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 The speaker was Buffalo Bill, then
chief 0f scouts in the great Northwest.
He was a hundred miles from the fort,
or help, and a storm of desperate fierce-
ness was threatening.

The scuut had just escaped one severe
blizzard with his life, and was hastening
to reach the fort, but the tempest was
gathering and long experience told him
‘ that man and beast. must die if they were
to be exposed to snow, chilling winds,
and below zero weather.

"'{'can dare danger of death at man's
’hands, but this fighting nature makes
the odds too great against us, old pard.
“But we'll not say die until the last,-
will we? "

As before he addressed his horse, his
faithful part1.

The scene was in the wilds of the
mountains, and Buffalo Bill‘s only
chance was to'seek some sheltered nook
in,a. canyon, and there do the best he
‘conld to keep from freezing until the
'bufiard was over, when, if he had
strength, he could try and reach the fort.

“ Ah! But those outlaWS will have to
pay for bringing me here in the face of
winter.

,‘,‘ But, then, if they have no retreat
.here, they, too, will perish.

' “I wonder if they would take me in
were-I to happen upon their den?

“1 would not like particularly to try
r them, for they might be only too anxtous

, ' to so—ah! there is a trail! '

A. ., “It is not a very fresh one, but I‘ll
  follow,.svhere it leads, for it cannot go
far, ’and’t‘he horses were shod, so in-
dians did not make it.”

- , ,He glanced down attentively at the

7; -wéli~marked trail of a dozen horses, made
' several days before, then looked anxious-
ly'a't the gathering storm, and started off
at a gallop.

, He was splendidly mounted, had a
rifle and: belt of arms, a large roll of
' blankets in rubber covering, and a good
supply of provisions and camping outfit.
'  horse did not seem to regard his
 burden, but went along rapidly as
though he felt shelter was not far dis-
tant. , '
‘ A rideof a mile up a narrow canyon
with‘high clifls upon. either side, brought
, the scout suddenly into a basin several
"  in size.
MThere was a lake there and plenty of
timber, the very place for shelter.
"tathe eyes of the scout were not
, Gd: upon the spot as a sheltered re-
. “treat, but at a strange sight his eyes had
-- suddenly fallenmpon. .
_ 7 cam was before him. it was a camp
fifwhite men, and they were lying and
Wiring around a tire. .
They were all the'picture of despair.
Haggard-faced, sunken-eyed, thinly-clad,
; agitators/ed, miserable wretches, they
7 gspict‘ure of utter woe and despair.
, ght of the horseman appearing
W‘snddenly before them, they did not
moveVrSOme muttered words were heard,
and-every eye was upon him. ‘
 They had a rickety shelter of boughs,
and ,in the basin several horses were
tried out to feed, while a number of sad-
lei Were where the men Were.
a“ Instantly Buffalo Bill spurred forward
drew rein right before them. His-
' ‘ med fascinated at what they
f -, and from his lips most em-
-",broke the cry:
«gag; n  - .
Q91: the group of men spoke.
 tamer: of them, crouching
 utdmoiflromndetorm lay upon the.
'n‘ 600 new, ,‘  hands clas ed
the heart—4nd,; fl; . p
to you the men from, Yellow
City by the miners." used hairan
almost plaintive tones.“ '  '

 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
  

' Vere secretly robbing yql'u'r.‘ gar.

are," was the reply of m «the I
- ' I ' ' 39% '
,1 a ‘

 

  

“d were given 
,~.,¢g.moantainnn. ,

"‘That was it,” said the man who had 
before spoken.

“Outlawcd from all camps, you came
here? " Y ‘

“Yes, to die."

“ If your worst foes saw you now they
would pity you.”

“Our fees have no pity. Are
foe also. Buffalo Bill? ”

“ You know me, though 1 do not re-
call having met one of you before."

“But you have, though, no matter
when or where.

“ Areyou our foe, Buifalo Bill? "

“ I was sent to follow your trail, to see
that you did not halt in the mount-
ains."

“ We have halted."

“ How could you do otherwise? "

“ God only knows. We are hunted men,
wild beasts as it were, and yet we are
now doomed."

“From my inmost heart I pity you! "
said Buffalo Bill, earnestly.

YOU Olll‘

 

CHAPTER II.
A Cliii'l’lddl) (,‘ltidVV.

“ Your pity, Buffalo Bill, is the first
word of sympathy that has fallen upon
our ears," said the spokesman of the
wretched group. '

“ But, why do I find you thus, for it is
but two weeks since you left Yellow
Dust City? ” "

“ Two weeks to men who have gone
through with what we have is an age.”

“But what has happened that I see
you thus, for you surely had horses, food,
and a camp outfit, for I was told that
you were driven away well supplied,
and the miners considered that they had
been merciful in not taking your lives."

“They lie! It‘ would have been far
more merciful to have hanged us! ” cried
the man excitedly, and, as he rose slowly
to his feet he held out his right aura.
and from it the hand had been severed! ‘

“ Look 'at me, Buffalo Bill," he contin; ;

ued, almost wildly. " DoS’ou see that my
right hand is gone? " » - . . '

"Yes." .  i

.“It was cut off by those merciful
miners.

“ Do you see this man shivering upon
my left? His right foot has been cut
off! The next to him has lost, an arm,
the next a leg, the other a hand, and so
it goes on around the circle. Each one
has been maimed for lifema life, thank.
God! that is near its ending now, for'

.we cannot last long. no not long, now;

though we have prayed to live if only
to have reVenge, a revenge that is our
due before Heaven. v

“ See that man there—~he is dead! His
leg was cut off and he died an hour

ago. I ,

“Oh, God! But we have been made
to suffer, Buffalo Bill, for they scarred
our backs with the lash, hounded us on, ,
and at last they maimed us as you see
and left us here to die.”

The man dropped down again by the '

fire, exhausted by his story of woe, exg.
citement. and suffering. -  - -; 
_ Buffalo Bill's face was white, and with
quiverin‘glips he cried: - ' " "

“ This is terrible! No. matter what were
your crimesyyou did not deserve this
unparallelled suffering and wrong, and at
the hands of men who called themselves
merciful.

“I have heard many crimes laid upon
you, have heard of your red deeds, of
your robberies of poor miners, but in the
sight of Heaven I swear you did not de—
serve this monstrous punishment.

“ But come! Do not give up, for bad
off as you all are, it might be worse.

“ Those of you who can must work,
must help inc, and I will save you if man
can do.it. , , ~ . . ,

“ Seen yonder clouds'f.» A few moi-p
it they can  nan as, and

‘ ' "pert not protected

 

 

 

“ Men. I shall save you!‘ '. _- 4 .

“I shall right this awful wrong done
you, so help me God! " ,.

The voice ofBuffalo Bill rang out like
a trumpet, and his cheery words and
manner brought a feeble cheer. from the
crippled crew, and they at once were
inspired with hope and strength.

Springing from his horse. Buffalo Bill
drew off the saddle, staked him out, set
a pot of coffee on to boil, and then
seizing the axe he went into the timber
and made it fly as only a Woodsman can.

Pines. cedars, and sapplings were cut
down, and the men with one arm dragged
them against the cliff, where the scout
said they would build their shelter.

The men that had lost a. foot balanced
themselves as best they could. hopped
around, and, strengthened by the coffee;
fogot their pains in their work.

in the. midst of their work up the
canyon dashed a herd of deer,. seeking
shelter.

They halted in surprise at the camp,
and instantly the repeating riile of the
scout began to rattle, and one, two, three
fell dead. ‘ _ '

Leaving them where they had fallen,
to be looked after later, Buffalo Bill
went on with his work.

TWO, three hours passed, and the shel-
ter was finished, the fire built in it in a
crevicem the cliffs, pine straw spread
for beds, and all the blankets the poor
wretches had left to them, placed where
they would give the most comfort.

The other shelter was patched up for
the horses, thefideer were dressed, and
hung up, and the seout's supplies gotten
out to give all a good, square meal.

It was needed, for the men were upon
the verge of starvation.

“ We are ready for the storm, men! "

cried Buffalo Bill, cheerily, as all that

could be done was attended to, and a
moment after he called out: .

‘S.And here it is upon us! f',    
\A'he lilac): clouds had trailed low; and
came sweeping over the mountain range
with irresistible fury.

The darkness of night had fallen upon
the seene, for the sun. nea r its setting, had
been blotted out by the inky blackness
of the heavens. . ‘

With a glance at the shelter of the
horses, another at the one he had worked
so hard to build, to see if they would‘
stand the force of the gale, Buffalo Bill
was glad to realize that they would, for
did they not death would be the fate of

all, for the weather had dropped down‘ -

near the zero mark.

“This canyon isa safe shelter, and
our horses will stand.

" My! But this is an awful bitter,
night," and Buffalo Bill was glad to go
into the narrow opening thatled, to'the

cheerful protection within. , y
. I ' -
, CHAPTER III.
~, . 'anscov'r SA‘MARITAN.

The indoors was, 011]!:9h0flf“1,.by’ con-.-
trast with  wither:
compelled to admit to” "imfself.

He closed'the opening that served as a
door, threw more wood upon the fire in
the large crevice in the rock that served ,

as a fire-place and chimney, and the  '-

thrown out took the chill of! of theft“
shelter. Around the fire 1.01:0 ,5
the men, and they had left a space in
one corner for the scout.‘

The fire lit up their haggard faces, and
the scene was not a happy one.

The saddles had been packed up at the
heads of their blanket beds, wootl in
plenty was piled up on either side. and
all knew that they had been sued from
a terrible death’by Buffalo Bill, their foe.

But the poor cripples did not 
zard him now,-and they gazed- at -. In
with admiration and gratitude as he came

in and -' dropped V'down'in the space left, _.

.n.

6‘ sauna Bursa" 

- AL

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but, never fear,‘we are all right here,
and can weather it out without suffering."

“ Except yourself, sir, there is the best
one off in our lot,” said a man bitterly.
and he motioned to the rear of the cabin
to where lay the form of their dead com—
rade, for they had not had a moment's
lime to bury him.

“ Now, don't get gloomy, pards, for I
consider this first-class, and I’ll do all I
can'for you,” replied Buffalo Bill cheer-
ily, and yet there was a- heavy weight
upon his heart as he looked around upon
that wretched crew.

Each one was naturally suffering much
with their severed limbs, for the cruel
work had only been done several weeks
before. , '

The stumps of arms and legs had been
bound up as best they could, with what
could be obtained, and Buffalo Bill, see-
ing this, said:

“ Now the first thing is for me to do
what I can for your wounds.

“ I am no doctor, but I have seen more
wounds than most of them have, and
fortunately always go well prepared, for
I have a case along, in which there is
lint, bandages, salves, and all I need.

“Come, pard, you seem to be the
worst sufferer, so I'll look to you first.”

Water was heated, the awkwardly
bandaged leg taken in charge, and the
scout samaritan began work.

“ This was not a bad amputation at
any rate, and the one who did it was a

rsurgeon beyond doubt,” said the scout.

“,We do not know, sir, for He was com-
pletely masked,” said Burt Boyd, who
seemed the leader of the party,

“ He was masked? " asked Buffalo Bill
in surprise. .

” Yes, sir” '

“Why was that? ”

“ All of them were."

.“ Those who pursued you?"

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Then you did not know them?”

“ Not one. ’

“ How many were there? ”

“Twenty-seven.”

’ 1"" They we‘relminers, of course? ”

“ They were men of the mines, sirJ’ _

“ That means you do not know their
occupation, though they were from‘the
mines? ” ”

“When was this done?

“Three weeks ago."

; , f‘Where?”

"3‘ In Death Valley."
4‘  1| '
“ Did yod go there? "
“ Yes. sir." . . -
, u [9

 thought there at leest'we could

rest in safety.”
“ You know the stories told of Death
’ lle ?”
Viol; yes. It was on account of what
’was said of the valley that we went
there."">_ _
’~ " Poor fellows! You did not expect to
be tracked there? ”
“ No, sir." "
“ How did you expect to live there?
" We had ample supplies with us, sup-
d we could get more, game was there
 and you know it is said
“ Yeé. Emir?  .   take all
risks and hunt «1“  1-5.4 h  g
“ We were, sir.’

thatth‘imonasere"

her, you say,'trailed you there? "

ka43‘s,;"5.3.93. sir,”

"“ 00mins from Yellow Dust City? "

‘ “ We do not know, sir.

’ " We awoke to find our camp sur-
rounded with armed men, and we sur-
rendered under false promises or we

“wouldhsye fought it out, and. ah! How

” it would have been for us
gun‘s“ died then, than to suffer as we
has,“ ft 3 year surrender?"
‘ s or .
 were“ bound hand and foot, and
was visited upon us," and Burt
'  hafhiséright‘ arm with the

u.

 

"“tle,“.iii7i'.”.'f'sisid Burt Boyd ~ ,
“ Never mmdvmef Mimi!  all the" ’
nourishment you  get management“

 

than funny

as you, see for yourself, and those among
us who are fortunate are the dead, like
poor Marcy there.”

“ Then others are dead? ”

“Yes, we were fifteen, and the maim-
ing, with cold, hunger, and despair took
five off.

“Who will be the next to go, God only
knows, and none of us care, for human
nature can bear no more.” .

“Men, I pity you, and the wrongs you
have suffered shall not go unpunished,
for, be your crimes what they may, this
is a greater one against you,” and Buffalo
Bill spoke with deadly earnestness.

One by one the leg or arm of the poor
wretc’hes was dressed by the scout, and
each man felt far less pain, far more
comfortable when it was done.

In spite of the one blanket left to
them,.those of the dead were brought
into service, and with the scout’s gener-
ously sharing his own, the poor fellows
felt that they would be fairly comfortable
upon their pine straw beds.

A substantial supper had also given
them renewed strength, and Buffalo Bill
hailing piled more logs upon the fire,
sa :

“ Men, this storm will last several days,
but when it ends I shall start for the
fort.

“ No wagon can reach you here, so here
you may have to remain all winter; but
I, will come back and bring with me
supplies, blankets, and warm clothing
for you, and more, my pards, the sur-
geon scout, Doctor Frank .Powell, I
know will accompany me, and see to your
wounds, for some of you need attention
that only a skilled surgeon 'can give.

“ But, brace up, andall will yet come
well,” and the scout turned into his blan-
kets for the night with the words echo-
ing in his ears: '

“Buffalo Bill, you are, indeed, a Good
Samaritan! ” -

 

CHAPTER Iv. '

THE LOST Mixsns.
The storm did last several days, and
the canyon was blocked with snow.
But Buffalo Bill swung the axe hard

[day and piled up within reach a

lot-ogwoodvthat wouldlast for weeks.
He alsoimprovedathe shelter as best

he could against anotherlst‘qrm‘, and did

all that was possible forthepretection

had fallen so strangely under his care.

With pick and shovel he had dug a
grave for the dead comrade of the un-
fortunates, and the very next day he had
again to face the merciless wind and
driving sleet to make another grave.

One more unfortunate had let go life’s
cable, and was free from his sufferings.

With the third day the storm broke,
the sun shone out warm and bright, and
its influence was at once felt. ;

The horses were glad to get‘out and
feed, and Buffalo Bill had no difficulty
n finding half a dozen deer to bring down
with his rifle. ‘

Provisions were growing scant, and the
scout’s supply would last but a week
longer, for he had to take some for his
trail to the fort. - , '

But, well and strong himself," he was
self—sacrificing, and barely took food

“And those men, twenty~sevsn many. 

:1,“ You distress us by going with so lit-

condition. I l. ,' a; -. I, » _ I l

“I will ~ get along “all,th “for the
further I go, the easier traveling it will
be, and I hope to be back in a few days,
so keep up your courage, and watch for
my return.” 

The daWn was just creeping up the can.-
yon‘ the next morning when Buffalo Bill
had his breakfast, bade farewell to the
band of hunted men. and mounting his
horse, rode away on his long and dan-
gerous trail“ to the fort- , _

 

togreetthescout.  «
of the unfortunate band of cripples that» ‘

,killed the whole ouflt, our revisions 

" Then yougmuiti “be entrain am; 
, mt?" , ' - _ I

have no tine ,. 

 

F

It was by. no means easy traveling"
 and ride  ‘ ‘

 

struggled on, and night found their;
some thirty miles on their way.

It was a cold and uncomfortable camp
for the scout, but his horse found ass ‘
in plenty, and he did as best he can u.

The second night found him about half
the distance to the fort, and his sup-
plies would only last until breakfast the
following morning.

As he was looking for a sheltered spot
in which to camp, his horse gave a low
neigh, and a moment after the scout
saw the glimmer of a fire ahead.

Then another and another came into
view.

Could it be possible that a party or
cavalry on the soout had been belated
by the storm, he wondered.

Then he remembered that Yellow Dust
City was only about fifty miles. away,
and perhaps the storm had overtaken‘
some miners from that camp, for he
knew of nothing else that would account
for the fires, unless a band of Indians had
been snowed in. ‘

If Indians he knew he had to. be care-
ful, for they would long for his scalp. ,

If miners, he would be all right, which
would also be the case if they were sol-r»
diers.

Then the thought came to him that.
there were prowling bands of road-
agents along the.0verland Trails, and -;r
they might have a retreat up in those": J
mountains. . -   “

All things considered, he knew that'he-t ‘
must act with great caution. ‘
‘ Night was coming on, and he rode slow— .
ly toward the camp-fires, ‘ _ *
1 Soon he saw that it was a camp 
white men.  7

They were not soldiers he saw it a
glance. , 

They were not outlaws, for they Were
too numerous for ‘a band of 

They, therefore, must be miners.  _. " »

With this belief he rode up to the camp *
and hailed.‘ ‘ “

The men sprung to their feet insure-
prise, and one called out: ‘  ’-

“ Who are you and from whence do you > "
come?”  , ',

Convinced that they were mi era,
:aught out in the storm, Buffalo Bill? 

“i am an army scout and on my. 
to Fort Rescue." . f 

A wild cheer greeted these 
and the men rushed from about thefire‘s ‘ ‘

   
          
        
      
      
      
    
       
      
     
       
     
      
      
   
    
 
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
    
   
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
    
  
     
  
 
   
 
  
 
   
 
 

I I-le saw that they were in miher's’ garb;'~"
but their faces were drawn and sufferin‘
and all seemed to be in distress. 
“ Who are you, pards? ” he asked;
glancing over the group. - . r   ‘
“ A party of prospectors out 
Yellow Dust City. We got caught
storm ten days ago, lost our way‘m‘t ,
mountains, the second blizzard]! 

about gone, and We know othlng  I
where we are, and another day will dens

 

“Not so bad as that. for I will
youto Yellow Dust City.” ,; .

A. yell answered this assertion. and
man asked: ~

“Can you do it? ”

(l I can.§)

“ Do you really know whet
with the snow scattered ‘
try as it let”, _ _ -: 

 Oh. yes. perfectly? ’

  
  
   
 

   

“ That is 'what'I am called."
 Another yell of joy, and the;
around the scout g :> 

and, and acting in their ' new
children turned out of school. '

" When will we get, there,
horses are nearer dead then”
asked the leader. a

nutran Bill glanced overdo 
upturned faces, then .mqthe:
background, and said: _,  1,

“ My advice as: 
another storm ii! an »

     
  
 
  

  
 
  

 
     
      
  
 

  
  

  
 
   
  

 
  

 
  
      
 
   

    
 
 

 

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Buffalo Bill’s

Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

“ Oh, yes; and taking the risk of going
is better than the certainty of death by
staying here," was the reply.

Ten minutes after the half—starved
men mounted their almost used-up
horses and followed Buffalo Bill through
the darkness out over the tracklcss land
in the struggle for life.

 

CHAPTER V.
Tin; TRAIL oi" DEATH.

Buffalo Bill had been right about
another storm threatening, for as
they rode out of the timber all could

see that the skies were becoming over—
cast with clouds, and no longer a star was
visible.

This made the darkness greater, but
the unerring guide held on his way with-
out hesitation, and the men followed
with perfect confidence, for the name of
Buffalo Bill alone had given them hope.

They had ample clothing and blankets
for any ordinary weather anti had come, out
well supplied, they said, for a short, pros-
specting tour in the mountains, but the
first storm that had belated them had
caused them to lose their way, and the
second one had delayed them until their
provisions were gone, and they were
staring death straight in the face when
Buffalo Bill found their camp.

With horses broken down and half
'starved, for want of grass, their own
supplies gone, the cold intense, and not
knowing where they were,- their doom
was sealed, and it was but. a question or
a-short while more when they would have
given up anti lain down to die.

But on through the night over the
frozen ground rode their guide.

A ridge was ahead of them, and all
drew a sigh of relief when Buffalo Bill
struck iinerringly a canyon that cut it in
twain.

This proved that he knew just what he
was about.

A halt was made in some cedars in the
canyon, fires built, and the last morsels
of food passed around, the scout putting
in his little supply with the others.

Helped by the meagre food, warmed by.

the fire, and with their horses given a
feed off the grass found in the canyon
where the wind had swept the snow
away, they again mounted and pushed
on once more.

They saw that the scout had increased
his pace, and a glance upward at the
skies, growing blacker and blacker, and
listening to the rising wind, told the
cause.

All through the night the guide pushed
on. seldom at fault, and, after a halt of
a. minute now and then, when momen-
tarin at a less, not a word would be
said.

The dawn broke cold, cheerless, and
threatening. _

There was no food now, nothing for
man or beast, silent as spectres, suffer—
ing, fearing, hoping, with their whole
trust placed in the cloaked form ahead,
the then followed, struggling for life, yet
dreading death.

Would the cold, dreary trail never end?

Was the scout really going true, or
was he at fault, to find it out when the

orm burst upon them?
8tIf the storm came, could they keep on,
for their tired horses were staggering
hen?

t If right, then, would not the blinding
snow, when it came, confuse their van-
guide, and then death come to all?

These, and many more, the men asked
themselVes and each other,

They were so completely lost them-
selves, so worn out, cold, and hopeless,
they could hardly believe that Buffalo
Bill even could saVe them.

At last there was a cry from behind

the long line. ,
The rear horse had gone down never, to

rise a sin. - , -
u Dog,” stop to urge him, for he cannot

et u .
g “Sigrid his rider here to mount be-

hind me! ”

 

The order came from the scout, but
the rider was hurt, shivering with cold,
and could not walk.

Buffalo Bill rode to the rear raDidly,
swung the. man up behind him, and
spurred to the front again, his horse
not appearing to mind the double weight.

The men saw their leader push on.

He had called out cheering words to
them as he rode by them.

Suddenly back came the words:

“An hour more, men, and you are
safe! ”

The men gave a cheer, anti presently
one called out:

” lie is right, boys! See! Do you not
know that hill, the Tower Rock? ”

Another cheer showed that the men
had recognized the tower-like rock in~
dicated.

But, just then, the snow began to fall.
It came in gusts at first, then steadily,
then began to drive savagely into their
faces. It fell so thick and fast, came so
fiercely, that they could not see a rod
about them.

But the unerring guide held on.

He seemed to be guided by something
they could not see.

They did not know that long eXperience
was proving his ally, and he was going
along by watching the ground, seeing
just where the trail should go, and not
trying to observe distant surroundings.

Another horse went down, then
another, and their riders found mounts
behind others, until their animals also
failed them. '

At last came the order:

“Let. the men riding the weakest
horses slip from their saddles and fol-
low, clinging to the animals' tails for
support.”

It was done, and soon half the com-
mand was dismounted.

Suddenly a man fell from the saddle.

He could not be aroused.

“Come on, or all will go the same
way," sternly commanded the guide.

A few moments more and another man
fell by the way.

“ Come on! ”

The men did not need the order.

They were. indifferent.

Then a cabin came in sight.

The guide hailed and several men ap-
peared in the door.

“ Go back a quarter of a mile and bring
in two men!

“Humanity demands it! ” commanded
the guide.

And on he led for ten, twenty minutes
more, when the men came up to the
door of “The Golden Arms,” the tavern
of the settlement.

Eager' and willing hands came to
their aid, and the leader, stronger than
his men, turned to the unerring guide.

But Buffalo Bill was gone. He had
ridden away in the storm, some one said.

CHAPTER VI.
,FOR OTIIERS‘ SAKE.

Having guided the men to life along
the trail of death, Buffalo Bill remained
for no thanks, but left them to the care
of others, knowing that everything would
be done for them.

Warmly clad as he was, he was himself
chilled to the bone by the long night
ride, and rode quickly to the house of
Stile Ross, the keeper of the principal
store of Yellow Dust City.

As the blizzard had driven every one to
their homes, the store was closed, and
Sule Ross answered the hail of the scout
and with his partner quickly did all in
his power to warm and refresh him after
his desperate ride.

“Why, Cody, did you not know better
than to start from your camp in the
face of such a storm?” asked Sule Ross,
as the scout sat at the table before a
blazing flre drinking a bowl of hot coffee.

“ When it was simply a camp with-
out shelter, and with no food and little
wood, blankets scarce, and death cer-

tain if I remained. what else could I do, ,
‘Suie? ” I t

. . an, .. .,.
.  - -,‘ <
I: , r I, s, . . $5,. ,.

 

4.7.1333": ..; '     - ~- 'T '. ‘ ~

“ You are right; but you are weather
wise, and I am surprised that you were
caught thus.”

“ I was off on a scout.

“But i want supplies, Sule; some ex-
tra blankets, a small tent, and a fine
pack horse, for I must be off after din-
ner.”

"Are you a fool, Bill Cody?”

“l have never been accused of being
0n9,'\\'ililiCVOI‘ else I may be guilty of.”

 you mean that you are going to
again face this blizzard? "

“ I must."

“ The urgency must be great."

“It is.”

“Why, you will not get a mile before
you are lost.”

“ Pardon me, but the trail to Fort Res-
cue, i'or i go that way, is down the val—
ley for many miles, along the bank of
the stream, and I can camp to—night iii
Cave Canyon and be that far on my
way when to—inorrow comes.

:‘ Then 1 have a canyon trail for many
miles, and 1 can cross the plains with
my compass, and there will only be snow
drifts there, which i can avoid.

“ I can reach the fort in two days’ trav-
el after to-day.”

“What is the demand, Bill, for you to
risk your life?”

“ To save others.”

. “Ah! Then there are others snowed
in that you are going to return for? ”

“From the fort. yes.

“But Stile! ”

“ Yes.”

“ We have been friends ever since you
were a sergeant of the Fifth Cavalry at
Fort McPherson."

“And over will be, Bill, for I can
never forget one to whom I owe the
debt I do to you.

“But for your coming through just
such a blizzard as this to our aid, our
troop would have perished, every one of
us.”

“ I knew that, and so urged the colonel
to let me go, and this is a case even
more important, where lchs depend
wholly upon me.

‘ But. as my friend, I ask you not to
breathe a word of this to any one."

" You do not wish it known that you
are going? ”

“No, or that
aided.

“I am going to the fort, you know,
with all haste, to prevent searching par-
ties being sent out after me—nothing
elsc.”

"I understand:

" Sh lwl
now.

“There comes your partner, so have
him get my supplies together for me.”

“ i will," and the order was given for
the best horse that Sule Ross had to go
as a. pack animal, and a small “ A ” tOIll_
With a couple of buffalo and bear robes,
extra blankets, and a good supply of
provisions, was soon gotten together for
the daring man to start upon his terrible.
journey.

But Buffalo Bill argued to himself that
if ‘he did not take the risk and waited
in Yellow Dust City until the storm was
over, he_would not be able to reach the
fort in time, and then get to the crippled
crew of outlaws who were depending
upon him before another storm would be
upon them, and then their fate was
sealed.

By taking the risk he could perhaps
reach the fort by the end of the storm.
which generally blew itself out in three
days. , '

His own danger and suffering he. did
not take into consideration where the
lives of others, though outlaws, hung
in the balance.

Their maimed limbs, haggard faces, and
trust in him appealed to his manhood,
his heart, and his nerve.

He w0uid do or die for them.

More could not he asked or expected.

After a hearty dinner‘with Sule Ross,
Just four hours after his arrival in Yel-

there is any one to be

but, who~"
will answer nothing ' else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Blue; Belt Brigade.

5

 

_.

 

low Dust City, Buffalo Bill mounted his
horse, which seemed as good as ever,
took the pack animal in ~lead, and rode
out of the cabin stable into the fierce
blizzard.

 God bless you, Bill,” rang in his cars
from Sule Ross, as he faced the icy wind
and driving snow.

Muflied up, head, hands, body, and
feet, he (lid not feel the chill winds, and
his horses were blanketed also for pro-
tection.

Past the Golden Arms he went, and
men s‘tnding at the windows asked:

“ \Vhat fool is that?"

But no one knew, though a miner re-
plied:

“ It’s a grizzly bear on horseback,
pards. taking a look at Yellow Dust City
in weather that he likes.”

This causcd a laugh all around, until
one man ('flliCLl out:

“ It i: Buffalo Bill, by Heaven!

“ That man saved our lives, and no";
he is going to his death, for that trail
leads to the fort.

“ I will stop him! "

But as he opened the door the savage
wind fairly dashed him back, and there
was such a howl from all present that
he was glad to give up his good inten-
tions and rush to the fire and warm.

And, as he glanced out from his muf—
flers when riding by the Golden Arms,
Buffalo Bill muttered:

"They are all right, now; but there
would have been twenty-seven dead men
when this day broke had I not found
them.

" Yes, there were twenty-seven.

“Just the number that were in the
band that met those outlaws.”

 

CHAPTER VII.
A DESPERATE RIDE.

Buffalo Bill found that his horse knew
what was expected of him.

lie had been on that trail before several
times, and he bent his head low and
pushed ahead at a slow but steady pace.

The pack horse came behind, giving no
trouble by pulling back on his lead line,
and apparently willing to go where man
dare venture.

The last miners’ cabin was left behind,
and no longer did a cheery fire shine
forth to render the scout’s position more
uncomfortable by comparison with the
warmth within.

The wind was blowing too fiercely for
the snow to lie, and the drifts were
avoided, the trail down the river reached
and then followed.

All was tempest now, and darkness
overhead and about the lone wayfarer.
He dared not stop, for the Cave Canyon
was to be reached by night, for there
shelter would be found.

Knowing that his horses could get little
if any grass, the scout had brought along
a. bushels of corn for them,‘ so they would
be able to keep up their strength and ani-
mal warmth.

It was terrible traveling at times for
here and there snow drifts had to be
gone through, and several times the ani—
mals went down in the depths.

But up again and on was Buffalo Bill’s
will, and they pushed along, undaunted
by anything. ,

As night drew near, the clouds ap-
peared to trail lower and look blacker,
and the snow came down like a hurri-
cane; yet on the noble steeds went,
guided by the master hand.

Darker and darker grew the cloudS, but
the Cave Canyon was not far off. .and
Buffalo Bill urged the horses to SWIflBI‘
pace.

Soon the cliffs loomed up, the Canyon
was reached, and on the lee side Buffalo
Bill found one of the large caverns that
had given it its name.

He rode right in, and the horses gave
a snort of delight to be out of the cold.

There was a growth of cedars at the
base of the cliff, and so fallen wood
was plentiful, and Buffalo Bill quickly
gathered a good supply and carried it
into thorough, where, he, guilt a fire.

-' J"? '   . ... .A i"  '

 

.1 .s?‘

The cavern was, strictly speaking, only
a crevice in the rocks, but it was arched
over, large enough for a score of horses,
and through a crevice in the rear end
the smoke found quick exit, the fire draw-
ing with the roar of a massive chimney.

Of course, there was no use to pitch
the tent with such shelter, and the
scout unsaddled his horses, fed them,
spread his blankets, and then began to
prepare his own supper.

Without the winds howled appallingly,
but, though the cavern was draughty, it
was free from snow, and man and horse
could be comfortable.

Without it would have been death to
all.

But Buffalo Bill congratulated himself
that he had such good shelter, had come
twenty miles upon his way, and, with the
guide marks he knew well he could not
be lost.

If the storm grew worse, as it appeared
to be doing, he would push on to another
place, where he knew he would find fairly
good shelter for his horses and himself,
plenty of wood, and, if only a dozen
miles further on, it would be that much
to his credit.

With this thought, he warmed him-
self well, saw that the horses were well
blanketed, and, lying down in his bed,
was soon fast asleep, for he had had a
very trying experience he had to ad—
mit in the past twenty-four hours.

Dawn broke and found the storm still
raging, though the snow 'hadgturned to
sleet.

A good feed for the horses, a roaring
fire, excellent breakfast, and the des-
perate ride was resumed.

Once out of the Cave Canyon, and
Buffalo Bill realized how desperate, in-
deed, his undertaking was; still, there
was nothing for it but to stagger on,
and staggering it was for the horses
over the icy ground.

The exercise kept them warmed up,
however, and Buffalo Bill was too well
bundled up to be very cold.

Slow work it was, however, and it was
noon when the shelter that the scout
had in mind was reached.

It was a narrow canyon, with breaks
inf it here and there, but with wood plen-
t ul. '

He knew that he dared not venture on,
for he could not cross the plain ahead
before night, so he turned into the can-

yon to camp for the rest of the day and,

until the following morning.

The wind swept through the narrow
canyon with terrible force, but when one
of the breaks was reached shelter from
its fury was found.

Buffalo Bill found one or these, hardly
larger than a room, and with a growth
of pines in it.

The snow had blocked the entrance,
but not gone further, and what little
drifted in did not disturb him.

He forced his horses through the drift
into the protection of the pines, soon
had a blazing fire, and pitched his tent
facing it, and where it would be a break
for the two animals, both of whom
seemed glad to reach such a snug shelter
from the pelting blizzard.

Thus the afternoon passed, and blan-
keted and standing in pine straw knee
deep, the horses were certainly secured
from freezing and ate their supper'with
a relish. “

Buffalo Bill’s appetite had not deserted
him, and after a smoke he replenished
his fire and turned in his little tent con-
tent that matters were not worse.

He had had plenty of rest in the after-
noon, so he was up before dawn, had
breakfast, and the moment the gray of
day appeared he mounted and once more
faced the fearful blasts, for the blizzard
had not yet blown itself out.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
FIGHTING FOR LIFE.
It was a hard fight to reach the plam,
thrbugh the snow drifts, but it was done
in safety, and there, as he had antici-

\' w

, _ ' «. ’\-_ z.» .
,   ,_é..-'42:v .r - ..

 

\ r .‘A

Buffalo Bill saw that traveling
be easy for the horses.

The snow had been blown into great
drifts, and, though avoiding these would
make the distance miles further, he
could push on at a good pace and not
hurt his horses.

It was thirty long miles across the
plain, with not a bush for shelter, no
water or wood, so to be caught there
would mean death.

The wind swept it with hurricane force,
but fortunately it was at the scout’s
back.

With a few moments to rest the scout
rode upon the plain, having taken his
bearings by the compass he now carried
in his gloved hand.

0n, on he went. going as surely as the
pilot guides the ship, over the trackless
waves, and above him, about him, every-
where howled the blizzard. still keep-
ing up with relentless force.

The plain was crossed and the hills be-
yond were reached.

The fort yet lay forty miles away,
and so another night must be passed out
in the elements.

But Buffalo Bill had already decided to
push on to an old cal v.1, once a stockade
fort, and there find nelter.

He knew that it T is reach there or per-
ish, for nowhere me was there shelter,
and the windir ,s about among snow
drifts on the p' ,in had taken him hours
longer than b had expected.

Fortunatel' his way lay under the lee
of a bluff, and the eddying wind had
cleared a space he could readily follow.

His horses were put into a gallop.

He could not spare them then.

There was no time for rest or food.
life was at stake, and so on they went at
a pace that was hard but imperative.

Night fell, and the cabin was yet sev-

pated,
would

eral miles away. 1..

But on, on, through the knee-deep snow
and massive drifts the brave horses
struggled until their strength was al-
most gone. .

Buffalo Bill’s horse knew that cabin,
his instinct told him what his master was
striving for, and he needed no urging.

But the led horse now hung back hard
upon the lead line.

This would never do, and the scout dis—
mounted, slipped the pack to his "horse,
mounted the other animal, and had to
drive rowels deep to urge him on.

The good animal strove hard, stag-
gered badly, and, after a couple of miles,
went down.

But right ahead was the old stockade
cabin.

Rushing to it Buffalo Bill dashed wide
open the half-open door, and with yelps
and snarls of fright and anger out dashed
a pack of wolves that had taken refuge
there.

With benumbed hands matches were
found and lighted, and, as he had re-
membered, there was wood in plenty
piled up upon each side of the large fire-
place.

To build a fire, half frozen as he was.
was no easy task, but it was done, and
then Buffalo Bill led his own horse into
the cabin, and he knew that he was just
in time to have saved him also.

Out he dashed to see if he could save
the other horse, but the yelping pack at
starving wolves were already upon the
dying beast, and the scout had to use his
revolvers quickly to drive them off.

Taking off his saddle and bridle with
all haste, he ran back to the cabin, closed ‘
the door. stripped the pack from his
horse, and filling his coffee pot with
snow put it on to boil, for he realized
how badly he needed a warm drink.

There was a small stream right at the
rear of the. Stockade he knew, but he
was too cold to go to it, even had it
not been frozen, so snow served his pur-
pose for water and he soon had a good
cup of coffee.

Instantly he felt the good effects, for
the blood began to warm in his veins.
and he said to his horse:

._ . spa“.
W“,

V  . . ,
“‘3 _  .
a ,, {2- .- r. . A I— . a-

' ‘,.»v,;;»’ .  ~,
»r~.~---  ‘- ‘

 

 

 

6

Buffalo Bill’s Jame Belt Brigade.

 

 

“I am sorry, old fellow, that {on are
not a coffee drinker, for it would do you
_a. world of good.”

The fire was now sending a genial heat
through the room, and Buffalo Bill threw
open the door that led into another room
and led his horse in there, well know—
ing that the artificial warmth was not
good for him.

He was glad to find a lot. of hay tlure,
and with bunches of it gave the horse a
hard rubbing down that warmed him
thoroughly.

Then he put a blanket over him, and
hatchet in hand, led him out to the
stream, where a hole was cut in the ice.

