in the excitement of a game of cards. ' . Both of these precocious youths bore evidence of their struggle in the darkness; yet, singular as it may appear, neitherof them had received any serious injuries. And how they had brought about an understanding that resulted in the amicable adjustment of] their collisiOn, was a question entirely beyond the compre- hension of their friends. That they were safe, however, was certain, and that they regarded their own safety and that of their three companions as a secondary object to the game they were playing, was 8.1- « ‘ so plainly evident. The scene was so comical, and so at variance with common prudence, considering the! sur- rounding dangers, that the three boys conclud- ed to watch proceedings awhile before making their presence known. Bold Heart was a youth of - some eighteen years, and of pure aboriginal blood. His dress, his face and movements, all were those of an Indian, though his features were devoid of that sullen, stoical fierceness so repulsive in a red~ With an Indian’s penchant for bright colors, he was rendered a conspicuous object among the green shrubbery by a flaming red sash passed. over his shoulder and once or twice around his body. His arms were encircled with bands of silver, and a handsome head- dress with faded, worn plumage, attested his Indian love for barbaric finery. The only evidence of civilization discernible about him was the interest he took in the game he was playing, and the ease with which he manipulat- ed the cards. ' But for “ tricks that were vain,” the young Indian could not hold acandle to his opponent, the redoubtable child of Erin. While Bold Heart kept his sharp, black eyes upon his cards continually, Billy kept as close swatch for an opportunity to exchange a low card for a higher one concealed at the back of his neck --—said change being made under the pretense of scratching his frowsy head, and with an adroitnees that would have done credit to the inimitable Ah Sin himself. “That Billy Brady friend of yours, boys, I observe, is inclined to take advantage of my friend Bold Heart—in other words, is a bit of a chea ,” whispered Wild Dick, his face aglow with a smile. ' “He’s a caution, you may bet your life,” .,, »‘ M > v greplied Frank. ‘ “ Billy has seen a deal of the world. He’s been street boot-black, a sailor, a _miner, a news—boy, and a hunter; and so he has the tricks of all those trades. But a better- Ehearted or jollier boy never lived than that same Billy Brady. He’s cheating now for the fun of it, I dare say.” . “ Arrah now!” Billy was suddenly heard exclaim, in a tone of surprise, “ and where the Edivil did yees git that king av thrumps?” “ Me git him fair—me no cheat,” replied Bold Heart, agrim smile of satisfaction light- ,ing up his swarthy face. ‘ It was evident by these remarks that Bold Heart had played the last. card in his hand, ,and that that trick decided the game. Billy hesitated to play because the highest card won, and he held the nine only, while the Indian had led the king. “Ingingl” exclaimed the young Hibernian, evasively, “ did yees pick that keerd out av the deck?—-are yees thrying to chute an honest- hearted Irish boy? It’s an inhuman savage monster yees be. to chate poor Billy Brady, the orphan child!” . ' “Me no cheat ’em—Bold Heart heap honest boy.” 1 “ ’Pon honor?” it Yes; heap much honor.” “Well, that gits me, Ingin,” replied Billy, scratching his head, in apparent perplexity, at the same time exchanging the nine for the ace of trumps at the back of his head. “ Mees thought yees had the jack and I’ve been hold— ing to catch him. But, Ingin, you do hold all- killing good hands, and if yees play a few years longer, yo’ll show a good game. But, fortunitly for mees, I hold the ace, and so I’ll take the trick and count the game for the little orphint child.” He threw down the ace and took the trick, much to the surprise and mortiflcation of the Indian youth. Then he took up the deck and began to shuffle the cards, in the meantime en- deavoring to give _sthe Indian instruction in the science of cards. He omitted, however, that part of the instruction which had been so all— important to his success. ‘ ~ While thus engaged, a bullet suddenly tore its way through Billy’s frowsy, bushy hair—a rifle rung out simultaneous upon the morning air, and with a. groan of agony the Irish lad rolled to the earth. ' The cards were scattered to the four winds, to the sorrow of Bold Heart, who, leaping to his feet, sought shelter behind the great rock, where, he ran across Wild Dick and his two companiom, Frank and Perry. All believed that Billy had been killed, but when they saw the youth turn quickly over on his face, and level his. rifle on an Indian com— ing. toward him, they had reason to change their minds. ~ “ They’re coming—a hundred of them I” cried Frank, seeing the danger that menaced his friend; “fire, Billyl—quick l” ‘ The sound, of Frank’s voice encouraged Bil— ly, and firing upon the red—skin, he sprung to his feet and ran behind the rock, where he was greeted by the warm welcome of his friends. He swung to‘and fro in mid air over the black No time, however, was to be lost in idle words. A score of savages were hurrying around the brow of the