 

(Y($§rmmed.1897. bv HEADLE AVD ADAMS.

@3000.

l’l' M Llﬂll H) EVERY
\" HIDN’EHDA Y.

‘

 ‘

. h»
ENTERED As SECOND CLASS MATTER AT THE NEW YORK.  Y" P051 OFFICE.

 
M-oemlwr ‘32. 1597.

 
BIVIrAbﬁLEgANISAADAMS, mmg,

92 \VI LLI A M ST RE PIT, NE W YORK.

TEN CENTS A C(H’Y.
$5.00 A YEAR.

 
Lt- : I ’ “

 
L “1 Al BACK, CAPTAIN, AND THERE LIES A MAN YOI' MAY KNOW, WHIIJE~TIIERE ARE MORE [mun-2 I.\' LIKE mNnnmN.”

 
V0]. LXXVII:

‘ ’ ‘  I9, x
[fiﬂ‘ide/”   

  
v v v v v A 4 4 A A A I
vv 7 V V V V V'V V'V'v v v V'V'v V V'Y'V'V'WV'V'VVV'V'V'V'V'V'V'Y'VVVVV'V'V'Y'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'Y'V'V'V'V'V'V'V‘V'V'V‘V'V'V'YVV'V'V V V'v V'v‘V‘V'V'V'Y'V'V'V'V'v'V'V'V'V'V'V'V'v‘

 
'V V v v V'V‘v V V V V V'V‘V‘V‘V‘V Y'V V‘V Y‘V‘V V‘

I

 
Cafnyhkhtedrism, nv “mom: AN

 
D ADAMS.

ENTERED AR SECOND CLASS MATTER AT THE NEW YORKfN. 1’" POST OFFICE.

 
30-1000-

l’l‘ BLIHII I‘ll) EVER Y
“' EDN ESDA Y.

       
\

December 2‘2, 189?.

BBADLE AN‘DMADAMSTP-ﬁblishersy m m“ A  V0] LXXVI

9‘: “'ILIJAM STREET, NEW YORK. 05-00 »'\ YEA“-

 
‘ r

m ,

 
"I An BAG—Tc—Aé'rnx, A815 THERE LIES A MAN YOU MAY KNO

 
w, ﬁﬁiLEn'rHERE ARE MORE INSIDE I): LIKE CONDITION?!“

‘3‘ (9th«(\§_

‘ ,
' .""M//r

A J.

 
//

 
w, may,

 
,3,” ..

2.

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
Buffalo Bill’sGriniGuard

L) R,

The Chinaman in Buckskin.

 
5 BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAIIAM.

CHAPTER I.
TAKING UP THE GAUNTLET.

“ No man dare do it!”

The words fell from the lips of the one
who uttered them like a deﬁance.

It seemed as though the speaker wished to
have some one say that he dared do what he
had asserted no man dare do.

But, no one Spoke in that crowd of ﬁfty
men who heard the deﬁant charge.

They were good men and true, most of
them. agathering of humanity \only to be
found in our own land, and here alone upon
the frontier or in the Wild West.

There were men, there, with records of
courage no one would dispute, men who had
“killed their man " in scenes of desperate
danger.

It was a gathering of heroes in buckskin,
in a camp on the Overland Trail away back
in the ﬁfties.

The Overland Trail had stretched its devi-
ous, rugged, perilous way across the conti-
nent‘from the Missouri River to the Paciﬁc,
and the scene where this story opens was a
camp, or station where were assembled the
men who rode Pony Express, drove stage,
and cared for the stock of the company
which had made the venture of running a

,line through unprotected territory—men
who, literally, carried their lives in their
hands, and risked death in many a shape in
the discharge of duty.

Yet they sat silent, now, while their chief
ﬂung into their teeth the cutting words:

“ No man dare do it, I say!”

Still no answer came to the words a second
time repeated.

All looked at each other, and eyes wander-
ed hither and thither until they rested upon
the face of some one known to be more reck-
less than others.

But, that one did not pick up the gauntlet
thus thrown down.

There stood the chief in the long cabin—
he who was the master spirit of that part of
the Overland Trail; and there sat the men
under his command.

But, no one moved; no one responded.

For the third time he spoke, and, as he
did so, there was heard, without, the rapid
clatter of hoofs and a sudden halt.

“' i say for the third time that no man
dare do what I demand. ”

“ Idm'erm

The words came from the lips of the
speaker with a ring of deﬁant grit, and every
eye turned upon him as he stood there, his
form in the doorway.

In an instant he was recognized—a tall,
broad-shouldered, spleadidly-formed, hand-
some oung man, with dark face and hair
worn ong, and a great shout went up, one
of welcome mingled with admiration at his
plucky avowal:

“ I dare l”

“Buffalo Bill, welcome back! But, what
is it you will dare?” cried the chief.

“ Anything,” was the cool response.

“I heard you say no man dare, in a tone
as though on wished some man would, so I
repeat: I are!”

A ain there was a cheer, and then the
chle asked:

“ And do you dare volunteer without
knowin what it is I say no man dare do,

r Buffalo ill?”

“ Yes, chief.”

“ Certain death may await you 7"

“ I risk it on my every Pony Ride."

“ You will have to go alone, doubtless."

“ I play a lone hand with death ever day
of my life, chief, and so far I’m ahead It the
game." -

Another cheer announced the truth-telling
Words.

Though they had not dared take up the

untlet themselves, the men were proud to
abold one in their midst who would, and so
expressed their admiration loudly.

“ Buffalo Bill, we all know what you are,
lWhat you have done to win a. name on the

' Wei-HM ‘

 
Overland, and when I called for a volunteer
or the work I had in view I knew if you
were here you would at Once be the one to
oerr.

i‘ But, you have returned to camp, after a
two weeks’ ride as courier to the forts, and
just as I had thrown down the gauntlet that
no man dare go on the duty I wish to send
him upon, you assert that you will do so.”

“ And I repeat it, chief.”

“ I will give you a loophole of escape, for
the others know what I want of them; you
do not, and you are at liberty to refuse to go
when you do know the deeperate peril that
you have to encounter.”

“It is enough for me to know that you
need a man for certain work, and I volunteer
for it, whatever it may be,” came the ﬁrm
response of the handsome borderman.

He had taken up the death gauntlet. and
would stand by it!

CHAPTER II.
THE LETTER IN orruan.

ALL eyes were upon Buffalo Bill as he
walked leisurely toward the man who was
chief of the Overland division, and awaited
with an unruffied brow to know into what
danger he had thrust his life by taking up
the auntlet thrown down, that

“ 0 man dare!"

“Buﬂ’alo Bill, I will sa to you what I
have said to all here—that have news from
my brother, who, years ago, went with a
part of gold-hunters into the country of the
Big {Iorn Basin—a land then almost wholly
unknown, even to our best guides and
scouts.

" Word came to me in a letter which I

have here, and which I found tacked upon
the door of my cabin in a most mysterious
way.
“ Who placed it there I do not know, but
that it is genuine I will prove to you by say-
ing that it was written in a cipher known
only to my brother and myself, and which
we made between us when schoolboys.

“ The letter tells me that the gold-hunters
have been successful to a certain extent, but
that the redskins and accidents have cut
their numbers down to only three, yet who
all are too weak to ride horseback, and
traveling in a springless wagon would

uickly end their existence; so, knowing that
Ian) chief of this division of the Overland,
he asks me to send a coach with four good
horses to relieve them. ’

“ He begs me to send provisions, clothing,
blankets and weapons, and stout bags n
which to put their gold ﬁnd.

“But be particularly says that he wishes
but one man to come. He asserts that if other
than one does come they will not reveal
themselves, for they will not trust their se-
cret to more than one, nor will they put
themselves in the power of two men who
might prove false, kill them and thus secure
their gold, the temptation being so great.

“ He sends me a map of the trail into the
Big Horn Basin, but it stops short at a point
where they are to meet the coach.

“If they see more than one man they will
not appear, but to one messenger only will
the reveal themselves, and for the great risk
wh oh that one runs they will pay him one
thousand dollars the moment they reach the
Overland Trail.

“If they are dead, having been killed by
Indians, or died of sickness in the meantime,
then the man will have to take his chances
and return alone, as he came, receiving no
reward.

“ Now I have told you, Buffalo Bill, as I

 
did the others here, just what I wished—a ‘

volunteer for the perilous service and rescue,
and on have said that you dare go."

‘f will go, sir, I repeat!”

“You must know, as I have remarked,
that you invade a country Where but one
white man, California Joe. is said to have
dared to venture, but what he knows of the

Bi. Horn Basin is a secret which he yet keeps :
l

to imself.

“ Although my brother went there with a
party of thirty, his letter states that only
three remain, so you may know that there is
a strange fatality about the country.

“You must also know that half a dozen :

military commands have met with defeat,
disaster and death in their attempts to get
"into the Big Horn Basin, and the Indians
call it the Land of the Evil Spirit.

“To go there on must branch right off
from the Overlan , and after that there is no
trail for you to follow.

“ You will have the map my brother
drew, to guide you, but there are mountains
to go over, streams to cross and rugged lands
to go through and so you will have to pick
your way—make your own trail.

“I will do it, sir!"

shall be the best one here; it shall go loaded
with provisions, arms and all things you
need, while, in case of accidents, you are to
carry tw0 extra wheels, six horses and
material and utensils for repairs to the stage

and, in fact, being your own guide, roa -
maker, mechanic, and ﬁghter.”

“ I’ll go in fine style, sir, and if I don’t get
back somebody will get a good outﬁt.”

“I think the somebody will be the Indians,
for there can be no one else in the country,
save my brother and his two companions.

“ When you ﬁnd them, the medicines I
send, and the food, will build them up ina
few days, so you can start back, and travel
by easy stages each day. ”

I “ How long do you think it will take me,
s r?”

“ I place no limit as to the time, but should
say that you cannot (possibly average over
twenty miles a day, an if you are back with-
in three months I will consider that you
have done well."

“If he gets back at all he’ll do what I
wagers big money no other man c’u’d do,”
cried a voice in the crowd. and the assertion
was answered by a perfect chorus, crying:

“ Right you are!"

Then others, emboldened by the man who
had spoken, began to have their say.

“ It’s good-by forever, Buffalo Bill! We’ll
never see you again.”

“ Ye’r’ as good as dead, Pard Bill!”

“ Leave us a lock 0’ yer scalp, Cody, so
ther Injuns won’t git it all!”

“ Yer grave is at t’other end 0’ ther trail,
Pard Willam!"

“Don’th, Bill!
such risks.” .

Then, the clear, decided voice of the brave
volunteer ave answer:

“ I than
that I would go, I will keep my word!”

It’s no man’s duty to run

vision chief, earnestly.
“ That he does!" was echoed by a dozen
voices.

CHAPTER III.
THE smn'r.

An’xrous to get away from the laudations
of his comrades, Buﬁa 0 Bill left the general
rendezvous, where all at the station were

 
own little cabin.

There he was 'oined, a few moments after,
ion runnin westward from Laramie.
tude for your offering to go on this desperate
trail—so desperate, in fact, that I am sorry

on are the man to take it, for, without wish-

about one in a hundred of your ever return-
in .”

g‘ About one in a hundred, I should say,
sir, but I’ll take the odds.”

" When no other man would—just as you
have just gone the rounds of the posts with
the dispatches I gave you, but which no other
volunteered to deliver.”

“ Yes, sir, and have delivered the returns
from the commanding ofﬁcers to your clerk. ”

“ You got through all right, 1 am glad to
; see, and returned two days sooner than I ex-
. pected you could.” ’

“ I had nothing to detain me, sir; but,
i while I was away, trange to say, I heard the
: Big Horn Basin sp ken of.”

“ Indeed? What was said about it?”

“ There had been a lieutenant and eight
men killed up there, sir.

“ They were sent to ﬁnd some trace of a
I band of miners, thirty in number, who had
a gone there a couple of years ago, but from
, whom nothing had been heard—doubtless
, thg party your brother was with."

‘Undoubtedly; and the ofﬁcer and his
, men were killed, you say ‘I”
“Yes, sir; not one survived.”

 
l

l , I
,- .r, .3 . I

and harness, doing your own horse-shoein , _

by Luke Lang on, chief of the Overland di-
v s "

“ I do not limit you as to time; your coach‘ -

~u \

you, pards, but as I have said 

“ You always do that, Cody!” said the di- '

y. «.93.—

wont to congregate, and made his way to his

\

“ Well, Co y, I oweyou the deepest grati. ’

ng to discourage you, I fear the chances are .

u \ 'va \:~.» \ e<7‘:

I

,;.:.\~a~t\
.,

 
‘v’s\"" \

 
, I ,_ _._.___._.._
. : was;t»ﬁ!‘?*a‘ivwli’;f.-t'1f“k'f”ﬁ’. FT“. “ -

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. 3

_ .—.._

 
“ How was it known ?”
“ California Joe brought the news to Fort
Steele while I was there.”

“ How were they killed ‘2"

“ As they did not return he took their
trail and tracked them to the Big Horn,
where he found their bones, for the coyotes
had picked them clean.

“ Their bones were there; their weapons
and accouterments also—saddles, bridles and
all; and the mystery was what had befallen
them, for, bad Indians killed them, the_red-
skins would have taken the horses and wea-
pons.

“Then, again, the troop could not have
starved to death, for provisions were found
among their traps.

“ If white men had killed them they would
have robbed them, and so California Joe
could not explain the mystery. It was all
too deep for him,”

“And, in the face of this, you are still
willing to go, Cody ‘2”

“ Yes, sir, I’ll go.”

“ You are a brave fellow, and I am tempt-
ed to say on shall not go.

“But, {very well know that you are the
only man who could do the work. If any
one else went I would never expect to see
him return, and I do look for you to turn up
somehow, for you are the one big luck pard,
as the men all call you, of the Overland and
the trails."

“ I’ll make the try, sir."

‘ ‘ And I most sincerely thank you. Leonard
is my brother, as I said, and the only near
relative I have left, and so I wish to answer
his appeal for help.

“ I am sure that he and his two comrades
have a big sum in gold, and yet they will
not leave t there and try to come here, nor
will they trust the secret to more than one
person, as I have stated.

“ You have decided to go, and I will see
that on are not forgotten if you get through
all right, while the same sum offered shall
be sent to your mother, should you fall,
which Heaven forbidl

“Now, pick out your coach and select
your horses. Make up your outﬁt to suit
yourself. You can have the best the camp
affords.”

“Thank you, sir.
men left, you say?"

Yes. My brother, Leonard Langdon,
and two others.”

“ I will take saddles and bridles along
then, sir, for three, besides my own, should
we have to desert the coach, as may be the
case." '

“ Do just as you deem best, Bill,” was the
answer; and then the two jotted down a list
of just what was to be taken along.

The next morning Buffalo Bill began

preparations for his long and perilous jour-
ney into the unknown Basin.
. A coach was selected and put in the hands
of the station blacksmith to go over it thor-
oughly, and an additional large and small
wheel were strapped against the back in the
boot.

Extra irons for those that might break,
extra collars, traces and other pieces of har-
ness were put into a bag, and blankets, pro-
visions, saddles, bridles and weapons, with
plenty of ammunition, were all bundled up
securely and strapped on top, or in the
boot.

Leather bags were also taken, in which to
bring backthe gold, and the interior of the
coach was ﬁtted up as the daring stage-
driver’s camp on wheels.

Buffalo Bill had selected four of the best
horses at the station for the wilderness drive,
besides two of his txustiest riding horses,
trained to follow, and which could be used
to hitch-in should one of the coach animals
become disabled or lost.

A great deal of suppressed excitement
was felt in camp, at the venturesome expe-
dition of the daring scout and trail-rider,
and all the men shook their heads in an anx-
ious way when the odds against his success
and safe return were considered.

Still, three lives were at stake, and, as all
his comrades admitted, Cody was just the
man to risk life to save life—to conquer all
danger and obstacles if any one could.

He was to start out that afternoon, after
dinner. and the whole camp was there to see
him off. ‘

The led horses were tied behind, and

\ ‘-V

There are but three

 
when all was in readiness, Buffalo Bill came
sauntering along from his cabin, prepared
for his journey.

The men greeted him with a mighty
shout, which he acknowledged by raising
his hat; and, graspin his hand warmly,
Division Agent Lang on said, in a voice
that trembled:

" You have the map and letter, Cody, and
all is ready.

“ Good-by, and God bless you! God bless

on!”

The words were heard by the crowd, and
as Buffalo Bill sprung lightly to the box
and grasped the reins, a chorus of “ Good-
byesl" and “ God bless yous!” went up, and
followed the bold driver as long as he was
in sight of the station.

 
CHAPTER IV.
THE LONE CAM r.

,“NOW in my mind there is more to fear
rom lawless men in the camps, than from
the redskins and the dangers of the trail and
Big Horn Basin.

“1 must be on the watch for men who
would like to know my secret and get that
gold for themselves, and there werein the
camp, I very Well understand, who are likely
to make a try for it, unlessI have greatly
misjud ed them.”

So said Buffalo Bill to himself, as he drove
on out of the camp and headed his team
from the Overland Trail directly into the
unbroken wilderness. '

To a man of his great skill and experience
in bordercraft, he did not feel that he was
compelled to follow the path laid down for
him in Leonard Langdon’s map, and which
had been the one traveled by the thirty
miners two years before, when they had
daringly, led by the love for gold, penetrated
the wild and then entirely unknown region
of the Big Horn Basin, a perfect term incog.
rate even to the topographical surveyors,
although now known as one of the grandest
parts of our continent, rich in minerals of
all kinds, imposing in scenery, and soon, as
settlers are crowding in, to become a Garden
Spot of the mighty West—a Wonderland in-
deed, with its grand mountains, its verdant
valleys, its big rivers and almost exhaustless
resources.*

But, as the prospectors had carried in
with them several wagons, Buffalo Bill
decided to follow their trail as nearly as
practicable, yet cutting across when his
knowledge of the “lay of the land” eon-
vinced him that he could save a few miles
by so doing.

With a splendid team of wheel horses and
two good animals in the lead, a complete
outﬁt, wea ns enough for half a dozen men,
and boun upon a mission of humanity,
Buffalo Bill felt light-hearted, almost elate
at the prospect before him as he drove on
his way.

He held back his eager team, not wishing
to press them. and made only ﬁfteen miles
to his night camp, after leaving the station.

When he had unharnessed and staked out
his horses, cooked his supper and made all
ready for the night, instead of " turning in.”
in the coach, as all had been prepared for,
he took his blankets and a couple of riﬂes,
and went oﬁ to a point he had selected for
his resting-place, and from which he could
command a view of his entire camp.

He had thrown a log on the ﬁre, which
would light up about the coach, so he could
see any onea proachin it, and he knew that
be was so we 1 trained t at the very presence
would awaken him, did foes come near to
put him out of the way and thus getting pos-
session of the map and outﬁt, go on to ﬁnd
Leonard Langdon and his Companions, not.to
rescue them, but, quite the contrary—to end
their lives and get possession of their gold.

When on the alert and on duty, Buffalo

 
I"The Big Horn Basin is situated in Wyoming,
adjacent to the Yellowstone NationalPark, and to
the north lies the ill-fated Custer battle-field. Sheri-
dan, a prosperous city, now of 3 000 inhabitants, is

not far from the boundary of the Basin. and settlers I

are rushing in to find homes, where, at the time of
which I write but few white men had evo-r trod.
The Basin is very rich in all kinds of minerals, the
soil is fertile. and “ Cody City ” named after Buffs.
lo Bill. one of the ﬁrst men who dared to penetrate
its wilds—promises to soon be a ﬂourishing center.
Tm: Amen.

 
Bill had a way of waking up every hour. If
only for a minute, it was enough, if danger
was about, and his mind that evening while
he was awake, was keenly attentive to just
what was going on.

He had thrice awakened after short naps,
glanced about him and returned to sleep again,
hoping for undisturbed repose.
that slumber he suddenly started.

At once all his nerves were on the alert,
and his eyes swept over the space which the
ﬁre dimly lighted, taking in every foot of it.

While thus looking, he saw a dark object
come into view.

A moment more and the outline came be—
fore him, and he muttered:

“ One of my horses has gotten loose—
Strange, too, for I staked them most secure-
ly.’7

He was about to leave his blankets to go
out and catch the estray, when, with a quick
movement he darted back into the shadow.

Something had caught his eye.

His gaze was riveted upon the horse, and
he saw that the animal was slowly moving‘
nearer the camp-ﬁre, and advancing in a very
peculiar manner.

a few steps and halting, and several times
half-turned about.

But, it was not upon the horse the eyes of
Buffalo Bill were now ﬁxed.

He had discovered that there was some-
thing behind the animal.

That something was a human form!

The man kept close up against the hind
legs of the horse, and seemed to have a rope
in the animal’s mouth and be directing him
with it.

To an ordinary man it would have simply
appeared that the horse was loose, had strayed
into camp and was to be caught and sta ed
out again; but to the experienced eye of Buf-
falo Bill had been revealed that the horse was
approaching the coach for a purpose. A

That purpose could only be to take thelife
of the lone camper, supposed to be sleeping
within the vehicle.

 
CHAPTER V.
RUSE AGAINST RUBE.

BUFFALO BILL smiled quietly to himself
as he saw the danger he had escaped by
camplng away from the coach.

. e ruse of his midnight visitor was a

clever one to kill, but it must be met by one ‘

equally as clever.

The lone driver was, in a measure, master
of the situation, as he had already discov-
ered his danger and his foe was in view be-
fore him.

killed the would-be-assassin, now hiding be-
hind the horse, but the watcher would
await developments. .

Buffalo Bill was not the person to take ad-
vantage of a man wholly at his mercy, even
though that man had come there to murder
him. He would at least wait untii he was
sure just what the other intended to do.

And so he waited.

The midnight visitor, meanwhile, contin- '

ued his tortuous course with the horse, the
animal not going justas he wished him to
do, but swaying from side to side.

Nearer and nearer the horse was urged,
the man carefully keeping closely hidden be-
hind him.

At last, when within sixty feet of the
coach, the animal was halted and allowed to
graze, while his master went around to one
side, the horse between him and the coach.

The ﬁre was ﬂickering dimly, but Buffalo
Bill saw that his foe was armed with a riﬂe
—saw him rest the weapon across the horse’s
neck and aim it toward the coach.

Then, suddenly. a piece of wood of the

a bright ﬂame.

It revealed the horse distinctly, but to one
looking from the coach the hidden foe would
not have been seen.

But the man seemed startled by this
unlooked-for aid to his intended victim, and
he uttered a sound in imitation of the snort
of a horse in alarm.

He stood there, plainly revealed to the A

i watching Buffalo Bill, his riﬂe levelei, and

ready to shoot the man whom he expected to
see leap out of the coach.

‘ There was no longer any doubt in the

 
I

But from -

He was not grazing as he went, but going i

A shot from where he lay would have -

camp-ﬁre broke and fell and there burst up '

 
’ , Macrame skill,

   
4

[find of Buffalo Bill that the man had fol- '
towed him there to slay him.

Was he alone?

'I‘hat question the driver could not an-
swer; but probably not alone, as it was a bold
venture for a person to make alone.

As the fellow’s face was slightly turned,
and the ﬁrelight, growing brighter, revealed
his form and features, Buffalo Bill recog—
nized a man known as Desperate Dave—one
of the most reckless ruﬂians on the Over-
land, and who went from camp to camp liv-
ing by his wits and spreading terror every-
where, for he was of immense stature,
strong as a buffalo, a good shot with revol-
ver and rifle, an expert with the knife, and
one to use any Weapon to the death.

Desperate Dave and Buffalo Bill had
never been friends, for the Pony Rider
would not be bullied by the desperado, and
Once they had had a fair test, without arms,
for mastery.

In this trial of musele Cody had been the
victor, in spite of the brute strength of the
border bully, who had never forgiven him,
and had been heard to say that “some day
they would have a try with Weapons, and
then there would be a new grave dug and
the head board would have on it the name of
W. F. Cody.”

Buffalo Bill had been warned of this boast
or threat, so was constantly on the watch for
him, especially when he heard that Despe-
rate Dave was carving a board for him to
put at the head of his grave! _

Now, the desperado was there to kill him,
and then in possession of the outﬁt, go on
himself after the gold.

As he had recognized the man, Buffalo
Bill seemed pleased, for, as the ruﬂian had
no pards, Desperate Dave must be alone.

Again was the snort given by the man, to
arouse the supposed sleeper in the coach,
and then Buffalo Bill called out:

“ Hil Desperate Dave, want me?”

The startled man uttered a cry, turned
quickly in the direction from whence the
voice had come, and, losing his nerve, ﬁred
at random.

The bullet struck the Pony [Rider’s blank-
ets, and was instantly answered by a second
report, and the ball from Cody’s riﬂe was
buried in the brain of the desperado.

The man fell, and the startled horse would
have bounded away but the rope about the
fallen body held him.

Buffalo Bill did not leave his retreat, how-
ever; there might be another foe—a comrade
of the rufﬂan.

After a lon while the driver be 11 to go
the rounds of t e camp, and stumb in upon
something he found it to be a boar and a
bundle. .

It was the head-board Desperate Dave had
carved for him, and the bundle was the
man’s outﬁt.

No one was with him, and, as the despera-
do never rode a horse, he must have follow-
ed on foot after him, for he was known as a
wonderful pedestrian.

Then Buffalo Bill recalled what had been
told him—that Desperate Dave had left the
station the ni ht before. saying he was go-
in to one of t 6 other camps. .

. In reality he had left to kill Buffalo Bill
and drive the coach on its lone trail to ﬁnd
those three miners and get their gold.

CHAPTER VI.
FACING DEATH.

BUFFALO BILL threw the bundle, fastened
to the board. down by the ﬁre, placed the
body near and covering it with a blanket;
then he led the horse back to the others and
staked him out.

Returning to the camp-ﬁre he picked up
the bundle and examined it.

It contained some clothing, an extra pair
of revolvers, knife, some ammunition and
provisions.

There was also a coffee-pot. tin-cup, plate
and frying-pan and'a buckskin bag contain-
ing several hundred dollars in gold, silver
and paper money.

But the board? I

It was intended for the head-board of'a
grave, rounded at top, sharp at the bottom
and made of cedar.

 
Buﬂfalov rBil

 
On this the deareng had carved with
e o owmg: ‘ t t

. u

  
1’s Grim Guard.

 
“ To Tm: ML‘MoItY
OF
BUFFALO BILL—WM. F. CODY,

Pony Rider 0]). the Overland Trail,
KILLED 3‘1
DESPERATE DAVE."

Buffalo Bill‘s face wore a peculiar expres-
sion as he read this inscription, and then he
muttered dryly:

“ I’m something of a wood carver myself.
and I’ll just add a P. S. to that tragic tale.”

With this he took out his knife, held the
board firmly between his knees and began
to cut out letters, and with even greater
skill than Desperate Dave had shown.

It was a couple of hours before becom-
pleted his task, and then, holding the board
up so that the ﬁre-light fell full upon it, the
following was revealed, cut just below the
first lettering: .

“P. S. The above is away off. Desper
ate Dave lies in this grave, slain by the one
whom he came to murder.

“ BUFFALO BILL.”

Having completed his work Buffalo Bill
returned to his blankets and slept undisturb-
ed until dawn.

At daybreak he arose and taking a pick
and shovel from the coach, be dug a grave,
and wrapping the body of the desperado in
his blanket buried him decently.

The head-board was placed in position and
stones put on the grave, to keep off the co-
yotes.

All this done, the lone driver, who had so
successfully overcome his first danger, had
his breakfast, hitched up his team and start-
once more upon his untried and unmarked
trail.

The fact that he had met and overcome
one danger did not make him less cautious,
for he still expected he might be either fol-
lowed or ambushed, while within a couple
of days’ drive of the camps.

Of course the driving was bad at times,
very bad, and diﬁficult and the matchless
driver had to pick his way among innumera-
ble obstacles—to avert disaster to his horses
and his coach.

But, he was an ex ert with the reins, his
team was a splendi one, and when once
again on the trail, he turned his two led
horses loose, knowing that they would fol-
low, as they had been trained to do, and
which they did most faithfully, though fre-
quently hanging back in the rear to graze
along the trail as they came to bits of good

rass.

Thus the morning passed with some ten
miles put behind h m. A halt was made at
noon of over an hour, Buffalo Bill wishing
to break his horses in by easy stages, at ﬁrst,
for the long trail ahead.

Once more hitching up and mounting his
box, he started upon his way to sudden-
ly draw rein as his keen eye caught sight of
tracks, plainly visible, crossing the way he
was going!

Instantly he dismounted and closely ex-
amined these “sign ”

“ They have not been made half an hour,
and go over in that direction.

“There were two horses. and they were
both shod, which proves they are not In-
dians but from the camps, and, of course, I
am the one they are after!

, “ Well, I have to go ahead, but I will keep
my eye open for trouble, for I feel it in my
bones that it is coming.

“Will it be an ambush or an open ﬁght, I
wonder?”

With this Buffalo Bill again mounted his
box and drove on.

.His two extra horses were out of sight, in
the rear, but he hoped they would seen over-
take him. .

Soon he came to a narrow and winding
can on, where the way, for there was no
trail: led along a rocky shelf under a cliff;
and. abruptly turning a sharp bend, the
'start 'of his leaders revealed, before he could
see. that there was danger ahead.

A few seconds more and he came suddenly
upon two horsemen barring his way.

Both were masked; both held their revol-
vers at a level. and one of them called out:

“ Halt. Buffalo Bill, for we have come for

that outﬁt!”

 
CHAPTER VII.
TERMS REFUSED

“ IF you want this outﬁt, pards, show
your right and I’ll give in if I think best.”

Such was the cool reply of Buffalo Bill to
the demand of the twomasked horsemen that
barred his further progress, and one of
whom had boldly said that they had come to
take the coach he was driving.

What it was that had kept them from
ﬁrin upon him, instead of making the de—
man in words, Buffalo Bill did not know,
but the fact did not escape him that they
had not used their revolvers to enforce their
words.

His cool reply seemed to nonplus them
for an instant, but seen one replied, the
man who had before spoken:

“ Our authority is the revolver.

“ You are covered, so yield, for we do
not wish to kill you Buffalo Bill?”

“ Why not?”

Again they were nonplused.

The driver repeated the question with:

“Life is cheap out here, so why do you
value mine?”

“We have reasons for not killing you,
Buffalo Bill.”

“ I have none for not killing you, save that.
you have the drop on me and I cannot get.
my gun."

“ We shall hold it.

“ But come, get down from your box
and your life depends upon whether you do.
as we tell you.”

“ All alone?”

“ There are more of us near.”

“I don't believe it, for you would have
shown your full hand in holding me up,
if you had more.”

“ We are enough.”

“ From the camps, boys?”

The manner and questioning of the lone
driver seemed to disconcert them.

Though apparently in their power it ap-
peared as if the two men did not feel just.
sure of their prey. .

Was there unlocked for aid behind his.
calm manner and‘ questions?

Was he in reality guying them? L

It certainly looked so.

“ Do you intend to obey, Buffalo Bill?"

“ Suppose I refuse?”

“ You sound your death-knell by the:
refusal.” -

“If I obey?”

“ Then we can come to terms.”

” What terms?”

“ Sa what you will do, ﬁrst.”

“If had a man covered, as you have
ﬁe, I’d make him do the saying, not ask

m.)I

“Well, you shall say. Quickl' do you
agree to our terms. or not?”

“ Don‘t know what they are."

The two men glanced at each other almost
hopelessly, it seemed, though the masks hid
their faces completely.

But Buffalo Bill was scrutinizing them
most critically, their horses, dress, forms and
all, and draw ng his own conclusions as to
their identity.

Then they uttered a few low words, and
one said: a

“ I’ll tell you what our terms are. and if it-
was any other man than you, we’d do our
talking with our guns."

“ Thanks.”

“We have come here for a purpose, and'
not wishing to kill you, we are willing to
offer you terms.”

“Make your offer.”

“ We know where you are going.”

"Well?"

“ And what for.”

“Yes.”

“ You have a map and papers to tell you
where to ﬁnd your men.” .

“ Think so 7”

" They were given to you.”

“ By whom i”

“ Langdon.”

“ Then you are from the camps, eh ?"

The men winced under this, but one re-
plied: ‘

“Never mind where we are from:

. W8
know all ” \

 
‘ — éLA-.x.-

.. ‘ka aw“ ~n«~.~..

l

“ Yes, it seems so; but why not, when  ' -

you refused to volunteer for the trail. when  "

asked, preferring to follow after, rob me,

get the secret and then leaving the minaret -

to perish, skip of! with‘their/gol .”

‘

  
A ~ . -, Alan-um..— _ “

5

 
. .-..._._.k- a»...

' mew...“

1».

“name. * MAW to.

’_ L;.‘-A4_P.r_

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
“ It's about what you’ll do.”

“ You know you utter a lie when you say
that.”

“ Don’t be too fresh, Buffalo Bill, for we
has you covered.”

“That may be, but you do not know the
secret I have, and fools you must be, if you
think I brought that map and papers along
. for any cut throat to hold me up and take
them from me. Oh no, I studied my lesson
until I knew it well.”

This was a dead-center shot of Buffalo
Bills, and it told.

He Well knew that if the men thought he
had destroyed the map and papers, after
impressing all upon his memory, his. life
would at least be secure, as they would not
dare destroy all chances of learning the se-
cret by killing him.

So he sat on the box, smiling serenely, and
seeing that the two men were impressed by
what he had said.

While they were talking together in a low
'tone he had' his eyes upon them, watching
for the slightest chance in his favor.

At last one of them said:

“Well, Cody, we have decided to offer
you an equal share with ourselves, if on
will guide us to the spot where that gol is,
,«and to kill you if you refuse.”

“Fire away' then, for I refuse,” was the
determined response.

CHAPTER VIII.
DUMB RESCUERS.

BUFFALO BILL was a man who always
'took big chances.

From boyhood he has not only been a
student of uman nature, but also of situa-
rtions and motives, and time and again, when
this life has hung by a hair, he has made his
.knowledge of mankind turn in his favor.

He confessed to' himself, as he sat on the
'box, that he was in a very precarious situa-
tion. .

With the proposition of Luke Langdon
sprung upon them, and no time for the men
to get together, the good to themselves, the
bad likewise, and talk over the matter, and
what they would do, there had not been one
volunteer for the work.

Had they had time to discuss it, perhaps
'here and there a bold fellow might have been
found to make the attempt at rescuing the
'three gold miners alone.

Certain it was, from later developments,
some of the wicked ones would have put
their heads together and the result would
have been for one to have volunteered and a
comrade or two have been found to dog his
:steps and wipe him out for what there was
togain.

ut then, Luke Langdon knew his men
thoroughly and had several volunteered he
had in is mind, he would not have accepted
them, knowing their motive would be to
work for themselves alone.

Now Buffalo Bill had seen his suspicions
veriﬁed, that he would be shadowed by one
or more of the hard ones in the camps, to
:force from him his secret.

Desperate Dave had played the sneak

ame, to kill him by night, rob him, and,
1 us securing the map, go on alone.

He had been disposed of.

But Buffalo Bill faced two desperate men,
whom he had made believe that he had left
the map behind, and committed the direc-
tions to memory, and believing this they

would not kill im, unless driven to it at
'the last moment, when they felt they were
utterly foiled and must not allow him to re-
turn ,and report enough about them to lead
to the discovery of their identity.

Feeling sure that the two masked men had
not played their last card. Buffalo Bill had
taken the chances of boldly refusing their
offer of terms if he would turn traitor to
Luke Langdon.

All the while he was watching for the
‘ :slightest loop-hole of escape.

As the men did not ﬁre, but sat u n their

.decided, Buffalo Bill said, indifferently:

 I < horses, holding their revolvers, as i ’yet un.
 '.  ' “ What is the matter? Are you afraid to
3 z.-shoot T"

9‘ ' See here, Buffalo Bill, as we said before,

"we don’t wish to kill you—”
"Chickenohearted, or don’t wish to kill

 the genie that can lay the golden egg-—
Ambient" '

 
“ We don’t wish to kill you, because we  jects to his adventure, he ran his eye along
have nothing against you; you have never I the revolver-sights and pulled trigger.

done us any harm, and we like you.

“But we are in this country for what we
can get out of it, as you are.”

“ ln an honest way, yes, but not by throat-
cutting and picking the pockets of dead
men.”

“Never mind how, we are in it for gold,
and we know enough to feel sure those three
miners have got lots of it.

“They are there because they can’t get
away without horses, and are without. food,
so stick to their gold, hoping for aid to
come.

“ In some mysterious way Luke Langdon
got word from his brother; the letter and

map were stuck upon his door, he says, but ,

who put it there? \

“ Now, somebody has done so who is
friendly to the miners, and the question is
who can it be?

“Can it be one of them who has done
away with his pards, visited the camps, and
played that game to have a coach sent after
the gold, and he is waiting to kill the driver
and get all himself, taking it in to some other
station on the Overland ?”

“ I really can’t tell you.” and Buffalo Bill
yawned in a tired way.

“ Well, we are out for that gold, and you
alone can lead us to it, and so we will give
you half of it if you will do so, or kill you if
you refuse. 80, think well before you
speak.”

” No need to think, for I prefer to be an
honest and square man, and threats of death
will not drive me one inch off the trail I be-
lieve to be the right one.

“ I tellyou now that I am going to risk a
ﬁght with you, for I am not so unprotected
as ou seem to suppose,” and the two men
fai ed to see that Buffalo Bill had a revolver
lying right by his hand on the seat, and
which he was only watching his chance to
seize and open ﬁre!

But, they took his words another way, and
his bold stand caused them to think that
their fear must have cause for foundation,
that a secret guard was folloWing the coach
until it got well away from the camps.

Just then came the clatter of hoofs back
on the trail, and with yells of rage and dis-
appointment the two men ﬁred. either to kill
or to frighten the daring driver, and wheeled
their horses in ﬂight just as the two extra
animals came tearing along at full speed to
overtake the coach.

Then, Buﬂalo Bill opened ﬁre.

 
CHAPTER IX.
A COMPLETE SURPRISE.

THOSE who know Buffalo Bill best, who
have seen him as a scout upon the border, as
an Indian-ﬁghter and trailer of law-breakers,
as the writer has, know well that he never
ﬁres wantonly at a human being, be it a red-
skin or a man ever so wicked.

When forced to take life, the necessities of
the situation have demanded it, and often
and often has be taken most desperate
chances of being killed by sparing a foe
rather than bringing him down by one of his
unerrin g shots. '

Relying in a great degree upon his phe-
nominal strength, quickness of action and
nerve he uses a deadly weapon only when it
would be madness not to do so

When he heard, in the scene described in

the last chapter, the clatter of hoofs behind'

him, he knew that the two lagging horses
were coming on at a run.

Then he recalled his words, and saw in
an instant how well the coming hoofs had
chimed in with what he had said about not
being wholly unprotected.

He saw how the two men regarded the
sound, as help coming, and smiled as they
turned in ﬂight.

' Their two shots at him as they wheeled
came uncomfortably near. but whether ﬁred
to frighten or kill, he gave them the beneﬁt
of the doubt and grasping his own revolver,
would not himself aim to take the life of
either of them.

He wanted no more trouble with them,
however, wished to scare them well off, to
put them out of the wa of doing further
mischief, when they shou d see that the res-
cuers were dumb beasts, and so, with a re-
gret at having to ﬁre upon the innocent ob-

 
It was a long shot and a ﬁne one, for the
horse furthest away staggered and went
down.

As though conﬁdent what the result would
be, Cody at once turned his revolver upon
the other horse. .

That the shot struck, the bound of the
animal showed, but a second and a third
were ﬁred before the horse fell.

With a yell, Buffalo Bill shouted out.

“ Come on, boys, for they are dismounted
now, so catch them before they reach those
rocks!” .

The twofugitives had gone down with
their horses, but they were up and ﬂying for
life in a second.

And fear added speed, and they did not
even look behind them as they ran, hoping
to gain some rocks not far away that were
on the edge of a canyon.

Gaining the shelter they disappeared,
while Buffalo Bill kept up his shouts, in
half a dozen feigned voices, and drove on to
where the two horses lay.

One was alive, but a shot ended his suf-
ferings, the lone driver saying in a sympa-
thetic tone:

“I am mighty sorry, poor fellow, but the
dumb brute must be sacriﬁced for human
kind.”

Dismountin g from the box he remarked:

“These saddles may be useful further on
—at least if I evar get back to the camps
with them they will tell who owned them,
and see if Iam right in my suspicion of who
those two gentlemen of the road are.

“Dismounted, and without food, they’ll
have to make their way back to the camps
with all speed.”

As he talked Buffalo Bill stripped the dead
horses of their saddles and bridles, threw
them upon the top of the coach, and mount-
ing the box again drove on.

“ Come, horses, if those fellows ﬁnd out I
had no help they may follow to 4 ttack me in
camp to-night, so we must make a good
da of it."

ith this the two extra horses were caught
and tied on behind the coach, the lone driver
fearing that they might lag behind and be
captured by the two roadagents, who would
thus be well mounted again, and could
readily pursue him.

The trail was fortunately quite good, and
the team made a long distance t at day, a
short halt only being made for inner, and
Buffalo Bill Continuing on to a night camp
until he felt sure he was beyond where his
two foes could reach him before darkness
set in.

That they could not follow his trail after
nightfall be well knew, and if he could get
beyond their endurance the ﬁrst ni ht he
had no fear of them after that, and in set no
dread of further danger from any one in the
camps.

It was just sunset when he turned into
a pretty valley through which ran a stream
of clearest water, the ideal spot for a camp,
for the grass grew quuriantly there and
wood was plentiful.

Buﬁalo Bill had just stri ped the harness
from his tired horses, an was about to
stake them out, when like an apparition a
human form appeared before him, and with
the stake ropes in each hand he had no.
time to draw a revolver.

CHAPTER X.
THE MYs'mmous CHINEE.

THE first thought of Buﬁalo Bill, atbe
holding a form rise like an apparition before
him, was that he had been fairly caught.

Recognizing the ,one be confronted, and,
though not knowing 'ust what he might ex-
pect, he said in an 0 -hand way:

“Ho, Yellow Jack, off your trail, aren’t
you ‘2"

‘ Yellow Jack know trail—he allee lightee,”
was the conﬁdent answer.

The speaker was a Chinese, tall, of athletic
build, dressed in the garb of his country,
gave that he wore moccasins and a slouch ,

at.

If armed, the loose shirt he wore concealed
his weapons.

His face was a hold one. yet sly withal,
the innocent loo: concealing the cunning.

am lurked beneath . , ,3 I \ .,

 
» , 'ﬁa.,

 
ﬂ

3. '3‘.

)a"
_ \

   
' ’ quently

r‘ em; as no one could be found to supply his

6

But it was an intelligent countenance,with
more in it than his people are ‘wont to ex-
press, and he was as calm as a May moon,
though found a long way from camp or
other human being save Buffalo Bill.

The latter knew the man as a Chinaman
who bore the names of the “Mysterious
Heathen,” “Doctor Sly ” and ﬁ‘Yellow
Jack.”

He was a, mystery in camp, having been
rescuedhy Buffalo Bill from a village of In-
dians who had long held him prisoner.

The men in the camps wished to hang him
as a renegade, saying that he was a willing
captive of the Indians, but Buffalo Bill had
stood his friend and prevented his being
strung up. '

Soon after the Chinaman added mystery to
his life by killing a desperado who had
attacked him, and the pluck and deadly aim
he had exhibited had won him friends.

Looking about the camps in apparent idle-
ness for some time, he one day surprised all
by receiving a box by the Overland coach,
containing ﬂat irons, soap and other articles
for a laundry, and then-it was discovered
that he had been at work making tubs,
tables and other things to make himself
comfortable and set up business in the cabin
of the desperado he had kiiled, and whom he

~ had claimed to be the heir of .

No one disputed the claim, and the
“ Chinese laundry" of Yellow Jack began
to thrive, all the men along the line giving
him their washing to do and paying his ex-
orbitant prices.

But there was one exception, for Buffalo
Bill was not his patron.

He had sought to be, and had taken him
gis clothes to wash, and they had been well

one.