Eagerly the horse drank, and. taken
back to shelter, he was given a good
feed of corn, and a bedding of hay was
spread for him on the dirt floor.

This humane duty done, the scout pre—
pared his own supper, and was soon after
wrapped in slumber and blankets before
the blazing fire.

He had upon his mind the crippled
crew in the mountains, and how they
must suffer under this prolonged and
terrific blizzard!

“I must reach the fort with all speed
if I expect to find one of them alive.

“It will be a hard ride, but I will
push on before dawn," was his decision
as he sunk into a deep sleep.

 

CHAPTER IX.
THE LAST STRUGGLE.

A sleep of half a dozen hours made a
new man of Buffalo Bill, and he arose
with a determination to battle again
against the elements for the lives of
others.

He gave his horse the last feed of corn,
for; he knew there was no retreat any-
where between the cabin and the fort,
and he must reach the latter or go un-
der.

The storm still continued with un-
abated fury, the sleet driving hard
against the cabin.

A good breakfast, with plenty of hot
coffee, and he was ready for the struggle
with the elements.

His horse was blanketed, but the tent, W held a dark object approachmg,

pack saddle, and all extra weight were
swung up in the cabin to be sent after
from the fort. for he wished to save the
strength of his horse for the final fight
for life.

When all ready, he led his horse into
the room, and, muffled up as before, threw
Open the door and mounted.

The storm rushed into the cabin with
a savage how], and the darkness without
was intense. .

Buffalo Bill knew that the trail was
not far away, and it ran along a. ridge
for miles. By the time he reached the
end of the ridge it would be dawn, and
then he could see his way.

The horse bent low to the blast, and
the start was made. In wild eddies the
sleet whirled about them, and here and
there it was a flounder- through snow
drifts. .
“Muiiied to his eyes, the scout was not
cold, and the exercise kept the blood cir-
culating in the horse.

The cold was bitter in its intensity,
and the wind was yet blowing a gale,
sending the sleet in stinging showers
upon man and beast.

Buffalo Bill knew that nearly a week
had gone since he left the maimed out-
laws in the mountains depending upon
him alone to save their lives.

The time was flying fast, and half of
his desperate rescue trail was drawing
to and end.

So on he went, and at last the gray
dawn came to show him ‘that he was
right. '

He had not lost the trail, for the dark
line he had kept close upon his right was
the ridge.

But there it ended, and another plain
was to be crossed. -

A dozen miles to ride with no shelter
from the bitter wind, then a pass through
a. range into a valley, and the fort would

- loom up before him.

 

, ;

“ Come, old fellow, get yoursefi to-
gether close, or this wind will cut your
legs from under you.

“ One minute until I get my bearings,"
and once more he appealed to his com-
pass.

“All right; go ahead.

“ It is do or die now, old pard! ”

The horse seemed to know the fact as
well as did the rider, and Started on with
quick tread.

Cut into the plain, and five minutes
lost the ridge, and there was no more
sign of anything than at sea to guide
them, only the driving sleet, and all
about them mist.

The compass was true, and horse and
man, well experienced, kept on with un-
crring step.

Hours passed, and then suddenly there
arose ahead‘oi‘ them a high dark mass.

it was the range! Never given to ex-
pressing his feelings extravagantly, Buf—
faloBill could not now resist one long,
loud yell of triumph.

It was promptly answered by a glad
neigh from his faithful horse.

“Ah, old fellow, you see the range,
too, and know that We are saved.

“Yes, there is the canyon opening be-
fore us, and three miles moreiand we
reach the fort. Come, old horse, come! ”

0n they went, the noble animal, seem-
ing to have gotten new vigor by the
words of his master.

Through the pass in the range, where
they were protected from the biting
winds, then out into the valley, and on
the broad trail for the fort.

A stream led through the valley, and
the stockade walls of the fort crossed it
and was upon either side.

Upon the right bank, in a clump of
timber, and crowning a ill, was the fort,
a strongly built structure, commanding
the valley for miles around.

It was a pleasant spot, was Fort Res-
cue, commanded by a dashing, daring
colonel of cavalry, a bold Indian fighter,
and under his command were half a
thousand soldiers.

Suddenly through the driving storm
the sentinel at the main entrance be-
and,
hardly believing his eyes, he strained
them in his endeavor to see if he could be
right.

A minute more and he sprung out of
the sentry box upon the stockade wall
and his voice rang loudly as he shouted:

“ Corporal of the guard!

“Corporal of the guard! _

“ Throw open the main gate, for But-
falo Bill is here! ”

 

CHAPTER X.
THE LOST COMRADE.

" My God, old pard, are you going to
give up, too? See! Yonder is the fort!
We are right upon it! One more brave
struggle and you are saved! ”

So almost shouted Buffalo Bill to his
noble horse, which had begun to stag—
ger, and when the fort was looming up
through the blinding storm, not a nun-
dred yards ahead. ' _

But the noble beast could do no more,
and springing from the saddle Buffalo
Bill began to draw his horse along.

“ Hark! They have seen us, old pard!
I hear the sentinel!

“Don’t give up here, for the love of
God!” entreated the scout, as though
he was pleading with a human soul not
to take flight.

But the horse gasped terribly, stopped,
all in a tremor, and, with a groan that
was human in its utterance, fell at his
master’s feet.

Was it the sleet driving into the face
of Buffalo Bill and rolling dowp his
cheeks, or were they tears, freezing as
they flowed, tears for the noble pard
that had saved his life?

His head bent low for a moment, his
hand rested caressingly upon the frost-
covered head, and the tribute was paid in
quivering words:

“ You have done your duty, noble pard
—only God can do more! "

i . _,1_ .. . a - 44.1“. . u’ . , .'v-‘;. i
... ,, ..» _., ..,_..,. , _. “5. flag." 5.1,, ,

 

 

“Ho, there! Are you mad, Cody, to
stand still in this cruel tempest? ”

The voice brought Buffalo Bill to a
realization of his danger.

It was Captain Charlie Adams, officer
of the day, who, at the call of the sen-
tinel, had dashed out of the guard quar-
ters, thrown open the gate, and fol-
lowed by half a dozen soldiers, had run
toward Buffalo Bill, where they saw him
standing by the side of his horse.

“0h, Captain Adams, I got here, but
I killed my poor horse. Strip him, men,
for I am about used up; and captain,
I beg you to have him brought into the
fort, for no coyote shall ever touch that
noble brute.”

“ It shall be done, Cody.
you see to it. ,

“Now, Cody, come with me, for you
need care immediately.“

“i believe I do, sir.”

“How in Heaven‘s name did you get
here?" and the captain seized Buffalo
Bill's arm and dragged him along into
the fort, and then straight toward the
hospital.

 That dead pard of mine brought me,
Sir.”

“ But where from? ”

“ The Death Valley Mountains, by way
of Yellow Dust City, sir.“

“Why did you not stop at Yellow-
Dust? ”

“ I had to come on, for there are lives
to save, Captain Adams.

“ See! The clouds are breaking, the
storm is over, and I will yet save them! ”
cried Buffalo Bill, excitedly.

“ The first thing is to save you,” mut-
tered Captain Adams, and he fairly
dragged Buffalo Bill into the quarters of
Doctor Frank Powell, the chief surgeon
of the post, while all war the garrison
were heard cheers for the return of
Buffalo Bill, for the news had spread like
wildfire, and cabin doors were opened to
give vent to shouts of joy, but. quickly
closed again when the storm made the
occupants feel the bitter cold.

“They are cheering you, Cody, for we
all gave you up as dead," said Captain
Adams, as a tall form opened the door
and cried:

“ It is true, then?

“Thank God, Bill, I see you alive
again, for this time I nearly gave you
up as dead.”

It was Surgeon Frank Powell,* and
without waiting to grasp the scouts
hand he began to drag off ,of him the
wraps he wore, at the same time calling
to a hospital steward to prepare him a
hot drink of liquor and have a cot ready
at once.

“ No, no! I’ll take the hot drink, but
no cot, doctor. I’ve got work to do, an—
other trail to start over, and no time to
lose.”

Both Captain Adams and Surgeon Pow—
ell looked at the scout as though they
believed his mind was wandering.

"‘Well, Powell, 1 will leave Cody to
you,” and Captain Adams returned to
his duties as officer of the day, and sent
an orderly to report to. Colonel Lennox
that Buffalo Bill, chief of scouts, had
returned to the fort in a half—frozen
condition. his horse dying almost at the
gate. and that the scout had been taken
to the quarters of Surgeon Powell.

In the meanwhile, Buffalo Bill had
been made comfortable in an easy Chail‘:
had taken the hot drink, and, when Sur~
geon Powell insisted upon putting him to
bed, said very decidedly:

“I am all right, and no worse than I
was last night in the old deserted stock-
ade on the Yellow Dust trail.

“I will be as good as new as soon as I
have 'had dinner, and in the meanwhile
I wish to talk to you, Frank, for I have
pledged myself to save human lives now

Sergeant,

 

'Known when in the army as the surgeon
scout, and by the Indians as \Vhite Beaver,
now Mayor of La Crosse. \Vis., for the fifth
time, and Where he is also a practicing
physician.

 

 

 

  
     
       
       
   
  
    
  
    
  
  
   
    
  
   
 
   
  
  
    
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
    
   
 
   
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
    
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
     
     
 
    
  

Us. 1

depending upon me, and I have answered
for it that you go with me to do so.”
Without a_ moment’s hesitation, Frank
Powell said, decidedly:
“ I will go with you, Bill.”

 

 

CHAPTER XI.
TIIE scours ruomsn.

Surgeon Frank Powell did not take
long to see that Buffalo Bill knew what

' he was talking about, that his mind was

not wandering. .,

. They had been devoted friends for

t v “ years, had been on many a terrible trail

’ together, had faced many a deadly dan-

ger side by side. ,

. . Each owed to the other the debt.of a

life.

Buffalo Bill had left the fort some
weeks before on a lone scout, and a dan—
gerous one.

Word had come that a band of despe-
radoes, unearthed in their crimes, had
been spared the rope and driven out of
Yellow Dust City, under penalty of death
if they sought any other mining camp or
settlement within that territory.

It was feared that the band of outlaws
would strike some of the settlements,
raid them, and then make their escape,
and Buffalo Bill had been ordered on
the duty of finding the band, warning

i . . them of the result if any such act was

 _ ' perpetrated, and to keep watch upon

' L them until they were well out of the
country.

As he was known to have gone up into

‘ ‘  mountains, near the Indian country,

and ‘ did not return, great anxiety was

felt for his safety from the colonel down.

When the first severe storm of winter
came and he did not appear soon after,

t '. the gravest fears were felt for him, and

"r 9 Surgeon Powell had volunteered to take

i ' . the company of scouts and go in searcn

' 'of him.

This the colonel consented to, and the
start was to have been made the follow-
ing morning, when the blizzard came.
.and that, of course, put their going out

, of, the question. I ‘

r  “Surgeon Powell'yhad said he would face

the: storm, but this Colonel Lennon would

I, not allow, saying that armors wit,

1’ 7 in many deaths instead of one. ‘  ‘

37' Then in the storm Buffalo

f peared, and how he had gotten to the
fort the oldest frontiersman there could

.. .. . .ima ine. .

“ 11” whengBuffalo Bill said what he did to
Surgeon Powell, the latter saw that he
was in earnest.

.He knew his pen! too well to feel that;

.  been: such a fool as to come to
*thefoi't in-‘s'uch a blizzard merely to get
there. _

He saw that there was a reason, and a
good one, and lives depending upon him
hadimade him take the desperate chances

, - of getting there.
.. ‘,“InGode name, how

 ' ‘9 n. r - .,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

did you do it,

 

“ I‘ don't know.
. ,  “I do not see how'l could have done}
» i 1 it, sinco it was accomplished, but I am
. fl here.“ I
 . o... 5‘ Thank Heaven, you are."
 ""‘I:;killed a horse last night, or rath-
 ‘  ' aim a splendid beast

    
 

  

fen“ . . out ,gtockade
cabin, and the horse the tux: ; f7“.ng

“I came from Yellow Dust, mirth:

‘ ' made

' » tonly a dozen miles, then the

V-stootadeeabin, and to-day the torn. u

“ My noble horse, Giant, died insight

’ of the fort, poor fellow, and I Wish to

.bury him in the soldiers’ graveyard, for

' he deserves it, as he saved many lives,

my own next. and will be instrumental

' “n Bevin imam.

,  “ I teljl‘you’; Frank, that I left a band of

' helpless men. crippled all of them, up

 he mountains beyond Death Valley,

' hey, have no food save deer meat

 little I could leaVe them, and it

 

 

       
   
     
 

  

 
 

 grail as could

  

Bill. as. ,‘

the Cave Canyon, ‘ roof and

 

 

, u

be expected, have plenty of wood. and
yet a. few days more will starve and
freeze them out.” v

“Miners, of course?”
. “ Frank, let us say so, but to you I will
tell the truth.”

It  n _

“They are the band of outlaws on
whose trail I was sent."

“ N0! ” '

“ It is the truth.”

“ Then you have more humanity in
you, Bill Cody, than half the preachers
who preach it, but don‘t practice it."

“ I have a sense of duty.” ‘

“Yes, and you have gone beyond it
all in aiding a band of men who ought to
be hanged.” '

“Perhaps, but I have given my word
that you will return with me to their res-
cue.” .

“If you have given your .word, I will
go, but not to help them alone."

“Oh, yes, you will; for the humane
lies as deep in your breast as in that or
any man alive.

“I tell you that these men, outlaws we
will call them, are on ‘he yerge of death,
and a frightful, despairing death—-—"

“I will go, Bill." .

“I knew that.

“But these men were hunted by a
band of inhuman fiends, who, in bounding
them for what they had done, showed
themselves even worse than they, for,
by treachery, they got them into their
power, and then. Surgeon Frank Pow-
ell, _you will scarcely believe what I tell
you, but the devils cut of! at hand or a

foot of each ,one‘ of the ‘unfortunate
.wretches! ” '

 

\
0

CHAPTER XII.
THE TALE OF won.

Surgeon Frank Powell sprung'to his
feet as though Buffalo Bill had struck
him. His face paled with indignation at
what he heard, and he walked twice
across the room before he spoke.

"‘ Buffalo Bill, few men could tell me

what you have, and I not say that they m

lied.

“I believe you, and yet to do so it
lowers mankind to a level with the brute
"creation to do so.

. “Cents-men be so
their nuance-mu"

“ 1 were.”    .: :  ‘ ' .

“ Who were they!”;   .. ,

“ They felt so ashamed of their‘ilastard
cruelty that they masked their fac'esvand
the outlaws did not know one of them."
I “They were far worse than the out-

aws." .

inhuman toward

“ To deliver a just punishment.”

i“ My God, have mercy upon such jus-
tce.” " ' .

“ That is not all."

“ What?” ' -

“ I have more to tell.’

“ fl‘o debase human nature still more?‘
But, tell me all." , J

“ They. performed their 1 amputations
with some skill, and that shows that there
were surgeons among the fiends.”

“ It does.”

“ In fact, their work, in mm cases,
from my inexperienced judgment, was,
well done.” ‘

“Strange they did not kill them? "
“it-.1310, theywished to have them live
  H _- worsotsuflerlngfl . _ _‘_ i
"-1 The users! ’2:- ‘ ..  + 

“"Phederess‘ed'w'the wound, . I. M  ..
soon as the"  we're’apl§'-‘to,.li:,r
they mounted themwupdn‘ ithjeir‘i‘hlqrs'es, '
robbed them of'th'eilr‘r'ood, nearly "alto!
their blankets and clothing, and turned
them adrift in the mountains to starve
and freeze.” v ‘

“My God! ' '

“ Why, Bill, if I did not know you
were in your proper mind I would say
this story was the hallucination of a le-
vered brain."

“ It is only too true. I found those men
coking\4for

    

      

‘ shared it, then set- ‘

 

a ,shelter from". the, i

 

x 

second blizzard that came on, for I was
in good quarterS'when the first storm
fell.” '

“I am glad of that."

“ I struck a trail, followed’it, and found
the worst camp 1 ever gazed'upon.”

“I don‘t wonder you say so.”

“The poor wretches had built them-
selves a partial shelter up the canyon, 
and they had been killing their horses  
for food." ‘

“ Terrible!"’ . '

“ "hey seemed to know they ‘were
doomed and were but prolonging their
misery.” ‘

“Of course, they would all have per-i
ished had you not found them?”

“ Yes, they were nearly dead as it was,
and the blizzard would have quickly
ended them. ,

“One poor fellow was dead in their .
midst.” - 

” He was fortunate.” . "' . ~

" You are right.

“ But I went to work after I came to
a full understanding of the situation _
and never in my life did I work as I did
then. ~. -

“You see the blizzard was threaten-
ing to break upon us with the coming .
of night, and I will tell you that a great , ’
deal had to be done.” '

“ I do not doubt it, Bill.” ~

“The canyon was fortunately,“ ideal
camping place for shelter from a storm;  - :
and I soon had a good shelterbuiifipiit‘
the horses in the otherfone, killed 
deer, and we "had a good supper, and
the men were once more like living bo-
ings.” o‘. 

“I’ll wager ‘that you brought 
back from the brink of Shadow_W. 
Bill? " ‘

“I did what I could, and
through the stOrm.‘ . , ,
.“ We were comfortable if hots-113W;
-and I did all I could to dress "their.
wounds, but had two graves to build
while there.”  7 '

“ Too» bad! " ~ \ A

“I‘ told them that I would go to th
fort, that you would return with .me, ‘
and see that their wounds were all rm
and we would bring blankets“
cal stores, and all supplies, so *
could winter there, for I tell you it; 
be all. that well men can do to get “101%
and back in this weather.” « :

“ You are right. I  ~,,. ;; 55;; ,’

“And then you left them?"  ~
A 4: Yes}: > ‘ ,

'-‘ How long ago? "

“ This is the sixth day.”

“There 'is no time to lose.”

“ None.” _ ‘ ,

“ Why did you come around by
Dust? ” , I t
‘ “ I did not intend to do so, but'I‘m‘
upon a camp of lost miners,fi . 
were in very little better’condition
the outlaws, save for the latter
Tcrlppled." ,

“ They Were lost? ” 

" Completely, and I knew that
blizzard was coming. ‘ , 

" It has comehand you know..f-w
has been, Frank, but if you want
information I can give you pom}.
it.” 

“ I am sure of that,flB,i_fi ’

"Well, I had hut,~ '

We lived -'

 
 

 
 

 
     

 
 
   
       

 
 
 

struck out star '1“ allow Bush: the!“i
point. 'tiiat’-«nillhte”
»  made in.” _ - -.
fiat-1y ,the, next morning, 
ibnndlng storm.  
;'3‘.We lost two men and a u"
horses. and yet made it". "
“ You were fortunate.” «x
Buffalo Bill then want,”
his short stop with Sula} _, ‘
keeper of Yellow Dust City
ing upon his desperate ride
blizzard. .' j, '  
Doctor Powell listened
tention to all, and-I319
‘.'_ But Bill;  

  

in
..

    
        
   
  

 
 

 
 

 
          
     
     
     
  

 
  

    

      
 

 

  

.1.
a,
{\3.

k;

 

 

..  "a... a .—

 

B

    
 

 

clue as to who the men were, that treated
them thus, for punishment rnost dire
should be visited upon such wretches? "

“No, they could not, or, lather, did
not; but i can,” was Llurlalo Bill’s re—
sponse to the surprise of Surgeon Powell.

 

CHAPTER XlII.
TU TUE RESCUE.

“You know who the perpetrators of
that. fiendish crime are, Bill?" asked
Doctor Powell.

"1 know enough to be a clue to track
them."

“ Good! ”

“ But it must be a secret, Frank, as is
the one about the outlaws, whom we go
to rescue.”

“Certainly.”

“There were twenty—seven men the
outlaws said in the band that corrallcd
them.”

“ Yes.”

“There were lwerlly-sc‘.‘cn men in the
band i found lost and guided to Yellow
Dust City.”

“I see.”

“From certain remarks made by the
outlaws, I learned enough to spot some
of the men among the lost miners.

“They were masked when they did
their deed, btrt they were not masked
when I found them.

“They had no guide, and got lost in
the second storm, and they would have
been eternally lost in this last one it" i
had not tound them, for they were out
of provisions, as i told you.

"I did not to them reier to the out-
laws in any way, but 1 took them to
Yellow Dust and they are safe there
when wanted, tor they do not suspect
they are unlit-r suspicion.”

“That is well.

“ but now to our trip, Bill."

“ ‘1 es, and we must get off to-day.”

“ so soon? ”

‘1es.

“ ‘l he storm is over, as you see, and we
can go as tar as the stockade cabin
tonight, and then branch off in the
morning, for it is not a mile out of our
way.”

‘ .1 on know best, Bill.”

“ We can be up and ready to start with
dawn, and we go through a canyon that
1 do not believe will be much blocked
with snow, and can make a night camp
in the foothills, fully thirty miles from
the stockade cabin, and the next day i
hope to get to the camp.

"The truth is, Frank, we must get
there With all speed, let our horses suf-
1er as they may.”

“And what force will you take? "

"-None.”

“ No soldiers? ”

“ Only Surgeon Frank Powell.”

“Not one of your scouts? ”

“Not one.”

“ You will see the colonel? ”

“ Yes, and get from him half a dozen
of the best Government mules for pack
animals, for they stand the cord well
and are good snow breakers, while they
live on less than a horse.” ~

“They do, but you will need some
grain for them.”

“ Yes, and our horses.

“I will have one to carry grain alone.

“ But I will see the colonel now, as 1
will have time before dinner, and wish
to start the work of preparation.”

“ It is best.

“ But are you all right yourself?”

“Perfectly sound and good as new
again,” was the answer, and muilling
himself up well, Buffalo Bill went to
headquarters.

“I welcome you as from the grave,
Cody, for we had given you up for lost;
but, like a, cal, you have nlne lives,” said
Colonel Lennox.

“I may take chances, colonel, but I
generally see my way clear before doing
so, sir. -

“ But I have to report that the
outlaw band went over into Death Val-
1e‘yAh'. Then that settles them.”

It

i

N

. , ,, .953, I

. "A 'M"



 

 

“ But I found a band of freezing, starv—
ing men up in the n'lolrntalns, slr, and
that is why 1 risked what i t'ld to get to
the tort.”

" They are doomed then.”

 No, sir, l but them as well off as pos—
sible, and Surgeon l’owell says that he
will, with your permission, return with
 with supplies for they cannot be
illll‘l't’tl

“ It is madness.”

“on, no, sir, i got through in the
storm, and we can go the trail now.”

“ I will not let a force go, lor it would
mean death, antl you should not risk
your scouts' lives."

“ No one goes with me, save Surgeon
Powell, and we take all risks for hu-
manity‘s sake.”

The colonel remained firm in his refusal
for a while, but at last yielutd when
Surgeon Powell came in and said that
the ride could be made and he was an»
ions to go.

This settled, the colonel gave orders
to the commissar‘y, quzti'lol'lililSYCl‘, and
hospital slt‘ward to supply all things
llCtZ‘tlttd by the two bold adventurers, and
this was done.

liaving obtained permission from (lol—
onel Lennox to bury his horse ill the
graveyard of the tort, Buffalo Bill or-
dered his scouts to see that it was done,
and then went to his dinner.

It was just one o’clock when the two
daring men, the surgeon and the scout,
mounted their best hor'ses,,a11 ready for
their dangerous undertaking.

They had ilr line seven large, strong
mules, carrying pack saddles, \Vcll filled
with all that the unfortunate men in
the mountains would need.

For various reasons best known to
himself, Buffalo llill had kept secret
l‘rorn Colonel llennox even that those he
was going to rescue were the remnant of
the, outlawed band, and the men in the
lort only knew that the chief of scouts
had dared the terrors of the storm to go
back to the rescue of half—dying men he
had found in the mountains.

Loud were the cheers that greeted the
two men as they rode out of the fort.

The storm had broken, the sun had

' come out, and, though bitterly cold, it

was not what Buffalo Bill had to face
five hours before.

The trail of his horse was visible, and
this was taken and followed, the pace
being one that would bring them to the
stockade cabin before night.

It was a hard ride, but the cabin was
reached, the fire still burned, and the
surgeon scout and Buffalo Bill were a:
least sure of good quarters for them—
selves and their animals for that night.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE STARS or“ YELLow DUST CITY.

A description of scenes leading up to
the incidents occurring in the foregoing
chapters will the better acquaint the
reader with the people of Yellow Dust
City and the characters introduced to
his notice,

Yellow Dust City was a booming min-
ing camp of the kind that congregated
within its environs every sort of human
kind to be found upon the far frontier.

There were honest men and thieves,
gamblers, idlers, road-agents under
cover, hard working men, and men who
scorned to work, preferring to live by
their wits and upon others.

The'mines panned out well, coaches
connected the place with other settle-
ments eastward, but it was the end of
the ,Pionecr Trail thus far.

Beyond was an unknown country save
to the red man anti a few daring scouts.

The dwellers in Yellow Dust were com-
fortably housed, and miners’ cabins were
to be found for miles around the centre
of population, which was some fifteen
hundred souls, and some,.I might justly
say, were without souls.

Of course, gambling and fighting were
the principal amusements, and law and
order were at a. discount, save the law of
might.

:  “:rn   K‘Wfim 71‘:

 

’x

.i'i’ll’étBli—ie stem.

 

 

 

There were saloons galore, and each
one had its gambling annex.

Several stores, a blacksmith, gunsmith,
anti a couple of taverns were the centres
or' attraCtion.

The store of the place was owned by
the ex—soldicr Sule Ross, and the tavern
was known as the Golden Arms, a pair
of small revolvers of {5010 being the
sign over the door, while beneath were
the words:

"Touch me, if you dare! ”

it was said that a number had gone
mining for those little gold revolvers,
with a result that. they had proven most
deadly, though but toys, for “Colonel”
Camp, the landlord, knew now to prO-
tcct his own.

Next to the Golden Arms was a sa-
loon and gambling den combined, and
Colonel Camp was the proprietor also.

It was known as—

“T'nc Colonel‘s Game.”

Though the tavern and the saloon were

the best ill Yellow Dust City, they could
not have been much worse, though it
was said that the colonel and a few
“ special guests,” lived well and had the
best.
.Where Cass Camp had secured his
title of colonel no one knew. ile dressed
in a blue army suit, with brass buttons;
wore a black slouch hat and gold cord,
and the unfortunate man who failed to
call himcolonel never found favor in his
eyes.

it“ a man behaved badly in the tavern
or saloon, the colonel never himself
played “bouncer,” but called upon some
well—known tough to do it, and that
Eleant drinks free for one Week at the

ar.

It was also said that the colonel paid
a man to “ lie low “ and kill the one who
should attempt to steal the gold re—
vowels.

The man most respected in Yellow
Dust City was “Sule Ross, the Store
Boss,” and “Boss Ross,” as he was
called, and with whom the reader is al-
ready acquainted as the old-tirne com-
raue of Buffalo Bill when he was a ser-
geant in the army.

That the word of Stile Ross went as
pure gold all knew, and his undaunted
courage, kindliness to those who needed
aid, and firm hand with the rough ones,
were known and acknowledged.

There were other good men and true
in Yellow Dust City, and there was a far
larger element of an utterly reckless
kind that were very dangerous.

What Stile Ross’s position was in one
way, Colonel Camp's was in another, and
each held great influence.

But there were others who also held
sway, a particularly suCCessful miner, for
instance, and more than ,all the man
who stood at the head of the gambling
fraternity.

The latter was a card sharp known as
the " Shasta Sport,” as well as the “ Silver
Sport,” for he had the peculiarity of
wearing a silver cord around his slouch
hat, silver buttons upon his jaunty cos—
tume, carrying‘a handsome watch and
chain.- of the same metal, wearing a sil-
ver ring representing a coiled snake with
diamond head and eyes, and having his
belt buckle solid, massive, and beauti-
fully moulded in the same white metal.
'Hrs revolvers and bowie were also of
silver mounting, and a scarf pin and star
or diamonds were set in silver. When in
full costume this denizen from Shasta
sported full on his shirt front three sun-
flowers beautifully done in frosted silver
and filigree, which, therefore, became
the most conspicuous feature of his novel
attire.

A singular peculiarity of this gamester
was that he would only gamble for gold.

The gold, too, had to be in coin, and
if he won, as be generally did, the man
that lost had it impressed upon him that
he could only pay the man from Shasta
in gold money.

This fact had gained for the gambler
the added soubriquet of Gold Coin Sam.

This man was the most noted char-

 "*£'-"“‘  ..:

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt ‘13

 

-

 

rigade. 9

 

 

actor in Yellow Dust City, and he had
such a following of admirers as made him
quite the “ king pin ” of the camp.

Sam’s hand was ever in his pocket for
charity, and the other was equally as
ready to draw a gun, but never would
draw a weapon until needed, and when
drawn he used it with almost unerring
precision.

But so sure was it that he “ needed it ”
so often during his life in Yellow Dust
City that he had become as much feared
as he was admired.

When evening came the .large shed
saloon of “The Colonel‘s Game" gath-
ered the crowds, and there the Sport
from Shasta held reign with the other
noted personages of Yellow Dust City,
and seldom a night went by without the
recording angel having to write down a
human soul rushed into eternity from
the mining camp known as Yellow Dust
City.

It is into “The Colonel’s Game,” sev-
eral weeks prior to the opening of this
story, I would take my reader and have
him witness the secene that led up to
Buffalo Bill’s starting on the trail of the

, fugitive band, later known as the Crippled

Crew.

 

CHAPTER XV.

DENOL‘NCED.

" The Colonel’s Game Saloon" was in
full blast, and it was crowded to the
doors, for word had been circulated
around the camps of Yellow Dust City
that an important event was to happen.

It was hinted that it was for the good
of all honest men, and for the welfare
of Yellow— Dust City.

All honest and dishonest men, too, had

gone there on the night specified, of
course.
. Notices had been stuck up at the Gol-
den Arms, the colonel‘s saloon, the store
oi Sule Ross, and other places. so few, if
any, in the miners’ camp did net know
that something out of the usual run was
to take place that night.

The colonel was there, so also was
Sule Ross, and the richest miner of Yel-
low Dust, Carl Waring, was with them,
while the man from Shasta, Sunflower
Sam, was not far away.

The four named had a serious look,
but the crowd looked curious and ex-
pectant. What was going to happen all
wondered, but few appeared to know.

That he should not be suspected of be-
ing dishonest, and not having the welfare
of Yellow Dust camps at heart, every
miner, hanger-on, and loafer was there.

When all were assembled, Colonel
Camp knocked loudly on the bar for
order. . Silence at once followed and the
colonel said:

“Gents, we are gathered here to-night
upon a most important mission, and no
honest man will object to my closmg and
locking the doors during the meeting,
for we wish not to be diswrbed by any
one going out or comin in—see‘.’ ”

All apparently did “see,” and there
was a feeling of nervousness among
many of them.

“I am no speech—maker," continued
the colonel, “so I’ll leave it to Boss Sule
Ross to do the talking, and then all oth-
ers present here who I will not name to
do the acting, if it has to be done.

“ Gents, you all know Boss Sule Ross,
as square a man as I am myself, and who
has the good of these camps at heart,
just as I have.”

The colonel was applapded for the
double compliment he Dald _t0 1113138”
and Sule Ross was greeted With a snout
that showed his popularity with all.

The doors were c10sed then,_ not .a man
daring to raise his voice agamst 1t» and
in his frank, free—and-easy manner, Sule
Ross said:

“ Men, I have not much to say, but it
will be to the point. If I tread on any
man’s toes, hold myself responsible,
for the time has come when the despe-
rado element shall no longer run these
camps.

~iy. ,"x, ,, '~\,(,

, Secret

 

“ We are hundreds of men banded to-
gether in the midst of this Wilderness,
and the motive is with most of us to
earn an honest living.

“We have left comfortable homes,
those who loved us, and have risked our
lives in our fight for fortune.

“But there are those who have fast—
ened themselves upon us to rob us of
what we work for, and to keep the camps
in continual turmoil by their lawless
acts and determination to ferment
trouble. V

“These are the ones I refer to, and I
know that the time has come to strike
a blow at these vampires and drive them
from our midst.

“At a meeting of a dozen of the lead-
ing men in these camps, held several
weeks ago, there was appointed a secret
few as detectives, to ferret out those who
have been robbing the miners, holding
up the coaches, and cheating honest
card players by marked cards, thus win-
ning their money.

“These ferrets set to work, and have
traced a great deal of these lawless acts
to a band of men we all know, and upon
them the doom of exile shall be pro-
nounced, giving them until noon to-
morrow to leave Yellow Dust City.

“That we will not allow them to fat-
ten upon other camps, we will send word
at once to every mining camp and set-
tlement in this far country, warning
them not to allow them to enter their
lines.

“ Where they go, we care not, but they
shall leave Yellow Dust City, and in the
time Specified, taking all their belong-
ings with them.”

A shout of approval was what fol-
lowed the words of Sule Ross, and eyes
were cast upon all sides to see upon
whom the ban of exile had fallen.

Suddenly one man arose in the crowd.
Every eye was upon him at once. He
was a tall, well-formed man, with long
hair, and beard, and dressed rather bet-
ter than those about him.

About his waist he wore a wide blue
belt in which he carried his weapons,
and altogether he was rather picturesque
in appearance.

In a deep voice he said:

“ I for one beg to thank Merchant Ross
and those who have backed him up in
this good work for what has been done,
and I can safely say that my immediate
comrades, my band of Blue Belts, as you
have called us, are ready to hold our-
selves prepared to support him, with our
lives, if necessary, in driving the des-
peradoes from this camp.”

A cheer greeted these bold words, and
then came in the clear voice of the Sport
from Shasta:

“Burt Boyd, you and your Blue Belts
are those that we have doomed to exile.”

 

CHAPTER XVI.
THE DOOM on THE BLUE BELTS.

A murmur, more like a deep growl of
anger than surprise, ran around the large
saloon when Sunflower Sam, the man
from Shasta, told who it was that the
Vigilance Committee had de-
nounced as lawless men and doomed to
be driven from Yellow Dust City.

Burt Boyd was known to one and all,
as were also the men who were leagued
with him and were known as Blue Belts.
The band numbered fifteen, and Burt
Boyd was their leader.

'i‘hey had come in a party into Yellow
Dust, and had struck upon a gold claim
in a canyon two miles from the Golden
Arms. It was said by many that the
claim was played out, was worthless,
but the Blue Belts appeared to think to
the contrary, and to find at least some-
gold there.

They were a reckless lot of fellows,
bold in their ways, fearless of conse-
quences, could take their own part, and
kept always in company, for seldom was
it that less than four men were to-
gether.

What they got at the bar of the col-
onel’s saloon they paid for, and when

w.-

 

they took a meal at the Golden Arms
down went their money.

They had erected good cabins for them-
selves; all had the best of horses; they
lived well, for their bills at the store of
Sule Ross were large, yet always prompt-
ly paid.

They were all card players, and were
often called “The Men of Luck,” for
they seldom lost a game. When they
did lose, they never flinched, and their
money was ready to pay their losses.

Now and then they had been drawn
into serious quarrels, but their backing
was at hand promptly, and too good to
allow them to be downed.

On Sunday they never worked, nor en-
tered a saloon, nor touched a card. They
would spend the day in resting, fishing.
or hunting.

With all this, they were looked upon
with suspicion by many. They had too
much money to be honest, it was whis-
pered.

As a band the Blue Beltshad too- much
power, so something was wrong about.
them, beyond a doubt, concluded many
of the denizens of the camp.

Nothing was known of their antece-
dents, and they never talked of them—
selves or their past. They were danger-
ous men, certainly, as a band of fifteen.
and it was remarked that not one of them
had ever been killed, when other men
had fallen under their deadly aim.

Some other whispers went about that.

several of them hadbeen recognized by
miners as “having been road-agents on
other western trails.

Hence, stories about them had gone

,the rounds until it at last was said that

they were nothing more than a band of
outlaws secretly in Yellow Dust City to
get what they could.

It was rumored that they played with
marked cards, cheated at everything.
and of late had been the ones who had
so mysteriously robbed the cabins of the
miners of hard-earned gold hidden away.

When, therefore, the Shasta Sport said
'what he did, telling Burt Boyd that he
and his Blue Belts were the accused
men, those who had heard these ugly
rumors against them, had uttered a.
threatening exclamation that boded no
good to them.

Instantly Burt Boyd flashed around
upon the Sunflower Sport. His face was
white, his eyes burning, and his right
hand rested upon a revolver in his blue
belt. ,

About him were his comrades, a dozen
in number, for the camp of the Blue
Belts was never left without some pro-
tection, and two were there.

Each one of the Blue Belts gazed upon
their leader, and their demeanor showed
that they were there to stand by him.

“ Sunflower Sam, who is it that makes
this charge against the Blue Belts?"
demanded Burt Boyd savagely.

All awaited the answer in. deathlike
silence.

It came cool and sharp.

“I regret to say that 1 make it, Burt
Boyd, for I will not sail under false col—
ors. I am your accuser.”

 You! A man I deemed my friend?"

“I am not one to shrink from duty.
Boyd, strike whom my act may. At the
meeting of the Secret Vigilantes I was
chosen to send men out to spot or hunt
down the worst law breakers in Yellow
Dust City. Their reports were the same
as my own decision, and I made my re—
port in accordance with the facts.

“ The Vigilantes acted upon it, and
your doom was pronounced. You and
your Blue Belt Brigade, as you name the
band at your beck and call, are to 89':
out of Yellow Dust by noon to-mormw.“

“Suppose we refuse to 80?"

" Then another doom than exile will be
visited upon you,” was the incisive an-
swer.

“What is that? ”

“ You and each one of your band will be
hanged,“ said the colonel, to whom thn
Shasta Sport turned for answer to Burt

Boyd‘s question.
I

u": q , "- . u, , . I 3,» v , x .T . ‘ , a
1. a” r -. .4. ‘ . . ‘ " - r i'». ‘ '. .
r a. eu- —‘ ‘~ rs  >< an. ‘_

   

 

 

   

.4

' . ‘ CHAPTER XVII.

