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Copyrighted. 189?. In READLE AND ADAMS.

      

 

 

N0. 964. “$3223?”

ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER. AT THE NEW YORK. N. Y

.. POST OFFICE. Aprll H. 1597

T?5.c36’?§§§£" V01. LXXV.

 

 

I

L Egg, w... ,-

OR,TBE

able Shadower’s
Sublime Sacrifice.

The Story of the Conulerlelt
Cavalry's Doom.

 

 

BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM,
AUTHOR OF “ BUFFALO BILL ” NOVELS, ETC.

 

.- CHAPTER I.
——~~_— LA wn'm» ()l'T.
“ My God! they are killing them!”
The words came from the lips of one

\

BUFFALO BILL SUNDENLY REINHI) IN HIS HORSE UN THE VERY EDGE OF THE
BLUFF, AT THE STARTLINU SIGHT BEFORE HIM.

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

2

'

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

who had suddenly ridden to the top of
a ridge, which overlooked a beautiful
valley,

The scene upon which he gazed was
one to sicken the s-toutest heart-

The valley was sheltered by wood-ed
hills upon either side, was narrow, fer-
tile, and a. stream wound through it.

‘ A restful spot, not one to be desecrated
by red—handed outrage.

In a clump of timber upon the banks
of the stream was a camp. Half a dozen
wagons, an ambulance, and buckboard
were standing in a semi—circle, the horses
and mules, with a few cattle and sheep
grazing near by.

The smoke of several campfires floated
upward, and about them were people
busy with the coming meal, or so had
been a few minutes before the scene of
death and despair burst upon it.

There were half. a dozen negro men
and women, several children with ebony
faces, and a number of dogs lying near
watching the preparations for supper.

At a fire apart was gathered a group of
whites.

These consisted of a woman of forty,
with a face still beautiful, and stamped
with refinement one would hardly ex—
pect 'to find in that wilderness.

A gentleman with iron-gray hair and
beard sat near her, while a young girl
of 'thirteen, and a boy of fifteen, were
seated not far away, the former engaged
in mending some article of wear, the
latter cleaning a rifle.

It looked just what it was—a well—"to-
do emigrant party, going to seek a home
beyond the line of civilization and face
the dangers and hardships of frontier
life.

Suddenly, adown the valley, appeared
a. party of horsemen, and, on the instant,
the dogs gave the alarm. All in the
camp were upon their feet at once, and
weapons were made ready to meet an
attack, for no one in that borderland
was 'to be trusted until proven a friend.

But the youth called out:

“They are all right, father, for see!
they are soldiers! ”

It could be seen, now, that the party
of horsemen was in the uniform of cav-
alrymen of the United States Army, and
their horses were in full military equip-
ment.

“There is an officer and twenty-odd
men,” called out the boy,.counting them.

A man, well mounted, and wearing a
fatigue uniform, with shoulder straps, a
black slouch hat and plume, was in the
lead, the others following by twos, and
all were coming at an easy canrter.

“We must make them our guests for
the night, wife,” said the leader of the
emigrant train, and he called out to the
negro women to prepare more food for
supper,

The negro men had seized their rifles,
but now laid them aside; the dogs were
commanded to cease their barking, and
all turned to greet the party of horsemen,
looked upon as friends, indeed, the brave
barriers who stood between the savage
Indian and the settler, and ever ready
to extend the hand of aid and sympathy.

Nearer and nearer they came, and the
leader of the camp stepped forward to
greet the officer and bid him and his
men welcome.

But, suddenly, without a word of warn-
ing, without a geeting, the one who
wore the shoulder straps called out to his
men:

“ You know what to do! ” ~ _

With the words the leader leveled his
revolver full at the heart of the camper
and pulled trigger.

The man staggered back, to be greeted
with another shot, and he dropped dead,
just as a volley of revolver shots rang
through the camp, and under the treach-
erous, deadly fire the woman with the
lovely face, the youth, and the negroes,
men, women, and children. fell under the
merciless hands of th0se whom they.
had looked to for protection. ‘

It was true that several of the brave
negro men had seized their weapons and
opened fire, and two of the horsemen
had fallen from their saddles; but the

O

carnival of death went on, and within
five minutes the surprised campers had
fallen.

Then the leader and his men dismounlt-
ed, and then came the cry:

“This girl is not-dead! One of you
men send a bullet through her brain, for
she has only fainted. '

“This must be a clean sweep, men——
a perfect wipe-out! ”

But, not a. man moved to obey. There
lay the girl, unhurt, as she sank down
in a swoon when she saw her father fall.

“Did you hear?” shouted 'the leader-

“ We have done red work enough—she
shall not die,” cried a man, and the
chief wheeled upon him in a fury.

But, at once arose a chorus of voices:

“ No, she shall not die! ”

 

CHAPTER II.
THE STRANGE WITNESS.

The scene described in the opening
chapter is the one witnessed by the man
whose words open this story.

The man who uttered them had been
following a trail that wound over the
range into the valley where the fatal
camp was located, and along which the
wagon train had gone to its doom.

He was well mounted, his saddle and
bridle were of the Mexican pattern and
heavy with solid silver ornaments, while
his blanket roll revealed that they were
serapes of the finest make.

A repeating rifle hung to his saddle
horn, a lariat was upon the other side,
there was swung under it one of those
dangerous sugar cane knives so well
known in Louisiana and Cuba, and called
there the machete.

.With such a weapon a man could hew
his way through a dense thicket of under—
brush, or the ranks of a regiment.

The horse he rode was a splendid ani-
mal, large, gaunt, and spirited, while his
glossy hide was as black as jet.

The rider was over six feet in height
and built like an athlete, while his move—
ments were quick and decided.

He rode like the perfect horseman he
was, and looked fully able- to take care
of himself in any (trouble, and to use the
revolvers and bowie in his belt, all of
which, along with his rifle and machete,
were mounted with silver.

In addition to these weapons named,
he carried under his knee, running paral-
lel with his herse, a long and handsome-
ly ornamented bow, a quiverof graceful
but deadly arrows hanging to the cantel
of his saddle.

Both bow and arrows were painted
red and were ornamented with silver.

The man’s dress was a black velvet
jacket, profusely adorned with silver but-
rtons, pants of velvet stuck in top boots,
the latter having massive silver spurs
upon them, and a sombrero thoroughly
Mexican and ornamented with a silver
serpent for a hat—cord, ruby eyes being
set in the head, and an eagle of gold
with diamond eyes. I

The horseman thus gorgeously adorned
and thoroughly fitted out was a negro-
IIis face and hands were as black as
ebony, in strange contrast to his teeth,
that were milk white and even.

His features were not, however. ill
formed” for they were clean cut and in—
dica-tiVe of intelligence and courage.

The most striking feature about him
whre his eyes, which were large, the
lashes were long, and in their depths
dwelt a tenderness and expression that
a woman might well wish to possess.

Such was (the man who had ridden up
to the summit of the range, following
the wagonatrain trail, and looked down
into the beautiful valley and the camp,
so picturesque in its restfulness.

He had halted then. as though enjoy-
ing the scene, and his eyes had turned
from the camp, in its repose, to the com—
ing of the horsemen in uniform.

He had seen the latter ride up to the
camp, and then bewildered beyond power
of movement. had witness-ed the terrible
rccne that had followed. and which fairly
wrung: from his lips 1the words:

“My God! they are killing them! ”

 

 

After the shock of the discovery was
over he settled himself in his saddle,
and, seizing his rifle, seemed about to
dash down the hill into the camp, and
go to the aid of the campers.

But, Second thought restrained him,
and for two reasons.

The first was that the unequal fight
was so soon over, or rather the surprise
and massacre, for such it was. The
campers had been wiped out in a very
few minutes.

The second thought that restrained him
was the knowledge that he was only one
against a score, and his OWn death
would follow very quickly, he well knew.

Then came the thought that he could
live for revenge! If he went into the
valleY, then he would go to his death.
If he kept out'of sight he could avenge
those whom he would have sacrificed his
life to ‘have saved.

Instantly the second thought gained
the mastery, and he dragged his horse so
hard backward as nearly to 'throw him
over.

In an instant he had gone back into
the shelter of the pines.

L931)ng to the ground, he hitched his
horse and wen-t forward to look down
upon the scene. He fairly staggered with
weakness as he saw that all was over.

The murderers had not seen him, that
was certain, or they would have quickly
given chase. *

These men of the merciless hand and
craven heart wanted no witness to their
red deeds, and the Black Horseman would
have been pursued to the death. -

So he kept out of sight, muttering:

“ No, no, they shall not see me—now! ”

 

CHAPTER III.
IN DREAD SUSPENSE.
’ At the chorus of voices, that the girl
should not die, the man who led the
uniformed murderers of the emigrants
turned fairly upon them and half raised
his revolver.

“ Did you hear my orders, to shoot that
girl?” he said, in a voice that quivered
with suppressed passion.

“We heard,” came in the voice of all.

“ Obey then! ”

“ No, cap’n, she missed dying with the
first fire, and our blood is cooled off now.
We won’t kill her,” answered the one
who now spoke for all.

“ You refuse?”

U  (10.”

“ Then I shall send a bullet through
her heart and deal with you later on for
this mutinous spirit.” ,

“It‘s not intended for mutiny, cap 11,
Only what we did under the impulse of
expecting a. hot fight, we won’t do when
We have cooled off and against a young
girl that can do us no harm.”

“I’ll give the man one hundred dol—
lars who sends. a bullet through her
heart before she returns to conscious—
ness.”

Not a man moved.

“ I will give two hundred.”

Still no reSponse.

“ I will make it three hundred dollars.”

The men looked at each other, but
there was no movement to obey and win
the money.

“ I will make it five hundred.”

The murderous band of a still more
murderous leader moved uneas11y and
glanced furtively at each other at this
offer. '

But, they did no more.

Not a word Was said.

“ This is my last offer, and I mean it.

“I will give one thousand in gold to
the man who kills that girl before she
recovers her senses. _

“Think! She will know nothing of it,
and it will be a mercy to her.” .

The men moved still more uneasdy.
They, looked at each other, as though
to see which one would win the pnze.

But, not a hand was lowered to the
revolver, not one made any movement to
obey. . ,

“ You do not accept my offer? ” said the
leader, and as he spoke he drew his re-

volver.

 

 

*.

 

 

w.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincible-s. 3

 

“Why don‘t you kill her, cap’n, and
save your money?" asked one of the
men.

“I will do so,” he said, in a low tone,
and, as he spoke, his face turned to the
hue of death.

At the same moment he turned, revol—
ver in hand, and cocked, toward the
girl lying so near him, and who had
moved uneasily, as though dreamlng a
bad dream.

It would be a bold, bad man, indeed,
who could send a bullet into that uncon-
scious girl, with her beautiful face and
wealth of golden hair.

It would seem 'to one who had a heart
that a hyena even would show mercy to
such a picture of girlish innocence.

But, the man had turned as though to
carry out his threat.

He held his revolver ready, as one who
intended to fire, to send a bullet into the
breast of the girl, the sole survivor of
that little camp, a few moments before
the picture of repose and contentment.

The leaders face was the hue of the
dead lying about him, the emigrant, his
wife, and young son.

His lips even were white, and yet he
was calm and determined as though he
meant to carry out his cruel threat.

To gaze upon his face no one would
suspect that he was a man without mercy.
for he was a man of fine appearance,
not over thirty years of age, well formed,
handsome in his well—fitting uniform,
which his deed of crime had disgraced,
and one whose appearance would attract
rather than repel.

He was a handsome man, with long,
curling brown hair, dark eyes, strangely
expressive, and a mustache that was
long, and but half shaded a mouth of
stem determination.

“Yes, I will kill her," repeated with
strange calmness the man whose good
face hid a devilish heart.

 

CHAPTER IV.
NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN.

And the leader raised his revolver as
though to carry out his threat

But, suddenly, as with one thought
swaying all, the score of men of the band
stepped forward, and, as with one voice,
cried:

(I  )’

The chief looked at them in amaze-
ment.

Was his wish, his will, to be disputed?

“ Do you mean to oppose me?” he de—
manded. ‘

They looked toward one of their num-
ber, who understood the look and an-
swered: .

“We obey as machines, captaln. your
every order save one. Look around and
see that we have been merciless in what
we have done; but you asked {00 mUCh
When you expect one of uS to calmly
shoot 'that poor child. ’

“From the moment we did so. We
W0111‘d bring upon ourselves ill luck; we
would be death haunted. So we do re-
fuse, and also, we refuse to allow you
to out against your name a blot so foul.

The girl shall not die, though Hea-
ven knows she will wish that death had
come to her, when once she awakens
to her unfortunate position."

The man had spoken with perfect
calmness, but in a tone that admitted
of no argument.

The chief seemed at first as though
he intended to break forth in a terrible
rage. and he half raised Ihis revolver as
if he intended to shoot the man who
had so bokfly defied hnn, but as the
spokesman of the hand finished what
he had to say, the leader responded:

“Camp, I believe you are right: Were
the circumstances different. I would tol—
erate no interference; but she is a mere
fihild, and we need not fear harm from
er.

“Save her the emigrant party have
been utterly wiped out, and, we will
adopt her and the past she must forget—

yes, she shall be made the Camp Queen,
tnen'.

“ Camp,z,you see to her case, while we ~

. ~ we

 

discover the result of this wipe-out, for
if report is true, we have done the right
thing, even though women and children
had to suffer.”

The chief Ihad yielded gracefully to
the humane will of his men, as far as
the young girl was concerned.

The man addressed as Camp at once
went over to where the girl was lying,
and he saw that she was returning to
consciousness, so called to the man near—
est him to hastily remove the bodies of
her parents and brother, and those of
the negroes as well.

And back upon the hilltop, his eyes
glaring with suppressed hatred, and
heart throbbing with deep emotion,
crouched the negro who had witnessed
the terrible scene.