But Wren Buffalo Bill sought to pay
him, Ye low Jack\refused his money; all
entreaties were unavailing, and the Pony
Rider left, feeling that he could take him
no more work, as he wished to pay for the
aiming of his life by squaring a laundry

After that there was a coldness between
the Pony Rider and Yellow Jack, the latter
really showing an u ly feeling toward his
rescuer which, cause some of the latter's
friends to warn him to keep an eye upon the
Mysterious Heathen. .

Another mystery about the Chinaman .was
his knowledge of surgery and medicine, and
with his laundry outﬁt had come a case of
surgical instruments and another of medi-
cines.

As he soon showed that he was skilled
'in surgery and medicine, he was given the'
name of “Doctor Sly,” and it was not
long before the Heathen Chinee became
quite an important personage in camp, fre-
going to see wounded and sick
patients a long distance on each side of his
abiding place.

Yellow Jack was also a gambler, and a suc-
cessful one, and all knew that he was rapid-
ly laying up gbld through his various call-

a s

lint, strangest of all, when Buffalo Bill,
the man who had saved his life on two
separate occasions, was taken quiteill, one
day, Luke Langdon had not been able to
,prevail upon Ye low Jack to go and see him,
and so the Pony Rider had really began to
re rd him as afoe, indeed. '
‘ here were rumors in’ camp that Yellow
Jack had been a “bad man,” that he had
really gone among the Indians and beena
leader of them against the whites, that he
cheated at cards, was a Chinese magician
and would commit any crime, and'the result
.was that he had come to be greatly feared.
Some few had suggested that he be hanged
some night, and his cabin raided, but this
' would not be listened to, for he was most
useful to all as a laundryman, and he was.
far more valuable as a doctor and surgeon.
No, the Mysterious Heathen must be toler-

p .

uStrong as a lion, ‘qhuick as scat, sup
to be armed, thong. he never raves ed a
' means, there were‘few of those who did, not
g»: m tboldenoggh ,to face him in. a tight;
, '  he wenton in theegenttenor of his

, .

.r

 
allee lightee heme-ant) miss Y 0%

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
Why was he there was the question ﬂash-
ing through the mind of Buffalo Bill.

 
CHAPTER XI.
YELLOW JAt‘K'S WARNING.

BUFFALO BiLL regarded the Chinaman
with a peculiar look, one that seemed to
penetrate heart and brain.

Then he said in his dry way:

“ You may be ‘allee lightee” in camp,
where half the men are afraid of your shadow,
believing you are allied to the devil, but out
here you are all wrong, and don’t you forget
'tIII

“Me allee lightee here allee samee, and
dont‘t Buffalo Billee forgettee.

“ Yellow Jackee not much foolee, allee
samee ’Melican man tinkee so.”’

Buffalo Bill laughed in spite of the situa-
tion, and retorted: ’

“ No, Yellow Jack, the man who takes you
for a fool is off his trail; but, 1 want to know
what you are doing here, so far from

camp?"
“ Come tellee you somet’ing wantee know.”
“ Ah! What is it?”

“ Buffalo Billee go after sick ’Melican
man?”

" Yes.”

“Sick man havee gold i”.

“ So it is said.”

“ Go Big\ Hornee Basinh"

“ Yes.”

“ Buffalo Billee allee same alone?”

«I True. I) v V, -

“ Brave—~much brave, but no ﬂghtee ﬂve.”

" Ah! What do you mean?”

“ Yellow JackeeI come from campee for
don’t want Buffalo Billee to die.

“ Come tellee him ﬁve bad ’Melican manee
going to killee.”

" You have come to tell me this?”

The Chinee nodded.

"That five men are going to kill me?”

Again a nod.

“ When did you leave camp?”

“ Last nighteeﬁ’

“ How did you‘come?”

“ On fbotee.”

“ You came here on foot?"

“ Allee samee.” ,

“ To warn me of danger?” *

“ Allee samee.”

“ Who sent you?”

“ Yellow Jackee ”

“ How did you know about these men?”

“ Yellow J ackee hear talkee." ,

“ Who are they ‘2"

“ Rip Rappee—Scar Face Samee—Wild
Tomes—Bony Bob—and Scrapee,” and Yel.
low Jack rattled the names off as though
they were one. ,

“ Go slow, Yellow Jack, and let the catch
them—Rip Raps was one.”

“Yes, Rip Rappee."

“ Scar Face Sam and Wild Tom are
three.”

" Yet, allee samee.”

" And the other two '2”

“ Bony Bobee and Scrapee.”

“ Bony Bob and Scraps?”

" Allee lightee.” .

" A hard lot, and all herders. Just the
gang I w uld have. hit upon; but they were
off herding cattle when I eft.”

“ Wild Tomee there; he know; tellee pard,
Lankee Pete, hegoing back getee men and
killee you at In ten Spring, for on habee
go that way—he know, for he w th Indian'
one time.” '

“ Ahl he was, was he?"

“Allee lightee.” ‘

“ And you overheard him tell Lanky Pete
that he was cing back- to the grazing-

rounds, get is pards and ambush me at
ndian Spring, which it; as far north as any
of us from the camps have been."

“Yellow Jackee hear."

“ And you came to warn me?"

The Chinaman nodded. '
i " Does any one else know of your com-
ngi". . .

  
"They will miss you from camp and
search for you.” '
“ No, Yellow Jackee allee li htee in’ camp,

. “Jackee,”
nether ther absent suspense: ' ' -

l!

 
Igoornbinatiou; of gammy! M!
madam 'do. ‘  1%.: a ,. ‘-

 
J  ‘ ﬂ ur’w‘y i, .t 

“Ah yes; I forgot that you had gone all
over this country the two years you were
with the Indians.”

" Jackee know allee samee.”

“And you came on foot?”

“ Yes, on footec.”

“I know you are noted as a runner; but
why did 011 Wish to save me now, when
you won] not help me when I was sick?"

“Jackee friend of Buffalo Billee, don t
wantee bad ’Meliean man know, allee samee,
for Chinaman habee ear, hear muchee talkee,
keep ton ’ stillee. ’

“Ah! think I begin to understand you
better now, Yellow Jack; you are really my
friend?" \

The Chinaman’s smile was one that Buf-
falo Bill never forgot, it was so full of honest
friendship for him and pleasure at being un-
derstood.

At once Buffalo Bill extended his hand,
and it was warmly grasped.

“Well, Jack, We'll have some supper
now. and you camp with me to-night.”

“ Hebe) supper; but no campee—go back
to-nightee.”

“ Through the darkness and a trailless.
country? Oh, no!” ‘

“Yellow Jackee allee lightee; he know;
he campee in morning.” \

“ But, you are not armed, have nothing to
eat with you and are on foot."

“Me allee lightee; ‘ Yellow Jackee not
much foolee."

There was something in the cunning, fear-
less look and odd reply of the Chinaman that.
made Buffalo Bill laugh and gave him conﬁ--
dence in the Celestial, so he said:

“ All right, Yellow Jack; you know best.. ‘
Now to supper. "

They had supper together, talked matters
over as well as was possible with Yellow
J ack's “ pigeon English ;" and later, Buffalo
Bill saw him start on his way through a.
trackless country, alone, apparently un-
armed, and with the night intensely dark.

“ That Chinamau has doubtless saved mv
life; he is indeed a mystery to me, and well
named the M sterious Chinese,” and so say-
ing, Buffalo ill turned in for the night-as-
before—not sleeping in the coach.

 
CHAPTER er. '
THE cnman AND THE SPORT. . '
AFTER Buffalo Bill had driven away upaon.
his lone, long and daring trail into the lg
Horn Basin, Langdon, the division agent,
felt both regret and satisfaction.

He was sorry that Buffalo Bill had been K

the man to take the risk, and he felt leased.
that he had been able to answer h s bro.
ther's appeal and send to rescue him. ,
His confidence in Buffalo Bill’ ade him
feel hopeful that success would attend his.
desperate venture, a lone man, driving a.
co oh, going into a country where evena.
small band of redskins dare not venture.
Keeping a watch-on the next if: camp,
after the departure of Buffalo Bil, for h
half feared that he might be folloWed, to be
attacked u on his return when .he would
have the go d, he saw no indication of such
intention.
Desperate Dave was reported to him
sick in his cabin, and the only men absent
from‘the camp were the two regular ‘hunters
,who supplied the messes with game, and.
the were away nearly half of the time. .
’llhe herders ' were ﬁve 'in number,hand’
would drive a herd of cattle and a number-of
horses out to some valley wher'e pastu e a
was good, and keep them there, cbmin n"

every tendays to report and for orders. riv— "‘I ‘

ing in the cattle needed for beef, and fresh
animals, while they would take back those
that needed rest. ‘  = '

There was one man in camp. however.

whom Lsngdon particularly kept his'eye.”

upon. I 
He was as much a mystery. as was Yel-yl-
low Jack, and spent his time in‘the Pony
camps for a distance of five hundred milek

whether it was his real name Ito-one __
and he seemed to like being called ‘ ' Tram
and “ Sport.” '~ ' - . . a  f" ‘
Golden‘was a striking holds 1 pa ‘
sn

W
1d!“

.. ,, ,....>.~,-I,_....J ,.,

 
He called himself Dare .Goldenhngig.’

 
’.

.uv-v

 
topboots, black broadcloth pants, velvet
jacket and white silk shirt and.scarf.

He wore diamonds, had long hair. a mus-
tache that curled up at the ends, and carried
no weapons in sight, but had been known to
ﬁnd them with startling suddenness and use
them with deadliest intent when it had so
suited him, for he was rather fond of his
title as a “man-killer.”

Plenty of money he always had, and he

‘ was a winner in betting nine times out of
ten. ‘

From the ﬁrst he had taken to Buffalo Bill,
but the latter had reccived his advances cold-
ly, and after awhile they were known to be

, foes. Such was the individual whom Luke
Langdon watched closely, after thedeparture
. of Buffalo Bill, for somehow he feared him.
3; 1 But, Trumps went on in the even tenor of
"’ his way after Buffalo Bill’s departure, and
.' one afternoon sauntered into the laundry of
' Yellow Jack.
. He was the best customer the Chinaman
_' ‘ had, the latter being his tailor as well as his
,2 ‘ . laundryman, keeping his clothes well clean-
- .t edand ironed.
‘ . ‘ It was the third day after the departure of
__ Buffalo Bill, and Yellow Jack was hard at
‘  . work at his ironing, a revolver on the table
.i near his irons, for he always kept one there.
, Seating himself upon the only stool in the
. cabin, Dare Golden said:
,3 . “See here, Yellow Jack, you have got to
‘ t do something for me.”
' "Alice lightee, Trumpee."
“ You know this country better than even
Buffalo Bill, for you roamed all over it with
- the redskins.”
“Alice samee, es.”

ﬂ.- ..‘s-s...,;. '

,-
.5.-.

. “Hui...— 

 
, “ You can h Buffalo Bill of! on his re-

j\ turn; that is, guide me and several men

» i - whom I will take with me to where we can
‘4 ambush the coach, kill all who are with it

and at the gold, and ['11 pa you well. "
.5. “ e no t’iefl” shouted ellow Jack, his
face turning livid with anger as he sprung
quickly toward the revolver near his irons,
'  and stretched forth his hand to grasp it.
But his hand was checked as it almost
rested upon the weapon by the gambler’s
ringing words:
“Hold! Hands off that gun, Chinaman,
or on are a dead man!”
nd yet the Overland Sport showed no
 , weapon to enforce his words.

CHAPTER XIII.
' a GAME on BLUFF.
' AT the stern command of the sport, the
g . t Chinaman did not touch the revolver, which
 ’ was within several inches of his ﬁngers.
' ' He simply said, and in a tone of exceed-
ing innocence:
“ Wantee move revolvee—put a on shelf."
“ Just, wait until I leave our ’iay-out,
and then you can, but it’s t e signal for
{our death if you touch it while I am
are I!

3.36. O

I

 
“ Alice lightee, no touches,” was the phi-
lanthropic. response.
“ No wantee go deadee."
_ “Now tell me why you got mad because
I asked you to be my guide, when you
could et rich by doing so?”
Wt “Ye ler Jack no t'iet' man;, he goodee
Chinaman.”
, "Yes, a Chinee is like an Injun—good
only when dead.”
“Me goodee livee allee samee.”
"You think so?"
1, f Yellow Jack nodded a cunning response.
i ',“ You do not like Buffalo Bill?”
w "No! He no likee Chinaman.”
“Then why do you refuse to be my
guide?"
“No, likes ’Melican man; no wantce

   
"‘You don't, eh? Well, that is where we
; . differ, for, it I don't like a man. he’s got to
‘ ‘ get out—kill me or turn up'hiS toes."
. "Trum ‘e no likes Buffalo Billee?”
“Not hate him!” and the words were
uttered almost savagely. ,‘
, The Chinaman started as though fright-
'ened, but said: ,,
‘ “Buffalo Biliee hurtee you?"
“‘No; and I shall take good care that he
. does'not. ,
"But he pretends to be so honest, don’t
, ‘~,..to see a man win money from_ his
' I thsmgards

  
' L~~> ~- ‘3‘." »w-p-~o.u»—~.~.':A,'~. w;..u-.' v...“ w.~wW‘ I -
. . .. I H . ~., .7. - an. ’ .m' .»

BuﬁalohBill’s Grim Gunfd.

 
" You no villee?"

“See here, Chinaman, I believe you are
guying me—that you are not such a fool as
you look,” angrily cxclairrfed Trumps.

“Me foolee allee samee.”

"You will be if you don't do as I tell
you, for I know that you understand this
country better than any one else at the
camps, and you can go to another place and
make money just as well as here.

“ I will pay you big money to guide us to
where we can catch Buffalo Bill upon his re—
turn.”

” Iie havee gold?”

f‘Oh yes; he’ll get it; he‘s just the man to
get, where all others would fail, and the in
vestment of alittle lead will give us a for-
tune in gold, and the secret of what we do
will go down into the grave with Buffalo Bill
and those with him.”

“ Buffalo Billee shootee, too, maybe.”

“Not if we get the drop on him, and
you know the country well enough to guide
us to it.”

“No; Yellow Jack allee lightee; makee
money here allee samee; no go killee man
for gold. Yellow Jack allee lightee,
'i‘rumpee.”

“Do you mean you refuse to be our
guide?"

“ Yellow Jack stay here, Trumpee."

“See here, Chinaman! I have come here
and told you my secret, for I was sure you
would go with us.

“I have put myself in your power; and
more. 1 have been your best friend and paid
you more money than any dozen men in the
camp.”

“You habee clothes cleanee,
washee allee samee for money.”

” Oh yes; on did your work, but I have
been your riend, and you have got to
serve me now when 1 wish you to do so.”

‘ Yellow Jack no go.”

“We shall see as to that, for you do not
scare a little bit.

“Others in the camp think you are allied
to the Evil One, and by your jugglery,
sleight-of-hand and other tricks you have
deceived and frightened them, while there
are men here who will swear they have seen
you in two diﬁerent places at the same time.
You need not grin like a monkey, Chinee,
for I know you are playing a bluff game
with me, but I don't scare as others do.”

“ Trumpee no play bluff gamee.”

“ Not with you, for I am in deadly ear-
nest. If you do what I demand, 'I have a
fortune.”

“ To gettee t"

“See here, trying to guy me again, are
you?"

‘ What guyee?"

“ Are you a fool or a cunning devil?"

“Foolee,” and the expression of utter va;
cancy on the face of the Chinaman seemed
to carry out the response.

“Well. I’ll not triﬂe any longer, and I
have just this to say, that you have got to
swear to me, by your heathen gods, that
you will go with me when I come for
you." .

The Chinaman shook his head.

Then, with the quickness of a ﬂash. there
appeared a revolver in the band of the gam-
bler. and it was aimed full at the Chinaman,
who started back toward a curtain that hung
at the end of the long table.

“Hold! Hands up, and swear, or I'll send
a bullet through that ugly head of yours.

" You shall not betray me, and if I kill
you I’ll tell the men I'll send for another
Chinaman to do their work; that you struck
for double pay/and threatened me with your
gun.

"Now do as I tell you, or I pull trigger.
Chinaman. and Express your soul through
to the "Celestial Dormitory of the Chineel"
and the revolver muzzle covered Yellow
Jack as he stood ten feet away. alook of pe-
culiar cunning upon his really ﬁne face.

washee

—.—q_.

CHAPTER XIV.
A TRICK or run annuals CHINEE.

THE
of the gambler—did not change the eXpres-
sion of his face.

That‘ he must realize his danger there ap-

‘ 'o

 
,_psaredto'bnodonbt.;_‘ 
 @ unset... m

 
hinaman did not move at the threat.

 
regarding his intention to waylay iuﬂalo
Biil upon his return and robxhe coach.

That the sport had given himself away
completely proved how sure he had been
that the Chinee would gladly serve him. and
was the very man to help him, in fact about
the only one who knew the country.

Having put himself in the power of the.
Chinaman he would not leave himsclf at his
mercy without some pledge that he would
do as he demanded. and which would pre-
vent him from betraying him.

To his utter amazement the gambler had
discovered an honest Chinaman, or rather
one who would not kill a man whom be ap-
peared to dislike or rob him.

If indeed honest, he must not leave him-
self in his power, and only for the Chinaman’s
knowing the country as he did. and about.
where to head off the coach on its return, the
Sport would not have hesitated an instant to
kill him then and there.

A death in the camps was too frequent
an occurrence to cause much comment, and
few would have any thing to say to Trumps
if he reported having shot Yellow Jack in
self-defense.

Many would really be glad to be thus rid
of the man whom they dreaded as dealing in
the “Black Art.”

But holding the secret 'of the country as
he did, the Chinaman was worth much to
the gambler, who therefore would try hard,
to force him to terms and only as the last
alternative kill him.

But Yellow Jack had not raised his hands.
and stood outlined like a painting against
the white curtain.

He kept his twinkling, cunning eyes. upon
the gambler, and said at last:

“ Chinaman allee lightee; 'l‘rumpee foolee. ”

This was not ﬂattering to the sport, and
his face ﬂushed angrily.

There stood the Chinaman under the muz-
zle of his revolver and not ten feet away,
and dared tell him he was a fool.

“I tell you, heathen, if you don’t talk
quick and obey me, I’ll let go my gun."

“ Gun fallee on ﬂoor, maybe killee ’Meli-
can man.”

“I’ll let the bullet go, you fool, and you'll
do the falling on the ﬂoor.”

“ Allee samee Chinaman won’tee," was the
complacent answer.

Thoroughly incensed now, the gambler
cried:

“I am a fool to talk to you.

“ Quick! will you obey me, or shall I pull
trigger?”

Down by the side of the gambler came
falling a lot of odds and ends with a shelf;
and startled, he turned his head to see what
the matter was.

When he looked again, in that instant his
eyes were off of him, the Chinaman had dis-
appeared.

Witb a savage oath, the gambler sprung
toward the curtain to tear it down and re.
veal the heathen, but be halted quicklyas
behind him came the words: .

“ Hands uppeet gun go offee quickest"

Wheeling. he shrunk back, with a cry of
almost terror, for there. stood the Chinaman
Evith a double-narrated shotgun to his shoul-

er. “

The gun was cocked and the Chinaman's
ﬁnger was upon the trigger.

“Don’t shoot, Yellow Jack, for I am fair-

to get behind me as you did and
me.”

“ Don’t talkee! Hands uppeet

“ Chinaman talkee allee samee!"

"Why should I raise my hands?"

There was a movement of the ﬁnger upOn
the trigger. I

Slight as it was the gambler saw it and his
hands went up above his head, the right stilt
grasping his revolver which he dared not
it

cover
\

“Trumpee talkee, talkee, talkee, 4‘ '
Chinaman washee. washee. allee tune;
Trumpeetistenphinaman shined, ‘ ‘ , '

   
, a:

 
"aw Imam-taster... .
u  ‘ ‘- ‘V n

. L
.‘ vr"
. .t:

ly caught; but you must be akin to Satan .

se. .,
“ ’Melican man no foolee! Chinaman talkee ~

 
now!" ' - \. ~
“Well, say your say, for I ,don‘t like

this." . , -‘ .
“Maybe so. Yellow Jack no likee 

allee samee. ~'

 
i

 
8

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
“ Yellow Jack no foolee, lovce money,
wantee money.

“ He allee lightec guide Trumpee and his
friends to holdee up liuiIalo Billee.

“ How much ’l‘rumpee pay 2”

“ Now you are talking sense, and—”

“lloldee hands uppee!” cried the China-
inan as the gambler started to lower his

' hands.

Up they went again with a muttered
oath.

“ Trumpec no cursee.
no likes hear swearee.”

“ Curse you! Don’t play missionary on
me, but tell me what you want?"

“How mucheemoney for Yellow Jack?"

“ If We get a big lot of boodle l’ll give
you a thousand dollars.”

“ How many men go?"

“ Five.”

“ Chinaman six; want equal share.”

“ All right; I’ll give it to you.”

" Swearec by ’Melican man Jossl"

“ Yes."

“ Allee lighteel Yellow Jack ﬁxec.

“ Trumpee Yellow Jack pardec now.”

“ Yes,” and the gambler shook hands with
the ()hinaman but mentally determined that,
when the gold was secured, there would be
mourning in Chinaland over a dead Heathen
he could account for.

’Melican man Joss

CHAPTER XV.
FLANKING AN AMBUSII.

BUFFALO BILL was much impressed by
the visit of the Chinaman.

He saw that he had misunderstood the
Celestial, had believed him really his foe,
though why he could not understand, saw
that he had angered the man whose life he
had saved because he would not allow him
to show his gratitude by doing his laundry
work for nothing.

Bill had discovered by sad experience how
slight a thing will often turn one man
against another, make the best of friends
foes, and imaginary slights and insults
break up friendship.

But such is human nature the world over,
and if the Chinaman wished to hate him be-
cause he could not pay him for saving his
life, why he willingly allowed him to have
his way.

But now a different phase was put upon
the Chinaman’s actions toward him.

He had been playing a part to be in secret
his friend.

This his coming to warn him of danger
had proven, and during their supper in the
lone camp, the two had had a long talk.

The Chinaman knew that though a popular
idol with many, Buffalo Bill had a number of
secret foes.

The very honesty of the gallant Pony Ri
der, his manliuess, courage and noble nature
made man of a diiferent style hate him.

Now, where their feelings against him
mi ht have continued to be smothered under
or inary circumstances, his going on this
lone and desperate trail as the driver of the
rescue coach, had made some of them deter-
mined to act.

That he was going to save gold, as well as
human life, was the great temptation that
led them to plot against him, and so Buffalo
Bill, before he had been three days upon his
adventurous trail, had discovered what men
would do for money.

Desperate Dave he had not expected better
of, but the two hunters of the station, whom
he had sent back on foot, he had not looked
for as foes and robbers.

Now the Chinaman came to him, warning
him a ainst ﬁve others.

He {new them all—that is, by the odd
names they bore upon the border.

He had supposed the stocktenders to be
his friends, but love of gold had made them
his foes.

They were a hard lot, he very well knew,
and men it would do to keep a watch upon.

Now that the were upon the trail against
him, and with the odds of ﬁve to one, it would
not do for him tobe merciful, if it came to a
ﬁ ht.

gBut, the best thin would be, knowing
their place of ambus , to ﬂank them, and
Yellow Jack had told him just how it Could
be done, had drawn a rough map of a trail
that would take him around Indian Springs.

The night in camp passed without disturb-

\.

i anee or adventure, and at dawn Buffalo Bill

 
!

l
l

 
was up and at work.

An hour after he had breakfast, his horses
were soon harnessed, the two extra animals,
no longer allowed to run loose, were lariated
to the rear of the Coach, and once more he
had started upon his trail.

That was the night that he would have
reached Indian Springs to camp, and he
made up his mind, as he drove along, that
he Would push ahead at a steady pace, ﬂank
the place by foilowing Yellow Jack‘strail,
and leaving his coach and cattle in camp go
on foot and see just who was there in am-
bush.

Approaching Indian Springs from the op—
posite direction, and on foot, he felt sure
that he could see his foes, count them, and
escape unseen.

He would risk this much to satisfy his
mind, and at the same time he thought the
opportunity might offer to ﬁnd their horses
unguarded and run them off, which would
be a clever piece of work upon his part.

So he drove, pushing his team a little, his
eye far ahead to pick out the best trail, and
his reins well in hand to draw up at any
moment danger threatened.

At last, he came to where a number of can-
yons diverged like the fingers from the hand.

The map he had with instructions simply
said:

“Take third canyon counting from the
right.”

In one way and another they all led by
trails more or less devious through a lofty
range of hills.

The instruction of Yellow Jack, the
Chinec, had been to take the right-hand can-
yon, and this would bring him out some dis-
tance from Indian Springs, the place of
threatened danger from ambush.

It was a longer way, but the safe one, as
it avoided the spot where his foes would be
in waiting for him.

He did as the Chince had advised, and a
couple of hours before sunset found a pleas-
ant place for camping, as his adviser had
said he would.

Quickly he went into camp, had his sup-
per, and then set out to cross the trail that
the written directions of Langdon the miner
would have led him.

 
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DISCOVERY.

FROM what he had learned from the Ce-
lestial, Buffalo Bill felt that he was not
three miles from the camp of his foes at In-
dian Springs.

But not caring to be caught at a disadvan-
tage, if discovered by them, he saddled one
of the extra horses and rode away from his
Camp, following the directions given him,
to ﬁnd the Indian Springs, by the China-
man.

He recognized a cliff, as described to him,
and dismounting from his horse, began to
approach on foot and with the greatest cau-
tlon.

Nearer and nearer he drew, the China-
man’a directions coming out just as he said
they would, and there being good shelter for
him in his approach, in the way of timber,
thickets and rocks.

At last he seconded a ridge which looked
over into a small valley.

There he beheld ﬁve horses staked out.

The were unsaddled and feeding at the
end 0 long stake-ropes.

Their saddles and bridles were on the
ground beneath a large tree near, where
there could be seen the ashes of a camp ﬁre,
with a few cooking utensils and blankets
about it.

He had found the camping-place of the
men~ who were on his trail, and they must
be not far distant! '

They had evidently ridden hard and had
arrivedat the place the night before from
the appearance of their camp.

Buffalo Bill had a ﬁeld-glass with him,
and he quickly took in the surroundings and
the camp.

The Cliff, which the Chinaman had told
him was over the Springs, was a quarter of
a mile distant, and a small canyon led toward
it from the valley.

Making certain that no one was in the
camp, Buffalo Bill descended the ridge to it,
to ﬁnd no one there. I

 
The sun was yet nearly an hour high,
and he at once decided upon his plan of
action.

He would leave the men dismounted, but
not touch their provisions or camp equipage
to cause them too much suffering on their
return to the camps, and which they must
make on foot.

So he saddled and bridled the horses, and
mounting one of the animals led the others
back over the ridge.

Ile halted them there, not very far from
where he had left his own horse, and hitch-
ing them to trees, so that they could be un-
fastened hurriedly, he returned to the top of
the ridge and again looked down upon the
camp.

All was quiet there. The men had not re-
turned to discover the loss of their animals.

The shadows were deepening iu the valley,
so he hurried on, and was soon going through
the canyon leading to Indian Springs.

Ile found the approach all in his favor,
coming from that side.

There were innumerable hiding-places.

Gliding from, one to the other, he at last
gained a good position, a few bowlders
covered with rocks, not two hundred yards
from the cliff before Spoken of.

Reaching a point of observation he peered
over, and what he beheld interested him.

He looked down upon a small basin—in
fact, a very pretty valley a dozen acres in
Size.

It sloped gently up toward the cliff,
which jutted out from a bold and rugged
range of hills.

Along the base of the ridge was a fringe
of trees, and dotting the valley here and
there were others.

The valley slanted down to another rid e,
along which ran a stream clear and sw ft,
the banks also fringed with trees.

To the right of the cliff was a pass, or
canyon, leading through the range, and
through this led the trail by which he
would have come, had he followed the di-
rections sent by Leonard Langdon the miner
to his brother the Division Agent.

But, the Chinaman's directions had en-
abled him to ﬂank the Springs and ap-
proaching by another direction avoid thus
the trap set for him.

Under the cliff he saw where the Springs
came forth, forming a stream of water that
ran turbulently down acrcss the valley to
the other side.

But taking in the whole situation quietly,
there was one thing that interested Buffalo
Bill more than all-else—which was the forms
of four men seated near the Springs, and ap-
parently waiting patiently for something to
turn up.

What they expected to turn up was him-
self, for bad he kept on by that trail he
would have been due at the Springs about
that time!

And, as he looked, he discerned a ﬁfth
man,.one coming out of the pass at a run
and waving to his comrades.

All sprung to their feet, and, as the other
ran up, Buffalo Bill distinctly heard the
words:

“Be ready, pardsi
ing, but somebodyis!”

“Who can it be?” muttered Buffalo Bill,
as he took up a better position and brought
his riﬂe around for use.

The coach is not com-

CHAPTER XVII.
A MYSTERIOUS RESCUER.

“Now who can it be that is coming?”
muttered Buﬁ'alo Bill, as he settled down
intoa better position to see, and to chip in
with his aid if necessary.

“It may be another party from the camp
on my trail. If so, I don’t help a little bit.
Let it be a case of dog cat dog!

“Now it seems strange, when Chief
Langdon offered such large indUCements to
go after his brother, not a soul volunteered,
and yet, now that I have started upon the
trail, a number of them see the chance to kill
me, send one of their number on with the
coach to play rescuer, while they follow to
do more killing and get the treasure ,

“Desperate Dave did have the nerve to
come alone; next were the two camp-
hunters; but now there are ﬁve in this band,
and the Lord only knows what the fourth
outﬁt consists of.

 
“7: . ﬂ' one-thit“ “.

 
q“

high,
“I of

l. but
lpage
their
must

_.__.._

 
ru-r. <,

.v '..:« his-ikWth a Ensues. .3 p, a I.

Buffalo Bill’s Grim

-.t .r. .,‘ it “my... p .- 3.]. g a.” 1.,3’.

 
“Well, I am in luck, and can afford to
look on and bide my time.”

So saying, Buffalo Bill closely watched the
men in the timber.

They had quickly taken cover, and some-
thing had excited them—the coming, ‘per-
haps, of some one else than the one they
Were in ambush for.

They evidently expected whoever it was
would come directly to the Springs and
camp for the night, for, as he noticed, they
had taken up p0sitions with that view.

Suddenly, as Bill looked, there approached
a horseman coming into the valley from the
pass,

The sun was but a short distance above the
horizon, but its rays were falling in the val-
ley, lighting all up with a golden hue.

They fell upon the horseman, who had
pome to a halt, and he was revealed distinct-

He had halted to reeonnoiter, for his gaze
was upon the surroundings of the Springs;
but all was quiet there.

He detected not the lurking foe, and, after
a moment’s halt, rode slowly toward the
Springs.

In the moment of hesitation at the mouth
of the pass, Buffalo Bill had been able to see
him distinctly.

80 had the ﬁve men in ambush.

They beheld a man of about forty years of
age, dressed in buckskin. even to moccasins,
and wearing a black slouch hat with the broad
brim looped up in front.

He wore a beard, had dark eyes. was over
six feet in height, and his black hair was long
and wavy.

“ It is California Joe!" cried Buffalo Bill.*

He was mounted upon a large-bodied,
gaunt, but good horse, and carried with him
his entire outﬁt for camping, hunting and
subsistence.

He was Well armed, a breech-loading riﬂe
hanging from his saddle-horn, while another
was carried slung at his back, and in his belt
were a couple of revolvers and a long bowie,
while athird pistol Was in a holster on his
saddle.

A lariat, stake-rope, bag of camp utensils,
roll of blankets and haversack of provisions
gave his horse a good load to carry, but then
California Joe walked a great deal when on a
long trail.

He was known along the Overland as a
man of indomitable pluck, a mountain wan-
derer, and one who knew the country as no
one else did.

“Yes, California Joe, and going toward the
Big Horn Basin!

“ Now he is going to camp and those men
will kill him, for they want no witness of
their being here, and will end him to be
ready for me—ah !”

As Buffalo Bill spoke a puff of smoke
burst out from behind a rock near the
Springs, and California Joe’s horse drop-

ed ead, pinioning his rider beneath him
n his fall, so sudden and wholly unexpect-
ed was his going down.

At the same instant several other shots
came from the thicket, and the ﬁve men
sprung from ambush and rushed toward
the fallen man. i

But, just then, a ringing report came
from the ridge and the leader of the ﬁve in-
tended assassins dropped dead.

The others halted in utter amazement,

and gazed wildly about them in wonder

and dread. ’
As they thus stood another shot was heard
But it did not come from the ridgei
It came from a thicket on the summit of
the cliff.
A second man dropped dead!
And this shot amazed Buffalo Bill as
anugh as it did those upon whom it had been
re .
Who had ﬁred it?
That the three men did not wait to ﬁnd
out, for by two unseen dead-shots had they

 
*Californis. Joe was a mystery of the Plains. His
name is said to have ber-n Joseph Mlimer, but no one
knows, though Buffalo Bill gives that as his real
name. He was a Kentuckian. it was assert-m
though of this no one was certain. California Joé
rendered the Governor nt most valuaiils sent-e as
scout and solar. did much to aid the pioneers of the
far West passed h's daysol'f duty in old hunting.
trapping and wandering about the wil s of the fron-
tier. an I met his death Dec. 5th. ’76. at the hands of
a cowardly assassin. v: hile seated in front of hiscabln
at Red Cloud; Dakota. Who was the assassin was
never known—Tu Amon.

 
been ﬁred upon—one on the ridge, one on
the cliff, and their intended victim was free-
ing himself to also ﬁght for his life.

In dismay they ﬂed down toward the
pass.

But, as they bounded away, a second shot
rung out from. the unknown marksman up
on the cliff, and a third man fellas he ﬂed
toward safety.

The other two increasing their speed at
this third death shot, ran like deer, to soon
disappear in the gr0wing shadows of the
pass, just as California Joe freed himself
from his slain horse, and rose, riﬂe in hand,
to face his foes.

But, they had disappeared, and he saw the
tall form of Buffalo Bill coming down the
slope from the ridge.

“ Ho. Buffalo Billi God bless you, my
boy! You saved my scalp that time, you
and your pard. Who is he?"

“I don't know. The two shots came from
the cliff Hol pardl show yourself,” shout-
ed Buffalo Bill.

And California Joe also hailed; but, no.
answer came; no one was to be seen.

The unknown guardian of a life remained
invisible!

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE RETURN.

AFFAIRS at the camps were not as quiet as
Luke Langdon could have wished, after
Buffalo Bill‘s departure, and the weeks were
passing away.

Luke was a ﬁne fellow, one who had
been well born, reared in reﬁnement, well
educated, and left a fortune to share with
his brother Leonard.

He not only had shared it, but had done
far more, for when his brother had lost his
portion, by a life of extravagance, he had
taken him into partnership with him on equal
terms.

But the brother still held to his reckless
ways, and Luke found himself swamped, in
less than two years, by his brother's debts.

It was the more bitter to him, as he had ex-
pected to be married within another year to
a young and lovely girl who was also an
heiress; but his pride would not allow him
to ask her to wed a poor man, and so he
wrote her, breaking the engagement, telling
her frankly why, and leaving her to marry
another if so she wished.

But he did say that he was going off to
seek another fortune by his own exertions,
and if she was free when he returned with
success, she would still ﬁnd him, as ever,
her lover.

Ill-fortune. however, dogged his steps,
and after three years he found himself only
a division agent upon the Overland.

Here, in various ways, he was able to
make money.

His pay was good and be invested it in
pelts he bought from trappers and friendly
redskins. sending them East and receiving
good prices. he traded in horses, opened an
eating-house for passengers on the Overland,
and in every way he honorably could, sought
to better his fortunes.

At length came the mysterious letter from
his brother, tacked upon his cabin door.

It was a-confessiou of his errors, a frank
acknowledgment of the wrong he had done
him, a pleading for forgiveness, and making
known that he had joined a band of thirty
adventurous goldseekers, and boldly in-
vaded the Big Horn Basin. '

They had gone well equipped, mounted,
armed. and with stores to last a year or more,
and by placer-mining had been successful be-
yond their expectations.

They had had foes in another band of
whites, few in number, who had secretly
fought them for invading the Big Horn
Basin, until, at last, these foes had driven
them into a corner and a desperate battle
had been fought, at the ‘end of which not
one of their enemies remained alive.

 
Notwithstanding this, their gold they I
could never ﬁnd, and in the battle one-third .
of their own band had fallen. 

Indians, also, had proven to be their foes:
and sickness and accidents had removed
others, until but three of the ori inal num-
ber remained. and these three h but scant

provisions, not a horse left, and were too|
weak to reach a place of safety. ‘

Guard. 9

 
From one of his comrades he had heard of
him, his brother, for he knew it could be
none other. from the name and description,
being division agent on the Overland, and so
it was that he wrote him.

Gold he had enough to make them both
rich, and he would share equally with him
of the amount that would be his.

If either, or both or his comrades died,
their share also would be his, for that had
been the compact of the gold-hunters.

If he, Leonard Langdon, should die before
success came, his snare was to go entire to
his brother, Luke, who was to send them
aid; that that was agreed upon by the com-
rades in distress.

Such had been the letter that Luke Lang-
don had read to Buffalo Bill, the daring
volunteer to go to the rescue upon the terms
the three miners demanded.

Thus it was that Luke Lanedon lived in
hope that his brother \s'nuld be rescind by
Buffalo Bill, not so much for the goli, but
treasure he still loved devotedly, and it had
been a cause of deep sorrow to him not to
know before what had become of him.

Now there was hope of their being.r united
again, and once more enjoying the luxuries
of riches, and quick would Luke fly East-
ward to see if his lady-love still remained
true to him.

But, Luke had realized that Desperate
Dave had left the camps, after the departure
of Buffalo Bill.

The two hunters sf the camps had also
been missing for several days, and came
back on foot and half starved, saying that
Indians had captured their horses.

Thus ﬁve more men had disappeared, and
a worse quintette could not have been
found.

After an absence of ten days two of the
ﬁve came back dismounted, half starved and
with a terrible story of their three comrades
having been killed, and their narrow escape
from Indians.

The two who returned were I‘Vild Tom
and Rip Raps, who explained that the lu-
dians had attacked them while herding their .
horses and cattle.

After their return another band suddenly
disappeared from the camps, who announced
that they were going prospecting for gold,
and, to the surprise of all, Trumps the
gambler was the leader of this band, of four
beside himself.

The departure of this last party caused
Luke Langdon more anxiety than he cared
to admit even to himself, for a gold prospect-
ing tour might mean a hold-up of the coach
of Buffalo Bill on its return, though it was
true it was not yet expected back for several
weeks.

Trumps and his partidisapfeared, and a
week or more passed. uke angdon- was
growing more and more anxious when, one
day. a wild shout arose about the Overland
headquarters, and at a swift pace the rescue
coach was seen approaching!

Upon the box sat Buffalo Bill, who held
the reins over six horses! ..
Drawing quickly to a halt, Buffalo Bill
called out, as he stood up and pointed toa

body lying on top of the coach.

“I am back, Captain Langdon, and there
lies a man you may know, while there are
more in like condition inside the coach.

CHAPTER XIX.
YELLOW Jacx‘s RUSE.

I'r wil be well, after having told of Buffalo
Bill’s return to the Overland Trail station with
the coach, before telling of the adventures
that befell him before doing so, to say some-
thing regarding the departurc of Dare Gold-
en the gambler, better known as “Trumps
the Sport," and his departure with four com-
rades, as they stated, on a gold prospecting
expedition, but which the reader has doubt-
less already surmised was a hunt for the gold
which Buffalo Bill had been sent to bring in,
with the miners who had secured it.

It will be remembered that, after the near-
ly fatal scene between Trumps and the Chi-
naman, in the cabin of the latter, a peace had
been patched tip between them. and a com-
pact entered into by which the Chinee who

 
'knew the country so well, would serve as

guiie to the dashing border .sport and his
party for a certain consideration.

This being arranged Trumps had left to ,
the Chinaman the arrangements, of the time '

 
' Yellow Jack saw them depart.

he lau hed alittle " Hel. he! he!" that meant

I." ‘ ' said, aloud:

 
 Chinaman know s ortee much one!

' a 010W.

i ’,' grotesque humor suddenly subsided, for his

 
V like a' mask, as though suﬂering the agonies

7o.
8
W
O

ﬂ snﬂering‘ as you do, and wi
. some way relieve you,” said the" division
"chief, in 'a tone of deepest sym athy.

"     as ,’ as team as"
~     t“

'10

to start and all else in the way of provisions
and equipments.

He did not have any suspicion of the Chi-
nee, and so when the latter came to him one
day and told him to make theirgoing known,
he did so.

" Talkee talkee heapee much ’bout go find
goldee.

“ Tellee pards allee samee, and tellee how
Yellow Jack he 0 allee lightee puttee
’Meliean man on traii"

80 Yellow Jack had said. and all feltassur-
ed that the 'Chinaman had diSCOVered some
signs of gold, when among the Indians, and
had told Trumps, who had arranged to go
with him.

Many a man- at the station wanted also to

0 along, and being refused, felt sorry that

ellow Jack had not taken ‘them into his
conﬁdence.

If the Chinee would leave such a good
thing as he had at the station, and Trumps
would give up his gambling, and eomforta~
ble cabin, in camp, all felt sure that there
must be a big thing in the gold hunt and re-
gretted they were not in it.

But, one day, several days before the one
appointed for their departure, Yellow Jack
was taken violently ill.

Many thought that he had been poisoned,
and it was thought he must die.

Trumps was terribly scared, and tried to
be adeVOted nurse, but this the Chinaman
would not allow.

'At last he told Trumps that he would tell
him just where to go, and how to o—that he
thought he was going to die an the party
must start without him, as they should not
delay for him to get better, even if he did
recover.

He had the Sport writing down directions,
drawing maps, and had hardly finished the
work when he went off in a terrible spasm,
and turned to the line of death. .

But, Trumps smiled grimly, for he felt
that he had the secret 0 just how to head
off Buffalo Bill on hisreturn, and capture
the ld which the gambler felt certain he
won d secure.

He did not care whether the Chinaman
died or not—in fact, wished that he would
die, for the terrible scare he had given him
that day, weeks before. ,

So it Was that Trumps bade the Chinaman
a pretended and farewell, and with his map
and directions folded in an inside pocket,
set out with his four followers on the trail
'of Bu Halo Bill and the gold coach.

The men at the camps waved them a fare-
well, and the “gold-hunters” rode off well
supplied lwith provisions, camp equipage.
arms and ammunition all on a couple of
pack-horses.

And lying in his bed in his cabin, looking
out of the little window close by his head,

i.—

But—preato change! The terribly ill look
vanished from his face,.an expression of
deep cunning crept back into his eyes, and

more t an speech could reveal.

The Celestial was, almost in a moment;
himself again; the artful, conniving, treacher-
ous heathen to his enemy—the devoted, loyal,
t'rue-as-steel friend of the man he loved—
Buﬂaio Bill!

\When at last Trumps and his comrades
disappeared in the distance, the laundryman

“ Sportee thinkee Chinaman big melee;—

“ Yellow Jack 3 ckee? Not mucneei" and
he chuckled’like the suppressed croak of a

l
“ ortee get sickee before him get backeel”
--an again that comical Ieroak.
At that moment the rejuvenated “ J ohn‘s ’,’

u‘ick hearing detected a step sound outside.
nstantly the distorted face was resumed,

of death, and he greased and writhed as the
pened and in walked Luke Langdon.
“My poor fellow, I am- sorr to see on

I soul in

-.5To,his utter amaaement the ook of suffer-
' left the Chinaman's, face and the words

had better stil let the men think you are

'Bﬂlgmfli . .4 , . _

I
' CHAPTER XX.
LUKE LANGDON suurnrsm).

LUKE LANGDUN looked dumfounded at
this miraculous change in the ()hinee.

He had gone to see him several times be-
fore, had tried to relieve what appeared to
be his mortal agony.

Already had been discovered the great loss
the Chinaman would be to the camps, for he
had made himself invaluable as laundryman,
as doctor. nurse and cook, when little things
were needed for the sick.