, , Tim WARNING.
,- The wild yell that followed this an-

nouncement of Colonel Camp as to what

would be the fate of the Blue Belts if

they refused to leave the camps, checked

Burt Boyd in what he seemed about to
i say.

His f e was deadly pale, and in glanc-
ing at his comrades he saw that they felt
their utter powerlessness to stem the tide
setting against them.

The whole community seemed to be

' determined to carry out the work of the
.Secret Vigilantes, when such men as
Colonel Cass Camp, Sule Ross, the man

. from Shasta, and Miner Waring were the

' - . ‘ones who had made the move.

The Blue Belts had been denounced.
They were the strongest of the bands
in \Yellow Dust City. They would be

. the ones to suffer for the many, the
scapegoats for all the hard characters in
the mines.

 Just what they had been guilty of no

 one particularly cared, so that some one
was to be punished to clear the atmos-

» p'here. ‘

 The better-element present took this
-. View of it. while the toughs took the

' ; idea. that they must demand the doom of

the Blue Belts to cover up their own
deeds.

Many desperadoes then rand
vowed to lead better lives.

 _ When Burt Boyd and his men heard the
Ttaté thatwas to be theirs if they refused

‘ . to so, they knew how hopeless they were
‘\ in that mad crowd to resist. Wisely they

 did not attempt to do so, and Burt Boyd

said:

" - f‘vWe can submit; but, in driving us out

3 offéthese camps, you, the self-consti-
tuted Vigilantes who accuse us of crimes,

yourselves commit a crime in robbing

us of our claim.” . 0
’ reasswere bold words. and instantly

“they were answered by the Shasta Sport,
hat/ho. retorted :

" You’yshall not say that, Burt Boyd,

gawnl pay you your price for your

there

-‘ ' Another yell greeted this. The Sport
,.Was. alwaysthe manto chip in at the
right time.
’ ‘ ""TTheirgold claim is said to be worth-
._ 11958.". c'slled. out the colonel, “ and yet
Jon offer to pay their price for it! "
, “ I mean within reason what
' tent judges shall say it is worth.“
HOW quickly you eat your words,
; nflewer Sam,” sneered Burt Boyd.
4, ' “Nd-sir, no one shall say that! " came
' the answer. “ I will pay you your price! 
v Again the Shasta Sport was cheered.
“ If you are good for the sum? "
..‘,?'Nsme it! ”
‘ “There are men here who claim that
,t'jsworthless, but it is not.”
*“ Name your price! ”
If! named its value in reality you
d 2161 buy. nor could any other man
1‘ in {Yellow Dust City.”
' I ask you to name your price! ”
“Due hundred thousand dollars."
, 4 sashes me full claim to it? "
, _

  the signature of each one of
 outlawed? "
“ fertainly.”

on and how? "

t. here, sir, in United States

, ,, for you can carry bills for

 . ‘fim‘ount more readily than you

‘ mandamus of, gold."

“ All ‘14th: weaocept."

‘5Thén ‘I’ll draw up the papers." '

’ Pm, ink. 5nd paper were forthcoming,

gum leaning upon the bar the man from

haste wrote the transfer. “

."Here it is; now sign it?”

ain't Boyd and his mph; pale, yet
 took their position in“ line, while

" ‘  er Sam called out: a ‘ ‘ I
animal, aging me my

Mn! ‘3’  -
 disappeared, ,
_ tritium)!» 16¢

 
 
 
 
   
  

   
  
   
 

satchel '

 

 

 

a. small satchel cleverly wired over and
doubly locked by padlocks and chains.

Opening it with a couple of keys he
took from his pocket, the Shasta Sport
drew out .half a dozen rolls of crisp bills
secured by rubber bands.

From one after the other of these he
counted out the money until he stopped
in the middle of the fourth roll.

“ Here is the amount, Boyd; count the
bills for yourself, and you see I still
have something left.“ And the Shasta
Sport smiled grimly, while the crowd
stared.

“ Do you want a partner, Sam? " called
out Miner Waring.

“ No, I always play a lone hand, War—
ing,” was the smiling response. -

The bills were carefully counted by
Burt Boyd and one of his men, and being
mostly in large sums it did not take
long.

“Are you satisfied?"

“ I am.”

“Then, Ross, you had best state the
sentence again to the Blue Belts, for if
they make a mistake it will be fatal to
them." ' '

Sule Ross at once advanced and said:

“ I am sorry, Boyd, that this blow
falls upon you and your comrades alone
in this instance, as we know there are
many more who should be punished also.

“ But you are an organized band, the
strongest in the camps, and we sentence
you first, and hope that it will be a
warning. , ,

“We give you your lives, and Sun—
flower Sam has generously paid you for
your claim; but to the other law—break-
ers like yourselves, I wish to say that
the Secret Vigilantes are still at work,
and the doom that falls upon the next
will be death, for to-night they have their
warning to break off from their crimes.”

Here a roar of approval broke in upon
the speaker, but he continued:

“ You are sentenced to leave this camp,
to seek refuge in no other camp or set-
tlement, and to leave thispartot the
country never to return under penalty of
death. 4 ' ,

“ To-morrow at noon, with your horses
and- belongings and what supplies you
care to take along, you are to leave.

“ Such is your doom, and I trust it will
be a. warning to you for the future."

Another cheer from the crowd, and

1 , Lilili a voice shouted:
L 11-00 ,

" No, they are outlaws, and must meet

‘ Just punishment.

“ hang them! Hang them all! ”

CHAPTER XVIII.
so».eren SAM.

The eyes of every man in the saloon
turned upon the one who had suddenly
demanded more dire punishment for the
Blue Belts than driving them out of the
mining camps.

He had risen in the centre of the crowd
and all knew him at a glance.

The thought of many was at once that
he was equally a disturbing element in
the community with the Blue Belts.

The demand to hang them had fallen:

with startling surprise upon BurtBoyd
and his men. , '

They ‘ had at once huddled together
like sheep toward one corner of the bar.

No one knew better than they the
flekleness of a crowd in a mining camp.

They could be readily swayed to re-
verse their decisiOn and decide that death
alone should be their punishment. They
drew together for self preservation, to
defend their lives as best they could,

The man who demanded their lives was
by far the most desorving of the name
of desperado of any one in the mines.
He was born bad, and grew worse with
increasing years. I

He had boasted of his bad record where
he had come from, had openly, when
drinking. said that there was a price on
his, “head, and dared men,” to try and

 

  
 

 care then by the call office!
   "* . any; lac-1'": i

 

volver and knife, he had run amuck at
times and found no one to attempt to
check his career. To attempt and fall
was sure death.

He had been wounded badly by tWO
men, both of whom he had killed. then
treated the crowd, and finished his game
of cards, winning it, too, before he
sought the aid of “ 01d Rhubarb,” the
one doctor in Yellow Dust City, and who
was making more money than any one

miner, it was said, by keeping the people ,

from any other disease save the “bullet
fever," a more common illness in the
camps throughout Nevada, and frequent-
ly proving to be an epidemic.

“Scalplock Sam” was the name that
this daring desperado was known by, he
having honestly won the unenviable
name from the fact that though he did
not actually take the scalp of an enemy,
he always did cut off a lock of his vic~
tim’s hair.

“Jist to keep him in remembrance,”
as he was wont to say. '

Like an Indian, he was proud to show
these locks of hair, having carefully
plaited each one, tied them all together
with a red ribbon, and wore them as
an ornament swinging to his belt.

Four-fifths of the people in Yellow
Dust wanted Scalplock Sam dead, but
no one cared to undertake to kill him.

He had a following, too. They were
few in number, but they also were held,
bad men of the same stripe‘as their
leader, and the quintette made a full
hand that no one cared to play against.

When seated idly in the saloon, at
times Scalplock Sam’s amusement
seemed to be in counting over the locks
of hair swinging to his belt, and in this
way he :had been careful to allow look-
ers-on to count them.

In this way it was reported that
Scalplock Sam had killed fifteen men,
or at least were that many locks of hair.

When, therefore, this bad man arose in

the crowd andshouted for.the-deaisr"ot‘

the band'of Bule Belts, men” drew their
breaths with suppressed excitement, for
they knew that the trouble was not over,
but just about to begin.

The Blue Belts knew their man and
hope of escape faded from their hearts,
for well they realized his desperate
character, and that he had equally as
desperate a following. . ‘

Many saw the motive. Scalplock was
playing a bold game. His purpose was
to stand well in the community.

If he could lead a deadly crusade
against the Blue Belts, he would use
it as a cloak to hide his own crimes.

Would he carry the crowd with him?
was the question in many mindS.

Certainly he had made a bold play for

popularity and favor, and was vgoingwto . 3.

ally himself upon the side jof‘ invalid
order. , " r' . .

He was going to chip in with the Se—
cret Vigilantes, and thus be on the same
side himself.

.50 it was he had risen and shouted:

" Hang. them all! ”

His followers, the four known to» be

his immediate pards, . promptly arose

with him and echo in chorus:

“ Hang the Blue elts!”

This brought other men to their fee
with the same cry. '
. Scalplock had set the fatal ball roll-
ing. and it gathered in size asit went
along; but suddenly there. cameo. check.

A voice rang through the saloon, and
it was the Sport from Shasta who spoke:

“I say no!" he shouted in no mis- VJ,

taken tones.

 

“ cams xxx.
THE SHAB’PA SPORTS STAND-OFF.
The stand taken by the other Sam—-

Sunflower Sam—turned every eye upon.

him. “ 
He did not flinch under the gaze, but
boldly met the scrutiny of the crowd. "
A silence followed his words, ,.i)reken
1199* M “

  
 

  
   

   
 
      

  
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
   
  
    
 
  
   
  
 
  
  
   
    
  
 
 
  
    
 
 
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
 

 

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situation was getting more Critical 'all
around.

The Blue Belts held their position,
huddled together, and there was no doubt
hilt that they intended toflght it out,
and not tamer submit to the determina-
tion of Scalplock Sam to hang them.

The desperado and the Shasta Sport,
through some strange accident, had
never yet been pitted against each other.
They had onced played cards, big money
was staked, and the Sam from Shasta
had won.

After that Scalplock Sam had left him
severely Alone—discovering that where
he could manipulate’the cards with skill,
the other Sam could do so with even
more skill.

“Now Scalplock had taken a stand
against the Blue Belts, and a glance
showed that he had a very considerable
following in the crowd.

Many had suffered both from petty and
large robberies, and so to visit upon
them no other punishment save exile
from the mining country they did not
believe sufficient.

They shOuld hang, and Scalplock Sam
had voiced their thoughts.

When the reply of the Shasta Sport
was heard, all eyes turned upon the
rival Sam.

He saw his chance, pushed his way
toward tihe sport, and when within
twenty feet of him halted.

His four followers had crowded close
behind him.

“See here, Sunflower, you no doubt
moans well, but you is away. 01!, and
we says them Blue Belts has been ther
terror of. these camps; they has robbed
us, cheated at cards, and done lots of
things better men has been hanged for. '

“One or two men might have been
hanged, Scalpiock, but not" fifteen—a
number that would cause the Govern-
ment to put a fort right here in Yellow
Dust, mighty quick!”

This response of the Sunflower Sport
caused a sensation. A fort was the last
thing the miners wanted to keep them
from law-breaking.

But, nothing daunted, Scalplock re—
plied. v .
“ We can take care of ourselves. with;
out the aid of the United States, and
I tell you these men must hang. or they
will be turned loose to become outlaws
and cause more trouble on the trails
than there is now."

“Well, we are determined to purify
these camps, we of the Secret Vlgilantes,
and we have decided what should be
done withthose men,~and that set-
thB.lta."-J ' ‘

.. .“-I’ says it don't! and you haln‘t ther

boss here."

“The best men in these camps are
with me.”

“ Hang them men and I'll be with
you.”

“Thanks—401' nothing. I don’t ask

. graced your aid.”

“Then I'll act on my own account."
“What will you do?"

“ Hang them Blue Belts."

“ I’m afraid you are going to bite off

, Aggro than you can conveniently chew.

Loggflgeoret Vigilantcs have sentenced
the and they will see that
thieyl are ndt=’dohlt;igith.ycontrary to their
w s es.  ’  if]  1 '
“See here, Shasta; 7&1 jmffllké a
fool.” ‘ ‘  " 5‘ 

Matters were drawing to’a climax',’

.1“ saw, so a lane was slowly spam
fig between the,de3pera.,io and the Sun-
flower Sport:

a Those who had intended to back up
Scalplock now tell aside, for they did
not like the Shasta Sport's reference to
the. soldiers coming into their midst.
Many there wished to keep well out of

- , sight'of the officers of the law and of

the army. ‘

, The four comrades of Scalpbcit still
  ‘ "our him. thongh they had wisely
two‘bn each side, not to be in
mm bullets should revolvers

    

 

 

 

Alone, in

the centre of a lane eight feet wide,
rough-clad men being the- barrier upon
either side. ‘ V

» The Blue Belts had gathered. close to
the Sport from Shasta.

There was no backdown in them, for
their lives were at stake.

The colonel, Sule Ross, Carl Waring,
and other were close at hand, and
watched.

In answer to the last words of Scalp—
10ck, the Shasta Sport smiled and re—
plied:

“ You will be the fool, Scalplock, if you
raise a hand to ,hang these men, for [’11
shoot you dead in your tracks at the
first move you make against them.

" Now, go ahead! ”

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE CLIMAX.

“Do you mean that as a challenge,
Sunflower?" roared the other Sam.

“I mean it as a warning,” was the
quiet response.

“ It’s well you don’t mean to challenge
me.”

“ Take it as you choose,
returned the Shasta Sport.

The crowd was silent as though al-
ready at a funeral, and no one could
understand Scalplock’s delay in acting.
He appeared to be fencing for time or po-
sition, it was apparent.

The Shasta Sport still leaned carelessly
upon the bar, but his hand dropped
very near the butt of the nearest re-
volver to his grasp.

Scalplock, looked about him. He saw
his four comrades, but he wished to get
a look at the crowd.

Would they back him up? was what
he wished to decide.

After a quick scrutiny he knew that he
must play a lone "hand—that the law
and order men Were in the majority.

He could not back down, however.
Something must be done, and quickly;
so he made the venture::

“ See here, Shasta, there hain’t no quar-
rel between you and me, but it’s the Blue
Belts I wants ter see downed, for I‘m on
the side of Justice.”

The Sport laughed, and a hum went
through the crowd.

Wu. them Whom others feared show-
.ng the "white-"fea'hsr? . '

Samuel,"

Had Scalplocki decided to incl: down i

when the other was his adversary? , -

Before the desperado could “goon to
state his case, Burt Boyd spoke up
quickly:

“ Sunflower, I thank you for your stand
in our favor, but we do not wish you
to get into trouble on our account, so I
am willing to meet Scalplock right here
and now in a fight with any weapons he
may select, and that will settle it."

A yell of approval greeted this offer.

The leader of the Blue Belts showed
clear grit, whatever his crimes might be.

The Sport turned to him andreplledz‘

“L appreciate your offer, but decline
it, Burt Boyd, for if I cannot, as one of
the Secret Vigilantes, protect a con-
demned man then we are weak, indeed,
as a law and order committee.”

Another shout greeted this stand of the
man from Shasta, for all saw the force
of his position.

But Scalplock broke in with:

"That’s what I’ll do, Burt Boyd. I'll
lightnyp‘u, for-"

;."You'll do no. such thing! You will
fishing if you fightat all, or you will back

downJiko the coward I. believeyon to be, .

Scalplock! ”

desperado, revolver in, hand. ,
Scaiplock was cowed; but if he showed
the white feather now, Yellow Dust City
would be quickly made too hot for him.
Glancing at his four pards, then came
his answer: \
“ I'll light you, then, Sunflower, if it is
to be a square fight, and no trickery."
" What do you mean?'_’ ‘ ‘
'f These_,.poopie all seem to be your

       

  

   
 
 

 

«observing their every movement. ,
 As meaty him and passed

.' » -  :  , ' ower arose, an
There. was no mistakih‘g: the Sport’s t' 6“
words, and he had” suddenly faced the.

 

.._4

“ Those who are honest .men and on
the side of right are my friends, but
those who wish to have Yellow Dust
City continue to be a disgrace and hu-
man slaughter pen will side with you,
Scalplock, and I am willing, if it must
be, for the test to come between the
law and order men and the law-breakers, ‘
right now and here.”

Again a cheer, and a. look over the
crowd showed that no one was anxious
to be among the law—breakers.

“Come, let this be settled now, Scalp-
lock, or back down, for the Shasta Sport
is not the man to go back on his word,"
the colonel chipped in.

This chimed in with the humor of the
crowd, and Scalplock saw it.

Instantly he sprung a surprise upon
all, even his four pards, for he said:

“ I yield, pards, for if I insist upon a
fight with Sunflower, I place myself 1
among the law-breakers, and we give a
black eye to the very cause good men
wish to uphold. The Secret Vigilantes
rule here and I, yield.” -

He stepped forward and held forth his '
hand, which the Shasta Sport promptly
grasped, at the same time glancing over
the crowd and saying: a

“Don’t crowd him, pards, because he
acknowledged he was wrong, or there
may be trouble ahead for those who do. 1

" Come, gentlemen, and take some-
thing with me.” . 7 4 '

The ready invitation was an inspira—
tion, for it checked all grumbling of the '
dissatisfied at not having seen a man
killed.

“You will join us?" and the Shasta
Sport turned to Burt Boyd, who 
swered: - "

" You proved our friend in time
need. We will drink health and pros-
perity to you, Sunflower Samffi  ,

   

’1

 

CHAPTER XXI.
TO THE DEATH VALLEY. ._ ,
The Blue Belts dashed off their drinks 
with their eyes upon the Shasta Sport. ' 

They seemed to regard him alone as
their only friend. . . . v 1
Without a. look or word to others they
flied out of the saloon, followed-4" "
burst of applause at their depa.
which they could not mistake for ought \
else than delight at their going. I 5 I ‘
Once outside, they moved at,  '1
pace to the store of Sale Ross, fertility 
were anxious‘ to make their purchases ;
necessary-for their needs in their forced I
exile. ' , ‘
Provisions in quantity, blankets, small}
tents, and all else that could be of 
were bought and paid for, alongtwuh‘
half a dozen horses, to carry their outfit. 1
These things were packed, and theatri-
mals were led to the cabin, home of 
Blue Belted '  ;  ’1
Their claim Was in a little valley, 
its heads They had there three cabins.
one being in the centre, and used for"
kitchen, dining, and lounging room..th'o
other two for sleeping rooms.   '
They had a score of good horses.' 
were brought up, saddled, and the extra.

ones also used as pack animals. -_ _, .-
At midnight they were all 
their departure. .  .
Mounting, they rode awdy in 
of night, Burt Boydat their:th
No one they, mid’seovmxv ..
note their departure, and yet, ’ M'
m by jugo'lsido of the trail, was S W;

his an after them, said aIOud:  x
“Go on, Blue Belts, into Oil  .v
but you gotoyour doom, for  '
you do. like thieves in the
will be followed and tracked
that death were preferable-m.  . . .
.The man drew back out 
the Blue Belts rodepns 3 ,'  “i 
Coming to with“?  '
branched ofi.‘ Burt 36?“ ’
then halted. but not tie-{1M7W
The  named-w“ 4..

 
   
   

 
   
  
  
 

  
  

12

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

 

After some moments of silence the man
behind him spoke:

“Which trail will it be, captain?”

“ I do not know,” was the low reply.

“You have not decided where to go,
then, sir? "

“ No; it was all so sudden, you know;
I have not had time to think.”

“ The right goes to the fort,
know? "

“ Yes, but we do not wish to go there.”

“ The left is [the stage trail eastward.”
’ “ Yes; but that way we do not go.”

‘ “And the centre trail leads over the
range to the Indian country."

“ Yes, but we are not renegades.”

“ And it also leads up into the Death
5 Valley Mountains.”

“Pards, that is our trail!" then an-
nounced Burt Boyd.

“To the Death Valley, sir?” repeated
several voices, in unison.

“ Yes; we will go there, for no one
dare follow us there, and we can have
time to think and to act.”

“ But, it is death, they say, for any
human being to go there, Captain Boyd! ”
 urged one.

“It is sure death for any of this band
to remain where we are.”

“True,” and all seemed to assent.

. “ It is sure death for us to go to any
.132 other mining camp.”

’7; “ Very true,” they had to admit.

‘ “We dare not seek a settlement any-
where in this country.”

“ No, not in this whole region.”

“ Many in Yellow Dust City think they
have driven us into outlawry. That re-
mains for them to find out.”

“ They will find out to their cost some
day," uttered a determined voice.

“ Yes, and to have time to think, to
act, we will go to Death Valley, for
wood, water, and grass are plentiful
there; and even should the winter catch
us there, we can stand it, I am sure.”

“To Death Valley it is, then,”
quiesced one.

Others chimed in also, and thus sup-
ported, Burt Boyd took the centre trail
and once more led the way through the
darkness.

On, on, they went, fearing no pursuit,
and yet upon their track had started, the
next night, a merciless band of twenty—
seven men—men who had gone on the
trail with masked faces and bent upon
driving the band of Blue Belts to their
doom.

What they drove them to has been
seen, when Buffalo Bill found the rem-
nant of the Blue Belt Brigade on the
verge of death, crippled and in despair.

 

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'3, A

  

‘--.. ‘ 13334.“.  gaggllgflz v it

ac-

 

CHAPT‘ER XXII.
THE RIDE or RESCUE.

Buffalo Bill and Doctor Frank Powell
had risked their lives in a good cause.

The Chief of Scouts had found the
outlaws in their last extremity of de-
spair, of suffering, and what he had done
for them has been seen.

That they were outlaws had nothing
to do with the case.

They were human beings, and he had
not hesitated to risk his life to save
them.

When he had guided the other party
1 into Yellow Dust City, saving them also,
{ he had learned all about the outlaWS
‘whose rescue he was attempting.

t He had learned why they had been
-‘ exiled, and why they had been.

Also he knew that they had been fol-
lowed by twenty—seven men, masked
and determined upon their destruction
wholly.

The cruelty visited upon the Blue Belts
had won the full sympathy of the scout
C; for them, and he had promised to save
 them and see that their malignant foes

 i ‘

-. spy, gfig~v .-

. m4? ..

«a: v

.r.‘

were brought to justice, for by crippling
them, robbing them, taking from them
their supplies, blankets, and clothing,
they had shown that their intention was
to make them suffer first, then perish
ined cold and unger.
byThzgleb persecut-ors of the Blue Belts
Buffalo Bill was determined to ferret
out.

 

When he knew all of them he would be
ready to strike his blow.

Two had perished in, sight of the
camps, it will] be remembered; others
might die from the effects of their hard
trip, but those who survived could and
should be found out, one and all.

Thus had Buffalo Bill reasoned, and
he had kept his own counsel, save what
he said to Sule Ross, the storekeeper at
Yellow Dust City, and Surgeon Frank
Powell.

To the latter he told all that there was
to tell, his surmises and intentions, and
was glad to know his opinions, for the
surgeon’s level head very seldom led him
astray.

With Frank Powell, a skilled surgeon,
a scout as well, ample medical supplies,
plenty of provisions, warm clothing and
blankets, Buffalo Bill knew that the
outlaws, if they survived his return,
would have all they needed to bring
them back to health and strength once
more.

That he would be unable to reach the
camp he did not allow himself to con-
sider for an instant.

After what he had passed through with
alone, he knew he could stand more
suffering and obstacles in his way with
Surgeon Powell as his pard.

They reached the stockade cabin in
good time, put their horses in one of
the rooms, and gave them a good feed,
raked the still smouldering coals to-
gether, and soon had a good fire, and,
as the surgeon remarked, Were as com-
fortable as they could wish to be.

A fine deer was shot near the cabin,
so venison steak was had for suppei,
and some choice morsels cut to carry
along.

The wolves howled outside, angry at
being driven from their shelter, but
that did not disturb the sleep of the two
comrades.

Up before dawn, the horses were fed,
breakfast gotten, and with the first glim~
mer of light they were in the saddles and
on their hard trail.

And a hard trail it was, in places
almost impassable, where the snow and
ice blocked their way.

A halt was made for a good rest at
noon, then once more onward, for they
had a destination to reach by night, if
they expected to shelter themselves and
their horses from the bitter cold.

It was reached while the daylight yet
remained, a thicket of pines up a can—
yon.

The snow had not driven in among
the pines, so the pine straw was plen—
tiful for the animals and their own bed.

Boughs were cut as a break to the
wind for man and beast, a roaring fire
was built, and what comfort could be
gotten out of a hot supper was had.

But the cold was intense, and both
men realized that away from the shelter
thicket both their horses and themselves
would suffer terribly.

Up again at daWn and once more on
their way, Buffalo Bill guiding unerringly
though many obstacles turned them
out of their way. ‘

No camping at noon, for the scout
knew that a, few miles more would bring
them to the outlaws’ camp, and there
certainly was rest and shelter whatever
they might find there.

That Buffalo Bill had his misgivings
of finding them alive, Surgeon Powell
plainly saw.

On, on, they went, the horses very
tired now with the hard fight, until at
last Buffalo Bill called out:

“Frank, there is the camp! ”

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE DESPAIRING BAND.

Burt Boyd and his comrades saw Buf-
falo Bill leave them as men might bid
farewell to a dying friend.

He had found them in their despair
and suffering, and had indeed proved a.
good Samaritan.

They had been in that condition of

 

" . o -
'”’ -’ ' are "A m r,

_ w ,1. 
W" 2‘"

_

suffering and mental anguish when every
hope had faded from them.

They were helpless, hopeless, and al—
most indifferent to the fate that faced
them, so cruel and relentless had their

own kind shown themselves to be to

them.

But Buffalo Bill had come among them
like a ray of sunshine. His cheery man—
ner had done much for them.

Then his hot coffee, food, and the way
he had built them a shelter had been a
new lease on life to them.

It was true that they had to huddle
together like wi‘d beasts to keep from
freezing, and yet it saved them.

The scout Samaritan had dressed their
wounds, had buried their dead comrades,
had made their shelter secure from the
penetrating winds.

He had cut a hole in the ice which
they could keep open and thus get water.

More, he had made rude but service—
able. crutches for the men who had lost
a leg.

Piling wood up he had cut in plenty,
he had then given them nearly all the
provisions he had, left with them half
his blanLets, and then told them he would
save them.

\Vith this pledge ringing in their ears,
he had let them.

Would he return? Dare he attempt it,
even though he reached the fort?

Would he ever reach the fort?

Could even Buffalo Bill win in such a
bitter fight against Nature?

Such were the questions the poor crip-
ples asked each other.

Was it a wonder that they saw him de-
part with the despairing dread that he
would never return?

Their faces grew dark with dread as
they saw him go forth in the early morn.

As best they could later they had their
scant breakfast, for they well knew that
they must prepare against delays.

A half tincup of coffee, a cracker, slice
of bacon, and a piece of venison was all,
in limited quantity.

Those who were able did what they
could to still strengthen their shelter and
make it more snug.

They got in a supply of pine straw,
and in every way they could prepared
for the worst.

Their wounded limbs told them that
the worst was coming.

'They knew that a bitter storm was
brewing.

Forgetful of their own misery they
thought of Buffalo Bill.

Would he not be caught in the bliz-
zard and perish?

The day wore away, night came, and
they were not as uncomfortable as they
had feared.

The next day the skies looked threat—
ening. The little, more they could do
was done to still make their retreat more
secure.

They decided .to eat but two meals a.
day, morning and evening, for their
supplies looked scant, indeed. Still they
were improving, save two of them, whose
maimed limbs gave them pain and anx1—
et . -
yTheir shelter, the food they had,
their comparative comfort, and the in—
spiration of hope made them feel better.

With the night came the storm, which
soon became a blizzard infernal. It shook
their shanty, yet the snow stopped up
every crack and made it warmer within.

It was an awful night, and they slept
but little. They did not dare make a,
blazing fire for fear of being burned out.

Day came and still the blizzard raged.

Another night of suffering and dread!

Another day of anguish of mind!

“Buffalo Bill is dead, pards, and we
are doomed," opined Walt Webster, one
of the men mest hopeful before.

“Do not talk that way, Webster, for
it simply drives hope away. I, for one,
have hope in Buffalo Bill,” responded
Burt Boyd-

“ As I have; but do you think mortal
man can be out in this blizzard and live,

i Captain Boyd? ”

».A:..'.-“‘ , -

 

 

t’,
F
r.

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

13

 

 

“Buffalo Bill may have reached the
fort, or, seeing the blizzard was going to
catch him, have gone to Yellow Dust
and secured help.”

“Help in Yellow Dust City for us?
Why, they would come out and shoot us
as we are,” said another man bitterly.

“ Not if Buffalo Bill was along,"

“See here, captain, you have more
faith in what that man can do than falls
to human beings to be able to accom-
plish."

“I have known him for years, and I
know that he has done that the bravest
men shrink from.

“ No, pards, if Buffalo Bill lives he will
keep his pledges and come back to us,”
confidently asserted Burt Boyd.

“If he lives," 'disconsolately echoed
several voices.

Another night, another day, and the
storm still continued!

There was no disguising now that one
of their comrades was raving in the
delirium of a high fever. His pleading
to be taken home touched every heart,
But nothing could be done for him.

The blizzard at last came to an end,
but the sunshine gave them little hope.

Another day and night, and yet an—
other.

Their supplies were gone, and despair
rested upon every face. Even Boyd looked
hopeless, dreading night to come on.

“Ho, pards, I am back again! “

It was Buffalo Bill‘s voice without!

He had kept his pledge to the out-
laWed band!

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE DYING OUTLAW‘S PRAYER.

. Words could never express what those
despairing men felt in that snowbound
shanty, when they heard the voice of
the scout outside, telling them that he
had returned, that he had kept his word
in the face of obstacles they had‘be-
lieved impossible.

They were seated in
looking into the fire,
with his own thoughts.

They Were hungry, and cold, for their
blood was thinned by their wounds, suf-
fering, and scant provisions.

The fire burned brightly, yet did not
warm the blood in their chilled veins.

The ravings of their comrade in de-
lirium they hardly heard.

They had grown used to that.

Buffalo Bill and Frank l’owell had
ridden close up to the shanty unheard.

The afternoon was half gone, and the
night only several hours away.

But the two brave men had made the
desperate ride, had reached the goal.

Their horses were well worn and glad
of the shelter they had reached.

Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Powell had
at first believed all were dead.

Then the ravings of the fevered suf-
ferer were heard, and the scout spoke:

“ My God! " was what they heard
within. The boughs and blanket that
formed the entrance were pushed aside
and the white face of Burt Boyd peered
out.

He could scarcely believe his ears; he
must have proof with his eyes that Buf-
falo Bill was there!

“ Ho, pard, I am back again, and Sur-
geon Frank Powell is with me, while
we have supplies in abundance.

“How fares it with you all?”

“ A moment ago we were on the verge
of death. Now we are savedusaved, and
once more by you, Buffalo Bill!

“ Come, men, do you not hear me talk-
ing to Buffalo Bill? It is no dream. no
dream, no, but the truth——

Buffalo Bill held up his hand and Burt
B0 (1 ate (1 suddenly.

The 8031?: removed his lla_t, Surgeon
Powell did the same, and infillence they
sat upon their horses. and listened.

The silence within the shanty Was
broken by a voice. It was not the rav-
ings of the dying man.

But, be it what it waS.
was raised in prayer!

The voice of the scout had Silenced

sullen silence
each man busy

his voice

A,

 

, ..., .fi ,:_ :*

his ravings, he had heard it, and it had
brought him out of the land of delirium
and he was praying!

“Too late, oh, God, too late to save
my soul from flight into the Shadow
Land beyond the grave, but Thy Hand
has guided thy servant, Buffalo Bill,
amid all dangers, back into the wilder-
ness, where we have suffered and de-
spaired, and his act will save my dear
comrades from death.

“Oh, God, bless and care for those so
dear to me far from here, and keep in
Thy protection my comrades who kneel
by my side while I thank Thee and sup-
plicate Thee for continued mercy-”

The voice faded away; the prayer
ended, and a fervent amen came from
within the shanty.

Then a dead silence. It was the silence
eternal of the lips that had prayed, while
for a fleeting moment back to the burn-
ing brain had come consciousness and a
full knowledge that the noble scout had
done his work well.

Dismounting from their horses, Buffa—
lo Bill and Surgeon Powell had followed
Burt Boyd into the shanty.

The picture was a strange one.

The men were crouched about their
dead comrade.

It was too sad a scene for the living,
Buffalo Bill knew, and he said cheerily:

“He is out of all suffering, comrades;
he has solved the mystery of life and of
death; so he needs not our sympathy.

“ You are the ones to need aid, and
Surgeon Powell is here with me, so cheer
up. all of you."

The men gave a faint cheer, but obeyed
the scout and went out into the sun-
shine.

“ Here, get some coffee made first, for
I will build a fire outside, and then we
will soon have things in shape in your
cabin.

“You can open the packs and help us,
for there is much to be done before
night; but Surgeon Powell and I will do
the hard work.”

The fire outside was soon made, the
coffee pot was put on, the horses and
mules were umsaddled, and the packs
Opened.

The old straw in the shanty was thrown
out, all within was put in good order,
and bear and buffalo robes, blankets and
canvas curtains around the walls made
the cabin as comfortable as could be de-
sired.

The shanty for the cattle was then
strengthened, improved, and they were
put in it and fed well after their hard
journey.

Next the burial of the dead man fol-
lowed, and all stood uncovered about the
grave, while the body was consigned to
its last home.

“ Now, pards, night is upon us, and
we‘ll have a supper such as you have not
had for many a long day, and Surgeon
Powell will look to your wounds later,
so that you will Ihave a good night’s rest.

“Remember, we have plenty of sup-
plies, so let nothing disturb your minds,
and here you can winter, and be all
right when the ,spring comes, save that
you have each one lost a limb,” said
Buffalo Bill, cheerfully.

“And each one has a wrong to right,
Buffalo Bill," impressively said Burt
Boyd, and as fervently as they had ut-
tered it to their dying comrade’s prayer
each man now said to this:

“ Amen! ”

 

CHAPTER XXV.
PICKING UP CLUES.

The sufierings of the Blue Belts were
forgotten in the broad glare of the blaz-
ing fire of logs, with a good supper,
warm clothing, plenty of blankets, and a
well-filled larder.

The presence of Buffalo Bill and Sur-
geon Powell was like a glass of wine to
them, and they bore their sufferings now
most cheerfully.

The Surgeon Scout, with Buffalo Bill
as his assistant, set to work to look at
the stumps of the severed limbs.

 

of course, with the cold and enforced
neglect, the wounds were inflamed and
in bad condition.

One poor fellow was told that he must
have another amputation—that his arm
{must be cut off further up—to save hi0
ife.

He submitted without a word, took
the chloroform the surgeon gave him,
and the amputation was skillfully and
quickly done.

With all that was necessary to dress
the wounds, Surgeon Powell soon had
each man comfortable, and expressed his
surprise that they were not in a worse
condition.

“ You say that you do not know who
did this cruel work?” he asked Burt
Boyd.

“No, sir.
masked most thoroughly.”

“It is the work of a surgeon, and a
skillful one, though he took no pains.”

“A surgebn, sir?”

“Beyond a doubt.”

“But there are no surgeons in Yellow
Dust.”

“There is the old doctor,
suggested Walt Webster.

“True, Old Rhubarb they call him.”

“ I know of him; but he is half a quack
and could never do work as neatly as
this was done.”

“There is no other,
Dust.“

“There is, certainly, though the may
not have made himself known,” was
Surgeon Powell’s determined reply, and
it set the men to thinking.

“ I know of no one save Old Rhubarb,”
added Buffalo Bill; “but, then, I have
often met able physicians on the fron—
tier as miners, teamsters, scouts, and
soldiers. Something has gone wrong
with them where they lived, and they
have come out here.”

“ Yes, Cody, many a brilliant profes-
sional man has wrecked his life by some
deed and been driven into a new career,"
Surgeon Powell said.

Then he asked:

“Could you not recognize one of the
men who were in that band?”

“Not to swear to his actual identity.
Doctor Powell.”

“Did you notice whether the surgeon
who amputated your limbs wore a ring? "

“By Jove, but he did!” cried several
of the men, in a breath]

“ What kind of a ring was it? "

“ A ring of massive gold, with a ruby
in it of large size."

“ Who was the leader of the band? ”

“ The surgeon appeared to be."

“Ah! that is a good clue, and the ring
is another," avowed Buffalo Bill.

Then Surgeon Powell asked:

“Did the surgeon administer chloro-
form to you? ”

“ No, sir, he gave us nothing to deaden
our pain. There seemed to be pleasure
to him in our sufferings.”

“ Wno assisted him, Boyd? ”

“He had two assistants, sir, one who
seemed to know what to do, but the
other was a novice at the work, and sev-
eral times I noticed that he shuddered
when the surgeon cut into the flesh.”

“But the man with the knife and saw
held a hand as firm as a rock,” Walt
Webb asserted.

“ There was no reason given you for
their inhuman work?"

“ Yes, doctor, there was. The surgeon
said'that we were doomed to suffer and
die for our crimes.

“ That we were given a chance for life.
one in a. hundred, .for we were to be al-
lowed to go our way, though with scant
food and covering, and if we survived we
were plucky, lucky, and tough, but the
chances were that the coyotes would feed
on us and in the spring our well-picked
bones would be found. We would be rec-
ognized as the Blue Belts, and our doom
thus would be known.”

“He certainly was a most inhuman
wretch, and his motive to punish you
so severely must have been from some
wrong he had suffered at your hands,”
remarked Surgeon Powell.

captain,”

sir, in Yellow

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14

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

“Did none of his men raise a word
against his act?" asked Buffalo Bill.

“Not one, sir, that any of us were
aware of? ”

“ You were fifteen in number? ”

“Yes, sir."