hill toward them, in- cited to vengeance by the fatal result of Billy’s shot. . ~ - “ Boys, we’ve got to fight a little, I’m think— in’,” said Wild Dick; “ foller me up among the rocks on t’other side of this valley.” He led the way along the base of the hills--~ across the narrow valley and up an acclivity, on the summit of which they came to a halt. In among the huge, sharp rocks that rOSe up like minute pyramids, they concealed them« selves. Here they could command a tolerable view of the narrow valley and the opposite blufl's that rose a. little out of the perpendicu- lar. Behind them were the lofty mountains, uprising almost straight into the clouds. The savages swarmed up the bluff on the opposite side of the valley, in hopes of gaining a view of the Boy Hunters, but the latter at once opened a deadly fire upon them and drove them under cover. Behind rocks and clumps of manzanitas they concealed themselves and opened a random fire on the Boy Brigade. “Now, boys, for some sharp shootin’,” ex— claimed Wild Dick; “ them red varmints will ,Watch us like hawks, and if one of you want your head plugged with a bullet, jist raise it above a rock. They may try to git in behind us, but in case they don’t, we’ve got to remain here till darkness comes to our relief.” “ And wid nothing to ate or drink?” asked Billy with a lugubrious look. “ Nothing,” replied Dick, “ unless Providence sends us a stray bite.” _ “ All but that,” rejoined Billy ; “ Providence ginirally lets ivory cuss help hisself.” “Boys, look yonder ; do you see that Ingin’s feather over yonder, just above that big, red stone?” Dick asked, glancing across the valley. All answered in the affirmative. “ But yees can’t pluck it, me boy,” said Brady to the young borderman. “ I can try,” said the youth, and raising his rifle, he glanced quickly along the barrel and fired. The feather disappeared, but soon rose to view again. There was no doubt now, but that it was a feather in the head-gear of a warrior, who permitted it to be seen in order to draw the enemy’s fire and thereby deter- mine their situation. Bold Heart tried a shot at the tantalizing object, but without efi‘ect, otherwise than to draw several shots from the enemy. “Mother av Moses. red skin, and yees can shoot no better’n yees can play cards, now kin yees?” . “ Oh! much talk!” was the laconic response of the immovable red—skin. The feather was still in sight, and Billy resolved to test his skill in markmanship upon the object. Thrusting the muzzle of his rifle through a little crevice in the rock that sheltered him from the enemy, he took a care- ful aim and fired. And to the surprise of all, the end of the feather was seen to pop upward from the rock and drift over into the valley on a current of air. ' “ By J e—whillikins 1” exclaimed Wild Dick; abyss, in the jaws of death. “you fotched it, Irishman. You’re no slouch of a trigger-puller, be you?” “ Ugh! accident,” ejaculated Bold Heart, half contemptuously. “ I’ll prove thit it wasn’t, Inging, some day,” replied Billy. “ If you and me sojarn togither, I’ll show you, Inging, what a wee orphint child can do. But, red skin, do yees know that yees are dead broke? that yer cards are gone to the divil?” “ Yes, see you throw down—much scared— couldn’t run—fall over loge—he! he!” was the disjointed retort of the sensitive Bold Heart. A shot from the foe now diverted the atten- tion of the Boy Hunters from the not-altogether friendly conversation of Billy and Bold Heart. For some time. a sharp firing was kept up between the foes, the savages’ bullets, how- ever, falling wide of their mark. The Boy Hunters had recourse to all the devices known in Indian warfare to draw the enemy from his cover, but to no purpose whatever. Each one with cocked rifle sat ready, and the moment a. puff of smoke was seen on the opposite side, he would fire at the point where the smoke originated in hopes of finding a foe. But this mode of random fighting, without any known results, soon ceased, and all became quiet again. It was now observed, for the first time, that Bold Heart was missing; but as there were so many places for him to have concealed him- self even from his friends, no particular notice of his absence was taken. But, when an hour passed away, and the Indian had not returned, no little curiosity was aroused. Why he had left so slyly, no one knew; and how he could have made his escape from their retreat without being seen by the enemy, was still another question that puzzled them. Wild Dick could not imagine why his friend had acted so queer in going away Without say- ing something to him. It seemed to Dick as though his red friend’s usual confidence had been suddenly disturbed, and he had taken that moment to desert him and his new ac- quaintances. The more he thought the matter over, the stronger Dick’s convictions became. And suddenly, as if to add strength to them, a fierce savage yell of defiance was heard far up the mountain side, calling the attention of the Bey Hunters in that direction. “Lord A’mighty!” burst involuntarily from Wild Dick’s lips. _ Upon a slight eminence or tablerock, within plain view of the boys, stood the lithe figure of an Indian, clad in a scarlet sash. By his side stood three