He was feared, it was true, by many, as a
heathen necromancer, or evil conjurer while
he was known to be one of the few China-
men who would not stand abuse from bullies
or imposition from any one.

Altogether his loss to the camps would be
great, and Mr. Langdon had gone to see him
to see what he could do to help him.

This sudden transformation from agony to
ease surprised the caller beyond measure,
and he said: ~

/ " Why, Jack, are you not sick, after all ‘2”

“Not nmehee!" and then the croak.

“ You are really not a sick man ‘2”

“ No sickee tall! me belly much welll”

“ You astonish me. Have you not been
ill—very ill?”

“Playee ’possum, chief! no siekee, t’all!"

“ You have been playing ’possum ‘2”

“ Alice saxnee."

“ But why ?"

“ No Wantee go with Sportee.”

“ Ah! you did not wish to go?”

“ Not mueheel Sportee much had!”

“ He said you were goingasguide, for.you
knew the country so well.” '

“ Know country allee lightee; no go as
guidee. Stay here. Trumpee go ’lone. Hab
debbil of times allee sameel Ha-ha-hai”
and his smile was comically diabolical.

“ You are a great actor, Jack, for your
face appeared to be distorted with intense
pain, your complexion became livid and you
seemed about to die.” -’

The Chinaman at once drew up his features
and. for a moment, simulated agony with
startling reality, while his face took on the
hue of death.

“ Allee samee like that Y"

“ Yes." and Langdon was forced to laugh.
Then he said: ' ,

“ You had some motive in deceiving
Trumps and hincompanions. What wasit?”
“ No likes.” '

“ I thought that you and Trumps were
great friends.”

“ Trumps bad ’Melican-man—Jack goodee
Chinaman.” *

“ Ah! he has cheated you’ in some way 7"
“ No cheatee-no ’Melican man cheatee
Chinaman. Chinaman look foolee-—foolee not
muchee.” ‘

Langdon again laughed and replied:

“ I believe you are right.

‘..‘ But what are you going to do now ?" v

“ Washee washee.”

“Iknow; but, should Trumps return he
would find you had deceived him, and there
would be trouble. sure.”

A strange look crossed the face of the
Chinaman, and Luke Langdon read it aright.
‘There was not a shadow of fear in it. He
simply revealed that he would accept the al-
ternative of any trouble with the gambler.
But he said seriously: I

“ No wantee trouble. if Sportee make
trouble. Chinaman allee lightee; no scare—
no ’fraidl *

“ Sportee much bad man."
“ I am prett sure of that; but I think you

ill." \ _
A cunning expression gleamed in the eyes
of Yellow Jack, and be answered:
“ Me sickee three days—gettee well then. ‘
“ You Jack’s friend; no tellee not sickest?"
“No, indeed, Jacki You can bet on
that!"

“ Chinaman our friend. Likae ’Melican
man Langdon a lee samee brother."
“ I up reciate 'our good will, Jack, and
we will a frien s,” and Langdon held out
his hand. .‘ ‘
The Chinaman took it,'gave it a'ﬁrm clasp,
and said: \
“Don‘t tellee, keep tongue stilleel

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

“ {qwill at once pursue him and—”

H 
took trail that go wrong way! Buffalo Billee
allee lightee; killee Sport!”

“ Ah! but can this be arranged ?”

“ Alice lightee.”

“ You are very sure?"

“Jack no lie.”

“ But, may not they catch Cody una-
wares ?”

“ Buffalo Billee allee lightee.

“ Jack no tellee how, but he no he killee.

time.”
“Well, Jack, I have conﬁdence in you
and so I will rest content.

hope he is to bring back with him, were in
any danger from Gambler Golden and his
ganglyou would tell me; in fact you would\
not have told me of their purpose.

“ I am aware that you and Buffalo Bill,
for some reason, did not seem the best of
friends, but I know that be twice saved your
life. and I do not believe you would see harm
befall him, so Ileave all to you.

“ I will visit you until you et Out again, .
tell me more,” and Luke Langdon left the
Chinaman’s cabin muttering to himself : f

“ A strange creature that Chinaman, but,
somehow, I believe he is true as steel, and
feel sure that he has planned to circumvent
thel scoundrels who are on Buffalo Bill's
trai .”

 
CHAPTER XXI. ‘ .
CALIFORNIA Jon’s DUMB 'PARD.

LONG and earnestly did Buffalo Bill and.
California Joe gaze toward the cliﬂ, from
whence two fatal shots had been ﬁred upon
the partyin ambush. but to no purpose; no
one was there that they could discover. -~
Why did he not show himself? and, who
could t be? was the uestion Buffalo Bill
asked himself, over an over a sin.

“I guess he's took a snea
come down an' j’ine us, Bill,” inferred Cali- §
fornia Joe, who always affected the border

could use the best of language when he
wished.
“ Yes, I suppose that is it, and instead of i

work, Joe.” ‘
“ So I says.
got some guessin' ter do,” was the answer. ,
“ First, there are three dead bodies to l k ’;
after, you know ” ' r 
“ Yes; ther dead can’t bury themselves,
illgnd I has nothin’ag'in' a dead body, Pard. u
ill.” - . .
“ No; the most evil man in life is sacred in. -.
death.” ' ' *
“ So sings I, every time. » ,
“Now we kin arrange to camp jist here, ‘
can't we? ‘ ‘ \ "

it?
“ Yes; playing a lone hand on this run.” . l'
" What doing?” — "
“That I will tell when we are in camp,
but the day won’t last us much longer."

,“Right you are; but, William, why not

‘..-._

“I have a camp already three miles from
here, and if you will get these bodies to- .
gether and meet the unknown shooter when 1
he comes dywn from the cliff, I will go after

" You know whar they is?"

far away. '
“ More men?" l

in ambush.”
' “Layin' for me?”

\

1

but I kin wait; it ’11 tell itself, I guesses.”

to get the horses of the r assassins.

had left them. and was aware,.also. 

 
’ "‘ Jack know: Sportee-gone for-Buffalo'
.§.*~ria1x.;,_l._ ‘g‘w‘: "It ‘3

 
3;
1’; I v.‘
:o _ . g. 4

A ‘ i was

"’ A

.. ;:~'-'
z ' '-

 
. 

.i - r
ﬁr?

 
legalities. any... ' 
. ,g 2‘ ' 03:.» ~  ;"   *  "~  "

   
their faces were. turned hangover, ‘

 
 the, .woamﬁnnbuess ‘ keep; 5,, .
of), V  z“  20;, If.  ,2 V_ in: :v

Trumpee allee samee do nothing;

1 m

“He come to campee allee lightee when

“I am sure if Cody, and those whom I‘

to avoid suspicion, and then I ope you will i

around ter 

dialect, though it was well known that he I

standing here guessing we had better get to " -
When-we is camped I has ’

“.Whose with yer? Ain’t alone I take 

camp here?” - .

the horses of those men." \ __’ .

“Yes, I found them in their' camp,  
saddled hp and have them waiting not very ‘

“ No.” 
“None dead 7” ‘ ~.'«
" No; there were but ﬁve; they were ‘~

’.

“,No, Joe;»the'y were lying in :wait for. »

';Ohol you has somethin‘ ter tell, Bill;~ Q If";  

Buffalo Bill hastened awa over the ridge“?

.~ i“
knew that those 'of the gangmho had ﬂedjfx
could not ﬂank around for hours to where he _ ~ ~-

——-—-——-""

, —-——~—'—"‘

Of cou1
he 1mg
End), seek
hoping it
they (10 i

-’ should ﬁ‘
visions t

' must silf

ding, as

, they cos
a liis w

a foe; Ct
After ‘

 
"ustas.

e rode
It wa:
moment
at his fe
denly 0!
But, 1
 The
from th
“ Bar
“ Ye:

 
capim
n Y
I idea i

 
im:
.gm

 
. .

 
A

vhen '

r“ wrr—r \ a......._‘

 «w --

a“ ..

  
. . ,. l ,. .;
» . . y l 'u 4.4 we 5‘ -. l
, V; l . 7 (l 1 .s ,. .

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

11

 
3 ' Of course there was a probability that
heiy might lie in hiding during the night
-: seek their camp on the following day,

hoping it had not been discovered. Should

i hey do that, Buffalo Bill determined they

,.'should ﬁnd their camping outﬁt there, pro-

visions and all, for he believed that the

'.must suffer greatly without food and be -

.ding, as it would be several days before

_» they could reach the camps.

His was a far from cruel nature, even to

.a foe; Cody code is the Golden Rule.

After a rapid walk he came to‘ the horses,

‘ ‘ust as he had left them, and mounting one

e rode rapidly back to Indian Springs.

It was twilight, and growing darker each
moment, but there stood California Joe, and
at his feet lay the men who had been so sud-
denly cut of! in life.

But, no one else was there!

. The mysterious rescuer, who had ﬁred
from the cliff, had not appeared. '

“ Back ag’in, Bill, and with the critters?"

“Yes; but, where is the man from the

cliﬁ?"

“Hain't seen him, and he didn’t answer

A when I called.” '

_ “That is strange, for he must have had

‘ time to have worked his way around here?”

4 "‘Oh yes; I've been up thar more than

. once, and the way round hain’t fur. ”

“Then he would have to' come through

the pass?”

1 “Yes.”

’ “.He may have run upon those two es-

caplng men.”

"Yas, he might; but I has a sneakin’

_, idee he c'u'd take care 0’ hisself if‘he was

ter bump ag’in’ ’em.”

' “Noxdoubt of that; still he might not

iTime’seen them before they got the drop on
m. ’

" You have your traps ready, I see?”

“Yas, I strlpped ole Rough and Readv,

ofgsaddle, bridle and all; and, William, yéu

may think I is a child, but I tell you I cried

“likpa whipped schoolboy over my ole hoss,

God bless‘himi

“ We has been together on many a trail; I

has had him for six long years, and a man

Would it to lovin' his wife in that length 0’

time, i they was tergether time in and time

out.

f‘Bough and Ready wasn't much of a

, ‘beauty, but he was on hand when I called

on him, and he has saved my life a hundred

times, that’s dead’level so.

“ He were good as a watch-dog, good as a

. horse, and ﬁrst class as a friend.

“We has slept many a night under ther

same blanket, and in ther desert I has shared

my grub and canteen with him when thar

. was no water and grass, and I’ll tell you as

‘ afact when I has had nothin’ to eat and

be had plenty o' grass, 1 has seen him

N stand and look sorry, and when he dld snatch

aikmouthful he looked ashamed of himself
e. .

“ Bill, I loved that horse, and no coyote’s

‘ tooth shall touch his hide, if it takes me a

‘wbek ter dig a grave for him.”

I California Joe’s voice was broken with
emotion all through his eulogy of his all-

- falthfui if dumb comrade for years who had

~ , shared with the venturesome man hardships

g; and dangers untold.

 
7-1" CHAPTER XXII.
 ’. i no CLUE.

  BUFFALO BILL was touched by California
> » -_ Joestribute of affection to his horse, and

‘ ' If.“ Swen-id not interrupt him.

U "He saw him brush the tears from his eyes,
:.;and the wilderness ranger said:
‘  . . “Im all right now, Bill. What’s ter be
  "done?" ,
« * -« f " _ t us strap these bodies on the horses,
as soon as you have selected the one you
want, for I see that the are all good ones. "
 “Yes, they is. for a act. 'I’ll take kindly
., ‘to this one. ’ and Joe picked out the best of
 lot—a large, gaunt, clean ~llmbcd roan.
_;9\‘_‘You v’e got an eye for ﬁrst-class horse-

 
,yﬁi-‘Iyaybeyou wanted him, Bill. If sohe
f‘Nol not» I’ve 0t ore good ones' now
han‘ligcare for. Ta e h m. We’ll strap the

  
9130!! the . others and rid th ‘co
:hprelhs‘ e mm“

phhsnttspadeuo‘t

  
“ All right; but did I tell yer one of ther
men wasn't dead when I got to him?”

“ No! Was that so?”

“ Yes; he said his name was Bony Bob,
and he looked it, for a thinner man not in a
grave I never see.

“He told me he know’d he war on ther
Death-trail; that he had been wicked all his
life, and was jist that bony he wished he
c’u'd go all over life ag'in, and he’d be
different.

“ That’s what I has heerd many a one say
when death has his grip on them.

“ Like men I has see hanged; they all re-
pents then, aces angils laying in ambush for
’em ter take ’em up to Glory’s camp and all
sich nonsense, when they pretends ter git
ther same roost up yonder as a man who has
been squar’ all his life, and sets a premium
upon bein’ bad, by doin' as yer pleases and
then hopin’ ter git a chance ter say yer is sor-
ry when yer is dyin’.

“ I tole him I guessed as how he was sor-
ry, butI didn’t say as how ther angils war
layin’ fer him; I guessed ther one layin’ fer him
had horns and eleven hoofs, fer I didn't want
him ter feel any badder than he did.

“Then he said as how they had come out
ter kill you and git ther coach, and run ther
game the’rselves, whatever it are. _

.“Afore I c'u’d git him ter say more he
give a shout, sprung to his feet and cried
out:

“Save me frean ’em!
thari”

“ I guess be seen the; angils with horns I
spoks of; and with that he fell dead at my
feet, Bill. 80 I guesses you’ll have to tell
me what he c‘u’dn’t, pard.” '

“ I will, Joe.” .

“ Now as tcr my dear old horse. I’ll jist
camp here by him, fer coyotes will come
sneakin’ round later.”

“ We will build log ﬁres on each side of
him and that will scare them off.

“Then we will go to my camp, bury the
bodies, and, return to-morrow and put Rough
13d Ready under ground.”

“ All r ght; what you say goes,” was the
answer.

The bodies were soon strapped to the backs
of the horses; then the two friends gathered
wood and two large ﬁres were built, one on
each side of California Joe’s horse.

That done, Cody and his strange pard rode
awayin the darkness.

Buﬁalo Bill led the way up the slope, over
the ridge and on to where he had left his own
horse. which he led away with them.

Arrivin at his camp, he found all there
as he had eft it; so a ﬁre was soon built and
supper cooked, after which the two pards set
to work to build graves for the three dead
men, talking the while, still wondering who
had ﬁred those two ishots from the cliff and
where he could be.

California Joe was certainly much surpris-
ed at ﬁnding there such of an outﬁt as Buffa-
lo Bill had with him, and was all curiosit
to know the why and wherefore of it al,
though he did not ask.

The grave was dug; the three bodies.
each wra ped in a blanket, were placed
side 1) si e in the pit and the dirt thrown
carefu y in, California'Joe saying sadly: ,

“To-morrer I has ter do as much fer poor
ole Rough-and-Ready.”

Then , the two pards turned in for the

Don’t let ’em take me

~night. which passed without disturbed

sleep, and both. arose at daybreak much
freshed. ,

After breakfast, the team was hitched to
the coach, the weapons of the dead robbers
were put with the others in the stage, and
the led horses, now increased to six, Cali-

re-

fornia Joe riding the roan,“ were fastened on .
I

behind.

The way was taken to Indian Springs,
but a halt was made near the camp where
Buffalo Bill had discovered the horses, and
it was found that the two fugitives had been
there durin the night. secured their camp
Outﬁt and eparted again. doubtless on gheir
way back to the station! or some other point
on the Overland 'l ‘

Arriving at Indian Springs, the ﬁres were
still burning, so thatthe two escaping out-
laws must have believed that the camp of
their-st was there, therefore had

‘  ‘ ill 'in. ng.their
hearth. ' "

tilt.

 
Bill, in the kindness of his heart, had left
the provisions and bedding for their use.

There was no sign at Indian Springs of the
man who had ﬁred from the cliff and saved.
California Joe’s life. He had left no clue as
to his identity or whither he had gone—no
mark, no sign, to give the two friends the
least explanation of his presence there at
that opportune moment.

 
CHAPTER XXIII.
LEFT AFOOT.

BUFFALO BILL had never known Cali- _

fornia Joe well, before meeting him as he
then had, under such peculiar circum-
stances. _

He was aware that the strangest stories
were going the rounds of all the camps
about the wilderness tramp, of whom no
one knew save that he was called California .

Joe.

His life had been a most thrilling and ad-
venturous one; he was a wild‘ West wan-
derer, afraid of nothing, living alone, though
not shunning company—a man who had
made a record as an Indian-ﬁghter, who was -
as cunning and tenacious as a redskin, a
perfect trailer, and knew the country as no
other vshite man did.

His remarkable escapes and wonderful
deeds were the talk of the camps; he was
constantly .on the go, trapping and huntin
he claimed, but it was generally believe '
that he was gold seeking.

Adangerous man to arouse he certain]
was, but he never sought trouble, and if it
was forced upon him, those who were the
instigators had cause to regret having made
California Joe their foe.

Buffalo Bill always had admired him, and
when Joe had put in an appearance where
the Pony Rider and scout happened to be,

r

4-

they had always been most friendly and as 

"‘chumm " as real pards.

Now uﬁalo Bill had come across his
erratic friend, where he had expected to ﬁnd,
no man who was not his foe, and the meet—

! .

ing had placed Joe under obligations to him -

for saving his life.

But, the other life-saver who had “ chipped _

in ” so well in the very nick of time—who
was be?

That was what worried both men more
and more as they thought the matter over,
and each one made asecret vow to solve that
mystery just as soon as possible.

A spot was selected for the grave of
Rough and Ready right where there was a
natural monument in the shape of a huge,
bowlder, and with pick and shovel Buffalo
Bill and California Joe set to work to dig

it. ~

They dug deep, and the faithful dumb
comrade of the old plainsman was dragged
there, by the united strength of the two
men, a bed of leaves was placed in the bot-
tOm by Joe, and the horse was lowered gent-
ly, not tumbled down into the sepulcher,
Buffalo Bill yielding to the wishes of his
companion without a word.

A blanket was then spread over the dead,
beast and the two men shoveled in the dirt-
and piled up the mound completely. as for a
human being.

Logs were brpught there and placed on
each side, and large rocks were put on top.
to prevent the coyotes from digging into the
grave. ‘

“ Pard Cody, I thank you from my heart. ‘

Some day I may have ter do as much fer. ‘

yen, or you fer me.
“ Now, what’s next? I reckon it is get~
tin’ dinner time. So my watch says.”
“Your watch, Joe?" ,
“Yes; Icarries one ri ht here as keeps,
perfect time,” and he put
stomach.

“Well, we'll have dinner and then we'll f

take a little tramp.”

"' Where to, Pard Bill ‘2”

“I am.so anxious to ﬁnd out who it was
upon the cliff yesterday and-what became of '
h m that I cannot rest until both you and I
have gﬁne ever the ground and tried to strike
his tra .” -' “

 
I'm jist keen to ascertain who's the man we
miss so much to.” , ,, ;  ‘-

So dinne "was had. andgtheshsppii '
comrades ‘ my , ‘ g the '
‘ - ‘l .- ' 

i

i .

is had upon his ,

’ ‘ Count me in on that same, William. _> 

   
12

They saw no tracks of horses, and Joe led
tilififway, which he knew, to the top of the
c 1 .

It was not along trail, and showed that the
mysterious shot, knowing the way, could have
readily reached the valley where they were, in
a half-hour, after ﬁring the two saving shots,

 
, as he did.

The trail was very rugged, as they ap-
proached the cliff, but they continued on

7 more slowly the rest of the distance, Buffalo

Bill looking m st attentively all about him,
for he really ad fears that the unknown

. had been killed by the two men who had ﬂed

in the very moment of their supposed tri-
um h.”
“Thar's ther cliff whar ther big pine is,

. Buf’ler,” explained Joe, and in ﬁve minutes

more they came to the escarpment, from
where the two shots had been ﬁred.
Not the trace of a trail was there—nothing

- to show that any one had been in hiding

among the scrub pines which fringed the
edge of the cliff or bluff.

But, California Joe, who was searching the
ground with keen scrutiny, was positively
startled by a shout from Buffalo Bill, follow-
ed by the words:

“ My God! '

“ They have got us foul, Joel See theml”

What California Joe saw was enough to
make him turn pale, for, away from the

Springs, going at full speed, was the coach,-

a man on the top, while another followed,
mounted upon Buffalo Bill’s horse and lead-
ing every other horse in the outﬁt!

The pards were left alone and on foot in
the wildernessl

Outwitted, circumvented, distanced in the
game of strategy and deﬁance, the two wilder-
ness runners were, for the moment, speech-
less with chagrin, and incensed at their own
want of precaution in leaving their camp un-
guarded.

A “ tenderfoot ” could not have done
worse!

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE ourwr'r'rnn PARDS.

NEITHER Buffalo Bill nor California Joe
were never wholly down or disconcerted at
any danger or emergercy.

What with nerves of steel and courage that
never quailed, they yet were ever alive to
peril or hazard; and so now, to ﬁnd them-
selves left afoot there on the cliff overlook-
ing the valley, and to behold their two foes
driving away with the whole outﬁt was to
arouse in them equally the desire for revenge
and mortiﬁcation at their almost helpless pre-
dieament.

Their two enemies, who had escaped the
night before, they could but assume, had
quickly gone back toward the Overland sta-
tion from whence they had come, or to some
other inhabited point.

They knew that they had slipped back
through the pass, avoiding the ﬁres, built
to keep the co otes away from California
Joe's horse, an , regarding their camp, had
found their horses gone, but their prisoners
remaining.

It was natural to suppose. therefore, that
they had at once returned through the pass
to make their escape; but, instead of that,
the two beleaguered men now decided that
the scoundrels had remained hidden in the
valle , had seen the two friends camp about
the ndiau Springs, bury the horse, have
their dinner and then set out together, doubt-
}ess on a search for their enemies yet in hid-

ng.
Then had come their enemies’ moment of
triumph.

They would see how far their foes were

- going, and if far enough, they would make

an attempt to capture the outﬁt.

Quickly had they gathered up all the
horses, tied them together with lariats,
harnessed up the two coach teams, gathered
the camp equipage, and were ready for
ﬂight.

Perfectly well aware that they were out-
wlttin%;wo of the most famous plainsmen
in the est. Buffalo Bill and California Joe,
the apparently had been determined to
ma 0 aciean sweep in order to shame and
madden their redoubtable foe.

So the two comrades reasoned. ’

And more: could they escape with the

 
‘ [‘1 ‘ l .1 k , . .‘l f .‘v ‘ - y l
 ~ n as "him, m.- -'I.  ‘  ~ . v i a
, i  r .2... 2w.» 4. -_ r . ‘ t 1* ’
i I » 1,43: my: a :5: .. ,. ~_ ‘ r ,‘
w- -‘ * ,_, . u . ., - ‘i. _ I

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
coach and every one of the horses, they were
leaving the two plainsmen almost utterly
helpless, without food, with no blankets,
only their weapons to save them from starva-
tion.

They would leave them so far from the
camps as to make their tramp back a matter
of days, and thus make pursuit practically
impossible.

If they attempted to pursue, after reach-
ing the camp, they would be at least a week
behind them, and that meant a great deal.

With all the led horses to draw upon, they
could, of course, push on rapidly to the Big
Horn Basin.

Both of the renegades were good plains-
men, and could readily find their way, even
if they found no map and directions. as
they heped to do, among Buffalo Bill‘s
things.

Reaching the Big Horn Basin, they would
trust to luck to discover the miners there
whom Buffalo Bill had been sent to rescue,
and to bring in their gold.

If not, they could leave the coach, take
the horses and make their way to some point
where they would be safe.

if they found the miners, it was easy
enough input them out of the way and se-
cure their treasure, and so they congratu-
lated themselves, doubtless. that it would
not be a case of “long division," as it would
have been had their own three comrades not
been killed.

All this Buffalo Bill and California Joe
realized had been the clever plot of the two
scoundrels who had turned utter defeat
intoa glorious victory—had placed them in
the same unpleasant situation in which they
themselves—Wild Tom and Rip Raps—had
been left the night before.

One glance at the ﬂying coach and horses,
and the following animals led by Rip Raps,
and Buffalo Bill saw that they were much
he end the range of even his riﬂe.

hey were off and going at full speed
down the valley, under the rein of Wild
Tom, who, Cody well knew, was a good
driver and a man of mettle, in such a
case.

Cody and California Joe, standing there
upon the cliff, more than a mile from the
camp they had left not an hour before, were
too full for utterance, and could only watch,
with keenest chagrin, the rapidly reced-
ing coach and horses until they were out of
si ht. ‘

ut as they gazed they beheld something
that caused them to start and utter a cry of
amazement.

What they saw was so wholly unexpected
that they could hardly believe their own
eyes and each one looked at the other as if
to question the veracity of their vision.

The face of each revealed to the other
that what they saw was a reality—no phan-
tom of an excited brain.

 
CHAPTER XXV.
THE CHASE.

WHAT the two pards upon the cliff beheld
was a puff of smoke shooting out from a
thicket ed‘ing the trail along which Wild
Tom was furiously driving the coach, with
Rip Raps following with the drove of horses.

A puff of smoke, and, instantly, Rio Raps
threw his hands above his head and fell from
his saddle beneath the feet of the fast hurry-
ing horses, while, out of the thicket sprung a
form and with the speed of a deer it ran
along. grasped the rein of California Joe’s
big roan, from whose saddle Rip Raps had
tumbled, and, in another moment, had
checked the whole drove of horses in their
ﬂight!

Quickly they were made fast to a tree,
,by the lead-lariat, and away bounded the
man on the trail of the coach, the slayer of
Rip Raps still in the saddle!

Another moment and the coach had disap-
peared in some timber down the valley; a
minute after the pursuer, following, also
was lost to view.

The comrades on the cliﬁ still stood look-
ing at each other. amazedly; they seemed to
ﬁnd no words for utterance; when there
came to their hearing from far down the
valley, one, two, three shots fired in rapid
succession. Then all was still.

 
“ We are fools to stand here like frighten»
ed children, while we are wanted yonder.W

“ Right you are, Buf‘ler.”

“ Come! ’

With the word Buffalo Bill bounded away
from the cliff.

California Joe was close at his heels.

Down the rugged slope they went at a.
tremendous pace. The valley was soon
reached; then the pass, and on they ran at
their best pace, riﬂes in their hands ready
for snap-shot or quick aim.

Neither spoke; they could waste no breath
in talk. ~

Their way led by the Springs under the
cliff, and through the camp they had left lit-
tle more than hour before.

The camp was'cleaned of everything. The
two rogues had left nothing behind worth
the stealing.

On, on the pards ran, tightening their belts
and keeping up the astonishing pace.

Recalling the shots from the cliff the even-
in before, the two runners hoped that their
un nown friend was again at work—that the
unseen shadower of their trail, whoever he
was, was doing yet more service for them.

If it was that Grim Guardian, then they
would soon be face to face with him and thus
solve the secret of his identity.

So on they ran, apparently untiringly.

At last their eyes fell upon a dark object
in the trail far ahead.

They knew it was no stone or stump or
mound.

They suspected it was the form of one of
their foes, who must have been tumbled from
his horse by that ﬁrst heard shot.

The led horses were still there in the thick-
et, where the unknown friend had hitched
them.

Coming to the object, Buffalo Bill dis-
covered that it was the fellow known in the
camps as Rip Raps.

He was dead.

There were gashes upon his face, made by
the hoofs of the frightened horses as they
leaped over him.

The bullet of the unknown Grim Guardi-
an of the trail as he was— had done the work i.
of instant killing, though, for he was dead
when he fell from his saddle.

This much Buffalo Bill and California Joe
saw as they passed by the ghastly form in
the trail. .

A few rods further on, just out of the trail,
were the led horses.

They were hitched to trees, but were with-
out saddles or bridles—a fact of small impor-
tance.

Bounding up to them, each of the pursuers
secured an animal. sprung upon his back,
and were away in chase. no longer on foot,
but well mounted. Little wonder the faces
of each lighted up with satisfaction, and that.
California Joe gave a wild

“ Whoo la!”
and that uffalo Bill responded with the:
Pawnee war-cry

“ Oomayah—Oomayah l"

 
CHAPTER XXVI.
UNDER SUSPICION.

No word was spoken, as the two plains-
men, mounted upon bare-backed horses. and
with the lariats serving as bridles, rode swift--
1y along in pursuit of the stage coach.

Only the grim smile upon their faces indi-
cated that they felt triumphant at their suc-
cess thus far.

Their breath came quick and hard. for
their long and rapid run had been a telling
tax upon them; but, mounted now, they
were resting as they sped alon .

They knew not, of course, w at was before-
them; but whatever it was the would face
it not only undauntedly but wit a cheer!

Aroun a bend they went, following the
trail of the coach, which showed that the
driver had been rushin along at the best
speed of his horses and st strength of the
strong vehicle.

into a heavy growth of timber they rode,
and they soon could look far ahead throu h
vistas in the trees; but no coach was in si ti

Still there was the trail, and along it t ey
skurried at the full speed of their horses. ,

At last they dashed out of the timber, and

 
ameadow was before them. a quarter of a g f

mile across. .

  
n
it

WWFgu

'1”

' z...

 
, ~ hitched!”

j
.i

F

u

'.i

I'i.

('1

    
.‘ g
o

 
.4
- . r
(1.2.
2,.

H‘Wild Tom 01! the box, halted t

w,

/

. - .. ,. ,-
H >~- ~ ».... s»... ,

 
, At the other side was the stream referred
to as bordering Indian Springs Valley.
Along its banks grew a fringe of cotton-
wood trees, and there among them they be-
held the coach, which had come to a halt,
and the horses were standing quietly, after
their rapid run.
No one was upon the box, nor was any one

— visible near it.

As they approached they saw California
Joe’s chosen horse standing hitched to a cot-
tonwood tree; but, where was the rider?
and, too, where was the man who had chock-
ed or stayed the ﬂight of the stolen coach?

The recalled that they had heard three
shots red as they stood on the cliff.

That was half an hour before, and it was
pretty certain that one of those shots had
caused the coach to come to a halt.

Had the driVer been killed? Had their un-
known guardian also met his death when
those shots Were ﬁred, in return for his inter-
ference?

There was the splendid roan horse which
he had ridden, but where was he?

As they drew nearer they beheld, as once
 another dark object lying in the

re .

It was not a rock, though the bowlders lay
about.

They slackened their speed and drew rein
by the ob'ect.

“_ It is ild Tom,” said Buffalo Bill, speak-
iingfor the ﬁrst time.

, , ‘And he is dead, I reckon," assumed
.‘Oalifornis Joe.

" Yes, had his last call.”

“Whar is t'other man?”

“Our rescuer?”

. “Yes, that same.”
‘ ‘f'I cannot even guess."

"Must ﬁnd him, Buf’ler."

“Yes, Joe; that we must.”

' ,They saw that Wild Tom had been killed
by a bullet in the center of his forehead.

' He had evidently fallen from his box, for
he lay all in a heap, and had rolled along af-
ter falling, from the speed with which the
coach had been going.

Three hundred yards further on was the

V coach, in the fringe of cottonwoods, close on
the creek.

There, also, was the roan horse.

Asthey came nearer they could see that

v the horse was hitched, and Buﬂalo Bill call-

,edot:

“ I: there, Joel”

'V‘ .“Whatisit?”

“ The coach leaders‘snd wheelers are also

 64 That’s so, Pard William 1"
‘ 9“ Then weth ﬁnd an unknown friend

I ‘Vabout, for that proves he is, not dead or

. hurt.” ‘
“Sure; dead men don’t hitch horses, as I

 can 'sw’ar to!”

,i“ He overtook the coach, site shooting

8 horses,

“and mu'st be awaitin us.” ‘
“ I hope he isn't sg'm‘ us, Bill."
“ How do you mean?” _
“ He appears ter be a dead shot, fr m the

samples we has seen, and I hope be h in’t a-

‘ihy‘in’ fer us.”‘

" "I never thought of that; but so far, he

"‘  our good friend."

‘ I'- ‘ it looks that way, but I has seen looks
deo‘eiyin' as Injuns.”

f'Tru'e; We must go slow. We are all
 n’ow; let us try and keep so.

3‘ ,3); on oto the right, I’ll take the left,
if wo’il‘ ismount when we strike the creek
and s preach the coach from diﬂferent sides,

 $0,313} meant to be an foe, we’ll have him

res." *

' 9‘, G00!“ I‘m oﬂ, Buf’ler.”

g With this the two left the trail, Buﬂalo
Billriding to the.ri ht, California Joe to the
,..and soon rose ed the oottonwoods on

ef-Iiankiofv the creek, three hundred yards
m the’coach. ' 7

It: could be that,sfter all, the man who

 Such fatal shooting was not their
end: he‘mi'aht be playing is cards to suit
jiggiends, and. Nut a trap for them to
‘ Sb

(":0- - v , ,
 ",th'suddenly ad a suspicion of the
(intentims f g the unknown; but,
9 " bg’ bethenpsptdm, it was only
. ‘99 W.“eircummndcd-'was.th
Thumbs; wu" ﬂat“

 
Buffalo

' lér."

 
h»  _“_,Isurr,enders too~
.v » 9 W

CHAPTER XXVII. i
MYsTIHED. ’

REACHING the cottonwoods about the
same time, Buffalo Bill and California Joe ‘
dismounted, made their horses fast, and
gaining the bank of the lit 10 watercourse, I
began to approach the coach slowly and
with scout wariness. '

The stream-bank served as a shelter, and
they kneiv if there was but one person, as
they had every reason to believe, he could
not watch them both.

In fact, it would be very difﬁcult for him
to watch one of them, shielded as they
were by the banks and the thickets border—
in g them.

But they would not hurry, and keeping ‘
about the same pace, after twenty minutes i
came out in sight of each other, just where
there was a well-beaten deer-trail crossing
the creek. .

“ Well, Joe, here we are.”

“Yes, Buf’ler, but whar ar' him?” an-
swered Joe, who seemed to always take
pleasure in seeing just how far the English
tongue would stand twisting in grammar
and vocabulary and yet allow his meaning'to
be- well understood.

“There is the coach, not a hundred feet
away."

I‘ Yes, and he may be a-layin’ for us ther
moment we shows ourselves.”

“ That is uite possible; so I‘ll ﬁnd out. "

With thiquuHalo Bill took off his hat and
hunting-coat, cut a bush and putting them
on it, raised them into full view, giving the
appearance of a man moving about upon the
bank. -

He attracted attention also by coughing.

But no shot came—no sign of enemy or
friend.

“ Keep it up, Bin, while I come ther snake
act,” said California Joe, as he crawled over
the bank and began to make his way toward
the coach.

But no one was visible; and at last feeling
conﬁdent of this. Buffalo Bill stepped boldly
into View and walked toward the coach, just
as California Joe arose from the undergrowth
near it and called out:

“ He's either dead or has give us ther sneak,
Buf’ler.”

“ Yes,” and Buffalo Bill threw open the
coach door.

There were California Joe's traps just as
they had been thrown in, with all the camp
utensils hastily athered up by the two men
renegades, but t at was all; no person was
visible.

The horses were carefully hitched to trees,
but all was safe within and on top of the
coach, nothing appearing to have been touch-
ed or taken. .

The big span, as stated, was made fast to
a tree some distance 01!.

“ Well. Joe, as we don't see his body about,
he must have slipped away."

' “ Sure, and on purpose, for a fact."
“ After doing us the‘grestest service man

4‘
i

could do."
“ Right a in, Pard William."
“ We n ed a friend an hour sgoss much

as ever man needed one.”
“ We did that. and got one."
“ And he is still unknown. ”
” Don't know him from ther devil, But"-

“ Say rather, from at good angel, for such
he has'been."

“ Don‘t-take much stock in an ls, Bill;
they is too cloudy; but a friend I k n tie 1.0.”.

“ Well. Whoever he may be, I hope toshow
my ﬁstitude some day.”'

" itw say too.

" But, yer him run out and catch that
horse?" - l . - ’

“,Yes, I certainly did see him."

“C'u‘dn't make him‘out—red, white, nig
or Chinaman?” ? >

“No.” . . r '

“ I war so upsot‘I didn’t see all clear, "but
he did look to me like a Injun."

“ Itis no Indian’s work, Joe. ~All Icould
see was a human term. running wi’ 11 the
speed of' a deer, catching. the rein your‘
roan, throwing‘himself into muddle, and,
disappear from sight." - , ‘ - ‘ ‘ x '.

“ her same here; but who war he 
must be so mysterious-shout'it?" . i "- v 0!; J

"1 give itun. Q - N ‘  " " "

      
Bill’s Grim Guard.“

     
“hue
w .

l‘ .i" -‘SY:sa;,§.s plnmgoentér

13

 
“ We‘ll goback to the Springs, taking our
horses along, and picking up the bodies to
bury, making a fresh start tomorrow.”

“ Bill, I is superstitious about tarnin’
back.” I

“ I am not, but I never ﬁght a man’s super-
stitions, Joe; so what do you propose?"

“ Leave ther coach right htre. while I go

‘ back on my roan, pick up your friend Rip

Raps and ther homes, and return, while you
kin git Wild Tom and thesetwo horses we
left on the banks yonder.”

“ All right, Joe; I will be ready to push
right on when you get back,” assured Buf—
falo Bill. °

California Joe mounted and rode away,
while Buffalo Bill went after the horse he
had ridden, took him to where the body of
Wild Tom lay and threw it' across the back
of the animal. That done he returned to the
coach. -

He brought in the animal Joe had ridden,
and all thus being ready for a new start, he
immediately set about looking for some trace
of the unknowu guardian of his trail.

He was rewarded, for soon he discovered
tracks near the coach in a bit of soft round.
They were fresh made, and beyon doubt
were the impress of the unknown’s feet.
But Buffalo Bill was more than ever mysti-
ﬁed at discerning that they were moccasined
footprints! '

Could it, after all, be an Indian, as Joe had
suspected. who was their dead-shot guardian
of the trail? ~

CHAPTER xxvnr.
STILL ON THE FATAL TRAIL.

WHEN California Joe retained he had the
horses, and across one of them was strapped
the body of Rip Raps.

“ He was shot in ther head, Buf’ler, same
as your man thar, and same as ther two thet
got it from ther cliff yistiddy; thet shows it
war ther same dead~shot.

“ I guess I’ll ﬁsh in ther heads for ther
bullets and see—”

” No, no, Joe! Don’t do thet. These
.two were without doubt shot by the same
man, and the bullets would be alike; but we
have not the bullets ﬁred at the other two,
yesterday.” ,

“ Thet’s so, and would hev ter dig ’em up
to git 'em, so let it go at thet.”

“ Hain’t made any diskivery . I doesn’t
know, has yer?”

“ Yes, Joe; I have struck sign.”

"‘ What be it?”

“ The man were moccasins."

"I see, so was a Injun.”

“ You wear moccasins. Joe."

“And I hadn‘t no Injun. and others that’s

white might w’sr 'em. But, Psrd William,
what else did ye make out?"

“ The tracks are yonder for you to inspect I.

for yourself. The man was going from the

coach when he made them, but the nature .

of the ground would prevent our following
his trail.” ‘ ’

“ Don‘t want ter, fer if he wanted ter git
better acquainted he'd intendoooe himself,
not levsnt like a ‘msn that’s wanted by a.
marshal " A’

Buffalo Bill smiled at Job’s way of put-:

ting it, and added:
9‘ I made another discovery, Joe." .
avgell, pard, you has the call. Per-

tion

‘6

' es, one louder than it’other. two, it

‘ struck me. ”

"Inotioed that, though one was from a
ride, the others from a revolver." .
"Jist so I opin ." ,
“Now, I found a revolver l g‘ in the
trail near where Wild Tom’s y lay.” I
“ I see; that's 11 as means business."

“The two revoverehots here ﬁred  

. '.'

the louder one following go I . x

“ Yes, that was the order of exercise.”

" From the revalver I
had been ﬁr "

“ That means that Wild
and let ﬂy at him."

,, " Yes, and the pnrsuer returned  I
. with his-riﬂe, knocking   '

. 4. his“
boxy-re 4 .:

 
a3;

‘ “We heard three shots ﬁred, in this direc- ' l ' 

found two (shots
Tomssen his 

   
r \

        
4

 
kg; 1.;

   
A

    
1. fatal‘ adventure behind them, with all s

,_ ions

.14

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim “Guard.

 
“ We is gittin’ ther signs down as ﬁne as
birds’ teeth, William, and you reads ’em and
sees things jist as a dictionary spells. It
makes me tucker to yer fer a man as I kin
tie to, every time.

“I has heerd, Buf’ler, thet you kin outs
ride any man‘on ther border, kin throw a
lariat like a Mexikin, shoot dead center
every time yer pulls trigger. be it rifle or re-
volver, and has hed thet experience with a
Sword thet makes yer handle a bowie knife
in a way ter delight mankind, while yer kin
outrun, outjump, knock down, throw over
and outgrip any man in ther camps along
ther Overland, and is a all-round good feller
any way you is tuk. ‘

“ All these things hev I heered of yer, Buf’-
ler Bill, and you kin sell my scalp to a Piute
of I don’t now believe it all, and I is thet
proud ter know yer intimate, and be on ther
same trail with yer, I can’t express myself,
’causc m tongue can’t git thar, bein’ no ﬂat-
terer ant a plain spoken man.”

What else further the “plain spoken” man
might have said Was brought to an end by a
hearty laugh from Buffalo Bill, who remark—
ed'

“ Why, Joe, you are the best talker I ever
heard, and have ﬁlled on the ﬂattery until I
am forccd‘to say ‘I have a bottle of medicine
along which I must ask you to drink hearty
of, though I brought it only for snake bites,

on know." .

“Bill, jist keep it fer snake bites, fer you
may need it; but, does yer know yer hain’t
yft tole me whar yer is headin’ fer?"

“I will tonight when we camp, for I sup-
pose we need not remain here.”

“ No, let us bury ther dear departed right
here, and say a prayer 0' thanks over ’em
thet they hain’t buryin’ us, and then we kin

ush on, me. with yer. ef yer wants it so.

e’ll leave dead folks ahlnd us and strike out
new, campin’ whar I knows aplace on ahead,
with good wood, water. and grass.”

“ All right, Joseph; and to-night we'll have
a talk, when I’ll tell you the trail Iam on. I
do not onl'r wish you to go with me, but I
need you ’ ‘

“ I’m with yer,‘ was the earnest response.

The pick and shovel were lifted from the‘

coach and the grave was du , into which the
two bodies were placed, Bu aio Bill remark-
. mg:
“We are wearing these tools bright, Joe,
digging graves.”
“ Yes. and four of 'em thet unknown has

supplied ther provender fer,” was the an ‘

swer. .
The duty of burial over, Buffalo Bill
mountedthe box, and started up his team,

’ California Joe following with the horses in

lead. -

It had, thus far, been a fatal trail, but Buf-
falo Bill would not turn back. He was on'it
to stay.

 
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE CAMP-FIRE CHAT.

CALIFORNIA Jon knew the country per-
. fectiy—a fact that Buffalo Bill soon discover-
ed, as he drove nice on their way from the
creek where they ha found the star 0 await-
ing‘ them, captured b the mists ous and
un nown guardian of t eir trai
The bad
men, iid Tom and Rip
same guardian had killed; and being of a
superstitious nature. California Joe seemed
anxious to leave the scene of their nearcliy
e .
"Let the sun rise on us far from ere,
Buf'ier.” he had urged, and Buffalo Bill was
perfectly willie to humor him.
Cody,-as he' rove along, guided by Cali-
fornia Joe to where they would camp fer

- , the night, had begun“ to feel the exceeding

dimcu ty‘of his 'undertaking, alone.

He had not expected a pleasure trip, by
any means, and had volunteered determined
to face all dangers. -

, . But dangers wholly unlocked-for had

 arisen; as he eertainilyl. had not counted on

being attacked to k
n the camp.
» :Apprehensive, however, that there might

by his Own compan-

heat

buried the bodies of the two,
Raps, whom this'

be one or more'who might shadow his‘trail, of em
«‘- behad pr aredﬁfor them. and the death of- v
’ te‘eﬁsve \had’ beenothe result of his _

 
But there had quickly ensued the trouble
with the two camp hunters, the appearing
of the Chinee and his' warning, with the
result just as the pigtail had stated, as far
as the five men being on his trail.

The last of this band had been wiped out,
four of them by the act of the unknown
guardian who so mysteriously haunted his
trail, and one by his own hand.