“ Now you are seven? ”

“Yes, Mr. Cody.

“Eight of us have gone under,
the sad reply.

“ Well, we will talk it all over to—mor-
row, again, and see if we cannot happen
upon other clues, for I shall go from
here to Yellow Dust City.

“And to—morrow I will have some-
thing to tell you all, and we can com-
pare notes," said Buffalo Bill, and soon
after all had turned in for the night.

H

was

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
A srzcmrr TO TELL.

New life had been infused into the
band of Blue Belts by the coming of
Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill, the sup--
ply of food, and the warm clothing
they' had received.

The dressing of their wounds, and the
hope that was now before them, inspired
the sufferers so that they appeared like
different men the next morning.

“This cabin is all very well, pards,
for a makeshift, but not for a winter
abode.

“It will be the very place for the
horses, but not for you.

“I can swing an axe pretty well, and
we’ll set to work upon a cabin at once,"
said Buffalo Bill.

Good trees were selected and quickly
felled by the scout, his way of “ swing-
ing an axe pretty well," as he had ex-
pressed it, winning the admiration of
all.

The men who had been left their legs
intact among the Blue Belts dragged
the logs to the side of the cliff, where
Surgeon Powell was busy building a
chimney of rocks.

By noon the chimney was finished,
enough logs had been cut for th) cabin,
and all was going rapidly, the men who
had their arms, but were minus a leg,
making rude tables and benches.

In the afternoon the cabin was put
up, save the roof.

The next day the chinks between the
logs were closed with clay, small sap-
lings formed the roof, foundation, and
then pine straw thatched it thoroughly
against leading.

A shelter of the same kind was made
in front, to sit under, bunks were put up
inside, the table and benches followed,
and then the making and swinging of
two windows and the door, on leather
hinges, cut from an old saddle, occupied
the third day.

The door and windows were in front,
made of plaited boughs, and upon the
outside pine straw was fastened so as to
make them close and secure.

The fireplace was large, occupying
nearly one end of the cabin, and all the
wood cut was piled up outside close at
hand.

“The pine balsam in the walls and
roof will benefit you men, and your
house is snug, clean, and comfortable, so
keep it so, for upon that depends your
health,” said Surgeon Powell.

The old shanty back of the cabin was
to be used for the few horses left to the
Blue Belts, for Buffalo Bill intended tak-
ing the pack mules back with him, as
there would be little corn left if they
remained long, and this was to be fed to
the horses that remained only when they
could get no grass in the canyon.

As the snow melted quickly, and grass
grew luxuriously in sheltered places, it
was not thought that the horses would
suffer very much.

With the end of the fourth day, the
work had all been done, the men had
moved into their new quarters, and they
certainly looked very cheerful and com-
fortable in contrast with their last shan-
ty house.

Tired at night and retiring early, little

 

the time you met them, sir.”

had been talked of among the men, but
now that all was ready and the scout
and the surgeon had spoken of starting
upon their return the next day, Buffalo
Bill said:

“ It was my intention, Mr. Boyd, to go
to Yellow Dust from here, but I shall re—
turn with Surgeon Powell to the fort.

“We cannot leave to—morrow, for I
saw signs of a second storm coming on,
and I do not care to face another bliz-
zard in the saddle.

“We will go as soon as it is over, to the
fort, and then I shall Visit Yellow Dust
City shortly afterward.

“It will be a couple of months be-
fore you will need supplies again, but I
will be here with them on time, or to
guide you all to the tort, if you are able
to go, and that I think would be best.”

“As I (10,” added Surgeon Powell.

Captain Boyd and his men had list—
ened with deep attention to what the
scout had to say, but at the last remark
about going to the fort, he looked at
his men in a curious way, and replied:

“We will be well enough, sir, beyond
a doubt, for, with the kind care of Sur-
geon Powell we all feel like new men.

“You, sir, have saved our lives, and
we wish to be guided wholly by you.

“ But you know we are exiles, outcasts,
yes, outlawed, and we would go to the
fort under a. deep shadow of crime.

“What our past has been I do not now
care to‘discuss, but I wish to say this—~
that we would like to remain here until
the spring.

“ Then we will be wholly well and able
to act, and it is our intention to act, a
crippled crew though we are, that we’ll
make ourselves felt.

“We all have a wrong to avenge, a
cruel wrong, but, outside of that, we have
another duty to perform, and we have
vowed to do it.

“The twenty-seven men who dogged
us to our doom, a worse doom but for
you, must each one be found or ac—
counted for.

“The truth is, Mr. Cody, we cannot
speak now as we would, but when you
return in two months, as you promise,
we will be ready to talk, to make known
to you, sir, and to Surgeon Powell, a se-
cret. but to no one else.”

The words and manner of Burt Boyd
were impressive. Both Buffalo Bill'and
Surgeon Powell felt this and the for-
mer said:

“All right, Boyd, I leave it to you
what to tell, and what not. You may
have been guilty of many crimes in Yel-
low Dust, but you have been most cruelly
punished for your deeds.

“ I bear no ill will against you, and I
frankly tell you I shall do ah I can to
protect you from further persecution,
and Surgeon Powell will aid me. ‘

“Tell the secret you refer to in your
own way and time, but now let me tell
you what I promised to do the night of
our coming here."

 

CHAPTER XXVII.

PLEDGES TO AVENGE.

“ I told you, pards, that I led a party
of freezing men into Yellow Dust City
after leaving you," said Buffalo Bill.

All nodded.

“ I started for the fort and could have
reached there before the storm became
too severe, but I looked for a camp for
supper and a short rest, and came upon
this party of whom you speak."

“ Men out of Yellow Dust, sir? ”

“Yes, Boyd; they said they had been
out prospecting."

“I wonder if they had not been out
prospecting for us, to see that we went
to no other camp, or did not halt near
Yellow Dust? ”

“ Boyd, there were just twenty~seven
of them."

“My God! Can they have been the
band that crippled us? ”

“ That was their number.”

“ But they would have returned before

...
.. .1 ,.4

 

.v '2‘ - ‘ ‘. . x <
13‘ P”:- r A.“ w at." ':1 v./.

“ You had a slight snow storm soon
after they left you?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ Might they not have gotten lost?”

“Would not one man in twenty-seven
have been able to find Yellow Dust
again?"

“Not. unless
with the country.

"The snow changes the whole aspect
of the land, you know.“

“ Yes, but that was some weeks ago.”

“And you had another storm, you re—
member? ”

“ Yes, sir.”

“That would have made it still worse
for them.”

“True, sir.”

“Did you observe that your foes had
large supplies along?

“Not much, i should say. They had
no pack animals."

“These men 1 found were lost and out
of f00( 

“ Were they masked? "

“ They were not."

“They would hardly be, when they
expected no one to see them.

“But they had on masks. Several of
the men riding in the rear put masks on
to protect their faces from the biting
cold.”

“ That settles it, sir.”

“ I pretended not to notice the masks.”

“ And you guided them to Yellow Dust,
Mr. Cody? ”

“ Yes, twenty-five of them, for two per-
ished with the cold before we reached
there.” -

“ You found out who they were, then? "

“I did not stop at the Golden Arms,
where they all went, but rode to Sule
Ross’s cabin and got some supplies be-
fore going on.”

“ You took chances to go on.”

“I knew where I could halt in Cave
Canyon for the night and be that far on
my way, for, after meeting those men, I
dared not go out of Yellow Dust with
supplies, as I at first thought of doing,
not to have you wait so long.

“ I made the ride to the fort all right,
though but for these shelters on the
way i would never have gotten there, and
I killed my two horses in doing so."

“ No other man would have gone
through," said Boyd, earnestly.

“ Well, few are as tough as I am, and
can stand as much cold.

“But to those men? ”

“Well, sir? ” V

“I took particular pains to jot down
each face in my memory."

“ Ah! ”

“Of course, they were all muffled up,
head and ears, so I could not tell the
color of their hair, even.

“ But I noted their eyes and what dis-
tinguishing marks I could, their voices
and horses, and I am sure I could pick
a fourth of them out without trouble.

“The others I will have to make sure
of in some other way.”

“Do you intend to try, to find them
out, sir? ”

“ I intend to spot each and every man.

“ If they drove you out as outlaws, they'
must be hunted down as wholesale mur-
derers, for they have caused the death of
over half your band.

“They did not fight you openly, man-
fully, but sought, Indian like, to murder
you by the most cruel torture.

“I saved their lives, so I have a hold
upon them, and each one of that band I
shall know and bring to justice.”

Buffalo Bill spoke in a manner that
showed he was deeply moved.

He had entered upon the trail of Justice
with a Will to reach its end.

Boyd Bernard at once arose, and,
stretching fortih his hand, said:

“Mr. CodY, the cause that you have
taken upon yourself to champion in
the name of justice is our cause, and, all
revenge aside. We make you our leader,
for, as an officer 0f the army, you cannot
lead simply an avenging crusade; but
we will aid yon, and what you can and
will accomplish will be far more than
avenging our wrongs.”

thoroughly acquainted

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“I accept the charge, men, and I say
woe be unto those who perpetrated the
foul wrong upon you!” .

“ And I not only say Amen to this,
Cody, but I am with you on this trail to
stay to see the bitter end, for such a
crime shall not go unwhipped of justice,
no, not against an Indian should it,"
declared Frank Powell, who had sat an
attentive listener to all that had been
said, and whose whole sympathy was
with the wretched remnant of the band
of Blue Belts, be their sins in the past
what they. might.

 

CHAPTER XXVIlI.
A new) Vicx'rriuc.

Buffalo Bill proved to be a good weath-
er prophet, for the wind begun to howl
mournfully during the night, and when
morning came a first-class blizzard was
in full progress.

The wind was blowing at a seventy-
mile-an—hour force, the snow was famil-
ing in blinding sheets, and the animals
in the former cabin had cause to con-
gratulate themselves that their masters
had moved to other quarters.

The scout was out early to look to

their comfort, they were led to water,‘

then fed, and the shanty closed to the
piercing tempest and intruding snow.

In the cabin the fire blazed cheerily
and over and over again the Blue Belts
thanked Buffalo Bill for his thoughtful—
ness for them. ,

“ I believe we would have had a hard
tune in the shanty, though we were «so
muchbetter, by contrast, with what we
had suffered we did not know how ‘bad
it was,” said Burt Boyd. \

The driving and insinuating snow
quickly showed the menwhere the weak
points of the new cabin were, and they

.r soon had them remedied.
"‘A good breakfast followed, and then

rig; .

there was nothing to do but talk away
the long, long, weary day.

Surgeon Powell had killed a couple of
wild turkeys the day before; a deer,
and, several of the men had caught a
large string of fish, so that fresh edibles
were plentiful. - - . I

The fury of the stem soon blew itself
out, the snow ceasing to fall before night,
and the wind going down by dawn‘of the
next da)’.

After a look at the heavens Buffalo
Bill decided to start, as soon as he had

V I ' taken a short round with Surgeon Powell

after game.
A mule was taken along, and in an
hour they returned with several tine

deer and other game, for it would be
“'vsome‘iittie time before the best off of the

Blue Belts would be able to hunt for
themselves.

The wounds of the men were-given a
good treatment and fresh dressing by

" Surgeon Powell, who gave orders just

what to do when he was gone, and, after

* .y  “early dinner, the two brave men
 'b'ade good-by to the Blue Belts, and,

mounting their horses, started on their
trail back to the fort, the mules in lead-
ing.

 _, The Blue Belts stood under the shelter

  :«.'-‘_.Then our secret

  

 7  the front of their cabin, watching
t U‘Wfigvgfld-t’he Scout ride down the
canyon", ram j  mi: cheers as
long as they‘oo‘n   .1
“When next Humidor lit-eons” here,

comrades, he will have  ‘ I
must come out, he , . 3

Dust City and discovered much: ' '

must be told all.

"Heaven, grant that in rescuing us’

'no harm befall him. but Vehad no

friends in Yellow Dust City, not one
whom we could call upon to aid him if

' ‘he needed it, and in that camp they are
x nempeoter of persons."

So said. Captain. Boyd, as the two
friends disappeared from sight. and his
 eras implied that there was a secret to
,* one that Buffalo Bill must be told
be next visited the winter camp

. ‘l

' "Bib-Blue Belts. '  ,
‘~'  i h ,

 
 

 

ing full well that it was little less than
a. life and death struggle back to the
fort. .

They did not spare their horses, for the
cold was intense, and they wished to
reach the shelter of the pines for their
night camp, where they had camped on
their way to succor the outlawed band.

They saw night coming on rapidly, but
were near their camping place, and
reached it at sunset.

The best that could be done to she]-
ter themselves and their horses was done,
but it was anumcomfortable night for
man and beast alike, and all seemed glad
when the start at dawn was begun.

The weather was not settled, the wind
blew half a gale, and. lowering clouds
were gathering, so that it was with a
sigh of relief that Buffalo Bill and Sur—
geon Powell reached the old stockade
cabin at nightfall.

Out of the cabin went yelping a pack of
coyotes, and Buffalo Bill said humanely:

“I dislike to see even those coyotes
forced out into such a night as this.”

The snow was already falling, and Sur-
geon POWell remarked:

“ Yes, how they stand it I do not know;
but there is not room inside for the
coyotes and ourselves, Bill.”

“ Hardly.”

The horses felt well satisfied in their
snug shelter, and their masters were well
content over their pipes, after having en-
joyed a good supper, the very howling
of the storm outside making them feel
the more comfortable.

“ How is it outside, Bill? ” asked Sur-
geon Powell, when Buffalo Bill looked out
the next morning.

“ Bad, Frank, and growing worse. I
would not be surprised if this blizzard
held on for days, and, as we have none
too much provisions, and the cattle are
eating their last meal of grain, I say risk
it to the fort.” -

“ You are the guide, and you made it in
a worse storm than this." ‘ ‘

“ Under worse circumstances, for I was
well-nigh used up then, andalone. We
can make it, though this is no blizzard
any man wishes to be out in, though we
have. the storm at our back, fortunately.”
‘ “ Beforeit was in your face? "

‘f Yea” ,

Half an hour, after the start was made
in the bitter storm. ‘ ' 1; .

 

CHAPTER XXIX. ‘
THE ".KING or THE ismzznmx“

Only sashort distance had been made
when both Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Pow-
ell realized that it would have been bet-
ter to have put up with scant provisions
and discomforts for a few days at the
stockade cabin than to have made the
daring venture to reach the fort.

From the direction the storm came
both knew that it was good to last sev-
eral days, perhaps a week.

It seemed to increase in violence each
hour, and to find the way required the

boldest nerve and an iron determination

not to give up.

Riding up alongside his pard, Surgeon
Powell said.

“ This is awful, Bill."

“ It is, indeed, sir.
cold? ”

“ Not uncomfortably so;-but the ques-
tion in,'»’can we stand it to keep on? "

Are you very

are ooldj'vlzith-urn back”.-
reply;  ,. I Vi, , . I . ,.
The plain‘was'at last reached, :the‘bear-
ing taken by compass; and Buffalo Bill
and the surgeon :changed ‘fifrom. their
horses to the largest, strongest of the
mules. ' ' A I
The other animals were then lashed
together, two by two, and Surgeon Pow-
ell said that he would lead all, while
Buffalo Bill devoted .himseli wholly to
the duty of guiding, and that was a hur—
culean task in itself. ‘
0 ‘ y we
do

   

'  ff Yea; Cody, escorting Generfl
L and his daughter from Yellow Dust G

-  Merriam ®;.Bill',’iW%;1h9§iutcky. Vim” ‘ b

the Blizzard is our guide",

 

nyvthe ‘D

Suddenly, when about half way across,
he halted.

“ See there! "

“A fresh trail, by Heaven! Not half
an hour old. I know it.” '

“Not so long as that, and a large
one—fully a. score of horses.”

“ Where can they be going? "

“ They don’t know; they are lost.”

“ We can overtake them? ”

“Yes, easily.”

“ Then we will do just that."

“Yes, even if they were Indians."

“ But they are not.” ,

“ No, iron-shod hoofs made those
tracks, not Indians‘ ponies.” ’

“ We may lose our lives; but, their, it
is duty.” ‘

“ Yes, we must take the risk.” ,
Buffalo Bill turned off after the trail,
and soon saw that it was going at 1am "
dom. ‘ '

“They are going in a circle, Frank,
and death would end it before long.”
He quickened his pace, and in a short
while gave a loud whoop. ;
“Try it again, Bill, for this storm
roars so a voice does not go very (an,
even your trumpet tones.” -  '
Again a whoopand another and 311- ~
other, as they rode along, until Surgeon ”, .
Powell felt about his muffled fern} and
drew forth a revolver. Then six‘shots
were quickly fired." V * ,.
A moment after came several
ing shots. ‘ . l _- 
Buffalo Bill pressed on with another.
loud whoop, Surgeon Powell following,
and also sending his ‘v‘oice- echoingf
through the storm.  j I. I
A few minutes more and they 
upon a strange sight ~ . 
A party of twenty cavalrymen were"'
grouped together in a circle. ‘ ‘ = .
In their midst were several others, so ,
closely muffled as to be almost 11an
nizable, yet Buffalo Bill saw that-the
horse of one bore the saddle of a general-
officer, that of the other had a weapons”;
side saddle. I ' “ 6%
At sight of the scout, in spite of‘hi's
wrappings, he was recognized, and a
voice shouted: , ‘ a, 
“General, here is Buffalo-,3 "
We are saved now, for he is the ,_
the Blizzard! " " ‘ .
The soldiers gave three cheers, 
Buffalo Bill called out: . _  
‘ “ Why, Captain Adams, is; it 37611?

 

  
    
 
    
  
 
 
    
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
     
 
 

is

  
  
   
   
  
  
  
       
   
   
  
  
  
 
 
    
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
 

to the fort.
“ We had one of your men, , '
Bowles, as a guide, but he got bewi
went ahead to try andiind his way
we gave him up fer lost, so pushed
and here we are. ' ~. ”
“But you can save us, Gody?"".‘_
there was something pleading in I " V
of Captain Adams, as he,  ,_
the young girl seated in‘ er and 
eyes fixed upon the scout, as her; other
tried to reassure her that now '
would be .all right, for the ""'
scout of the plains, and whomithe
had just named the King of th
zard, would guide them.  V , ,
" I will do what I can, Cap "n ‘ H
but not a moment is to be lost.”
“ There comes Surgeon Powell,
and if'your men will take the 
leading, howill'g'o with me 
“Come, sir,b this is mil- 
for life he 5 ya very s en er
‘ ’  as this?“ '9  '

 

      
        
 
     

  

  

captain, cheerfully, just ass"
ell rode up. . * 

 

    
 
 
      
 
  
     

 
 

CHAPTER :6 _.

BETWEEN LIFE ANEYW‘,

Buffalo Bill was  by

Adams to General 351‘! h. .
ter, both or wheat ._  mall. 

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

 

risking his life to aid a snowbound party
in the Death Valley Mountains.

The general had started late upon a
tour of inspection, and had reached Gold
Dust City in the last coach that came
through that far.

Colonel Lennox had been expecting
him, and Captain Adams had gone with
an ambulance and twenty men to escort
him to the fort, as it was known that his
daughter would accompany him.

With the blizzards coming on nearly a
month ahead of time, the general had
been caught on the trail, but, unable to
turn back, had continuedon to Yellow
Dust City, and there found Captain
Adams.

It was decided to push right on to the
fort, Miss May Easton going on horse-
back, as ambulances were out of the
question, the captain having been un—
able to bring his through.

It was rough traveling all the way, but
a deserted miners’ camp off the trail,
and known to scout Bowles, had been
reached the first night, and fairly com—
fortable quarters found.

The start had been made early in the
storm, and at last Scout Bowles, as many
a good and skilled guide has done, got
bewildered, lost his way, tried to find it,
and could not get back.

Then the party had pushed on to cross
the plain, and had gotten irrevocably lost
when found by Buffalo Bill and Surgeon
POWell. -

A few more hours and their doom
Would have been death.

Speaking decidedly, as Captain Adams
turned over to Jhim the command of the
party, Buffalo Hill said:

“Saving your lives depends a great
deal upon yourselves.

“Let every one keep alert, not give
up to the cold, keep your horses close up.

“To drop back fifty feet will be fatal,
and we cannot turn about to look for
any one.

“Wrap up warm.

“ Are you ready? ”

An affirmative answer was given, and
Buffalo Bill rode to the front.

Just behind him was Surgeon Powell,
not by his side, for he said:

"You can do best alone, Bill; but if
you want me I am right here.”

Then followed two cavalrymen with
the led horses and mules to help break
the way, and Captain Adams‘s men fol-
}owed, then the general and ‘his daughter.

Captain Adams brought up the rear
to see that there would be no straggling
of a half—frozen man from the line.

“How that man Cody finds his way is
a puzzle to me.

“It seems as though we were simply
going into an impenetrable snowbank,”
called back the general to Captain
Adams, who answered:

“He is a mystery to all who know
him in all that he does, sir.

“ He has a compass, but one would be
about as much use to me now as a fog-
horn."

On, on, through the pitiless, driving
snow, the screeching, terrible wind, and
the banking drifts went Buffalo Bill.

Bent low in his saddle, one muffled
hand grasping the little compass, upon
which his eyes were fixed, the other hold-
ing the reins, his spurs against the flanks

'of the large and powerful mule he be-

strode, to keep him up to his work, the
determined guide held on.

An hour passed, and the staggering,
hard-pressed animals were cruelly feel-
ing the strain.

But they all followed their leader.

The men, bent low, muffled from head
to feet, yet half-benumbed'wltuh cold, sat
in their saddles, each face hard drawn
and stern, each gaze striving hard to
pierce the cloudsof white ahead, hop-
ing for the sight of the wooded ridge
tihey were striving to' reach.

Was Buffalo Bill wrong,
dered, as the time went on.

Was the King of the Blizzard at fault?

Would they ever reach the goal?

Wiould the warm blood ever corms
through their benumbed veins again?

they won—

w... d

. “5‘1"”: '

 

How they thought, how they hoped,
and longed and suffered.

Silent, with only a word now and
then in cheery tones to the men not to
give up, the brave daughter of a brave
soldier sat in her saddle, looking any-
thing like U118 lovely girl and graceful
form she. was, enveloped in blankets and
bear robes.

Stern and fearful, not for himself, but
for his daughter and the men, General
Easton rode by her side, while, with a
dheery call to his soldiers from time to
time, the never—despairing and dashing
Captain Charlie Adams brought up the
rear.

Next to the indomitable guide rode
Frank Powell, his stern voice now and
then heard in a word of cheer to the
men.

An hour went by, then another hour,
and all knew that the ridge must be
near, if Buffalo Bill was right.

If Buffalo Bill was wrong, all equally
well knew that death was near.

Another ten minutes and a shadowy
mass appeared ahead.

“We have crossed the plain.

“ The range is ahead of us,” said Buf—
falo Bill, in tones as modest as though
he had not proven himself a hero, the
King of the Blizzard, indeed.

But, tlhe men had heard, and a wild
yell rose on the roar of the storm, and
tears dimmed many eyes, freezing as
they fell. .

 

CHAPTER XXXl.
THE

A halt was made, but only for a mo-
ment; Buffalo Bill had struck the ridge;
but he wished to see by his surroundings
just where.

A moment’s glance showed him, and
he moved on along the range.

A short ride, and he turned into the
footlhills, overgrowu with cedars, which
protected all from the knifelike cutting
of the wind.

A few moments more and they entered
a. narrow canyon, where was a small
stream, but was now frozen hard.

Under the lee of a cliff there was no
snow, the cedars grew thick, dead
branches and logs lay about, and Buffalo
Bill sprang from his saddle, calling out:

“(lather wood, men, and quickly.

“ Come, don‘t be snails.”

The order was needed, for the half-
frozen men moved about with difficulty.

A fire was soon kind-led, tilien another
and another, the scout going from one to
the other, while Surgeon Powell urged
on some of the men in gathering wood,
others in cutting holes in the ice and
getting water to put on to boil, and also
where their horses could drink.

The horses were led into the thicket,
watered, blanketed, and given a feed of
grain.

Coffee pots were on boiling, steaks of
venison were broiling, also bacon, and
crackers were warming.

The men began to get thawed.

At a fire apart and well sheltered, May
Easton was enjoying the scene, for she
was not as cold as the others, so warmly
had she been wrapped.

Captain Adams came soon with a sol—
dier, and her father and herself were
given a good meal.

But all could see that Buffalo Bill was
anxious to be on the way once more.

The battle against the blizzard was
not yet over. r

There must be still another desperate
fight.

None knew better than Buffalo Bill
what those twelve miles meant.

He saw that the storm was increasing
momentarily in fury.

Calling to Surgeon Powell he said:

“We must get off, Frank."

“Yes, time is precious."

“ If we had been out an hour longer on
that plan nalf the men and horses would
have died.”

“ I feared it all the while."

“We have yet a desperate struggle, for
the storm is increasing." .

l-.\.\”l' S'l‘lil'ilillil‘}.

 

 7 fix..- ‘gggq; e-x"n.a§\< -

“ Yes, but how far off is the trail? ”

“ I can get into it in a ride of a quar-
ter of a mile.”

“ Good!

“But few would ever reach the fort,
if any, bad it not been for this halt,
hot coffee, food, and thawing out.”

“You are right, it saved the outfit;
but what a nervy girl that is! ”

“ Game, indeed, and her father has
shown great pluck, for he must suffer for
her greatly."

“ lie does, and Captain Charlie Adams
is one in a thousand. He deserves pro-
motion for this trail."

“ He does, indeed, and he is likely to
get it, for he wins his way up.”

“Well, I‘ll give the order to get ready
now, so pour hot coffee down the outfit,
Miss Easton included."

The cups of hot coffee were taken, the
horses led up, blankets warmed, and
Mary Easton was bundled up until she
could hardly grasp her reins or-see out of
her mufilings.

The roll of blankets Buffalo Bill and
Surgeon Powell carried were opened and
spread around, for they were the best
prepared of all for the blizzard, and at
the order of the scout they all mounted,
saw that there were no “sneak holes”
for the penetrating winds, and the start
was made in the same order as before.

The men saw Buffalo Bill ride to the
front in the same confident way as be-
fore, and when he turned into the regu-
lar trail he showed that he knew what
he was about.

011, on, he went, guided by the sur-
roundings he caught sight of from time
to time when the trail could not be seen.

They progressed but slowly, and all
knew that night would overtake them be-
fore reaching the fort.

Would the King of the Blizzard fail
them then?

On they struggled, and the storm still
increased in fury.

Soon the scout halted.

“ Pass back this line and make fast to
every horse.

“ Night is upon us now, and there
must be no hanging back! "

Such was the stern order of the guide,
and then he moved ahead once more.

Darkness fell, and soon the form of
Buffalo Bill could not be seen, for but
a few paces about them could the men
see.

Still on went the King of the Blizzard.

“ God knows how he finds the way,"
muttered the general, and from the muf-
fled form by his side came the fervently
uttered words:

“ God guide him! ”

Behind now and then came the cheery
Voice of Captain Adams:

“Courage, men! Never fear, for night
or day are alike to the King of the Bliz—
zard! ”

“ Are we lost? " was the question upon
every lip, and soon it was announced by
Buffalo Bill:

“ The lights of the fort are in sight! "

Such a cry as came from despairing
men suddenly given hope for life was
never before uttered!

The lights of the fort Were ahead, soon
visible to every eye, and seen by the al—
most dying horses, too, they struggled
on with renewed hope.

But Buffalo Bill had dashed on ahead,
and loud rang his voice at the stockade
gate:

“ Ho, within there! Open qui0k, in the
name of humanity! '

“I am Buffalo Bill! ”

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
BUFFALO BILL‘S TRIUMPH.

The ringing voice of the scout without
startled the sentinel upon the fort wall,
where he was crouching in his sentry
fox, for orders had been given that the
men should seek that shelter during the
storm.

No fear whatever was felt from the
redskins, for what human being could
faicedfuch a. tempest of cold, snow, and
w n .v

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. 17

 

 

The voice of the scout was recognized,
though the sentinel, who had gone on
post only two hours before could scarce
believe his ears, and he called lustily for
the corporal of the guard.

' The guard turned out with a rush,

wondering at the call, and was greeted.

with the startling information:

“ Buffalo Bill is calling loudly at the
main entrance for admittance!”

The gates swung open just as the
party rode up, and the voice of Captain
Adams was heard:

“ It is General Easton and escort, ser-
geant! "

“Ay, ay, sir, and God bless you all
that you got here; but it's Buffalo B111
did it!" replied the sergeant.

“Yes, Buffalo Bill found us lost and
guided us here, sergeant.

“ No other man could have done it,”
called back Captain Adams, as he fol—
lowed the scout and Surgeon Powell on
toward headquarters.

Captain Adams dismissed his men, save
those leading the pack animals with the
general’s baggage, with order to get un-
der shelter with all haste and report to
the hospital. '

Then he escorted the general and Miss
Easton on to the quarters of Colonel
Lennox, whither Buffalo Bill had rapidly
ridden and announced their coming, so
that there would be no delay.

“I will go on with you, Bill, to  if
the general or that poor girl need my
aid,” said Surgeon Powell.

It was a surprise, indeed, to Colonel
Lennox to welcome the general ‘in such
a blizzard, and he asked vigorously:

“In God’s name, how did you make
it? ”

“Through that noble fellow's aid, But-
i‘alo Bill, whom Captain Adams justly
calls the King of the Blizzard," answered
the general, and he turned to thank the
smut, but he was gone.

“ We owe much to you, also, Surgeon
l'owell,” he said.

“I have remained, sir, to report my
return, with Cody‘s, to Colonel Lennox,
and to see if either yourself or Miss
Baston need my aid? ”

“My dear Powell, you need aid as
much as we do, so quickly go to your
quarters, and see to it that Buffalo Bill
is cared for, too.

“If either myself or daughter need
medical aid, we will call in your assist-
ant to thaw us out, only let him look
after you and the men first, not forget-
ting you, Captain Adams, though you did
really so enjoy the blizzard."

As Miss Easton had already been taken
in charge by Mrs. Lennox, and the gen-
eral was in good hands, Surgeon Powell
and Captain Adams left for their quar-
ters.

Their first duty, however, was to see
that the men had been properly cared
for, and it was found that Bull’alo B111
had already gone on the rounds, and re—
ported that about two—thirds of the sol—
diers were badly fi‘ostbittcn, several of
them dangerously so, while nearly all
of the horses would be of little use after
their game and desperate fight for life.

“I am cold, yes, clear to my bones,
but a hot drink has already helped, and
I’ll soon be all right,” said Buffalo Bill,
as he sat in Surgeon Powell’s comfort-
able quarters.

“Well, Bill, you are about the tough-
est pine knot 1 know, for I confess that
I am about used up; but you rode on
ahead, with the weight of twenty-four
lives on your shoulders, One a young girl,
and not to speak of your own; and new}:
once ilinched from the appalllng ordeal-

“I dared not.

“There was too much at stake.

“But did you see what I dld as We
reached the trail?”

“You saw him, then? ”

C! Yes.,l

“I thought that you did; but I sup—
pose you said nothing for the same rea-
son that I did.”

" Not to demoralize the men. or shock
Miss Easton. Yes.”

K , . "I 1'1  1'

 

“My horse was almost upon him when
I saw him lying in the snow.

“ Not ten feet from him lay his horse,
also dead.”

“ It was poor Bowles, of course? ”

“Yes, he had found the trail, but too
late, for 'his horse no doubt went down,
and he could do nothing, so laid down
to die.

“I’ll go after the poor fellow's body
to-morrow."

“You’ll do nothing of the kind, if this
storm keeps up, Bill, and I believe that
it will.”

“But the coyotes will eat him, and—"

“No coyote will move out of his den
such weather as this.

“Send your scouts out if the storm
breaks, for go yourself you shall not, as
you seem to forget that you wish to go
to Yellow Dust City as soon as you can
get. there, and you need rest, or the next
thing will be William F. Cody dead in
the snow.”

“ What. the King of the Blizzard freeze
to death, Frank?” asked Buffalo Bill,
with a smile.

“It might be; but, joking aside, you
rest for a few days, if you wish to go to
Yellow Dust, for if you do not lay by I'll
have the colonel order you not to leave
the fort.”

" l'll obey orders,” was the smiling re-
ply, and folding his stormcoat about
him, Buffalo Bill went over to his own
quarters, and was welcomed by his com-
pany of scouts.

The joy at their chief's return was
dampened when told that their comrade,
Bowlers, lay dead in the snow some ten
miles from the fort.

Once warmed through, with a blazing
fire on the broad hearth of his little
cabin, Buffalo Bill turned in to seek the
rest he so greatly needed and so Well
had earned.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
’l‘llli Mixicits'

For days longer the bitter winds blew
and hail and snow drove over the land,
blocking all trails and keeping all in-
doors save tihose whom garrison duty
forced to face the dread storm without,
and the party sent to bring in Scout
Bowles’s body for burial.

General Easton and May were not
much the worse for their appalling ex-
perience, and the former said that he
would return to Yellow Dust the moment
that it was possible for him to do so.

The coaches always ran through the
winter, when it was possible to do so, and
the plains below Yellow Dust were not
often blocked with show, so that he
could easily reach the next post, once he
got to the mining camps.

Duty demanded his presence else-
where, and he determined to make the
venture, if, as he said, Buffalo Bill would
lead the party.

The scout was sent for by Colonel Len-
nox and questioned upon the possibilities
of the ride, and said he was sure such a
storm, so early in the season, would be
followed by milder weather.

Arrangements were therefore made
for the return, the scout suggesting that
the start be made in the afternoon, and a
night halt made at the stockade cabin,
which the men could readily put in con-
dition, for there were half a dozen rooms
in the old fort.

The next night a halt would be made
at Cave Canyon, where all would be
again sheltered, and Miss Easton could
be made comfortable.

This was the plan, and the start was
made the day after the blizzard ceased.

“ I may remain some little time, Frank,
but if I need you I will find a way of
getting you word,”rsaid Buffalo Bill.

Riding on more rapidly than the
escort, which was again under the com-
mand of Captain Adams, Buffalo Bill
took with him half a dozen soldiers, and
when the party arrived at the stockade
all was ready for them.

The next. day Cave Canyon was made,
with a long halt at noon, and a, tent

Itl‘lt‘lil’TlON.

'» sew .   ,  . o

 

carried by a pack horse was pitched for
Miss Easton, the general sharing a
cavern with the men.

It was noon when, the day following,
the party rode up to the Golden Arms,
Buffalo Bill having again gone on ahead
to have all in readiness for the distin-
guished visitors to the minng camp.

Colonel Camp was wild with excite-
ment at the coming of Miss Easton, and
did all in his power, as he said:

“ To make her feel that she was really.
in her own home.”

To the “Colonel’s” regret, however,
and the delight of General Easton and
his daughter, it had been decided to send
a stage out that afternoon, a six-mule
sled having been sent over the trail to
break the way, where it was needed, and
returning reported all clear.

May Easton was glad of the chance
to get a look at wild life in a mining"
camp, and yet she was soon satisfied with
her experience.

Like wildfire the news of her coming
had spread, and as a young and pretty
girl was a rara avis that seldom lighted
in Yellow Dust City, every miner in the
camps, every hanger-011, and those of
every other calling was most anxious to
see her.

They “cleaned up,” and in their best
toilets were soon on the run for the
Golden Arms, and a request was made
that Miss Easton would come out and
just take a look at the boys, which really
meant that they should 'have a peep at.
her.

May accepted with a smile, and made
her appearance, with her father and Cap—
tain Adams.

The shout that greeted her made her
shrink, but she blushed deeply, and
bowed to the compliment of one honest
fellow, who crialz

“Yer is t-her prettiest gal I ever seen.”

A cheer of approval greeted this, and
then the colonel came to announce din‘
ner.

It was the best dinner ever served in
the Golden Arms, and was well enjoyed.

Then the stage was announced, and
preparations were made for the start,
for thirty miles were to be made that
afternoon, for a halt at night at a stock-
tender‘s cabin, where there was accom-
modation for travelers.

“I am glad you are to go on the box,
Bob White," said Buffalo Bill, recogniz-
ing the driver who was to take the coach
out, as _an old soldier and ,plainsman,
and one who could handle the reins with
any man of the Overland Trail.

“And I wish you were going along,
too, Bill, for I don’t like some whispering
I have seen among several of the bad
ones in this camp, for it is thought the
old general has money."

“Say nothing about it, Bob, and don’t
worry,” 'was Buffalo Bill’s reply, and,
somehow, Bob White seemed perfectly
satisfied-with it.

Soon after the general and his daugh-
ter came out, good-bys were said, the
father and daughter warmly pressing the
scout’s hand at parting, and at a signal
from Colonel Camp, the landlord, Bob
White mounted his box and the coach
rolled away, drawn by a team of sir. flne
horses.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHIN-CHIN JIM.

Buffalo Bill’s eyes had been busy when
he arrived in Yellow Dust City. He
was trying to recall faces.

He did recall a number which he had
seen before, and was sitting those he had
111% inCidentally on former visits to Yel—
low Dust City from those he believed
he had guided over a night trail through
a storm when life was at stake.

The fact that no one had yet referred
to that ride was a surprise to him. but
he had something on his mind that wor-
ried him more.

It was what Bob White, the stage
driver, had said to him.

“ Captain Adams, you intend to remain
here until to—morrow before starting

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

back, I believe? ” the scout remarked, as
the coach drove up. “May I ask you to
do me a favor, sir?”

“ Certainly.”

“Will you start now, saying you will
go to Cave Canyon to—night? ”

“ Why, yes; yet I don’t see the reason.
for I am glad enough to get a night in
camp here."

“True, sir; but the reason is that I
believe a storm will set in before three
days, and it would be Well to be near
the fort when it begins."

“ I have no fear with you along, Cody.”

“ But I am not to return with you, sir."

(6  ))

“Lem Todd will carry you back all
right, sir, and I brought him along for
that purpose."

“He is a good scout, Cody; but why
do you remain?”