He knelt there, and his gaze was riv-
eted upon the moving forms. He took
from his saddle pouch a field glass and
brought it to bear upon the men as they
moved about obeying the orders of their
chief.

He saw the camp fires rebuilt, as
night came on, beheld the form of Camp
kneeling by the side of the young girl,
the sole survivor of the massacre, and
then beheld him lead her away to the
tent which had been her mother‘s and
her own.

The negro still watched as the men
overhauled the wagons, and as night
fell he saw them station a guard on
each side, along the trail, and then
gather about the camp fire to feast upon
the things found in the provision boxes
of the emigrants.

Then, under cover of the darkness, he
went down the trail into the valley,
flanked around to avoid the 'sentinels
and, approaching nearer 'and nearer,
crawling a part of the way, until he
reached a clump of pines not a. hundred
yards away from the camp.

The dogs of the train were crouching
apart in a. group, terrified at what had
occurred, and the efforts of the men to
make friends with them had been use-
less.

But one, a very large and savage—look-
ing brute, left his fellows suddenly,
sniffed the air, and went trotting to the
clump of pines, and with a low whine
lay down close to the crouching neg-r0.

And there the watcher passed several
hours, his eyes riveted upon each face
as the men appeared before him, until
he had them indelibly stamped upon
his heart and brain, and felt that they
were not to be forgotten.

 

CHAPTER V.
A MAN IN BUCKSKIN.

What thoughts crowded upon the brain
of the lone watcher of the camp of slay-
ers, whose deed so disgraced the uni-
form they wore, who can tell?

But there he crouched, watching and
waiting. Every A of the men came
before his gaze, w le many words they
uttered reached his ears.

Suddenly he turned his head, and lis-
tened. The approach of boots reached
his ears. Some one was coming toward
the camp, his horse on a canter.

Then the sound ceased. The guard
at the end of the camp evidently had
failed to hear the hoof falls.

He paced to and fro in tlhedarkuess,
until at last he halted, leaped to the
shelter of a tree and called out:

“Halt! Who comes there?”

“Friend!” was the answer, in a clear,
decided / voice.

“Who and what are you? “

“A scout on the way to Fort Fenton."

“ Dismount, advance and give the
countersign." _

The stranger laughed, as the watch-
ing negro distinctly heard; then came
the reply:

“I cannot give what I do not know.”

“My orders are to kill, if my chal-
lenge is not obeyed.”

“ Is this not a camp of United States
Cavalry? ” ‘

“It is.” ‘

“ From Fort Fenton?”
f’Yesq’

..-l

'.';'

 

 I belong to the service, for I am an
army scout, and going to Fenton under
orders. Call an officer, sentinel, and 1
can make him understand."

“ Ho, there! "

 What is it?” called out a voice from
the camp.

“ It is a man who claims to be an army
scout, sir,“ replied the man.

The leader, for he it was who had
asked the question, at once advanced
toward the sentinel, after giving an or-
der to his men, and called out sternly:

“ VVIho and what are you?”

1“ An army scout, sir. I have dispatches
from Fort Flagstaff to ‘Fort Fenton.”

“I saw your camp fire as I passed
along the valley trail, and came to you,
for I discovered that it was a camp of
United States Cavalry."

“Yes, We are U. S. Cavalry. Dismount
and advance, that I may have a look
at you, for it is necessary to be very
cautious after what has happened."

The horseman dismounted, and lead-
ing his horse, advanced at a quick step
to where the soldier and his captain
stood, the former covering Ihim with his
rifle.

“ Halt! "

The horseman obeyed promptly.

He was within a dozen feet of the
sentinel, and as the camp fire flared up
brightly he stood partly within its light.

The captain and sentinel stood gaz-
ing at him, the former saying:

“I do not know you. You are a
stranger at Fort Fenton? ”

“Yes, sir. I am Chief of Scouts at
Flagstaff, and have not been to Fort
Fenton for several years.
dispatches there now, and in haste, but
would like a short halt for rest with
you, sir, and a bite to eat.”

“ You are welcome. Advance!”

This much the negro crouching amid
the group of scrub pmcs heard, and
he saw the stranger advance and then
walk with the captain toward the camp-
fire, after staking his horse out near
the sentinel.

He saw the captain lead the stranger
up to the camp fire and the men arise to
receive him.

But he could not hear what passed,
though the sound of voices reached his
ears.

As 'he stood there in the firelight, the
stranger was distinctly visible to the
negro, who brought his field glass to bear
upon him.

He saw a man well above the ordinary
height, with massive chest, broad shoul-
ders, and erect~ as an Indian.

He was dressed in fringed buckskin
leggings, a hunting coat of the same
material, embroidered with porcupine
quills and beads of varied colors, and
wearing a light, broad—brimmed slouch
hat that was set jauntily upon one side of
his head. .

His hair was black and long, falling
below his shoulders, and he wore an im-
peria‘l and mustache that gave him a mil—
itary appearance.

Altogether, clad as he was in buckskin,
even to moccasins, he was a most strik—
ing and picturesque person
ance.

Though he was so far off from the
negro, the glass further revealed that
the man in buckskin. had a strikingly
handsome face, with large eyes, full of
expression, and daring and determina-
tion stamped upon every feature.

He looked just what he was, a splendid
specimen of. manhood, one of Nature’s
truest noblemen, ready to do and die in
a cause he deemed right. _

“I wonder who that man in buckskin
is? ” muttered the negro, greatly im-
pressed by his presence.

And the slayers about the camp fix"
wondered the same thing, but soon found
out.

 

CHAPTER vL
RECOGNIZED.
The stranger in buckskin cast a sweep-

ing eye over the men gatheredabout the

mambo-..¢.mtsmim

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in appear:

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4

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

 

To his view they appeared to be what
their appearance indicated, a party of
cavalry out on a scout after Indians or
outlaws. ,

But there were other things that caught
the eye of the visitor, and these were
the wagons, ambulances, and camping
outfit of the murdered emigrants.

There was the tent erected for the
mother and her daughter, and in it lay
the young girl, who had wept herself
to sleep, after she returned to conscious—
ness and knew what had happened, or
had heard the story of the man Camp,
who had saved her life.

And, strange to say, whatever that
story was she had, in her great grief, be-
lieved it.

But the visitor did not just seem to
understand the party of soldiers being
in the camp of a wagon train, and no
emigrants about to speak for themselves.

The dead had already been buried, and
none of the stains and sights of the cruel
massacre remained visible to the ordi-
nary glance.

The look of the stranger, however,
caused one of the men to rise and leave
the campfire, but before he did so he had
given his chief a look that he seemed to
understand, for he quickly followed him.

A short distance away the man awaited
his chief, and the two engaged in a low,
earnest conversation for a few minutes.

The man was Camp, and what he said
seemed to impress the chief, for, he
quickly returned to the campfire, where
supper was being prepared for the stran-
ger, and said, somewhat eagerly.

“I am certainly very glad that you
have come, for I have a most terrible
story for you to carry on to Fort Fen-
ton.”

“ Indeed, sir? ”

“Yes. We were most particular about
you to-night, as we had just passed
through a tragic scene which I must
tell you about. .

“But, have you any papers to show
who you are, as I care to make no mis-
take, sir.”

The stranger smiled and replied:

“ I failed to recognize any men of
your command, captain, whom I had seen
before, so have no one to introduce me;
but I have dispatches, sir, and I will
show you them, sealed and addressed
to the commandant of Fort Fenton, Colo-
nel Webster Waring, and the stranger
drew out from an inner pocket 3. large
Oilskin wallet, in which were several
sealed envelopes.

These he held so that the captain
could read the address, which was as
follows:

If 
“Colonel Webster Waring,
“ Fort Fenton.

“ By hand of Chief of Scouts William
F. Cody—Buffalo Bill.” ’

The captain glanced at the address
and at once extending his hand, slid
edgerly: e

“ What? Can it be possible that I have
as my guest the renowned plainsman,
Buffalo Bill?”

“My pards so call me, sir,” was the
modest rejoinder.

The men at once gazed upon the noted
scout with greatly increaSed interest.

They felt that they were in the pres-
ence of a man whose deeds of daring,
whose life of wonderful adventure, and
services untold to the army and frontier
settlements, had made his name known
' the world over.

They gazed upon his splendid face, his
carriage, so conscious of his power, yet
modest withal, and felt that he was Just
the man to do and dare- all that he had
been credited with.

They knew that his name was dear in
every border home, that he was the idol
of the army, the terror of hostile In-
dians, and of evil doers, and they were
quiet to almost awe in his presence.

“I told you so, sir,” whispered Camp
to his captain. for he had returned and
stood at his elbow.

But the captain did not appear to he,

a he! “:‘ekawm'  was terry t0. ms... ’ v

exact] elated over the discoveryflh

       

 

made. He rather appeared like a man
who had an unpleasant duty to perform.

,His manner of warmth toward the great

scout seemed forced, But, he was going to
make the best of a: very bad situation,
as he considered it, for himself and men.

So he said with assumed frankness:

“Well, sir, it is an honor, indeed, to
have for a guest one of whom I have
heard so often,'and who has won such
deserved fame for himself.

“I have, Mr. Cody, no hesitation in
telling you, now that I know Who you
are, the very sad story that will account
for our being here, in 'the camp of a
party of unfortunate emigrants.

“lint, eat your supper, sir, for it is
readY, while I tell you a very sad tale of
woe and bloodshed.”

The scout’s face showed no emotion to
reveal what he thought, and he quietly
set to work upon his supper.

a

 

CHAPTER VII.
XVHAT was TOLD Izi'FFALo BILL.

“It is a very sad story that I have to
tell, Chief Cody," began the captain, as
Buffalo Bill finished his supper and
quietly lighted his pipe to listen, feeling
convinced, from What he had seen and
heard thus far that something had gone
wrong in the camp, though just what it
was he had not been able to discover.

“You know, I suppose, that emigrants
have been pushing their way out here,
lured by the rumor that gold had been
found in large quantities?”

“I had heard that gold had been dis—
covered in theSe mountains, but I knew
that the Government did not allow any
immigration here, as the ‘lands had not
been thrown open and the danger from
Indian massacres was great.”

“ That is just it, but there are fool-
hal‘dy men who not only will persist in
coming here, but even in bringing with
them their wives and children in some
cases.”

“They take desperate risks, sir, as
far as I know; but I have heard but
little of the country adjacent to Fort
Fenton since I scouted here years ago.”

“That they do take desperate risks,
Chief Cody, this wagon train stands as
a painful proof, for its people were one
and all massacred not two hours ago.”

“ My God! '

“Can this be true?” cried Cody, his
usually calm manner excited by what
he had heard.

“ It is, alas, too true. I was scouting,
as I told you, not only to hunt for In-
dians, but also to driVe back any wagon
trains or gold hunters I might come
upon, while I also had orders to guard
the stage lines from any bands of out-
laws.”

“I understand, sir."

“ It was just nearing sunset, when I
heard firing, as we were coming to this
spot 'to camp, and we dashed forward to
the rescue.

“But, we were too late, for the In-
dians, in considerable force, were just
finishing their red work upon an emi—
grant, his family, and a party of negroe‘s
who came with him."

“ Did they surprise the camp?”

“ Beyond a doubt.”

“What force had the emigrants, sir?”

"A man, his wife, daughter, and son,
with five negro men, four women, and
half a dozen children.”

" And the Indians wiped them all out,
captain? ”

“Yes, but our charge saved the train
and the bodies from mutilation.

“The bodies haVe been buried, and I
intended to start with the train at dawn
for Fort Fenton, which, you know, is
nearly a hundred miles away.”

“Yes, sir, all of that by the stage
trail.”

" But. Chief COdY, as I cannot spare a
man, several of my men being wounded,
and fearing the Indians may return in
force, I am going to ask you, as you are
on your way to Fenton, to continue on to-
night and inform Colonel Waring of
what has happened, at the same time

7

 

“ I will go with pleasure, Captain—"

“My name is Warburton, EV'allace
Warburton, Mr. Cody.”

“I have heard of you, sir—if I mis—
take not, you and your command were
believed to have been massacred some
time ago, and I had heard no reports to
the contrary."

“Yes, but we were corralled until we
could escape. from the Indians who be—
sieged us.”

“You were fortunate. sir. But I will
start at once for the fort, and deliver
your message to Colonel Waring.”

“ Do not hurry off before you and your
horse are well rested, for you will be able
to reach there to-morrow afternoon.”

“ Hardly, sir, as my horse is very
tired, but by night I can get there, at.
least.”

“ I am sorry our horses are in no bet-
ter condition, or I would offer you one
in place of yours.”

“ No, thank you, mine will get me
there all right, only I can not push him
hard, captain.

“I will start soon,
quietly.”

“If a force starts from the fort by
dawn the next day, it will be time, for I
shall hold this position until help comes.
as I dare not move out with the wagons.”

“It would be best, sir, to remain here,
as if the Indians know your numbers, and
they have other bands within call, they
may come back and attack you."

“That is what I fear, if I move from
here.”

“May I suggest, sir, that you put 011t
extra sentinels, for two are not suffi—
cient? ”

“ I will do so at once. But I wish you
to tell Colonel Waring that my belief
is that this wagon train came up from
the SOU’th, as the negroes with it seem
to prove: but when I examine the effects
of the leader, I will doubtless discover
all about them.”

“i will tell him, sir. And now, as T
have had a good supper, and am W811
rested, I’ll pull out for Fenton, and get
help to you as soon as I possibly can,”
and as Buffalo Bil walked to where he
had left his horse, he, was accompanied
by the captain, who warmly shook hands
with him as he bade him good-night, and
a, safe ride to Fort Fen-ton.

sir, and take it

 

CHAPTER VIII.
THE \VATL'IIER.