But, was this warfare to continue? Had
more lawless men, still hoping to get the
gold he was going after, determined to fol-
low and get his secret, continuing on, after
killing him, to find Leonard Langdon and
his companions, and, by pretending to be
sent to their relief, take their lives and the
treasures they had risked so much to secure?

After his past experience, Buffalo Bill
feared that it was to be a ﬁght clear
through, with supposed friends, and so he
decided to‘ make a clean breast of it to Cali-
fornia Joe.

lie had volunteered to go on the mission
of relief, alone, and thus far had surmount-
ed all diﬂiculties and dangers, but it seemed
that Fate had guided the nomad of the
hills, California Joe, to him, to be his com-
rade in the expedition, and as Fate had so
ordered, he would ask the wilderness tramp
to be his pard, well knowing that Joe
could be trusted with life and a gold
mine.

At last the spot California Joe had in
view for a camp for the night was reached.

,It was in a canyon, near its head, where
a stream came tumbling over, with a roar,
falling a hundred feet.

It found its way along one side of the
canyon, and in the meadow strip which it
fed the grass grew luxuriantly, while there
was plenty of wood for camp-ﬁres and com-
fort.

A ledge of rocks bounded the meadow,
forming a wall like a vast breastwork. To
enter the upper art of the canyon the
coach had to be dr ven into this stream and
out again, above. .

“ There seems to have been a natural .dam
across the canyon, and the stream broke
through it,” observe ‘ PLii'alo Bill.

“ Yes,’and a reegemint c’u'd hold ther hull
Sioux nation at bay behind these rocks,” as-
serteo Joe, confidently.

,‘You are ri ht, and we have as fine,a '

camping place ere as I ever saw,” was
Buffalo Bill’s rejoinder, as he threw the
reins dowu, and, springing from the box,
began to strip his team of their harness.

The horses were soon staked out, the
woiod gathered, blankets spread and a fire
bu It. ' .

Then sup r was prepared, and when it
was over w th, the two pards, so strangely
met, took a seat and began to talk, while
the ‘ evening shadows solemnly deepened
about them.

“Joe, I wish to ask you where you were
goinalwhen I met yen?”

“ hen yer‘saved my life, yer means?"

“With t e aid of an unknown protector,
yes, if you wish it so.” ,

“I does, for I knows all I owes you and
him. .

“erar was I goin’. yer axes? Wdl, I
answers—to ther Big Horn.” .

‘ The Basin?”

" Jist so, William." ,

“ Afﬁne ‘2"

" Me and poor Rough and Ready was all.”

“ You may have been there before?”

“ I has, several times."

“ What for?" ~.

“ Game. pelts, terrsee ther country, knock
over a Injun or two. and—W ‘

“‘ Prospect for gold.” 0

“ Yesz‘ just that, Pard William?"

“Find anly?”

“ Thar‘s ots of it thar, and other metals,

too.

f‘ I tells yer, Buf’ler, it's ther richest coun-
try I cver seen. and some day it’s a goin’ ter
be ther garding spot 0’ ther West, and don't
you forgit it i"

“Did you ever hear of any miners going
there '?” ‘

“ You bet Ihas, and they is thar yet.”

“ Gold hunting?" . _,
“ With a harp, fer ther reds has madeangils

“All killedf"  f“, _ ; "
“Yes. and more  r ‘

[.r

 
“Thar has been soldiers sent up thar, and.
they never gits into ther Basin, or, if they
does, they never comes out—not any.

“ It's only a short time ago a mighty fine
young oﬂicer, Lieutenant Fred Baily, and
eight men went in search of some miners as
had gone in and not been heerd from, and I
wur sent to see whar him and his men was,
and I found ’em,” .

“ Dead ‘2”

" All of ‘em, and I’m going now inter ther
Basin alone for see ef I kin ﬁnd out ther fate
of them miners,” Calirornis Joe explained,
and added:

“Thar was thirty of ’em, and my idea is.
ther last one of ’em has been wiped out.”

CHAPTER XXX.
ON Tun SAME TRAIL.

“_WELL, Joe, you and I are upon the same i
trail,” informed Buffalo Bill, when he heard
just what his companion was going for into ’
the great Basin.

“ No!” in much surprise. ' f.

“It is afact.”

“ Now, Ihas been a-wonderin’ ef the Bufo
falo Bill I has heerd so much of, but know’d,
so lcetle, lied gone crazy, when I seen him
going toward ther Big Horn Basin with a full.
rigged hearse, and fer what?”

“ To find Leonard Langdon, brother of ,
Captain Luke Langdon, division a ent at
Larimer of the Overland Stage an Pony
Company.”

“ He were captain of the outﬁt, I hev
heerd."

“ Yes; the leader of the expedition."

“ And does yer think he is alive?”

“'He was six weeks ago."

“ What's yer proof of that?”

“He wrote to his brother, and asked him.
to send him aid.”

“ So you is goin’ with a hearse?"

Buffalo Bill laughed, and anewered: i

“ I am going with the coach, Joe, to bring
him and his two comrades out ofv the.
Basin ” '

“ You means three [of the party hain‘t.
dead ‘2”

“ They were alive six weeks ago when the
letter was written.”

“ Why didn't Leonard come out with their ,
man as brought word ?”

“ That is just it, Joe, and I want to talk
to you about that."

“ W'aal, I’m ready." " " 4

“ The captain found fastened upon - his
cabin door one morning a letter from his
brother, Leonard. That letter I have with \ \
me, and will show you the whole thing,
maps. directions, letter and all.”

‘,‘ Who brought it?"

“ No one knows; but there it was on the»
door, and a knock awakened the captain,
who was abedat the time. '.

“He went to the door and found the pa- ii
pers fastened u on it, but he could see no
one and did not now who put them there.

“But he knew his brother‘s writing well, ,
so recognized it, and read all that he said .
with great surprise and keen interest." ‘

“ Well, what was it the letter said?"

‘ “Leonard told of his having gone into the
Basin with the miners, thirty all told, and
that they had prospered as far as ﬁndin
old was concerned, but sickness and ace -
lguts and murder reduced their number 
t rec.” . ' .
“ I see-only three left of all that went;

H

 
in. ,
“ J ust- that; and these three, he said, were
too used up and weak to make their way
out with their store of gold, so were then in.
hiding, awaiting aid. ‘ ~ 
“Unable even to ride on horseback, " .g
Leonard Langdon begged his brother to -, ‘ .‘
send a coach after them and their gold.” i, g
“ He wanted ter come in style I should' v
say.” ,‘ ,
"Why, as'they all were too used hp ta Q, ,
ride the long way out of the Bitsin on hot-sea , ‘ " "
back, and the coach could carry them and"
their gold, it was very natural for him to;-
suggest a coach.” ‘
' “And you started out alone?" I .  -
“I did, for the letter demanded that but ix? i;
one man should come, on the errand, no  '
more.” , . ,  ‘
“Thet Miner Lapgdon are a level-headed.”

 
" He explained

 
man.” 7 , .,  '
j . that they would: 
,morwith theer   ._ ,

i ». r.. ,' 4'

nah...“ ,3 .(;....~.... ‘  I p ‘ _....

\

«n

\

I

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. 1*

C.

 
that if more than one man came they would
not ﬁnd them. To ﬁnd them he sent a map
and full directtons to reach a certain point,
and the would be on the watch there.”

“An if only one come they’d show up
and pan out?”

“ Yes, that was the promise.”

“ And of more come, they’d sneak and not

show up at all?”
' “ Yes, so the letter announced.”

“And you was the one Cap’n Langdon
picked out?"

“It called for a volunteer and I offered.”

“ He were wise ter send you, and just
r why the reason is because you would be
. about the onlp man ter git through; thet, I
kin sw’ar to; and when got thar yer w’u’dn’t
isteal ther gold and murder the owner of

L

“Yer’d be about ther only man ter git
back safe, or I misses my reck’nin’.

“So far yer has got along whar other
folks w’u’d be sleepin’ quiet with toes turn-
ed up to ther daiscs six feet underground.

“Now, William, my pard, yer has done
Well, and yer’ll git through, while I offers
myself as a comrade if yer has faith in my
helpin’ yer, in the mighty resky business
yer knows as it is.”

“ That is just what I was going to ask you,
Joe, and I‘ll share my proﬁt with you.”

“ I hain‘t arter pay, William, for thet don't
count whar I kin sarve a pard like you.

“ Yes. in course I 11 go, and we'll ﬁnd ’em
or the'r bones, and in that case, even, onless
‘ somebody else in ther shape 0’ Injuns, found
’em ther gold tno'ut be far away from whar
their bones is.

“I kinder thought thet ther last one 0’

them thirty miners was dead; but ther letters
proves thet three was then livin’ and human-
‘ ity demands thet we ﬁnd ’em. '
- “And, as I opines about sich men they
must be out o’ provisions and in a bad way,
' so we'll push along jestas hasty as the bosses
kin toddle.

"But, I say, William, I can’t ondersta‘nd
'est who c’u’d hev tuk thet letter to Cap’h

uke Langdon. Maybe be are ther one as is
guardin’ your trail now, Buf’leri What
, say i"

“Ah! that maybe so; it’s a good sugges-
tion!” admitted Bill.

“But I am more than lad, Joe, that you
are to‘be with me,” he added, ferventl .

, "So is I, William, an’ I wouldn’t like it
to be otherwise.
‘ “I were huntin’ter ﬁnd out about them
same miners. and I guesses now we’ll git ter
ther end 0’ this trail, safe an' sound. Only.
who is ther feller shadderin’ats, and thet we
don’t know? Is he leadin' us on for some
deep game of his own, or is he a friend
through thick and thin i"
. “I give it up," was the reply of Buffalo
Bill, “ We’ll on] know when we ﬁnd out.”
“Jest that!" so rly assented Joe.

 
" CHAPTER XXXI.
AN ARROW’S FLIGHT.

THE two pards spread their blankets
' beneath a group of scrub pines growing up-
on the edge, where they could see any one ap-
proaching and thus guard their camp.

' But they did not expect further trouble
there, and the night passed without any dis.
turbance.
' a The horses were well rested in the morn.
ing, and, after breakfast, the two pards
eta ted again upon the dangerous and un-
bro en trail.

The loose horses were tied. head and head,
and were allowed to follow the coach, while
'California Joe divided his time between
ridin on in advance and picking the trail,
or folowlngto see that all was right and
safe in the rear.

Before leaving camp Joe had. looked over
Buffalo Bill's map, and the directions for
‘ nished by Miner Leonard Langdon, and de~
cided that the course indicated was the trail

the miners had taken on their way into the

in.
2 “I kiiow about where the spot is that
* this trail ends, an‘ier, and if I remember,
a". I think I does. it’s in a big canyon, with
,cliﬂs 'all ‘-around, and it‘s up that on the
’ ,eliﬂ these miners will be, watchin’ fer yer.
.. 19‘;Yer' see,’ he says ter make yer noon
‘  what that trail end
- , " until. on‘e of ,

  
and tar re- tied the each
i v't‘lnd  f,  *

an appearance, which same they’ll do, if
you is alone, in a couple 0’ days.”

“ Which will give them time to discover,
from their lookout, if I really am alone, un-
less I fool them.”

“ As you kin, by leavin’ me and three
extra horses back a good distance on ther
trail.”

“ Yes; just that.”

“Well, we’ll push ahead right peert and
see what thar is ter tarn up at ther end of
ther trail.”

So it was that the comrades pushed ahead
and so continued, steadily, with no interrup—
tions.

As California Joe would go on ahead
from time to time, and pick a way for the
coach, Buffalo Bill was enabled to drive at a
better pace, and when noon came he had
made a fair morning’s journey of it. consider-
ing the nature of the trail he had to drive
over.

Here and there they saw traces of where
the miners had camped, in going to the Big
Horn Basin, for trees were cut down and
logs halfburncd, showing that the coach
was following the trail mapped out by
Leonard Langdon.

After a h tit of an hour at noon they con-
tinued (n, and Buffalo Bill‘began to feel
that if at y o to else from the camps intended
giving him trouble it would be upon the re-
turn.

Should ,they ﬁnd the three miners alive,
and a short re t with good food build them
up, with their aid and California Joe's Buf-
falo Bill was assured that it would take a
considerable force to rob him of the treasure,
and this kind of an attack he did not expect
from the camps, considering the ill success
of those that had already attempted to way—
lay and “ do for” him.

If they gained any advantage, it would
have to be through an ambush, and with
Joe and himself to scout on ahead, and one
of the miners to drive the coach, he did not
fear being surprised.

So he did not allow danger on the return
to worry him then, and nerved himself to
face whatever danger or trouble might at
any moment confront him.

Joe had again ridden to the front, and was
going through a narrow can on, several
hundred yards in advance 0 the coach,
when he started and grasped his weapons as
he suddenlyheard a whirring sound, from
just where he could not at ﬁrst determine.

It sounded like the whirr of an arrow.

And an arrow it was, for there suddenly
came down into the trail before California
Joe that Indian weapon.

It stuck quivering into the ground not
thirty feet before Joe, who hastily, with the
instinct of safety, spurred to a place of
safety close under the cliﬂ nearest to him.

Buifalo Bill witnessed Joe’s act. and knew
at once that something was wrong, so drove
quickly forward to h s comrade’s support.

But, California Joe raised his hand to
signal to him to halt where he was, and he
drew rein at once.

He then beheld Joe go forward boldly, no
longer seeking the shelter of the cliffs, and,

.dismounting,from his horse saw him pick

up the arrow.

That done, his comrade beckoned to him to
come on.

Quickly Buffalo Bill did so, and holding
up the arrow Joe said:

“This seart me, Buf’ler, when I heerd it
a-comin', but seein' thet it were not intended
to be dangersome, I jist picked it up."

“ Yes, and it has a slip of paper wrapped
close ' around it, Joe. It is a signal, no
doubt." ~

" That‘s jest what it is, pard; so see what
it is. and whose correspondin' with us away
out here.”

As he spoke California Joe handed over
the arrow to Buffalo Bill.

CHAPTER XXXII.
A uvs'rsmons unssAGa‘.

BUFFALO BILL looked at the arrow handed
to him and said quietly: ,

" Sioux,” «

“Yes, jest that. " ,

“ Now for the aper." v - .

About the sle er shaft was tightly rolled
a piece of paper, fully six inches long, dand

   
hope he’ll be on hand-then."

 
“ Yes, jest what it is."

“It was well tied on "

“ First class: knew his business.”

Unrolling the paper it proved to be a
piece of white foolscap upon which was
drawn the map of a trail!"

“ Ah! it is our trail!”

“Sure it is; but, pard, thar’s changes."

“ Yes, here is a change right here, marked
‘ cut off six miles.’

“ Then they appear all along to the Basin,
these out offs, saving from two to ten 4
miles each—yes, OVer a hundred miles in all, ‘
I see, from the trail we are following and
made by Leonard Langdon.”

“ Who drawed it, Bill?" ‘~

“ Our unknown guardian, Joe.”

“ Sure it is; for.who else could it be?"

“ The map begins here at this canyon. as
you see, and tracing our trail with these dot-
ted cut offs it marks camps for both noon
and night.”

“ So I sees. Williami”

“This assigns us about the distance per
day we can travel. It is drawn with real
skill, while what is written, as you see, has
been printed with a pencil. The more the
mystery, Joel So I ask again—who can be
our guardian?"

“ Dunno,” fer, a fact.
a old hat‘s wu’th.” ,

“He certainly is a friend."

“ Yes, but wish he’d show up all the
same," and the old ranger seemed in a
serious mood. ‘

“ Why?" asked BniIalo Bill.

“ Well, it makes me feel shivery, this
kind 0’ work I can’t understand nor see.”

“We saw him.”

“ Yes, got a graveyard glimpse of him.”

“ You don’t think it is n. ghost’s work do
you, Joe?" and Buffalo Bill laughed.

“ Waal, ther‘ is folksas belieus in sperrits,
and thet same am I; but I hain’t heerd that
they git around by day, though nothin’ that
happens in this wild country kin surprise
me, now.”

“ I think it is some one of the miners who
can only guide and help us unseen until he
ﬁnds out if we are honest in our attempt to
rescue his pards. I cannot' account for it in
any other way, Joe. No other person but
one interested would take all this trouble, it
seems to me.” ' ,

“ Onless it be ther sperrit of one of ther
dead miners a-helpin’ his pards out.”

“ Nonsense! I take stock only in live ﬂesh
and blood, Joe; but I can feel that whoever r
our guardian of the ,trail is, he’s a grim one,
a true one and our good pard thus far; but
see, here is something printed on the hack of
this map.” »

“ Read it.”

Buffalo Bill read aloud:

“ Push on to camps marked.

“Those you seek to aid cannot last much
longer. \

“ Your greatest danger will be ’upon your
return.”

“ Well, Joe, what do you think of that?”

" It’s plain talk, fer a dead sure fact, Wil.
liam!”

“ Yes, and we must obey it.”

“ Sart’in. Sure!” '

‘f You believe in trusting our mysterious
friend, then?”

“Yes, for he has proved a trusty pard, be
he ﬂesh or sperrit."

" And he doubtiess has his eye upon us
n0w.”

With instinctive caution California Joe
started as though to unmask trouble, but '
laughed with Buffalo Bill when he realized 
what he was doing.

“ Well, Joe, we will push on again, \for it
would be useless to attempt to ﬁnd our guar-
dian, as; not being birds, we cannot scale
those cliifs,-and to go around and hunt for ,,
his trail would be less of precious time. even
if we found the man, which probably we

Couldn‘t guess fer

would not do.”

“ Sosays I, Pal-d William.” I , '

“ One things more is certain—that should
we make a m take he will set us right, if he
goes on the trail further, which is notlikely.
As he says, our greatest danger will be upon
our roturn, and that is what I have thought
all along. , If he‘quits our company 1101,"!

     
“, Jui§.wm I hopes; Par-d  :
3"?» J09.”  whether

 
16

now. Our guardian says here that those we
are going for are in need of our aid greatly,
which goes to show beyond question that he
knows just where our trail leads.”

“ Straight as that thar arrow, that seems.”

“ And the message informs us they cannot
last much longer. Are they besieged by In-
dians, or are they starving? Which is it,
Joc ‘2” '

"Dunno, fer a fact, \Villiam.”

“ Joe, my friend?" inquiringly.

“ Yes, Buf ler; what is it?”

“The man who is now our guardian is the
one who put that map and letter upon Chief
Langdon’s cabin door.”

“You are about right thar, Buf’ler; that
same is my opine."

“But why did he not reveal himself to
Langdon‘! ’ ‘

“ Why don’t he reveal hisself to us, Bill,
now that thar’s no need of any more se-
crec ‘3’

“That is another mystery, Joe.”

“I guess it’s about as you has it down—
that it’s one o’ the miners as is yet able to git
about, and so went fer help.

“ He is watchin’ ter see jist what help are
sent out, and if 0. K. he’ll help, and ef not
he’ll take a hand ag’in’ us when he thinks
best.”

“Yes, and may be letting us take the re-
lief there for himself to make use of.”

“ By killin’ us after we have did our
duty?”

“That is it; but it’s only a mere supposi-
tion. The whole thing is an all~around puz-
zle, Joe; but I think we can solve it,” was
Buffalo Bill’s response, and manner and
tone both showed that he was in the game
to stay.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE SURROUND.

Born Buffalo Bill and Joe were impressed
by the coming to them as it did of the mys-
terious message from a more mysterious un-
known source.

They went on their way with even more
watchfulness than before, in spite of the
statement that their greatest danger would
be upon‘their return.

After consultation they decided that they
would follow the direction of the trail-trace
which they had received in such a strange
manner.

The would try the first “cut-oﬂf;” if that
rove all right, they would take the others
:1 succession.

The ﬁrst cut-off did prove satisfactory,
and comparing it with the direct trail, they
saw that it had saved them the distance
marked on the paper.

Their night camp was made where it was
indicated on the map, and though he had
been over the trail several times, California
Joe frankly confessed that he did not know
that the distance could be thus shortened.
and had never been to the camping-ground
where they then were.

It had been a question, as they progressed,
where they would ﬁnd water for their night
camps, but the paper trail-trace had lines
and signs to show just where there were
streams and springs, one day’s travel being
specially marked:

“ Fill casks and canteens at this camp—no
“inter until next night's camp. Take wood
a so.”

“ Well, he downs me in knowin’ this coun-
try and no mistake,” was California Joe’s
comment as they found the trail panning out
just as the new map said, and Buffalo Bill
began to see how his horses and himself
would have suffered had he stuck to the
trail which the miners evidently had taken
on their way into the Basin.

Thus a week passed away upon the rugged
stretch, and many a long mile had been put
between the two undaunted men and the
station on the Overland.

So far they had not seen an Indian, yet
they traveled by day and watched by night
as if they well knew that they were liable
to be set upon any time by the redskins.

If they did not meet any, some prowting
band might cross their trail, and at once fol-
low it, for wheels going up into that country
were not known—ill least not since the lost

. ~ miners had taken their wagons into the Big
, Horn two years or more before, and by that
same trail. .

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

Their grim guardian they had not heard
from since the arrow message in the narrow
canyon: had he turned back there, or was he

' still shadowing them?

1’ These questions Buffalo Billand California
Joe asked each other at each camping-

, place.

The wear and tear of the long trail upon
the horses began to tell, pushed as they now
were, for the daily travel out out for them
by the new map showed forced marches to
reach the miners in time.

The animals took turns in being hitched
to the coach, and Buffalo Bill was glad that
the capture of the ﬁve horses of the party
under Wild Tom been made, as it would
have been more than those he had originally
started with could stand.

“ Thar's a pretty valley. Bill, but as it’s on
one. of ther cut offs I never seen it afore,”
said California Joe one day, as they passed
over a ridge into a beautiful valley shut in
on all sides by mountains.

“ It is, indeed, a beautiful valley, Joe, and
what a place for settlers, did they dare come
here!” and 10st in admiration at the loveliness
of the scene, Buffalo Bill’s eyes closely
scanned the landscape far and near; but,
suddenly he drew rein, with a cry to Cali-
fornia Joe, and the warnin words:

“See! we are complete y surrounded by
Indians!”

One sweeping glance was sufﬁcient to show
California Joe mounted redskins ahead, be-
hind and on all sides, riding out of the tim-
ber to surround them.

“Buffalo Bill, we is scalpedi But some
Injuns dies afore I say quits,” was the sig-
niﬁcant rejoinder of California Joe.

 
CHAPTER XXXIV.
A FURLORN norm.

THERE seemed not an atom of hope for
the two .men, Buffalo Bill and California
Joe.

It looked like a ﬁght to the bitter end and
sure death to follow.

The valley was a beautiful one, too serene
in its loveliness to be marred by deadly
strife,

Buffalo Bill had drawn rein the moment he
had seen the danger.

At ﬁrst it appearedas though his eyes
were deceiving him. for could it be possible
that he beheld a hundred mounted warriors
riding in line slowly out of the timber three-
qnarters of a mile ahead?

His eyes swept to the right, and half a
mile away he beheld another band of red-
skins.

To the left a third party of red horsemen
came‘into view.

To the rear there were yet more of
them.

Nearly half a thousand of mounted foes
were in sight, ahead, to the right and left
and in their rear!

From three—quarters to half a mile distant
they were, advancing, their ponies moving
at a slow walk,

They evident] were sure of their prey!

No wonder Ca ifornia Joe had averred that
they were “already scalped!" .

Yet his grim courage had constrained him
to add that Indians would fall before they
got his scalp.

And Buffalo Bill, though he realized how
hopeless was their position, would like-
wise make a stand until death palsied his
hands.

There would be wailing in the Indian vil
lage over many braves slain!

He and California Joe would make names
that would go down in legend in the Indian

tribes. never to be forgotten
1 And the story of their ﬁght for life
, against such odds would be told, some day,
l by the Indians who were there, and their

comrades and friends would know just how
I they died and call them heroes.
i Buffalo Bill glanced into the face of Cali-
3 fornia Joe, to read there the same thoughts,
the same determination. that were in his

 
, 0WD.

: They were, entering the fatal Big Horn

iBasin, fatal to so many palefaces before

them!
5 The place where Buffalo Bill had halted
was a fortunate one for them, for a consider-

'able mass or group of bowlders was just-

. ‘ . \ s V?! V 1-.
,. ‘.r. '5, _...- _
-..“» ‘35:.” - \ i1 mi, ,u‘g ~- ., "x:
‘ ’ '  i":‘\m‘ .‘v‘fiu .' '-" '
to.“ -_. -, a}: '- ','. ;‘.' .- ,3

.swered the old man of the hi

 
there, with stunted pines growing about
them.

Instantly he drove his team right into the
center of this natural fortress. ,

In that retreat they were fairly well con:
ecaied, as were also the horses that California.
Joc followed In with.

All were made fast around the coach.

They would form a breastwork of horse-
ﬂesh as they Were shot down.

There were plenty of riﬂes and small guns
in the coach. These were quickly taken
out and made ready for use. They were al-
ready loaded.

There were bowlders before and behind--
all around, in fact—to protect homes and
Coach. There were two openings, however,
through which the attack was sure to come
and the two friends were each to guard
one.

Bags, rolls of blankets, cushions and all
eISe available were so arranged as to protect
them as well as possible. ‘

They had no hope of any more than a tem-
porary success, at best. All that there seem-
ed possible to the two dauntless men was to
strike a blow never to be forgotten by their
implacable foe—to make their own scalps at
the belt of some chief count for one hundred
brayes, who never again would take the war-
trai .

“I see Crows, Cheyennes, and Blackfeet,
Joe; and there is their great head chief, Wa-
sha-kie, if I am not misthken, for I haveseen
him twice before.” \

“You are right, Pard William; it’s Wa~
sha-kiei Oh! but this is going to be a ﬁght,
Buf’ler—jest a death roster."

“ Yes, a blind man could see that, Joe."

“ Is you ready to ﬁght to the death, Pard
William ?”

“I am; and you, Joe?”

“ Jest the same. Shake on itl”

The two true-as-steel comrades grasped
hands.

It was the death-pledge of two as brave
souls as ever were human guise.

No quavering was in their ﬂashing eyes.

No trembling of their high-strung nerves.
Thus they stood. silent. a full minute, as if
in solemn commune with their own death
thoughts.

Buffalo Bill was the ﬁrst to break the si-
lence.

“ See!” he said, scanning the slowly-mov-
ing line of the red host. “See, Joe; they
are breaking ﬁle and arebeginning to stretch
out, to surround us in a great circle.”

“ Yes, pard. that’s jest what they reckon
doing. It's Injun tactics. every time." an-

ls, carefully
scanning the redskins‘ movement.

“ Let them surround,” added the scout.
“ It will help us to select our targets—a red-
breast for each shot. I shall take Wa-sha-kie,
for I found him badly hurt once: I gave
him my horse, ﬁxed up his leg, ﬁlled his
grub-bag for him and let him go, although
he was then on the war-path after my scalp,
and might have taken it, had not his on
slipped down a cliff with him and was k 11 ,
hurting the chief badly, as I have said."

“Well, he’ll prize your scalp ther more
fer it, Bill, and mine, too, fer ther same rea
son, as I onst helped him out o a scrape
when he come ter ther camps fer a pow-
wow.

“ Ther tellers was goin’ ter scalp him and
send him back, him and ther four chiefs,
without their ha’r, but I put in my chin-
mnsic and said as how they hed come that
in trust fer a council 0’ war, an’ so I’d‘kill
ther man thet laid hands on ’em. and I stood
guard right thar and then ontil they rode
away, with tha'r scalps still on.

“But now we is in for it, Pard William,
and our sealps will look tip-top in Wa-sha-
kie’s tepee.”

“ Well, Joe, there will be some Indians
who will not see them there,” was the grim
response.

CIIAPTE R XXXVI.

'I‘IIE TIGIITENING COIL.

THE movements of the Indians were cer-
tainly imposing, to say the least of them.

They, had appeared like red specters com-
ing out of the timber on four sides of the
c0ach; they had moved with their ponies in
a very slow walk. but as they moved nearer
they began gradually to stretch out their

 
- a» we.“ ._,

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

17

 
-A-

lines’ upon each side until they ﬁnally met,
in a great circle, which completely encom—
passed the position taken by the two pards,
the line being fully a quarter of a mile from
the bowlder fort.

When this circle was completed, all came
to a halt and the horsemen stood not over
ten feet apart.

Up and down over the inequalities of the
ground, across meadow, over hills and
through timber the line extended, visible
everywhere to Buffalo Bill and California
.loe.

Right ahead in their trail down the val-
ley was.a group of braves inside the circle.

In their midst was the head-chief, Wa-
sha - kie, whom Buffalo Bill had recog-
nized.

About him were others also wearing the
eagle-feather war-bonnets of chiefs.

It was a distinguished gathering.

They were in council, and in no hurry, so

' sure were they of their prey.

They saw to them a strange sight—a stage-
coach entering the unknown land of the Big
Horn Basin, at least a land unknown to pale-
faces, save the few who had gone there to
meet their doom.

Were their eyes not deceiving them—
could a coach of the Overland, a vehicle
that had to ﬁght for existence in following
the trail further south that stretched through
their country toward the Land of the Set-
ting Sun, be really invading the Big Horn
Basin?

And this, too, unguarded by an army of
pale-face soldiers!

Such a strange sight had been reported to
Chief Wa-sha-kie by his young men, and he
had called his bands of braves together to see
it.

They would meet it at certain point; they
would surround it, and then the daring and
presumptuous palefaces should know that
they must take the trail from there to the
Happy Hunting-grounds.

Braves in large numbers had ﬂocked to the
rendezvous when called by Wa-sha.kie_

All were anxious to see this strange sight,
not to know of it from other lips—all were
anxious to be in at the battle.

So they had met in the valley ahead of the
coach, and taken up position to surround it.
No mistake must be made; there must be no
escape for the presuming palefaces who had
invaded the Big Horn country.

At last, in the broad glare of day, they be-
held the coach came into view.

It was driven by one paleface seated upon
the box; it was drawn b six horses.

Another paleface fol owed close in the
rear, leadin other horses.

Wa-sha-k e rubbed his eyes and looked
again.

There it was! A coach on a deadly trail!
His young men had not deceived him; they
had spoken with truthful tongues.

Were other palefacesin the coach?

What if there were?—if a dozen were
there? Were not his warriors half a thou.
sand in number?

What prompted the strange driver of the
coach to come there, the redskins wondered.

There seemed something uncann in the
daring deed to the Indians, and this it was
that prompted them to g0 slow—to make the
:surround and then decide what further steps
to take.

And while they halted Buffalo Bill and
California Joe watched and waited for the
blow that was to come.

 
CHAPTER XXXVI.
UNACCOUNTED son.

“Paan JOE, it looks as though we had to
die here, and I am sorry y0u came along
with me, to end like this, after all you have
passed through in your life ”

“ Now, look a-here, Billl Don’t on
waste no more sorrow on me than yer oes
Ion yerself, fer I has lived with my life in my
hand, and is ready ter go whenever my time
comes.

“ I is a older man“ than you; 1 is beginning
to look at ther world from ther other side of
forty, while you has life before yer and kin
look forward to bein’ happy and winnin'
fame—thet is, yer could do thet if we wasn’t
goin’ ter be scalped in less than half a hour.

“We both is in it, now, to ﬁght it out

, _ and you kin bet I ll ﬁght ther Inj uns as goes

 
along with us clean to ther corral gates o’
ther happy hunting grounds, only stay
right near me, ef we passes in our chips, for
[don’t think they‘ll know much about me
up yonder, and I wants you for my pard.”

Buffalo Bill could but smile at Joe’s
quaint way of putting it, but replied;

“ All right, pard; we’ll be together alive or
dear .”

They had their eyes intently ﬁxed upon
the Indian circle which had come to a full
stand, the surround being complete.

The nearest Indian was just about a quar-
ter of a mile away, and Buffalo Bill knew
that his heavy long range rifles would readily
kill at that distance.

All the weapons were ready, as we have
noted, for rapid ﬁring.

“We will take the chief and his group of
chiefs ﬁrst, Joe, and can get in a dozen or so
long range shots; then we'll open with the
other guns as fast as we can ﬁre, and end up
with our revolvers, and I think we can make
a good record,” was Buffalo Bill‘s explana-
tion and order to his comrade.

“ I is sart‘in of it; but see! suthin’ has gone
wrong with ’em!”

Evidently something was the matter, for a
movement was apparent along the whole cir-
cle.

Buffalo Bill quickly scanning the encir-
cling line, said:

” There is the trouble, Joe.”

“Yas, a Injun ridin’ along the line and
blanketed." '

“ Yes, he has his head and all covered
with a black blanket, and you know what
that means?”

“ It means a warnin’ from a medicine-man
thet they is goin’ wrong?"

“Yes, Joe, and his coming is creating a
sensation. .

“ See! He is mounted upon a black horse,
and his black blanket completely hides him—
head and form."

“ Yes, he’s got suthin’ ter say and you bet
it’s in our favor, William. He wouldn’t in-
terfere. at this stage 0’ ther game of it wasn’t
fer good cause.”

“ I hope it is in our favor, for we' certain-
ly need friends just now.”

The horseman upon whom the eyes of the
two men were riveted, had ridden out from a
growth of timber through which the coach
had come.

He was mounted upon a black pony,
which, it could be seen even at that dis-
tance, had a very long mane and sweeping
tail.

The rider sat with bowed body in the
saddle, his head and shoulders completely
00vered by a large black blanket.

This, as Buffalo Bill and California Joe
knew, was a secret sign among the Indians
to mean a warning to halt on the trail they
were then pursuing.

And the Indians had so taken it, for all
were at a stand-still and every eye was up-
on..the somber form ridin in a slow walk
toward the chief, Wa-sha-kie.

The two pards saw the group of chiefs
open as he drew near, leaving their great
leader alone.

Up to him rode the blanketed horseman,
halting 'ust in front of him.

Buﬁ’an Bill had his ﬁeldglass to his eyes
and said:

J “ I‘Iow we’ll see the result of the warning,
oe. ’

“ Yes, pretty soon."

They beheld the arms of the mufﬂed form
rise above his head and move in a peculiar
manner. .

“ He is asking by signals if the chief will
hear his warning."

I “ What does the chief answer, Pard Buf’-
er?”

“ He signiﬁes that he will, for the muﬁied
form has thrown off the blanket, which means
Good Medicine.”

“ Then I hopes he preaches him inter lettin’
us alone."

“ So do I, and not turning us back, ei-
ther.”

“ What‘s he doin’ now, pard ?"

Buffalo Bill still held his glasses to his eyes
and answered:

“ The chief is listening to what he has to
say, and is evidently impressed, for he shows
no sign of anger or impatience.”

“ Is ther medicine in war-paint, William?”

“ He is painted black, only."

l

 
“ That means thet he is ag’in’ ther trail they
is followin’ and thet he's hed a dream of had
luck of they keeps on.”

“I hope they‘ll heed the dream, Joe, if that
is what has brought him here.”

“Ditto me, \Villiam. How does ther pow~
wow seem tcr pan out, now?”

“All right for the medicine-man, for the
chief has turned his back upon us; and see!
the whole band are preparing to ride away!”

“ Good! then they is scared off from scal-
pin’ us, Bill."

“ It certainly seems so, Joe; but, let us see
what the result will be,” answered Buffalo
Bill, quietly. “ The big medicine-man may
not have it all his own way; for some of the
warriors may have something to say.”

 
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE BLANKETED nonsanart.

THE two pards kept their position and
watched with greatest interest the unexpected
movements of the Indians.

The chief led the way, the again mufﬂed
form of the medicine-man riding by his
side.

As the chief rode away ﬁrst one brave from
the right would follow, then one from the
left, falling in behind each other, until they
became a long line of horsemen, nearly a
mile in length, riding single ﬁle, at a slow
walk.

Over the distant hill at the end of the val-
ley passed the chief, and the line winding be-
hind him carried out California Joe’s remark
thoroughly:

“ Ef thet ain’t a spotted snake then I
never seen one, and jist as treacherous and
deadi ."

“ es, Joe; it certainly looks like ahuge
moccasin, crawling away to cover. But,
they are going our way, you notice.”

“Yes, right up the valley, which is our
trail, Buf’ler; we can‘t take any other, now."

“I don’t like that a little bit, Joe."

“Nor I, William; not a bitl Let’s git on
ther roof of ther ole hues and take a better
squint through the glass."

“ No, Joe; no such move as that, now.”

“ Why not, Pard Bill?”

“ Why, don't you see if we do that, they’ll
know we are but two?”

“ They knows thet anyway, pard."

“Not so, Joseph. They saw the two of
us but they did not know how many might
be hidden in the coach.”

“Fer afact, William. ' Yer head is wiser‘n
mine.”

“ If they think we have a dozen ﬁghting
men along, why, they ,will be careful about
attacking us, should any young braves, un-
heeding the warning of the blanketed horse-
man, take a notion to attack us, any-
how."

“Right you are, Buf’ler. I sees the wis-
dom of your opine. We Won’t git on ther
top 0’ ther huss."

“When they have been gone from sight
some little time, Joe, I’ll slip out and see
just where they are and what doing, and
when I signal you to come on you can."

“ It’s risky, that, pard."

“It is equally as risky staying here, Joe,
for they can wipe us out whenever they wish
if they are so inclined. We must push on,
and might as well take the chances, for I do
not believe you are in favor of turning back
to retrace our long trail and own up beat.”

“ I hain’t bu.lt that way, Pard Bill.”

“I know that.”

The two comrades in peril continued to
watch the Indian column until the last red
horseman ﬂied out of sight, and as the last
one disappeared Buffalo Bill hastily mounted
Joe’s horse, which was already saddled, and
rode away, to spy upon the retreating
column. '

Joe immediately began reparations to
follow with the coach and ed~horses when
he should ct the signal from his comrade.

Buffalo ill did not ride away upon the
trail of the Indians, but kept well away
from it.

He had seen a high point at the end of the
valley, which he could ascend, and from
which to command a view of the co ntry
beyond the valley-this point, or brill-top
being over a mile from the spot of their en-
forced halt.

California Joe watched his pard as he rode

 
' slowly‘down toward the center of the valley

-toms, redskin human nature, their signs,

g triumph‘ over Joe and himself, this mufﬂed

' "i .’ chief, an able
daring and sp endid deeds, who had sub-
_' . missively listened to this mysterious medi-
* g , cine of the sable blanket!
‘ v , 'It was all like a dream vision, yet proved

 
 ’0! spirit warning. and so impressed had the
{chief been that he had at once turned hisi
back upon his prey,

 
. ‘knew that any brave of inﬂuence “seeing a
~ vision," dreaming adream of ill-fortune,'or

Mix: in the valley, he had called his young

   
." "muggy “it

:18

 
the cot of the lookout, dismount and ascend
the steep on foot.

Cody had been right in his conjecture: the
hilldid command a grand view of the coun-
try beyond.

It was at the end of the valley, and the In—
dians in their retreat had passed along to the
further side over a ridge. -

Reaching the hill-top Buffalo Bill sought a
clump of bushes, and thus shielded from pos-
sible discovery he pushed through until he
could obtain a view of the country and deter-
mine just where his foes were.

He discovered, to his joy, that the long
line had filed to the right after leaving the
valley, and were still crawling, snake-like,
on way of retreat or withdrawal.

Raisin his glass to his eyes he distinctly ‘
discern the head chief, the others, and the
long line of following braves, but failed to
perceive the muffled form of the medicine
man.

The way the Indians were heading, was
toward a large village which Buffalo Bill
had learned was in a range of mountains
which he saw far away in the distance.

Had the reds really been scared off by the
medicine-man and were they on their way
to the village? -

It certainly appeared so, and yet, that
seemed "unaccountable-that a great war-
party should be so controlled by a medicme~
man.

Running his glass slowly back alondg the
line Buffalo Bill suddenly discovere the
blanketed horseman.

‘ His face was turned toward the rear of
the Indian column, and his horse was at a
halt.

The Indians, still in single ﬁle, were pass-
ing slowly past him, and as they did so he
waved his arms to and fro.

A ain was he muffled in his black blanket,
and is waving arms beneath it had a weird
look.

I The braves gaZed at him as they rode by,
but it seemed that all passed in utter Silence.

Watching them closely Buffalo Bill behold
the last brave ride by the mufﬂed horseman
and disappear over a farther ridge.

Then he saw the blanketed horseman ride

where the coach must pass, for there lay the
only possible trail for the big vehicle.

 
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MYSTER/IOUS MOVEMENTS.

FROM this point of view Buffalo Bill
watched the black draped horseman most
attentively. ’ '

Who was he that hhld such power over the
Indians? » ,

What warning could he have iven that
would drive ﬁve hundred warr ors away
from their prey?

‘~What inﬂuence had be exerted to save two

alefaoes‘from the savages who certainly

eld them wholly at their mercy?

It was a mystery the wary scout and ex-

rienced borderman could not solve. He

ad been a devoted student of Indian cus-

their motives and their /superstitions; he

having a warning from the Great Spirit,
could check a pan already. formed for a
battle or an expedition. \

In the very moment of what seemed their

horseman had appeared—had checked their
intended rush upon the coach, and its de-
fenders---hsd been received by the great
eneral, with a reputation for

to be a wonderful reality.
Yes, he spake to the great chief the words

and had, without
vgrunt protest, taken the back trail to his
' ge—leaving his prize and the coveted

 
' r E, andsllbecause of a warning!
 was lthisredmaqi iii-black? ' ‘

~~lariat across the trail for him ?

        
 , adrenaline Bill asked
.nri’rt ' . vs ' ‘ ’.

-Vsﬁ‘alsﬁillfs Grim Guard.

 
But now, there the man was before him,  man gone after the braves who had so silently

and the deeply interested scout resolved to
penetrate the mystery. '

The Man in Black had dared to turn back
toward the palefaces; and more,

.-

v retreated, to call them back?
“I will see what that lariai means, and if
! hostile to us, we can but go back to the rocks

he was , where we were and fight it out,” muttered

coming directly toward the trail which the - Buffalo Bill, a grim expression on his resolute

coach must follow!

Determining to ﬁrst signal to California l
Joe to come on, and then return to watch the t
Man in Black, as he now called him, Buffalo ,
Bill went back out of the thicket until he ,-
came in View of the distant coach.

llis glass showed that California Joe had
the horsesall in lead behind the coach, and
was then seated upon the box, reins in hand, 3
watching the spot from whence the signal
was to be given.

Taking his red silk handkerchief Cody
waved it three times slowly around his head,
for that was the sign agreed upon for Califor-
nia Joe to leave his position and follow the
valley trail. ,

He had nearly two miles to drive to reach
the spot where the Red Man in Black must
strike the trail in the valley below.

To reach the same spot Buffalo Bill would
have little over half a mile to travel.

The signal was seen and answered, and
California Joe at once drove out of the stone-
fort retreat, which half an hour before the
two pards were sure would be the scene of
their death, and once clear of the bowlder
group, the brave wood pilot headed the horses
down the valley.

Seeing this, uifalo Bill returned through
the thicket to his former point of observa-
tion.

There Was the Indian horseman, and he still ,
was riding toward the trail. '

I'Iis black blanket, however, no longer en-
veloped his form, but now hung across the
back of his horse.

Watching him keenly, Buffalo Bill beheld
him dismount, and stretch his lariat full
length across the narrow valley! This done,
the man of mystery then remained leaning
against his 3 die for several minutes—after
which he walked to the center of the lariat,
and seemed to be fastening something to it.

‘ As he stepped away, the glass revealed a
small white spot.

“An Indian whowritesl That is certainly
a letter, and it is for me." inferred the atten-
tive watcher, and with this he sprung through
the thicket and ave a shout or whoop which
he knew the Red Man 'in Black must hear.

The about was heard, but the effect was
startling. ‘

With a leap, the man was in his saddle,and
like the wind, his black horse went ﬂying
away on the trail the Indianshad taken. while
the Eurprised and provoked Buffalo Bill mut-
tere : . ,

“Now what does that mean? Is he my

uardian of the trail? Why does he ﬂee?
he and what is he ‘2” -

CHAPTER XXXIX.
A REDSKIN who waorn. ,

WHEN the Red Man in Black stretched the
lariat across the trail, as he did, and fastened
something like a slip of paper, as it appeared
to Buffalo Bill, the latter could but believe
{Eat it was some communication meant for

m.