“ I wish to do so on a little matter of
business, captain, whicn i cannot ex-
plain now, sir."

“ You know best, and I will of course,
leave this afternoon, especially as you
do not go with us.”

“ Now to the other reason, sir.”

“ Ah, yes; there were two, you said.”

“I don’t exactly like several move-
ments _I have seen here, and 1 will fol-
low the coach, for I deem it impor-
tant.” .

“ Then I should do so by all means.”

“ It would be useless, sir, for did you
have with you men no move would be
made against the coach.”

“ But you? " ,

“Will leave the camp. with you, sir,
on the Fort Trail, cut across with you,
sir, and several men to the Stage Trail,
when several miles out from here, and
be ready to aid if aid is needed.”

“ Yes, that is all right."

“ If an attack is made on the coach,
sir, it will be within twenty miles of
this camp, for men will not remain out
at night this weather, and they would
wish to get back or to some retreat they
know of.

“ By starting at once, sir, we can soon
be on their trail, cutting across, as I said,
from the Fort Trail, and the work done,

I can guide you across to the Cave Can~~

yon to-night."

“Cody, I am! in your hands, so say
what you wish and I’ll give the orders.”

“Then tell the colonel that fearing
bad weather you have decided to start at
once.” - .

“ I’ll do it.”

The colonel looked sad, indeed, when
he learned of the intention of Captain
Adams, and when the bugler sounded
the bugle to call the soldiers, all the
men of the camp within hearing came on
the jump.

The result was a crowd about the G01-
den Arms as large almost as had been
there a short while before to see May
Easton.

As most of them had gone off simply
to “ take something,” they had not get-
ten very far away, for it was, as is
always the case with men at a bar, a
case of “repeat.”

When the crowd learned that the sol-
diers were to return at once to the fort,
fearing another storm, and that Buffalo
Bill was to accompany them, there was
considerable excitement, quick consulta-
tion, and then, as the cavalry came to
the front, mounted for the march, one
of the men, known as a rather hard
citizen, but possessing oratorical powers,
suddenly shouted for order.

Order was instantaneous, and every eye
Was upon “ Chin-Chin Jim.”

Now, Chin-Chin Jim was not a Chi-
uee, by any means, as his name might in-
dicate, but an out and out borderman.

His “jaw music” and “ tongue wag,"
as it was expressed in Yellow Dust City,
had given him his name.

When there was a ‘SDeeCh to make.
Chin-Chin Jim was called uvon. -

At burials be breached the sermon as
eloquently over a dead desperado as over
the best man in camp.

{v.31 ;- ,y.

 

He possessed a sonorous, musical voice,
and all liked to hear him talk.

In fact, in shooting scrapes the cry
was frequently heard:

" Look out there! Don‘t hit Chin—Chin
Jim by mistake! ” ,

As Jim was generally around when
there was a. row, he spent much of his
time in dodging bullets.

lie sang well, accompanying himself
on the guitar; played the violin, could
bring tears to the eyes of his audience
in preaching a funeral sermon, but those
who thought that Chin-Chin Jim was
not a devil at heart didn't know him.

He played poker to win, but never for
big money; he drank liquor from love
of it, but never got drunk, and when
cornered he had fought, shooting to kill.

Such was the man who had suddenly
called the miners of Yellow Dust “ to or-
der.”

 

CHAPTER XXXV.
nonmcn anooi'uxt'ic.

" Order! Order!" shouted Chin—Chin
Jim although the crowd had become per-
fectly quiet at his first call.

But Jim wished to be sure that the
attention of all was riveted upon him.

“ Gentlemen, I has a few words to
say, and a vote of thanks ter give ter
one who is most desarvin’."

The crowd looked at each other in
wonder, as to where the lightning was
going to strike. I

“I wishes them gallant Boys in Blue,
led by ther dashingist of capt’ins in ther
army ter hear what I has ter say, fer
ef it don’t consarn them individual like,
it do consarn one of the greatest of hu-
mans in whom they holds an interest."

Captain Adams could not give the order
to march after this.

“It were ther intention of some of
our beloved, called tergether on this
mournful occasion—why, d— it, pards,
I'm off ther trail onter a funeral sarmon
—I means ter say thet it were ther in-
tention of a number of more or less re-
spected pilgrims of Yellow Dust City ter
call acaucus fer ter-night in the c-olonel’s
game saloon, fer Iter do honor to a man
of whom we feels proud tcr hev in our
midst, a. man as stands rig in this coun-
try and is known to the crowned heads
far and wide in ther countries of Eu-
rope, Asia, and Africa.

“But circumstances which we galoots
can’t allus control has broke in upon us,
and our plans fer ter-night’s jubilee hev
faded as doth the flower thet is had hit by
ther frosted breath of ther howlin‘ bliz-
zard of ther Rockies.

“ What has downed us in this are par—
ticular is the fact that we can't hev all
things ter please us.

“ Man groweth up like a toad-stool, and
is cut down by a mule hoof—thar I go
ag’in inter graveyard chin music.

“ But, ter continue:

“As we can‘t have ther blow-out ter—
night, with free whisky and halleyuja'hs,
I has been honered by them that wishes
ter do ther duty, ter express in public
ther feelings they has in private—hold
on thar, Buffalo Bill, for I is gittin’
enter your trail now.

“ Ther fact is, pards, a few weeks ago a
party of prospectors, thinking ter find
more gold in ther up country then was
being dug here in Yellow Dust, started
out on a venture.

“ But beware of ther glitter of gold, my
pards!

“Ther gold war not; ther trail was
lost; ther snows they descended and did
beat upon them poor mortals, until they
war almost froze.

“ They did wilt as ther flower; ther
food give out, and lo! and behold! they
war like ther lost lambs of Israel, be-
set with death.

“Then, suddenly, like a beacon to
their mariner on ther seas, come a man
on horseback inter ther camp.

“ Thar he be, gents! He sitteth upon
his horse before you all.

“ It was Buffalo Bill!

' . ._‘H,.'v';'yy"dfl.-y

 

“He did come to them poor lost coy-
otes of Israel; he did bid them to follow
him, and he would lead them to ther
Promised Land.

“Through darkness and despair,
through wind and snow, never failing, he
led them on.

“One fell by the wayside, a corpse.

“I preached his funeral discourse, you
remember, and brought loving tears inter
ther eyes of pilgrims, tears thet froze as
they fell, fer it were dead cold, yer all
remember.

“ Another fell by ther wayside, and I
buried him, too, but ther cold froze my
eloquence.

“But on went Buffalo Bill, straight—
no, it’s a zigzag trail, but poetically
speaking, straight as ther arer flies to
ther heart of a dove, until he reached
the sheltering embrace of the Golden
Arms.

“ There the poor, frozen pilgrims found
rest, warmth, and shelter, out the hero
who had saved them, waiting for no
thanks, pushed on where duty. called
him.

“Now, pards, it is ther pleasure of
this meeting ter give ter Buffalo Bill a.
vote of thanks, and ter lay before him a.
golden offering, this bag of gold dust,
which ther men he saved wishes him to
accept, ter do with as he will.”

Yells that were deafening followed
this specimen of Chin-Chin Jim’s elo-
qence, hats were thrown into the air,
revolvers fired, and the name of Buffalo
Bill resounded from hundreds of lips.

The scout’s face was pale, rather than
flushed. His eyes burned brightly, but a
stern look hovered about his mouth rath-
er than one of deep gratitude for the
vote of thanks and the gift of gold.

He took off his broad sombrero, how-
ever, and bowed to the crowd 'his thanks;
then he rode up to where Chin-Chin
Jim stood on the piazza, the bag of gold
in his hand, and said:

“I thank you, pard, for your very
complimentary allusions to myself, and
through you those who have extended
to me this valuable gift; but what I did
was only duty to fellow-men in dis—
tress, and in the line of duties I am ex—
pected to render.

“The Government pays me for my
services, and I have never been guilty of
taking pay for a human life, so I will not
do so now, save to hand over to Colonel
Camp, Storekeeper Sule Ross, and Mina
Carl Camp this bag of gold, which they
can devote as a fund to aid poor unfort-
unates who need it far more than I do.”

He did not touch the bag, and the
colonel, Sule Ross, and Carl Waring.
standing near, stepped forward at his call
and took it in charge, amid the wild
shouts of the crowd.

Again lifting his hat, Buffalo Bill
drew his horse back to the head of the
troop, and said in a low tone:

“ I am ready, Captain Adams. We
have already lost too much precious
time.”

“What a remarkable scene, Cody!
This is a land of wonders," was the cap-
tain’s answer, and he gave the order to
march, and the troop -went off at a trot
that increased in speed as Yellow Dust
City was left further behind.

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
ox rm: STAGE TRAIL.

Down the trail rode Buffalo Bill, guid—
ing the trooper escort.

After several miles had been gone over
be halted and said:

“ Here is where we turn off, sir, for
the winding of this trail southward, and
of the stage trail northward, brings them
but three miles apart here, and there is
a narrow canyon cutting through the
range.”

“We will take it, Cody. How many
men do you wish? "

” Say half a dozen of the best mount—
ed, sir, with twenty-four hours of sup-
plies and an extra horse.”

The men were quickly‘selected, the
supplies put upon one of the pack horses,

w,

 

 

 

~ night reaching the relay where the halt

 

Bufialo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

fir”... ..- :17“...— .....~ v..._.,....._,_-

19

 

 

 

and with the sergeant in command and
Scout Lem Todd as guide, the escort
was ordered to go on to Cave Canyon for
the night.

Riding by the side of Buffalo Bill, the
half—dozen troopers following, Captain
Adams gave the order, and the push
ahead was made through the narrow
canyon.

Fortunately, the hard wind had almost
swept it clear of snow, but in places
there was a sharp, hard struggle for the
horses.

The stage trail was reached, and after
a close examination by the scout he cried:

“ They have gone by, sir.“

“ The coach? ”

“Yes, sir; but those who followed it,
also.”

“ Then we must hasten.”

“There are seven horses along, sir, as
near as I can get hold of the tracks."

“None too many for us, for we are
eight.”

“ Yes, sir, it will be easy work for us.”

“ Shall we follow?”

“ Yes, sir, and we have things our own
way, I think,” and Buffalo Bill turned
down the stage trail.

Half a dozen miles were gone over, and
then Buffalo Bill said:

“ The first relay station is not over two
miles ahead, and this is fifteen miles
from Yellow Dust.

“I do not believe the coach is a mile
from here, and the attack will be made
before it reaches the relay station—
hark! ”

All listened, and a shot was heard, not
a. quarter of a mile ahead on the trail.

“ They are at it, sir,” and Buffalo Bill
spurred on, Captain Adams by his side,
the men three abreast following.

The coach 'had meanwhile pulled along
at a good gait.

Bob White did not care to be in the

was to be made until the next morning.

Men froze quickly in such weather,
and he was anxious to get down out of
the mountain country, where the storms
were less severe, the snow did not block
the way, and he could hold on his trail.

He felt the full responsibility of his
charge.

A general and a young girl were what
did noit fall to his lot but once in a life-
time.

Bob White knew the men of Gold Dust
City, good and bad, and did not trust
those he had seen whispering together,
for he was sure they meant mischief, and
that the coach was their game.

What Buffalo Bill had said to him made
him feel more at ease, yet he was not
altogether satisfied with his lot.

To tell the general would only be to
cause him anxiety, when perhaps there
might be no real cause, only his fears.

But Bob White drove along at a good
pace. He did pot expect to be headed
off, but overtaken, and he felt sure it
would be before he reached the first re-
lay, eighteen miles from Yellow Dust.

Even for gold men would not care to
go further and risk a night out, and
with two stock tenders at the station, the
general, and himself, the outlaws would
not attack them there.

“ I'm almost there,” he muttered, as he
drove around a turn in the trail and
knew that the relay station was not two
miles awaY- "

“ Perhaps I'll make it, but maybe Buf-
1310 Bill has caught the fellows already?
That is what he meant.”

So mused Bob White as he drove along.
Then an idea flashed through his mind to
look behind him.

What he saw caused him to turn Dale.
Five men were coming at a gallop be‘
'hind him. All were so muffled up that
he could not see enough of any one of
them to recognize him.

But he knew that the ordeal was upon
hi ; so he called out to his PassengefSi

‘General, five horsemen are coming
after us, sir, and I don’t belleve they
mean any good. It won’t do to De reek-
less; but be guided by Circumstances
as to what we had best do.’

 

e g " , _ .a . V9,“), _ ,_

The general felt a chill at his heart,
such as he had never known in personal
danger. It was apprehension for his
beautiful daughter.

“I will be prepared to defend myself
and my daughter, driver,” he replied,
and got his revolvers ready.

Another glance behind showed Bob
White that the horsemen were coming
up rapidly. Their horses seemed to ha\e
been hard ridden to catch up with the
coach. _

Nearer they came, showing no weap-
ons, nor hailing him.

A'bend of the trail put them out of
sight, and Bob White was tempted to run
for it; but he knew this would be use-
less in the rough condition of the trail.

A moment after the horsemen dashed
around the bend, and as they came up
one of them called out:

“ We have had a hard ride of it, senor,
to overtake you.”

“ What for? ”

“ The colonel sent us along as an es-
cort.”

CHAPTER XXXVII.
A GIRL‘S I‘LUCK.

The general breathed more freely at
their reply; but Bob White did not.

The general had his weapons ready,
and the driver had his at hand.

The statement of the horsemen seemed
all right, but why should the colonel,
who was stage agent, become anxious
about such distinguished passengers in
such cold weather, and send men to see
that they arrived all right at the right
halting place?

“If you are all right, Bob, we’ll go
back and report,” spoke the leader, aud—
ing:

“ It‘s a bad night to be caught out in.”

“Hold on, driver, a moment," called
out the general.

Bob White drew rein and felt that he
had been wrong, after all.

“Return, my good fellows, and tell
Landlord Camp that I appreciate his
kindness and thank him.

“We are getting along all right, and
as we descend the mountains will have
less snow and cold.

“Here, warm yourselves with. this
when you return, for you will need it.”

As he spoke the general extended his
hand containing a twenty-dollar gold
piece as a return for the kindness of the
horsemen.

But the general’s hand was grasped in
a grip of steel by the man to whom he
had generously extended the gift, and a
revolver was shoved full in his lace, while
the words came threateningly:

“Move an inch and you are a dead
man! Submit and you will not be
harmed! ”

“Release my father, sir! ” came in a
clear, musical, but determined voice from
the coach, and May Easton grasped the
revolver her father had laid by his side
to get the gold coin from his pocket.

The man laughed at her words and
act, but his laugh was followed by a
shot, a cry of pain, and the man’s hand
dropped to his side, his weapon falling
from it, for the bullet had entered his
shoulder.

" Bravo, my child! Now I can take a
hand in this trouble,” cried the general,
seizing his revolver from his daughter‘s
hand. But the outlaw had dropped to
the ground from his saddle and sprung
under the coach, while he called out to
his men: .

“Unless that man submits, riddle the
coach with bulle.s, men! ” ‘

The four horsemen had slipped to the
ground on the off side of their horses,
and their rifies were leveled across their
saddles.

One rifie covered Bob White. The oth-
ers were aimed at the body of the coach.

This was a move the general had not
anticipated; yet it was just what Bob
White had feared.

Though admiring the pluck of May
Easton, he feared that it would cause
greater trouble.

““lj-a...  < -, ._ 1 a

 

Had he seen a chance of resistance,
Bob would have been the one to fight
it out; but he knew only too well that
all odds were against their success.

The general, too, realized that he was
cornered.

Men of the outlaw stripe on the Over-
land trail and its branches would com—
mit any crime for gold—would just as
soon kill as not; in fact, would prefer
to rob a dead body to a live one.

The threat to fire upon the coach meant
that his daughter would be exposed to
the fire. An old soldier, he had faced bul—
lets too often not to realize their deadli-
ness in such close quarter fire.

“Better surrender, general, for these
devils will be as good as their word,"
urged the driver.

“ It is hard, indeed, to submit to the
coward hounds.”

“ Yes, sir; but they have the odds, over
two to one. I am covered by a rifle, and
three others are aiming at the back of
the coach, sir.”

“Yes, but.—”

“ General think of your pretty daugh—
ter, sir! ”

“I will, 1—”

“ Father, do not think of me, but do as
you deem best. ,

“ Driver, we will fight it out!”

“Oh, God, what a girl!” cried Bob

White, in an outburst of admiration at‘

the pluck shown by May Easton.

But, the very nerve shown by his
daughter decided the general in his
course.

She was his only child; he was a wid-
ower; so May was all he had in the
world to love.

He would take no chances, for her
sake, and so he called out:

“ I submit.

“Rob me, and let us continue our
journey.”

“You are wise, genera-l. Men, put
your masks on, so that Bob White won’t
know you. Then do the searching, for
this bullet in my shoulder hurts to kill.”

The four road bandits, one at a time,
put black masks over their faces, while
their leader rose from- beneath the coach,
also wearing one, and with a revolver in
his left hand, his right hanging li-mp at
his side.

Two of the men still had their rifles
leveled as they advanced, one covering
Bob White, the other the general.

They had hitched their horses to one
side of the trail, and as they came up to
the coach their leader said:

“Look. out for that girl, for I have
felt her claws. If she uses a revolver
just kill her father without a word!”

“ I will not fire,” cried May, in alarm,
and the general asked, sternly:

“Come, what is your will?”

“To hold your daughter a prisoner
until you pay us big money for (her ran-
som, for we know you’ve got it, general.”

As the rufiian uttered the last word
he dropped dead!

A bullet had crashed through his brain!

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

suors THAT TOLD.

The four outlaws, gathered on each
side of the coach, stood dumb at the shot,
fatal to their leader.

At first they seemed to believe that
it had been fired by Bob White.

Then the thought flashed upon them
that May Easton, in defiance of the
threats against her father, had shot their
leader.

Bu‘ they had only a second to consider;
then they were brought to a quick real-
ization of what had happened, for an-
other shot dropped one or their number.

At that instant Buffalo Bill and Cap-
tain Charlie Adams dashed around the
turn in the trail, a hundred feet away!

They were on foot, revolvers in hand;
and at sight of them Bob White pulled
trigger, dropping a third of the outlaws.

At that moment the six soldiers, whom
their captain and the scout had dis-
tanced in the ride to the rescue, came at
a gallop' around the bend.

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“Hands up, or drop dead in your
tracks,” shouted Buffalo Bill, and the
two men, seeing that they could not
reach their horses, and knowing that it
was death to attempt to fly on foot,
raised their hands quickly.

“Ah, Cody, another debt of gratitude
to owe you, my good friend.

“Why, do you know these wretches
intended to kidnap my daughter?”

“ They are capable of anything, sir.”

“ Ah, Captain Adams, you, too, are one
of our rescuers!" The general had
sprung out of the coach, and now warmly
wrung the hand of the officer and the
scout, while he expressed his thanks to
the soldiers, also.

Leaping lightly out of the coach, May
also expressed her gratitude to all, and
Was complimented for her pluck and good
shooting, for Bob White told. the story
of the hold—up as it had occurred.

“ I did not wish his life on my hands,
so fired to wound him only,” said May,
modestly.

“ Cody sent him on his last trail, Miss
Easton,” remarked Captain Adams. “It
was a crack shot at long range around
the bend with his revolver.”

“And the captain. got his man by a
crack shot, I should say,” the scout re-
joined, while Bob White added:

“I couldn’t miss mine, I was so close.”

“Your men have secured the prison-
ers, Captain Adams, and we had best
not detain the coach, sir,” said Buffalo
Bill.

“ You are right, and i am sure it will
not be held up again, general.”

“I have no further fear of it, captain.

“But, you do not realize what you
gentlemen have done for me and
mine.

“I shall have to ask you, general,"
broke in Buffalo Bill. “to carry these
three bodies on the top of the coach to
the next relay station, where they will
be buried by the stock tenders.”

“ Certainly, Cody."

“But, I desire a look at their faces
first,” and Buffalo Bill drew the mask
and muffler from the face of the leader.

“ Yes,” was all he said.

The faces of the other two were then
looked at, and of one the scout simply
added:

“ Another! ”

At the third he shook his head in a
dubious way, as he looked sharply at
him.

“What about the prisoners, Bill? "

“ We will take them, Bob, for they are
wanted at the fort,” was the reply.

The three dead outlaws were then put
on the top of the coach and strapped
there, when Buffalo Bill said, in a low
tone, to Bob White:

“ Your horses have had twenty min-
utes’ rest, 'so rush them to the station
with all speed. When you get there
take the best team and push them hard
for the night 'halt, for more bad weather
is threatening, and I fear dark will catch
you before you get there.”

“ It does look so, Pard Cody.”

“ I’ll tell you what to do: There are
two men at the next relay. Mount one
of them or a fresh Ihorse and send him
flying through to your night halting
place to get a fresh team and bring them
to meet you.

“If he hurries he can meet you eight
miles or so from the station, and then
you can put both teams through for all
they are worth."

“Right you are, Pard Scout, and I
thank you for the suggestion. You al-
ways have your clever wits about you
and know just what to do at the right
time.

“ It will get me there before ,night, for
I can make each team fly.

“ All ready! " and Bob White mounted
his box.

Farewells were said, and off went the
coach at a clipping pace, for Bob White
knew well that it would never do for
night to catch him ,on that snow-bound
trail.

“ Now, captain, we must ride for it, and
I’ll push right on to Cave Canyon with

z; . is. v, . want. - H

you, as night will catch us before we
get there.”
“You are right, Cody."

“And I don‘t like the looks of the
weather, sir.”
“Nor do I. I hope the coach will not

be caught in it.”

“ No, sir; White will not spare the
silk, and at. the night halting place there
is a good cabin for the accommodation of
travelers, and very good meals can be
had, should the general and his daugh-
ter be snow-bound for a few days.”

The prisoners were already mounted,
bound to their saddles, but carefully pro-
tected against the cold.

With the five horscs of the outlaws and
the extra animal brought along, each sol—
dier had a horse to lead.

Buffalo Bill rode to the front. the cap-
tain saying he would bring up the rear.
not to let the horse-s lag, and so the
start was made.

“Will we have to go back to where
we crossed to the trail? “ called out Cap—
tain Adams.

“Yes, sir: with the snow in the mount.-
ains we will, for it will not do to take
chances.”

“ By no means.
ahead! ”

You are the pilot; g0

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE Two PRISONERS.

It was the right thing, as Buffalo Bill
had said, to take no chances.

The trail they had come was well
broken back over the stage route, and
they traveled rapidly, the scout setting
a pace that would get them well on their
way along the Fort Trail before night
overtook them.

When night did come on the horses
were well worn by their rough ride, and
they yet had several miles to go to reach
the Cave Canyon.

An hour or so after dark they reached
the canyon, and were greeted with a
cheer.

A hot supper was ready for them, and
the soldiers already there looked after
the tired horses.

The prisoners were well treated also,
but appeared to have little appetite for
the good supper given them.

With their own blankets, and Uhose
taken from their dead comrades, they
were to be made comfortable in one of
the large caverns with the soldiers, their
bonds also to be taken off, as there was
no chance of their escape.

The small cave occupied by May Easton
the night before Captain Adams took,
telling Buffalo Bill to share it with
nhim. -

A fire was built in the mouth of the
cave, and at the request of the scout
Captain Adams ordered the two prisoners
brought there for him to have a talk
with.

They soon came. pale
looking.

“ Men, I wish to have a talk with you,
and you might as well tell the truth, for
I know more than you think I do, and
will catch you in any lie you utter,”
said the scout.

The tw0 prisoners made no reply. They
were anxious, beyond a doubt, for they
seemed to feel that short work would
be made with them at the fort.

“ Do you intend to tell me the truth? ”

“If it pays Us,” said one.

" Does a man on the brink of the grave
want money?” sternly demanded Buf-
falo Bill.

The mcn shuddered at the thought,
“and the one who had spoken hastened to
say:

“ I didn’t mean money. I meant terms."

“What kind of terms?”

“Our lives.”

“Ah! You know that you deserve
hanging.”

“We expects nothin' else.”

“You are wise.” -

, “If you give us our lives we’ll talk;
not without."

“ That’s so.” chimed in the other.

and anxious

 

“I do not believe your information is
that valuable.”

 

“We kno va a heap.”

“ So do I.”

“Come, Buffalo Bill; trade what we
knows for our lives.”

“ No. I’ll get it without allowing two
such villains as you are to escape the
gallows." '

Tihis staggered the men, and they
looked anxiously at each other, while
the scout said:

“Your leader to-day was none other
than the man who had such a flow of
language in presenting me a vote of
thanks. ’

“He’s quit his chin music now,” as-
sured one. ' ‘

Oh. Yes, his name was Chin-Chin
Jim. I've seen him. before—just where
I saw you before to—day.”

“ Whar was that?”

“You were both among the men I led
through the storm.”

The men grew more and more uneasy.

“I recognize you both now."

“Well, we didn’t shoot at you, or go
to rob you."

“I know that.”

“You shot Chin-Chin and run in on
US.

“ Yes.”

“ We was a rholdin’ up ther general.”

“I am aware of that. But, why? ”

“He had the dust, or if we took what
was worth it we could get it.”

“ His daughter? ”

“ Yes.”

“Where would you have taken her?"

“ Back to Yellow Dust City.”

“You certainly did not expect to take
a lady to your camp and not have it
known ? ”

“Yes, we did, for Chin-Chin had a
place to take her, but where we didn’t
know.”

“ Is that the truth?

“Was he your leader? ”

“Yes, but he’s quit leading now."

“He was your leader when you were
out on that prospecting trail when you
so nearly, lost your lives?”

After a moment one of the men nodded
and the other said:

“He wore.”

“Now you are both lying, for your
leader on that occasion was a very dif-
ferent man, in both voice and bearing.”

The men were silent, and Buffalo Bill
asked:

“Are you two, and were those three
who were killed, the only ones of tho
band I guided to Yellow Dust City who
were outlaws? "

“Yes. we was all.”

Buffalo Bill smiled, but asked:

“Where are the men who were on that
prospecting tour? ”

“Two died on ther trail thet night,
yer remember, and two died soon after
from exposure, while 01d Rhubarb sawed
the arm ofl.’ of one and a leg 01! of an-
other.

“ Them three men you seen turn ther
toes up ter-day, and here We two is.”

Buffalo Bill said nothing, but in his
mind he was working out a sum in arith-
metic.

He was counting as follows:

“Two died on the trail, two more
after arriving in camp, making four.

“Two lost a limb, so six are accounted
for, and three were killed to-day, and
they make nine, with these two pris-
oners, running the number up to eleven
that are accounted for.

“ Eleven from twenty—seven leave six-
teen yet to account for, a rather quick
thinning out of the band.

“And those sixteen are to be spotted,
for I know some men in winter quar-
ters up in Death Valley Mountains Very
anxious to meet them again”

Then turning to Captain Adams, the
scout added:

“ I know all I care to from these men,
sir, so the sergeant can take them; but
if you will ask Colonel Lennox to hold
them for trial some little time, I can
promise him more prisoners, or at least
more, testimony to condemn these
two.’

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

CHAPTER XL.
SAVING A FOE.

The storm did not materialize during
the night, but when the day dawned
the clouds hung low and were very
threatening.

“Push for the stockade cabin, Gap-
tain Adams, with all haste, for the quar-
ters there are good, should we be snowed
in for a few days, and here you could
not. stand it, sir."

“ You are right, Cody, and without de-
laying for a noon halt we should reach
the stockade some hour or two before
night.”

“ Yes, sir.”

“I wish that you were going with us."

“I think 1 can be of more service
just now, sir, in Yellow Dust City," was
the reply.

“Well, take care of yourself, and I
shall let the colonel know that you
saved the general.”

“ \Vith your aid, sir,” and with a mil-
itary salute to the captain Buffalo Bill
saw him go on after his men, when he
turned back on the trail to Yellow Dust
City.

He rode slowly, for he did not care to
arrive in the camps before nightfall,
unless the storm should hasten his steps.

He halted at noon for quite a long
rest, cooked for himself a good dinner,
and was enjoying his pipe, when he saw
that the wind was bending the trees
upon the mountain heights, and clouds
of snow were skurrying along.

“We must be on our way, old horse,
for this looks like another bitter bliz—
zard, and we don’t wish to get too much
of it,” he said, and, rising from the fire,
he saddled his horse, mounted, and con-
tinued on his way.

“If the captain pushed right on, and
it is his style, he is within ten miles
of the stockade now, so can reach there
before the snow hides the trail.

“ But Lem Todd is a good guide, and
it would be hard to lose him,” he mused,
and then quickened the pace of his own
horse, for the storm was momentarily
increasing in violence, and threatening
to be another blizzard to remember.

Suddenly, through the storm he be-
held a horse and rider, both cowering
under the shelter of a rock and in a re-
treat that from a less severe storm might
be fairly safe, but in that tempest was
poor, indeed.

“Ho, pard, have you halted there to
die—by Jove! it is an Indian!” and Buf-
falo Bill dropped his hand to bring his
rifle around for use.

But, the redskin did not move, nor his
pony, either.

Instantly the scout was by his side, his
hand upon his shoulder.

The red rider made an effort to raise
his hands, but could not, then stared va-
cantly at the scout.

“ Freezing to death, as I live! ”

Out came the scout’s flask of liquor
and a generous draught was forced down
the red throat.

The Indian wore the full togs and
war bonnet of a chief of high rank, and
was yet a comparatively young man.

He seemed to feel, when the drink was
forced into his mouth, that he had found
a friend, but he could mutter but a
word or two.

“Come, 1’11 fix you.” and 131111an Bill
sprang from his saddle, gathered rapidly
an armfurl of wood, put it in the most
sheltered crevice of the rock he could
find, and in a few minutes had a roaring

'fire.

He fairly lifted the redskin out of his
saddle and placed him where he could
feel the warmth, gave him another drink;
and then unrolled his bed blankets and
put them about him.

Taking from his traps his coffee pot
and provisions, he soon had some water
boiling and some venison brmling.

The Indian pony and his own horse
were led 11p near to the fire, the scout
knowing that it would keep the chill off.

Turning to the Indian again he found
him much improved by the liquor and
the warmth.

 

“Paleface chief good to his red foe,”
he murmured in English.

“Red brother, now you are in distress,
chief. You were mighty near the Happy
Hunting Grounds, but you are coming
around all right,” said the scout, as he
prepared the Indian’s coffee and food.

“Redskin die, paleface too,” and the
chief looked at the driving storm.

“ You bet we won’t! We will be all
right as soon as I thaw you out, and
then I’ll take you to good quarters with
me, though we‘ll have a struggle of it in
this storm. Come, drink this, and then
eat.”

The chief needed no second bidding.
He drank the coffee and devoured the
venison and crackers in a way that
showed he was most starved.

The scout watched him attentively. and
when he felt that he was warmed clear
through, he made him stand up by the
Ifire, while he wrapped his blankets about
1m.

Leading the pony nearer, be aided him
to mount, and then tucked the blankets
all over his legs and feet, muffled up his
head, and, mounting his own horse, led
the way out of the temporary shelter
which had been such a boon to the poor
redskin, for nowhere else could a fire
have been built for miles, and so good
a retreat found.

On through the storm Buffalo Bill
rode, the Indian pony following in the
broken tracks made by the large horse,
and his rider watching the muffled form
ahead with strange wonder in his eyes.

The delay to save the redskin, and the
heavy traveling through the storm, made
it slow work, and night fell before the
first cabin of Yellow Dust came in sight.

But, on pushed the scout, and a light
from a cabin soon glimmered ahead.
Then more lights came into view, the
larger ones of the Golden Arms. The
chief followed in silence wherever his
rescuer cared to lead.

A few minutes more, and, riding up to
a cabin, Buffalo Bill called out:

“Ho, Sule Ross, come out 'here, for
there are two half-frozen men to care
for.”

 

CHAPTER XLI.
THE DEATH HAND.

Sule Ross had closed his store and
retired to his cabin with tJhe night, for
there would be no trade in such a storm.

All the people had either hunted their
cabins, the saloons, or the Golden Arms
for shelter.

The Colonel’s Game was in full blast,
fires roaring up the chimneys, with half
a dozen logs the size of a man on each.

Gambling and drinking was the order
of the night, and men who drank too
deeply would have to content them-
selves upon the floor until morning, for
they would not dare go to their homes.

Sule Ross heard the cry without, threw
on his storm coat, and sprang to the door.

He saw-two horsemen close to the
cabin, and asked:

“ Who are you? ”

“Cody! Quick, Ross!
poor fellow with me.
up.”

"My God, Pard Bill, is it you? And
again in a blizzard.”

“Quick, Sule, for my companion is
in a bad way, I fear. He was half dead
when I found him."

The storekeeper had been looking at
the muffled forms, and now at Buffalo
Bill’s request, he lifted the Indian in his
strong arms and went with him into the
cabin, the scout meanwhile riding on to
the log stable near at hand to get the
horses under shelter as quickly as he
could.

Once in the cabin Sule Ross lay the
blanketed form on the floor, then put on
the kettle to boil, got out a bottle of
liquor and glasses, and prepared a bed
on the floor not far from the fire, plac-
ing there a bear robe and blankets.

He then drew the blankets off the
form, which was seated bolt upright, and
cried in amazement:

Look to this
I’ll put the horses

:4. ’s- will“. » ' 3;. r.‘ xx war 1- ,.“~,-_

 

‘r..4"~r:grr‘§ v: t - .05. - -.;':. ._ .v 7.1.  , -",:.- us'

“By Heaven! it is an Indian!"

The redskin was in a semi-stupor. He
seemed not to have the power of move-
ment, and his eyes were listless in their
expression.

Sule Ross forced into his lips a drink
of liquor, then placed him upon the
bear-robe bed, enveloped him in hot.
blankets, and was bustling about making
coffee when Buffalo Bill, looking more
like a grizzly bear than a human being,
entered the cabin.

He threw off the rubber cloak he wore,
then a bear-robe coat, next a storm ulster
that came to his feet, drew off his arctic
boots, and said:

\ “You see why I am not frozen, too,
Sule.”

“Oh, yes. but you could go out in
summer clothes and be all right where
another man would freeze solid in an
Esquimeau suit. You’ll never freeze to
death, Pard Bill.”

“ I hope not.”

“ You’d make a great Arctic explorer,
and——”

“ Thanks! I am far enough north now
to suit me. But, how is my red pard? ”

“I gave him a big drink of whisky,
and you had better take one, too. I'll
have some coffee for you in a few min-
utes, and supper will follow.”

“The coffee is better than liquor, in

the long run. But he’s mighty still. I’ll
take a look at him.”
, The Indian seemed about as when he
came in. Buffalo'Bill took off his outer
wraps, rubbed his hands, arms, and legs.
while Sule Boss forced a drink of hot
whisky down his throat.

For a while it was a struggle for life,
but at last the devoted care of the two
men was successful, and the Indian ral-
lied, and once on the mend, began to
rapidly improve.

The drinks, warmth of the room, and
care of Buffalo Bill and Sule Ross had
saved him.

He gazed about him vacantly at first,
then seemed to realize his position, and
seeing the scout, said in a husky voice:

“ Good white brother to Death Hand.”

The two white men gave a glance at
each other.

Death Hand! one of the most power-
ful of the mountain chiefs, and the bit-
ter foe to the whites, one who was
greatly feared along the whole border,
especially at Yellow Dust City!

fiis eyes turning upon Sule Ross, he
sa :

“ Two good white brothers. Two time
save Death Hand from Happy Hunting
Grounds. Red man don't forget friend
or foe.”

“ You were in a bad way, chief, but:
you will be all right after a night’s rest.
Don’t fear trouble, for you are not to be
disturbed by any one. We will have
some supper now.”

The supper served the better to pull
the chief together, and Sule Ross gave
him a pipe to smoke after it. ,

Then a bed was made for him in the
back room, which Ross used as a kitchen,
and where there was a good fire, and
he was soon fast asleep in the very heart
of the settlement he had more than once
raided with disastrous effect.

“Do you think it can be the Chief
Death Hand, Bill?” asked Sule ROSS,
when the two were seated, talking to-
gether and enjoying their pipes.

“ Oh, yes, his war bonnet is that of a
great chief, and then I recognized him
as soon as I got a good look at his face,
for that scar across his forehead my
bullet gave him a year ago in the 01d
Stockade Cabin fight.”

“I wonder if he knows you?"

“ Oh, yes.”

“ Where did you find him?" *

Buffalo Bill told the story.

‘But how came you there? ”

“I am here to tell you all, Sule, for
you are to be my right bower in what I
have to do,” and Buffalo Bill related the
story of the attack on the coach, the
rescue, and how he had returned to Yel-
low Dust for a purpose he would explain
also. ,

“But that redskin, Bill? The boys

 

"a: the; W 

 
  

    
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
 
    
   
   
   
  
 
 
  
 
    
   
   
 
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
    
    
 
  
 
  
   
    
     
    
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 

V‘V‘will surely kill him the moment they
7 see him: to-morrow." ‘

“No, he was mot captured; he Was
found by me, in a dying condition. I
grought him here, and I shall protect

m.!)

“I glory in your pluck, Cody, and you
know I am with you, but I fear we have
a. big, undertaking on our hands."

“ We shall see,” was the quiet reSponse
’ of the scout.

 

CHAPTER XLII.
THE scour VIGIIJANTES.

_ “ Well, Pard Bill, I hardly know what
-_ to say about you," said Sule Ross, as the

two friends continued to sit before the
 fire, listening to the howling storm, and

' Buffalo Bill had just told about his hav-
_- lug come to Yellow Dust City to un-
" , earth a. band of outlaws.