Still crouching in the pine thicket, the
negro had seen the welcome of the horse—
man into the camp, and had watched the
scene about the fire, and'all that took
place there.

He could not hear what was said,
though he tried hard to do so, but the
distance was too far for that.

After quite a long stay in camp, Buf-
falo Bill was seen 'to rise and depart, to
the great surprise of the negro, who'had
supposed that he would remain all night.

Had he anticipated the departure of the
scout, he would have gone ahead on his,
trail and had a talk with him.

Of course, he did not know Who the-
scout was, but he had seen enough to
know that he was not one of the band
in the camp, whoever they might be,

The black watcher was the more
amazed that men in the uniform of
United States soldiers could be guilty
of so murderous a deed as he had seen
these men commit.

He saw that the captain of the band
did not show the scout about the camp:
and he escorted him to his picket 11116
when he took his departure.

From where he was in hiding the
negro could readily have killed the cap-
tain with his rifle.

But he .did not make the attempt to
do so, though he muttered imprecations
upon the man as he gazed upon him.

When he saw the scout ride away, and -
knew that it would be impossible for him
to overtake him, the sable shadower
turned his attention again to the camp.

. He observed the captain return to
the”. tire, and, ,en, he W33;B}fl'prl_sed t
. \ as We“; , - 7 , -,,;U“;.:‘J N, ,W ,1 4;,

L." .
rant“? i‘ , .

3"". v .1. W3"

    

    
  

   
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

( he." .. A

  
       

 

r-w

d.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. 5

 

 

see that he gave orders that at once
brought all the men to their feet.

What those orders were he did not
know, but, watching every movement he
saw the men drive in the cattle and begin
to harness the mules and horses.

The fires were brightened up to give
light, and the men worked hard and
rapidly.

Evidently a move was to be made, and
quickly.

Soon the mules were hitched to the
wagons, the horses to the ambulances,
and the cattle herded together for a start.

The cavalrymen had saddled up, and
when all was in readiness for a start,
the train pulled out of camp. the horse-
men driving .the cattle and forming a
guard for the wagons.

The negro gazed on with amazement.

He could not understand the sudden
move.

Surely the horsemen had eXpected 'to
camp all night upon the scene of the
appalling tragedy they had enacted there.

But now they left the dread scene with
a suddenness that apparently showed
fear of some foes appearing, to the negro
unknown.

They hastily stole away, as though
afraid of the spectres that must haunt
them there.

Watching the scene, the negro had
seen them strike the tent, and it seemed
that some one was taken from it and
placed in an ambulance; but, of this he
was not sure.

Had the coming and going of "the
Horseman in Buckskin aught to do with
the sudden flight of the campers. f01‘
flight it certainly seemed?

The negro asked himself this question
again and again.

At last he came to 'the conclusion that
the scout’s coming to the camp had
caused the quick going following his de-
parture.

Then he again felt sorry he had not
been able to speak to the horseman,
whose striking appearance had greatly
impressed him. r

“ I will know him, no matter where I
meet‘ him again,” he muttered.

Extremely, cautious in what he did, the
negro did not go to the camp as soon
as the campers left. He waited until he
saw them disappear in the darkness, and
then listened as long as he could hear
the sound of voices driving the cattle or
the rumble of the wheels.

The train had gone b ck over the very
trail it had come to ‘hat fatal valley,
and here the negro was again surprised.

The camp was as ilent as the, dead,
save for the crackling of the burning
logs, and suddenly the negro beheld
some-thing moving about among the
trees.

Instantly he knew that it was a pack
of skulking coyotes, looking for the refuse
left in camp.

That reminded him of his horse, left
alone on the range, and at a swift trot
he started on his way there. He soon
TeaChed the range, to find his horse grow-
"13 very uneasy, as a pack of coyotes
were about him, hoping for a feast, and
only fearful of their mortal enemy, man,
being near, or they would have attacked
'the lone animal.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A MISSING FORM. _

Mounting his horse, the negro I'Ode
along the range 'to the trail, and listened
attentively to see if he could catch the
sound of the retreating train.

Afar 0ft he heard 'voices, and then
cam-e to his cars a sound that was not
made by the wagon wheels upon the
hard soil of the plain. He listened with
the most acute attention and said: v

“I believe they are going up or down
that shallow stream that crosses the
plain several miles from here.”

He recalled that the plain back over the
trail was an almost barren waste, and
that a sandy stream. ran across it, only
a foot in depth.

The stream was not over fifty yards

 

 

wide, and 'the train would have quickly
crossed it; but, instead of the sound of
crossing, he heard the splashing of water,
as though the whole train was being
driven up the stream.

“If it was going down with the swift
current, the splashing would not be near
as loud. No, they are going up that
stream, and I guess they can follow it
for miles, and that means they are try-
ing to hide their trail,” he mused.

“It‘s a big trail to hide, that I know,
and I am sure they have gone up, so I’ll
not be at a fault to find them,” he added,
after listening awhile longer.

It was a clear night, perfectly calm, and
the splashing of the water came to his
ears distinctly, though the stream was
miles away. '

But a hundred horses and more, as
many cattle, and half a dozen wagons
could not stem a shallow, swiftly flowing
stream without making a great deal of
noise.

Satisfied that the trail could
covered up beyond his finding, in the
daylight, the sable shadower waited
until he was sure the train had turned
to the right at the stream, and then set
out for the fatal camp.

He rode rapidly, and, dashing into the
timber, scattered half a hundred coyotes
that were prowling there.

Dismounting, he staked his horse out,
threw more wood upon the three fires
that were yet burning briskly, to light
up the entire camp, and then began to
look about him.

The fireligh-t made the whole little
grove of timber visible, and over in the
densest part he beheld where the fresh
earth had been turned up in mounds,
the shape of which can never be mis-
taken. ‘

Taking off his. slouch hat, he ap-
proached the spot slowly, and with bowed
head. Soon he stood amid the clump of
cedars, where the dead had been buried
by their slayers.

He saw that there was one large graVe
and two smaller ones. The assassins had
gone their own way about burying the
dead.

Suddenly the eyes of the negro fell
upon some object glimmering in the fire-
light. He stepped toward it and dis-
covered a shovel standing against a
tree, and a spade and pick were lying
near upon the ground. The slayers had
left some of their tools, or, rather, left
some of those they had taken from the
wagons.

The man seized the shovel and began
work upon the smaller grave. He worked
with fierce energy, for a few minutes—-
then more gently, for he was nearing the
bodies.

In a brief time three bodies, wrapped in
blankets, were exposed.

The muscular black raised them gently
from the grave, and unfolding the blan—
kets, saw that the three dead were the
leader of the emigrant train, his wife,
and son.

“Poor, poor Mars Donald, and Mis’
Arma and little Herbert—they are dead,
dead!” moaned the negro, and great
tears rolled down his cheeks and dropped
upon the upturned faces, while his whole
form quivered with emotion.

Suddenly he started
shouted:

“ But. where is Missy Myrtle? Here is
her pa and ma and Herbert; but where is
she?

“ Maybe she is buried in the grave with
my poor old daddy and mamzmy.

“ Maybe they didn’t kill her? "

The thought seemed to terrify him even
more than had the young girl been
slain, and great beads of sweat burst out
anew upon his black face.

Again he "T‘ISDFfl the spade, and set to
WOI‘k 11Den the larger grave.

In time the bodies came in View, and
these, too. were wrapped in blankets.

The graves were opened. the bodies all
lay in the glare of the firefight. while
the eovotes whined and howled dismally
a short distance off—- but the body of
Myrtle was not there. .

not be

and fairly

 

, dead. ‘ p .‘

CHAPTER X.
THE vow or \‘ENGEANCE.

The negro seemed dazed at the dis-
covery he had made. He looked over the
bodies again and again, for the missing
form of the young girl; then he ran rap-
idly all over the camp, hoping to find the
young girl, or her body.

But all in vain; she was not there, dead
or alive.

Returning to the graves, he saw that

the bold and hungry coyotes had dared to

rush close up to the dead. Then his re-
volvers began to rattle, and every she;
told. '

The coyotesscattered with angry- yelps.
and the negro stood like a statue gazing
down upon the dead, and for a long while
uttered no word; only a low moan would
now and then force itself between his
lips.

At last he said:

“ My poor mammy, my poor old daddy!
They have gone forever. And my little
brother, and sister, too; and Aunt Jane.
and Uncle Joe, and Tom, and Dinah,
and Jack, and Melinda, and—oh, Lord,
have mercy on me! They are all gone!

“Yes, master, and missis, Herbert.
and all my own people lie dead right here
before 'me, all save Missy Myrtle, and
the good God help her!

“It was a sad day when we left the
old ranch in Texas to come out into this
wild land. Yet Mars’ Donald thought he
was doing right, that a fortune was be-
fore us all, for had we not come to-
gether, he and I, and found—sh! I must
not say it, even here!

“ But, this is the end of their trail, and
mine only begins here.

“Oh, my Lord! it is hard for 'me to
stand and see them all lie dead here be-
fore me.

“No! no! not all, for where is Missy
Myrtle?

“ I would rather she lay dead here with
her pa and ma and, brother, with all my
people, than to be a prisoner to those
devils that I saw kill and'kill.

“Why did I not run down here and
share their fate? It was not because I
was afraid. Oh, no! it was because some—
thing held me back, and a hand seemed
to be upon my heart, and a voice saying:

“ ‘ No! no! no! You live on to avenge
them.’ '

“ Well, they are dead and I live. If I
did not feel that I could avenge them I
believe I’d go mad right here.

“ And more; I must find out about
Missy Myrtle. Is she dead? Is she alive?
Was it Missy Myrtle I saw them take
from the tent and put in the ambulance?
I must know; yes, I will know!

.“ But, I must bury my dead, for they
are all mine. Did not my mammy nurse -
Mars' Donald when he was a little
child, and has he not cared for my peo-
ple, all or us, as he has for his own?

“Were we not, Mars’ Donald and me,
up in this wild country together for one
long year? and did he not find—but I
must not even think about that.

" Now I must keep those coyotes away
from my dead people, and then I will
know what has happened to little Missy
Myrtle.”

With this he began to place the dead
again in their graves, and with deepest
reverence to all.

He folded the bodies in their blankets,
spread armfuls of pine straw over them,
then filled in the dirt solidly, and brought
logs and rocks to pile upon the mounds
and thus protect them from being dug
open by the sharp claws of the wild
beasts.

When at last his task was completed,
the dawn was just beginning to brighten
:the eastern horizon. '

He had thus far shown no fatigue, his
iron frame seeming proof against it.

His nerve. too, had kept up, and he
had been the strong man to bear up
under his terrible affliction. _

But now he dropped down upon his
knees and, raising his clasped hands
toward Heaven, he cried in a loud voice
for God to witness his vow to avenge his

 

   
 
  
 
    
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
   
    
    
    
    
    
  

A moment of silence succeeded, after
he had registered his vow'on high, and
then with a low moan he dropped for-
ward upon the graves, like one in a
swoon. ‘

At. last even his giant form and nerves
of steel had succumbed to the terrible
strain upon him, and he really had
Ewooned, almost appearing to have fallen

ead.

And at his fall a great yelp of joy
went up from the cowardly pack of coy-

'4. and with glittering teeth and vicious
whines they began to move forward to
pounce upon the form of the noble negro.

 

CHAPTER XI.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
Disappointed of their feast upon the
dead, the coyotes had worked up their
courage to a point where they were will-
ing to risk running in upon the negro, as
soon as he had fallen in a swoon. .
Most cowardly creatures by nature.
. ’ they are cunning as'the fox, and will at-
tack a toe only when they see that he
‘ 4 , is helpless. _
w Their number had now increased until
there were over half a hundred of them.
but the brightening of day cowed them
to move cautiously to the attack:

'It also revealed to a friend of the fallen
negro the situation of affairs,‘the danger
he was in.

That friend was
pard, his horse! ,

The, horse had heard theyvoice of his
* master, ’as it was x' raised in registering
his vow before Heaven. He had quit
,» feeding, turned his gaze upon his master,
n saw him fail, and at ‘once began to pull
. at his stake pin to free himself. '
f‘ A loud neigh was given, to arousethe
negro. 'He‘seemed not to know what to
do,‘and went at a gallop at the end of
his rope around and around the stake,
, all the'while' neighing loudly. The pull on
[thegpln soon loosened it in the ground,
V and inn moment more it came out under
the strain on .lariat. , Thus freed, the
,sagacious'beast pvent at a, run straight
.izfon-the'prostrate form of his master.
  The coyotes‘were almost upon him, and
but for the‘coming of the horse wéuld
have made the fatalrush upon the un-‘
“conscious man. ' 'l . .r v , I
;r The horse’s coming put. them to flight.
and they scattered to a. hundred yards’
[distance and there halted. .  ’ ' .
v , The horse halted by his master, with”
tfpddfiqwmnny began, to press. his nose.)
[against the black face. ,
 touch, 1’ the cold nose, or the hot
' 8131/: in his face seemed to revive the
 for he,,movcd; his hand went up
 unrated on the head of the sagacious

his devoted dumb

       
    
   
     
  
      
       
     
     
   
    
   
   
    
    
      
  
    
     
 
    
    
     
    
     
       
   
  
 
  
   
  
   
    
    
  

   

  

  

  

  

_ . O'r' .1 .
’ A moment more, and he arose to a
tting Iposture,,then to his feet. though
With an effort, audit! Quick glance about
 shoved him the Situation.
Instantly he Duthisgatrong arms about

 
 

 
 

  

has his wholefforin trembled

Quickly recbvering. himselfpchowever,
midi ’  ~  I

 [old pard, I’ve: got-"6m ‘ffiend
55.: 1083i! ,
that I know, for I must,

   

 

 
  

 
 

Variation;

   

tardiy‘ coyotesofl, and never again“ will
are you, out, or hitch you. for I can.
* you tostay near me, I) know.-

some, old hard!
"do. ,..We must find Missy Myrtle,
What is before us we do not

  
  
  

.-I.' ‘7

 XII.
use we]:  ‘

 

       
 
    
  

its.