He had seen the warnin of the mysterious
horseman in the black b anket turn the In-
dians from their intended attack upon the
coach, and then to see him return to the trail
which the stage must follow, in pushing
northward, there was every indication thatit
was meant as a warning or signal to him.

Hoping to communicate with the mysteri'
one man; Buffalo Bill had revealed himself
by steppin out of the thicket. .

The resu t surprised the scout, for thatthe
man should ﬂee like a frightened deer was
incom rehensible. ‘ ‘ ‘

Get: (1 it be that he had not intended the

 
Could it be a warning to some one else,
feeling that the coach would turn back, hav-
ing seen its way haunted by Indians imgreat
numbers?

Had the blanketed horseman intended to
save the coach, believing it driven by other
than it was? v ' - t .

And then. had he failed to recognize hi

when he stepped fromjthe’thicket as the one

face.

Returning to his horse, he mounted, rode
around the hill and at a gallop Went down
the valley t) where the lariat had been
stretched.

There it Was across the trail, andin its cen-
ter, about where the coach would be expect-
ed to pass on the unbeaten trail, was a slip of
paper actually pinned on with a pin!

That this was a surprise to the Lon'c Driver
may well be surmised, but he quickly un-
fastened the paper from the lariai, and open-
ing it, to his et greater surprise saw that it
contained a ozen lines of writing, in abold
hand, and evidently was the work of an edu-
cated person!

There was no address, no signature to the
message, and what was written was as fol-
lows:

“The Indians will make no other attack,
unless a few young braves seek to do so.

“ Hasten on, or you may be too late.

“Returning, watch the ﬁnd well ahead
guard your camp at night, for your own peo-
ple will prove your fall, tempted b the gold
you will be expected to get and bring out of
the Basin.” '

This was all.

With this warning showing great friend-
ship, wh had the blanketed horseman ﬂed at
sight of im?

Buffalo Bill was more mystiﬁed than ever.

What strange inﬂuence held be over the
old chief, Wa-sha-kie, to drive him from his
prey, as he certainly had done?

Thrusting the paper into his pocket, with
a sigh of relief at its contents, Buffalo Bill
turned to ride back to his comrade.

He found California Joe Coming'along at
as brisk a pace as the rough way permitted
and almost as he started the coach came into
v1

old wilderness ranger came up he called out;

“ What's up, Buf’ler?"

“I’ve got alettar.”

“ Aletter? Well, I’ll sw’ar‘! Whar did you
git it?"

“ Right here in the trail.”

“ I don't see no post-office, Pard Bill.”

“ You see that lariat?"

“ Yas, I sees it, and
stretched across ther trail.
fer us? Is that yer letter?" -

“ No, it held a real ink and paper letter for
me.” '

“Don’t say! Anything in that P. O. for
me?"

" Yes, as_mnch for you as for me.”

it means suthin“
Is it a hold-up

“ Read it, pard; ive me the news.” .
Buffalo Bill di so, and California Joe
then said:

“ The Red Man in Black writ it, you
thinks?"

“ Yes; no one else, Joe. I

“ Waal, he talks dead-sure \sense. But,
William, who be he?" ,,

“ An Indian who writes.” ’ ‘

“ They is scarce as feathers on a horse",

“New and then you ﬁnd one who has
learned something from the whites.”

“That's so, and if ‘ palefaces keeIps the’r
eyes open they kin learn suthin’ from njuns.”

“ Indeed they can, Joseph! We would not
be here if we had not learned much from the
redskins. But, Joe, who do you think he
was?”

“ Not knowin‘ can’t articulate, Bill.”

“I think I know."

“ Does yer?"

“ Yes.”

" Jist shout.”

)9

I ‘t

“ We have been mysteriously guarded along t '

our trail by some one.”
“ And it hain't Providence.”

“ It is the one who saved you at the pass. .' '

who has before warned us, who kept the In-
dians from scalping us but an hour ago. and

post and rim guard.”

'that same?" .
u Yesﬁth'at same, Joel”.

 
zBut thaw-was a‘rjnore i

  wlho infhe'name: WW

(113;, .

ew.
So Buffalo Bill waited for him, and as the _'.

  
'who is still shadowing us like aﬂying out:  I. V
“ Ther’ njun who writes us lettersf'  ‘ ’

 
tr .
»V'
:1,
L
i,

 
av 1-. -w 

 
‘éountry?

, Ward the Big Horn Basin.

' little pa

‘. he could net see or understand.

B

 
_- . .. .___ 4......

 
CHAPTER XL.
WHY A WAR-CRY was nor irrriannn.

WHEN Head Chief Wa-sha-kie heard from
his young men scouts that they had seen a
“ wheel tepee.” as they called the stage-
coach, two men and a number of horses com-
ing into their country, he could not believe
them.

He sent his best scouts out, with orders
not to be seen themselves, but to bring him
the truth of What the young bucks had re-
ported.

These skilled scouts returned with word
that they had seen the “wheel tepee" for
themselves—that it was driven by one man,
drawn by four horses, and another paleface
followed, leading some ponies.

They had seen no other men, but felt sure
there were a number inside the tepee on
wheels.

They. believed it was some trick of the pale-
faces to kill Indians, for there might be in the
moving tepee many men hidden, and there
also might be a large force of soldiers follow-

ing: ‘-
hen, also, there might be “wheel guns ”
--cannon—in the wheeled tepee, to thunder
out death at them.

~Wa-sha-kie was amazed. He did not
comprehend what it could mean, but believed
there certainly must be some trap set for the
redskins.

Why wasa wheel tepee and two men, as -

there appeared, coming into the Indian

Where Were they going?

What purpose could it be that they would
dare the den ers they had to face?

Other pale aces had entered the count ;
had gone to the great wonderland of the Big
Horn Basin to seek gold; had gone to the
beautiful valleys to take from the streams
and valleys the yellow metal for which the
palefaces would sacriﬁce everything—dare
everything. ~
I The Indians could account for all who had
ventured into the Basin, for their sealps then
hung in the warriors' lodges.

Soldiers had been sent to ﬁnd them and
bring them out of the Basin, but those sol-
diers also had died at the hands of his un-
conquerable braves.

The beautiful land where the Great Spirit
was supposed to camp when he came to
earth, was for the Indians alone. Wa-sha-
kie would not allow a paleface to go there
and live. It was his duty as head chief to
prevent the sacrile e. ‘

So he called his 0 iefs about him, and told
them all that his young men, and later his
scouts, had discovered.

He told his chiefs to gather their picked
Warriors, take their best horses to be armed
with their ﬁnest weapons, and to take food
for a week's trail.

He would lead them.

The wheel tepee was coming slowly on to-

He would send forward his best scouts to
watch the te cc, and would lie in wait for it
where the pa ~fa0es would be entirely at his
mercy, no matter what the tepee contained
of other men and big guns.

Thus Wa-sha-kic arranged, and with ﬁve
hundred warriors. the best. of his village,
mounted splendidly and armed with their
ﬁnest weapons, all led bya score of the most
famous chiefs, he started out to meet the
strange lodge on wheels and 'its two visible
guar tans.

Wa aha-kie himself selected the spot where
he would strike his blow.

It was well chosen. as has been namted, to
cut off all escape. and [utterly annihilate the

rt .

' True, Vga-sha-kie expected that some of
his braves must fall, but' what was that little
party to his numbers, even if they had big
guns that could,shoot many balls.

He was mystiﬁed at the fact of the bold ad-
vance into that most dangerous country of
such a force, yet was apprehensive lest the
two, men might be amere blind—lest thew.in
white man had, in the tepee, some contrivance
for the Indian's destruction which the chief
never yet had encountered.

Therefore, Wa-sha-kie dreaded some evil

in his Overpowering nnm.

 
Yet. ecuﬁdent .
15h ‘di‘vid‘ his to co into four sections

would. lay in the‘pa‘th '

f I

s

affalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

oftlie coach; two others would be hidden on
each side of the Valley and the fourth was to
bring up the rear.

When he showed himself, all four of the
bands were to ride into view.

His plan was well executed, so he thought,
and fr-lt so sure of his victories that the war-
ery was almost upon hislips which would be
the signal for the overwhelming rush, when
he suddenly checked himself at what he saw.

The war cry was not uttered.

The coach, with astonishing skill and ce-
lerity, had taken up a powerful position for
defense, but there were still only two pale-
faces visible.

\Vere there really no more? But \Vasha-
kie felt sure there were more, but where were
they?

He was wary of a trap, for his own cun
ning nature caused him to look for the same
cunning in his paleface foes.

But, why had not the signal war-cry been
uttered?

Suddenly a murmur had run along the red-
skin line. and riding into view came a black
horse with a rider covered over with a sable
blanket.

That was what prevented the utterance of
the signal war—cry.

Wa-sha-kie would know what that portend-
ed ere he launched his warriors upon the
stone fort of the corralled tepee.

CHAPTER XLI.

\‘EI.I.O\V HACND, THE MYSTERIOUS MEDICINE
CHIEF.

EVERY eye in the Indian band was upon
that black orse and its mufiled rider.

They had not seen them until coming up
in the rear of the circle they had been quick
ly iven space to ride through.

ill the redskins knew that a warning was
to be given.

They could not recognize the one who
meant to warn them, but they were sure
that it was one of their famous medicine-
men.

No medicine-man but a great chief would
thus dare to appear before them with a warn-
ing, unless he was ready to take the conse-
quences; failure would bring utter loss of
position, if not of life.

so they beheld him ride along their line,
with a sense of awe.

All were silent, and all eyes followed him
as he made his way directly toward the great
chief, Wa-sha-kie.

They beheld him raise his arms beneath
the sable blanket and wave them, as though
ur ing the warriors back.

tlast he drew near to Wa-sha-kie, who
sat with his chiefs about him, now, they
having come to know what the sable visitor
meant. ‘ \

Wa-sha-kie’s eyes were upon the man in
black, and when be halted in front of the
chief he said: i

” Let the medicine chief uncover his head
and speak."

“The medicine chief will speak words of
wisdom.

” He has come to warn the at chief, Wa-
sha-kie. thatheis’on the trai that will bring
death to his braves.”

With this the sable blanket was drop d
back across the horse and the one beneat it
was revealed.

He was naked to the waist, and from there
a skirt of feathers hung nearly to his knees.

His face. body and egs were painted jet
black, save in front there was a red heart
pierced with arrows.

Around his head his long black hair was
bound in a braid, and about his neck were
necklaces of grizzly bear claws, denoting his
rank as a chief of high standing.

Bands of beaten gold were upon his wrists
and ankles, ahd his feet were bare, but the
black paint covered all the ﬂesh visible.

“ It is the Yellow Hand that speaks." said
Wit-shame in a- tone half of assent, half in-
qu .

" es, 1 am the Yellow Hand," Was the an-
swer in the lndian tongue.

 
“He has come from among the paletsces
to warn the great chief, Wa-shs-kie, notto
strike.” ~ w ' ,‘
“Does Wa-sha-kie fear the wheel‘tepee

l

W

“ He has come from among thepalefaces‘."

    
” The great chief knows no fear, and there
are but two palefaces who guard the wheel
tepee."

“But two?"

“ The Yellow Hand has spoken."

“ What have my braves to fear, then

“ The Chief ‘Va-sha-kie will lose a few
braves, but he will thentriumph and get two
scalps, a few weapons, the tepee on wheels
and some horses.”

“Then Why does the Yellow Hand Warn
me of danger?”

“ The Yellow Hand had a dream.

“ A warrior from the Happy Hunting
Grounds came down to him—and said that

9"

he must tell the Chief Wa-sha-kie not to ‘

strike at the heart of his friends, even though
they were palefaces. "

“ The Wa-sha-kie has no paleface friends."

“ Has the chief forgotten that his pony
fell with him one day when he was on the
war-path and hurt him badly?

“Has be forgotten that the white Flying
Man found him and treated him as a brother,
fed him, dressed his wounds for him, gave
him his horse and sent him on his way i"

“The (‘hicf Wa-slia-kie remembers.

“He found one palefacc brother—the'Fly-
ing Man, the Buffalo Bill."

“ Yes, and has Wa-sha kie forgotten how
he and four of his braves Went to the fort to
hold council anti the bad paléfaces were go-
ing to choke them 0 death with ropes. and
would have done so had not the Lone White-
Hunter saved him—and the chiefs with him,
and uarded them to safety ?"

“ a—sha—kie remembers.

“He hastwo white brothers."

“Those two white brothers of Wa-sha~
kie are on the wheel tepee;

“ They are goin to the big vglley of the
Wonderland to ﬁnd paleface braVes who are
there sick and alone and without food."

“ They have brought the wheel tepee to
take them away and cure their sickness.

“ They do not wish to ﬁght Wa-sha-kie and
his braves; they mean no harm and are only
going for their sick friends.

“ Will the great Chief We-sha-kie forget.
his two white brothers now and kill them?

“The scout from the happy hunting-
grounds aime to Yellow Hand in a dream
and told him,all, told him to warn the great.
Chief Wa-sha-kie and his braves.”

“The Yellow Hand talks straight. Wa-

19- 

sha-kie has two white brothersnthey are? 

there in the wheel-tepee.

“ He will not harm them. Let my young
men come.” ,

The head chief led the way and his braves.
all followed, without protest or anger.

The mysterious Yellow Hand had tri‘— 

umphed.

 
CHAPTER XLII.
noes: 0N rrim: OVERLAND.

THE reason for the drawing off of the chief
Wa-sha kie and his braves having been made.
known, through the m sterious power of Yel-
low Hand and his denity remaining un-

known, I will now return to the camps on the  

Overland and detail the important happen~
ings there. .

Feeling the greatest conﬁdence in Buffalo. ' ‘

Bill-in his capabilities to accomplish what.

he undertook, division~agent~Luke Langdon. "

was sustained by the hope that he would over-
come all dan ers and surmount. all obstacles,
and return w th success.

Always deeply‘attached to his brother Leon- ’
ard, Captain Langdon, as his men called
him by courtesy, was deeply aniious for his
rescue and to see him again. 3

To go himself to the rescue would have 

been to guarantee failure. for he was not well

enough versed in plainscraft and border life ,
to accomplish a task sh difﬁcult and so full ,
of danger from red and white rovers. ~ _;.
crilm that ‘
would beset Buffalo Bill. and a mined. as? 4
we have seen, that it would be almost a mira- 
cle if his pony rider chief made the‘trip his 1":

He knew but too well. all the

Safety. I
It would be nothing but “Buffalo Bill'ﬂ

luck."as his feats were called. \if he was not;

overwhelmed by the llC-Stiies. even if sews:

a
successful in eluding all the other dimeultiu't ;

—and they certainly were many.

 
and‘the paletaees that guard it if there are

But then, there were his Motherland

timbers who yet  qt:

 
d

3 account for.

 
20

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
I
a hope against hope that they would live to i that writin’ Ingin is, nor does I, and thet
return to civilization, the effort to save them i makes things more myster’us like.”
must be made. “ Yes, Joe, but we will push on.”

The hope of getting riches which his bro- “ You bet we jest will! It’s now or
ther would bring was not the inspiring mo- I never!”
tive—far otherwise; Luke Langdon wished  “Now my opinion is that the same man
to have Leonard with him once more. | who has guarded our trail so mysteriously

How gladly would he give up the fortune 1 from the pass is, as I said, the one who
that was awaiting removal to have his bro- i writesthis letter.”
ther’s life spared! » “Yes, but ther writin' on ther map and

But William Cody having undertaken the I this hain’t ther same, Buf’lerl ()ne war
rescue of the remnant of the miners, was 1‘ printed, with a pencil on the map, while this
then an object of as deep concern as were isin writin’.”
the three to whose aid he had gone. l “ That’s so, Joseph."

Daily and nightly did Captain Langdon 1 “But, does Injuns draw maps?”
think of his slo .v progress, and the manifold 1 “ I see that you’do not think he is an In-
dangers that beset him, until he was almost ‘ dian.”
tempted to send a party to rescue Buffalo “I doesn’t fer a certainty, Pard Cody.”
Billand leave his own brother and the others “Who then, Joe?”
to their fate, rather than risk another vtlu- “Thar has been white folks livin’ among
able life in an attempt of relief and rescue 1‘ the redskins,yer knows?”
that seemed simple madness when viewed “ Yes, as captives.”
calmly. " Thet hain’t all, Buf’ler.”

But the hope within him would then rise “ Well?"
again, so the searchparty was not sent. “ Captives c’u‘dn’t git here to help us—yer

It soon became known in camp that Des- know that, William I" ,
perate Dave was mysteriously missin . “ True enough, Joseph.”

Then came a report that a man ha heard “ But others c’u’d.”
it rumored that the game the two hunters “You mean renegades?”
were after, when they lost their horses, was “ J lst so.”
gold rather than venison. , “But, would a man who was dwelling

This, however, seemed only rumor, start- : among the Indians, a renegade to his own
ed by some foe to injure them; but Luke race, aid us, Joe?”

Langdon thought of it over and over again. “ Maybe so.”
What if it were true? “ For what reason? Would he not rather

Next came the fact of the ﬁve pards being try to get the credit of giving us over to his
missed from the camps! red brothers and thus make himself more

What had become of them no one knew, solid?”
and making inquiries of the stage-drivers “He mi ht and he mightn’t.”
and pony-riders that went east and west, “ How oyou mean?”

Captain Langdon learned that they had not “S'pose he knows us?"

put in an appearance at any one of the “ Ah, yes; I see what is in your mind.”
camps along the Overland. and as couriers “ And owes a sarvice to you, Buffalo Bill,
[came in from the forts with mail, and for or ter me, and I kin count many as does.”
mail, he questioned them closely, and Wild “ You are right, Joe, pard. It might be a
'Tom and his four companions had not been " renegade white man dwelling among the In-
heard of by them. 1 dians, for whom either you or I have done

This fact caused real alarm, for it seemed some favor, and who, knowing who we are,
to indicate that they had gone to shadow , wishes to befriend and protect us.”

Buffalo Bill to the Big Horn Basin, attack | “That's it.”

him upon his return, and get th gold he “If he does, he’s a man of inﬂuence
was expected to bring back bin the among the Indians, or he could never have
coach. ~ turned old Wa~sha-kie back, when his game

When men had not had the courage to was in his hand almost.”
volunteer for the desperate and lone expedi- ‘ “ That’s so, Pard Cody.”
tion, the had at least dared to go out to reap ' “ And his map and dh‘ections all show
the resu is of a brave man’s deed, thought that he knows who we are going to the Big
Luke Langdon. Horn Basin to save, so he must wish them

After this followed the discovery of Yellow to be rescued.”

Jack’s having “ played possum,” instead of “ True you says, Bill.”

being really Ill. and having sent Dare Golden t “I cannot account for it, unless he is some
and his four followers of! on an apparently one of the original band of thirty who went
wild gm se chase. : with the Indians, but now useless to help his

So Captain Langdon could but feel anx- old pards and get a share of their gold, and
ions that Golden the gambler and his men in that case he will be the one to make a de-
were away, and, as they had given out, on a mand on us on our way back.”
hunt for gold. “ I’m thinkin’ you is gittin’ on ther right

Yellow Jack improved slowly after the trail, William, about this guardian of our
Sport’s departure, and came out, as all lives."
thought, looking very wretched after his se- “It really seems so, though there is no
vere illness. telling, and all we can do is to push on and

But be was an adept at deception, asLang- hope that he will keep his watchful care
[don very well knew. of us over the entire trail.

Having another talk with Yellow Jack, " Whoever he may be 1 am his friend, he
Captain Langdon was forced to feel that the he redskin or renegade.”

Chinaman felt most conﬁdent that Golden “ Ditto me!”

and his gang would not harm Buﬁalo Bill, “Well, let us push ahead and drive hard
and that the fellow knew more than he would so as to reach the next camp marked on the
even tell him. ”

Try as he would he could not get Yell- 'w
Jack to commit himself more than to am a
that Golden had gone on the wrong trilll,
and that, if he came back to camp, he, the
Chinaman, “ ould take allresponsnbility. and
that there was every prospect of the coach
returning with Leonard Langdon and his
treasure.

With this the division agent was compelled
to be satisﬁed.

For all this he could but feel the greatest
anxiety asto what the fate of Buffalo Bill
would be, though his conﬁdence in the China
man increased the more he saw of him.

CHAPTER XLIII.
, ON GUARD.

THAT Buffalo Bill and California Joe were
'mystiﬁed at the letter from the Indian there
was no doubt.

They were learning more than they could

 
a

map.

Then Buffalo Bill mounted to the box.
California Joe took the horses in lead, and
they Continued on the perilous trail, not in
the least daunted by their last almost fatal
adventure.

Buffalo Bill drove at a brisk gait, and
the horses were kept well atit, in spite of
the roughness of the way here and there,
until as night drew near, they came to the
camping-place indicated on the map by their
mysterious shadower.

The spot was a good one for a camp, and
also for defense. a motte in a valley where
there was a spring of large volume, sur-
rounded by rocks and trees. and plenty of
grass for the tired and hungry horses.

The horses Were their ﬁrst care, and these
being stri ped of their harness and staked
out, woo was gathered, a ﬁre built. and a
gOod supper prepared for the equally tired
and hungry Comrades.

"We c'u’d ﬁght here a good ﬁght,
William." '

 
“Yer don’t know, of course, Bill, who

 
“Yes, Joe, if we had to; but I hope we
won’t have to.”

“Ditto me; no more ﬁght to-day. We’ll
give ther horses a feed for a hour or more,
and then fetch ’em in among ther rocks,
whar they kin git fair pickin’.”

“ Yes, Joe; that’s the order of the night.”

“And I‘ll be on guard ther fu’st o‘ ther
night.”

“ You are looking for danger, I see, Joe."

“ 1 is; though, as I said, I don’t want no
more ﬁght just here.”

“I have the same feeling, Joe—of some
one on our trail, for, though Wa-sha-kie
called his braves off, I feel pretty certain
that some of his young bucks will follow
us.”

“ That's jist it, Bill; I'm expectin’ thet
same.”

“ Then we’ll keep a close watch, J oseph.”

“ We will fer a fact!”

An hour after the camp was apparently in
deep repose; but, lying out in the valley was
California Joe on the watch.

BAt midnight he arose and called Buffalo
ill.

“ Hain’t seen nothin’, but you may, Bill.”

Buffalo Bill then went on guard, while his
pard glept, and slowly the hours of the night
passe .

It was just as the dawn was brightening
the eastern horizon, that California Joe was
awakened by the low spoken words:

“Wake up, pard, for our foes are here.”

~ —-‘-

CHAPTER XLIV.
A MIDNIGHT scour.

iTHERE were enemies about, that was cer-
ta n.

During the earlier watches of the night,
when Califognia Joe was on guard, not a
foe could be seen or heard; but Buffalo Bill,
as he said, “felt in his bones,” that there
was danger brewing and he prepared to
meet it as best he could.

The horses had eaten their supper of grass
and were lying down resting. The coach
stood amon the bowlders nthe thicket,
and there a so was a safe retreat for the
horses, should an attack occur.

Knowing the Indian character as they did,
both Buffalo Bill and California Joe felt
assured that, where the masses of the band
under Wa-sha-kie would obey their chief,
it Would be just like a few of the hot-
heads among the young bucks to sli away
from the main force and come bac upon
their trail

It was this band of hot0heads, whether
large or small, the two pards had to fear.

When he saw that all was prepared about
the camp, save running the horses in to a
close corral, which could be quickly done,
Buffalo Bill started off on a scout, to try and
discover where their foes were and in what
force, if they, indeed, were around.

He proceeded with the greatest caution,

.reconnoitering every foot ahead, before he

passed over it, and always on the alert for
the slightest sound or object , ‘

A coyote skulking away in front of him
caused him to feel that the way was clear
in that direction, but it was just there he
knew the Indians would be if anywhere.

So he continued on after the coyote to
suddenly hear a yelp.

Instantly be halted.

“ That was a yelp of pain—ah!”

As he spoke the coyote came ﬂying by
him, whining with pain as he ran!

“He ran against an Indian arrow. They
are on that ridge, and I will ﬂank it,” de-
cided Buffalo Bill, now on his keenest scent.

This he did after a long while, coming up
in the rear of the ridge.

He was not long in discoverin a lot of
Indian ponies, feeding in a litte valley;
and lying ﬂat upon the ground he crawled
nearer and nearer to them.

That they‘would tell the story of number
he knew, for there would be a pony for each
brave, and he would thus get at the exact
number of redskins they would have to
ﬁght

But, the wary scout knew that the ponies
had not been left unguarded, and so he must
go with extreme caution.

If the ponies were tethered there, their
guards were near. but their riders were over
on the ridge, while several of their scouts

 
..4{,!.3: ~ r“

sax.

, k“
d

grail?

 
K‘

 
“n‘.1..
a

o "*1?" :

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

—_..a ~-/' ...,,..

 
undoubtedly were then out, reconnoiteriiig
his camp.

That the Indians would not attack by
night Buffalo Bill well knew, but at dawn
the would be ready for a rush.

herefore, ﬁrst he must ﬁnd out their
numbers.

Nearer and nearer he crept to the feeding
ponies, and at last reached them.

He crawled about among them, and began
to count. '

“ Forty-one,”he muttered. “ Not so bad,
but bad enough. Now back to camp.”

He glided along in the same Cautious way
until, suddenly, he saw a dark object right
in his path lying upon the ground.

H) knew that it was one of the redskin
guards. ‘

He hoped that the buck was asleep and
was most anxious not to awaken him; but,
the guard was not asleep, for the Indian
caller to him in a sleepy tone, and he an-
swered.

His answer was to gain time, to lull sus-
picion until he could get nearer.

The daring scout knew that his life hung
byathread. What he did must be done
with quickness and un faltering nerve.

Answering in a muﬂled tone, in the In-
dian tongue, he drew a few steps nearer and
then threw himself down upon the half-
awake redskin. .

He had grasped the situ 'on, saw just
how the Indian was lying, am his steel-like
grip was upon his throat ere he could utter
a cry of alarm.

The redskin was a wiry, powerful fellow,
and Buffalo Bill felt that the struggle would
be a long and hard one, the ponies would be
alarmed, the other uards would run to the
scene and all woulr be lost

There was but one thing to do, and he must
do it at once—must killhis foe.

Hardly had his hand grasped the dusky
throat when his good right hand drove his
knife deep into the heart of the Indian.

Instantl the bronze arms relaxed; the
dread wor was done.

 
CHAPTER XLV.
A CALL IN THE DARKNESS.

BUFFALO BILL 1a a moment in silent
meditation, his dead oe by his side.

The Indi was lying upon his blanket,
which his s ayer was glad to discover, for it
told him that any stains, any signs of the
strug le would not be seen on the soil; so he
quickly decided upon his course.

He did not wish his midnight scout known
to the Indians, or that he had killed a young
brave, for that would show that the white
man had struck the ﬁrst blow, and the reds
would thus urge the excuse of having only
avenged their comrade’s death.

He decided to take the body with him back
to camp!

Having discovered the force of the Indians,
their position and killed one of their guard,
he felt that he had seen and done quite
enough.

SO he wrapped the blanket close about the
dead form, and shouldering the body, he
glided quietly away in the deep darkness.

He might be discovered;, that risk he had
to take; but the fates were‘with him, for no
guard or red scout was e'néountered; but it
was not until he had ﬂanked the ridge and
saw the glimmer of his camp-ﬁre that he
drew a sigh of relief.

To approach the camp as he had left it, he
knew might be to happen upon an Indian
scout. It was a heavy and ghastly burden
he carried, but he would stand the strain
and make a wide detour.

This he did, and at last reached camp.

Placing the body down near the camp-
fire, he decided to corral the horses so as to
be prepared for the rush, when it came.

California Joe heard him, but that did not
disturb his slumbers, well knowing that
Buffalo Bill wonld call him if he was
wanted.

Making a circuit of. the camp, when
everything was in readiness, he found all

uiet.

q The Indians evidently lay beyond the
rid , waiting for the dawn.

Keir scouts had doubtless reported to
them that all was resting in the paleface
camp, and just how the camp was situ-

 
He knew that they would move up as
dawn approached, drawing as near as pos-
sible to the camp; that their ponies would
be brought up as close behind them as the
dared to have them, and that, just at brea
of day, the rush would be made, and ex-
pecting, of course, to surprise the two fast-
sleeping pards.

But Buffalo Bill did not wish to kill an
Indian} for that would bring the whole
tribe down upon them; so he decided that
the best thing to do was to let the redskins
know that the two whites were on their
guard and knew of their presence.

This might as the Indian band was acting
against authority, cause them to draw off-—
as he hoped it would.

The dead Indian they would not be able
to account for; his disappearince would be
mysterious.

The body Buffalo Bill would carry along
to dispose of as best he could upon the
trail, for to bury it there would show that
the brave had been killed by the pale-
faces.

Having considered all things attentively,
Buffalo Bill decided to call up California Joe
and tell him the situation.

So Joe was aroused, as has been seen, and
said at once:

i‘ Well, let ’em know we is outer ’em,
Bi 1.”

With this, just as the gray of dawn was
replacing the blackness of night, Buffalo
Bill and California Joe uttered their war-cry
of defiance together.

The redskius, they knew, were at that mo-
ment creeping toward the camp, and the
start they got at bcin discovered amused
()ld Joe, who muttere :

“Thet scared ’em, Pard William, outen a
year’s growth I”

But though the reds were startled they
quickly decided not to give up their prey.
Discovered though they were, they would
rush upon the little camp.

But, they decided, also, not make the
charge on foot.

Then an answering shout of deﬁance was
heard, and in chorus.

" Thar’s plenty of ’em,” muttered Joe.

“.About forty, counting from their
ponies.”

“We‘ll make ther number less ef they
charge and I believes they intends ter.”

"Yes. Listen!"

A loud, clear voice was heard, calling
out in the Indian tongue, for the ponies to
be brought up.

“The chief is calling for the ponies, Joe,
so they will charge on horseback. ”

“ All right; jist as good. ”

An answer came from over on the ridge,
and the ponies were being moved forward.
for the muﬂled sound of their hoofs the
two pards distinctly heard.

Then there was heard one loud, ringing
war-cry, and after it perfect silence!

Next came a second voice, in the Indian
language. It rung like a trumpet, and the
two comrades caught the name of Wa-sha-
kie, and distinctly heard the command for
the hand to at once get to their village with
all speed!

Strange the effect!

Like phantoms the braves glided away
in the darkness, while the increasing gray of
dawn revealed them, soon after, ﬁling off
over the ridge, their backs turned upon the
little camp!

CHAPTER XLVI.
THE FLIGHT on THE STRANGE GUARDIAN.

“ THEY has gone, Buf’leri"

“ Yes, turned tail and vanished i"

“ And no ﬁght.”

“Not a shot tired.”

“ Nor anybody hurt.” '

“ There lies a redskin yonder, J 06."

" I forgetted him. But, I say, Pard Cody,
what does you make of it?”

“They were called off.”

“ Yes, but who called ’em.” ‘

“ Their chief.” '

“ Wa-shs-kie.”

“ No; he went with the six hundred.”

“ Who then done the command?"

“ I think it was the medicine-man again."

“ Ah! the raiman in black?"

" Just so, Joseph!" ‘ 4

 
"NOW it does look like that. I tell yer,
when they heerd his mice the bucks skipt
like school children caught in a watermillion
patch.”

“ They did go, that is a fact, and from
what I could catch of his words he gave it to
them for atsacking us, after their chief We-
sha-kie had ordered them off.”

“ That‘s about it, William.”

“ And it was none other than our strange
guardian, the Medicine Chief.”

“You means that he found ’em at the’r
dcviltry and called ’cm off?”

“ Yes, of course. Only he could have done
it. )1

“ Whar is he then ‘P—right near?”

“ That we do not know.” ‘

“ W’u’d like to ask him to breakfast.”

“ Yes, and while you get breakfast I’ll
jump on a horse and take a scout round, now
ii i: vetting light.”

“ Thet's ther right thing ter do, now, Wil~
liaiu.”

Buffalo Bill was soon mounted and rode off
toward the ridge.

He gained theheight by a ﬂank movement
and as he reached the top had an extensive
view of the country beyond.

There, in the distance, he saw the party of
hravos—not stretched out in single ﬁle as was
customary, but gathered in a group and riding
at a canter.

They were headed toward their village and
that they were excited at their discomdture
was evident. '

Intent in looking at his retreating foes,
whom he saw numbered forty, as near as he
could count, Buffalo Bill did not at ﬁrst dis-
cern a solitary horseman behind them on the
trail.

l‘iis horse was at a standstill, and the rider’s-
back was turned toward the watching man
on the ridge, for he was, apparently, study-
ing the movements of the retreating red-
skins.

He was near enough for Buffalo Bill to re-
connize the mysterious medicine-man, whose
inﬂuence had saved him the day before.

He was yet painted black. and had his sable
blanket falling from his shoulders.

Upcn his head he wore the eagle-feather
war bonnet of a head chief, the tail of it fall-
ing upon the back of his black pony.

Buffalo Bill at once decided upon his course.
He would make another attempt to speak
with this renegade personage who had so
wonderfully befriended him thus far upon
his trail. be he red-skin or white renegade.

The band of Indians were nearing arise
over which they must soon disappear.

When they did so Cody decided to ride
forward and have a talk with the Red Man
in Black.

Watching the Indians Cody saw the last
one disappear from View, and noted that
they had lanced behind ere doing so, to
discover t 8 Black Chief still observing
them; then he glided from his place of look-
out, to where he had left his horse, mounted
and rode over the ridge.

The Black Chief still stood as Cody had
last seen him, gazing toward the spot where
the young hot-headed braves had disap-
peared.

Instinctively he must have felt the pres-
ence of Buffalo Bill, asit was soft round '
and there was no sound of hoo falls,
f(;r he turned quickly and looked behind
h m.

instantly his horse bounded forward, as
though the spurs had been driven deep into
his ﬂanks, and the Red Man in Black sped
after the vanished braves.

Buffalo Bill called out in the Indian
tongue:

“ Let my red brother wait to hear the words
I have to say to him!"

The address seemed to quicken his speed,
and soon after he, too, disappeared at the
very spot where the band had passed from
si ht.

gDisappointed and more mystiﬁed than
ever, Buffalo Bill unwillingly turned and
rode back towurd camp.

He could have brought the Indian’s pony
down with a shot—could have overtaken
him, mounted as he was on a very swift.
horse; but he realized that the strange man, .

whoever he was, did not wish to speak to“ 3'

him, and so be determined not to urge his .‘
presence on him. 
Thus far he had proves a true friend,  v,

  
’22-

 
T. .m...,
5:

Cody knew that he mi ht still need the se-
cret and watchful guart ianship of the strange
rotector, for there were dangers yet to con-
tent which might demand all their skill,

' : «courage and endurance to master.

 
‘ [CHAPTER XLVII.

NEARlNU '1‘” iii END.

‘ CALIFORNIA Joa listened with deepest in-
terest to what Buffalo Bill had to report of
‘ 'what he had seen. ‘

“ He’s a strange crittur, William!"

“Yes, more than strange; he is 8. won-
der.”

“Better not press him fer a interduction
"if he don’t want ter git better acquginted.”

“No, I’ll let him make the ad ances in
future.”

” Thet is, ef we ever see him ag’in.”

“I believe we will, for I do not think he

, has ,begun so well as our guardian to desert
. us from this time on."

“Can't tell; we’ll have to chance it on
that.”

Joe had everythingzready for the sturt; so,
mounting the box, uffalo Bill drove on,
pursuing the trail or course which the
strange guide had directed.

The mornin passed without incident, and
a. camp for an our was made at noon.

Then it was to be a 10ng drive to the allot-

, ‘vted night encampment, and Buffalo Bill kept
.,.f his team at a steady pace. \.
5 California Joe shot a ﬁne deer, and some
' other game, and so they were well pro
visioned with fresh meats.
' Thecountry began to change, as they
it progressed, the scenery growing more and
more grand. 3
, - There were lofty mountain ranges, wood-
land in abundance, fertile valleys, and the
grass and wild ﬂowers grew in luxuriance
., ever where.
t, “ bat an ideal land for homes, Joe,”
. called out Buffalo Bill, lost in admiration at
the beautiful scenery.
' “,I hes thought thet before, when I come
';. ; into this Big Horn Basin, Buf'ler. It’s
j, ' God’s land and no mistake, and it:s God’s
‘, 07m ,private‘ climate they has here, Pard
William!" the old explorer averred, in deep
earnestness.
“'I tell you thet some day men will ﬂ ht
, v fer every inch 0' land here, when settlers e-
1," gins to know jist what it is," he added,
_ prophetically.
as? I “ Yes, but it will be many along year be-
,. fore the most daring of the settlers venture
h. '“here; but some day the emigration will set
 yin, and the Big Horn Basin will be known
 ."as a garden spot “of the Western Wilder-
j‘  Ha“ .

    
\ California Joe smiled as he thought how
,5 fBiiffalo Bill.was then just seeing all that he,
,gffthe old wilderness tram , had seen in his
»g_,former visits to the Big orn Basin, for in
'53.. an his far and wide wanderin 3 he had al-
27" ‘jgways liked to go to that won erful region,
'jin spite of the terrible risk he ran in doing

   
so. .

1, Thenight camp was one at which Cali-
fornia Joe liters ly “burned uphis nose."
.In fact,.he began to do/this long before he
3 reached the spot designated and muttered:
 ‘No wonder ther‘Injuns gives it ther name
th does, Bill.”* , ‘

f ngiﬂalo Bill laughed at his odd cemrade’s
remarks and re lied:

“ Its name sn't far off the truth, Joe;
that's a fact." '


" cgrophscy of Buﬂalo Bill is just now begin
 to e fulﬁlled, to: seniors are moving into the
V;  onNiasin to and homes. a Irri stain is oing
ion and with gold, silver, copper, ron. plat num,
 bur lead among the minerals, and with a
, .4 ' that growa all kint’l of fruit and vegetables, and
‘ r V finest of trees, the Valley of the .8 Born is -
to become a senator busy life fore as y
elapse-Tin Anraoa.

on account of the Sulphur Springs in that part
. Horn Basia. the Indians gave it the name
ing Water. The Stinkl Water River is new
the oshone Riva, an runs through a can-
~ _ smote titty is led ed.- the scene pf the
WI 16: the 0s miners aving been in that
.Itwas tothese Sulphur 8 rings maths
er

rm .- sail to care .6
‘ ,. ,i-R’re grim .fouadr th

 
 “I wishes ther spring was fur off; but ‘

it, after which they sat do

 
ther trail runs this way, Bill, and I suppose
we has got ter stand it; but, does yer know I
camped thar onct fer weeks?”

“ You did ‘2" in surprise.

“ Yes; 1 war thet sick I could hardly ride,
and my horse went right thar unguided, fer
I didn’t pull a bit. I seen him drink ther
water same as ef he liked it, and it done him
amazin’. A brute, Pard William, knows
what are good medicine fer him, every time,
so I jist went fer it, too, seein’ as I was jist
about played out.

“ It made me'kinder sea-sick at ﬁrst, but I
stuck to it, and you bet it brought me round
all right, and I left ther springs feeling like
a prize-ﬁghter. Oh, it’s big medicine,
pard—you can jist bet yer ’brero on that!

“My horse he got fat and slick, and I
knows thcr water saved my life. 1 war
jokin’ when I wus a faultﬁndip’ at ther
ﬂavor, jist now, for I truly likes it, and you
will, too, when yer gits used to it!”

“ No doubt of it, Joe, for I have heard
much of what the Indians think of these
springs. Nature teaches them, as it does
dumb 'animals, how to take care of them-
selves when sick.”

“ I’ll wager that it was these springs which
made those miners, when sick, come ihto
this neighborhood.”

“ I guesses so, and our trail ought ter end
in another half day of travel, as [ reckons
ti)!
“ Yes, so our maps as ,\ both the one
Leonard Langdon sent to h a brother and the
one our mysterious guardian put in our
wa ." ,

“I only hopes‘we will ﬁnd ther poor fsl-
lows alive, and ef we does, and they is well,
I guesres ﬁve of us kin git back in safety
whar two of us come through all right.”

“The battle is not always to the strong,
Joe; but I do hope that we will find the men
alive and well, and then, on our way back, I
shall still trust that our good guardian and
good genius, as he has proven to be, will
continue to guide us out of dangers we may
fail to discover. But seel there is our
camp!”

 
_ e
\‘ CHAPTER XLVIII.
STRATEGY.

Tun scene that burst upon them Was a
surprise to Buffalo Bill, accustomed as he
was to beholdin the wonders of nature in
the land of marve s—the heart of the Rockies.

He gave a glance about and then looked at

08.

The latter knew just what was coming,
for henhad been to that very spot before.

It was the Valley of the Sulphur Springs.

Volumes of heavily impregnated waters
ﬂowed frm the sprin , above which arose a
dense vapor of a green h hue.

Upon rocks, earth, trees and all had settled
and crystallized the same greenish hue,
while the whole air was charged with the
pungent sulphurous odors.

At ﬁrst, it was oppressive; then that feel-
ing passed away and men and horses seemed
eager to quench their thirst in the waters.

Adown ’ the valley ran the green-tinted
streams, as pure as purest crystal.

The animals crepped at the (lee ly emerald-v

tinted grass which grew luxu anti there,
with evident relish of the taste or ever of
the nutritious food. _ _

The almost jaded teams were soon unhar-
nessed and staked out, while the heavy coach
was sandwiched between rocks, so as to
form a good fort if attacked.

A ﬁre was built, blankets spread, and

venison steaks, broiled birds and other things

furnished a good supper fer the hungered
men.

Game was seen in plenty, wandering about,
drawn to the spring by dumb instinct of
what was nod for them. "

Bear, el , antelope. mountain sheep and
other game in abundance, were to be had for
the crack of a riﬂe. .

But neither Buffalo Bill nor his old com-
rade shot to wantonly slay. They killed
only when they needed food.

80 they ate theia‘ good su par and enjoyed
, to their pipes
as the darkness atheredabout them. .

. genes fel upon, them for sometime,

34%,“

Buﬁalo Bill’s, ‘Grirn‘ guard._

 
grim amnesty ﬁuﬁloiﬁill say}; d
 v  a ‘* v: i. " *-

   r, ..s,.,-._ ,  , . v"

 
_._

“ Joe, to-morrow noon we camp at the end
of our outward trail.”

“Yes, Pard Bill.” I

“ I have told you all about it, and mighty
glad am I to have you along; but let me re-
mind you now that strategy is to be used
at the end.”

“ How so, pard?”

“You know that the letter from Leonard
Langdon said that there was but one man to
come?”

“Yes, I remembers that.”

“ He asked for a coach, provisions, bed-
ding and arms, saying that they needed
everything, and though with a fortune in
gold in their hands they could not buy any-
thing.

“Now, I have all they asked for, and
more, too, but Miner Langdon expressly
stipulated that only one man would be
trusted; in fact, he said they would not show
up if more than one came.”

“ Which means, what, pard ?”

” It means that where their trail ends they
will be hidden and can see for them-
selves!”

“ Just Pard
William."

" If they suspect more are along, they
may be fools enough not to show them-
selves, though half starving, so great is the
greed of men who have gold to save it. All
of which being so, it is necessary for me to
go on alone to their camp.”

“ Yes; so I should say." . ,

“I will hitch one horse behind the coach,
and drive on alone to-morrow.” '

“ And me, Pard Cody?”

“Can hang back until I ﬁnd them, when
I will explain the situation to them and
come for you.”/

“You is right, an’ler; that’s the way to
work it.”

“Now, to-morrow I’ll stop where the
trail ends, unhitch my horses, take ‘good
care to open both doors of the coach, so any
one watchin can see there is no one inside,
and I’ll regu arly go into camp, waiting for
them to show up. ’ '

“ If they does not?"

“I’ll have to wait until ni ht.”

“And I kin come up an j’ine yer then,
again, pard ?" ,

“Not so; that is just what they may be
looking for—some one to join by night.”

“That’s so,’Iopines,_Pard C y. You've
got yer wisdom hat on this trip, sure."