other warriors. In fierce, defiant tones the four hurled yells of wild tri- umph down to the ears of the four youths. “Shades of Solomon!” again burst from Wild Dick’s lips. “It’s as I’ve been fearing, all the time; Bold Heart has deserted us and joined the enemy. That’s him in his scarlet sash!” CHAPTER XI. THE BOY HUNTERS IN PERIL. BOLD HEART’S desertion proved a serious blow to the Boy Hunters’ feeling of security. Upon his superior knowledge of the country, of wood craft, and of Indian cunning, they had based their greatest reliance. Now, they knew that this same skill would be brought to bear against them. “ Have you any idea what induced the young rascal to leave us?” asked Frank CaseL ton. “I think I can answer that,” said Perry; “ because an Indian is naturally treacherous.” “No, friend Perry,” replied Dick thought- fully; “Bold Heart has always been true as steel to me and the whites. But he is very sensitive, and it almost kills him to be de— feated at anything. If he has deserted us and gone over to the enemy, it has been through chagrin and mortification, the results of being beaten at cards and shootin’ by your friend Billy there. ” “He invited me to the contest with keerds,” responded Billy, “ and I bate the ‘blaggard on principle. As to shooting, begob, and I bate him at that beca’se I could. Sorry I be fur the young rapscallion’s pride; but I only want one shot at him, and I’ll bet he’ll hate me once—into the happy thramping-ground.” The savages had all disappeared by this time, and all was quiet on the opposite cliflt‘. Bold Heart’s desertion formed the general topic of conversation during the long hours of waiting and watching. Slowly indeed the day wore away, and like a friend, the shadows of night came on. Wild Dick now proposed that they attempt an escape from their retreat, and having made known his plans and course to be pursued —which were accepted by his compaions With- out a dissenting voice—he led the way down into the valley. They were compelled to feel their way with extreme caution, not only on account of the foe, but of the innumerable pitfalls that beset their path. At times, again, they were com- pelled to creep along upon all-fours, and even feel with their hands; and more than once the cold air rushing up into their faces warned them that they were on the brink of a. yawn— ing abyss. After trailing along the tortuous cliff for an hour or more, they finally succeeded in reach- ing the valley in safety. Satisfied that the Indians were guarding the canon below the point where the Boy Hunters then were, Wild Dick resolved to take an op- posite course, and in this way to give them the slip; so the four turned their faces up the defile and moved away as rapidly as the dark— ness and nature of the pass would permit. , . Wild Dick was not acquainted with this canon—having never traversed it before; nor was he possessed of any great knowledge of the surrounding country, his operations hav— ing been confined chiefly to the plains of No- braska and the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. As they advanced, the young hunters no— ticed that the pass gradually grew narrower, and that the cliffs inclined from a perpendicu- lar to a slight incline. Dick didn’t like this narrOWing of the way, and finally remarked: “We’ll do well, boys, if we don’t git our heads into a trap yet. I’m inclined to think, from the nature of things, that we’ll find an end to this canon pretty soon.” “ I hope not,” returned Frank. But a moment later Dick’s words came true: they reached the head of the pass, where fur- ther progress was disputed by walls, perpen- dicular and shelving, that rose up around them. “Boys,” said Dick, with slight trepidation, “ I’m inclined to think we’re jugged. If them red demons git our trail, we’ll have a time to git out of this, sure.” “Perhaps we can find a passage, in the morning, leading through the hills into an- other valley?” suggested Frank. “ I have seen defiles terminate in a. cavern, which Was but the continuation of the passage.” “ That’s our only salvation,” added Dick. “ Then, begob, and we’re to pass the remain- der av the night here doing nothing, eh?” ejac- ulated Billy. “That’s all we can do, unless we turn back down the canon and fight our way on .” “ I’m contint to shtay roight here, me honey.” Billy’s answer was the expression of the whole party’s feelings; and so each one sought a comfortable position and seated himself to watch and wait. The moon came up, and al- though its rays failed to reach the valley, the darkness became “rarefied,” as it were. The youths had another foe now staring them in the face—gradually sapping the vital energy out of their bodies. It was a foe from which there seemed no escape, for a while at least, and they endeavored to make the best of their situation. This new enemy was hun- ger. It was more than thirty hours since they had tasted food. The quietude of their silent watch was sud- denly broken by a pebble dropping from the ledge directly overhead. The quartette crept out and glanced upward. They saw a huge hairy mass on the very edge of the rock, plain- ly outlined against the sky. It was something possessed of life, for they could see that it moved slightly.