. momma, before he
I j'  ‘ .11 he septa Work to
"avast, fair \ shad hisbagjofprm'
“with: him. human. glad to find
” " “"\'1hi'kli.888 magmafhestconv

   
 

     

 

And you nominated my .
.‘ But you kept 058"£0W-‘.y

There is 'Work .,

' ma an, 5. T11

53113;

bag of flour, coffee, sugar, "cans of lard,
crackers, and other things, just what he
needed and fully enough to last him
for a couple of months, at least, if he
could only carry them with him.

But, luck seemed to come his way that
morning, as a balm for all he had suffered
for his horse gave a snort, and, looking
up from his cooking, the negro saw a
second horse coming toward him.

The animal was a good one, and had a
pack saddle upon. his back, the negro
recognizing him as one of the best ani-
mals in the oufit. The Black Trailer at
once decided that he had run off before
he had been unsaddled,.a.s was frequently
the case. and had been left to return at
will by the campers. v

The horse he knew carried the blankets
and painted canvas shelter of Mr. Ellis
and his son, with an extra rifle, ammu—
nition, clothing, and other useful arti-
cles. ,

“Well, this is a. good find!" said the
negro, as he walked toward the horse
and caught him. without difficulty. '

Examining the pack saddle. as he
pulled it off, the negro was glad to find
in it a shotgun, as well as a ride; a heavy
storm coat and cloak belonging to Mr.
Ellis, a couple of 'rubber blankets, some
cooking utensils, plenty of ammunition,
and much else that he would find most
useful. ‘ 1
' Having had his breakfast, he lay down
to sleep for an hour or two, while the
horses fed near him. I ’

He well knew that his horse would give
him a warning 0f any danger, and yet
he could but regret-that t‘he.large dog
belonging to the camp, and which had ,,
sought him out in the pines as
watched, had again‘disappeared, doubt

[I

less following the wagons. v

“ If I only had Ter‘ror' with me, I’d
never need fear danger," he muttered, re-
ferring to the large dog that he knew to
be such,a splendid camp guard.

Ina few seconds the negro Was sleep-
ing soundly, and for a couple of hours he
did not move, for the yelpi‘ng and snarl-

_ ing of the coyotes did not disturb him in

the least. , ,

But, suddenly,’he sprang to his feet in
alarm..as the loud barking of a dOg fell
on his ears, and, updashed "Terror, the
coyotes scattering, quickly, ‘as though
from a mountain lion. ”

The dog was barking with joy as he
beheld thenegro, and had evidently fol-
lowed the wagons,,but,'flnding no friend-
ly'form at daylight, had come back to
look up the black. ‘

‘Affectionately. did the negro pat the
head of the dumb brute whom he had
ilonged for. He gays him some break-
fast, for he saw that he was gaunt and
hungry, appearing as though he had had
a long andhard run,rof it.

While the dog rested, the negro began
to saddle up the horses for a. start. Upon
the pack animal he put all he did not
care to weight his own horse down with.

Then, with a visit to the graves, where
he stood with uncovered head and tear-
dimmed eyes for sometime, he mounted
his horse, and. with the pack animal in
lead, was ready to start‘t , g "‘ = _

d “ Which Way, Terror-f”, he asked the
08.  , ‘ ‘ ~ ‘ '
,‘ Terror responded with a glad yelp, and
started off on the trail of the wagons!

fin fact; hewould have gone on if not re-

ca} vat e negro, 'who muttered:
had Phat-already done so.- Yes, Terror;
W8 80‘ onwafter the wagons, not‘ to find
friends, I but foes.
that way, old dog." V ‘
’Basgk overture trail he went, up to the
guilt; it ,of tharangdxhere to suddenly
a - a '  i‘ , . ,
What hesaw at first? mled'hlm, but,
after watching for aw defile seemed to
comprehend the situation.  , h ,
Down on the" plain", having, just crossed

 

(In.

DWI? .
ilk



he, ‘

“1- he dog'would have decided for me,

Yes, our duty liest

.t‘hd ‘stream, he. beheld ‘a  turkey-hem ,MV,

   

. j" Behind" them... Were, those 'who r had
driven themehalf a. score of horsemen. i

Bringing his glass into requisition, the
negro saw that they wore a uniform and
military equipments, in fact, were a. part
of the band, that had attacked the camp
the afternoon before. '

As he watched them,‘ he saw them cross
the stream, round up the large 'herd, and
start them directly back over the trail
they had come. ' -

As the buffalo went off at alope over
the trail once more, the horsemen did
not follow, but turned up the stream,
following the bed. ‘ '

“ Now I know their game. They took
the wagons that way last night, and,
wishing to destroy all traces of a trail, a. .
part of the hand went off to look up that
herd of buffalo.

“ Finding them, they drove them over
the trail, to destroy all tracks beyond the:
stream, and then roundingpth'em up, sent
them back over it once more. ‘ a I

“This will give the idea to-lany". one
who may track them—that fine-looking.
man I saw last night, for instance~that
the wagons had started back out of the
country. It is a clever trick, but i see
through it.

“ I Cannot see why United States sol-
diers haVe done what thOSe men did, for

Donald Ellis, d his people to be"?

“But, soldiagil's or not, I know their
faces, and my vow to avenge those I,
loved is written on High!

“Come, Terror, we will follow on the
trail as soon as they get'put of sight.”
' And the Black Trailer then com-
menced his Pilgrimage of Vengeance.

_...__g

‘ CHAPTER Xlll.
‘ ABALLX To THE RESCI'E.
Buffalo Billradeaway, from the camp
in the valley, bound, upon, his double
mission, and 'Sad at. ,hea‘rtiaishe thought
of the pitiful story sense. to’ ten Colonel

people.

He was well mounted, but his horse
had had a long trail, and was tired, as he
had said to Captain Warburton.

Still, he was not one to spare
himself or his horse when there was
work to be done, and he had .a.‘ dread
that the campers might again be, at—
tacked by Indians in larger

him.
himself traces that would have been

enced mm, . , . _ _  i

“ I will reach,the fort in time, to start
a relief party outtbefom nigh-t, certainly
before dawn,” he rmu‘ttere‘d. ‘ -

Then befall to musing aloud, as was
his wont, and satin [T’ '

“It is centralize that men will come
into these wildcat! they do, risking life
for goldgybontinually.

" Theywell know that the Government,

them they. will turn them back, or put
them’under arrest, while they are aware-
that the Indians are eVer readyjorsttsok
and massacre them. - i'
“ But still_they come. ’ " 9- 
f} can understand a. band; of men
taking the chances "to come here and

l' J
l

comprehend why they will risk the lives

others.
\ “ Now, that whole train was wiped 0,
Captain Warburton said, and but to 
arriVal there would have been a,
. of anything left of the outfit tar "
and what they were. -

“ Captain Warburton is j
brave man and able officers,
I did not take a {canto-him

e 

1 x
6 t ,

  
 
 
  

rid-Dd This half".

 

 

  

 

isles than
‘ " ' i1;

..
v .~—--..;;,;. .1

what could they have supposed. Mars’

Waring of the massacre“ of  

either .5

force, for he  
had no reason to doubt the story told  .,

It‘tbeing: night, too, he could not see for 

clear enough by daylight to his experi;  

forbidg thread that if the soldiers see I

hunt for gold, risky as it is," even f0r 3,1,7
large and well-armed party, but do not“ a

of those they love, wives, daughters, and ,

 
. earths he‘lizidiv',

,

   

 

 

 

L n...

 

 

and if I am not mistaken my being sent
to Fort Fenton with dispatches is partly
to have had me look up his command.

“Well, if so, I have found them.”

After riding for several hours at a
fairly brisk pace, Buffalo Bill looked
about for a camping place, and soon
found it on a stream under the shelter
of a high cliff, and where there was plen—
ty of grass and wood.

He unsaddled his horse and staked him
out to feed and rest, and, wrapping him—
self in his blankets, the scout was soon
fast asleep.

Two hours refreshed him greatly, day
was breaking, and, building a fire, he
soon had a good breakfast ready.

He had just mounted to continue on
his way when he heard the rapid clatter
of hoofs coming down the trail that. led
down the stream upon the other side.

At once he was on his guard, his rifle
in hand, and, drawing back to the shelter
of the cliff, stood ready to face whatever
he was called upon to do.

A moment’s listening convinced him
that one horse was considerably ahead of
others, and doubtless was being pursued
by them.

Who and what could it be?

The hooffalls told him that there were
all of a score of horses, and his quick
ear detected that there was no ring of
iron—shod hoofs, so the animals must be
Indian ponies, and hence with redskin
riders-

Naturally, he supposed that they must
be in chase of a white man, perhaps a
scout from the fort.

By a rapid run Buffalo Bill might
have gained a hiding place, but then he
might by'doing so run away from some
one who needed his aid.

cm, the trail the horses were coming
on was the one that led to Fort Fenton,
hence the one he was to take.

At the cliff there was a small canyon,
filled with cedars, and here he could
stand at bay.

So the scout sat upon his horse and
awaited the outcome, whatever it should
be.

Nearer and nearer came the rapid hoof-
falls, and then there was heard, one, two,
three shots in quick succession.

These were followed by a demoniacal
yell from redskin throats. Who were the
Indians in pursuit of?

Another minute and around a bend in
the trail came a horse and rider; but the
sight of the rider was fairly startling to
Buffalo Bill, who gazed upon him with
almost awe, as he urged on his horse,
which was staggering from weakness
from a couple of wounds he had received.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A DOUBLE lth’i‘lthA'l‘.

The horse and rider that came into
full view of Buffalo Bill were certainly
enough to rivet the attention of any
one.

The animal was long-bodied, gaunt as
a hound, white, and had no saddle 0r
bridle, or, rather, the former was a huge
bearskin strapped upon his back,

The horse was bleeding freely from a
wound in his neck and another in his
flank, and began to stagger as he sped
along, having evidently received a mortal
blow. '

An Indian arrow was also sticking in
his hip, and the animal’s strength was
nearly gone.

But the rider?

At first Buffalo Bill believed that it
was a grizzly bear riding horseback.

But a close look revealed a human form
clad in the skin of a grizzly hear from
neck to feet, while a cap of white feath-

‘ ers sheltered his head.

This attire, with a long black beard and
hair falling below his shoulders, made
up a most striking picture.

In one hand the strange rider carried
a rifle, but no other weapon was then
visible.

As he came on he turned and glanced
behind him, and just then there dashed
into view a dozen or more Indians.

At the same moment a‘shower of ar-

e “"1 ~   .‘  1‘.

 

after the mysterious fugitive, and down
went his horse, with such suddenness
that he caught the leg of his rider under
him, thus pinning him to the ground.

Buffalo Bill waited to see no more.

A white man was in deadly peril, and
to save life the scout was not a man to
count odds.

Into the stream he dashed, across to the
other side he was in an instant, and leap—
ing to the ground, with an exhibition of
his phenomenal strength, he had dragged
the dead horse off of his imprisoned
rider.

Without waiting to see if he was badly
hurt or to aid him to rise, Buffalo Bill
sprang into his saddle, and, spurring
behind the shelter of a huge boulder, he
leveled his repeating rifle over it and
began to fire.

In spite of the Indians being in such
number, a score to one. as he saw now,
and then coming on with a rush, he did
not fire at random, but with deadly aim
and slowly.

One, two, three flashed the rifle, and
the leaden messengers of death continued
to stream out of the muzzle, until a dozen
shots had been fired.

Against such a galling fire the Indians
would not ride, for a. warrior dropped
dead fiom his saddle, a pony went down,
and so it went on until the others wheeled
and SDed to the shelter of the bend
around which they came.

Three braves and four ponies, however,
lay where they had fallen, and Buffalo
Bill, grim and determined, rapidly I‘e-
loaded his rifle.

He had been surprised that the man
whose life he had saved had not also
fired.

Had he been too much hurt by his fall,
he wondered.

With rifle loaded he turned to look for
the strange man.

There lay his horse, just where the
scout had dragged him off of his rider.

But the rider was not visible.

Where was he? >

“He has doubtless gotten into some
shelter, and may be badly hurt,” mut—
tered the Scout, and he added:

“I hope not, for this is no place to be
caught with a wounded man upon my
hands.”

Quickly he searched about for him,
but nowhere could find the man.

Suddenly he heard a call.

It seemed to come from above him.

Glancing over the stream, to the cliff,
the scout beheld the stranger in the
grizzly bearskin.

The shout had evidently been uttered
by the man, but he now said not a word,
but waved his hand in silence, as though
in farewell, and, turning, dis-appeared
from the scout’s sight.

“Well, .he has taken care of himself,
that is certain, so I will do the same,”
muttered the scout, surprised eat the
strange conduct of the man.

With this he sheltered himself among
the pines, and rode down the stream, for
he felt sure the Indians were arranging
to creep upon his position.

He gained a place of shelter without
discovery, and then flanked around
through a valley to reach the trail be;
yond the Indians and continue on his
way once more.

As he got to an Open space where he
could see the cliff, he suddenly beheld the
same strangely r-obed form appear on the
top, level his rifle and fire downward, as
though aiming near the spot he had left
a short while before.

Then there was heard a wild yell,
shots, and the grizzly—robed form disap—
peared. ,

“Well, he did not run off after all, but
once he was safe, remained there to
watch the Indians and fire on them.

“ He surelv saw me leaVe, so both of
us are all right now, for those Indians
will remain quiet for awhile, until they
discover I am gone, and then study up
some other deviltry.