,“ How do you mean, Sule?”

j‘ Well, you are carrying on a winter
campaign, as it were, in weather that
“'would freeze the soul out of any other

man.
 ‘ “ Yesterday Captain Adams, when here,
 yery properly called you the King of
the Blizzard, and you appear to be.
“ First you come in with a party of
1" prospectors from here, whose lives you
saved, then you start to the fort in a
 blizzard, return here with General Easton
_, and his daughter, start for the fort, save
‘ iihe coach from outlaws, and find their
leader to be the very man who was yes—
terday’s orator, and the whole five to
,‘Tvgdcbeen of the prospecting outfit you

 “To-night yOu come in with a frozen
chief, whom the boys here would give
“big money to kill.
snow you tell me you are on the
trail of more outlaWs, so is it any wonder
you amaze me? ”
:: .Buflalo Bill laughed, puffed slowly at
, is pipe, and then replied:
 ’f'Sule, you remember I told you, when
’ brought that outfit in, that I had a
necrotic, tell. you? Well, I'am going to
£1,191: now.”

camp}: I am sure I can trust."\
“,.» here‘are others.” ,

ab. yea. but ,I am not yet one of
if New, ‘Colonel Camp is all right, if all
{dosh-is way; Waring is, too, and your
dbl“? here, Sunflower Sam, the Shasta
j,-1=-is.a man to tie to, it seems; but, I
 ;n6t.kiinw just how their interests
 be interwoven with others whom I
intend to lay a. heavy ‘hand upon."
_,"‘I:see. ,'And I know, many men here
59 depend oniif it comes to trouble. You
7 ‘ am" one of the Secret Vigilantes.

 one, from what I have heard

mammal is next in rank; then I
' QM‘Wsring is fourth."
I 537ny oficered command, I should
only your army experience should
maids. you leader." ‘
efer the position I have, on ac-
 otgny business, while the Shasta
 attend toI the dgltiies in the
fin, ony he saw ax to oc-
‘  ti: '1 t h
__  ,p ,o no new us w oare
 mum»? '_’ '
f’vNo, other than that we four, as ofli-
, have had ounsay.” -

 
 
     
  
  
  
  

 

   

'- _ _ t in their crimuf’? 1  ,
number of crimes were faced to

  

mu
«lilies:

   
 
 

  
  

rdner, highway  Y

coach yesterday others might be guilty
a so.”

“ Yes; there are many more guilty ones
'here.”

“What do you know about Scalplock
Sam?"

“He is a bad one, but knows when
the tide turns against him, for he has
been a model man of late, would not be
surprised if he wished to step into the
shoes of Chin-Chin Jim as preacher.”

“ Yes, or as road-agent."

“ That would be more to his liking, no
doubt."

“ Now, Sule, what I tell you is in con-
fidence,- you know.”

 Wholly so, Cody."

“I trust you, as I may later the offi—
cers of the Secret Vigilantes other than
yourself; but you alone I act through
now."

“I understand.”

“ Now, tell what you know about the
members of that prospecting trail that
nearly ended so fatally for all? ”

“ Very little more than that a party of
some thirty went out. got lost, became
scant of food, and snowed in, and but for
you would all have died.”

“ Do you know who they all were?"

“No; for they have had little to say
about theiryenture."

“Ashamed of it, eh?"

“ About that. Chin-Chin Jim did the
speaking yesterday, but I did not observe
who were with him. I do know that

1 several have died, a couple lost a limb,

and that is all.” _

“I can account for eleVen.’

“You can? " in surprise.

“Yes; there were twenty-seven in all.“

“ About that.”

“Just that. Two died on ,the trail, two
more after they reached Yellow Dust
City, a couple lost a limb, one an arm,
the other a leg, and five attacked the
coach yesterday, three of whom were
killed and two are prisoners.”

“ By Jove, but you have got them
down fine, Cody.”

“ I am here to know each one who was
on that prospecting trail, Sule.”

" I’ll do what I can to help you. But,
what is your object, for they were cer-
tainly very kind to you to-day." ,

” Yes, very, paying the price of their
‘lives."

“Oh, yes, and we gave the two men
who had lost their limbs the purse you
refused to accept. You made a great hit
with the boys when you gave that money
to be used for the unfortunate, 'Biil.“

“So the two cripples got it? Well.
that was right; but now, tell me, Sule,
what about those Blue Belts you drove
out of the camps? "

" Bill,do you know I have worried about
them, for the storms coming on so much
earlier this year must have got them
in the mountains, and perhaps they per-
ished.

“I did not want that, of course, and I
have been inclined to hire some men and
send them out with supplies to look
them up, for the aim of the Secret Vigi-
lantes was to be just, not cruel.”

“ Well, Sule, you made a sad mistake

you," said Buffalo Bill, impressively,and
his look and tone made 3qu Ross feel
uncomfortable.

1

CHAPTER XLIII.
A swonn ALLY.

“ You really distress me, Cody, for I
feel that you know something about
those Blue Belts," said Sule Ross. .

U I do.” V

" Lot me know, for if I can repair a
wrong I have unintentionally been guilty
of, I will gladly do it." .

" I well know that you will, Sule.

“ e fact is, the Secret Vigilantes
felt that they had found a band of men
at whom they could strike a severe blow
tor inoleaning up the morals of

   

 

Man 

in sending thosemen 0!, as .I will tell ,

   

 

scant clothing and. (Md.
their serum

them, instead of hanging them,
showing mercy.”

“Yes, so everybody said.”

“The Secret Vigilantes did not know
of the coming cold weather, but tabooed
the Blue Belts from going to any camp
or settlement up in this country.”

“That was it."

“They sent messengers to warn the
other camps of the Blue Belts.”

“We did.”

“This forced the Blue Belts into the
Death Valley Mountains. where they,
thought they would not be followed.”

“They had nerve to go there? ”

“They heard gold was- there, they,
could go nowhere else, and they sought
to build a camp, winter there, and, get-
ting supplies from elsewhere than Yel—
low Dust, to hunt gold there.”

“You have seen them, Cody?"  ‘

“ I have, for a certainty.”

“You were up in the Death Valley
Mountains? "

“Yes. Word was sent to the fort that
the Blue Belts had been exiled, and they
were described as the worst gang of cut-
throats that had ever infested a mining
country.”

" They were not so bad as that, Bill,
for I know others that are worse. It
was for this reason we exiled them,
knowing that we would have plenty of
hanging to do if the desperadoes here
did not profit by the fate of the Blue
Belts.” .

“Well, such word came to the fort,
with the suggestion that the Blue Belts
would doubtless take refuge at some fort
or settlement, or raid a camp.”

“ Yes."

“I was therefore sent out to find and
watch them, perhaps warn them." '
“And you found them?" I
“I told you when I came here, th
morning of that bitter storm that I had

rescued a mining party in the hills? ”

“ I remember.” '

“It was the Blue Belts.” 

“ Ah! They were in a bad way

“ The agonies those men suffered; Sule
Ross, no one knows better than 1. Why
they were not all driven mad lleaven
only knows! ”

“Poor fellows!
to help them.”

“I was.”

 I didn’t intend that; none of us did."

“Why, Ross, I have not_to“id you the
half.” . .

“ There is more to tell? ” ‘

“ This starving ‘and freezing was but
half their sufferings, Sule." : . x

“What else could they suffer?”

“They left here fifteen strong. They
now are but sei'en; eight are dead.”
“My God! How can that be?"
“From cold, exposure, and wounds."
“ Then they were in a fight? ”

thus

I hope you were able

“ No, they were tracked by a band‘of

men, told treacheroust that they had
been found not guilty, after all, and
could return to Yellow Dust, and then
they were made prisoners.”

" But by whom?”

'" The party of {twenty-seven alleged;;,.g 4.
prospectors that left Yellow Dust Cityi“? 

‘,‘ Can it be possible? "' 3

“ They were'followed by those men,
as 'I have said, betrayed, and then did
they suffer what few men could and live
to tell the story.”

gum 

 ages.-

“You astornd me, Pard Bill“

than I ‘can express. . W  ., 

“ What was done to them?" ‘ '

“ The hand or fbot'of each one was
cut off."

“ Great God! ” and Stile Ross sprang to
his feet and began to excitedly pace the
floor. 3 - ~ 

" Buffalo Bill, did "any other man than
you tell me this I‘wouid call him a most.
heartless liar. Can it be possible that
this monstrous crime was done? "

“ Worse still, Ross."

-“ In the name of High Heaven, who
could be worse? ” .

“They were robbed, left only with

cement to m

and told' toga]  '

 

      

 

 

A ,1 v... L

    
     
    
       
   
    
 
       
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

a will account, for my being ’here.
'  will. remain here with you.

1:,   oo'm‘e to my
 . _ . V r- another. “‘1
.«ewv:9m9,;9"“ ° ° , men in,

 

 

 

the torture of the damned before ‘they
diéd. ,

“ I tell you, Sule Ross, it was the most
revolting cruelty I ever knew of, even
among Indians, and when I found. those
poor wretches and saw their sufferings, I
took up the gauntlet for them, and I
tell you now that i shall put them in
the way of avenging their wrongs. Yes,
and shall aid them in the just work, for
those who wronged them shall. suffer
full punishment fer their awful crime. I
swear it! . '

“ I am their ally, 'so is Surgeon Frank
Powell. We are pards in this campaign

ven eance! ” '
0t“ Antgi I also am with you, Pard Cody;
and I swear to enter into the work with
you, heart, body, and soul!” and Sule
Ross brought his fist down upon the
table with savage earnestness, fire flash-
ing frOm «his eyes.

 

CHAPTER XLIV.
THE svor'rnns.

When Sule Ross had listened to the
or , he said:

Wt‘x‘ofiiiztisya most marvelous affair, Bill,
and utterly upsets me. Whatever those
poor devils might have been guilty of
they did not deserve such punishment.
It were better to have hanged them, by
far; that would have been far more mer-
ciful.”

“It would, indeed.”

“And to think of those men who
tracked them visiting upon them such

1 ens fate."
mfimYes, and by what authority did they
pursue them? "

“ True.’,’ \

“ They wer not of your vigilante band,
and your haying punished the Blue Belts,
who made them the executioners of still
worse sentences? ”

, ,x“ Yes, who? ”

“ And who were the self-appointed exe-
r-utioners, Ross?” ' H

“ An, that is the question?

“Yellow Dust men?"

“That, of course." "

“They were the prospecting party.

" Sure." _

“I can ’account, as I said, for eleven
of them.” ‘

u Yes"! ,’

“ Leaving sixteen to be ferreted out..

“We can and must find those 81X-

, teen.”

“ Yes, we must; but, who was their

leader?" .
“Those two prisoners told me that

- Chin-Chin Jim was.”

a.“ He was a clever fellow, deep as a

- ,2 well. sly as a fox, and a’bnd one."

“But, he was not the leader."

“You know this? "

“I did not see their faces very well,
for thev kept them mufiied, even when

eating their supper; but Chin-Chin Jim

had not the voice of the leader of the

edition.”
exyYou ought to know; but could not

“the Blue Belts help you spot them by

what they saw? ”
"Their torturers were all masked, you
remember." '
“ Yes, yes. They therefore could be of

"littleaholmgsflo now we must do it all

here. .  can spot e901, one,
” It must be 5°“: Qatari, not to let

them think they are suspected-3. .

“Yes, or they‘ll raise 'Mgm fie ,

over up their devilment."
gvgomcust spot them one by one. _
“I will fix upon a man I suspect, let

you know, and you can Verify 89 be“ you r

. of the gang.”
ca}? Iitwil? til: 23:. We must find them
out one by one, and when we has“;
them. I shall act. I shall give out me.h
I am here awaiting dispatches w c

. 1:
General Boston is to send back 3:512!

During the day many

{shill rizht- “on. “out half the

“WW1”,

 

 

“ Then you can drop in at. the Golden
Arms and have a look at the faces
and at night we will go to the Colonel’s
Game, and there you have the whole
outfit.”

“ All right, that will be my plan. But,
about reporting the hold-up? "

“ What do you think? ”

“Well, Bob White. will be in while I
am here, doubtless, and he will have
to report it to Colonel Camp."

“That is so."

“Should he not come, some man from
the stations eastward may come in after
supplies and' tell it; so I think I had
better tell the colonel in the morning
that Captain Adams, after he left, became
anxious to know if the general and his
daughter were getting along all right,
so had ‘me guide him across to the
Stage Trail, and after the coach.”

“ Just it.”

“And we came upon a hold-up, killed
three of the masked road-agents, and
took two prisoners.

“Captain Adams then went on -to the
fort, while I was sent here to report,
andl also await dispatches from the gen-
era ."

“That will account for your being
here.”

“ Then that is settled?”

“ Yes, but one thing troubles me—that
redskin! "

“Ah, I had forgotten him. Well, I
shall tell the truth about him, that I
found him freezing on the trail, brought
him here, and will let him go as soon as
the way is open for him to reach his
village in the mountains.”

“ The boys won’t have it, I much fear.

’ Can't we keep 'him in hiding, Bill, and let

him slip away after the storm, for I will
give _him a big horse and plenty of sup-
piles and blankets, and you can’t lose
him.”

“ No, I am not ashamed of befriending
a foe, and it may make a friend of him.

“I shall protect him, Sule, from
any man or set of men who attempt to
harm him.”

“And I am with you, and will rally
the vigilantes."

“Let me get better acquainted with
the vigilantes, first, Sule."

“How do you mean?”

f ..“Well,- I feel certain that y u have

spies ingtheband, no matter h w care-
fully you ma‘y'have selected your men.”

“It may be." ‘ . .

“I therefore wish to know first who
I am trusting.” '

“You are right in that, Cody.’

“ If there is trouble about the chief,
the good men will rally to my support
without asking them to do so, and the
bad will take the other tack."

“Very true.”

“ Now tell me if you know of a good
surgeon in the camps?”

“Old Rhubarb."

" Has he been away?”

“Not a day.”

“He is not the man, for those limbs
of the Blue Belts were amputated by an
expert."

“I know of no other."

“ We’ll find him, never fear.

“ Now let us turn in, for I’ve done a
good day‘s work.”

 

CHAPTER XLV,
THE FATAL WAR-TRAIL.

The; morning broke with the storm
still raging, but, Buffalo Bill was willing
to rest  ter his late adventures
and hardships.» » ' ‘ " "

- \

_ His anxiety “amounts-Adams.an :
his soldiers was considerable, and yet

he felt that Lem Todd had been able to
guide the command to the stockade cabin,
and if so. they were safe, though snow-
bound, while the officer was too thorough
a soldier to risk leaving therewithout
cause fonit.

At the fort he knew that the anxiety
for the general and all would be great.
but the return of the captain would allay
those fears. '

   
  

 
    
 

  

  
   
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
    
 
 
  
  
    
   
  
  
   
   
   
    
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
    
    
    
   
   
 
   
   
    
  
  
   
  
     
   
  
     
    
  
  
  
  
 
   
        
     
  
   
  
   
   
  
      
     
  

desire to kill the Indian. ' ’-
- chief had been found hy'him, unable to":

, them might

 

The Indian chief still felt what he, had

gone through with the day before, for
he made no effort to leave his bed until
Buffalo Bill called him to breakfast.

He arose, stiff in every. Joint, but a.
“ bracer " and good bleakfast helped him '.
amazingly, and he was told to go back to
his blankets and take it quietly, which i
he seemed glad to do. 

He again expressed his gratitude to
his preservers. and called them both his
“ paleface brothers.”

During the morning Buffalo Bill went
in, and, handing him a pipe of tobacco,
sat down before the fire to have a talk
with him.

The scout was anxious to find out just
what the Death Hand was doing 'so far
from his village alone.

He knew that the chief had seen much
of the palefaces, had spent one winter
with his people at one of the forts, but
to break out at war again when the
spring came. ‘

The chief had, therefore, learned much
from the whites, had fitted out his peo-
ple splendidly with blankets and cloth-
ing, and a prisoner who had escaped
from him reported that Death Hand’s
village was a perfect stronghold in the -
mountains, that the Indians had built
cabins for their winter quarters, had.
thousands of ponies, cattle, sheep, and
goats in the mountain valleys adjacent,
and were a rich, powerful, yet bitterly
hostile tribe to the whites. _ ' ,_ "'

Why then, was the Death Hand away,
from his people and at such a time, save ~
to see if a raid could not be made upon
Yellow Dust City.

Such was the idea of the scout, and
he wished to get at the truth of it if he,
could, by interviewing the chief.  ’ f

When he had smoked awhile, Buffalo 
Bill asked the chief how he felt. 

He knew that the Indians always went r
slow about a pow-wow, and he did not».
care to show any impatience.  

The Death Hand replied that he felt 
fairly well, and could go away on his.
pony if the scout wished.  , i

That was the chance of Buffalo Bill
tell him, in‘ his own tongue, which he
spoke fluently, and imitating the Indian ,
style of speaking, that the,paletacee .
never abused a‘ fee, if they had a  
heart, only those with black 
ing so, and he 'had in mind the? '
that some of the rough fellows at Yelio  3
Dust tCity might make trouble in their

He went on to say that:. the”? ' dlan

protect himself, that had it been otherb 
Wise they would doubtless 5have fought
each other. u.“ 
But, the Death Hand had  _ ,
guest into the village of the New:
he should remain until he was thomughe
ly well, and the storm was over; .‘
then he. Buffalo Bill, and his 
friend, Sule Ross, would fit him 
a big horse, load his pony with blankets
and provisions, and let him go his 
to his people. - = 
The scout further added that he m3
see the Death Hand well on his 
that no paleface with a black, 
should kill him from behind a  
The chief seemed deeply moved 
much pleased by the scout’s .  _
was evidently pondering  ~
ous reply in his mindftog
eral times that he would " ,,
Then BumIO‘IBil-l went on to say»- , 
the pale were bitter. toward ' 
because he wastheir foe,'and some w 4
try’ to show their anger
he was to remain in the cabin”
felt well, and then keep close.
until he‘was ready to go. . . '
_ There was no fear in thehfl
face as he. replied: } , '(
" Me stay with Great White
Death Hand no afraid to die;
“ I can‘ well believe that; in! g. .
it the great chief 
from his people?”  , V  
“Death Hand; did not-W..
 70“! M

  

  

    
 
     
    
  

  

  
 
    
 
   
    

 
  

“ Are any of r

   

 

E

I.

if

7 .
.‘ ’

O

l

 

 

24

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

I will go to them with the Death Hand,
with supplies," quickly said the scout.

The Death Hand shook his head. ,

“Are you afraid for me to go, for, re-
member, I may save them.”

“ All dead.”

“ Dead! ”

“ All dead,” said the chief, sadly.

“ But where? "

“ In snow.” -

“ Where are they? ”

“ Long way,"

“How many of them?”

The chief held up both hands three
times.

“ Thirty! This is terrible,” cried Buf-
falo Bill, and by close questioning he got
out of the chief that he had started with
thirty of his braves to see if he could
not, later, make a raid upon Yellow Dust
City with a large force.

They had been caught in the storm,
had found what shelter they could, but
when it was over they were in a terrible
plight, frost-bitten and some of them
dying. .

Their provisions became scarce, and
when the second storm came, his young
men had died like wild flowers under
the chilling winds.

In vain did he try to save them, for
strange to say, he had not been frost—
bitten, and remained strong.

It showed him that the Great Spirit
had frowned upon his intended war upon
the palefaces, by killing his young men,
and saving him to go back and tell his
people.

When he was left alone he had killed
the ponies that remained, and driven, to
save his owu life, to :leave his young
men, he had started, become bewildered,
wandered about, and had the scout not
found him he, too, would have died.

Buffalo Bill listened to the plaintive
story, and then said:

“Your young men shall not remain
to be food for the coyotes. I will get
volunteer-s to—night to go with me, and
to-m-orrow we will start for the place
and bury the braves where they fell.”

 

CHAPTER XLVI.
TROUBLE HATCHING..

The expression that came over the
stern, stolid face of the Indian chief at
Buffalo Bill’s promise to keep the coy-
otes from feeding upon his young men
told plainly that the inmost soul of the
red man was touched.

He could appreciate fully that the
man, for whose scalp he had so longed,
the great scout who had been the dread
of his bravest warriors, was his friend, if
only he allowed him to be.

He did not speak, he simply arose, took
the scout’s hand in both his own, and
pressed it hard.

Soon after he said that he would guide
the scout to the bodies, that they were
about two hours’ pony ride from Yellow
Dust City, showing that they had gotten
dangerously near the camps in their
scouting trail.

A good dinner and the fact that he no
longer felt dread of Buffalo Bill, caused
the chief to recuperate rapidly, and look-
ing out at the weather, the said, with
the air of a weather prophet:

“Storm go soon; bright up there ‘when
dark come.”

This showed that his idea was that
the stars would be visible.

“ Yes; and it will be as cold as Green-
land,” said Sule Ross, who added,
quick-1y:

“ Here comes a gang of men.”

He Opened the door for them and in-
vited them in.

There were five of them, and had
some for him to Open the store and sell
them some buffalo robes and blankets,

They eyed the Indian curiously, asked
Buffalo Bill what brought him back, and
followed Sule Ross into the store to
make their purchases.

[He let them out the store door, and re-
turned in half an hour, to report that
the presence of Death Hand would be
all over the camps by night.

 

“They seem to think we are hiding
him here, and when I told them who he
was, boldly said that they would let the
people know.

“ I told them then that you intended to
bring them up to the colonel‘s at night,
and ask for men to go with you to—mor-
row to bury his dead braVes.”

“That was the very thing to tell
them, Sunle, and I will take him up with
me to—night.”

“I‘ll be there, and I hope there will
not be trouble.”

“So do I,” was the quiet reply, and
then, glancing out of the window, Buf-
falo Bill continued:

“ The storm is over, Sule."

After a good supper the Indian chief
expressed perfect willingness to go with
the scout, Sule Ross having opened his
store for sales, but promised to be on
hand at the Colonel’s Game.

He gave Buffalo Bill a hint that men
in the store had talked angrily about
Death Hand being in camp, and the scout
replied:

“I shall take the bull by the horns at
the outset and stand no nonsense, Sule.”

“I know that, and it is best; but, look
out for a fellow known as Scalplock Sam,
for he is a bad one, and he has four
equally as bad backers.”

“I’ll keep an eye on Scalplock, Sule,”
was the reply.

Soon after, with the Indian decorated
in his war bonnet, Buffalo Bill started
through the snow to the Golden Arms.

The colonel met him most cordially,
asked why he had not come to the Gold-
en Arms as his guest, and then listened
with intense surprise to his report of the
attack on the coach by Chin-Chin Jim
and four comrades.

“ We missed him, yet supposed he was
snowed in at some of the cabins. But
you astound me, Mr._Cody, at what you
tell me, for I did not regard him as a
road-agent. The Secret Vigilantes must
look sharp. »

“ Why, this will give Yellow Dust City
a bad black eye, to have a general of’the
army attacked, and with his daughter,
too. It is too bad, too bad, and it shall
be made known in the Game to-night.”

“Yes, it should be, for, as yousay, the
Secret Vigilantes will have to look sharp,
for there are still a few bad men left in
Yellow Dust, after getting rid of the
Blue Belts.”

“So there are, and, do you know, I
am getting anxious about those Blue
Belts, in this awful weather, for we did
not wish to kill them, Mr. Cody.”

“You may. be well anxious, colonel,
in such weather for any one exposed
to it."

“ I am, I am. But, about that Indian? "

“ Well? "

“ What about his being the Chief Death
Hand? ”

“He is Death Hand.”

“The boys will wish to kill him.”

“If you have any influence with them
you had best advise them that they bet-
ter not, that he is in the keeping of a
Government oflicer, who is fully capable
of taking care of him."

“I will, I will. But, he is a bad one,
very bad one, Mr. Cody."

“I am not defending his morals, or
his right to kill palefaces; but he is an
Indian, one whom I found nearly dead,
and I brought him to Yellow Dust.”

“Better not take him into the Game,
Mr. Cody.”

“It is just where I shall take him,
for I intend to go there to- call for vol—
unteers to go with me to bury his dead
braves.

“I am not trying to hide the Indian,
Colonel Camp, from a lot of cowards who
feared to fight him openly, but now
would be glad to kill him, that he is in
their power.”

“You have got nerve, Mr. Cody, and
that wins. I am, of course, your backer
in case of trouble, and so will others be.”

“Thanks. I hope that there will be
no trouble, but if it comes I will meet it
as best I can,” and, turning to Death
Hand, who had stood as motionless as a

 

bronze statue, Buffalo Bill spoke to him
in his own tongue, and the two started
for the Colonel’s Game Saloon.

But, though his face was immovable,
Death Hand :had understood enough of
what was said to fully comprehend his
position, and the scout’s.

 

CHAPTER XLVII.
AN EXCITING scams.

The storm being over, the Colonel’s
Saloon was pretty well crowded.

Men living at a distance had been
storm-bound, and were glad to get up
to the stores to buy something. and to
the saloons to “take something." Gam-
blers were also in full sway.

Buffalo Bill entered in his quiet way,
the Indian following; and following the
Indian came the colonel, for he was de-
termined to be on hand if wanted.

Carl Waring was there, also, and Sule
Ross had gone direct to the saloon from
his store, leaving his partner in charge
there.

There, too, was the Man-from-Shasta,
engaged in a game with several others
for big stakes.

Scalplock Sam likewise was there, and
looking his best.

He had been making ugly remarks
about the Indian being in town, and what
should be done with him.

His four comrades were keeping close
to him, too, as though told to be on hand
if wanted.

There were honest miners and bad
ones, toughs and still worse than toughs,
all in the saloon.

Fully three hundred men were gath-
ered there, and a loud hum of voices was
heard by the scout before he reached
the door.

As he entered the door a voice said:

“ Thar he is now!”

A dead silence followed.

“ And t'her Injun is with him,” added
another voice.

Every eye was turned upon Buffalo Bill
first, then upon the Indian.

The scout paused to look around for a
seat.

“Here, Mr. Cody, join me."

It was the colonel, and Buffalo Bill
turned and took the seat at Colonel
Camp’s table.

The Indian also sat down, as Buffalo
Bill gave him a chair.

Glancing about, Buffalo Bill nodded to
several familiar faces, and the look
showed him Sule Ross, Waring, and
others whom he felt belonged to the best
of the citizens.

Scalplock Sam arose and started toward
the scout, but Colonel Camp called out:

“Gentlemen, I have something to say."

All was attention. Of course, he was
going to explain the presence of the In-
dian chief there.

-‘I am sorry to say that the blow we
visited upon the Blue Belts, in driving
the band from our midst, was not enough
to give others a warning to keep them
from crime, for a monstrous wrong has
been done almost at our very doors.”

Every eye was upon the colonel. He
was always glad to make a speech, and
improved every opportunity to do so.

“I wish to tell you that this gentle—
man, whom you all know as Buffalo Bill,
and whom you are aware is the King of
Bordermen, and who was so honored
yesterday by the present of a bag of
gold, presented by those whose lives he
had saved-this great scout, I say, who
gave that gold to those in need, arrived
last night in the driving blizzard, to re—
port to me that five road-agents from
this camp had held up Bob VVhite’s stage
to rob General Easton and his beautiful
daughter.

“But, gentlemen, that dashing officer,
Captain Adams, anxious for the safety of
his general, took the trail of the coach,
Buffalo Bill guiding. and arrived in time
to kill three of the road-robbers and cap-
ture the other two.

“Who four of those men were, Mr.
Cody does not know, but the leader was
none other than Chin-Chin Jim.”

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A roar of surprise went up at this, and
a voice called out: ‘

“ Was he, killed? ” ,

“lie Was, and this great scout was
sent back to report to me, as agent of the
stage line. and to await here return dis-
patches from the general, and gladly we
welcome him into our midst, and we
trust while he is here he will be able to
report how the citizens of Yellow Dust
deal with road-agents and outlaws, for
the Secret Vigilantes must set to work to
clear theatmosphere of crime once more.

“Gentlemen, I thank you for your at—
tention, and it will be soon known who
those other four road-agents were, for
we can spot them.”

This speech of the coloncl‘s created the
Wildest excitement. Men talked loud
and \\'ildly,land it could be seen that
many gllt‘Saes were being made as to
who were the other four men. . ‘

The better class of citizens denounced
the attack on the coach. and there‘ were
others who did so whom many knew
Would only get their Justdeserts when
hanged. , .
' The Shasta Sport had his say, and it
was to the point:

“There will have to be a hanging bee
here before the rough ones will learn
that the Secret Vigilantes are in deadly
earnest to make Yellow Dust City a bet-

' it‘ér place.”

This seemed to be the sentiment of
many.

Carl Waring denounced the outlaws
and Sule Ross quietly said:

' ‘ pot the desperadoes and then hang

 

x‘” 1‘; “fi‘ (
them ‘ h a _
For some. time the excitement", con~ '
tinued, the men forgetting" to gamble, but “
' . not to drink. _
The Indian chief stolidly regarded the
scene, doubtless thinking it worse than
a war-dance of his braves.
, . Buffalo Bill sat unmoved, but an in-
terested locker-on.
Suddrnly a voice cried for order.
it was Scalplock Sam, and a silence at
once followed, for all saw that the man
hadji.‘ blood in 'his eye.” .

 

   

       
   
    
  
      
     
 
 
   
     

' s

 

   

CHAPTER XLVII‘I.
’ CALLED 're  ‘3  ._
When Scalplock Sam arose to express
an Opinion he was never disputed the
‘ floor.
. In spite of his change about, when he
‘ «MW-trouble with the sport, he had not
‘ lest his" hold upon the men of Yellow
Dust, as far as cowin‘g them was con-
cerned, for many kept quiet rather than
be drawn into-troubld.with such a person.
,.7§;.’,in3 ‘eryj‘ji'or r“ order ” was instantly
 é‘i‘i‘e‘obgnized. i ’
Butfifor the fact that the saloon had a
dirt flooring, the proverbial pin might
have been heard to drop.
Scalplock looked wicked. He had
worked himself up to lever heat about
,thngln‘dinni Chief being in Yellow Dust.
; had strengthened-"his intentions by
."fiéveral very stiff drinks, and so was
' ready to make a greater name or mar
the one he lzad, if that were possible.
_  His eyes were upon Buffalo Bill, though
« I; r gaddressed the assemblage.
’  I say,” he fairly

  

   
 
    
  
 

  

    
  
  
      
       
       
  
        
     
     
     
 
    
 
 
 
   
  
 
       

  
 

  

     

   

   
   
        
 
      
 

 

   
  

       
  

   

 l . “mg? -

"W m   is m 
colonel, whorigwnlii ,   a?
of ceremonies in they ,i,  

. ,“ That gent yonder, when: wealth”
did £66.”

    
 
 
   
 

"gut e King of Scouts "——S‘caifilock

< :3 'Iria‘st'ér-‘Ffih'obody daring todlspute nae—'— -
  say that. ‘gent‘hafi a perfect right, t6.
agrl'fiirotect stage coaches, 3110‘“ road-axes“. '
, ' and all that. but he has no right tel‘ 111'
i ‘  suit ther citizens of this camp the? Way

   
    

I ’1' upon Buffalo Bill, who
without“ rising'from his

 
 

‘gwh‘at wa‘y hovel in
‘Eellow Dust?", _ A _ ,,
have brought Moi-our midst a;

f ,thétféet" in!” '

Suited, thecitim -

     
   
  

    
  

 

'  belittle a man he intended 

i there, and Buffalo B

{lit $04131} (all-lend of, the great chief;  
m»     *

ingredskin thet'has kilt our comrades,
burned our cabins, run; off our stock,
and-“r-

“Without wishing to‘brea-k in. upon
your very. eloquent speech, Scalplock
Sam, I} Will admit all you say to save
argument; he is an Indian and fights in
an Indian way. He is here. I brought
him here, and what are you going to do
about it? ”

For a moment Scalplock was staggered,
but he rallied quickly and cried:

“That man has scalped hundreds of
our people! “

It was an unfortunate remark,
pat came Buffalo Bill's rcply:

“And you, a white man, wear at your
belt. the scaxlplocks of the men youglaim
to have killed. You also appear to be in
the scalping business." ‘

A yell greeted this sally, and for an
instant the tough was taken aback.

But, he came to the attack again with:

“ I am a white man, and as such 1 ob—
jects ter you bringin’ thet redskin inter
this camp."

“ I found him in almost a dying condi-
tion by the side of the trail. He was
so far gone that he could not resist me,
as he othei‘wise would have done. I built
a fire, gave him some liquor, wrapped
him up, and brought him here, when Sule
Ross and 1 again had a struggle to save
his life.

“ lint, we did so, and I find that he is
Death Hand, the great chief of the
mountain tribes. lie was out with a
party of thirty braves on a scout, got
caught in the blizzard,~ and every one
but Ihimself perished.- ~

(d, ' '

for

, V came hereto-night to ask» for a
dozen brave men to go with me to bury
those dead.

“Treat this chief right; bury those
dead braves of his; send him back to
his people our friend, and you will have
saved many lives a year hence.

“That is my explanation, and I make
it to the gentlemen present.” .

There was a decided way in which
Buffalo lel said gentlemen, and many
observed it.

His explanation was well received, and

; the colonel said:

.J‘You can easily get the men, Mr.

' Body." »

iogkyuygaiagn‘ot satisfied,” roared Scalp-
" Do 'you‘ " ‘adiinéfis'g-yonroelt.~to ' me? "
asked the scout.‘ ‘   "'12. "  ~
“1 does.”   

“ Then I do not care whether you
satisfied or_not.”

“ I tell you, pards,
ter die.”

Sharp came the reply of the scout:

“ No one disputes that fact, but
ygu will have no hand in his taking
0 .n

“ But I will."

Buffalo Bill looked the ruffian squarely
in the eyes as he answered:

“This chief is «in my keeping, and as
a Government officer I warn you not to
interfere With him or me; ‘

“When he was on the war-path, With
his warriors at his back, you..-Were
skulking in your cabin; but now he is
here, alone, you wish to murder him.

"are

that Injun has got

“But 'I warn you off, and upon your. --
head be the responsibility it you dare lay .
‘itiands upon him.”

fig...—
1

l * 4 
“"0-   

   
 

quchmt;    
faloBiil; t,    “‘3' 
Y There We're few’p ; mfihdwefiég’.

would not “have  11mm“  5 -

chief killed. ‘rhey did 'fe'ar mmiimay
had sufl‘ered at his. handsyn'ow was-the
time to get revenge. v -‘ v
1 But, Buffalo Billghod

ill was a Govern-
ment officer. _ ' - '
' His argument none could dispute that
wore.fair,minded, that now was the tim

 
     
 

 

i

‘3‘». y

, ‘ needed. issuance-him Were ce

    
  

 riiligiwncsmafi against man.

brought" him ~

excitement,
Sam on.

Encouraged by the whispers about him,
he said:

“I, for one, don’t heed yer warning.
Buffalo Bill.” . ‘

“Then you, for one, will have cause
to regret not doing so."

“ Does yer expect ter scare me?” .

“I cannot understand that any one
man should be afraid of another—I am
not built that way." ' '

“ I don’t want no trouble with a. Gov.
ernment officer, though yer being Buffalo
llill has no terrors fer me: but I tells.

so they nagged scalplock ‘_

yer now that I intends.ter hang thef .
Injun this night.” g i _
This was an avowed challenge. How

would Buffalo Bill take it?

His reply was in the same unmov
tones in which he had before spoken: , ‘

“Here he is: come and take him;
only don’t forget that 1 shall try to prod"
tect him.” 

“ That means that it’s between you and
me.,! I
“ As you please.” .

“I’ll clip ther Injun‘iust and
attend to you.’_' ‘

“As you please."

Scalplock drew his revolver.

To the surprise of those about him,-
when Buffalo Bill rose from his seat be A
already had his weapon in his hand. ,7 ;,

As the scout rose Death Hand did. the~
same. Calm, wholly unafliected ,by-z‘iris’;
surroundings, the Indian chief_ffa:ce_d’.«hi§
foe. He held no weapon. showed none.“ ' 

The crowd could but admire‘his splen'. 5'
did nerve. , ‘

“ Does you intend ter shoot inevit-
pulls trigger on thet redskin? ”. deman 5-.
ed Sca-lplock. .  

(I No.)1

” thought yer dasn’tfi' ., I. ' "  '*

“ intend to kill you if you make};

r them:

move to fire at him." ., _
hiScalplock was a little nunplussed~,.nfi
t s. ' ’

The scout had his revolver [in 
position to use it quickly than 'had the
camp terror: . 

So the rOugh said:

“Then it seems ,I must do
ther redskin afterward." “

“ As you please.
difference to either
which dies first.”

The crowd laughed, and Sc
but the more disconcerted.,~-: ,  s _
t  The colonel, Bale Ross, has ‘iQa'rl 'War-
fan: wore watching the “situation with
painful interest. The colonel was fear
ful that the'scout might be killed
his saloon, and he dreaded the 7
Yet he dared not interfere in than
where but two men faced eachflher ,5,

Carl Waring was anxious to 
lock Sam killed. and he cherished "
idea that the scout was the:.'
do it. ' ‘ ~ .

Sule Ross was more nervous thaiiih
he been in Buffalo Bill's shoes. He m
the scout as a brother, and he“  N
that Scalplock was a very 

Wazjwuktust; " ‘

 
    

the chief or“ u ,

alplodk 

‘ .

   
     

‘6 » . .  
’mx“ H“ "m "twat? hand-M  ”

,.

‘ he; m.-mw 39‘ “mm”

2

'  dare face me sq 

nobody innocent hurt." , 
‘ Oh, I won’t hurt any 
bullet right where I a7
"‘ Will
hat? ”
“I see no res
trouble. You my

   

 

  

   
    
  

   
  
 

    
       
   
 
  
 
       

, . “a” ,

   
   
  
  
   
   
     
   
    
   
   

 

i f._=( - e . .,.‘....¢.- «kw-pa "toataxif

26

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

 

With the words Scalplock threw his
revolver forward.

Some said his aim was at the Indian;
some said it was at Buffalo Bill.

No one but himself really knew, except
Buffalo Bill.

Quick as' he was, and trying to catch
the scout off his guard, the terror (lid not
get his revolver to a level before there
came a report.

It was from the scout’s revolver.

It had been aimed sure.

The bullet took the
tween the eyes.

There was a wild war-whom) that near-
ly raised the roof.

It brought every man to his feet.

But, it was only Death Hand express—
ing his admiration.