“ And my wisdom hat says, Joe, that you
must wait miles in the rear, and when they
know no one has joined me, at night, they
may show up the next morning.”

“Just that, pard. I’ll wait.”

“ If they do not show up by noon of the
next day, then you come up, for we'll have
to hunt for them, be they dead or alive, for it
may be, iyon know, that they are not alrle to
be out 0 their beds."

“ You is right thar, Pard William; we may
have to hunt for them. Men as has got dead
oodles of gold with 'em is pretty 30.11% to
hide mighty close, I takes it, so the hunt for
’em may be no eas job. ” ’

" I hope we abs 1 ﬁnd them alive, at least,
for the sake of 0:23am Luke Langdon, whose
past history I kn something about.

“But, Joe, now that all is understood, let
us both turn in‘t‘or a good night's rest, for we
both need it,"

They did so, and the night passed without
an alarm, their else was “ heap ."

In the morning
box and drove on ahead, a10ne. one horse in
the lead, leavi California Joe to follow
later. as arrange . .

They were near the end of their perilous
trail, but strategy had tobe- used to ﬁnd those
they had come to succor, if, indeed, they
were alive to be saved. , » A

0

what I should opine,

 
CHAPTER XLIX.
AT THE END or run RESCUE-TRAIL.

As—Buffaio Bill drew'nearer and nearer to V, V

 
uﬂ’alo Bill, mounted the ,

the end of the long trail so beset with peril, 
he had to acknowledge to a feeling of ner- ;

vousness creeping over him—not the feeli
or dread of personaldanger, but

hension that thohe he hadcbt'nesto
ends-t. ,hehad’ aiva  g.

      
i: .
I i

 
the a  ‘- i'
“as

 
Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
his mission, therefore, a fruitless one? for
would not the hiding~placc of their gold be a
dead secret?

A probable inference, and one that Buffalo
Bill’s near approach to the end of his pathless
trail made his anxiety a keen pain, despite
his ﬁrmness of nerve.

What a blow' to Captain Luke, if he should
return not only to report his brother dead but
the fortune which had cost him his life was
also lost beyond recovery!

He had come out now upon the line of
travel as laid down in the map of Luke Lang-
don, somust soon reach the spot where it was
plainly marked he was to halt, and there
await developments—the appearance of
Leonard Langdon, roviding the rescuer was
alone, as stipulated?

The fact of such a sti ulation only proved
how great must be the ortune at stake; the
poor miners had risked too much to take any
chances now.

From thirty thby had dwindled down to
three;and those three sick. half-starved, in
dail deadly peril of being discovered by the
Ind ans, had advanced thus far on their re-
turn homeward, and there, from sheer ex-
haustion, had paused to await the coming of
one maul

All this strange stor would not down in
that one man’s mind. van in that moment
of keenest anxiet , all that Leonard had said
in his letter to h brother Luke was vividly
recalled. '

They had gone into the Bi Horn Basin
thirty strong, yet had seen t eir comrades
drop off, either by an Indian arrow, disease
or an accident.

The belongings of the dead had gone into
the common treasury, and thus, as their
numbers essened, those remaining were
made the richer, for the free gold they found
was abundant and their industr incessant.

At last they had as much 0 the yellow
treasure as even the most eager of them
could crave—quite as much as they could
he to get out of that wild region.

Nit until 'then did they turn their steps

,, twin:

V «a .

 
. ‘-.. Isomeward, and thus face the dread ordeal of
'  ‘ that untrodden and most perilous trail.

1 _ Slowly only could they traVel, hampered

:- as they were, and as the November snows

 began to ﬂy, they were forced into winter

quarters at Jackson’s Lake.
But, their civilized clothes now were
quite gone, and they had to cover themselves

_ v with the skins of Wild animals.

» ” Game was plentiful, and ﬁsh were readily

' can ht in lake and stream.

 6 winter assed at last, a terrible win-

} ' ter to that gol - uard, as the had then he-
‘ come,v and the r numbers d decreased
steadily.

 With the spring those who remained took
I "‘ up their tramp once more, with the few

2': horses which yet remained to them.

:5 ,But a few rounds of ammunition were

“i ‘ left. and these were most sparingly used to

r secure food in the killing of game. .

g ‘ At last they reached the_ neighborhood of
w ,' the spot where the rescuing stage was to

 meet them.

, Their numbers now had dwindled to

I. t, e;.their horses were all dead; they had

i’ he ely hidden their gold, and would there
await help.

. p , They Could do no more. If help did not
‘ ,-:. rank them within a month or so they must

v' .f ' all die. .

-  ‘Such was the altogether sad story told by

 . the message to Leonard Langdon, and to

' ..-- . reach and save this remnant of a once pow-
 '- erful band of shoulder-to shoulder pards
3 ' ‘ ‘ Buffalo 31“ had volunteered.

;, Some one other than Luke Lsngdon and

“'1 himself knew where that little remnant of
‘  theigold miners was, as the letter and maps
.' .. r ’, brought to the Overland camps proved. '
i, it . Who was that m sterious other? Was it

‘ "r  . his own‘guardian of the long trail? Was it
.-"-'that‘sin ular unknown who had carried the
'. map an letter to Luke Lari don?

1: ﬁlmed bey0nd all exp anation Buffalo
Bill drove on until he saw about him the
. scene described Where he must halt and
wait for the miners toshow themselves.
 ‘Then at last hedrew rein. He had reached

’the Spot ‘0 which he had been directed: his
,tz'pathljgﬂi 1m“ Ihad been followedto the end.
"’" 1M donﬁhm part; would they keel)

  
petrith ., .’

 
‘3

’ dark, he glided away on the back trail.

 
CHAPTER L.
N0 SIGN.

THE scene where Buffalo Bill had drawn
rein was a pretty one.

It was just the spot to appoint as a ren-
dezvous for so strange ameeting.

He had driven through a canyon into a
beautiful valley, which was a couple of miles
in length, and half a mile in width.

Upon each side were cliffs, the summits
fringed with a thicket of pines and other;
trees. - ‘

In the center of the valley was a small
lake, deep and. clear, and about it were scat.
teriu g trees.

The scene had been well drawn upon the l
map, and the halting place was where ﬁve 5
trees stood in a row close to the margin of I
the lake, and looking as though they hadi
been set out by the hand of man.

The grass grew all about, and ﬁrewood 
could be obtained by going over near thel
cliffs. i
It was a charming camping-ground, but a i
dangerous one, as well, for it was so open, I
and from the cliffs on either side riﬂes could '
have readily thrown a bullet that it almost
invited attack.

But, it was just the spot for the coach. as i
it had to be well reconnoitered by the sus-
picious men.

From the cliffs on either side every move-
ment in the little camp could be seen.

With a glass. it would not take long for a 3
person on the watch to see if any one was i
concealed in the Coach. '

Buffalo Bill halted his teams, and, still ‘
seated upon his box, gazed ﬁxedly at the |
surroundings.

He tookin all with an experienced eye, then I
he dismounted, unhitched his teams, placed
his harness where it could.be quickly re—
covered, and staked out his horses.

His next move was to go over toward the
cliffs, on the right, and gather a large arm- .
ful of wood, with which be cooked his noon- 1
day meal, hoping the smoke would also tell
of his presence there, should the watchers not 
have seen him enter the valley.

After dinner he smoked his pipe leisurely. 5

Still no one appeared. Not a sound was I
heard; nothing was seen to indicate that an ’
Indian was anywhere within ﬁfty miles of l
the spot.

His next move was to open the coach i
door.

Then he rolled up the curtains, revealing i
that there was no one within. I'

Upon the top, stretched between bales of 
blankets, was the body of the dead Indian. 5

He would keep him’ there until night, and i
then his burying place would be within the
bosom of the lake. l

Not a spot as he came along, had he seen 
where he dared to bury the dead brave, for, 3
should some of the young bucks dare follow, l
they would have quickly unearthed the hid- i
den grave of their dead comrade. i

From either cliﬁ it could be plainly seen i
that no one was then about the coach, save i
the driver,~unless they were concealed in i
the luggage, but to prove that such was not
the ease Buffalo Bill took everything out of l
the vehicle, as though to repack it.

I
l
l
l

Slowly he did the work, and he left the . scenes to long be awake, and quickl was -

thin s out on the ground for some time.
St ll no one appeared; no signal was made v
from either cliff. :
Night at last drew near. The luggage I
was placed in the coach, the horses watered
and staked in fresh grazing ground, the ﬁre
rebuilt and supper prepared.
Buffalo Bill ate his meal, and when it was i

._ q.— _.._A -v

He dared not go mounted for fear he was ,
being watched to do that very thing—to go E
back'to a pard who was waitingi j

A few miles back on the tr , he caught '
the glimpse of a ﬁre off to one side. . \

Proceeding on to it, he was hailed by Cali-
fornia Joe. ,

“You were on the watch. Joe ?”

“ You bet. Anything to tell, Pard Wil-
liam? ’

“ I found the spot all right, went into
cam/r1); but have seen not a Sign.”

“ he)’ won't show up jist Yet. I opines
that I had better ,stay here until ‘ter-morrer
018m and. then some for yer camp.”

I” Yes; it would be'bcuerj’ ~
" 'll 8 thar ar '

    
of they don’t
‘ 1 n

 
(4 NO. I) ’

“ They’ll be dead and jist can‘t come in, yer‘
See."

“ Then we must search for them at once.”

“For ther horses and ther gold, yes. Ther
bodies it won't be hard to ﬁnd.”

“ \Vell, I’ll go back to my camp, but it’s
too open to please me.”

“That’s what they wanted it fer—ter see
you and not be seen. Maybe they’ll show up
to morro w. ”

“ Well, we will wait that long; but remem-
ber our Grim Guardian said we were to hurry
on or we would be too late.”

“ Yes; but give ’em until sunset ber-mor-
rer would be my way.”

Buffalo Bill left California Joe in his lone

camp and returned to the rendezvous.

All was as he had left it, and he quietly I

spread his blankets under one of the trees and
turned in for the night

 
CHAPTER LI.
WAITING IN YAIN.

Tm: morning dawned, and nothing save
the bowling of coyotes had disturbed the
night’s repose.

But a couple of hours after he had turned
in Buffalo Bill awoke “ h appointment with
himself,” as he expresse it.

He went toa blanket already prepared, and
then climbing to the top of the coach took
from it the body of the dead Indian.

It was already enveloped in a blanket, but
laying it upon the other, Buffalo Bill went
from spot to spot, gathering stones on the
shore of the lake. These stones he placed in

l a row on each side of the body.

Then be folded the blanket over and care-
fully sewed it, with a harness needle, from
top to foot. -

Throwing off his nether garments, he led
up one of his horses, and with a powerful
effort raised the heavy burden, of bod and
rocks, and placed it across the an mal’s
back.

Upon this horse he then sprung, and rode

a into the lake.

When the horse began to just lose his
footing from the depth of the Water, the:
body was toppled over and instantly sunk
from sight in the depths of the lake.

“A strange burial that, even for an In~
dian; but I guess he'll rest as well as thoughi
he were under the grbund, with a horse-tail,
for a head-piece. ;

“ It will be a long while before the blanketsl
give way, and then his bones will never,
rise. ,

“Poor fellow, some Indian mother will

I mourn'her lost son, some redskin girl will

look in vain for his return, and a father per-
haps will grieve that his boy brave did not:
live to carry out the promises of his youth. l

“But, so it goes with paleface and red-
skin, and cruel war makes it necessary.

“ I am sorry I had to kill him, but it was;
his life or mine.”

Riding back to the shore, Buffalo Bill put‘
the horse out again and returned to his
blankets, his thoughts still upon the-dead
redskin.

But he was too well accustomed to such‘.

asleep. to rest undisturbed until. awn,
though the disappointed coyotes, losing
their anticipated feast, made night hideous
with their howls of discontent.

The morning dawned bright and beauti~
ful. The fall of the year was not far dis-

= tent, and all Nature was at its best. i ‘

(looking his breakfast, Buffalo Bill ate it '
leisurely, still glancing about for some si n
of life that would show him that those e
had risked so much to rescue still lived.

But no sign appeared. Slowly the day
dragged away until dinner time.

After the meal Buffalo Bill tool: his riﬂe
and wentoif in search of game.

It was not long before he brought down a
mountain sheep, young and tender; and then
several grouse.

Returning to camp he threw his ﬁshing

line into the pellucid waters and quicklyl,..

caught a mess of deep-water trout for supper ‘ ‘ 

and breakfast.
he muttered, as he began to pupils 3'
But Brita]~ Blii,wgs¢hsﬂ' “.1

{h

“ I will have a feast for old Joe to  If

  
‘u ‘45
.‘ Ly:

       
. M

  
24:

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
more he felt that they Were dead, or perhaps
too helpless from starvation or illness toleave
their hidden camp.

“If the sun goes down with no sign of
them, then I will conclude that we must be-
gin a search tomorrow, Joe and I.

“ He will be in camp soon after nightfall,
for I will go out to meet him, and bright and
early we must get to work.

“ The horses have had a couple of days of
good rest and the best of grass, so they will
be all right for any work.”

Until the sun went down beyond the cliffs
across the lake, Buffalo Bill kept watch, and
a look of sadness stole over his ﬁne face as
the darkness began to creep around him and
not a sound, or a sight, or a signal from the
lost miners.

He threw some wood upon the ﬁre, got all
ready to cook supper, and then slipped out
of camp to go after California Joe. '

He found his old comrade waiting for him
beyond the entrance to the valley.

“ Well. Buf’ler?"

“I’m after you, Joe.”

“No sign of 'em?”

“Nothing whatever.”

“ Dead, I guesses.”

“It looks that way, or else that they are
too used up to leave their camp.”

“ May be that.”

“I’ve got a good supper for us ready to
be cooked at camp.”

“Good. I didn't eat none, preferrin’ ter
wait.” _

“ Well, you follow me into camp. I’ll
take a couple of your horses, and you come
on with the others and stake them out.

“Keep out of t‘ie ﬁrelight until I get sup-
per', when we’ll put out the blaze and eat,
for the miners may appear even up to the
last minute.”

" That’s so, and I goes by your say.”

Half an hour later, Buffalo Bill and Cali-
fornia Joe sat in the semi-darkness enjoy-
ing‘ a good supper.

hwy had their pipes, afterward, and
talked matters over, and then went to their
blankets.

Buffalo Bill had more than ﬁlled his art
of the contract; he had waited the fu lest
time; no miners had appeared, and upon
the morrow the search for them would be-
gin. __

CHAPTER LII.
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

WHETHER it was their late and hearty
supper, or the howling of the coyotes that
drove sleep away, it is certain that the two
pards were very restless during the night.

They had laid down to rest, apart from
each other, fully ahundred feet, not wishing,
should any miner come to the camp, for him
to see more than the one expected person. ’

Up to the last they both hoped even
against hope that some one of the sought for
men would appear.

During the night the coyotes, snifﬁng
about camp, had uttered a startled yelp and
scattered in fear. -

Buffalo Bill sat up and was at once on the
alert.

After a long wait, nothing to disturb him
occurred further, so he lay down again.

California Joe had also been aroused from
his half’awake condition by the scattering
coyotes, but, supposin that it was his pard
who had frightened t em, he tried to sleep
once more.

At last the morning dawned, neither Buf-
falo Bill or Joe having enjoyed their night of
restless slumber.

When dawn was growing brighter, they
rose from their blankets. ’

“ I uess it’s no use fer meter hide longer,
pard ill.”

"No, Joe. Come right out and we’ll get
to work. You get breakfast and I’ll see to
the horses. "

“All ri ht; but I’ll jist dip up a bucket 0’
water a' eetle spell away frum whar you
buried ther red, in ther drink.

“ It may be thet In un down beneath them
calm waters, but I di n’t rest at all well last
night.”

“ Nor did I.”

“Yes, I seen yer up, lookin' round, but I

were sleepy ist then and didn’t call to yer.” ‘

“Yes, (1 d sit up once, for the co otes
scam‘ﬁgred oﬂ one time, scared atsome ing,
I eon nottell wha ”

“ I seen ’em, and I seen you arterward
when yer went scoutin’ round the camp.”

“ You saw me, Joe, scouting arround last
night?" asked Buﬁalo Bill quickly.

” Yes; in course.”

“ Joe, I did not leave my blankets after I
laid down, though I did sit up for a while
when I heard the coyotes.”

“ Pard Bill, does you walk in your sleep?"

“Not to my knowledge, Joe.”

“ I tell you I seen yer.”

“ You were dreaming. ”

" No, I wasn’t; nary a dream.”

“ Then I was walking in my sleep. ”

“ Bill!" '

“ Yes, Joe.”

“ Maybe it wasn’t you.”

“ Where did you see any one ?”

“ Right yonder by the ﬁre.”

J “Tell me just what you saw, or dreamed,
0e.”

“ I saw a form coming from right whar you
slept, and it went over by the ﬁre and stoop—
ed down; then I seen it kinder fade away, for
I were drowsy jist then.”

“ You did not see me, Joe, for I did not
leave my blankets; to that I can swear.”

“ Then it were ther dead Injun prowlin’
’round.”

“ Not be, for he’s at the bottom of the lake,
anchored for keeps.”

“ I mean his ghost.”

“1 don’t believe in ghosts, Joe.
say be halted at the ﬁre ?”

“ About thar.”

“ Let us go and look for a trail.”

It was now light enough to begin to see ob-
jects fairly well, and the two men walked
quickly over to the ﬁre, a few live coals be‘
ing still visible.

“ See there, Joe!" and Cody pointed to
something near the ﬁre—an arrow sticking in
the ground!

More, it was stuck through the handle of
the coffee-pot, so it would not miss being
found.

As Buffalo Bill had spoken to Joe, and
pointed out the arrow, he stepped quickly
forward, and tearing the arrow from the
ground he took from around it a slip of
paper. ~
Unfolding it he read:

“ Too latel
“They are dead, those\ you came to res-
cue.

“ Follow the map and directions below and
you will discover the proof of what I say."

But you

The words were in the same hand as be
fore, and below were the map and directions.

“ Joe, we are too late to rescue them.”

“ And ther gold ?”

“We will soon know."

 
CHAPTER L111.
TOO LATE.

" BILL, I is dead stuck on thet feller.”

” Who, Joe?”

“ Ther one who put this here.”

“ You don’t know him, Joe.”

“ I know enough ter like him, Buf’ler.”

“ He has certainly served us well.”

“ Yes, I should say he had.” .

” And helps us out now that we have reach-
ed the end of our journey.”

“Thet hain’t all, Bill.

“He hev done thet and more.”

“ What more?"

“You holds a letter and a map thar, in

4‘ Yes.”

i “ And ther paper were wrapped around
t?"

“ True.”

" An’ it were stuck through ther handle 0’
ther coffee-pot jist whar you’d ﬁnd it?”

“ That’s so.” .

“ Now, what makes me dead gone on thet
crittur is thet he come right here inter this
camp, walked atween you an' me, puts ther
error here and skips off, and nuther of us got
a gri on him.”

" hat is so.”

“ I'm ther most ter blame.”

“ Why so?"

‘.‘ I seen him."

“ You thou ht it was me."

“1 bed no ght ter think. 'I should have
got up an’ seen. for myself."

 
“And I, Joe, woke up when the co otes
scattered, and should have discovere the
reason.”

“Well, we both was caught napping,
though neither of us slept well. Now read
thet ag’in.”

Buffalo Bill did so, and there saw, written
on the back of the map:

“ There is no need to hide California Joe’s

presence longer, so work together.”-

“Why, Joe, he knows you!”

“ So it do seem, William.”

" Well, he has kept a very close eye upon
us, ever since we left the camps, and for our
good.

“I am more than ever convinced that he
is the one of the three miners who _Was able
to travel, and so went after help. He did
not, for some reason, wish to make himself
known, so fastened the letter and map upon.
Captain Langdon’s door."

“ Yes, Bill, but how is he a pard o’ ther
Injuns, for they’d hev helped him out with
with his gold, and yer knows he kept ’em oiI
of us?"

“That is so. The mystery but deepens
the more we seem to get into it.”

“He knows you and he knows me. He
knows why yer come. and now he tells yer
thet we is too late. He says ter go on and
foller his map and git proof.”

“ And we will proceed to business at.
once.”

“You bet, pard; business it is now; but
thet was him I Seen, and be are ther fu'st
man ever come inter camp an’ I not know it,
and ther same with you.”

” Yes. he is a cunning one-a feather-foot
who makes no noise and leaves no trail.”

“ You bet he be; and now I kin gist pic
ture him over yonder on ther cliff a- aughin’
and a'-laughin‘ at ther way he hev got ther
joke on us."

“Well, Joe, we can now but follow his
directions.”

“True fer you, Bill, and I‘be with yer;
but ther doin’s o’ thet man makes me be-
lieve more and more in ghosts."

Buffalo Bill laughed, and putting the map
in his pocket he went off and chan ed the
grazing ground of the horses, after eading
them to the lake to water.

Joe had built a ﬁre and had breakfast on
when his pard came back.

Breakfast over, they harnessedup, got all
ready, and, mounting the box once more,
Buffalo Bill drove away from the camp, Joe
followin with the led horses.

Guide by the directions and the map, he
passed on out of the valle into another one,
heavily timbered, and a ter several miles
came to a stream.

The map trail led across this, though it
was rough driving beyond, and it seemed
that they were to be brought to a halt up
against a high cliff.

But a few rods on they beheld a narrow
canyon opening before them, and enterin
this, several hundred yards from where t
began, they came suddenly upon a little
cabin standing in the midst of a small pine
thicket.

The cabin was small, built of pine logs; a
spring was near the door; it certainly was a
most secure hiding-place.

The door was closed with a wooden latch,
and after knocking and receiving no answer,
Buffalo Bill entered.

“We are too late, Joe,” he said, pointing
to three dead bodies that lay in the little
cabin.

 
CHAPTER LIV.
A STRANGE REVELATION.

FOR some moments did Buﬂalo Bill and
California Joe stand gazing upon the scene
the had so suddenly come upon.

here was the little cabin, ﬁfteen by ten
feet, built of logs and chinked in by clay

A ﬁreplace was in one end also a rude

table of hewn 10 s, benches and a cupboard;

in the other en were half a dozen bunks,
with bear robes and tattered blankets.

In the cupboard was a most painfully scant
supply of provisions, while an elk, lately slain
and dressed, hung u in a tree outside.

Firewood was pil up outside, but, alto.
gather, the lace was most forlorn.

Onarac wexea number of riﬂes.me

4 ‘ uni» *L‘

 
man—1 4-5469 C?

HRH

 
.1

‘oabiti, they returned to see about the dead.

I
(I,

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

25

 
guns and revolvers, doubtless the weapons of
the dead band that had started with high
hope of ﬁnding fortunes in the Big Horn
Basin.

The two rescuers, seeing that the men were
dead, surveyed the cabin and surroundings.
They beheld in the canyon the scattered bones
of half a dozen horses, and the saddles and
bridles hum. up on the side of the Cabin.

There were the bones, also, of game which
the men had slain, and a perfect troop of
coyotes dashed out of the canyon, all going
one way, showing that there was no exit
further up.

A few cooking utensils were there, and a
Well-worn path to the spring and down the
canyon.

Down the latter, a few rods, were four
graves, where rested the bodies of the party
who had sought that lonshiding-place when
their horses broke down and they could go no
further.

Up against the cabin were picks, shovels
and spades, the tools of the men, and all well
worn from use, while within on the wall-pegs
were saws and hatchets.

Having seen all that there was about the
dreary spot, Buffalo Bill and California Joe
turned their eyes upon the dead lying there
within the cabin.

_ Two of them were in their bunks and had
been dead twenty-four hours or more.

The third man lay upon the ﬂoor of the
cabin. He seemed to have risen from a
bench and then had fallen. A cocked re-
volver was in his hand. Had he been sur-
prised and risen to give battle? That was
what both Bill and Joe decided.

The three men were wretchedly clothed.
They wore skin moccasins, ragged pants and
shirts, while their hats were made of coyote
skins.

Each wore a knife in his belt, but their
revolvers were useless for the want of ammu
nition, save the one weapon held in the grip
of the dead man lying upon the dirt ﬂoor.

That weapon was loaded, save two bar-
rels, and another revolver in his belt had
every charge in it.

This seemed strange; but, strangest of all,
was the discovery made by Buffalo Bill.

The two men in the bunks seemed to have
died a natural death, while the one prostrate
on'the ﬂoor had a bullet wound in the center
of his forehead!

The blood had thickened about it, but a
stream had stained the ﬂoor, and the man
showed, to the experienCed eyes of Buffalo
Bill and California Joe that he had not been
dead as long as the others, by hours.

“ Well, Joe, what do you make of it all f”

“ Them two died natural and this one was
kilt."

“ Sure. ”

“He didn’t kill hisself.”

“ That is certain to me as to you, though
some others might think he gave up all hope
and took his own life.”

“ ‘Twasn’t so. "

“No, for he had some provisions left and
the elk out there. His weapons are loaded,
and he knew help had been sent for.

“ Then there is no powder burn on his
face.” ‘

“ The shot was not ﬁred by his own hand, ‘

even by accident.”

“ That are certain, and jest as sart’in that
some one killed him.”

" That some one opened the door, sur-
prised him, he ﬁred two shots, and see, there
they are in the logs, and he fell dead.”

“ And the one who kilt him get the gold,
I opines.”

“I don’t know about that. But see!
There are same papers which he must have
been looking over when killed ”

“ Look at ’em and read ’em, Bill."

“ I will,” and then he added:

“ We will stay here for some time. I take
it, Joe, so let us ﬁrst look to our cattle," and
the two went to where they had left the
coach and teams and the led horses.

CHAPTER LV.
'rns: PAPERS.

A GOOD feeding-ground was found not far
from the cabin in the canyon, and the spring
furnished a tiny stream of water which the
puck dammed up and made into a pond.

The horses cared for; and their camp set-
tled, for they did not care to stay in the

 
l

 
That the bodies should be ﬁrst looked to
both felt; afterward they could go over the
papers and learn the whole sad story—the
only source of information now that the lips
of those they came to save were forever
sealed and silent.

Whatever the mystery before, it was but
increased by the ﬁnding of the dead.

The two pards had half feared that; but
they had not expected to ﬁnd one of the
Ehree miners slain, and by some mysterious
0e.

Had it been an Indian’s deed, he would
have scalped his victim and then have burn-
ed the cabin with the dead in it.

No; the murder—for such it evidently was
—must have been the work of a white
man.

Going back into the cabin the man who
lay upon the ﬂoor, with the bullet wound in
his forehead, was ﬁrst prepared for burial.

He was a large strong man, with long,
coarse hair, and full beard, unkempt and
uncared for, and a face that really had the
look of one who would commit any crime.
The two pards looked upon it with not a
show of sympathy, or seeming to feel the
least regret.

The fellow had a seal ring upon his ﬁnger,
with an anchor cut into the stone, and the
initials D. D. were pricked into the arm with
India ink, one on each side of an anchor.

This, the two decided, was a proof of his
having been a sailor at some time of his life.

Nothing was found upon his body of
value—not aslip of paper even to givea
clue to his identity.

The form was wrapped in a blanket and
laid on one side of the cabin to await burial;
Buffalo Bill taking off the seal ring as pos-
sibly a means of identiﬁcation some day.

The other two bodies were then taken
from their bunks. '

One was a man of thirty, whose face he-
tokened grit and determination. His hair
and heard also, were long and uncared for,
and nothing was found upon the body by
which he could be identiﬁed.

He, too, was wrapped in a blanket and
placed by .the side of the other.

The third was a person of diﬂerent char-
acter and quality from the others; a glance
revealed that much.

The moment that Buffalo Bill looked into
the face he said: “ This is Leonard Lang-
don, the brother of Captain Luke.”

” He looks it, Pard William,” assented old

oe.

His hair and heard were long, but they
had been well cared for. He was poorly
dressed, but what he wore was tidy.

Buffalo Bill, ﬁnding a ring upon his left
small ﬁnger, drew it off.

Then he cut off a lock of the dead miner’s
long hair and put it with the ring.

The hands, though browned, and harden-
ed, were small and shapely.

About his waist was a buckskin belt,
broad and heavy.

This was unbuckled and removed. It was
found to contain gold coin and paper money,
amounting to a couple of thousand dollars.

There was. also, in the beltseveral trinkets
—all of which Buffalo Bill put carefully
away.

The dead wore an undershirt of buckskin,
which, it was found, had two inside pockets.

From one of these Buffalo Bill took a
leather wallet containing stained and time-
worn papers; from the other pocket were
lifted some legal papers and a deed, with an
ofﬁcial envelope addressed to:

“LEONARD LANGDON, EsQ,,
“NEW YORK HOTEL,
“ BROADWAY.
“ New York City.”

The postmark and date on this were
strangely legible,

Within the envelope were several other
documents, one of which proved to be a will
of recent date, for it bore the heading:

“ Bre HORN BASIN."

The date was but ﬁve months before.

“ It is Leonard Langdon’s will, signed,
and witnessed by three names—those of his
comrades,” decided Buffalo Bill. -

“Yes, plenty of papers, Bill, and I hopes
they may pan out well for your friend," ther
cap’n." remarked California Joe. -

“Well, I hope so, too, Joe. If a man

 
makes a will, he must have something to
leave, and I notice he makes the captain his
heir, though to what, I have not yet read.
But, Joe—”

“Yes, Pard Bill."

“We must make a cofﬁn for Leonard
Langdon, and bury him apart from the
others, for something might turn up, some
day, that would cause his body to be sent
after and removed.”

“ That’s so. But, I say, what troubles me
is who kilt ther man as was shot, and what
did t’other two die of, and why wasn’t
Leonard, here, robbed if it was a white man
who did the killing?"

“ That we will have to ﬁnd out,” was the
quiet reply. “It will all be made plain,
some day, I have no doubt.”

“I hopes it will be, Pard William, fer it’s
all a queer mix, now.”

CHAPTER LVI.
A VALUABLE FIND.

WITH saw and hatchet a rude coﬁin was
made, and the body of Leonard Langdon
was placed in it, the other two men being
wrapped in blankets.

Two graves were dug, one apart from the
other and larger, and into the latter the two
comrades of Langdon were placed.

The smaller grave was for Leonard Lang-
don’s remains, and upon a tree at its head
Buffalo Bill cut his name and the date of
their arrival at the cabin, while Joe ﬁlled in
the dirt and shaped up the mounds.

It was then nightfall, and, quite tired out
from their hard work, the two comrades had
their supper and lay down to rest, spreading
their blankets in the canyon below, where
their horses were, so that no one could ap-
proach the cabin without arousing them.

They had little to say to each other and
were soon fast asleep.

Early dawn found them up and at work.
Joe cooked their breakfast, after making the
ﬁre, while Buffalo Bill took care of the
horses.

The meal over Buffalo Bill said:

“Now, Joe, we Can take our time to search
the cabin and canyon thoroughly; but, ﬁrst,
let us look over those papers, for they may
give us a clue to where the miners cached
their gold. 1 would greatly regret not to be
able to take that back to Captain Lang-

on.”

“Yes, we must ﬁnd it ef it is a possible
thing. Maybe ther papers will put us on
ther trail.”

“ I hope so, so come to the cabin.” .

They proceeded to the cabin and ﬁrst be-
gan on the papers which had been found on
the table in the cabin, and which were be-
ing looked over, beyond a doubt, by the
last of the trio of miners when he was shot.

Why the had not been robbed by the man
who ﬁred t e fatal bullet neither Buffalo Bill
nor California Joe could understand.

“Ma beour coming drew him off afore
he c’u’ rob ’em, Bill?” suggested Joe.

“That could not have been, Joe, for the
body was entirely cold, and the blood from
the wound was dry when we ﬁrst came.”

” So it were.”

“It had made quite a pool on the ﬂoor,
you remember—there is the stain in the dirt
yet, and the fact that it was dry, proves that
the man had been killed at least over a dozen
hours.”

“ It does, fer a fact, Pard William.”

“He was shot; the others died a natural
death; that is what I do not understand.”

“ Me too.”

. “The man who killed him committed no
robbery, closed the door and left.

“ An Indian did not do it, and if it was a
white man, as it must have been, then he
ﬁred that shot in self-defense or to avenge
some wrong, and was too honorable to take
what did not belong to him.”

“ It looks thet way, and there do be sich
men.”

“ You are just that kind yourself, Joe.”

“ I hopes so, as you is, too; but they don’t
come our way often.”

Buffalo Bill was now looking over the
papers picked up from the table.

The very ﬁrst one be scanned was a list of
names.

"These are the men who formed the ex.
pedition, and their place of residence is
given. and how they died, and where.

, “ Yes, the only three not marked " Mu /

 
>0

’“~  , ,1», an.

1

Ivy-t.

s . _ ' '

26

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

"""»“v'"?"“'“~'.- 'm's-mgm, u ~ -, a. ... _ ~
' ' ‘ ' 'I «‘1.

 
are those we found here, but that same
dread word can be written after their names,
now.

“Why see here, Joel Here is the very
amount of gold each one had written after
each name, and Leonard Langdon had by
far more than any of the others.

“He was the captain, too, and from the
sums here given—that is, taking the weight
of the gold each man p0ssehsed as his share,
and estimating the value in coin, as this
statement (lees, it shows that Daniel Darley
hadasmall fortune, though he really was as-
signed the least of all.”

“That’s ther feiler as was shot, fer none
others had ther name begin with two D‘s.”

“A very good guess. He had D. D. in

his ring and also pricked into his arm, so he
Was Daniel Darley, J 0e.”
11. “ Sure; the feller with the ugly mug was
1m.”
“ And his gold pile is estimated at ﬁfteen
thousand, the lowest of all, while the sums
o posite the other names range from
e ghteen to thirty-ﬁve thousand, Leonard
Lan don having sixty-ﬁve thousand to his
cred t. l

" Why, Joe, that was a big ﬁnd for them,
too big to be left here for somebody else to
appropriate. We must ﬁnd the cache with-
out fail, for a number of peeple, their kin
dred, can be made happy by it—but, see
here,” and Buffalo Bill continued, after read-
ing further:

“ Wh , this paper is signed by the men in
full, an gives the gold of each one who dies
to the ones who survive, so that, had the
three men come through all right they would
have been very rich.

“And who is ther heir, now? asked Cali-
fornia Joe ’abruptly.

CHAPTER LVII.
JOE sunrnrsss BUFFALO BILL.

TEE document read over by Buffalo Bill
was a valuable one, indeed, for it would
give to the survivors or survivor the gold of
all the others. ,, ~

There was the list and opposite to each
name had been written one of the following
notices of what his fate had been—opposite
the names of all save the three found in the
cabin: .

“ Dead. Shot as a mutineer by decision
of band.” i

u Killed by Indians."

Ther were eight names inscribed killed
by Ind ans.
Then followed:

" Fell from cliff and was killed.”
“ Attacked Captain Langdon and was shot

 
'by him.”
i .“ Died of fever.”

Two had thus lost Eheir lives.

After no less than seven names was writ-
ten:

" Cause of death unknown—supposed to
have been killed by Indians."

Opposite several names stood the record:
“Died from poison.”

Thus was the fate of each man accounted
for in that valuable but most melancholy
record. which Buffalo Bill read twice over
while California Joe listened with the deepest
attention to at last remark: _

“Farsi Cody, I has got a mean way of
thinking of some folks.” i

“ Well, Joef”,

" Thar is a number that died from: poi-
son?" ‘

“ Yes, Joe, five."

“ Thar is three fell from cliffs?”

u Ym‘ ’7 .

i“ That makes eight.”

“, It does."

“ How many came of death unknown?”

“ Seven.”
’ “ 'lY‘hatufoots up ﬁfteen.”
"‘Two died of fever.”
“ Yes.” - ‘ ‘ , I
" That makes seventeen.”
'Very true." i" r. ,

  
“Well?” ‘

. “ And seven kilt by Injuns makes twenty-
Six.”

“ Very true.”

“ One got crushed by rock falling from
a cliff.”

“ Twenty-seven, Joe.”

“ And three we found here.”

“ Made up the thirty.”

“Yes; but what do you make out of
that?"

“ 1 makes out-that too many died by poi-
son, too many fell from cliffs, too many
died without nobody knowin’ how it hap-
pened, and one from a rock falling on
him.”

“I don’t just see the trail you are follow-
ing, Joe.”

“No, yer is too good to suspect yer feller-
men of deviltry; but I says, says I, thet thet
paper, drawed up as it are, was a premium
on murder; and more, it tempted one or
more men ter kill ther other fellers."

“But, J0e—”

“Now, 1 haiu’t done yet. One of the
party all wanted shot, and he were shot.
andI opines be war caught in some divil-
try.

“ Then another tried ter kill Cap’n Lang-
don, but got kilt.”

“ Yes.”

“Some died 0' fever, and maybe they did,
so they passed in their chips 0. K., but ther
others, say I, were dealt with foul.

“It were easy ter throw a pard from a
cliff, ter drop a rock on another pard’s head,
ter poison more of ’em, ter shoot more of ’em
from ambush and let it be thought Injuns
did it, and thus get rid of a lot, while, let
me tell you right here, and no man will see
it more plainer than you kin, knowin’ red-
skins as you does, thet not one 0’ them men
was kilt by a Injun.”

“ What do you mean, Joe, for I confess I
am away off?”

“ 1 means, if Injuns had kilt one, they’d
hev kilt all.”‘ .

“Ah! now I catch on to your meaning,
Joe. If Indians had found mining goi g on
here, they would have hunted every 0 e of
the hand down."

“Jist, so, and Injuns never found ’em.
The reds don’t come up here, much, only
when they visits them high-smellin’ Springs,
and then the gits out soon as they has hed
their spree o drinkin’ ther water.

"Injuns didn’t know them miners was
here, or they would hev wiped ’em off ther
earth; so I tells you ag‘in. one of ther fellers
of the band of thirty did all ther killin', fer
he wanted all ther gold.”

“Joe, Ihalf believe you are right, now I
look at it all from your standpoint. Yes, I
very much fear such was the case, ” and Buf-
falo Bill seemed deeply moved at the
thogght of what a man would do to get
go .

 
I

CHAPTER LVIII.
THE sncnar UNTOLD.

BUT. California Joe had not yet had all his
say, and. after allowin Buffalo Bill to pen-
der on the subject awhfle, he added:

“1 has more ter spring upon yer, Pard
William.” .

"Go ahead, Joe; you have the ﬂoor.”

“ Yer remember how it were reported thet
a young lieutenant and a few sogers war
kilt here i”

" Yes; I know of the Lost Squad.”

“ Their takin’ off was laid ter Injuns."

“That, of course, was the supposition.
Who else could have overcome the detach-
ment?” ' '

“ Now, the lieutenant was sent up here
ter look fer these same miners, as their
friends in ther East writ out to ther colonel
at ther fort, askin' him ter ﬁnd 'em,” Joe
went on seriously as if ' under deep feeling,
without noticing his comrade’s query:

“ Yes; that was the object of their being
sent into t e Basin."

“1 kno ’d ther’ war miners up in ther
Basin, .but Ithought ther’ was more than
ther' was of ’em. 1 bed been in ther Basin as
you (knows, but I had come alone; so I tells

grigolonei I'd, try undﬁnd ther lieutenant

, s   ,  ,
911' .  . 

 
come alone whar an army c’u’dn’t get
through, an’ I did, an’ as you knows, I found
ther lieutenant and his men—found ’em deed,
e'very one of them.

“ I went back and reported to the colonel
at ther fort that the was all one up, but
that Injuns hedn’t {ilt ’em. tole him it
loloked to me as if they hed all been p’izen-
e In I

“ Poisoned? You surprise me, J 0e!"

“ That same. Thar they lay in camp, and
I got thar mighty soon arter the deed were
done, fer they hed not been touched by co-
yotes.

“ Thar they was stretched out in the’r
blankets, an’ thar laid out the’r horses, too,
alldead—every one 0v ’em.

“ I gathered up ther weepons and what
they hed about ’em, hid ’em in a cache, and
that we’ll ﬁnd ’em fer it hain’t ﬁve mile from
here.

“ Now, arter considerin’ ther cause 0‘
death ov these miners—arter knowin’ whar
they has been hid, and seein’ whar ther
sogers died, and how they died, I knows thet
ther lieutenant found ther lost party 0’ Gold.-
Hunters.

“ Ther man as did ther killip’ fer his com-
rades here, didn’t intend ter let ther lieuten-
ant go back and report he had found ther »
miners and they had lots of gold, and a party
must be sent arter them'an’ ther treasure; o
no! He would trust to gettin’ out with thet
gold himself, and gittin’ it all too, fer him-
self, and you bet he jist p’izened ther food
of them sogers, and they died thet ﬁrst ni ht.
in camp arter leavin’ ther miners, and he ol-
lered and give ther horses 9. dose, too, I’ll bet.
high on that same fera dead sure fact.

“ I take it thet one o’ ther men found here
were his pard in ther game, and, detarmined
ter play a lone hand, he played ther same
p’izen dodge on thet pard an’ ther cap’n, and.
so be war then left alone in his glory.”

“ But he could never have gotten out
alone with his gold, Joe; he must have-
known that.” ' ‘

“ Bill, it may be thet he were left alone-
here by ther Injuns, as he war their friend;

if not, he could easy turn renegade, andthen _.

git his gold by little bits ter somewhar near-
ther Overland Trail. '
“ Bill, thet man with the ugly mug were;

'ther head devil, and he done it all. ”

“ You make a ver strong case against
him, Joe, and by talk ng it over we may get
at the facts fully.

“ But now to ﬁnd thisttreasure, if it is not
hidden beyond finding.”

Buffalo Bill began to look over the other
papers, and at last found a map upon which

a bottle of ink appeared to have been over- ‘ /

turned, either by accident or purposely. _
The result was that the drawing was blot-

ted out, except in one place where the words

were made out: ‘

“ Gold cached just here.”

Below on the map some directions had"
also been destroyed by the ink, but the fol‘
lowing was ﬁne ly made out:

“One hundred paces from the pins, on
map marked ‘starting point,‘ turn due east

and step off sixty aces, and you come to the ,I ' .

Opening in the roe where the gold—”

The ink blot here destroyed the rest of the
directions. \ 

Buffalo Bill ceased reading and looked at
his comrade, who said:

“I guesses we

“Very doubtful, Joseph, for we do not’ I
know whether it is within ﬁfty milesof here

or ﬁfty rods. The treasure of the miners ‘1 C
of the Lost Cabin will never be found by ,
these directions, I am convinced; ,but we‘ 

will make the search, all the same. If it

takes a month. we must go our all mtg)

region carefully."
“Just so,
take a month; bet yer sombrero on the ,.” ‘
And old Joe’s manner expr
ﬁdence Which Buffalo Bill di not quite
comprehend. I ‘

 
CHAPTERLIX. ‘ 
i run DEADLY am. ,i '

h 

  
kin ﬁnd it, Pard Williams, '

William—just so; but a Won’t "

a con-“'2. *4

   
r

       
b.

  
. _chorpric .
, Wasevidenceenough fer any court, I opines.”

v w, I ~ I w

  
own game, began to gain credence with Buf-
falo Bill; the more he pondered over it the
more did he realize its probability.

He had become convinced that the Indians
had not known of the existence of the gold
hunters in the Big Horn Basin, or, if they
did know, the huntch were protected by some
“black sheep ” in the Indian council, who
could have been nothing else than a renegade
White man.

That the lieutenant and his men had died
the mysterious death they did, seemed proof
that this same deadly, cruel hand had been at
work on the hunters, also.

As no other papers were found to throw
further light upon the tragic affair, Buffalo
Bill and California Joe proceeded to make a
thorough search of the cabin.

Their desire was to ﬁnd out how long it
had been used by the miners, and they decid-
ed, from all signs by which they could judge,
that it had been occupied the winter before—
the three men found there dead and those
who slept in the graves outside, having been
the ones to come there.

But, another discovery was made, and one
of considerable value.

In Leonard Langdon’s bunk was found a
pair of leather saddle bags, which contained
half a dozen buckskin bags ﬁlled with bits of
gold, anywhere from the size of a pea to
pieces that weighed two ounces or more.