“But now to regain the trail, and then
hasten toithe fort,” and Buffalo Bill con
tinued on up the valley. -

.,,

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. 7

 

CHAPTER XV.
A LIFE CHASE.

Buffalo Bill regained the trail, but at a
point where he could be seen for a long
distance, and an Indian sentinel dis-
covered him.

At once an alarm was given, and the
scout saw that the redskins he had held
in check were not all of the force by any
means, for quite a large number appeared
from a camp near and gave chase.

It was a race for life, and Buffalo Bill
well knew it.

But he set off in a sweeping gallop,
bringing his rifle around for ready use

He congratulated himself that he was
on the trail to the fort, and, unless some
of the Indians were splendily mounted,
they could not catch his horse, tired as
he was.

Then, too, he had faith in his long~
range repeating rifle, and knew that he
could hold any two or three well—mount—
ed lndians in check, before their weapons

‘ would reach him.

So the chase went on, the scout not
urging his horse, but keeping at a full
"allop, while the redskins, coming on
with a rush, steadily gained.

At last the Indians began to creep
dangerously near, and there were all of
fifty of them, who seemed well mounted
and kept well together, save that their
chief was a hundred feet in advance.

“ I‘ll have to kill him if he comes much
nearer,” muttered the scout, measuring
the distance Well.

But the chief continued to draw near—
er, and the braves yelled wildly in an-
ticipation, believing that Buffalo Bill’s
'horse was at his best speed.

Until he feared that. some of them
might have a rifle that was dangerous,
the scout allowed them to gain.

Then he suddenly halted, and the In~
dians believed that he intended to make
a stand-off fight, for they uttered the
most piercing yells of delight.

But the scout had dismounted, for he'

wished no misses made, and raising his
rifle pulled trigger.
. Up went the hands of the chief, and
over backward he fell from his horse,
his comrades drawing in quickly to pre-
vent going over him. ~

As they did so the scout’s rifle began
to rattle rapidly, and at the head of the
red column ponies were falling, braves
were dropping from the saddle-s and for
a moment all was death and confusion.

But those who had weapons quickly
got them ready to fire at the daring
scout, when, to their surprise, they saw
his horse fairly flying along the trail,
at a speed not an animal among their
own could attain. .

For fully a mile did Buffalo Bill keep’

up his swift pace.

He wished to show his pursuers that
they were running a useless race.

Of course it was hard on his tired horse,
but the scout determined to give him
a rest as soon as he could. 1

It was just as he had anticipated, for
the Indians, feeling that he had deceived
them, that his horse was really fresh
and very fast, gave up the chase, es—
pecially as he had left them cause for
mourning in the death of their chief and
others.

Having dropped the redskins out of
sight, Buffalo Bill rode on at a walk
to allow :his horse to rest, and when
convinced that they had given up the
chase, he halted, stripped the saddle
from his faithful equine pard‘and al-
lowed him a half hour’s good rest.

Then he resumed his ride, going at a
steady pace until noon, when he made
another halt. 1

Of course these delays detained him
more than he had expected, but he felt
that he must not drive his horse too
hard, for he would carry him along all
right if not forced.

Thus detained by the way,
set before the fort came into view, but
considering what he had gone through
with, the scout did not feel that he had
done so badly by any means.

I ,
it

the sun .

 

 

 

8

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. ‘

 

 

Soon after nightfall the lights of the
fort came into View, and half an hour
after came the challenge of the sentinel
to him.

“Scout from Fort Flagstaff with im—
portant dispatches," was the answer to
the challenge.

The corporal of the guard was called.
the scout was admitted, and the. officer
of the day went himself with him to
headquarters, where Colonel Waring rec-
ognized him at a glance and said:

“You are most welcome, Cody, I as-
sure you, for I was fearful that there
might be something to prevent you do—
ing so, and I knew no one who I could
call upon for the very important duty I
wish you to undertake."

 

CHAPTER XVI.
Tin-i COLUNI-Iljn‘ Sl-Il‘llld’l‘.

Buffalo Bill was pleased with his wel-
come by Colonel Vi aring, for he had
served under that oflicer years before,
and he knew just what he was.

He at once replied:

"I thank you, colonel, for your re-
membrance of me, and I am the bearer
of dispatches for you, sir; but first let
me tell you that the Indians are out
in considerable force, and I had a couple
of brushes with them, seeing over a
hundred while they attacked a wagon
train of emigrants and massacred every
one of the party.”

_“Great God! this is terrible news,
Cody, but why will those misguided emi-
grants persist in coming into this coun—
try?”

“This was a party from the south,
sir, as it was a white family and a num-
ber of negroes accompanying them."

“ And all were massacred? ”

" Yes, sir, so I understand, from Cap—
tain Warburton.”

"Ila! have you seen Warburton?”
asked the colonel, eagerly.

“Yes, sir; I left him before midnight
'last night."

“ How remarkable!

“But when and where?”

“ Over a hundred miles from here, sir,
in what is known as Shelter Valley.”

“Strange, strange indeed,” and Col-
onel Waring appeared _to be deeply
moved for some cause.

But he quickly asked:

“ Tell me about Warburton, Cody, for
he is the very one I intended you to g
and find. '
. “It was for that I wrote to General
Marcus,Moore at Flagstaff, to request
him to let me have your services for
awhile.”

“Well, sir, I found Captain Warbur—
ton, whom we had heard at Flagstaff
had mysteriously disappeared with his
command, encamped in Shelter Valley
with some twenty of his men.”

“Yes, he left here Witlh that number
some three months ago, and went on a
scout into the Indian country, but not
returning, and unable to get a trace of
them, we supposed they had all been
massacred.”

“They are all right, sir, save several
who were killed, I believe, by the In.
dians.”

“But What had .become of them all
this time? ”

“They were corralled, I believe, sir;
but let me tell you now that they are
in need of aid in Shelter Valley, and I
will guide a command to their relief,
am

“They came upon the Indians just
as they had kill-ed'the, people of the
wagon train, so saved the latter.

“Soon 'after I saw their lights and
wmt to their camp, but remained only
for rest and supper, as I was anxious
to hurry on for help, as the captain ex-
pected to he attacked again when the
Ir'lians found out their number, but said
he could stand them off, he thought.”

“I will order a couple of troops to
a“) to their relief, starting within two
i “li‘S; but surely you must not go.”

“I am all right, sir. only needing‘a
fresh horse, and I would rather go, sir."

 

"All right; if you wish,” and the Post
Adjutant was sent for and the orders
given for picked men and horses, with
ample supplies, to be gotten ready with
all dispatch to go and rescue the War-
burton party.

Supper was then ordered for the scout
in the colouel‘s quarters, and while lang—
l’alo Bill was eating it Colonel VI.
read the dispatches brought to him.

“Well, Cody, you do not know what
a relief you have given me, in what you.
tell me of Warburton and his men, for
I have had reason to feel very blue about
that little command.”

“I am glad that I ran across them
as 1 (lid, colonel."

“Yes, you did just what I intended to
send you to do, find them."

“They were camped not far off the
regular trail, sir, and 1 saw their camp—
fires."

“Ever modest, as is your wont; but
you found them all the same, and so
accomplished your task, and now will
be the guide of the party that goes to
their rescue.

“But did Warburton give you no par-
ticulars? "

“lie told me of the massacre, sir, and
that he had already buried the bodies."

"Poor people; but did he tell you
nothing of himself?”

“No more than that they had been
corralled, sir, and at last made their es-
cape.”

“The reason I ask, Cody, I will make
known to you in confidence.”

“Yes, sir.”

“ Warburton and his men disappeared
most mysteriously three months ago, and
all my efforts to trace them were use-
ess. ,

“But while I had reason to believe
them dead, I yet had strange news come
in that a. coach had been held up by sol—
diers, that a mining camp had been raid—
ed by soldiers, and an army wagon train
had been captured by them.

“I could not believe it, even when it
was reputed to be Warburton‘s com-
mand, and so I sent for you.

“ Now, Warburton you have seen; he
tells you he has been besieged by In—
dians, and hence these rumors are false,
as far as soldiers having been guilty of
the attacks alleged. Outlaws, not sol—
diers, did that work.

“ This is my secret, Cody.”

hung

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A SECRET iron.

With undisguised surprise Buffalo Bill
heard the secret the colonel had to tell.
Soldiers suspected of l-awress needs? It
was preposterous, he thought, and he
asked the colonel a number of questions
as to _who had brought in these rumors.

“Strange to say, Cody, I have it only
from anonymous letters, and to no one,
save my adjutant, have I spoken of these
strange communications."

“From whence did they come, sir? ”

“They were mailed at Overland, and
written in a bold, educated hand."

“ And told you that Captain VVarburto-n
and his command had turned outlaws? "

“ Yes, about that."

“Robbing coaches, attacking mining

camps, and capturing a Government
Wagon train.
“Yes.”

“ What did the stage driver, the min-
ers, and the guard of the wagon train
say, sir? ”

“‘ Ah! that is just the trouble, for the
driver and passengers of the coach were
all killed, the dozen men in the mining
camp shared the same fate, and the score
of wagoners and guard with the wagon
train were utterly wiped out, so no one
remained to tell the tale.”

“Save the one who wrote you the let-
ter, sir, that soldiers were the guilty
ones? ”

“ Yes. -

“Now, what do you think, Cody?”

“ Th-at soldiers never did it, sir.”

“I could harle hn'l'i“V€ it. and .th

Warburton’s mysterious disappearanc i

. i \, , i
i‘itti. .dn‘ 'io . u" .. ‘ , ’ t. t.

 

was very puzzling, especially as we know
these lawless deeds were done, and the
letter stated it was the act of the'oap-
Lain and his band.”

“ Captain Warburton can doubtless ex-
plain his absence, sir, to you, and per-
hups can account for the anonymous
charges against him, by. tracing them to
some, enemy.”

“ No doubt, and that is the view I now
she of it, though I confess I was deeply
pained and much worried.”

“ Is Captain Warburton a popular ofli-
cer, sir?“

“ He is, indeed, and deservedly so, for
he is a splendid type of a soldier.

“lie is the youngest captain in the
service, a dashing, handsome fellow, well
off, a favorite with his brother officers,
and most popular with his men, while he
is daring to a fault, and always ready
for any perilous duty.”

“A good record, sir, certainly.”

“ llut then there have been unkind
rumors, coming from no one knew where,
about him, for nothing appears to be

known of his past.”

“He was appointed from civil life, I
believe, sir?”

“Yes, and did not go to West Point.

“Still, he attended a military school
in France, where he was partly educated,
and I have heard. was an officer in the
Mexican Army, but he never speaks of
himself or refers to his past, and those
who know him best know little about
him."

“Still, he may be all right in every
particular.”

“Certainly. and I believe that he is.”

“ You will tell him of these anonymous
letters, sir? " '

“I had not thought of doing so; but
I will, for It is best that he should know,
as he may be able to trace them.”

“Yes, sir.

“And a stab in the back is always
from  coward’s hand.”

“ You are right, Cody, and taking ad-
vantage of his being away, these attacks
have been made to injure him.”

“Do you suspect no one in the fort,
sir?" .

“They came from the stage station of
Overland, you know.”

“ But could have been written here and
sent there to be mailed? ”

“ But who by? ”

“ They might be written by a foe here.
sir, as well as there, and, in fact, here is
the place to look for his secret enemy.”

“You have a very thorough way of
putting it, Cody."

“I wish to get at this secret foe, sir.”

“ Go ahead, and we’ll see if we can get
at a clue, so ask what questions You
wish."

“Has he a rival here? ”

u 

“In love or war?”

“In both, sir, for envy is as bad as
jealousy.”

“ It is, indeed.

“But to your question, for it inter-
ests me deeply, as you will understand
when ,I tell you that Warburton has been
most attentive :to my daughter, my only
child, Vera, and I had given my con-
sent to his attentions to her, for, can-
didly, she has been much interested in
him, and his stay away from the fort, his
unknown fate, has been a very great
sorrow to her, and to all of us.

“She has other suitors, some whom I
do not admire. and, though I do not like
to say so, one whom I believe not to
possess the high sense of honor an army
officer should have.

“ But When Vfarburton returns we will
hear his story, and then unearth this
secret foe.

“Now, to rescue him and his men 13

the first duty. and I feel that that will-

soon be done: but you must get what rest
You can before the start is made.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE scour MAKFS A mscovnnv.
Buffalo Bill followed the advice of Col—
ovwl WarinOr and gat over an hour’s sleep,
which greatly refreshed him.

5

 

up

 

J;

 

 

 

“Buffalo Burs Invincibles. 9

 

 

 

When he awoke he found the troopers,
over a. hundred strong, and with pack
animals, instead of wagons, so that they
could make a rapid ride of it, all ready to
start.

Mounted upon a fine animal, supplied
him by Colonel Waring, Buffalo Bill
rode to the front, with half a dozen fort
scouts following him, and the command
at once moved off at a brisk walk in the
darkness, just after midnight.

The officer in command, Captain Lew
Lennox, was a particular friend of Cap-
tain Wallace Warburton, and was glad
to be ordered to his rescue, for he had
almost given him up as dead.

Captain Lennox was a perfect soldier,
and had a dash about him that won the
admiration of his men.

He had never met Buffalo Bill before,
but had heard enough of the great plains—
man to admire him immensely, and said,
when Colonel Waring had presented the
scout to him: ‘

“I feel proud to follow such a guide
and scout, Mr. Cody, and I will feel per-
fectly content as long as you point the
way, while I will be most willing for any
suggestions and advice from you, for,
though a soldier of some experience on
the frontier, I am free to say that I do
not know it all.”

This frank little speech quite won
Buffalo Bill, and he replied that he had
found those who did not profess to
“ know it all ” were the men who did
Wnow just what to do in a tight place.