Instantly he relaxed
immovable calm.

Scalplock Sam fell backward into the
arms of his four comrades, rewarding
one for his faithfulness by sending a
bullet into his heart, for the nervous
death-clutch on the trigger fired the
weapon as it fell from his hand.

The other three were horrified, but they
dropped the two bodies and turned to
face the crowd, to take a hand in the
trouble to avenge their leader and com—
rade.

desperado be-

into his former

 

CHAPTER L.
A STRANGE nunmp.

The three companions of the dead
desperado turned to face Buffalo Bill, to
see that he was ready for them.

They saw, too, that the crowd, rejoic—
ing in the death of the terror, would
stand no nonsense from them.

They could have counted their backers
a moment before by dozens; but now
there had been a surprising change, and
not a half dozen nodded encouragement
to them.

“ Come, no more of this.

“Put up your guns,
hand! ”

It was the Man—from-Shasta who spoke.

The toughs thought it best to obey,
though one of them remarked:

“He kilt our pard, sport, and 1,00?
Sam, in his death-agony, kilt his best.
friend.”

“Say no more, or there'll be more
sudden deaths in the same outfit,” as-
sumed Sunflower, and seeing that the
temper of the crowd was dangerous the
three began to look after their dead com—
rades.

Buffalo Bill had resumed his seat, the
Indian chief following his example.

Sule Ross had pressed forward and
said:

“ In your usual style, Cody.”

“ He brought it upon himself, Sule.”

“ He did. You were very patient with
him.”

“ There’ll be no more‘trouble, I hope."

“Not a bit.”

Carl Waring came up and said:

“You deserve the name you bear as a
dead shot, Mr. Cody. It was square be-
tween the eyes."

“Two birds with one shot, say I, as
Sam killed his pard in falling. You are
the quickest hand I ever saw with a
weapon, sir,” added the colonel, while
the Shasta Sport came up and said:

“I wish to make your better acquaint-
ance, sir, and to say that you have done
Yellow Dust City a great service, for
that man was one of the worst charac-
ters in the mines.”

“I would rather have left him to the
Secret Vigilantes, sir, to care for_; but he
was as determined to kill the chief here
as I am determined to protect him.”-

“You did right, sir, and there shall
be no more trouble about the Indian.

“ But, whatnerve he displayed, for he
must have known the trouble was about
'him.”

“He speaks EngllSh, 811‘," and he
turned to ‘Death Hand; Whose eyes were
fixed wistfiliy upon the scalps of Scalp-
lock Sam and his comrade, who were just
then being borne out of the cabin, pass-
Ing within a few feet of him.

or I’ll take a

.1

 

“By Jove, he‘s longing for their scalp-
locks!

“I only wish he had them,” laughed
the colonel, who continued:

“ Sunflower Sam. Mr. Cody, will go
with you to bury those braves, and will
make up a party for you.“

“I thank you. sir, exceedingly. It will
have a good effect on the chief, and that
means his people, also.”

“ it will, indeed. How many will you
wish? ”

“A dozen, for the chief and I will go,
also.”

“I will have them ready at dawn.
with a pack horse carrying picks and
shovels,” was the sport‘s answer.

This duty accomplished. and having
shown his intention and ability to protect
the chief, Buffalo Bill turned to leave
the saloon, calling upon the crowd to
drink at his expense.

The feeling was unanimous to do so.

The comrades of Scalplock Sam heard
the invitation as they reached the door,
and returned with great alacrity to also
accept the scout‘s hospitality!

They wished to show that they had
no “hard feelings "’ toward a man who
could use a revolver as did Buffalo Bill,
and had only done his duty.

“ No hard feelings, pard,” they said, as
they raised their glasses, dashed off
enough for their two dead comrades,
as well as themselves, and then contin-
ued on in their mournful duty of carry-
ing the bodies to their cabin.

Sule Ross accompanied Buffalo Bill
and the chief from the saloon. and when
they were safe in the cosy cabin of the
storekeeper, Death Hand turned, grasped
the hand of the scout, and said:

“Heap quick shoot! heap dead shoot!
Great white chief mighty man—brother
of Death Hand! ”

Buffalo Bill and the chief were ready
the next morning when the Shasta Sport
and a dozen followers rode up to the
cabin, leading a pack horse with food,
kindling wood, picks, and shovels.

It was bitter cold but clear, and Death

Hand rode to the front as guide, Buffalo

Bill and the sport riding side by side.

The ride was about two hours, and
the bodies were found, thirty in number,
the coyotes just beginning to gather for
a feast, having lost too much time,
as is their custom. whining over it, and
so losing their meal.

A spot was selected, a large, round
grave dug, the bodies placed in it, in a
sitting posture, facing each other.

Their weapons, and equipments taken
from their dead ponies, were placed in
the grave with them, a fire was built in
the centre, to warm them on the trail
to the Happy Hunting Grounds, Buffalo
Bill arranging all as he knew was the
Indian custom, for the chief would not
ask it.

That he appreciated it could be seen.

Then the grave was filled in, and stones
were brought. and piled in cave shape
upon it.

This done, dinner was eaten. and the
trail taken back to Yellow Dust City.

Back to‘ the cabin of Sule Ross went
Buffalo Bill and the chief, and when the
storekeeper came in, later, to supper, the
scout said: ‘

“Well, Sule, I have spotted ten of the
band that followed the Blue Belts!"

CHAPTER Ll.
si w i'r'rici i.

Before retiring that night of the re—
turn from the funeral, Buffalo Bill asked
Deatrh Hand how he felt about returning
to his people.

He knew that the Indian was anxious
to go, and, what was more, he intended
to accompany him quite a distance upon
his trail

The chief’s face showed his pleasure at
being able to return. He was wholly
well, and could go back‘ and show his
people that he still lived. He would have
to tell them how his braves had perished,
but that would add new lustre to his
fame, that he should escape.

 

In truth, he had much, very much, to
tell his people. He had met the man
he had regarded as his worst foe, and
found him to be his best friend. He had
been. treated as a brother by the pale—
faces. All this he could say upon his
return. '

Having decided to start, Buffalo Bill
said:

“ You see, Sule, I still believe that
there are men here who mean mischief
to the chief."

“So do 1."

“They would not do it openly, but
they would kill him if they got a chance."

“I am sure of it.”

“ If he attempted to leave the camp
alone he would be shot, and no one
would know who did the deed."

“That is so.” 9

“Now, I will .go on with him to where
he strikes up into the mountains, and
he can get along all right from there,
while it will not be bad going for we
to go where my crippled crew are en-
camped."

“ 1 see."

“ I will carry them some more supplies
from your store, and I will tell them
that I have discovered ten of their foes
—-ill fact, can account for eleven, and
know where to put my hand upon ten
more"

“ You are sure of these ten men?”

” Yes, sure."

“It was quick work.”

“I keep my eyes open, Sule, and have
spotted these men, beyond a doubt! ”

“And I can spot the other six."

“ You must do more, Sule.”

“ How? "'

“You don’t know the men I have
spotted? ”

6(No.))

“Then spot the sixteen, so there can
be no mistake.”

“Yes, in one way and another I can
find them out, never fear, each and all
of them.”

“Do so. Jot down their names and
have them so you can point them out
to me at a moment’s notice.

“You see I take more supplies to my
crippled crew now, because I do not wish
to make another midwinter trip up
there. I desire to give them all they
need, and when the spring comes, and I
am sure it will break early, as it began
so long ahead of time, I will go from the
fort with Surgeon Powell, carry horses
for the outfit, and come here.”

“ To Yellow Dust?”

‘6 Yes.”

“ You and Surgeon Powell?”

“All of us."

“Not the crippled outfit, also? ”

“Yes, all.”

“ Bill, you will be taking big chances.”

“ I think not. I shall arrive by night.
come direct to you here, keep the Blue
Belts hidden, and you can show the doc-
tor and myself each man you have
spotted.”

“ I see.”

“1 will compare notes, get the people
together, and denounce the outrage, de-
manding the surrender of the guilty, or
there Will be quick work with revolvers,
and no one to surrender."

“Go ahead your own way, Cody, for
you don’t often go wrong."

“That is my present plan, Sule. I
mav change it afterward. Now, I'll tell
you what I want for the Blue Belts, and
you can fit the chief out with a couple
of pack horses and charge it to me.”

“The camps will pay for it, not you,”
was the renly, and Sule Ross put down
the list as Buffalo Bill called it off.

He gave to the chief a rifle and pair
of revolvers, clothes, blankets, and pro-
visions in plenty to last him anti his
family a long time, with pipes and to—
bacco, a fine saddle and bridle for his
own use, and all else that would please
the Indian’s fancy.

The two pack horses were well laden.
and a third animal was given the chief,

'who was also to take his own pony along.

Two horses were likewise well laden
for Buffalo Bill, and it was decided to

u‘flkw’wfl'n . . . fl

 

 
 

 

.gce‘i

 

 

 

  

start just before dawn”, so as to get clear
of the cabins before the men, turned out.

A good night’s rest and the start was
made, the weather being terribly cold;
but, wrapped up as they were, neither
the scout nor the Indian chief felt it.

A farewell to Sule Ross, and they were
off. the snow singing under the boots of
a _ their horses, and all Yellow Dust City
' asleep. '

 

CHAPTER LII.
‘ SUs’hCIot's TRACKS.

Buffalo Bill led the way, leading his
two pack horses.

. The Indian chief followed, with his
l; two packs and pony in lead.
‘. The Golden Arms was passed, the

colonel‘s saloon, and a large group of
cabins. There were signs of life in but
few.

Oh they went, the cabins growing less
frequent, until, after a couple of miles,
the last one was left behind.

The trail was the same that Buffalo
6 ‘ ‘ ' Bill had led the band of twenty—seven

into Yellow Dust by.

The gray of dawn was upon them, how-
ever, before they reached the‘1ast cabin,
and Buffalo Bill’s keen gaze was upon
the. trail. .

' He saw that it had been broken just
beyond the last cabin!

There were the tracks of horses, three
in number. he saw after inspection.

The scout at once said:

4:“: This is suspicious, chief.”
.‘  n

“ Yes, new trail.” . '

“ Three pony; g’o ’our trail; mean bad! ”
“A * “ You are reading well, chief; they
do mean bad. There is nothing. to call

City in this weather.”
The chief nodded.
' “These tracks are only an :hour or
so old.
“There are three horses, and Scalp-
lock Sam had three pards left. They
, evidently saw Sule Ross making up the
 last-night. in his store, surmised
' that'you were testers this meant
eluded that you would. go before, ay, so
' weht out to meet you." a "   _‘A , *
 The chief again nodded. , ‘ " _- x
' “A mile from here OVer that ridge is
‘the very place for an ambush. The
trail winds around a cedar thicket, in
..:&he,édge of which is a group of boulders,
ahd" there they are.”
“ Good place.”
“Oh, yes. for them, and for us, for we

 

 thereof of the thicket, leave our. horses,
and 'come up behind the three men."
' "‘ Heap so, Big Chief." ,
With this the scout turned off'the trail
leading over the ridge. rode through a
‘ canyon. that cut it in twain, and then
tOWard a pine thicket.
.2..;.,.»Hér~e the, horses were left, and on foot
iscoutfand the Indian went through
the 'ihicketruntii near its edge. \,
There were the boulders, as Buffalo
Bill had said, and a voice suddenly called
out: /
I“ ‘f Git out, Tom, and see if yer see ’em
 m, 14%;? ,Lbe big money ther scout

 a. for L
“ Plug 0'   5',   't‘ beck
afore Yellow Dust'is homage

coyotes will make short" wot
. biodielmn ‘ I
\ "‘zf‘dfihéiman Tom walked out to the edge
Of'v'fhe pines and called back:
- ‘,‘I don't see ’ergi yit." I
“Hands u , t ere. ..
There wet-g yells of fright. shots, and,
. as Buffalo Bill sprang down from a
.“7’i'6ckLhe’ confronted the man who had
‘.   the, trail and who we too
I ' "dazed tO-ikh§W.What to do. w ,
 '“ Surrender, or you go under.
m‘s Bowen-t his hands, and he cried:
” ’ ' 'ft shoot, pard, foryrwe hain t road.
hilt listhunterafi , .
' this thetljadian
you

 
 

  

 

 

   

       
 

as

   
 
 

 

   
  
 

  

    

  
 
 

g‘ghiers» life
so: to ink

 

men on this trail outof Yellow Dust.

, con— '

can strike»,through this canyon, get. in.

 

 

the news hack 'tonellow. Dust that you
tmade a failure in your assassin act.”

With this the; scout disarmed the man
and led him into the thicket. * ' v

The fellow turned more deathly pale
and shuddered as he saw his tWo com-
rades. Both were dead; near them stood
the Indian chief. '

His wistful gaze was upon their heads,
and he was raising their scalplocks, in
his mind.

“Bring their horses here, chief.” 01"
dcrcd the scout.

The thrce‘horses were brought from
back in the thicket.

“ Mount, sir!"

The man obeyed.

Instantly he was bound securely to his
saddle, and his hands tied behind his
back. , '

Buffalo Bill then drew off this heavy
gloves, and, fishing 3 pencil and slip of
paper out of his pocket, he wrote:

“ To
“ Colonel Camp,
“Golden Arms.

“I send you a prisoner and two dead
men. , . _
“They will be readily recognized as
the pards of the late Scalplock Sam.

“ They discovered that I was to leave
this morning with the Indian, so went
out ahead to ambush us, and I heard
from their OWn lips that they intended
to kill us both. ‘

“We thwarted them.

“Sincerely yours,
“ William F. COdY.
“ Buffalo Bill.

" Chief of: Army Scouts."

This was pinned upon the breast of
the prisoner;"then the bodies of the two
dead men were strapped upon their
horses, the three animals were then tied
together with a. lariat, and, taken into
the trail, were started back to Yellow
Dust.

They seemed anxious to get .nere,
which was more than the bound prisoner
was, for he had dim forbodings that the

view him. ,

“Just a :half hour‘s delay, chief; but
we’ll push along rapidly now and warm
uni ourselves'and our horses,” said But-
it 9.;  fangagxgounting, they set off

._ ,_ '0;  - tvw " '
then for m »ie§:aaq;_...r-.   .tfgvghng

III. " ‘

', QI'ICK RETRIBUTION.

The man whose face was turned toward
Yellow Dust City, and who had not the
power to check his horse, or remove the
placard Buffalo Bill had placed upon his
breast, was truly in a dangerous pre—
dicament. '

If he happened to first meet. a. friend he
might escape dire vengeance; but the
chances were that he would first come
upon those who were not his friends; he
was pretty sure to ride against a member
of the Secret Vigilan‘tes.  " ' 7 .

His two dead pards, strapped over their

CHAPTERS.

,.
, ’-

what might be in store for him. "

On he went. The first cabin was
passed. At the next some men gazed
curiously at him, but he was undis-
turbed.

.The horses kept direct on the trail, and
themt-naijl led up to the centre, of the
' 198;": '  - H I . ‘. - ’»
‘ id <he,.jnot~hait 'themi‘j tflould he

 
 

his own'cabm.

cold comfort there.  . -_
The body of saluted: Sam and «theta!

watcher stood guard overthe dead, for

the three

chief. ' ~ . i
Nearing the turn-off the bound rider

tried by word and movement to induce

thehorsestogo that way. ’

‘ _As it was their home, they might have

  
ale 1 ‘

 

  

 

Secret Vigilantes might wish to inter- 

' “llamas, colonelfj f ,

saddles, Were an appalling reminder of *

hmm at. fissures trail. laminate
Had-“me cousin at,  

his dead comrade Were'there,.‘and no,"

had gone to kill the Indianf

: 5 the great -
ha ,.

 

{struck into the main trail before the.
three horses reached the one their rider
wished them to take. , '

With amazement they gazed upon the
coming horses, tried to head them off,
and, in doing so, started them into a run.

The scared animals dashed by them
and kept straight on up to the centre of
the camps.

The miners followed on the run. 0th-
ers came out of their cabins and joined
in the chase. ,

At last, the horses halted, at the cabin
of 81116 Ross. He caught them, glanced at
the placard, and Said: '

“Biter bitten, eh? I‘ll take you t0 , --
the colonel." ‘ ' , "

He led the strange outfit to the Golden
Arms, and th‘c trail was now full of min-
ers who had followed the grim cavaicade.

“ Ho, Ross, what have you there?" i.

It was the Sport from Shasta ‘WhO‘ 
asked the question, and being up so. ‘
early, it appeared as though he had not 
been to bed.

“This man has a letter for Colonel .-
Camp,” answered Sule Ross. '

     
       
   
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
    
  
   
   
  
    
  
 
  
   
   
  
    
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
   
    
   
  
   
   
 
  
        

“ It doubtless contains ‘ ’intenesung' 
news. I’ll join you,” the sport I 
nounced. " ‘

The colonel came out of the Golden .
Arms as the storekeeper arrived, leading -.
the horses. , . . ' ‘

“ A letter for you, colonel."

“ Where is it, Ross?"

“ That man has it." _ .  
“ Give it to me, my imam—why, Hess
my soul, he is bound, and—why,'tho’se ’
men are dead.” ‘ ‘
“Yes, the horses brought them to my
cabin, and I saw that the .letter waste-r.-
you, so led them over.” ‘  

“It is one of Scalplock Sam’s meal. 

“The whole three are. I guess the
quintette has but one representative 
colonel.” ;,;

The colonel pulled the paper ,, 
breast of the man, who was  it
a corpse. - » r -

He read it, then said:

“ Listen to this, my friends!”

tavern—ail impatient toknow the mean"
ing of what they saw b‘e'foxge‘th .to’”
know what story that paper to! ‘

In a loud, distinct, voice in
read the lines written to himrtby '

Bill, and a. loud murmur ran that

the crowd. .  .. .
for the,

  
    
  
  
  
   
       
   
 

“This is a case

f~\

 

' f‘No need of a trial.”
“ None", , , _ I
“Buffalo Bill’s letter condemng

and sentences him."  ‘
“Certainly.” , ' '_ ‘
“Let us hang him, then,” and t

Shasta Sport spoke in a matter-o ‘

way that was terrible to the poo
“I hardly think Buffalo 

have wished his letter thus con ,

said Sule Ross. ' 

> “ He tells thestory of this man’s  , ,

a, “Very true, but did not suggest '

inthh‘n.” -  .
“Not” being here himself-,4,-  

getands as awitness against this; 4 ’

murderer, 'I-firsay (hang him}, 3
“‘ He certainly is guilty," 

coion‘elu. , ', - , 
“ ,I‘ do not" deny "that,  , > (

of his gang, and. sorts :h _

urged Sula  j . -  :. ‘
“ Men, do rouse; say ,thisma'n
hang, that Yellow Dust City 
the better oi! for it, and it serve 
 and warning that we
 ~fiwlessness and murde

Sunflower Sam thus ap “

: crowd. . ‘

_ There answered hima

,atiVes. ' .,
“What if he had, 

chief? Why, we, woul

Spring thousands of

avenge him. ' .‘  .
“ What if he

    
    
  

   
    
      

    
   

  
           
          

     
  
  

  
 
  
      
   
  

  
      

   
  
  

   

  
 
  
  

 
  
  
  
 
 
  

 
   
  
    
  
 

  
  
  

   
 

 

hi3

 
 
 

 

  

28

 

This seemed the opinion of all, arid
the words of the Shasta Sport raised
yells at once to hang him.

“Hang him!”

“He deserVes it! "

“It will be a good example."

“Buffalo Bill treated him white last
night, and then that fellow wanted to
kill him.”

These were the cries, and there was
not a dissenting voice now, save the vic—
tim’s.

He cried loudly for mercy, and begged
for his life, if only for a few days.

The crowd was deaf to entreaty, and,
thoroughly infuriated now, they dragged
him from his horse, and ten minutes after
he was swinging in midair, having been
drawn up by many willing hands over
the limb of a tree that had served time
and again before for a gallows, and had
the names of the hanged ones out into
the bark of the trunk.

The Scalplock Sam gang had been
wiped out!

 

CHAPTER LIV.
DIVIDEI) Tamas.

Buffalo Bill rode on rapidly after leav-
ing the scene of the ambush.

His face was stern set, his eyes burn~
ing, for the scenes he had been forced
into during the past twelve hours cut
him to the quick. It was a terrible thing
to take human life, even in self-defense.

After a brisk canter of several miles
over the plain, which the winds had
swept of the snow. he drew rein and
went. at a slow pace.

He did not care to overtax the horses.
He knew that it was a good two days‘ ride
to the Indian village, and equally that
far to the camp of his Crippled Crew.

He had in his mind a place where he
could camp for the night, where man
and beast could find fairly good shelter
from the cold.

Then he and the chief would go sep-
arate ways, and each would strive to
reach his destination before another
night.

In spite of his confidence in the Indian,
he did not ‘care to let him know just
where he was going.

By the trail he was then following he
could, by a wide flank movement, go to
the fort, and so he let the chief believe
that he was going there, but to pick up
some of his scouts on the way.

It would not do to let the Indian know
that there was a band of crippled pale-
faces not seventy—five miles from their
village.

Though the chief might be square,
there were young bucks in his tribe who
would very quickly go hunting for the
scalps of the crippled men, in spite of
the severe winter.

As they rode together that day the
scout did all in his power to let the chief
know that the palefaces were as numer—
ous as the leaves of the trees, that their
villages were scattered over thousands
of miles, anu that it would be best for
him and his people to bury the hatchet
and live in peace with them.

Did they not do so it would be a con-
tinual warfare, and many of his braves
would be killed, his villages destroyed,
and they would be driven further and
further from their hunting grounds.

The chief listened as one who realized
that the scout told the truth and spoke
for his good.

‘ At last he said:
- “Me think heap, talk little. Me no
forget. Great White Chief talks with
straight tongue. Dea-th Hand his broth-
er, and he brother of Death Hand.”

The scout was pleased'with this much
cencession from the powerful leader of a
big tribe. It meant a great deal.

The ride all day was a bitter cold one,
and both horses and riders felt it; but
toward sunset the scout turned into one
of those sheltered, cedar-clad valleys, so
frequently found in the wilds of the
west, as though Nature had placed them
there for suffering humanity.

There was a stream there, though it

.....'.-   . "

 

was frozen solid, and a sheltered camping
place for men and horses among some
boulders.

The pack saddles, rubber blankets, and
some cedar bouglis Buffalo Bill cut made
a retreat for the two men, and pine
straw was piled up among the rocks for
the horses, which were also securely
blanketed.

A large fire was built: the scout was
the cook, and, having killed a fine deer
before camping, he had a supper that
was most acceptable, after the long, hard
ride of over fifty miles.

Smoking their pipes after supper, the
two comrades, so strangely brought to-
gether, wrapped. themselves in their
blankets, and Wt‘l‘e soon fast asleep.

The sun was rising when they awoke.
and a good breakfast t‘ollmved, with an—
other good feed of grain for the horses.

Then it was mount and away, and
after several miles the scout halted.

Pointing down a valley, he said:

“I go this way, chief. You keep this
mountain trail to your village."

“Me know."

“ You will get there by night, I guess,
and your people will be glad to see you.”

“Heap glad." '

“You can tell them that the palefaces
are their friends, if they will let them
be, and to think of them so, and not
let a few bad white men turn them
against us.

“We have been foes, chief, for I have
followed your trail, and you have fol-
lowed mine: but we are friends now,
brothers. lood-by!"

The bronze—like face of the Indian bc—
eame mobile; its hardness softened; its
stern features revealed the heart away
back under the broad breast, and, grasp-
ing the hand of Buffalo Bill, as though
unable to utter a word, he rode away in
silence.

For some time the scout watched him,
yet he never looked back, but steadily
plodded on his trail, leading his two
pack horses and the pony after him in
single file.

 

CHAPTER LV.

THE ARRIVAL.

Buffalo Bill watched the Chief Death
Hand until he was out of sight, and then
mused:

“ Well, he has been an uncompromising
fee of the whites, but has always fought
us hard and asked no mercy, shown
none.

“But now, he has seen that the whites
are his friends, if he will allow them to
be, and, after his treatment in Yellow
Dust City, he will change his views.

“ I am hoping for this to lay the foun—
dation of peace with the mountain tribes,
and if it does not I will be greatly mis—
taken and disappointed as well.

“Now to push on to the camp of my
Crippled Crew, for I do not care to be
caught out to—night without shelter.

“Come, horses, it is a hard ride, but
good quarters and a long rest when you
get there.” '

So saying, the scout pressed on his
way, at a pace he knew the horses could
hold.

He had never been over that part of
the country before, but his great ex-
perience prevented him from feeling any
uneasiness as to his ability to find his
way.

His horses were beginning to feel the
strain, for he (lid not halt at noon, fear-
ing the cold would stiffen the animals,
when he came upon a landmark he
knew.

It was the spot where he came upon the
trail of the crippled fugitives.

The sun was then nearing the horizon,
and the wind was rising, betokening an-
other storm, so he was glad to feel that
in hilf an hour he would reach the camp
of the maimed men. '

Soon after the canyon came into view,
and there, curling up along the side of
the cliff, he saw the smoke from the
cabin.

The_Crippled Crew were yet alive; and

Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belth’rigade.

‘

 

 

more, they were cooking their supper,
for the odors of broiling bacon came to
him on ‘the wind blowing down the deep
mountain rift.

Next the cabin came in sight, and he
saw a man, with one wooden leg, swing—
ing an axe in a very good way for one
who had been so maimed only a few
weeks before.

“ 'lio, Captain Boyd, that is doing well
for a cripple!"

The woodcutter dropped his axe, hopped
to a tree, where leant his rifle, and
turned quickly.

“Why, Mr. Cody!
can tell you.

“ Ho, men, Buffalo Bill is hereI "

His voice rang out, and the men has—
tened out of the cabin.

They came with a cheer, too, and
crowded around the scout, greeting him
as their preserver and best friend.

“i brought you some more supplies,
sooner than I expected. and as I came
along I killed two deer. How are you
all? ”

“All alive, sir, and doing splendidly.
Those who lost a foot are using home-
made wooden legs, and those who lost
a hand are doing the hunting and mov—
ing about work for the outfit.

“But Surgeon Powell is not with you,
sir? ”

“ No, I left him at the fort, and guid-
ed General Easton over to Yellow Dust
City, so I came from there.”

"Any news there, Mr. Cody?”

“Yes, Boyd, considerable. We will
talk it over to-night, for there are men‘
there who are most anxious as to your
fate.”

“You did not tell them, sir?" asked
Bert Boyd, with a tone and look of
anxiety.

“ Not a word. They think you all must'
have perished in the storms.

“You see, as a band, they thought it
would be well to hit the Blue Belts first
and hard, and so you were the sufferers.

“ But they did not accomplish all they
expected, as other lawless acts have
followed."

“ Yes, they did not get the right ones,”
said Boyd, bitterly.

“ Not altogether. There are few of the
lawless element still left in Yellow
Dust City as I can vouch for, though
there has been another thinning out, let
me tell you, of five in one lot, then five
in another.”

“ Who were they, sir?”

“The first five were Chin-Chin Jim
and four men, three of whom were killed
and two are prisoners at the fort.”

“They are guilty, as I know."

“Then Scalplock Sam and his four
comrades came next.”

“Good! They were a hard quintette
and richly deserved hanging.”

“I will tell you about it to-night, for
now I wish to look after my well-nigh
used up horses, and get these supplies in-
doors, for it seems I have brought a.
storm with me,” and Buffalo Bill pointed
to the darkening skies.

You startled me, I

 

CHAPTER LVI.

ACCOUNTED FOR.

Seated in the comfortable cabin of the
Crippled Crew. smoking his pipe after
a very hearty supper, Buffalo Bill listened
to the bowling winds and driving sleet
without, and congratulated himself upon
having reached such good quarters ahead
of the storm.

He also wondered if the Indian chief
had reached his village ahead of the
storm, though he felt no anxiety regard-
ing him, as he knew it would not be
severe enough to check him on the way
when he was so near his people.

The Crippled Crew were as pleased as
a lot of schoolboys at the arrival of
the scout, and listened to his story of
his adventures since he left with the
greatest of interest.

“ There is one consolation, at least, for
us, Mr. Cody.”

“What is it, Boyd?”

“ Why, if it had not been for our mis-

fortunes, you would not have found Gen-o

 

l
t
l
3

 

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Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

29

 

 

eral Easton and his party, and conse-
quently they would have perished in
that blizzart.”

“That is true, and a cheerful way of
looking at it, too.

“ But now let me tell you of the hap—
penings at Yellow Dust City and give
you all another grain of comfort, too,
for had it not been for your exile and
sufferings I would not have found Death
Hand, the Indian chief, dying in the
snow, saved his life, and, I hope, laid
the foundation thereby for a peace be-
tween his tribe and the whites.

“He came with me part of the way
upon my journey here, and returns to his
people with a strange story to tell of the
palefaces who were his foes."

“I hope, sir, he does not know we
are here.“

“ No, indeed!”

“You see, we have suffered so much
and are not yet accustomed to being crip—
pled, so it makes us timid,” Boyd ex-
plained.

“I do not wonder at it in the least.”

Then Buffalo Bill went over all the
happenings at Yellow Dust City, the
men all most attentive, and now and
then making comments and asking ques-
tions.

“ Do you go .back to Yellow Dust City
from here, sir?" asked Boyd, after a
significant glance around at. his com-
rades.

“ No. I shall go to the fort from here.”

“ And when will you return here, sir? ”

“I will leave when the weather per-
mits, remain at the fort until I can get
a chance to return here between storms
and Surgeon Powell will accompany me.

“ We will also bring horses needed, and
come prepared to take you away, for I
do not think, now you are all improving
so rapidly, there is any need of your re-
maining here all the winter.

“The fact is, I will need you, Boyd,
and I feel that I can guide you away be
tween the storms."

“Where do you wish us to go, sir?”

“ To Yellow Dust City.”

The Crippled Crew looked at each
other in a strange way, and then Boyd
asked:

“We will be under your protection,
sir? ”

“Yes, and Surgeon Powell’s.”

“We will go, sir.”

“You will also be under the protec-
tion of Storkeeper Stile Ross, Colonel
Camp, and others whom you can trust
wholly.

“In fact, the lawlessness that has dis-
graced Yellow Dust City for so long, I
am determined shall cease, and there
will soon be a wipe-out there of the
evil element that will long be remem—
bered, and more, it will be a warning to

‘ other law breakers to keep under cover

or leave.” . _

“You have made some important dis-
coveries, then, Mr. Cody?”

“ Yes; I have found out that a band is
there in comparison to which yours was
nothing in the desperado line.

“I know that the twenty-seven who
pursued you to your cruel fate were
banded together secretly, and have done
untold mischief.

“ Whether there are more belonging to
that outfit I have not yet discovered, but
there is one who is doing detective work
for me there', and he will find out, He
will spot every law breaker in Yellow
Dust.”

“ Do you mind saying who he is, sir? ”

“It is Sule Ross.” _

“ The very man for the work, Sir.”

“You see, I can now account for two-
thirds of your torturers.”

“ Indeed, sir? You certainly have been
doing good work, sir.” _

“I have had good help, and ClI‘Cum-
stances have aided me.” .

“ Was not Scalplock Sam and his gang
3 part of the band who pursued us?

“They were not. Scalplock Sam had
only his four followers, and they acted
separately from all others.” _

“I did not know this for certain, but
suspected it; still, we had an idea that

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Scalplock was the leader of the twenty-
seven.”

“ He was not. It was told me by the
two prisoners who have gone with Cap-
tain Adams to the fort, that Chin—Chin
Jim was the leader."

“ No! no! that can’t be so.”

“I know that, for he was an entirely
different style of man; but I will ferret
him out all right, that leader.”

“I hope so, sir.”

“()f the twenty-seven, I can account
for Chin-Chin Jim and his four, for
they were along, and the two who died
on the trail returning to Gold Dust."

“ Seven.”

“Yes, and two men died after reach-
ing Gold Dust, and two lossa limb each.”

“Eleven. The two last got some of
the medicine they gave us.”

“ Yes, so are exempt from punishment,
in my opinion."

“ All goes as you wish, sir.”

“That left sixteen, and out of that
number I can positively spot eight."

“ Good! ”

“And the remaining eight Sule Ross
will discover, as also any other black
sheep deserving of a rope cravat, by
the time we reach Yellow Dust.”

“ We are subject to your orders, Mr.
Cody.

“But now, sir, I wish to tell you the
secret I hinted at, when you were here
before.”

 

CHAPTER LVII.
THE CRIPPLEI) CREW's SECRET.

What it could be that Bert Beyd was so
anxious to make known to him Buffalo
Bill could not guess.

He saw that the leader and his men
certainly had something which they
deemed of great importance to com-

-municate.

“See here, Boyd, let me say this to
you, that if you are going to tell me any—
thing to incriminate yourselves, don’t
do so. You have suffered most terribly,
be your crimes what they may, and that,
in my mind, atones for what you have
done. .

“Others will doubtless think as 1 do,
and all I expect of you is to go your way
in future on a different trail from the one
you set out to follow in Yellow Dust
City.

“For this reason I take you back to
Yellow Dust, instead of to the fort, where
I fear a certain influence might be
brought to bear to try you, without
taking into consideration what you haVe
already suffered.

“Don’t tell me, therefore, anything to
mitigate against yourselves.”

The men looked at'each other and
smiled, when Burt Boyd replied:

“You don’t mind if we say a word ir
our favor, Mr. Cody, that may make
you think less hard of us?”

"‘ No, indeed! ”

“Then, sir, I wish to tell you that we
have been playing an underhand game
in Yellow Dust."

“ I have heard of your being card
sharps and worse.”

“It is not that. We are, in a measure,
card sharps, for each one of us was a
skilled hand with the pasteboards: but,
sir, we were not professionals—we never
cheated a man at a game in our lives,
or, if one of us did so, I have yet to
know of it.”

BLffalo Bill looked surprised, but said
nothing, and Boyd continued:

“ You see, we appeared what we were
not. We went to Yellow Dust and in-
vested in a mine. We looked for little
profit from it, and yet we struck it rich.”

“ Indeed? Rich in what respect? ”

“Why, finding the mine was paying
well, we hid our gold as we dug it, ex-
cept what we sent East, and what we
Hved on. .

“Tlhis output we did not let the men
of Yellow Dust know about. We went
about life there in our own way, did not
mingle much individually with the peo-
ple, but were always around.

“We played cards for a purpose, yet
were almost invariably successful.

 

 

“We kept together because we did
not care for trouble, and so were too
strong for any few desperadoes to pick
a quarrel with, or jump upon, except in
several cases, and then we came out on
top.”

“I have heard that your band was
thoroughly organized, and more—that
you were a. very dangerous lot.”

Boyd smiled and replied:

“Far more dangerous,” sir, than any
man in Yellow Dust City’for a moment.
imagined.”

“They seemed to have sized you up
very well, Boyd.”

“No, sir, not in the slightest degree.
Why, Mr. Cody, with all your cleverness,
you do not know us as we really are."

Buffalo Bill shook his head doubtfully,
as he returned: '

“I saw nothing of you as a band in
Yellow Dust City, but Sule Ross did, and
I have great faith in him.”

“ What does he say, sir? ”

“ That you were card sharps, held dan-
gerous sway, but were not, in his opin-
ion, as bad as some believed.”

“I thank him for that much, at least,
s1r.

“ But we deceived even him, as we
have done all others. Now, to ask you a
question, Mr. Cody. Do you recall the
great Phoenix Bank robbery of several
years ago?” -

"Yes, I have heard of it.” a

“The robbers got away with a very
large sum in bank notes.”

"Yes, and killed the cashier, did they
not? ”

“Yes, sir, and the watchman, as well

as a policeman and detective who tried
to capture them. Yet the robbers got
away, and all trace of them was lost.”
1 “There were five, if I remember right-
y.,!
“Yes, five of them, and the bank, the
city, the police, and the detective force
all offered rewards for the capture of
those men—in all a sum amounting to
fifty thousand dollars. A fund also,
raised to defray the expenses of any de—
tectives who would track them down.

“It was accepted by the chief of a.
detective bureau in Texas, and he set
to work to ferret out the trail of those
robbers and murderers.

“While doing so he discovered another
trail of crime, namely—that there was
a large band of counterfeiters at work,
and their fraudulent money was so well
made, so skillfully put upon the public,
that it was doing the Government a great
deal of harm. ,

“Where these counterfeiters were was
the question none could solve; but this
chief of whom I spoke felt that he had
a clue connecting the Phoenix Bank rob-
bers and murderers with these very
counterfeiters. He, in fact, struck a
double trail, and determined to follow
it to the end.

“At last the trail grew warmer, and,
confident that he was right on the scent,
he got his best men together and led
them upon it.

“Mr. Cody, this chief discovered that
the men he sought, robbers, murderers,
and counterfeiters were out in the mining
country. He knew that the counterfeit
money was distributed from Yellow Dust
mining camps, and was made there. So
he went there with his men and turned
miners.

“I am that chief detective, and my
crippled pards there are all that remain
of our band of fifteen ferrets."

 

CHAPTER LVIII.

THE STORY TOLD.

To say that Buffalo Bill was surprised
would be to put it mildly. That these
ferrets had outgeneraled him as well as
all of the dwellers in Yellow Dust City,
was simply amazing.

Not a hint had been heard from any
one that they were other than they pro-
fessed to be—miners of the rather rough'
and tough order. '

They had gone to the mines to win the.
bold game they were playing, and so

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BUffalo‘Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.

 

well had they carried out their disguise
that they had actually been driven out
of the camps as desperadoes, as men too
lawless in their acts to be tolerated even
there.

Seeing that Buffalo Bill was wholly
astonished, Boyd went on:

“You see, Mr. Cody, we did not in-
tend to be trapped in any way. We
brought no Sign or badge, paper, or any-
thing to vouch for us; but you may have
heard of B0yciBt1rton.”

“Yes, I have, for I know of him
through an army officer who got him to
do some important detective work for
him several years ago.” ‘

“Well, I am Boyd Burton, and I sim-
ply transferred my name into Burt
Boyd.”