Upon the bags were the names of the three
men found dead in the cabin, two belonging
to each man. The value, all told, was fully
ten thousand dollars. »

This appeared tOIPI'OVB that the chief bulk
of the treasure had been hidden away, while

-' the amount found in thebunk was being car"

ried along by the miners for their use until
they could return with a force and rescue the
balance, which the had cached.

“Well, Joe, we on’t go back empty hand-
ed to Captain Langdon, whether or no We
ﬁnd the cache."

“ If we gits back at all, William.”

“ What, you getting blue, old pard ?”

“ Oh, no, only thinking.”

" Then think this out while your thinker is
at work: 1 have discovered that the previ-
sions these men had are of Government sup-
ply and fairly fresh, and with the fort stamp
upon them. This proves, Joseph, that you
were right in saying the lieutenant and his
men found the miners, for they shared their
supplies with them. See, here is a silk hand-
kerchief, and embroidered on it are the ini-
tials ‘F. B.’ ’ ’

“ Yes, and it was Lieutenant Fred Bailey,

7 whose body I found with his men."
“ Then that is the best of evidence that the

oﬁoer found the miners—poor fellow.”

- " So says I, William, but what are this
stuck up here?" And California Joe drew
out of a hiding-place among the logs a bottle
bearing the label: “ Morphia—l oz.”

“That settles it, Joe. The man who
brought that into camp did the work of poi-
sonin his comrades and the soldiers.”

“ on has struck it right, and here is more
truck," and Joe drew from its hiding-place a
small morocco case of medicines and sur‘gi-
cal instruments combined, and upon wh ch
was the gilt lettering:

“DR. DANIEL DARLEY.
g “ Asst. Surgeon U. 8. Navy.”
“Joe.” ‘

“A ’ ﬂy, p‘rdln
“The man who was shot we decided was a

a sailor: "

"Yes. it seemed so, fer he had on an an-
chorseairing, and his initials D. D. and an an-
in his arm. That, Pard William.

5“ Well, this ‘ D. D ’ is down on the list of
gold hunters as doctor, and this case of medi-
cines and instruments veriﬁes it.

" He really

cm to bed rock in‘our discoveries, Joe.”

Xes, but granted that he kilt his twdlast

, With panel). Bill, who kilt Elm?" \ ‘
,  ave m: tre. ; utwe must
.. . at...

was a doctor. therefore he un- l
. dorstond poisons and doubtless was tired out i
, '1 of the navy for some geod reason and came
‘ f .i'Othe Wild West to make his fortune in any
; jury. that he could. . That all, now, seems
. clear enough to me, so Ithink we are getting

 
We'll r

$.14) «
.. 

Buﬁg‘alo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
But, though the very closest search was
prosecuted, nothing more of importance was
revealed or indicated; and as night was com—
ing on, the two pards had supper and again
had sought their blankets, determined to
make yet further investigations upon the
morrow of the work of the deadly hand of
Daniel Darley.

CHAPTER LX.
LINK BY LINK.

To two men, such as were Buffalo Bill and
California Joe, “reading signs "was com-
paratively easy work.

The true borderman must be a natural de-
tectiVe, as well as being versed in all kinds
of plainscraft and signs lore.

He must get at the motive of palef ace and
Indian in all they did.

Having mhde valuable discoveries in the
cabin, which were strong links in the chain
of evidence against Doctor Daniel Darley,
they continued, the next morning, to hunt
for signs, and were not lcng in ﬁnding
them.

They knew that the miners had lost their
last horse, and yet iron-shod tracks were
found in the grazing ground beyond the
canyon meadows!

This showed that the soldiers had staked
their horses there by a little pond formed by
the waters of the spring ﬂbwing from the
canyon. '

The tracks were old, but had been made
since the snow had melted.

This circumstance, with the ﬁnding of the
food in the cabin, was-proof sufﬁcient that
the soldiers had been there and camped, for
some days at least, near the miners.

" We must take their trail from here. Joe.
That ought not to be difﬁcult. We know
which way they would go, and you know
where you found them ; therefore let
me see if I can trail them to their last camp,”
said Buffalo Bill.

On this new quest he started, and slowly
but surely he took up the cold trail, but bad
sign enough to feel sure the doomed soldiers
had taken.

California Joe fdllowed slowly leading his
own and Cody’s horses but making no com-

ment.

“Well, Pard Cody, you is a dandy! he
called out at last, as Buffalo Bill halted by a
group of graves, while, not far away, were
the c.eanly picked bones of the horses of the
troopers. " ,

“ They are here.”

“Yes, here’s whar I planted ’em, and it
was hard we k, I admits that.” '

“ Now to tire cache.”

“ Yes. we'i go thar, and make ther horses
tote back ther saddles and things if they
hav’n‘t been disturbed.”

Joe led the way to where he had hidden
the soldiers’ equipments, and now drew them
out of a little cave among the rocks. They
had been undisturbed.

They were packed upon the two horses,
which were then led the ten miles back to
the cabin, Buffalo Bill saying:

/ "They will show what the fate of the

lieutenant and men were, and, if I ever get
pack, I’ll take them up to the fort myself,
oe.” . ‘

“ Yes, and you kin tell the hull story, and
it’s a u ly one too, Pard Cody.”

“ In eed it is.”

Arriving at the cabin again, there was no
sign that anyone had been there during their
absence. ,

The saddles and other equipments, 'with
the things found in the cabin to prove that
the soldiers had been there and shared their
food with the gold hunters, were all stowed
in the coach. '

Thus had passed another day at the lost
cabin of the gold hunters.

After another night’s undisturbed rest. the
tnnpards began to discuss a thorough search
fo he lost gold. ‘

It would, of course, be a “blind man's
search," as Buffalo Bill put it. as they would
have to take their own i see and make their
own guess from the little material they had,
of just how and where to find the tree referred
to in the ink-stained map. and then to locate
the cave where the treasure was buried.

. “‘ I tells yer, Pard William, if he does ﬁdd’
' ' die than,

thetfssld- Vﬁgh” sot a: i _ ' ’- ~ *

 
“ What is that, Pard Joe?”

" Why, who ’twas that kilt ther last man
of them gold hunters.”

“That is what worries me, Joe, as it does
you.”

“ Yes, it's enough ter worry a angil, I
opines, now that we has proved he didn’t kill
hisself, and thet he did kill all 0’ ther others.”

“ Granted that he did kill all that accident
or sickness had not removed from his way,
Joe; what then?” *

“ Well, he hed things about as he wanted
’em, at last, and were sittin’ in ther cabin a-
cousiderin’ all by hisself, and readin‘ over
them papers.

“ Now, thar was ther little ink-bottle, with
none in it, and on ther ﬂoor.”

“ Yes.”

“ Thar war ther map and directions all ink-
stained on ther table.” ' =

“ True.”

" Now, be war found lyin’ on ther ground
by ther table and he hed a bullet wound in his
forehead."

" We know all that, Joe.”

“He hed a revolver cocked in his hand,
and two shots hed been ﬁred, ther bullets be-
in’ in ther door.”

“ Very well; granted that; what then?"

“\Vhy, he were shot by somebody, and
who is ther somebody?" 1

Buffalo Bill smiled, for Joe’s brain had been
running on that " lead” ever since they had
come to the cabin, no matter what other mat-
ters had been canvassed.

Then he said, seeing that Joe was awaiting
his answer: .

“ Well, Joe, we know that we found this
lost cabin through the guidance of our mys-
terious guardian, and he told us we were too
late, which shows that he knew all the gold
hunters were dead. It therefore follows that
he must have been the one who ﬁred that
last fatal shot. ” .

“ Bill, yer has hit it! That man kilt ther
man we knows as doctor. It’s all plain
enough, now."

CHAPTER LXI.
A SUSPICION.

YET another ni t went by without distur-
baﬁce or alarm, and the two comrades began
to feel that the cabin there in that wilderness
was indeed lost. ’

No redskin discovered it, and if any came
it would be some prowling band who had dis-
covered the stage-coach trail and had followed
it to the end. _ I {

True, one other knew of the cabin and their 
presence there at that moment; but that one ~ ,3.
thus far had been their guard, their guide; he . ‘-
had defended them; and more; theugh his. . '
actions had been incomprehensible, yet all ‘ ’ .i
he did hadbeen toinsure their safety and the 7
success of their perilous venture.  »

But, the mystery hanging over his identity \
was daily—almost hourl adding to the aux 
ety of both Buﬂ‘alo Bil and California Joe, r “
until at last the latter struck a chord which 
did not ﬁnd ready response or acceptance with
Buffalo Bill. ‘

“ I tells ver, Pard Cody, I has suthin’ tor - ,
isay,” said Joe, after breakfast the next morn. ‘1 t
u .

 
)u

      
“ Out with it, Joe.” "3:.
“ go doesn’t know who our guard be.” f ',
(t' 0-,, ’ I 
“ We doesn’t know why he helps us.” ‘ ‘EE
_ " No; but we do‘know that he has done. . 749
nothing but aid us.’ . . '
“ For what purpose ?”
“ Ah! there’s the rub ” ﬂ
“ Yes, that it ’tis. What’s the why of it?
We did think it war one o’ ther miners."
“ We know now that it was no ." ..
".We does, and knows that somebody, we. r 
guesses him, tuk ther letter and ther map to
Cap n Luke Lsngdon." ' ‘
"Yes", ‘ ‘33:.
“ We don't see in ther papers no- mention _
of nobody else." '- "
(I No.) ‘ > '
“ Now, might not he hev come to  '
camp, this cabin.’and secretly be that “fries ~
0' Doctor Barley?”  .  \.
"‘lA‘liilhIseeyouruliea.” [h (1;: t .v
“ gthenotpa tero rs
hunter, or what yer  and while been
- ‘- h ther doctor,- hev gpt 'ter

  
I

       
’.

 
.a

   
28

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

 
Doc, and, ef so, they wanted ther gold car-
ried to ther Overland.”

“Well?”

“ They c'u’d git it thar only if a coach was
sent fer it.”

“ Ah, I think I catch your meaning."

“ It was ter come with one man.

" Thet one man w’u’d be tuk keer of
when he got here, and ther miner cap'n and
t’other man would be kilt as they was."

“ Go on. "

“Thet would leave ther coach ter carry
"ther gold in, and ther Doe and this pard of
his would hev ther hull game.”

ll  on.))

“I’m a-coming to my point, Pard Cody.
Yer see, our guard bein’ ther man, he comes
here ter tell his pard ther coach were on the
way and to see if ther Doc hed kilt ther last
two men.”

“ Yes. ”

“He did come here, and seen that ther
work was done; so, havin‘ his hand in, as far
.as killin’ folks went, ther Doc concluded not
to share ther gold, and so tried ter kill ther
pard as bed got ther stage fer him, but jist
slipt up in ther end and got his own chips
(called in.”

“ What else, Joe?”

“ Then, t’other feller, bein’ as he bed. it all,
jist come ter tell us whar ther cabin was,
and will tarn up when he ﬁnds ther gold,
and jist shoot er, and me, too, from some
ambush, and dr ve ther coach in to some sta-
tion and hev ther fortin’ all for hissclf.”

“ Well, Joe, I have heard your story, and
understand that you have a suspicion against
the man who has so well served us; but I
should hate to feel that he was so bad as you
assume. and shall trust in him until I get
some sign to make me believe he has other
metives in view than to aid and preserve
us. I;

‘f It are all possible, Pard Cody, jest as I
have worked it out.”

“I admit that, yet I do not wish to believe
it probable or anywhere near the real facts of
the case.

“ Here we are, in the Bi Horn Basin, a
long way from the Overlan Trail; we have
found the men we came to-rescue; but if we
have not been in time to save their lives, we
know that we traveled faster than was in-
tended all throu b that man’s guidance and
oversight. 80 1g shall proceed as though he
was still our friend.

“We will try and ﬁnd the gold, with or
without his further help. If we cannot do
.so in a week’s search, than we will face the
«dangers of our return trail and show that we
did our best."

“ I’m with you, Bill, whatever you decide
is best to do; but I can't git over my sus-
picion o’ thet man we don‘t know.”

CHAPTER LXII.
THE THREE TRAIL.

MOUNTING two of the best of their horses,
Buffalo Bill and California Joe started out
upon the search for the lost gold cache.

All they had to guide them was their own
.-sagacity, with the few lines in the ink-stained
map which spbke of a pine tree, a certain
number of paces in given directions and a
cave among the rocks.

Both being men to makea shrewd guess as
to a likely p ace of concealment they started
out determined on unearthing the treasure.

One thin seemed certain, that the gold
hunters ha brought their gold to the cabin
with them.

The bones of their used-up horses proved
this, for they evidently had packed it upon
the animals until they could go no further,
and when they died, and sickness brought
down some of the men, so that they were un-
able to go further, they had sought a secure
retreat for themselves, built the cabin and
there remained, in a spot that, in the end,
had proven fatal to the last one of the ven.
turesomc hand.

But, ﬁrst, they must have hidden their
treasure, corralled, as they then were, in that
remote wilderness.

But where?

They began their search with perfect
:system and left no liker spot of conceal-
ment unvisited. d

Buffalo Bill obliqued to the right, upon

 
.  gggving the canyon, California Joe to the
‘ t

‘  fiber..th n

greed not to go

     
.\ “.. u...

beyond a dozen

  
miles, in their search for the tree answering
the short description given.

All day long they pursued that search
with keenest scrutiny, and at dusk both
returned to the entrance to the canyon.

“ W'hat luck, Joe ‘2”

“ Not a bit.”

“Nor I.”

“I‘ll take your side tomorrow, you the
side I examined, for one might see what
either one missed to-day.”

“Right you are.”

“ And we’ll go on foot.”

“ Yes, that’s the true method now.”

“ We‘ll let the horses rest all we can, for
if we ﬁnd nothing after a few days’ search
we must start back to the Overland.”

“ So says I.” ,,

So, another night went by, and getting
an early start on the morrow the two pards
again began their quest.

This time they “went on foot, and each
scrutinized the ground the other had taken
the day before. All day long they tramped.
and peered, and examined, and not until
sunset did California Joe come in.

Buffalo Bill followed half an hour later,
and found his comrade cooking supper.

“ Got their gold, William ?”

“Not a nugget, nor a true sign, Joe.”

“Nor me; but I is hungry as a grizzly and
tired as a stage horse.”

They ate their supper almost in silence,
imd, attending to their horses both turned
n.

But their hardened frames and steel-like
ﬁbers were recuperated, and the mornin of
the third day of the search found them 0 at
dawn.

They kept together now and went over a
new territory.

But it was the same story as for the days
previous.

A. dozen times they came upon spots that
looked as though they had found the one to
start from ; a dozen times they confessed
themselves baffled.

So they returned to camp as the day was
drawing to a close.

“ What's that on the door, Joe?" asked
Buffalo Bill as a white spot caught his eye.

“ Bill, it’s a letter, sure.”

“ I should say it was.” \

“ Our guardian has been here, sart’in.”

“Yes, and now for news!”

Hastily walking forward, Buffalo Bill
took from the door, to which it was fastened
with a wooden peg, a slip of paper.

It was closely written upon, with a pencil,
and the handwriting was the same as in the
previous messages.

“Now, Joe, stt down and I’ll read it,”
and Buffalo Bill and California Joe threw
themselves upon the round, while the for-
mer read aloud this urther communication
from the man of mystery—their invisible
mascot.

CHAPTER LXIII.
THE LETTER.

WHAT was written upon the slip of paper
was as follows:

“ You have been searching for the gold of
the men you came to rescue.

“If you did not ﬁnd it here, nor haVe di-
rections to lead you to the spot where it is
hidden, it will be a useless search, for it may
have been concealed at Jackson‘s Lake,
where they wintered, or along the toilsome
trail they pursued to this resting halting-
place.

“You found those you came to rescue all
dead, and you know what papers and other
thin 3 they had with them.

“ ore came to this cabin than the three.
Count the dead you found, and add to them
the number of graves, here, when you came,
and you have the number of men, the rem-
nant who built this cabin.

“If ready to start upon your return, .0
so, and take with you the effects of the men,
all that was left; but do not take the trail
back by which you came, for it would lead
to your certain death.

“ Instead, though it will take longer,
avoid all the cut-offs on my map and follow
all the way the one sent to Captain Lang-
don by his brother.

“ Even on this way you may ﬁnd foes, for
ﬁve men are in ambush. for you—ﬁve white

men who came from the Overland camps.

t .

 
“They are led by Trumps the Sport, and
you will know the others, doubtless.

“They will expect you to return by the
trail you went, and so ambush you; but, by
following the Langdon map, you can see
that you may avoid them, though possibly
not.

“ They will believe that you have the gold
—that you have rescued the gold hunters, and
therefore, will ﬁre to kill, showing no mercy.
for they have come to get that treasure, at
all hazards.

“ Neither Wa-sha-kie, nor other chiefs of
tribes will allow their braves to harm you,
but small prowling bands of young bucks
may give you some trouble. At least, be on
the watch for them."

There was no signature; the letter ended as
abruptly as it had begun.

Buffalo Bill, when he had ﬁnished the read-
ing. turned to note the effect upon his old
pard.

“ Read it over ag’in, William, and go slow,"
requested Joe, as if not yet quite satisﬁed.

Buffalo Bill obeyed—glad to do so, for he
wished to see if he had missed any point in
it, himself.

“Well, Joe, what do you think of that?"

“ No Injun wrote it."

“ I am sure of that.”

“ A good letter writer he is.”

“ Yes, and all he says is to the point.”

“ Sart’in; he speaks as one who knows.”

" What do you think about it?”

“ Fu’st, he tuck chances in comin’ here,
fer we might hev come in and catched him."

“ Yes. "

“ He’s honest, fer he didn’t take nothin’, I
guess.”

“ We‘ll see.”

They made a quick searth of the cabin, and
aBCertained that nothing was gone

Then Buffalo Bill's keen eyes saw a slip of
paper on the side of the coach.

He quickly went to it, to ﬁnd that the mys-
terious visitor had left another note, as fol-
lows:

“ Pardon me for appropriating some of
your provisions, asI have nearly run out, my
trail being longer than I had anticipated.

” I have helped myself to some ﬁour, rice,
coffee, sugar, bacon and a few other things I
needed.

‘.‘ Will return them at your camp on- the
Overland.”

“Well, I’ll be—”

“ Don’t swear, Joe.”

“I hain’t goin’ ter cuss him, Bill, fer they
hain’t my things, and I knows he is welcome,
as far as you goes; but I was goin’ ter say
thet he do be ther durndest delegate I ever
heerd of. Why, Pard Cody, he 8 too honest
ter live long.”

I “ He appears to be a mighty square fellow,
. oe.”

“ He do, and he don't know whar thet gold
is, I'll take oath on.”

“ As I will.”

“ But he do know a heap about trails."

“ He does, for a certainty.”

” And them as is layin’ fer us.”

“ And he continues to be our Grim Guar-
dian.”

“ He gives us mighty good advice.”

“ He does.” t

“And he knows about Injuns, too, and it
was him as saved us before.”

“ I am sure of that.”

“But, Bill, who is he?”

“ Don’t know, Joe."

" Now he tells us ther gold hunters war all
dead, how man y come here, all about Leonard
Langdon’s map, but he don’t say a word
about thet last one of ther band who was
shooted.”

“ Not a word as to how he met his death;
but, do you still believe he wishes to kill us
and get that gold?”

“No, I don’t, and I axes his pardon.

“ When does we start?”

“ To-morrow, if you say so."

“ I am ready.”

And upon the next day the return trail of
the rescue coach was begun.

CHAPTER LXIV.

Tim AMBUSH.
THE rescue stage coach was again driven
by Buffalo Bill, California Joe following with
the horses in lead. It had proceeded well on
its way back toward the Overland Trail. ‘ t
. i . I , 4 , t h '  ‘ t

t
g» 5  
,

1. "  I»;  «it:

         
,3

   
As the letter of the mysterious guardian
had suggested, the back trail had been the
one marked down in the map sent by Leonard
Langdon to his brother.

No adventure of importance had been met
with, though they had found the way rugged
and very dangerous, at times.

A wheel had broken, but the foresight of
Buffalo Bill in bringing an extra one for both
axles soon remedied this.

Then the pole had snapped in two, but an
extra one was swung under the coach; so
this mishap caused but little trouble and de-
lay

One of the horses had given out complete-
ly, and had to be left behind, Buffalo Bill
hoping he would rest up and follow on, as
horses often do when abandoned.

As there were extra horses, this loss was of
little moment.

Not an Indian had been sighted, and, as
game was plentiful, and the camping—grounds
excellent, the pards did not suffer much for
food or rest.

All along, however, a good watch was kept
on the trail by day, and in camp by night,
but nothing had yet given them cause for
alarm. .

" One morning, soon after leavmg camp, a
lariat was found stretched across the trail,
and upon it was a slip of paper.

A halt was made, and Buffalo Bill an-
nounced:

"Another letter, Joe, from our guardian.
Trouble ahead, I guess.”

“ You bet there is.”

The paper gave this information:

“ Ahead, a dozen miles, is a long, narrow
canyon, the cliffs on either side high and
heavily timbered.

“ In that canyon you will ﬁnd the gambler
and his men ambushed, so play some ruse
upon them, as you cannot ﬂank them, for it
is the only pass through the range.

“You will not be halted by a command,
but by bullets, so it would be well to recon-
noiter ahead on foot, ﬁnd where your foes
are, and surprise them.

“Just where in the long pass they will
wait, 1 cannot tell.”

“Joe,” said Buffalo Bill, when he had
ﬁnished the message, “we are warned
again."

" Yes, he’s still pertectin’ us."

“Suppose we play a game for those fel-

. lows?”

“ Set a trap for ’em, William?”

" That is the idea.”

f “ I’m in it with yer, Pard Cody, with both
eet.”

Then the two talked together for awhile,
and soon after the coach rolled on its way
again.

At last, the long canyon or pass through

' .the range, was reached, and it was found to

be a narrow way, with cliff-like sides rising
a 1hundred feet or more on the right and
le t.

The tops were covered with heavy timber,
so that down in the canyon, at noonday,
eVen, it was agloomy way.

The coach horses had come down to a walk,
the reins hung loosely from the hands of Buf-
falo Bill, who sat upon the box fast asleep,
his head drooping upon his broad breast, ut-
terly unconsc one it appeared.

He was in the pass where he had been warn-
ed‘that danger awaited him, danger of death.

Buddenly, with no warning voice to pre~
pare one for what would follow, there rattled
forth ﬁve shots from behind a bowlder which
was one on side of the pass; the form of the
driver gave a start and fell back on the top
of the coach, motionless.

The horses, started by the shots, came to a
quick halt, the leaders half turning in
fright. .

" Catch those leaders, quick!” shouted a
voice, and out from behind the bowlder
sprung the tall form of Trumps, the Overland
S ortl

pHe was followed by four others.

But, just as he appeared, two riﬂes ﬂashed
from within the coach. and the gambler and
one of his men fell dead in their tracks.

Then, wide 0 n ﬂew the coach doors and
out leaped Bu alo Bill and California Joe,

revolvers in hand, to give battle to the other

three men, who, though startled by the fall

' -of'their leader and one other of their party,

 
. ._—..~-... -

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. éo

 
had presence of mind enough to leap for shel
ter behind the bowlder, thus putting them-
selves in a good position and holding a great
advantage over Cody and his comrade.

The two pards saw this, and knew that it 3
was a ﬁght to the death. with the chances ;
against them: but, they took refuge behind :
the horses, just as they Were ﬁred upon and i
the two leaders fell dead. |

But, as their three foes uttered a shout of It
triumph there came a shot from their rear, 1
further along the canyon! i

That shot dropped one of the two in his ,
tracks, which so frightened his two compan- §
ions that, forgetting the dangerin their front. 1
they sprung from their Shelter and found 1
themselves confronted by Buffalo Bill and ‘
California Joe! |

Several shots were ﬁred in rapid succession, i
and two men went down—the last of the
gambler‘s party

The pass was cleared of fees. just as a form
bounded into view, revolver in hand. ‘

He had come to aid Buffalo Bill and his
pard, but started back when he saw that.
they needed no aid. He would have retreat- {
ed, but for an earnest call to halt. 

CHAPTER va. i
YELLOW .mex‘s DOUBLE. l

WITH a look of utter amazement Buffalo1
Bill and California Joe gazed upon the one
whose shot in the rear of their foes had 
killed one, and, turned the tide of battle in
their favor. ,

They saw that he had rushed in to help 1
them, but only to ﬁnd that they had ended .
the ﬁght. ,

The one they saw was a large man, clad in i
buckskin from moccasins to skull-cap. ‘

He was armed with revolvers and knife in
his belt, and a riﬂe swung at his back.

But, he was a Ulu'nee/

“By the gods of war, it is Yellow Jack,
the mysterious Chineel" cried Cody, in
amazement and delight. “Yes, Jack, you
have been our friend—the Grim Guardian of
our trail! What do I not owe to you?"

With this Buffalo Bill stepped forward and
held out his hand.

The Chinaman grasped it, but said in per-
fect English, and without any accent what-
ever:

“I am a Chinee, yes, Mr. Cody, but you
are mistaken, for 1 am not Yellow Jack.”

“ Not Yellow Jack ?"

“No, sir.”

“ Do you expect me not to believe m eyes?
As much as you Chinamen look a ike, I
know you too well, Jack, my Chinee pard,
and the good service you did me when you
came after me on the trail and warned me of
danger.”

“I did do that, Mr. Cody, but still Iam
not Yellow J ack.”

“ Who are you then ?”

“ I am Yellow Hand once a medicine-chief
among the Indians—the Chinaman you, as
you believed, rescued from them.

“But I was not their captive, for I held
great power among them, and went among
them of my own will to study the virtues of
the plants, herbs and roots they use in treat-
ing their sick. ’

“ You, as you believed, rescued me. and I
let it be so; but I had not yet ﬁnished my {
work among them, and so I played a Chinee
trick upon you and others.

“I have a brother, Mr. Cody a twin broth- ,
er, the one you know as Yellow Jack. ‘

“ We came to this country as youn;r men, 1
to seek our fortune, for our father, once a '
man of wealth in China, had lost his money.

“ We learned English under an American
teacher, and I studied medicine, as also did
my brother.

“ When you took me to the camps, I sent ‘
for my brother to come there. I

“ He did so. and I returned among the In l
dians to get all my books written of my dis- *
coveries of plants and herbs, and to learn a 2
little more.

 My brother you know all about. He =
owes you his life more than once; but of '
me you only know what I have now ex- 3
plained to you. I

" My brother told me of your daring res-
cue trip, and urged me to help you. i

“I was secretly visiting him there. in the ,
camps, and so long as we did not appear to- ‘
gether we were not known as two, forI was "
often taken for him. . l

 
- gather. "

“ He told me of the plots against you, and
we determined to save you, for we knew you.
were going to your death.

“ It was I who came to your camp; then I
returned and heard what else my brother had
to tell.

“I discovered all, and I was able to help
California Joe when he was ﬁred upon.

“My horse is as fleet as the wind and as
enduring as iror, and so I was near you on
your whole trail.

“It was Yellow Hand, the chief, who
saved you from Wa-sha-kie, and again from
the young bucks who followed you, for they
dared not disobey me, even when one of
their number was missing, and they felt
sure that you had killed him.

“ I have followed your trail back here, and
am glad to have warned you of danger in this
pass.

“Had I not believed that you needed me,
I Would not have shown myself. But the,
Secret is out now."

The story Was modestly and simply told,
and both Buffalo Bill and California Joe
grasped a hand of the Chinaman. and ex-
pressod their deep gratitude for all that he
had done.

Then Joe asked:

“But, Pard Chinaman, what I wants ter
know is who killed Doc Dan Darley, ther
last 0’ ther gold-hunters?"

“ I didl I knew that Whole country like a
book.

“I had hunted it over after medicine
plants, and i knew that the miners were-
there.

“ When I last saw them they were at the
cabin, but three of them, and I was sure-
that one of them was a traitor.

“I told Captain Langdon to watch him,
but he did not doubt him, it seemed, and
fell a victim to his poison, for there is no
doubt but that he dosed him with mor-
phine.

“The captain sent his map and letter by
me, and Darley expected to kill you, Mr.
Cody, as the one who came to the rescue,
and then to work his way out of the Basin,
or wait until 1 came again and have me
guide him.

“ I discovered how he had killed the
soldiers, dragging their coffee, so thata re~-
lief force would not be sent. ‘

“ Iknew that the captain was failing, so
hurried you along.

“ We were too late. I went to the cabin
to ﬁnd Darley alone, and the two dead meg
also in the cabin.

“He was mad with joy at his success,
and when I entered the cabin, for he had
not heard my call or knock, he sprung to
his feet and opened ﬁre upon me.

“I returned the shot- and killed him;
after which I went to tell you where to ﬁnd
the lost cabin.”

“ And the gold i”

“ Did you not ﬁnd the map to direct you
how to ﬁnd where it was hidden f”

“Yes, but so defaced by ink that it was
useless."

“ Then the gold is lost, for no one living
knows its hiding-place," was the decided re-
spouse!

“I believe you are right, for we two
cauld not ﬁnd it. .

" But we did get some old fer the brother
of Captain Langdon, an some papers that.
may prove of Value.”

“I hope so for he iva noble man, and
should be something else than an agent of
the Overland out in this wild land

“As for myself, I found gold enough,
while among the Indians, to make my
brother and myself independent for life. here

' in America, for we are Americans Mr. Cody,

and shall live here, going to the East to ﬁnd
a home, for, through my brother. my gold-
dust has been sent therealready.

“ But now, about Golden the Gambler and
his men. for we must bury them.”

“Just how far is it to the camps, for you
know this country thoroughly ?”

“By good drivmg you can reach there to.
morrow afternoon."

“ Then I shall take the bodies there, in the
coach.”

“ And you will go with us?" .

“ No; I shall still remain unknown, but 
will visit my brother secretly. and then hm; ;‘
will leave the camps and we will go East tea. ,.

 
30

Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.

.. r ,.
--.....-_.x--,d-.,.L.; . ..-

. v .1... . ~..-~.-..-.._. —'- ...

 
“My good horse is at the end of the
pass.”
“ And Bill, I guess that hain’t no need 0’
my goin’ ter camp neither, so I’ll light out
fer the fort,” said California Joe.

Entrcaties were in vain, for both California
Joe and the Chinaman went their separate
ways, when they broke camp the next

' morning, for they did go on with the coach

until nightfall.

And thus it was, as has been seen, that
Buﬂalo Bill, placing the body of one of the
men upon the top of the coach, drove into
the Overland camps late next afternoon and
said, as he drew rein, and the Division
Agent and others pressed forward to welcome
him:

“I am safel back again, Captain Lang-
don. There Ies a man you ma know,
while there are more, in a like con ition, in-
side the coach.”

CHAPTER LXVI.
CONCLUSION.

11‘ was a positive shock to the men in the
camps, to recognize in the ﬁve dead bodies,
brought in by Buffalo Bill, Dare Golden the
Sport of the Overland, and four other men
whom all knew well.

The mystery of it all was not cleared up,
for Buifalo Bill had only to say that they
had held him up to rob him, and, with the
aid of California Joe and others he had
gotten the best of them.

He also stated that Desperate Dave, and
Wild Tom and his party could be account-
ed for in the same wa , and all supposed
that California Joe, “an others," had helped
him in each instance.

But of this Buffalo Bill had no more to
as , so the mystery continued.

But he did havea great deal to say to Cap-
tain Langdon, and the two hunters of the
camps were given just so many hours to de-
part, or remain and ornament the limb of a
tree.

They chose the ﬁrst oﬁer.

And Luke Langdon heard the truth of the
long trail, and then ﬁrst how his brother had
died.

He was given the gold and the papers.
Captain Langdon's ﬁrst duty was to pay
over to the daring rescuer the one thousand
in gold he had promised him, and would
have given more, but Buifalo Bili refused
to take more than the sum agreed upon.

Then the captain told how a letter had
come from a lawyer, askingl about his
brother, and telling him that e had some
landed property that had turned out to be
most valuable.

As Luke was his heir, and the deed which
Cody had brought in with him, was of that
very property, Captain Langdon said:

“ You have made me a rich man, Bill. I
shall resign my position for I must at once
To you I assign the place I now

“ I thank you. Captain Langdon, but
California Joe told me that scouts were want-
ed at the forts, so I will give up Pony riding
and go and get a place at scouting."

With Yellow Jack, Buffalo Bill had quite
a long talk, and he found that his “Pigeon
Englis ” was all put on.

Soon after Yellow Jack went East; then
Captain Lan don departed.

Buffalo Biﬁ left for Fort Laramie, where
he was at once given a position as scout, he
being well knovii, while California Joe had
loudly sounded his praises.

Joe was there, too, and when Buffalo Bill
had turned the saddles and equipments of
the little band of soldiers over, he and the
old plainsman went 011 to the quarters of the
latter and enjoyed a long talk about their re
markabls expedition and their wonderful
Chinee Guardian of the perilous trail.

A few months after arriving at Laramie
Buffalo Bill had a letter from Captain Luke
Langdon, telling him that he had become a
rich man, through being his brother’s heir.
and had married the lady he had so devoted-
ly loved, so was happy.

Some time after a letter came from “Dec-
tor Wing Lee,” an eminent Chinee physician,
saying that he and his brother were prosper-
ous, he practicing medicine, while " Jack ”
was a “ professor ” in a college.

Going into the Big Horn Basin with a

1

military expedition, years after as guide and
scout, a thorough search was made for the
lost treasure of the Gold Hunters, but it was
not found, and has not been, to this day.

Only lately Buifalo Bill and the writer in-
vaded the Big Horn Basin together, and the
great scout saw that his prOphecy was being
at last fulﬁlled, for the beautiful land was
fast ﬁlling up, and a village was springing
into existence, which had been named
“ Cody City” in honor of the daring plains-
man who had visited that wild land where
death stared him in the face at every step.

Buffalo Bill won his world-wide reputation
by just such daring deeds as are here por-
trayed and as the hero of this true story of
the Lost Gold Hunters of the Big Horn
Basin, but adds to his brilliant record one
more remarkable episode.

THE END.

 
Beadle’s Mine Librarv.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

898 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport.

884 The S tter-Sport s Neck-Tie Party.

870 High- ater Mark: or, Silver-Tip Sid.

862 Riata Bob. the Range Cham ion.

855 The C ~wh0v Chief's Sure-S 0t.

848 The Rival Red-Hat Sports.

837 Curly Kid. the Cheyenne Sport.

824 The Soft Hand Detective.

815 The Soft Hand’s Clutch.

809 Dan Dunn. the Soft-Hand Sport.

796 The Frisco Detectlve's Thug-Tangle.

789 Sam Cary, the River S ort.

780 The Dead Sport’s Don is.

771 Prince John, Detective S ecial.

763 Dandy Don, the Denver etective.

734 'l he Man from Texas; or, Dangerﬁeld,
Doctor Detective.

744 Swee takes Sam, th ». Silver Sport.

720 The ecret Six; or, 0 d Halcyon.

712 The Man of Silk.

705 Bantam Bob. the Beaut from Butte.

698 Kent Kasson, the Preac er Sport.

683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.

675 Steel Surry, the Sport, from Sunrise.

668 Solemn Saul’s Luck Streak

661 The Get-There Sharp.

651 Silvertip Steve, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou.

645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.

636 Dandy Darling, Detective.

627 Mossback Mose, the Mountaineer.

617 The Grip-Sack Sharp‘s Even u .

597 Big Bandy, the Brigadier of B mstone Butte.

588 Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Snap City.

576 Silver-Tongued Sid: or, Grip Sack Sharp‘s Sweep.

564 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, .The Seraphs of Sodom.

555 Grip-Sack Sid. the Sample Sport.

547 The Buried Detective; or. Sanl’s Six Sensations.

541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.

535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.

527 Dandy Andy, the, Diamond Detective.

514 Gabe Gunn, the Grizzlyifrom Ginseng.

504 Solemn Saul. the Sad an from San Saba.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead’s Reprisal.

488 The Thoro hbred Sport.

474 Daddy Dea -Eye, the Desnot of Dew Drop.

466 Old Rough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown.

458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg.

450 The Rustler Detective.

443 A Cool Hand: or, Pistol Johnny’s Picnic.

4‘18 Oklahoma Nick.

433 Laughing Leo; or, Sam ’s Dandy Pard.

426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.

416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck.

409 Rob Roy Ranch: or. The Imps of Pan Handle.

403 The Nameless Sport.

395 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derringers.

387 Dirk Durg. the Ishmael oi’ the Hills.

379 Howling Jonathan, the Terror from Headwaters.

372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.

367 A Royal Flush: or. Dan Brown’s Big Game.

360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.

355 Stormv Steve. the Mad Athlete.

351 Nor‘ West Nick. the Border Detective.

345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.

339 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.

331 Chis Charley, the Gold Nugget Sport.

324 Old orked Ligh thing. the Solitary.

317 Frank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective.

302 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.

292 Moke Homer. the Boss Roustabout.

M Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.

283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines.

257 Death Trap Diggings: or. A Man ‘Way Back.

249 Elephant Tom. of Durango.

241 Spitﬁre Saul. King of the Bustiers.

$33 The Old Boy of Tombstone.

201 Pirate of the Placers: or. Joa uin‘s Death Hunt.

197 Revolver Rob: or, The Belle 0 Nugget Camp.

180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.

170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective.

165 Joaquin. the Terrible

154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.

141 E iiinox Tom. the Buiiy of Red Rock.

127 S31 Scott, the Masked Miner.

119 Alabama Joe: or, The Yazoo Man-Hunters.

105 Dan Brown of DenVer: or. The Detective.

Big George; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.

Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.

The Boy J ockey: or, Honesty vs. Crdokedness.

Double-Sight, the Death Shot.

Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport.

Paciﬁc Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.

45 Old Bull's-Eye, the Lightning Shot.

40 Long-Haired Pards: or. The Tarters of the Plains.

30 Gospel George: or, Fiery Fred, the Outlaw.

28 Three-Fingered Jack, the Road-Agent.

the

SSESSB

 
BY ’ WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

891 Genres] Jim. Sport—at—Large.

881 Tue Clubman-Crook‘s Cat‘s-paw.

867 The Frisco Sport.

8.32 The Stranger S )ort‘s Shake-up. ,
828 Kirk King, the Man from Kirby.

818 Gentleman Dave. the Dead Game Sport.

783 The King-Pin Tramp.

767 The Sport of Silver Bend.

718 Uncle Bedrock‘s Big Bounce. ’
707 The Rival Rovers.

687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm. .
677 Mr. Jackson, the Gent from Jaybird. "
659 Gilt-Edge Johnn '; or, Roldan and His Rovers.
650 Lucky Lester‘s one Hand.

631 Old Handcart‘s Big Dump.

622 The All Around Sports.

603 Desert Alf. the 'Man With the Cougar; _
590 Gentle Jack. the High Roller from Humbug. '*
578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile.
568 The Dude Detective.

558 Hurrah Harry, the Hi h Horse from Halcyon.
519 Belshazzar Brick, the ailiﬂ of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport With a Scar.

525 Fresh Frank, the Derringer Daisy.

503 The Dude from Denver.

478 Pinnacle Pete; or, The Fool from Way Back.
459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.

429 Hair Trigger Torn of Red Bend.

402 Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels’ Flat Racket.
396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal George, the Three in One.

356 Three Handsome Sports; or, The Combination.
341 Double Shot Dave 0. the Left Hand.

333 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

300 A Sport in Spectacles; or. Bad Time at Bunco.
268 Magic Mike. The Man 01' Frills.

229 Captain Cutsirevc; or. The Little Sport.

214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
192 The Lightning S )ort.

182 Hands Up; or, 1e Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand, Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY L EON LEWIS.

797 Pistol Tommy, the Miner Sharp."

785 i‘he Down East Detective in Nevada.

773 Buffalo Bill's Ban: or, Cody to the Rescue.
699 The Cowboy Couriers.

686 The On—the-Wing Detectives.

624 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls.
484 Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer.

481 The Silent Detective; or, The Bogus Nephew.
456 The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure.

BY ED‘VARD WILLETT.

483 Flush Fred, the River Sharp.

368 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head.

348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut.

337 Old Gabe the Mountain Tram .

327 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Betectivo.

315 Flush Fred's Double: or. The Squattcrs’ League.
308 Hemlock Hank, Tough and True.

298 Logger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.

289 Flush Fred‘s Full Hand.

274 Flush Fred. the Mississlp i Sport.

248 Montana Nat, the Lion 0}) Last Chance Camp.
222 Bill the Blizzard: or. Red Jack’s Crime.

209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince.

129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man '3 Sacriﬁce.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

802 Dan Dirk King of No Man‘s Land.
593 Captain Adair, the Cattle King.
567 Captain Midnight. tilt' Man of Craft. ;
514 The Back to Back Piirds.
522 The Champion Three.
502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains.
472 Six Foot Si: or. The Man to “ Tie To.”
431 California Kit, the Always )1) Hand.
401 Silver Sid: or, A “ Daisy " Bluff.
380 Tiger Dick’s Pied e: or, The Golden Serpent. .
359 Yellow Jack, the cstiro.
338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town.
299 Three of a Kind; or Dick, Despard and the Sport. ‘
280 Tiger Dick’s Lone and.
251 Tiger Dick vs. lron Des ard.
207 Old Hard Head: or, \" irlwind and his Mare.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
114 The Gentleman from Pike.
80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.
54 Always on Hand: or. The Foot-Hills Sport.
29 Tiger Dick, Faro King: or, The Cashier’s Crime.
4 The Kidnapper: or, The Northwest Shanghai.
1 A Hard Crowd: or. Gentleman Sam‘s Sister.

BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON.

323 Hotspur Hugh; or. The Banded Brothers.
311 Heavy Hand: or, The Marked Men.

305 Silver-Plated So], the Montana Rover.

291 Horseshoe Hank. the Man of Big Luck.

285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror.

276 Texa: Chick. the Southwest Detective.

271 Stoneﬂst, of Big Nugget Bend.

266 Leopard Luke the King of Horse-Thieves.
263 iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer
258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo.

245 Barranca Bill the Revolver Cham ion

237 Lon -Haired Max: or, The Black a e.
227 Buc shot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida o.
223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or. Mad Tom's Mission
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

BY DR. NOEL DITNBAB.

836 The King of Crooks.
858 Number One. the Dead-set Detective.
850 The Planter Detective.
730 Duke Despard. the Gambler Duelist.
604 The Detective in Bags: or, The Grim Shadower.
500 The True-Heart Pards.
a new issue every Wednesday

Beudle’s Dime Library is fer sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents pf:- copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents e h.

BEADLE AND ADAMS Puursnns,
98 Wham: 8m, N" You.

/

.-.‘.,.. .— r.

l

 
 was.

 
 harm-u.

5......A_,.' ,....__..

 
»

BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRARY.