“We will go at a good pace until
dawn, and then camp for a couple of
hours for rest and breakfast,” said the
captain, and Buffalo Bill set the pace ac-
cordingly. .

It. was a. ride of twenty-five miles be-
fore a halt was made, and men and
horses were warmed up to the work.

Buffalo Bill had found a good camping
place just at dawn, and the horses were
stripped of saddles and bridles for a good
rest, and the cooks set to work getting
breakfast. 4‘

Buffalo Bill was invited to mess with
Captain Lennox. and the half dozen
other officers along, for, besides the lieu-
tenants, there was a surgeon in the party.

As soon as he had finished breakfast,
and he certainly made a most favorable
impression with all, the scout told Cap-
tain Lennox that he would at once start
on ahead, and the other scouts were to
follow half a mile apart, for, as he had
escaped from the Indians, they would
naturally be eXDecting help from the fort
and especially if they had Captain War-
burton besieged, they would throw out a
force to ambush the command.

“I had not thought of that, Cody, but
it is just about what they will do, only
do you be careful not to ride into an
ambush.”

“ I would be allowed to pass unharmed,
311'. to catch the command, you know, so
I will be in no danger," was the reply.

Soon after‘Buffalo Bill rode out of the
camp. half an hour ahead of the com—
mand. and having explained his plan to
his half dozen scouts,

“ Keep all of a mile apart, men, and if
You See a good place for an ambush, be
on your guard, for it may be, should I
pass redskins lying in wait, 1 win not
have time to flank around and head you
,off in time.”

1 With this he started on.
Though he did not expect to find In-

. dians so near the fort, he thought it best

to be prepared. if only because they
might feel that they would not be looked
for there.

Ten, twenty miles were gone over, and
Buffalo Bill decided that he would halt
the command for dinner and rest after
thirty miles had been made.

He knew at the pace they were going.
if kept up, the command could reach the
Shelter Valley soon after nightfall, and
be well rested and ready for an attack at
dawn, should the Indians have Captain
Warburton besieged.

The thirty miles were gone over, and
Buffalo ‘Bill was looking about for a noon
camp, when he discovered ahead at little
meadow that was the very spot.

. ‘Q
,, 1. ,, - V ,.

 

It was surrounded by cliffs upon three
sides, and was only a few acres in size,
while the trail wound near it, and thence
on through a canyon out upon a broad
plain, beyond which thescout knew was
the scene of his meeting with the mys-
terious man in the dress of bearskins.

“It is the very place for a camp, with
water, grass, and wood in plenty, and——
for an ambush, too.

“ If they are not here, I will not ex-
pect to find them before I reach the spot
where I rescued my grizzly friend.

“It is strange Colonel ‘Varing and no
one at the fort had seen or heard of that
strange man, so akin to a wild beast in
appearance—ah! I think I saw a deer
then, or an Indian,” and raising his:
field glass to his eyes as he rode along, be
swept Ithe trail far ahead, and muttered:

“ It was an Indian.

They are in ambush here, so now

comes the tug of war.”

 

CHAPTER XIX.
FLANKING AN AMBUSH.

The moment that Buffalo Bill decided
to ride on, he knew that he took his life
in his hands.

It was his knowledge of the Indian
character that caused him to take the
chances, for he argued to himself that
they having seen him go to the fort,
after their attack on him, and knowing
the close quarters Captain Warburton
and his men were in, he would at once
send or bring help.

It was surmise only, yet he risked his
life on his opinion.

If they believed that help was follow-
ing him, then he would be allowed to
pass through their trap unharmed, that
those following might be caught.

They would give up one scalp for many,
as it were.

The position they had chosen' was proof
to the scout that they were in force
enough to attack quite a number of
soldiers.

If the soldiers went into the trap, the
fire of the Indians would bring down half
of them at least before they could re-
treat, for to advance against their foes
concealed on cliffs would be madness.

So on the scout rode, merely increasing
his pace to a gallop as he drew near the
Indians, whom he was sure were lying
in close ambush, though he had seen but
one from a distance.

That one horseman told him
others were near.

When within a couple of hundred yards
of the pass, Buffalo Bill narrowly
searched the cliffs, though without ap-
pea ing to do so. -

e realized fully that any moment a
volley might ring out and kill him, but
he did not suspect that it would.

He had argued well, for no movement
was seen, no shot was fired.

There in the hiding places were a
number of Indians, he ,knew, but they
were waiting for bigger game.

They saw in the horseman a fort scout,
for they did not recognize in him the
great White Chief Pa-e-has~ka, as Bufé
falo Bill was so well known to all the
tribes.

Reaching the pass, Buffalo Bill rode
through, half halted, and gazed at a trail
lately made, passed on, and drew a long
breath as he got beyond the ambush.

Though appearing not to see them, his
searching glances had found at least a
dozen redskins, as silent as the rocks
they were hiding among.

Once well away from the dangerous
locality, he quickened his pace, bore
sharply to the left, and then began to
dash along the range, to flank the pass
and get back upon the trail in time to
head off his scouts.

l‘ was a hard ride, but he snared not
his horse, and in twenty minutes dashed
out. upon the trail again.

He saw a scout some distance away.
coming toward him. -

“ Too bad, for one has gone by.

“But I did my best.

“ He will see my trail where it turned J

that

, . . ’ , t .
-"- Vuo‘ 'r‘,». ,, l , ‘

 

off and be at fault, if he is not killed by
the Indians.”
As he uttered the‘ last word the scout

rode up. -
“ Ho, Maddern! Bent has gone ahead.”
“ Yes, sir.” _
“Too bad! A large force of Indians

is ambushed at the pass a !mile ahead on
the trail. I passed through them, and
flanked around to head you off. Return
at full speed and ask Captain Lennox to
come up rapidly.”

The scout wheeled his horse and was
off at a run.

Riding along the trail until he came
to a sheltered hill, Buffalo Bill dis-
mounted, climbed to the summit, and
turned his glass upon the trail ahead.

The trail was visible to the pass, three—
quarters of a mile away, and the glass
revealed the scout, Bent, just riding up
under the cliffs.

“Will they let him pass, too?

“I hardly, believe so,” muttered the
scout.

As he spoke an exclamation broke
from his lips, for the scout was seen to-
half wheel, his hands went up, and he
dropped from his saddle, a dead man.

A dozen arrows had made a target of
the poor fellow.

Ere his startled horse could bound
away, several redskins bounded out from
among the bowlders, and as many lariats
were thrown.

The horse was cleverly caught, and at
once led at a gallop on through the pass,
while four braves gathered up the body
and ran with it to a hiding place.

“They were not prepared for me, but
they got poor Bent,” said the scout, and
going rapidly down the hill, he threw
himself into his saddle and rode at a
gallop back to meet the command.

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE ROUND-UP.

The troopers were met coming at a
brisk trot, Captain Lennox being well in
advance with several officers.

In his uterse way, when moved, Buffa-
lo Bill said: “Captain Lennox, the In-
dians are ambushed at the Pass a mile
and a half ahead, but in what force I
have no means of knowing.

“ There may be a couple of hundred of
them. ‘

“ I passed through their trap, flanked
around, and sent Scout Maddern after
you.

“ I am sorry I was not in time to save
poor Bent, but I just saw him shot to
death by arrows.

“ The way I came troopers can return,
a part going up the range to attack the
redskins in their hiding place, more go-
ing to the other side of the Pass to. cut
off their retreat, and capture their pon—
ies, which cannot be far away, and can
be put slimly guarded.

“The remainder of the force can con-
tinue slowly along this trail until they
hear the attack on the range, and then
move forward, catching the Indians be-
tween tJhree flres.

“ Such is the situation, sir.”

“ And most explicit it is, Cody, and I
thank you for your prompt action.

“Which force do you think shbuld be
the largest?”

“ I would send the largest force around
to strike the trail, sir, for it has to be
divided to catch the ponies.”

“ True.

“ Will you guide that party? "

“ Yes. sir.” ,

“I will follow on their trail, Captain
Merton you will make the attack on the
range, Cody Showing you where to turn
off, and Lieutenant Lee you will take
your command around to strike the trail,
head off a retreat, and capture the pon-
ies. Chief of Scouts Cody guiding you.”

The orders were given in a way to
fully understand, and within ten minutes
after the command came up the forces
were divided'into three, two going in the
same direction until the range should
be reached.

“ There is your path, Captain Merton,

, f

v" -. .‘iii

 

 

 
 

10

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

up the range, and it is over half a mile
to the Pass.

“May I suggest that you dismount
your men to avoid being discovered in
your approach?”

“A good idea, Mr. Cody, and I shall
act upon it,” answered Captain Merton,
and the commands separated.

“Now, Mr. Cody, I am frank to ask
you for advice," said Lieutenant Basil
Lee, a‘handsome young lieutenant, who
had now seventy men under his com—
mand.

“We will strike the trail, sir, and as
agreed with Captain Merton await his at—
tack.

“Then twenty men can dash off in
search of the ponies, while you move up
to close in on the Pass."

“What force will likely be with the
ponies?" .

“I do not think over a dozen Indians,
sir, if so many."

“Then twenty men will be sufficient.“

“Fully enough, sir.”

“And about finding the ponies? “

“They are not on this side of the
Pass, sir, as we know, so must be upon
the other.

“Scout Maddern will go with
party and he will soon find them."

A ride of half a mile further and Cody
halted.

The trail was in sight, and the sol-
diers must not be seen by any redskin
and the alarm given.

It must be a complete surprise to those
who intended a deadly surprise.

“You have planned this wonderfully
well, Scout Cody, and every officer and
man is anxious to follow your lead,”
said the young lieutenant, and the mod-
est reply was: ~

“ It has been the study of my life, sir,
to know the Indian and outplot ‘him, so I
deserve no credit.”

Five, ten minutes passed away, and
no sound .was heard on the range, to
show that Captain Merton had met the
enemy.

But that the Indians were still in bliss-
ful ignorance, and the fond hope of many
scalps, their silence proved.

Had'a soldier been seen they would
have at once made the fact known.

The twenty soldiers under a sergeant
and Scout Maddern Ihad been told off
for the capture of the ponies, and Lieu—
tenant Lee and his men, fifty in number,
were awaiting for the sound of firing
to press in on the Pass and hem the
- Indians in from that end, while Captain
Lennox came up with his force toward
the scene of ambush and Captain
Merton with sixty troopers would drive
the lurking foe down from the range by
taking them in their rear.

Another five minutes went by, and
then a roar was heard upon the range,
as half a hundred carbines [lashed to-
gether. '

“ Charge! ” shouted Lieutenant . Lee,
and the troopers under his command
obeyed with the willingness of the true
soldiers they were.

that

 

CHAPTER XXL
A FIGHT AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

Captain Merton had dismounted his
men, leaving a few soldiers to follow
with the horses, and thus had gained a
point close to the cliffs without being
seen.

A scout had gone on ahead, discovered
the Indians crowding the whole side of
the hill fronting on the trail, and so had
led the soldiers within carbine range.

Not a redskin expected a foe near, and
many a soldier had a chance to pick out
his man and fire, so that when the vol-
ley came it was a deadly one.

With cheers the soldiers rushed for-
ward, the surprised redskins rushing pell
mell down the steep hillside to the 'val-
ley, and where they could. dash through
the pass toward their ponies.

But as they reached the valley, fol-
lowed by the rattle of the carbines, into
eight charged Captain Lennox and, his
t H force. - _ ‘

 

 .Y.‘
‘ ‘ng‘if‘

They did not expect to go that way,
but his coming hastened their steps, and
in an‘instant they were running to the
Pass.

They were in large numbers, fully two
hundred being in sight, while others
were visible upon the tops of the steep
cliffs beyond the Pass, and they were
preparing to open fire and check the ad-
vance of Captain Lennox.

But just then a ringing cheer was
heard beyond the Pass, the heavy tramp
of hoofs, and Lieutenant Lee and his
men out off the retreat of the flying
foe.

And more, those upon the cliffs, believ-
ing tlhey were to be hemmed in, turned
and tied without a shot being fired upon
Captain Lennox and his men.

Huddled together in the Pass. with
Captain Merton on the hillside they had
[led from, and firing down upon them,
Captain Lennox closing in on them in
one direction and Lieutenant Lee in an-
other, the red foe became desperate,
massed together and With yells, Shots,
and desperation, made a rush to break
through the Pass, and gain their ponies.

This, as Buffalo Bill had said, brought
the hardest fighting upon Lieutenant
Lee’s command.

The troopers met the shock bravely,
with revolver and sabre, and many a
brave went down.

But the fight was fierce and short, half
the force broke through, and a chief and
half a dozen of his braves went off on
the horses of fallen troopers.

Instantly the lieutenant wheeled and
gave chase, but a pine thicket checked
mounted men, where it protected those
on foot.

Away sped the Indians toward their
ponies, to behold with almost despair
that they were being driven rapidly off
by another party of soldiers.

They started in pursuit, in their mad
desperation, but up came Lieutenant
Lee, Buffalo Bill by his side, and a couple
'of score of soldiers, and the redskins
were headed off just as they might have
captured their ponies, who were in a
rocky pass.

Turned back, the braves sped for the
shelter of the pines and the range be-
yond, where their comrades, a hundred
in number, awaited them, and powerless
to lend any aid.

Captain Lennox and his men now
came up, and 'it was a running fight
to the range.

Once there, the Indians on foot could
escape, for horses could not ascend the
rugged, hill, and the chief and those
who had also mounted the horse-s of dead
troopers had to desert the animals, but
not until they had taken the revenge at
least of knifing the horses they had
captured.

“ Don’t kill them now, men! Let them
go, for our victory is a great one,” said
Captain Lennox, and the flying, dodging
Indians continued their flight up the
range.

“’Well, Cody, thanks to you, we were
saved and half of our foes destroyed.
Lee. you met that charge well, but three
times your force could not have checked
that deSperate rush.