“1 see.”

“We were not idle while in Yellow
Dust City, for 'we discovered Just who
the counterfeiters are.”

“ That is good."

“And more; they are the very men we
wanted to find as the robbers and mur-
derers in the Phoenix Bank affair.”

“Better still! ”

“ Now, there is one thing I suspect—
that some one of the gang recognized
me, or, perhaps, one of my men, as be-
ing a detective, and for this reason
We were spotted. and the charge put
against us that we were desperatioes and
lawless.”

“ That may have been.”

“It must have been, for you know we
were accused of secret murder, of cheat-
ing at cards, of robbing the cabins of
miners while they were away, and of
holding up men who had money, when
they would be going home at night."

‘ “ Yes, I heard all that.”

“ Now, of not one of those things has
a single man of my band been guilty,
and I am very sure that I have not.”

“You should know, and the purpose
of this was what do you think? ”

“ Why, to get us all hanged; that was
their object; to wipe us out and so be rid
of any danger that our presence in Gold
Dust City might imply for them."

“ You must be right, Boyd.” -

“Well, as they did not get us hanged,
and the Secret Vigilantes simply ex—
iled us, drove us out of the camps, it
did not suit those who sought our de—
struction."

“ I think I begin to see matters as they
really are, Captain Boyd.”

“ I hope so. We know, now, who they
really are, and we are convinced that
those who drove us out did not intend
we should escape thus. They followed
us, and, as you have seen, their inten—
tion was to destroy us.”

“It was, indeed.”

“Exiled, if we really were detectives,
We could return and lay hands upon the
men we had spotted. To render this im-
possible, we were maimed and turned
loose to die, to starve, to freeze. ‘

‘f You saved us, or, at least, the rem-
nant of \our force which you now see be-
fore you, enough of us yet to crush our
foes, as I pray we may.

“ When we were driven out, Sun-
flower Sam, the Shausta Sport, generously
bought our mine, paying us a large sum
for it. Of course, we feel kindly 'toward
him; but, all he paid to us We were
robbed of, for you know our torturers
robbed us of everything.”

“ Yes, I' know.”

“ And you say you know all of the
twenty-seven, or your pard, Sule Ross
will have all known by the time you re-
turn? ”

“ He certainly will."

“ That is all we ask. We each have a
wrong to avenge, and we will avenge it,
through your kind aid. We will gladly
return with you to Yellow Dust City.
In two weeks more we. will be well able
to stand the ride.” ,

“ I am glad to hear you say this. I will
go to the fort as soon as the weather
permits, and then get Surgeon Frank
, Powell. With him I will return here be-"

tween the storms, and then again, taking

 

advantage of the weather, we all will go
to Yellow Dust City.

“I have already told Sule Ross that
we would arrive by night and g0 direct
to his cabin, where you all can hide un-
til I spring the trap which I shall set
for the remainder of the twentyaseven.
Then the people of Yellow Dust shall
know the whole truth about this perse-
cution of you and your men, and be in-
formed of your true character.”

Such was the plan adopted, and talk-
ing it all over with the Crippled Crew,
each one approved it heartily.

 

CHAPTER LIX.
READY TL) smuxo 'rmc TRAP.

Buffalo Bill remained three days in
the camp of the maimed detectives; the
storm lasted for that time.

Then he started for the fort, having
with him a. pack horse to provide for de-
lays or accidents by the way.

The third day at noon he reached the
fort.

The sentinel reported his coming, and
he had a reception of which he might
well feel proud.

Captain Charlie Adams and his men
had reached the cabin stockade in the
driving storm, as Buffalo Bill supposed
they would. They had found shelter
there for man and beast, had remained
until the blizzard ended, then they had
gone on to the fort, where Buffalo Bill
had been given full praise for the saving
of the coach.

Colonel Lennox greeted him most cor-
dially, and feeling that he could then tell
the secret he had kept to himself, he
made known to his commander all about
his Crippled Crew in the Death Valley
Mountains, who they were, and just what
had been their mission.

The colonel was astonished at what the
heard, but said he would leave it all to
his chief of scouts to carry out in his own
way; yet advised that it would be well
to send Captain Adams and his troop to
Yellow Dust.

“. If it can be arranged, sir, so that he
reaches there about the time we do it
would be a great help to us,” was Buffalo
Bill’s opinion on that point.

“Well, you can arrange that with
Captain Adams, for I believe you would
prefer him to go."

“ Ah, yes, sir; for he understands just
what to do in the right moment and
does it.”

“ Then you see him,” said Colonel Len-
nox.

That night Buffalo Bill had a long
talk with Surgeon Powell, and that offi-
cer was also greatly surprised at what
the scout had to tell him.

“ Of course. I am with you, Bill," he
said, “ with you, if it leads to death! "

The next day it was a talk with Cap-
tain Charlie Adams, and he being also
let, into the secret, said:

“I shall take forty men with me, at
least, Cody, and you can just tell me
when to be there, and depend upon it
We will be." -

So it was arranged, and, after a week
spent at the fort, Buffalo Bill and Sure
geon Pow ell left one morning early Just
after a clearing up of the weather, and
started on the trail to the camp of the
exiled detectives.

They carried with them extra horses,
and mad-e the ride by easy stages, stop-
ping the flrst night at the stockade cabin.

'The day after their departure Captain
Charlie Adams and forty men, not in-
cluding a lieutenant, started for the
stockade cabin, there to stop a couple of
days, another two at the Cave Canyon,
and then to push on to Yellow Dust
City.

Should the weather come on to storm,
then it was understood that the captain
and his men would retreat to the stock-
ade cabin, and the night of the second
day after the clearing up they would
ride into Yellow Dust City, for Buffalo
Bill had arranged to get there about
that time.

Buffalo Bill and Surgeon Powell made.

4...

 

the camp of the Crippled Crew the sec-
ond day after leaving the fort, arriving
at noon.

They were greeted with the greatest
cordiality.

Examining his patients, Surgeon Pow-
ell found them all in good condition, and
said that they were fully able to take the
long ride.

But, as the weather was threatening
again, it was decided to remain in camp
until it cleared again before starting.

This was accordingly done, and when
the weather cleared the start was made.

The men had become accustomed to
the loss of their limbs and got along
better than the scout had anticipated
they would.

It was midnight of the third day that
they came in sight of the lights of Yel-
low Dust City.

Without attracting the attention of any
one, in fact, not being seen by any one,
they rode into the yard of Sule Ross,
and Buffalo Bill, having ridden on ahead,
had prepared for their welcome.

Their horses were soon put away, and
they had comfortable quarters in the
house of the storekeeper.

“ A troop of cavalry arrived at the G01-
den Arms not half an hour ago,” an-
nounced Sule Ross. -

“That is all right, Ross; it is part of
the programme. Now tell me what else
you know."

“Every man of that band, Bill. I’ll go
up to the colonel’s t-o-night and have
him call the people to a meeting at noon,
and then you can strike your blow," was
the answer.

 

CHAPTER LX.
BUFFALO BILL coxrnox’rs
PIN SCOUNDRICL.

Buffalo Bill appear-ed in Yellow Dust
City the next morning, to the surprise of
the miners going to» their work, for,
after his departure with the Indian chief,
many feared that he «had been lost in the
blizzards.

The coach of Bob White had made a
run back again to Yellow Dust City,
bringing several officers on their way to
the fort, and the driver himself had un-
dertaken to guide them through, taking
advantage between storms to do so.

They had gotten through there by hard
riding, and in the same way Bob White
had returned, accompanied by Several
men whose term of enlistment had ex—
pired.

As the driver had himself gone, it was
thought at Yellow Dust City that he
was carrying the general‘s dispatches
that Buffalo Bill had intended to take.

Upon the return from the fort Bob
White and the men with him had been
held up by several masked men right out
of Yellow Dust City, and the poor s01~
diers had been robbed of all their pay,
which was considerable.

They were still in Yellow Dust, await-
ing to get away, and not knowing Just
what to do.

Where Buffalo Bill had gone with the
Indian chief, the people of Gold Dust
could not imagine, for Bob White had
reported the scout as not having re-
turned to the fort.

Yet, here he was in Yellow Dust again,
coming alone, it was supposed, while at
the same time Captain Adams and his
troop had arrived. It was thought the
troop was to convoy some one to the
fort expected on the coach when Bob
White should next bring it through.

That night at the saloon the colonel
had given the crowd to understand that
an important capture had been made,
by whom, where, or who it was he did
not say, but it was intended to let it be
known that day at 110011-

Then the fate of the captured,whoever it
might be, would be settled, and the crowd
were all told to be on hand.

Before the hour, however, Buffalo Bill
left the cabin of Sule Ross to go up to
the Golden Arms.

The day was a complete change from
what the weather had been of late, hav-

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ing come off almost"w-arm, and the. sun
was shining brightly. ‘

Great cats were thrown aside, and
the men, not caring to go to work, to
give it up and be on hand at noon,
were lolling about the saloons, the store,
and the Golden Arms. .

Captain Adams [had not yet appeared.

’ and his men were keeping close about
the tavern‘ or the stables.

As he reached the Golden Arms, Buffalo
Bill saw the Shasta Sport, approaching
him.

} Buffalo Bill did not have his overcoat
{ t on, merely a jacket, and if he was armed
the weapons were well COilt‘t‘zllHi, but
that he was armed might well br sur-
mised, knowing what kind of a place Yel~
low Dust City was.
The Sport from Shasta, always fond of
l dress, was now rigged up in his best,
' having on a new silk shirt, the front of
t which was embroidered with three of
the big filigree sunflowers—his distin-
guishing emblem.
, He carried a. revolver on one side in
iv front, another on his hip, as was his
" wont, and were about his neck a charm
which never was wanting when the ap-
peared in public.

It was an opal set in gold and swung
about his neck by a chain. In truth, it
was a woman’s necklace.

Seeing Buffalo Bill, he halted, turned
toward him, and called out:

, “i am glad to see you back, Mr. Cody,
and, from what the colonel tells me, I
guess you brought in last night some
material for the Secret Vigilantes to-
day." « ‘ ’
The Sport extended his hand, and Buf-
, falo Bill grasped it with a grip that
' ,meant “ business," for, Sunflower Sam,
' strong as he was, winced.
Holding the hand in this clutch, bhe
sdout said:
“Sunflower Sam, I arrest you as the
-, , chief of the worst gang of cutthroats
that ever disgraced even a mining
camp.”
., i; stilimgra'sping the hand of the now
' White-faced Sam with his right hand,
Buffalo Bill clutched in hisleft a small
dcrringer pistol, a most terrible 'Weapon
at close quarters,’the muzzle pointed
toward the Sport.
Though he had turned deadly pale, the
5 man from Shasta remained outwardly
" ’ calm. He could not release his hand from ‘
the steel-like grasp. He dared not make
a move with his disengaged hand to draw
his revolver.
‘ The rowd had seen and heard what
  dby Buffalo Bill, and were'gath-
' wiring fact about them. though not a man
had been very near when they first met.
Among thOSe appearing were the col-
onel, Carl Waring, and Sule Ross.
As Ross came up Buffalo Bill gave the
order:
 .“ Put the steels upon him, Ross! ”
Instantly the storekeeper obeyed, and
the Sunflower Sport was manacled and
~ disarmed at the same time.
:' “See here, Cody, a joke can be car-
'  ried too far,” protested (the sport.
  ;~;2,~'.:..'rnis is no joke, Shasta, as you well
i '   law .has got you fast at

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“ Colonel,,:'  outrage
31‘ mean? ” demanded .Lth’o‘fspo‘rgcergumg'.

ing the crowd. ',
- ‘ who said in a low tone: ‘ ,,

5.2 r  can here. chief!”

1' , The scout saw ‘ilhat about half of the

5 population 'of Yellow Dust City were

there, and the other half were coming

as fast as they could make their way.

 

 

  

..

4* CHAPTER LXI.
THE EVIL SPIRIT or rr ALL.

As the crowd gathered out of the Gol-

’ Arms came Captain Charlie Adams,

"  V-éhisfimen immediately began to form

Mime multitude, but not pressing

toward, the centre. butt pausing on the

3: v65

    
  

 

  

Then at a signal from Ross, the scout
said in his terse way: i

“Men, I have struck at your‘idol. it
is true; but I know what I am about,
and I accuse him first of being a inur-
derer, robber, and fugitive from justice,
one who planned and led the work in
the Phoenix Bank burglary, of which
many of you have heard."

“It is false!” yelled the disarmed
sport.
“ It is true. That, however, is but a

part of his criminal record, a minor
part. Well born and bred, he went wrong
early in life from the innate deviltry in
his nature. He is an adept forger, and
an expert counterfeiter of United States
money—hold there!

“ The man who attempts to leave this
crowd will be shot dead! "

The movement of men in the assem—
bled host to draw toward the outer edge
of the circle was checked by this warning.

Then Buffalo Bill resumed:

“ Now to the? record, men, of this man

from Shasta, as he calls himself. He is

not from Shasta at all; that dodge was
merely one of his blinds. He has here
in Gold Dust City his whole outfit for
counterfeiting Government money, and
his accomplices are in this very crowo.

“ Suspecting that detectives were here
upon his track, he organized the Secret
Vigilantes, and at once began to trump
up charges against certain men.

“His first blow fell upon the Blue
Belts, and he deceived Colonel Camp,
Sule Ross, Carl Waring, and other good
men and true, who associated with him
as Vigilantes to free the camp from
rogues and preserve the peace. It was
by his trickery and vile lies that the band
of fifteen men were exiled from this
camp. . .

“The charges against them were ut—
terly false and devilish, for these very
men, Burt Boyd and his Blue Belts, act-

ually were Government detectives here:;_
for the purpose of entrapping this human'

devil and his numerous followers.

" He had in his band, including him-
self, twenty—seven men. Some of them
were road-agents, and it was five of his
imps ‘who attacked ,Gencral‘Easton and
his daughter.

"“ Thosotwenty-seven, their sport chief
being in tho‘lead“, Went on the trail of, the
Blue Belts purposely to-destroy them.

“They overtook the ' '
them of the money they had, that which
the sport had paid for the'BluegBelt
mine, as well, altough it was counterfeit,
and then they=set to work to destro;
them.” .

“It is false!” yelled the prisoner.

“ I am dealing in solid ‘facc-s, good peo-
ple! I forgot to say that this man was
educated as a physician and surgeon,
and was a most clever one until he chose
a life of dishonor, crime, and deep de-
pravity. As Doctor Augustus Norman
he was known then, but he dropped his
M. D., and his real name long ago.

“However, he practiced surgery right
near here only a few months ago, for he
determined to torture the Blue Belts to
death; so, with his obddient miscreants,
he cut a foot, or a hand, off of each one
of the overpowered men. .

“He was well-nigh successful in his

fiendish work, for, with utterly diabolical .
,pufipose, he turned them loose to die of
 _ _  ,co ,

i ' Buffalo Bill looked toward Sula Ross. 

and. starvation, maimed as they
were  v ' ‘ "

of this miscreant, found, th

dead than slim. and an. that- amine” f"

the Blue Belts, Burt Boyds‘nd six of his
comrades, are here to answer for them-
selves. ‘ , > . .

Buffalo Bill gave a loud call, and to
the amazement of the crowd Burt Boyd
came toward them from the cabin of Suie
Ross. , =, ,

It beggars description to describe the
scene that followed. .

The men spotted by Buffalo Bill and
Sula Ross were at once surrounded by
tho soidi
toes

 
    
  

in irons '

.u‘:

 
  

 
 

exiles» robbed
- “from the railway station made his heart

‘tor Augustus Norman. alias” Sand

" But ,I found the poor mm] ‘d victim-g. 'sam’ ""3 Shaw Sm’ and his “um
3"“ 1‘ 1" guilt also were condemned to x
imprisonment, several of them for: '

 

era, and in a" short while they.

     
 
   
   
 
   
    
   
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
  
   
    
  
   
     
    
  
   
      
    
   
  
   
 
   

The crowd insisted upon hanging them,
right then and there, but Buffalo Bill
told them that the atrocious scoundrels
must be taken East for trial.

Captain Adams and his men surrounded
the prisoners, and then Buffalo Bill,
Burt Boyd, and others picked from the
crowd went on a search to the cabins of
the assumed Sam and his associates in
wickedness. What they found amply
repaid them, for the evidence would
hang any man. . '

It was proof of the sport’s guilt of the
Phoenix Bank robbery, and three men
then with him had been his pals in that
affair.

The search supplied proof of his for-
geries, and all the counterfeiting outfit
was found, as well as the case of sur-
gical instruments with which the mom.
ster had amputated the limbs of the un-- ‘
fortunate Blue Belt Brigade detectives.

No further evidence was needed, and
all Yellow Dust City was in a furor of
excitement over the appalling revela-
tions. Too much could not be done for g
the Blue Belts, who had so cruelly suf- .' ~
fered.

Carl Waring at once bought from-'
them the Blue Belt mine, for the pur- '
chase of the sport did not hold good,
and Burt Boyd and his .men were'thus
well supplied with money for their trip
back. _ ‘ o ' 

The guilty men, save the two who Shelli, .:
been crippled by freezing, were at once
taken to the fort, Buffalo Bill guiding
and Captain Charlie Adams and his men
guarding.

In safety they arrived, and the sure ,
Prise sprung upon all at the fort was 
indeed great. That it won for Buffalo 
Bill new laurels may be taken for granted. '

He bore his honors modestly; as al-
ways, and was appointed by Colonel 
Lennox to escort the prisoners and 
detective squad to the nearest railroad
station, when, in- the early spring, they '
left the fort. .' .

This service be duly performed, and
uponhis return was surprised to find a
large Indian trail leading to the fort.

A significant‘ find, and in alarm he
hastened on to see what it meant.

 

CHAPTER LXII.
(‘ONi‘LI’SlON. “.

The ovation which Buffalo Bill: re- ‘1’
edited, in Yellow Dust City on his return

   
 
    
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
   
   
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
   
    
    
   
  
    
 

.»

thrill-with pride, and he learned with
pleasure that there had not been a man
killed nor_a lawless act in the 
since the running down of the Still-7’
flower Sport. . ' ‘ 
When he discovered the Indian trail
leading to the post, the scout natumw-' .
suspected mischief; but when he drew
near he found the Indians encamped-
there and quickly ascertained that Death
Hand and several hundred braves were ..
there having a pow—wow with Celene '
Lennox, for the chief had come-to 
his paleface friends to bury the: ' '
with his tribe and live in 
“ This is your work, Cody, 
shall report it to your honor," .sai " '
onel Lennon, and he turned 
and his Eraves over to the T,’
tertain. r g j ‘ _  
a Three months later word-common,
East of the trial and conviction of“!

to» lie/hanged, while his companions

“Burt Boyd wrote Buffalo Bi
ing to share the big rewards?
but «his the generousqnlndui’i ,
fused emphatically. V ' ‘5 f ’
Still later the demcthe ,  .
again saying that he   l ,
his bureau of 
had called his corps 5‘ ’ '~
Belt Brigade,” for 
the Crippled  forth

1w» -

  
   
     
  
 

 

  
  
 

    
   
 
   

 
  
 
   

 
  
  
 

  

 

 

’ BEADLE’StDIMEtuBR/XRY.

 

. Published Every W’ednesday. Each Issue Complete and Solzl at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss lngrnlmm.

959 Buffalo Bill at Bay.

943 Buffalo Bill‘s Block Game.

936 Bull'an Bill s Black hard.

.9" Buffalo Bill's Blufl'; or, Dirkfr Dick tlze Snort.

921 Buffalo Bill‘s Quandary: or, Velvet Bill‘s Vow.

915 Buffalo Billand the Slll'g'l'llllrsl'ulll.

999 Buffalo Bill’s League: or. Red Butterfly.

Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail. .

. Buffalo Bill‘s Rough Riders.

895 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.

899 Buffalo Bill‘s Lift-«Stake.

882 The Three Bills: Bull'an l ill Wild Billand Band-

box Bill; or. The Bravo in Broadcloth.

71 Buffalo 1 ill’s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill's Road-Await Bound-up.
863 Buffalo Bill's Den h Charm.

857 Buffalo Bill‘s Rmal Flush.

851 Buffalo Bill‘s l oub'e Dilemma.

845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse.

819 Buffalo Bill‘s Boss in Blue.

8‘36 Buffalo Bill’s Shur i Shooters.

8:32 Buffalo Bill’s Best ower.

816 Buffalo Bi 1‘s Red Trail.

812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death-Kite".

794 Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand.

75’? Butfalo Bill’s Dead Shot.

781 Buffalo Bill's Brand.

7 7 Buffalo Bill‘s Spy Shadower.

7139 Buffalo Bill‘s Sii'eepstt-ke.

76') B 'f’f‘alo Bitl’s Dt 291-: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

761 Buffalo Bill‘s Mascot.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.

750 Buffalo Bill‘s Br; Feurzot‘. (“uster‘s Shadow.

743 Buffth Bill‘s Flush Hand.

739 Buffalo Bill's lilmd: or. The Masle Driver.

735 Buffalo Bill : iid His Merry Men.

731 Buffalo Bill‘s Beag'es: or, Silk Lasso Sam.

727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard.

722 Buffalo Bill on the \Vfil“{lfllh.

716 Buffalo Bill's Scout Shat owers.

710 Buffalo Bill Bath: d: or. The liesertei'De<perad.i.

697 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Ih'otherhood.

691 Huffalo Bill’s l Iind Trail; or. Mustang Madge.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s S"- oop; or. The King of the Mines.

658 The Cowb v Clan: or. The 'l icress of Texas.

653 Lass.» King‘s Leaguezor. Buck Taylor in Texas.

649 Buffalo Bill‘s Clllt‘fl'f Cowboys; or. Buck ’l‘aylor

614 Buffalo Bill’s lot at za; er, Si ver ('ircleKnights.

362 Buffalo Bill‘s Grip: or. Ualh Bound to Custer.

329 Buttalo Bill’s Pledge: or. The League of Three.

189 ‘1 ild Bill's Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.

175 Wild Bill‘s Trump Card: or. The Indian Heiress.

168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

By I! u ll'ulo B111.

839 The Ranch King;r Dead-Sho‘.

820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt.

807 \\ ild Bill, the. Wild West Duelist.

899 Wild Bill. the 1). ad ('enter Shot.

639 Buffalo Bill‘s (-old King.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Farris of the Plains.

414 Red Renard. the lndian Detective.

491 (hie-Arnch Put-d; or. Borderland Retribution.

397 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Beaver s Trail.

394 White Beaver, the Exile of‘ the Platte.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind ot' the West.

394 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
83 Gold Bullet Snort; or. Knights of the Orel‘lantl.

L52 Death—Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

(

=8
8..

'By Leon Lawful, Neil Buntllnc, etc.

773 Buffalo B 11’s B'm; or. Cody to the Rescue.

682 Buffalo Bill’s Seer t, Service Trail.

629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin 1" Role; 0', Daredeath Dick.

517 Buffalo Bi l‘s First "rail; or. The Express Rider.
155 Buffalo Bill, ('nief i f' Scouts.

117 Bufl’alo Bill 5 Strange l’ard: 0r, Dashing Dandy.
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY H \ll0LD PAYNE.

893 The Man from Mexico iti New York.

872 The King-Pin Shark: or. Thad Burr‘s Ten Strike.
861 The Tenderloin Big Four

853 Tue Quaker (‘ity (Took.

844 Tracked to Chicago.

836 The Policy Broker's Blind.

829 The Frisco Sharper's Cool Hand.

821 The. Tramp Sltaumver‘s Backer.

813 The sham Spottcr's shrewd Scheme.

806 The Grand Street Gold-Dust Sharpets.

798 Detective Burr’s Luna ic Witness

792 The Wall Street Shari er's Snap.

784 Thad Burr‘s Death Drop.

742 Detective Burr Amongthe New Yrrk Thugs.
734 Detective Burr's Foil; or. A \ oman’s Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Spetial.
713 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase

706 Detnctive Burr‘s Seven (lines.

698 Thad Burr. the Invincible; or, The “L ” Clue.
690 The Matchless; DetectiVe.

680 XX. the Fatal Cle‘w: or, Burr's Master Case.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

914 Snowflake Sam‘s Double.

897 Tue Six-Shot Spotter.

867 The, Str.intzer'Sp0t-t from Spokane.

878 The Sport DetectiVe‘s Colorado Clew.
860 The Spangled Sport Shadower. .

' 843 l‘he Crese-nt (‘ity Sport.

882 (Md Gale‘s Block Game.

894 Tue King Pin 01' the Leadville Lions,

786 Chit-9.20 Charlie’s Diamond Haul,

776 Chicago Charlie. the (‘ofumbtan Detective,

758 The Vt izar ‘ Kim: D« tective.

723 Teamster Tom, the Boomer Detective.

709 Lodestonu. Lem. the (Jhnmplon of Chestnut Burr.
695 Singer Sam. the Pilgrim Detective. -
688 River Hustlers; or. the Detective from 'Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam, the Whit: st Sp rt of Santa Fe_
666 Old Adamant, the Man of Rock.

618 Rooms Karl, the Detective Kintr.

552 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock.

‘ 538 Huckleberry. the Foot-Hills Detective.

Q7"... ‘ A l ‘ ‘. ‘1'“ _.V fl .‘A ..~

BY CAPTAIN “()‘VARD IIOLlVlES.
929 Gentleman George, the Showman Sport.
91': (l nteel Joe's Lone Hand.
993 The Train Detective.
896 Kent Keen, the ('rooerrusher.
8‘48 Nightshade in New York.
8.. Falcmt Flynn, the Flash Detective.
871 The (‘t‘ook(‘:1sliiel'.
859 (fleuwllawk Keene‘s Right Bower.
817 llira'n Hawk. llte llol‘lcm Dt‘l‘-(‘ll"9.
S19 Major Bullion Boss of the Tigers.
Sill Sh tdowing t‘-e. London Detective.
817 Plush Velvet. the Prince of Spotters.
69:3 The Bogus Broker‘s Right Dower.
7'88 The Nieht-ll iwk Di lec‘ivc.
779 Silk thbon’s (‘r sit-out.
766 Detective Zach. the Broadway Spotter.
l5) The Dark Lantern lief: ctit'c.
736 Th:- cher-ll‘ai D tectivc.
724 (‘aptain Hercules. the Stronc: Arm Defective.
711 Dan Damon, the (tilt-Educ Detectivo.
791 Silver SteVe. the Branded Sport.
694 Gideon Grip, the Sectet Shadower.
684 Velvet Van, the Mystery Shadowu‘.
675' The Dude Desperado
671 Jason (flew, the Silk—Wanded Ft rret.
664 Monk Morel, the Mnn-llun cr.
651 Sol Sphinx. the Fertet Detective.
61‘.’ Red Yard and Yellow
698 Silent Sam, the. Shadow Sphinx.
592 (.‘apt'tin Sid. the Shasta Ferret.
579 (lid Cormorant. tl‘c Bowery Shadow,
569 (‘aplain (,‘ohra. the limitled Mystery.
559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.
539 Silk Hand, L‘ic Mohave Ferret.
513 The filagnatc Detective.
521,13 Jac't Javert. the Independent Detective.
5‘23 Reyiinrd of’ Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
512 Captain Velvet’s Biz Stake.
595 Phil Fox. the (lentcel Spotter.
496 lichard Redtire. the Two Worlds’ Detective.
487 Sunshine Sam. a (‘hip of the Old Block.
489 llawkspcat: the Man with a Secret.
4 R (‘olllifl‘ip in Deadwood.
469 (‘uplaiu (‘oldgrio the Detective
453 (‘aplaiu f‘oldgrtp's Loni: Trail.
447 Vo'cttno. the l“: isco Spy,
4711 The California Sharp.
434 Lucifer Lynx. the \\ onder Detective.
4‘31 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.
41‘} Captain Coldtzrip in N w York.
407 Captain (‘oldgrip‘s Nezve: or. lnjun Nick.
499 Captain (loldgrip: or. The New York Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
38:2 The Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of" Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the Sport of 'l‘wo Cities.
365 Keen Kcnnard. the Shasta Shadow.
352 The Desperate Deztxn.
3-17 Denver Duke. the Man wilh “ Sand."
310 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

3

321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.
. Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco.
4 BY \VILLIABI ll. IVIANNING.

948 The Red-(llovrd Detective.

931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.

9:29 The Mon'ana .llinur iii New Yoik.

998 The I) ‘tmts iii-ll -n lletcetiw,

899 The D'iuhlv -Qniek It'l’eclive.

S93 Yell nv (lid of Dark Divide.

895 '1 he l‘lxpcr' I). teetiv.-‘s Shake-tip.

75 Trapp in: the Race ’l‘tack Judge.

861 The. Police. Special’s ltilenmio.

81’ The Gentet-I Shnrper’s (‘outbine

841 Graydon‘s D- n'.-le Deal.

833 The Sport Detectist (itip.
#33 Thv- Athlete Sport About Town.

898 TheCrook—Dett ctii’t-‘s Full.

799 I’lung‘cr Pete. the llnce Track Detective.

732 [turn] Rock, the lit titulup Detective.

77f S’cve S'nt'r. the D1 ck Deli ctive.

761 Tit- Nov York Sharp's Shadower.

7:18 lid, -et vo Cluxton. the Record Breaker.

7'11 Gabe (hill. the (lambt lict‘ from Great Hump,
79‘1 Spokane Saul, the Sziitiaritan Suspect

69: D tad Shut Paul. II c l‘ccp-Ranm- Ex tlot't‘l‘.

65‘) Strawh'r-rry Sa n. the Man with the irtlmiark.
616 Dark .Joh i, the (film Guard.

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

62% Dangn‘ous Dave, the NM'el'Jlefllt’ti Detective.
611 Alttnli Abe, the (lame (‘l icken from Texas.

.596 Rustler Rube: tho Round-Up Detective.

.585 Dan Dixonfs Double.

57:) Steady “and. the, Napoleon ef' Detectives
563 Wyoming Zeke, til c H<tspur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garry Kean the Man with Boclhone.

539 Old Douhledark. the, Wily Detective.

.531 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.
-521 Paradise Sam. the Nor‘-West Pilot.

513 T-xas Tartar. the Man With Nine Lives.
596 Uncle Honest. the l eucenmker of Hot'ncts’ Nest.
498 C‘ntral Pacific 1‘. til. the Mail Train Spy.
49.’ Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten. tht Nerthwest Detective.

479 Glall‘itor Gabe, tln Samson of Snssujack.

479 The Duk.u ot' Dakota".

463 Golrl Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator.

45.": Yank Yelloubn'd. the Toll Hustler 0f the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. Kim.r t f the Rockies.

412 Wild West, Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

437 Deep Duke: ( r. The Man of Two Lives.
The Rivals of Montana Mill
415 Hot Heart, the Detective Spy.
495 Old Baldy the Brlzadier ot’ Buck Basin.
297 Colorado Rube. th Strongr Arm of Hotspur.
279 The Gold Dragoon, or, California Bloodhound.

B V I. EON LE‘VIS.

797 Pistol Tommy the Miner Sharfl.

7R5 l‘he D )wn East. Detective in Nevada.

773 Buffalo Biil s Ban or. Cody to the Rescue.

699 'l'll4 Cowboy Couriers.

666 The On-tlie-Winz Detectives.

624 The. Submarine Detective: or, The WoterGhouls.

484 Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer.

4‘11 The Silent Detective: or, The Bogus Nephew.

456 The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim: or. The Island Lure.
5

.3.

§

 

' \

t» . -‘... v'rgv‘I- “ .‘t.

 

 

ALBERT ‘V. AIKEN’S NOVELS.
Dick Talbot Series.

1 Dick Talliot"s (,‘lose Call.

7 Dic< Talbot in Apache l and.

'5 Dick Talbot. the Baltic“ King.

'29 Dick Talbot ’s l‘lean (int.

23 Dick Talbot in No )1 311's Camp.

351 Dick T illiot: ()1. The lit-and of t‘rinison Cross
36 Dick Talbot; or. The “(mill-Shut of Shasta.

Alkcn’s Fresh of‘ Frisco Series.

8'25 Fresh, the Race-Track Sp: rt.

669 The Fresh in Montana: 1 1'. lil: ke's Full Hand.
65; T e Fresh’s Rustle at Painted City.

647 The Fresh at Santa Fe: (1‘, 'l h Strant'e‘ Sh rp.
r.“ Fresh, the Sport: or. The Dig.r Racket ntS idc Om.
537 Fresh Against the Fic'd: or. Blake. the Lion.
197 The Fresh 111 Texas: or The Est-obedo Millions.
161 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio G rande.

9'.” The Fresh in Big Walnut (‘antpz or Bronze Jack.

J

v
v

Aikcn’u Joc Plicnix S‘erlen.

949 The Diet tr from T xaszv r, Jot-Phonix’sl‘luc.

944 Joe l’lictiix's Ritrht Boner.

865 The Female Barber la ll ('tiv ; or, Joe Phenix in
Silver City.

799 Joe Plienix’s. Great Blue Dinm' itl (‘a4cz or, The
New York Spor: at Long: Brain h.

793 Joe Phenix’s Deep)“: or, The. Man of Three.

769 Joe, l’henix’s Lone Hand.

" Joe l‘h 'nix‘s Bitr Bulge.

.-
7.;

,,
7-15 J ie l’lienix’s Mad (‘usm

7. Jon l’itetiix‘s‘ .Kirt n; or. The Woman Hawks at".
700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks
681 Joe Phenix‘s Specials; (.I‘. The Actress Detlctii'e
637 .Ioe Pneuix in Crazy Camp.

632 Joe Phenix's Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix’s (‘omlzin ;- r,the Dandy Consp’rator
629 Joe i’heiiix’s Silent Six.

691 Joe, l’lienix‘s Shadow : or.tl‘e Detective’s Monitor
419 Joe l’hehix.. the Kin" ('f Detectives.

i

 

:35 Flash Dan. the Nubob; or. Blades of Bowie Bar. '

161 Joi- Phenix‘s Great Man Hunt.
11:: Joe l’lll‘lllx, l'rtmte Detective; or, The League,
Joe l’henix, the Police Spy.

2

l
Alkcn’u Misc cllaucouu Novels.

949 (“aptain Jack. the Senlper

935 The hawks and \\ olves of New Yotk

932 Detective Gordon‘s Grip.

9260111 Suntlowm‘. the Silent Smiter.

923 Old SunflOWer. the Hayseed Den clive.

991 The Hotel Swel'Sl-arp; ( r, The Siren Sliadower.
89".! The (‘ouutrvninn Dc'ective

876 Gold Button Sport: or, The Miner Sharps.

812 Teton Tom the Half-I 1.0d.

835 The Kingr Pin Detective.

814 The New Yot‘kt r Att‘OnP Texas Sports.

) King Dandv. the Silver Spot".

5 Gideon‘s Grip at l‘ahylon l at‘.

717 Captain Pat lIcGowcn. ti o (it't-etico;:t Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up. the Born Detective.

979 The Lightweight Detective.

665 True Frisco l eteetivi ; er, The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy, the Sport.

697 Old Benzine, the " Ilard (‘aSe ” Detective.

.591 the Face, the Silver King‘s Foe.

58'» The Silver Sharp Detective.

577 Tom, of Calift rma: or. I). tective‘s Shadow Act.
579 The Actress Detective: or. The aniSible Hand
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.

529 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.

499 The Lone Hand iii Texas.

475 Chin Chin, the ChineSe Detective.

465 The Actor Detective.

v1 19 The High Ilot‘ e of the Pacific.

42ft The Lone iland: or. The ilcd River Recreants.
.198 Doc (lrip. the V1 mielta of D1 alh.

:th The Gypsy lieu lien an: «r. Niel. Fox. Tit lectii'e
376 Black Beards: (l 'lhe l‘lll‘ (lt‘otidc llit'h lit rse
:79 The Dnskv Detective: or l‘ursued to the End.
363 (frowningshield. th 1 Ut‘lQClth‘

5129 The Gent-e! Sho to r: tr The N. Y, Night Hawk.
25-3 The \ mi Sin-pr, l lood: (r. The Telt zrai ll Girl.
293 The Double Detective: tr.'llie Mn’nigl.t Mystery.
196 La )tartnosr-t, the letrettve Queen.

- 191 The Man from N w York.

91 The Winning (Jar: ( r. 'l he lnrkeeoer’s Daughter.
61 llnnted Down: or, The [181,110 of Three.

81 The Human Tiger: or. A lieait of Fire.

75 (tentleni-m George: or. l’nrlr-r Prison and Street.
7-3 The. lentOm Hand: or. The 5th Avenue Heiress.

 

i 959 Joe l‘henix‘s Double Deal.
1 960 Bull‘an Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade.
l graham.
I
l
l

56 The Indian Mazenpn: or, Madman of the Plains.
49 Thu Wolf Demon: or. The Kanawha Q13een.
4‘2 The, California Detective: or. The “ itches of NY.

27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New York.

i
1 31 The New York Sharp: or. The Flash of Lightning.

NEW ISSUES.

By Col. P. In»

I 961 Captain Cowl. the White Hood Chief. By .109.

E. Badger. I
962 The 1):nion Dwarf‘s Ally. By A. P. Morris.
‘ 96‘} The Sea Recreant. By Col. P. Ingraliam.

JUST ISSUED.
953 Dashing Charlie's Minute Men. By Col. Ingraham
, 951 Joe Phenix in Chicago. 3y Albert W. Aiken.
955 The secret Service Special of New York. By
Ed. Gaint s Burncs.
9'16 B .t’falo Bill‘s Volunteer Yigllantes. By Ingraham
957 The King-Pin Sport. By Jos E. Badger, Jr.
958 Thp RoundAbout-Town Sport. By J. C Conn
drick. ‘
A new issue every Wednesday.
Beadle’s nl'nn Library is for gale t I all
) 1 ()
iilf‘lefii'é‘ellé’ 35332 Eaéni°pt¥iszrff§ sill this",
A Publ shcrs, 92 William street, New York.

 

By Albert W. Aiken.

if

r

_- ‘_fi'.

4- >_—-

J":