Published Every l/Vednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers

 
BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

928 Old Sobersides. the Detective of St. Louis.
925 'White-Horse Wheeler. the Revenue Detective.
918 The Double Edged Detective.
907 Maverick Mark. the Man from Nowhere.
.898 Silky Steele. the Stay-in Sport.
188-1 Tne S iotter-Sport's Neck-Tie Party.
870 High- ater Mark; or. Silver-Tip Sid.
862 Riata Rob. the Range Cham ion.
855 The C -whov Chief’s Sure-S ot.
848 The Rival Red-Hut Sports.
837 Curly Kid, the Cheyenne Sport.
824 The Soft Hand Detective.
815 The Soft Hand’s Clutch.
$9 Dan Dunn, the Soft-Hand Sport.
796 The Frisco Detective‘s Thug-Tangle.
«89 Sam Cary. the River S ort.
' 80 The Dead Sport’s Dou le.
:71 Prince John, Detective S ecial.
763 Dandy Don, the Denver etective.
754 'lhe Man from Texas; or. Dangerﬁeld.
Doctor Detective.
£44 Swee takes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The Secret Sir or, Old Halcyon.
712 The Man of Silk.
705 Bantam Bob. the Beaut from Butte.
'698 Kent Kasson, the Pram er Sport.
683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
675 Steel Surry, the Sport from Sunrisc,
668 Solemn Saul‘s Luck Streak
661 The Get-There Sharp.
651 Silvertip Steve, the Sky Scraperfrom Siskiyou.
645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.
“636 Dandy Darling, Detective.
627 Mossback Mose, the Mountaineer.
617 The Grip-Sack Sharp’s Even up.
597 Big Bandy, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
588 Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Snap City.
576 Silver-Tongued Sid: or, Grip Sack Sharp's Sweep.
564 The Grip—Sack Sharp: or. The Seraphs of Sodom.
555 Grip-Sack Sid. the Sample Sport.
547 The Buried Detective; or. Soul’s Six Sensations.
541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.
535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift
527 Dandy Andy, the Diamond-Detective.
514 Gabe Gunn. the Griuly from Ginseng.
‘504 Solemn Saul. the Sad Ian from San Saba.
495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead’s Reprisal
488 The Thorou hbred Sport.
474 Daddy Dea -Eye. the Despot of Dew Drop.
466 Old Rough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg.
443 A Cool Hand; or. Pistol Johnny‘s Picnic.
438 Oklahoma Nick.
433 Lau hing Leo; or. Sam‘s Dandy Pard.
426 The host Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Blacx Sheep of Bismarck.
‘09 Rob Roy Ranch; or, The Imps of Pan Handle.
403 The Nameless Sport.
395 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derringers.
ﬂ Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills.
312 Ca tain Crisp, the Man with a Record.
367 A yal Flush: or, Dan Brown’s Big Game.
360 Jumping Jerry. the Gamecock from Sundown.
355 Stormy Steve. the Mad Athlete.
351 Nor‘ West Nick. the Border Detective.
345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
339 Spread Eagle Sam. the. Hercules Hide Hunter.
331 Cliispa Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport.
317 Frank Lightfoot, the Miner Detective.
292 Moke Homer, the Boss Ronstabout.
286 Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.
'283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines.
257 Death Trap Diggings: or. A Man ‘Way Back
249 Elephant Tom. of Durnngo.
241 Spitﬁre Saul. King of the Rustlers.
233 The Old Boy of Tombstone.
201 Pirate of the Placers: or. Joaquin’s Death Hunt
180 Old ‘49: or. The Amazon of Arizona.
170 Sweet William. the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible 1
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.
141 Equinox Tom. the Bully of Red Rock.
119 Alabama Joe; or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
1% Dan Brown of Denver: or. The Detective.
88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey; or, Honesty vs. Crookedness.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

610 FireE e. the Thug‘s Terror.

795 Old ght-Hawk, the Crook Shadower.

768 The Prince of New York Crooks.

756 Old Burke, the Madison Square Detective.
747 Double-voice Dan‘s Double Disguise.

715 Double-Voice Dan on Deck.

702 Double-Voice Dan, the Always-on-Deck Detective
696 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-it Alone Detective.
689 The Sparkler Sharp.

676 Hurricane Hal. the Cowboy Hotspur.

669 Old True Blue. the Trusty.

668 The Giant ‘Sfiort: or, Sold to Satan.

656 Old Plug gly. the Rough and Ready.

648 Gold Glove Gid. the Man of Grit.

641 Aztec Jack. the Desert Nomad.

681 Colonel 0001. the Santa Fe Sharp.

602 Oatptain Nameless. the Mountain Mystery.
071 01 Dismal, the Range Detective.

545 Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

910 The Arizona Detective.

894 Silver Sam. the Shasta Sport.

880 The Silver Sport’s Double.

868 The RaceCourse Detective.

856 The Hayseed Detective.

772 On tain Corden, the Twister Detective.
755 W (1 Pete the BronchoBuster Detective.
7% Fearless Sam. the Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob. the S rt Detective.

572 Jauntv Joe, the ockey Detective.

554 Mad Sharp, the Rustler

538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective.

5% Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective

50'! The Drummer Detective.

499 The Giant Horseman.

3% Sleepless Eye, the Paciﬁc Detective.

the

,‘ \

 
BY \VILLIAIVI B. EYSTEB.

916 Two Dead-Square Sports.

902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock.

891 (icnteelJim, S ort-at-Large.

881 The Clubman- ‘rook‘s Cat‘s-paw.

867 The Frisco Sport.

852 The Stranger S ort‘s Shake-u .

828 Kirk King. the an from Kirgy.

818 Gentleman Dave, the Dead Game Sport

783 The King-Pin Tramp.

767 The Sport of Silver Bend.

718 Uncle Bedrock’s Big Bounce.

707 The Rival Rovers.

687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm.
677 Mr. JackSon, the Gent from Jaybird.

659 Gilt-Edge Joli nn ': or, Roldan and His Rovers.
650 Luck Lester’s Lone Hand.

634 Old andcart‘s Big Dump.

622 The All Around S orts.

603 Desert Alf. the it an With the Cougar.

590 Gentle Jack. the High Roller from Humbug.
578 Seven Shot Steve. the Sport with a Smile.
568 The Dude Detective.

558 Hurrah Harry. the Hi h Horse from Halcyon.
549 Belshazzar Brick, the aillt‘l’ of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport With a Scar.

503 The Dude from Denver.

478 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.
459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.

429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend.

402 Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels’ Flat Racket.
396 The Piper DetectiVe; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal Geor e, the Three. in One.

356 Thr. e Ham some S )orts; or, The Combination.
333 Derringer Dick. the an with the Drop.

268 Magic Mike. ‘he Man of Frills.

229 Captain Cutsieeve; or. The. Little Sport.

214 The Two Cool Sports: or, Gertie of the Gulch.
182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY NED BUNTLINE.

657 Long Tom. the Privateer.

633 The Sea S y. ‘

621 The Red rivateer; or. The Midshipman Rover.

584 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.

517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail.

361 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.

122 Saul Sabberday. the Idiot 

111 The Smug ler Captain; or, ie Skipper’s Crime.
18 The Sea B dit; or. The Queen of the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet.

BY JACKSON KNOX—“Old Hawk.”

838 Old Grips Still Hunt.

827 Detective Walden‘s Web.

778 The Butler Detective; or. Old Grip's Grip

770 The. Showman Dete tive.

762 Old Grip. the Detective.

740 Captain Clew, the. Fighting Detective.

732 The Hurricane. Detective.

643 Castlemaine, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective.

582 Joram. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcon ‘s Double.

561 The. Thug King' or, The Falcon Detective‘s Foe.
548 Falconbridge. t e Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon 8 Foe: or. The Detective’s Swell Job.
515 Short-Stop Mafe. the Diamond Field Detective.
509 Old Falcon. t e Thunderbolt Detective.

501 S ringsteel Steve. the Retired Detective.

494 T e Detective‘s S y.

485 Rowlock. the Bar r Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

467 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

462 The Cincus Detective.

451 Griplock. the Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand.

424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy.

386 Hawk Heron. the Falcon Detective.

BY J. C. CO‘VDBICK.

752 The Sus ct S ort of Daisy Drift.

626 Ducats 'on, t e Nnbob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood. the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominic Detective.

591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective.

580 Shadowing a Shadow.

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards: or, Riddles’ Riddle.
519 Old Riddles. the Rock Ranger

499 Twilight Charlie. the ad S .

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Rob. the Tulip from Texas.

436 Kentucky Jean. the S ort from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.

390 The Giant Cupid: 0r Cibuta John’s Jubilee.

BY EDWARD WILLETT.

483 Flush Fred. the River Shag).

368 The Canyon King; or. a P ce on his Head.

348 Dan Dillon. King of Crosscut.

337 Old Gabe the Mountain Trams.

827 Terrapin Dick. the Wildwood etective.

815 Flush Fred‘s Double: or. The Squatters‘ League
8% Hemlock Hank, Tough and True.

298 Logger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.

289 Flush Fred‘s Full Hand.

274 Flush Fred. the Mississip 1 Sport.

248 Montana Nat. the Lion 0 Last Chance Camp.
222 Bill the Blizzard: or. Red Jack’s Crime.

209 Buck Farlev. the Bonanza Prince.

129 MissiSsippi Mose; or. a Strong Man ’3 Sacriﬁce.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

$7 The White Squaw.

234 The Hunter’s Feast.

21% The Wild Huntress; or. The uatter.

200 The Riﬂe Rangers; or. Adventure in Mexico.
74 The Captain of the Riﬂes: or, The Lake
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Paci c.

55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
5"”.

 
ueen. -

 
BY COL. PBENTISS INGBAHAM.

911 The Blue Blockader; or, The Coast Grayhound.

906 The Cuban Cruiser.

8.34 The Ocean Gipsy.

834 The Wild Steer Riders; or, Texas Jack‘s Terrors.

819 The Rival Monte Cristos.

805 The Last of the Pirates; or. Doom Driven.

801 The Water WOIVes’ Detective; or, Trapping the
Grave Ghouls.

791 The Coast-Raider’s Death-Chase.

748 Arizona Charlie. the Crack-shot Detective.

704 Invisible lvan. the Wizard Detective.

68.5 The Red-skin Sea Rover.

679 Revello. the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rover!

672 The Red Rapier; or, The Sea Rover‘s Bride.

662 The Jew Detective: or, The Beautiful Convict.

640 The Rov«-r’s Rt‘t ibution. ,

635 The Pix-Buccaneer: or. The Stigma of Sin.

625 Red Wings; or. The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.

615 The Three 1 uccaneers.

610 The Red Flag Rover; or,White Wings of the Deep.

605 The Shadow Silver Ship.

600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of ’76.

593 The Sea Rebel: or. Red Rovers of the Revolution.

597 Conrad. the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ’76.

581 Tile Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner.

560 The Man from Mexico.

553 Man} Monte. the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.

516 Th- Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck. 7‘

530 The Savages of the Sea.

524 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.

510 El Moro. the Corsair Commodore.

493 The Scouts of the Sea.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

43.") The One-Armed Buccaneer.

430 The Fatal Frigate; or. Rivals in Love and W115

399 The New Monte Cristo. '

393 The Convict Captian.

377 Aﬂoat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.

369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the Sea.

364 The Sea Fugitive: or, The Queen of the Coast.

341 The. Sea Desperado.

3‘36 The Magic Snip“ or, Sandy Hook Freebooters.

325 The Gentleman Pirate : or. The Casco Hermite.

318 The Indian Buccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.

307 The Phantom Pirate; or. The Water Wolves.

 The Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler’s Dau liter.

246 ,ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overlan .
2&5 , Lightning the Man of Chance.

224 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.

% The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother’s Crime.

210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.

198 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skimmer.

184 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.

104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

103 Merle, the Mutineer; or. The Red Anchor Brant _

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

801 Dan Dirk, King of No Man‘s Land.
583 Captain Adair. the Cattle King.
567 Captain Midnight. the Man or Craft.
544 The Back to Back Pards.
522 The Cham ion Three.
502 Bareback iuck, the Centaur of the Plainl.
472 Six Foot Si: or, The Man to “ Tie To."
431 California Kit. the Always on Hand.
401 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy “ Bluff.
380 Tiger Dick‘s Pled e; or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack. the 1 estizo.
338 Jack Sands. the. Boss of the Town.
we Three of a Kind; or, Dick. Despard and the Sport.
251 Tiger Dick is. Iron Despard.
207 Old Hard Head: or. Whirlwind and his Mare.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
114 The Gentleman from Pike.
80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf.
51 Always on Hand; or. The Foot-Hills Sport.
29 Tiger Dick, Faro King; or. The Cashier’s Crime.
4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai.

BY CAPTAIN MARK “’ILTON.

32% Hotspur Hum; or. The Banded Brothers.
311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men.

305 Silver-Plated So], the Montana Rover.

291 Horseshoe. Hank, the Man of Big Luck.
285 Light ' g Bolt. the Canyon Terror.

276 Texa: ick. the Southwest Detective.
271 Stoneﬂst. of Big Nu et Bend.

2i6 Leopard Luke. the in of Horse-Thieves
263 lron-Armed Abe, the unchback Destroyer ;
258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. ‘
2‘37 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black Le e.

227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida 10.

223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or. Mad Tom‘s Mission
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide.

194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

BY OLL GOODIES.
619 Kit Bandy 8: Co . the. Border Detectives.
148 One—Armed Alt. the Giant Hunter.
99 The Giant Riﬂeman: or. Wild Camp Life.
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.

BY COL. TIiOMAS H. MONSTEBY.

236 Cham ion Sam; or. The Monarchs of the 3:0.
150 E1 Ru io Bravo. King of the Swordsmen.

BY DR. NOEL DUNBAB.
919 The sea Scout; or. The Patriot Privateer.
886 The King of Crooks.
858 Number One. the Dead-set Detective.
850 The Planter Detective.
730 Duke Despard. the Gambler Duelis_t.
604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadom
500 The True-Heart Pards.
4 new issue every Wednesday
Beadle’o Dime Library is for sale I) ‘
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy. or sent by In u
receipt of twelve cents each.
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Panama,

98 Wm“ STQ N" Y“

n .

.l‘ ‘ A. 1 .HI“_ f‘. -.‘
‘, J; 61 it» “313* ‘

m

 
BEADLE’SeDIMErﬂBRARY.

  
BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

984 Buffalo Bill‘s Life Rafﬂe.

979 Buffalo Bill‘s Relentless Trail.

964 Bui‘fa'o Bill's Invincibles

960 Buffalo Bill’s lllue Belt Brigade.

956 B .ffalo Bill‘s Volunteer Vigilantes.

950 Buffalo Bill at Bay.

943 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game.

936 Buffal l Bill s Black Part1.

Buffalo Bill‘s Bluff; or, Dusky Dick the Snort.

Buffalo Bill‘s Quandary: or. Velvet Bill‘s Vow.

Buffalo Bill and the SurgeonScout.

Buffalo Bill’s League: or, Red Butterﬂy.

Buffalo Bill‘s Tangled Trail.

900 Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders.

" Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.

890 Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake.

882 The Three Bills- Buffalo llill.Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill; or. The Bravo in Broadcloth.

874 Buffalo ill’s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill‘s Road-Agent Round-up.

I ButTalo Bill‘s Deal] Charm.

Buffalo Bill‘s Royal Flush.

Buffalo Bill‘s llouble Dilemma.

Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ruse.

Buffalo Bill's Boysm Blue.

Buffalo Bill's Shar ) Shooters.

822 Buffalo Bill’s Best OWer.

816 Buffalo Bi l‘s Red Trail.

Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell.

Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand.

Buffalo Bill‘s Dead Shot.

Zuffalo Bill's Brand.

777 Buffalo Bill’s Spy Shadower.

769 Buffalo Bill‘s Sweepstake.

. B -ffalo Bi ll’s Dozen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

Buffalo Bill‘s Mascot.

“ Buffalo Bill’s Double.

7’ Buffalo Bill’s Bil: Fourmr, Custer‘s Shadow.

743 Buffalo Bill‘s Flush Hand.

Buffalo Bill‘s Blind: or. The Masked Driver.

735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men.

Buffalo Bill‘s Beagles: or. Silk Lasso Sam.

Buffalo Bill’s Bodv Guard.

722 Buffalo Bill on the War- ath.

716 Buffalo llili’s Scout Sha owers.

710 Buffalo Bill Bafﬂed: or. The Deserter Desperado.

Buffalo Ilill‘s Buckskin Brotherhood.

. ruﬂaio Bill’s Hind Trail: 01‘. Mustang Madge.

66 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop; or. The King of the Mines.

658 The Cowb w Clan: or, The T1 ress of Texas.

653 Lasso King's Lea e;or,Buc Taylor in Texas.

649 Buffan Bill‘s Chie of Cowboys; or. Buck Taylor

644 Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or. Si ver Circle Knights.

362 Buffalo Bill‘s Gri ; or. Oath Bound to Custer.

329 Buffalo Bill‘s Pie ge: or. The League of Three.

189 ild Bill‘s Gold Trail; 01‘. The Desperate Dozen.

175 Wild Bill's Trump Card: or, The lndian Heiress.

168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

By Bullth Bill.
978 The Dread Shot Four
969 Texas Jack, the Lasso King
839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot.
820 White Besver's Still Hunt.
8)? Wild Bill. the Wild West Duelist.
800 Wild Bill. the Dead-Center Shot.
639 Buffalo Bill’s Gold King.
599 The Dead Sh ot Mne: or, My Pards of the Plains.
(:14 Red Renard. the lndian Detective.
401 One~Armed Part1; or. Borderland Retribution.
897 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beaver’s Trail.
894 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.
319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.
804 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.
243 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
83 Gold Bullet Sport: or. Knights of the Overland.
52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

Ily Leon Lewis. Ned Buntllne, etc.

773 Buffalo Bill’s Ban; or. Cody to the Rescue.
682 Buﬂalo Bill's Seer-t Service Trail.
629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin Role; or. Daredeath Dick.
517 Buffalo Bill's First rail; or, The Express Rider.
158 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts.

117 Buffalo Bill 6 Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy.

92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY II 9 “OLD PAYNE.
883 The Man from Mexico in New Ydrk.
872 The King-Pin Shark: or, Thad Burt's Ten Strike.
861 The Tenderloin B Four
853 The Quaker City L 00k.
844 True-(ed to Chicago.
880 The Policy Broker‘s Blind.
.529 The Frisco Sharper’s Cool Hand.
821 The Tramp Shadower’s Becker.
818 The Sham S otter‘s Shrewd Scheme.
816 The Grand treet Gold-Dust Sharpers.
798 Detective Burr’s Luna'ic Witness
792 The Wall Street Sheiﬁgr’s Snap.
784 Thad Burr’s Death p.
742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
734 Detective Burr’s Foil' or, A Woman's Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.
713 Detective Burt's Spirit Chase.
706 Detective Burr-’s Seven Clues.
698 Thad Burr. the Invincible; or, The “L " Clue.
690 The Matchless Detective.
6H) XX. the Fatal Claw: or, Burr’s Master Case.

BY LIEIl'I‘. A. K. SIMS.
914 Snowﬂake Sam’s Double.

897 The Six-Shot Spotter.

887 The Stranger Sport from Spokane.

873 The Sport Detective’s Colorado Clew.

860 The Spangled S rt Shadower.

843 The Crescent 0 ty Sport.

832 Gid Gale‘s Block Game.

804 The King Pin of the Leadville Lions.

786 Chicago Charlie's Diamond Haul.

776 Chicago Charlie. the Columbian Defective.

758 The izarl King Detective.

723 Tesmster Tom, the Boomer Detective.

709 Lodestone Lem, the Chain ion 01‘ Chestnut Burr.

695 Singer Sam. the Pilgrim etective.

688 River Bustiers; or. t e Detective from ’Wey Back

673 Stuttering Sam the Whitest Sport of Santa Fe.

* 666 Old Adamant, t e Men ofRock.
. us Karl, theinetective King.

1. Primrose. the Flower of the Flock.

stile loot—Bills. W

aa
88

   
,,:

 
Wished Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of 'Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 
BY CAPTAIN HOIVAIID HOLDIES.

929 Gentleman George, the Showman Sport.
912 Genteel Joe’s Lone Hand.

90‘} The Train Detective.

896 Kent Keen, the Crook-Crusher.
Nightshade in New York.

879 Falcon Flynn, the Flash Detective.

'l‘lle Crook Cashier.

859 (flew-Hawk Keene’s Right Bower.

” Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective.

840 Major Bullion. Boss of the Tigers.
Shadowing the London Detective.

817 Piliin Velwt, the Prince of Spotters.

803 The Bogus Broker’s Right lower.

788 The Night-Hawk Detective.

779 Silk Rlblion‘s (1r. sh-out.

766 Detective Zach, the, l-;rl'ladway Spotter.
The Dark Lantern Dett-clive.

736 The Never-Fail D ~tective.

7'14 Captain Hercules. the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the GiltvEdge Detective.

701 SiIVer Steve. the Branded Sport.

694 Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadower.

684 Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadower.

675' 'l‘heliude. Desperado

671 Jason Clew, the Silk-Handed Ferret.

664 Monk More], the, Man-Hunter.

651 So] Sphinx, the Ferret Detective.

642 Red Pard and Yellow.

608 Silent. Sam. the Shadow Sphinx.

592 Cal )fain Sid, the Shasta Ferret.

579 Olt Cormorant. the. Bowery Shadow.

569 Captain Cobra. the. Hooded Mystery.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.

550 Silk Hand, the Mollaw- Ferret.

543 The Magnate Detective.

532 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective.
523 Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
" 2 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake.

505 Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter.

496 Richard Redfire. the Two Worlds’ Detective.
48? Sunshine Sam, a Chip of the Old Block.

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

468 Coldgrip in Deadwood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective.

453 Captain Cold rip‘s Long Trail.

447 Volcano. the risco Spy.

441 The California Sharp.

434 Lucifer Ly nx, the Vt onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

407 Captain Coldgrlp’s Nerve: or. In un Nick.
400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The N e»? ork Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
874 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities.

365 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.

352 The Des rate Dozen.

347 Denver uke. the Man with “Sand.”

340 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

3‘35 Flash Dan. the Nabob: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.

294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco.

BY ‘VILLIAM ll. MANNING.

948 The Red-Gloved Detective.

931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.

920 The Montana Miner in New York.

903 The Doomsday-Den Detective.

899 The Double-Quick Detective.

893 Yellow Gid. of Dark Divide.

885 The Expert Detective‘s Shake-up.

875 Trapslng the Race-Track Judge.

864 The olice Special’s Dilemma.

849 The Genteel Sharper's Combine

841 Graydon‘s Double Deal.

833 The Sport Detective’s Grit}:

823 The Athlete Sport About own.

808 TheCrook-Detective’s Pull.

790 Pluh er Pete, the Race Track Detective.

782 Roy Rock, the Round-up Detective.

774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.

764 The New York Sh ’s Shadower.

738 Detective Claxton. t e Record Breaker.

714 Gabe Gall, the Gambolier from Great Hump,
703 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Sus ct

692 Dead Shot Paul, the Deep-Range x lorer.

655 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the irthmark.
646 Dark John, the Grim Guard

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

623 Dan erous Dave, the Never-Beaten Detective.
611 Alka i Abe the Game Chicken from Texas.

596 Rustler Ru e: the Round-Up Detective.

585 Dan Dixon’s Double.

570 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives
563 Wyomle Zeke, tile Hotspur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garr can, the Man with Backbone.

539 Old oubledark, the Wily Detective.

531 Saddle-Chief Kit, the Prairie Centaur.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor’-West Pilot.

513 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives.

506 Uncle Honest. the I‘eacemaker of Hornets’ Nest.
498 Central Paciﬁc Paul. the Mail Train Spy.

492 Border Bullet, the Prairie sharpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.

479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.

470 The Duke of Dakota.

463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator.

455 Yank Yellowbird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. King of the Rockies.

442 Wild West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

437 Deep Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mill.

415 Hot Heart, the Detective 

405 Old Baldy the Brigadier o uck Basin.

297 Colorado Rube. the Stron Arm of Hots ur.
m The Gold Dragoon, or, alifornia. Bloo hound.

BY LEON LEWIS.

967 Wind River Clark, the Gold Hermit.
797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Sharp.
785 The Down East DetectiVe in Nevada.
773 Buffalo Bill'szan' or, Cody to the Rescue.
699 The Cowbo¥v00uriera
685 The On-the- ing Detectives.
624 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls.
g: Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer.
The Silent Detective; or. The Bogus Nephew.

C.
.4

   
receit 1 rice..
.awﬁﬁmfimets

ALBERT W. AIKEN'S NOVELS.

Dick Tail. 0 Series.

976 Overland Kit: or, The ldyl of White Pine.

7 Dick lalbot‘s Close Call.

Dick Talbot in Apache land.

733 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.

729 Dick Talbot’s Clean-Out.

723 Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp.

351 Dick Talbot: 0!, The Brand of Crimson Cross:
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.

Aiken’s Fresh of Frisco Series.

825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.

660 The Fresh in Montana; or, Blake's Full Hand.‘
652 Tue Fresli‘s Rustic at Painted City.

647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; (‘1', Th Strange" Slinrp.
556 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out.
537 Fresh Against the Field: or. Blake. the, Lion.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escohedo Millions.

61 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.

97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack

Aiken’s Joe Plienix Series.

965 Joe Plienix’s Mascot.

959 Joe Plienix’s Double Deal.

951 Joe Phean ln Chicago.

949 The Doctor from Texas; or, Joe Phenix‘s Clue.

944 Joe. Phenix‘s Right Bower.

865 The Female Barber DetectiVs; or, Joe Phenix in

Silver City.
799 Joe. Phenix‘s Great Blue Diamrnd Case; or, The
New York Sport at Long Bram-h.

793 Joe Phenix’s Decoy: or, The Man of Three.

760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Hand.

749 Joe Ph -nix‘s Big Bulge.

745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case.

708 Joe Phenix‘s Siren: or, The Woman Hawksliaw.

700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks

681 Joe Pilenix's Specials; or. The Actress Detective

637 Joe Plienix iii Crazy Camp.

632 Joe Phenix's Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix’s Comhin ;\ r,the Dandy Conspirator

620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix's Shadow : or.the Detective‘s Monitor

419 Joe Phenix.. the. King of Detectives.

161 Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or, The League. l
79 Joe Phenix. the Police Spy. ‘

Aiken’s Misc. ellaneous Novels.

980 The Ail-Around Athlete.
940 Captain Jack. the Scalper
935 The hawks and Wolves of New York
932 Detective Gordon’s Grip.
926 Old Sunﬂower, the Silent Smiter.
923 Old Sunﬂower. the Hayseed Detective.
901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; or, The Siren Shadower.
892 The Countryman Detective.
876 Gold Button Sport; or, The Miner Sharps.
842 Teton Tom. the Half-Blcod.
835 The King-Pin Detective.
814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports.
775 King Dandy, the Silver Sport.
753 Gideon‘s Grigiat Babylon Far.
717 Captain Pat cGowen, the Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective.
670 The Li htw eight Detective.
665 The F sco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy, the Sport.
6m Old Benzine the “Hard Case " Detective.
594 Fire Face. the Silver King’s Foe.
586 The Silver Sh arp Detective.
577 Tom, of Calif ornia; or, Detective’s Shadow Act.
570 The Actress Detective: or, The Invisible Hand
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Hand on the Csddo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas.
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Horse of the Paciﬁc.
425 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death.
381 The Gy sy Gen tieman: cr. Nick Fox. Detective
376 Black .ards: 01. The Rio Grande High Horse
370 The Dusky Detective: or. Pursued to the End.
363 Crowningshield, the Detective
320 The Genteel Spo tter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
252 The Wall Street Blood; or. The Telegraph Girl.
203 The Double Detective: or.'I‘he Midnight Mystery.
196 La Marmoset, the Letective Queen.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Oar: or. The Innkeeper's Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
75 Gentlemen George: or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
72 The Phantom Hand: or, The 5th Avenue Heiress.
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or, Madman of the Plains.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kahawha ueen.
42 The California Detective: or, The Witc es of N.Y.
31 The New York Sharp: or, The Flash of Lightning.
27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New York.

NEW ISSUES.

996 lnjun Dick, the Shasta Dead Shot, B Aiken.

997 Hotspur Hal, the Sport from Hard uck. By
Joe. E. Badgl r. Jr. '

998 Captain Seawaif, Privateer. By Ned Bunthne.

999 The Velvet Band or, The Iron Grip of Injun
Dick. By Albert 6. Aiken.

JUST ISSUED.

985 The Long-Haired Pards. By Jos. E. Badger.

986 iron Wrist. the Swordmaster. Bv Col. Monstery-

987 Shadrach. the Sport Detective. By J. W. Osbon

988 Rock Mountain Rob Bv Albert W. Aiken.

989 an'fa o Bill‘s Marked Bullet. By Col. Ingraham

990 Bowi -Kuii’e Ben. the Little Hunter of the Nor’
West. By Oll Coomes. ' g

991 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport;

“A
‘1...

7

l
i

B Albert W Aiken. .
992 The Winged Witch of the Sea. B Col. Ingraham
993 The Tale raph Detective. By 05. E. Badger.

994 Buffalo Bill’s Lone. Hand. By Col. Ingraham.
995 The Czar's Spy. By Col. Thps. H. Monetary.
' A new ism wary Wednesday.
Izng DIME LESBRARYOirs 1'01; sale
ew era. ten con r co y. sen
W mp 4‘  4

 
"a.

 
no.

Jaw

 
1w ,

' .1». A-q‘

   
Ten Cents a 

Copy.

lllllll me ;
 iliii 111MB

i illels iiiliﬂill. 

: Each Number

Complete.

 
/\_z

 
/ ' ‘\

/

 
‘( I '4 I ' . 7v - i. - . ~- > . . ‘ y. ' r
J.” i.ut‘t.lio hill 5 iwnv Hunti; Hi, Ill.» l ilkil|r\\'ll hit. l.utt:llo lllil s hilm'p-Shootwl's; ni', ihv SinnwonJL-J’. 'i‘ht- [Alﬁﬂu King's Loamw: 01'. Th9 Til-Wm "f

H“ “9"” Shm- ‘3' (“'l- V- [Ill-truhum. Smut to the Rout-up. Ry Col. 1‘. Ingrahlml. Texas. By (‘olont-l Prentiss Ing'nlhum.
t i ’ l . p 7‘ ‘ 1 -- u
.0 .i Liluffalio ifdli :4 {Vidikvti i-uilr-t: or. liw bpm-to-l- 5.": “iiiiillti Hill a: Host iiowvr; or, Montoht-ilo the (HE, iiuvk Taylor, the Saddle King. Buffalo Bill's;
‘ . :13”! o the toiorutio. H)- tol. inul'uimm. (lolti King. Hy (,‘ol. Prentiss lngruhum. tlhivt‘ of Scouts. Hy (‘ol. 1’. Ingmham. '\
"‘“JJU‘TM” Hill's lll‘e Hallie; or, 'i'in- inn-mm! 32’" Whilv Bf‘m'vr's Still Hunt; or. The Minor (m mmtlu Rili's llhnzmzzt; or. The Knights nr’
[hr-«e. ii)’ (‘uL i‘. ingruhzlm. Mili'ml‘lt‘r'“ “"ch’Ti‘iU'k- “.V “Hi-MW “m- I the Silver (‘il‘cie. Hv (Vii. l’. InKl‘ithlnl. \
liT‘J lilll'i'uTo Hill’s Rt'lt-ntit‘ss 'i‘l'nli. lit [I‘lllpng-l t‘iti iillt't'lllo {lll's le 'i‘l'nil; or, The [{Hiltl—liit‘t‘l“6:“) The CHM King; m. Mlmtebel‘m the Magnm_(
l‘rcntise-i lngruhunl. itvhvgnde's Hun Down. Hy (‘ol. 1‘. ingruhmn.‘ com. Hy Hurrah. 'Bm. {
97:: The Dread Shot Four; or, My I'm-.15 .,f H”. M2 liilfflllo I‘lili's i’t‘ili!l~Knt‘HZ Hi. The itmi ii'rlYM‘ 62‘.) Buffalo ili‘i's Daring Role or, Daredeath>
Mil-Ins. “3' ‘Vi. W. i-'. tori). itllit'l's ot tho- [{tli'kli‘H. Hy (Vii. 1’. lllgriihilm- 1 Dick. Kim: of thu (‘owhoyx (Ry Lawn Lewis. l
1"“ Bufﬁth) Bill's Invincible-s; nr. The sum.- Sii‘ltL “"7 Wild Hill. the Wild \\'«-.~‘t lhwllst; or, The nix-1; ..09 Till- iii-ml Shot Nine; or, My I‘llrtis of the
VWHS Sublime Sacriﬁce. “y (.014 ,r lump Mascot, of Moonlight Mine. Hy iuﬂ‘ulu Bill. I i'lzlins. Hy Buffalo Bill. “
H. 21"." . ' ‘ Mitt \Vilti till. the “01111 ('t'lltt'l‘ Shot: or. Rio’SIT Buffalo Hill's. First Tl‘uii; or, “‘ili Cody. tho‘
,l..n Initialio Hill 3 iilue Holt iil'ixutiv; or. Sun— “MM” “"1th “19 (OWN-V m'“"- ‘>’ "M" Pony Express Rider. “3' Ned Huntline- ’

mm “'1' Red Rt‘ntll‘ti, the intiilln Detective; or, The)

ﬂower Sum of Sil'lstn. liy ("1L i‘. ingmhunl. 4 4
‘71” “IIWMH Hill's \Vinninhr Him": “1‘. Th" Mil-Wm“ Gold Buzzards of ('olormio. 1y Huffan Bill. .

 
iii-t; llufl'aio iiiil'l-l Voluntm-r Vigiizlntes; or, The W. {H (‘1 . I (I y (‘1 1-
ix‘lzslztl..m.,us Man in mum “y “’1. P- [ngrmi luggin‘ﬁ‘ u Quid: o .Inltm- '5 "" ’ 401 The Ono-Arnith Purl]; or. Red Retribution int
‘ WW) {1 | HR? iillft'lio l'ill‘q he “14h it ’i ’l‘ht \‘k ht n Qtouti BUMHIMM' Hy “umuo “m‘ \
. -.. E" ‘1 : it” "x} ‘.-.'.‘ 5 ' - ti niii‘, '-'l"ll.‘ .- v-,.. . . . v- - . -.
’ 1):. :1.” 115;.”(“21 I}? 'IX.I,‘;.M:3::TI (“M 5"}"r 5‘ of tho t‘olorlltio. Hy t'ol. i'rt-ntiss ingmhum. ‘m‘  \\[1,"\'.”;lmflf2;:fhf;m’ 01' “hit” Lem” a ‘,
794;; gut-rah, “In-s “1mm. “1m”, m. Tho Mmmtedz'ii'il Buffalo Hill's “Fund, or, The iil'illl.x‘tv>llt-..{(H w; ' I ' “, _ . \
, _ I- . . A l .. . t l. .. ,.. . it. tho Beau-r. the Rule of the. iiatte, or.
) Miners of the Overland. Hy (fol. ingl‘uillim.i_-~ [fr("h""'ff"',‘ I.” (“1' “mm” mf’Mhdm’ i A Wrongful Man‘s Red 'I‘mii. ’nV Butfaln
. \93‘; Buffalo Rm.“ mm‘k PM“. “I. Tm P N All Luffltlo (lllll - bpy-Shzulower; ol‘, The Masked m“ }
' ‘ ‘- I 3 “" 1- ‘1: ‘z'.’.".’. '11.1 ‘ °
“(miners 0f the “1K “01'”- By t‘nl. l’. IngraJ -... “1.11..” tn.“ ( m'wn I". (“I I In“ Hum 13th! Buffalo Bill's Grip: m‘. Oath-hound to (Tush-ﬁn \
.. ham. ‘u-l {ﬁll-fill“ iilli 3 Run; or, (oily to the {{t‘st‘uf‘.‘ By 0.1 prenugs Ingxuhqm /
3 .~ . ' 3' .'-, Lv\Vi<. i ' . ' ' l '
2m Buffalo Blii's Bluff: (r. Dusk' lr-— ’ "'” ‘ 329 Buffalo Bill's i'l~-i'e; or Th Let u l'>
_ Spurn “y (M. [,_ Ingr’ahﬂm. 3 “k' “‘e‘mo lzun‘ulu ifili's Swot-pstuke; or, The \Vipv-out: 'lzhret-. My (‘01. It‘i’nlzmhhm. 9 is P 0 l
4921 Buffalo Bill's Quandary; hr, Velm Bill's -.- '1} 13“” ( l.'”_""“' “y (“L If',“““”"‘, "‘g"“"“"‘- 319mm Bill. the \Vhirlwintl of the \\'csi. mt
I. “M. “y (.UL Fromm, Ingram,“ lit.» Luftulo Hill s tum-n: or. Silk illhlmn Sam. Buffalo Bill. }
.— . . i 5' (‘. "-  "ll . , ..
 )‘JIa Buffalo Bill :l‘nd the Summon Seoul: or. (lo-f... 1.) . I" .l. hum“ In“ “Hm . 3‘” [‘“x‘” J‘Wk- “‘9 Pmlrw Rum”; 0": Th‘W
t l / wan-pm, the» Redskin Rider. My (m. 1'. ln-""' '1‘.‘””'” "'1‘ *' WSW": “'1 Th“ “With \ullpl‘l tun-on of the \Viiri Riders. Hy Buffalo Bill. I
 / graham. l \lctim No. 13. By Pol. Prentiss Ingraham. '24:; Th“ Pilgrim Sharp; M, Th0 Soldier“?! Swepbl
7‘ Wm Buffalo lllll's League; or. RN] hum-rill: “le37 ln'i'l":“."' I‘livll."‘}vlf"",'.""‘ 5"." Th“ "““"“"“““ "9' heart 13y Buffalo Bill:
 ' 1| (‘oL Prentiss Ingrahanl. __ “ "" I", "j “'"m" "‘g"”“”{" 118.0 mm Hill's Gold Trail; or, The Desperate
llitH Buffalo Bill's Tangled Trail; or, (it-nth-man “0 {invrrtd‘lnl “1'3! 5 “UT: “’9.” "’3 ('llsim' s Shlltlow.‘ Dozen. liy (‘ol. 1'. Inm‘ﬂham. )
i, Jack, the Man 0; Many Musk“. “y (a... In _' 3 .  _”““ﬁ~* '"h'llhdm- v 77. Wild lllll's Trump ('ni‘tl; “r, The intllam
( Ingraham. H-i iilli'iltin lilii‘s Hush “and: Hi‘. 'i‘vxus .iut-k's Heiress. By (‘oL Prentiss lngl'nhum. (
,3900 Buffalo Ilili's Rough Riders; or, 'i‘vxasJut'k's -. “Tux “y (UL, l‘renusﬂ‘lnm'”hum' 168 Wth iiili. the i'istol Dem] Shot; or, I)nggor\
r \: Sharx,_Shm,tm.s_ By COL pwnuss “mm,an hi1) “llifﬂitl i'ilii‘l-z Hilnal: ol'. 'iho Muslim] iil'iver Don's Double. iiy Col. Prentiss Ingmham. ’
r the?) Buffalo Bill's Set-wt Ally: or, le "l‘t-xun'u _. "r ',"'“”' “ “‘“"””- “y ("1' "- ‘"i~'""“u"‘- lax lmmllm Hill. (‘hiof hr Smuts; or. The Doomeri>
) Double. Hy Col, I'l‘enligs Ingrammh “if: ihlfilllo Hill Hilll His Merry lVion: or. The Doze-n. Hy Dr. Frank l'oweil. l
ism) Buffalo Bill's Life-Stake- “r The mum.“ _ “"‘fln "" d ““W- “3' ("1' [- “‘Krmmm- it? ilui‘fllio Hill's- Struan Part]; or, ‘Dashing’
( Three. By (:01, 1-. Ingm'lhnn’L l3| Hutlzlio Hill's “eagles: or, Silk Lasso Sam. Dandy, the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major"
3N3” The Three qu, hum“) H.” “,,ll.l,_“ 1 liy t'oi. l’l'l‘niiﬁ'ﬁ ingrllhum. i). lint-r. (
 Band-Box Hillyol; "H11. lgl-alw; in IIEY'Uil’ht'ltTKT: 727 ihli‘t‘nio Hill‘s l:(|t]_\' tillnrti; or, The Still Hunt 92 iiut‘t‘llio Hill, the Buckskin King:_ or, The-t
< By C01. ‘13. Ingmham' ' of thv iiiiis. Hy t'oi. Prentiss lngruhzlnl. ‘ Amazon of the West. ily Major 1). Burr. ?
' :5-4 qunao ; .. _ . ‘ ._ h I H ‘ ‘1 . 722 Iiut'flllo Hill on the War i'llth; or, Silk Lasso 83 1.olti liulivt Sport: or, The Knights of the
2,‘ y‘ ‘ aUE"‘Ill'S}L‘£llI§:g}::l(l:f-Hklﬂ'17:}(ﬁ;“ll'rlhl” (Md Sum. thv \Vi|l—o'—tht--\\'isp. Hy t‘ol. i’. In- ()vvriunti. Hy Buffalo Bill. \
5 ,l , . . . ‘ ’ ' ‘ "“"“‘""' ""“Mm- . 52 Death Trailer the (‘hief of sonuls- a- uni
:1 \500 “Until” “in S RUIN! Agent Round-17p; or, The Tlti iilli't'ulo iliii's Scout SiiilIlIIWI'i'S‘ or i‘h t-r-‘ ' v- 'r i‘~  “ " '
i l M . . ll . and Lou in .l Itontlfl lort. it» Buffalo
. ’ , ysterious Masked Mun in Black. By (‘oL llid Md of Devil’s Acre. By Col. 1‘. ingrahnm.1 nil].
l R Ingram” 7m iilli‘i"lio ’iil ii'ltiiml' or The lit-e-t'tul' lit-q: (
(.Mm  Hill's ilt‘:li(ii-(l‘ilil)rnii"URI 'i‘hv Mun pvt'mio's Ht'iiétnt't'. 'ity‘t‘ol. i’. illgi'tlilillli:  NE“; ‘SSI'F‘S To (‘OME' t
t ' B‘i '. n ' . ‘ -- " 1 u - v r ‘ ‘ ‘ '
a _ , my (’1' I 5 ‘3 “n H“: m‘nlh‘HL Mi? illlt‘fulo Hill 5 ilur-kskin lirotherhrmd; ol, 998 t'uptsun Seawllit‘. the i‘rivutet-r. Hy lNetl>
' 'w with!" In” H Ruynl Hush; or. 'Ihe Pony lu- opt-mm: 1'1; 2. Lost 'rmll. lly Col. in In-‘ lzumllm. I
{ tiers Death-Run. My (‘01. P. Ingmhum. 'i" hm ' \
. .- , , . L d I L .099 Velvet Hunt]; or The iron Grip of injuni
I [v Sui buffalo Bill {Double Dilemma: 0r. The Great 691 iiut‘fnlo Hill's lliintl Trail; or, The Daughter. hick. “v Anwn'“; Aiken ?
f" ‘ Scout H Bin-'1 hroe. My (‘01. i'. Ingmhum. of the Rouimimt- Hy t‘ni. Prentiss lngrahWLHW ) ~ ‘ (‘-l (‘ '1 11' t' l P ii \
é '. - {845 Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ruae; or. Texas Jack’s 681‘: Buffalo Bill's Svt‘ret Service Trail. By Major; {'uqf‘ﬁ’ 2m " " m 'u‘"“ -‘ “‘ '9" 55/
" ' Death SLot. By (,‘01. Prentiss Ingrllhmn. Dangerfield Burr. l "g a a " >
, ‘ 839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot: or. Texas Jack's 667 Buffalo Bill's Swoop: or, the King of thnl 1001 The Brand-Burners of t‘imzu-l-lm. By John-\
L} . l"‘0x_\'. By Buffalo Bill. Mint-s. Uy (fol. i'l'entins Ingrnhum. I ‘V 09130“. f
‘2430 HuffaioBili’s Boys in Blue; or. The Brimstone 658 The Cowboy ('lun: or, The Tigress of Texlls,l1002 Sliver (lily Sum. thl‘ High-R011"? Delecth’f’. l
” Hun-1's Blot-out. Bv t‘ol. P. Ingmhnm. Ry Colonel l‘rentiss' Ingraham. | My Jul-l. E. Badger, Jr. t
‘ x
"' ‘ :3.” f -1"? '_'“  .. MAJe/«q-tn/J .. n ,_ p .r , A,» N U. , ,.,,.\,tA.A “JVVMNNM AAMMA, ZT‘ZTST' 1L: _ .1731. \ v ' r . ("1'7'5‘57/
’ >
I t t . ~ t
. ~ : ; HE DIME LIBRARS is for sale by all Newsdealers, f "
a V t
I ’ § 3 Q ten cents per copy, or sent; by mail, pro-paid, on re- : e
' e a 6 ceipt of price. . § 6
 § : a e e
' ° ‘ ° BEADLE & ADAMS Publ' h ° °
"’ e a e 9   e c.
Q 0 6 a Q
o c. a 9! WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. g e
)‘I—«hMﬂﬂﬂrm/‘r—‘MI—s Aﬂmﬂf‘ﬂr‘ﬁﬁf“m""\AAMAAMMMWW—W