“We have lost a dozen men, at least,
and as many more wounded: but the ln~
dian losses are ten to one. We will camp
here for the present, at least, and decide
what is best m‘ be done.

“ Come, Cody, I wish to see you, and
Captain Lennox led the wav to the pass.
which was choked up with dead and
wounded Indians, soldiers and horses.
and where Captain Merton and his men
were on foot trving to aid the sufferers.
and acting under the direction of the
surgeon.

The victory was complete. One-third
of the Indian force had been killed or
wounded, the remainder were in rapid
flight on foot. their horses and supplies
having been captured, and all this done
within an hour’s time. and where the
red foe had been ambushed to strike
even a severer blow upon the soldiers—-
would have donetso, in fact, but for Buf-
falo Bill. I. i 1 -  , - '

c.

.14" I

h

 

 

 

‘ skins generally dread

 

' w-«II‘NM‘NI .., .13-

OHAPTER XXII.
PUSHING oN TO THE RESCUE.

“ Buffalo Bill saved us!”

Such was the admission of the officers,
from Captain Lennox down.

Such was the cry of the men.

Had the command ridden into that
deadly ambush, great would have been
the mourning throughout the land.

“And he took almost certain chances
of death to do so, by first riding through
the ambush alone," Captain Merton re-
marked.

Buffalo Bill, with his scouts, was mak-
ing a show of pursuing the Indians, to
keep «them going in their retreazt, while
the command went into camp.

The soldiers had found a good cam-ping
place beyond the pass, the horses were
staked out, fires were built, and a shelter
of boughs had been made for the *
wounded.

The dead were all gathered, the In—
dians in one placc. the soldiers in an-
other, while graves were being dug for
them.

The wounded redskins, to their sur—
prise, were bcing cared for as well as the
soldiers.

The first thing Captain Lennox had
done was to dispatch a courier at full
speed to the fort, asking for ambulances
to be sent for the wounded, and also to
have a company of mounted infantry
and a couple of light guns follow him,
as he believed the Indians were in very
large force, and they were yet not near
Shelter Valley, 'where they expected to
relieve Captain Warburton.

This done, a small force was left with
the camp as a guard to the wounded, and
Buffalo Bill and his scouts having re-
turned, supper was had and the com—
mand mounted to press on to Shelter"
Valley.

With the force so large that was sent
to ambush them, Captain Lennox feared
that Warburton and his men had been
overwhelmed, though Buffalo Bill said
that he thought they could hold their
own, in the camp where he had left
them, for several days.

Still, the scout had urged pressing on
without delay to their relief.

The halt at the pass of several hours
would delay their arrivaL, at Shelter Val-
ley until after midnight, While the killed
and wounded soldiers, and Ithe guard of a
dozen left with them, reduced the force
by thirty men.

Still, Captain Lennox knew that 0010- ,
nel Waring would quickly dispatch the
aid asked, and this would strengthen
his command greatly.

The spot chosen was a good one to de-
fend, and, should straggling Indians at-
tempt to recapture their ponies, they ,
would meet with a strong resistance, A

A ,,__.. 4—. _ a,

while extra campfires were built, double-
sentinels placed, and all made to appear

that there were many more soldiers

there than there really were.

Buffalo Bill was again well in front
guiding, and he kept his scouts strung
out behind him for the distance of half
a mile only, when the command came.
being within quick call.

He did not, know but that another am-
bush might be awaiting them.

The scene of his meeting with what
he called the “.Wild Man” was reached
before sunset, and here Captain Lennox
brought his command close up, he riding
ahead with Buffalo Bill.

The Indians had removed their dead.
but their ponies, 'three in number, were
being picked bv coyotes, and further on
was the animal ridden by the Wild Man.

“ There is where he fired upon the U1-
dirms, sir. after he left me,” said Buffalo
Bill. pointing to the cliff. ,

“Describe him to me Codv.’

“Well. sir. it is easily done. for he
was dressed in the skin of a gI‘lZZlY bear.
had 8, feather head—dress, wore his hair
and heard long, and would have been
shot for a bear at the distance of a hun—
dred vards! ” .

“ The Indians were chasing him?”

“Yes, sir, to my surprise, for the red:
such a man, and

- .63;
c  l e

   
  
   

 

M .3»... «rang—mam“

1-,- .
 .

I.

     

"-""  .

    

      

1‘7 ’ m2: 

  

, m_——~A.. . of,

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

11

 

 

consider it ‘had medicine‘ to kill one
they regard as a madman.

“But they were hot after him for
some reason, and as his horse went down
with him, they would have gotten him
had I nut fortunately come up in time.”

“ You had no conversation with him? ”

“ No, sir, for I had to act lively, not
talk-

“He was pinned down by his horse.
and I had to release him, and when I
looked again he was gone.”

“ Strange that he should desert you."

“ l rlo‘not think he intended to do so,
sir, as he went up the cliff and from
there helped me.”

“And you saw him no more?"

“No, sir, for I had to push on to the
fort for help for Captain Warburton.

“ Otherwise, I would haVe looked
him up.

“But just then I had about all I could
do to look after myself.”

“Well, upon our return we will see if
we can find any trace of him."

“It will be a hard thing to do, sir, as
he was on foot.

“Will you camp on the stream here,

'sir, for a short rest, or push on? "

“We will camp for half an hour, and
then push on without a halt to Shelter
Valley, for I confess I am most anxious
about Warburton and his men," answered
Captain Lennox, and while the men rest-
ed Buffalo Bill went on foot to have a
look at the cliff where he had last seen
the mysterious man in the bearskin at—
tire, and Lieutenant Basil Lee accom-
panied him.

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE LONE CAMPER

Reaching the cliff, as the sun was upon
the horizon, Buffalo Bill and Lieutenant
Lee had light enough to take in the sur-
roundings.

There was no trace there, however, of
the Wild Man. The trail led back from
the cliff into the mountains, and if he
had gone that way his tracks did not
show.

He had climbed up to the cliff by a Way
he must have known, or he could not
have found it so readily, for the scout
had some difficulty in finding it.

Returning. to *the temporary camp,
Buffalo Bill found the captain ready to
push on, and once more he went ahead,
but with the command in close order
now, the scouts right behind their leader
and the troopers following.

Buffalo Bill had no difficulty in follow-
ing a, trail he had once passed over, and
in the darkness he stuck to it without a.
mistake, leaving his horse to do the

guessing when he dreaded that he might

be at fault.

After a brisk ride the troopers Came to
a halt just after midnight. and upon the
summit of the hill over ‘which the trail
led dowu inito Shelter Valley.

Buffalo Bill left his horse with the com-
mand, and with a couple of scouts on foot
went down into the valley.

It was all of a mile to-where the camp.
was, and he could see no lights from the
hilltop, but then that was no sign that
the force was not there and not be-
,seiged, either, for many redskins might
be surrounding them, and yet be as

’ silent as the dead.

Cautiously the three scouts went along,

,for they did not know at what second
. .ithey might run upon an Indian sen-

tinel.

If they ran into a trap, they had agreed
to Signal the command by striking a
match, and sentinels-were kept on the
Watch, that the troopers might come to
the rescue.

It was slow work making their way,
but nearer and nearer the camp where
the scout had left Captain Warburton
they drew, and not an Indian had been
seen.

“ All is terribly dark there, sir,” said
Scout Maddern, in a whisper, as they
stood in the trail looking up toward the
timber on the, rise, where the camp was
located. , ' ‘ .

light, though I may have been mis—
taken,” answered Buffalo Bill.

As he spoke there came a faint flicker
of flame in the timber.

“ I was right.

“ Some one is there."

On they moved now, more cautiously
‘than before, and until within a couple
of hundred yards they approached.

Then the scout halted, crouched upon
the ground, and waiting watched with
eyes riveted upon the camp.

Several times light had flared hp,
like the last energy of a dying fire, and
Buffalo Bill said:

“ If they are there, they have sentinels
on the watchuof course, and must be-
lieve the Indians are still near.

“If they have been massacred, then
the Indians are there, waiting to entrap
a relief party that might arrive at night.

“Some one is there, I feel assured. and
we can do nothing until dawn, and that
is an hour away, so you go. Belt, and
tell Captain Lennox to move slowly into
the valley along 'the trail we came."

“ Yes, sir.”

f‘ You guide them, Belt, and ask Cap-
tain Lennox to let the men dismount
and lead their horses, so as to come as
quietly as possible.”

“I will, sir.” and Scout Belt slipped
away in the darkness, while Buffalo Bill
and Maddern were left to still watch
the camp. .

Several times the light flared up, and
once burned steadily for several sec-
onds. In that time a form was seen to
pass in front of it. .

Then came a shower of sparks, that de—
noted more wood being thrown upon a
smouldering fire, and Buffalo Bill re—
marked: - '

“ Now we will see who is there, pale-
face or redskin.”

“Yes, sir; but it is strange we hear no
sound if the soldiers are there.”

“ Yes, Maddern, and if Indians are
thege, why have they no sentinels out
__a . )1

As Buffalo Bil spoke the fire burned up
brightly, and the blaze revealed an ob-
ject that caused Scout Maddern to ex-
claim:

“It is a grizzly bear! ”

“No, it is my Wild Man, and he is
alone. See, he is getting his break-
fast!”

The man was seen bending over the
fire, and his grizzly robe and feather hat
were plainly visible.

“What will you do, sir?” whispered
Maddern.

“Creep nearer and see if we cannot
make friends with him—too bad! too
bad!”

The words broke from Ithe lips of Buf-
falo Bill as suddenly, down on the trail,
there came the loud neigh of a cavalry
horse.

The animal had caught sight of the
kindling campfire, and had neighed, other
horses being choked off by their mas-
ters before they could join in with him.

The moment «the neigh was heard, the
bear-robed form was seen to bound away
from the fire.

Quickly Buffalo Bill called out:

“ Hold, pard! We are friends, not foes!
I saved you fr0m the Indians two days
ago! ”

But, there was no response. All was
a deathlike silence in the timber.

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAIL.

The scout receivmg no answer to his
call, again cried: ,
 Don’t iiy, pard, for we need your
a1 . '

“We are soldiers from Fort Fenton! ”

With the last word came a wild yell
that was demoniacal in its ferocity and
intense in its utterance Of seeming hate.

Buffalo Bill knew that his words had
touched upon some chord that had awak-
ened the deepest feeling in the man, for
some reason.

 

f‘ Yea bi“,- I. believe I. 9‘;

' '  Exit-a ' ~- I

, He knew that the man, whoever he
t.  be, 3 mid? halt a ‘
. . . r .i ,Y _. (yr,  w .-' s

; B:

 

ing to Maddern to follow, he dashed
toward the timber.

Maddern was a man who had always
prided himself upon his fleetness of foot,
but he now found that Buffalo Bill was
leaving him rapidly behind.

“He outruns a deer,” he muttered, yet
still kept on, and now his leader dis-
appeared in the timber.

\Vhen he arrived there Bufialo Bill was
not to be seen, but he detected his run-
ning feet afar off in the darkness.

To follow would be to deaden the
sound, and he would go wrong, so he
awaited there by the fire.

He saw where the wood had been re-
cently put on, and upon a bed of coals
a large venison steak was broiling.

The Wild Man had deserted his break—
fast.

Close to the fire was a bed of pine
straw, where the man had passed the
night, and then to his surprise Maddern
found that he was right among some
new-made graves.

“A cheerful place this to spend the
night,” he muttered and then added:

“ The man slept there as a wild ani-
mal might.

“Who can he be?

“ Well, if any one can catch 'him, Chief
Cody is the one, for I never saw a man
run as he does.”

The sound of hoofs could now be dis-
tinctly heard, and a few minutes after
up came Captain Lennox and Scout Belt.

“ Ho, Maddern, that is you, is it?”

“ Yes sir.” ‘

“Where is Chief Cody?”

“He went off in chase of his .Wild
Man, sir.” '

“Ah! Did you see him? ”

“Yes, sir, he was camping 'here."

“It was the Wild Man who uttered
that diabolical yell? ”

“Yes, sir.”

“And Cody went after him? "

“ He called to the man we were friends,
then said we were soldiers from Fort
Fenton, and then the Wild Man gave that
yell, sir.

“Chief Cody called to me to follow
him, but I couldn’t run with him any
more than I could with a deer, and so I
lost him.”

“He doubtless saw which way the
\Vild Man went and is following.”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ And there is no one here? "

“Only those graves, sir.”

“Yes, I see them.

“Belt, build up the «fire, for we will
camp here; the command is coming up.”

“Yes, sir," answered the scout, while
Captain Lennox turned again to Mad—

. dern and asked:

“Cody said this was where Captain
VVarburton and his men were camped?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“And there is no trace of them?"

“ None, sir.” .

“ Or of the Indians? 

“ No, sir.”

“Well, dawn is coming, and then we
will find out what has happened, while,
if Cody catches his Wild Man he can per-
haps tell us something)? ,

The command now came up, and Cap-
tain Lennox gave orders to go into camp
and have breakfast.

Soon a dozen campfires shed their light
through the timber, and the coming of
day paled them and revealed a pict-
uresque scene. ,

It was a pretty spot, well timbered,
with a stream running by the hill, upon
which the camp was located.

But then in the timber were the graves
of the massacred people of the Ellis
wagon train.

As the sun arose and Buffalo Bill did.

not appear, Captain Lennox was growing
more and more anxious about him, fear—
ing that ,the Wild Man might have
trapped him in some way.

But just as he was about to start the
scouts out in search of him, Buffalo Bill
was seen approaching at a brisk walk.

.The soldiers greeted his appearance
with a shout, and, walking up to Cap-

tain Lennox and saluting; he  

it.

 

  

12

.‘i Kim-:3" __ prim”; I,” ;  y, .,; _ 3" _. _ V f. t.   ., . 1
I, .I __ ‘..  . ,P .l‘ ,_r _ _ _ H ‘ _ 1
. l v . .r ~ ., ’

Buffalo hints, avenues;

 

 

 
   
 
  
   
  
  
   
     
 
   
   
  
   
 
 
  
   
    
  
  
  
   
  
 
  
   
   
    
  
      
   
   
   
 
  
  
   
   
   
    
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
 

“ I could not catch him, sir, for I lest
him in the darkness of yonder hills.

“ I suppose Scout Maddern has told you
who was the lone camper we found
here? ”

d6 Yes-’9

“And instead of believing us friends,
that devilish yell of his showed that he
regarded us with dread.”

“That was my idea, Or it was with
hatred that he regarded us.” I

“There may be some reason in that,
Cody. ,

“But what of Warburton and his
men? ” ‘

‘ “Here is where I left them, sir."

“ Yes, and they are gone? ”

“ They have, sir.”

“ And I note that wagons and all went
with them by the trail."

“They may have been overwhelmed
1 v by, the redskins.”
- ' , “No, sir, not here; for the Indians

would have burned the wagons right,

here, and taken only the stock; but the
trail shows that the whole train left
. here.” ,
“ But we could not have followed them

in the night.”
“ Oh, no, sir, and for a very good rea—

son.” ‘ .

V" What is it?” ' '
, "“ They went in lihe other direction,
Isir." ( _,
“‘Why, what does that mean, Cody?”
“ I do not know yet, sir:
“But there is their trail, sir, and it
leads back over the one they came,‘ and
 away from the fort."

"‘ I do not comprehend it,'Cody."

.v “ Nor doi‘I,'sir, just yet.

. \ “Butthe trail, as I crOssed it yonder,
“appears to have been made all of, a day
' andnight ago. . '
.' “'But this is a good camping place,
« sir, and’after breakfast I will see'what
.‘t‘Ican'discover of* Captain Warburton’s
“treason for leaving here, and especially
going away, fromghelp instead of to meet
t.” ' ' ‘ .

I V \ ' l

 

~ ' V CHAPTER xxv.

 i  u IN susrnnsm.

, The Poncers were all gathered around
,thdrspot where their breakfast had been
"spread by their mess cdoks, and Buffalo
Bill-was with them. x \ , "
 But it was evident that none [cared to

, ,Th‘q scout’s rhport of the mysterious
in? the trail of Captain ‘Wfirburton led
..;mde allfwl that there was something
' tofibooxpiained. ‘ . . ,,
;  had captain Warburton leftthe
chitin-unless driven from it? »
 rWhy did he not‘await the coming of
dens he knew Buffalo Bill would bring
t from-Fort ,Fenton without fail?

Why had .‘he. in leaving his camp,
nevfrom the fort. rather than‘toward
If'he had wished to flank any“ redskins
ftiays between him and the fort; be
If not do spy» a mountain range
 have. caused, in: to travel a. hun-
 miies out oflhis way to-do so. -

Thenitflly‘leave’ at all? ' ‘ _ . 

" s, water, and wood were plenti-
o= had all the provisions of the

 

  

  

  

  

txhad the Wild Man todoxijth
ageing of the soldiers, for he had
gfound' inigth’éir camp? ‘ , '

ad the-Wildlhfan rent the soldiers off
ongomslfalso trail from reasons bf his.
,. y, ,, ,

an, a" stud mom, in“ a may"

amine reasons? -' . __ V 
Mummy Captain 'Warburtpn‘ would

H e aawhite, man who camer'to his

‘1

  
  

    
  

  
 
 
 

,withf'any, newsnof densest, _. .’

rhizome wud Mani-nu, from pre-

in my his menus, from Buffalo Bill,
, _.,  =fr0m’ the Indians ? '

  

  

 

train, and should have remained: '

d and: it

asked Captain Lennox as the Chief of
Scouts finished his breakfast.

“I will take a couple of scouts with
me and push on along the trail, sending
back word the first discovery I make.”

“And the command to await here? "

“ Yes, sir, if you deem best, for it is a
-splendid camp, and men and horses need
rest. '

“ Then, too, sir, it is convenient in
whatever directibn you have to move,
while it is the place those Indians on
foot must pass on Uheir way back to their
village, their trail leading through this
Valley.”

“ That is so, and they ought to be along
by night". ‘

“Yes, sir.”

“And then you know more force is
comingfrom the fort, and this is their
destination.”

“Yes, here we remain unless you send
some word that causes us to pull‘out.”

“I may make some discovery soon,
sir: but 'I will know i 'a. few hours if
that Wild Man took any story to Cap-
tain Warburton 'to cause him to take that
long trail around the mountain to reach
the fort.”

“Yes, for he must have done so, as
that is the only excuse I can find for
Warburton’s leaving his camp.

“But, -I depend upon you, Cody, to
unravel the mystery, and shall await
your messenger With anxiety.”

Calling to Maddern and Belt to aCcom-
’pany him, Buffalo Bill was mounting his
horse when Lieutenant Basil Lee called
on : ‘ ."

“Cody, -I have Captain Lennox's per-
mission to go with you, but not as an
officer, if it is all lthesamejo you.”

“I shall be delighted to have your
company, air, for four headsare better
thanthree,” responded Buffalo Bill.

‘

the lieutenant by his side and Scouts
Maddern and Belt following.

The officer and men watched their go-
ing and made.com-mentts among them-

.- selves that were most complimentary

to Buffalo Bill.

j ' “We owe him our live, and we will
owe more to him before this trail is end-
ed, or I am greatly mistaken.” said Cap~
tain Lennox. " ’

“He is a very remarkable man, in-
deed.”

“I did not believe half of the stories
told of his wonderful career and powers,
: but now‘I have met him, I am sure not
the half has been tpld,”, Captain Lennox
said.

f‘And such is my opinion," added an
officer, while another remarked: ‘

“ But for the neighing 0 that trooper’S
horse, Captain Lennox, e would have
had that Wild Man, for he said he in~
tended to creep up and‘lasso him, fear-
ing he might run 0 "aiiter his doing so
when he saved him mm the Indians.”

Buffal Bill and those with him were
seen t 36 over thexhill. and were lost
to view as they followed the trail of Can-
tain Warburton.‘

 

CHAPTER XXVI.

. run Los'r TRAIL.

The .four horsemen continued their way
over the reuse. and down the steep trail
to ,tlie plain, Buffalo Bill narrowly watch-
ing the tracks as they wentzalong.

’ At last he said: * '
." This trail is all of twenty-four hqurs’
old, Lieutenant Lee. if not older.’f

that camp where) I saw him before the
Wild Man could have. pessiny reached
him.”

“~You think so? ” -
‘  “ I’ll. tell you just how Iolook at item
.:“.I left the captain’s camp in the night,
was daylightCWlien' I came upon

 

 

 m!  others. were

   

  

I  IWHQ  f ..

Five minutestafter he rode off with

And among the men like comments-
were being made, while in the meanwhile,

“‘ It has that appearance“ to me, Cody”,
‘._-‘ In that case; Captain Warburton left'

A

  

 

“ Which delayed you considerably.”

“ Some hours, sir. ' '

“I arrived in the fort at night, and
was only there three hours when the
command started out, and that was some
twenty-four hours after leaving Captain
Warburton's camp.

“ Then yesterday and to—day so far
make some tWenty-four hours more, and
this trail was made soon after I left the
camp.” '

“ I believe you know, Cody. .

“ But about the Wild Man? "

“Yes, sir. I g

“It was eighthours lifter I left Cap—
tain Warburton that I met the Wild Man,
for we only know him as such, and as he
was on foot, he c0uld not have reached
the camp until yesterday some time, and
I am sure t e captain had moved out long
before.

“If he had seen the captain and given
him what was supposed to be valuable
information, then he certainly would
have received a horse and some sup~
plies.

“ These he did net have, for he bounded
away frOm the fire at my call, leaving his
Venison steak on the coals, and he picked
up nothing else, and this is proof that he
did not seethe captain, but got to the
camp after he was gone.”

“ You have got it down fine, Cody.”

“ Now, it is for us to find out why Cap- '

tain Warbur’ton'so quickly left his camp
after my departure, andagain, why, he
came this trail.” -

“ Do you think Indians
forced him out?”

“No, sir, there was not a sign of In—
dians that I could see about Ithe camp.”

“ I do, not understand it, Cody, so can-
not help soive the mystery of Warbur-

ton’s leaving.”*' r ‘

i could I have

Buffalo Bill quads no reply fora min-- '

ute, and then said, in a low tone, so as.
the two? scouts did not hear him, as they,
were riding fifty feet in the rear:‘* ,

“ I was surprised to find no trace what-
ever of Indians
tenant." r - i i . fl ,

“Yet the camp was attacked by In-
dians?" ‘

“Oh, yes, sir, only I did not see the
trail left by their ponies, so they must
have run in on the train on foot, t ough
I understood Captain Warburton say,
they were mounted." »

“ They doubtless made the attack 0
fodt.” ' ,

,"Yes, sir, and I misunderstood him:
but I did not find any signs of Indians
about the camp, and if any were ‘kllled
by the soldiers, what was done with the
bodies?” . .; ~ . .

Lieutenant Lee glanced fixedly at the
scout. and said:

“You have in your mind, Cody, What 

You will not give expression to.
9‘ The truth is, there are ugly rumors in

7' camp, coming from no one knows where,

and seemingly known to but few; but
they reflect upon Captain Warburton in.
a way I would resent, if his own actions
did not aid in the belief that they had
some foundation. '

KCandidly, Cody, and in confidence, I

will tell. you that the-rumor is that War- V
burton and his bandyihavo deserted and
actually turnedioutlaWs. *

“ When you camewith the news of his; '
being corralled. and in camp in Shekel“?

Valley, I believed all was well.  ’v  ' ~
" But his being goneunystiiids me

again, I , ass?"

"1t is‘str'ange, angle say: the leastfpuur " '

I!
~

I ho all will come out well _ 4
pa for ‘WarbiIr-i

“ “s I'do, most sincerely,

ton is one of the noblest of mangand if ,'
he has gone wrong, which I? cannot be-,

   

lieve without proof, that: ne_;"certainlx

v.

   
 
 

is crazy, and not responsiblofftir his as?“

tiona.) '   n ‘
" But what ‘do you now? _.
" A hard of buffaloihaveeome

Mn" mil batibeit‘tracksxr. :

I ‘swe will soon strike it again, ‘I sup»... '

,r;
..l

   

   
  

   

   
  

‘  the stream ' '

about “the camp, lieu-i

. . , «his  *
far, sir, and turned back.'des'troying the 

 

\ ‘I‘:':;‘:’M _

    

 

           
     
     
        
    
       
  
    
   

       
     
     
     

      

\

 

s. nvmeibies‘.

  

 

t ' and not a trace of the wagon ,trail was
visible anywhere.

The many tracks of the herd of buffalo
had obliterated the wheel marks and the

 

d hoof prints of the horses.
9 The wagon trail was utterly gone, and
e the buffalo had followed on after it, as
U i Buffalo Bill said: e v -
r i “ As though to wipe it out.”
1 I  I
3' - i , a CHAPTER ‘Xxvii.
 ' AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
The party halted aitthe stream to water

their horses and also to conSider what

was best to be done. I
' Buffalo Bill‘w‘as quietly thinking, and
; the others waited for him to speak.
f He rodearound about the ford several
1 ,timemand wt last said:
,. .‘:,'I‘he buffaloes have shut out the

wagon trail, that is certain, but there are
the tracks of horses, half a dozen or
following after the herd, I notice.
“And more, the horses are shod, so
they passed along behind the herd.

 “ Now, my idea is that the buffalo came
there to drink, grazed about for awhile
across the stream, and went back over

i * their trail for some strange reason, for It

:. would have been more natural had they

, continued on toShelter Valley, where

the grass is plentiful. _

I ,“ But they turned back, or were driven

’ " I  back; and ,itlooks tome as though the

. Jest Was the, way of it, from these iron-

. shod tracks.” V \
“But for what reason, Cody?”

. , “There can be but one 1' 1 D. New

 tenant.” , , '  . . ~ -
“ And that wheat—"y.   I n
“ To coVer up. the. V3801! tTaCkS-
:“ Yew: guess‘the captain didn’t want

' ' 'ahe,,;1n  to follow,” said Maddern,

 kwli'gi’fe elt added:

’ “And a herd of buffalo can about wipe
out a trail as well as anything I know,
and we may have to go a, long way to
strike it again, and I suppose the cap»
' lain saw the herd and made them use:
ful.” \ I t \i,

, v "‘ We will ride on, Lieutenant Me, and

see. how far the herd coveredup the

trail,” said Buffalo Bill.
so on they rode, and watching the way
most carefully, Buffalo Bill made ‘a dis—

v , covery and 'in a low tone said to the

"i  officer: .,

>  I,“ These iron-shod tracks went only so

-  "far andfpre, ingback to the stream."

 , "_I see, he, a , now/ you‘ call my atten-
 tion toWH‘chtJ’,   I .4 r H

 "“ They are‘sCatterredpae‘yo, see. sir.

Him. two’ men riding close to V her; and

this I‘l‘ead as 'a desire that tne‘tracks of

‘ ‘ , horses should not be seengamong

 many others“ in going back to the

strain."

ir“-Anfi"what do you make dht of it.
' )9!

3 l
- man.

I '_‘VV'

 

 

   

 

a.

herd oi‘buffalo were made
the wagon trail, sir.
fifififlfi-Indians from follow-

 “.I w’not, prepared just yet, sir. to
,4 give an opini, as, to the reason.”

MThe plain wascrossed, a range of; hills
:reached, and ‘th‘ere'._the buffalo tracks
ending the‘way they were, branched off
mul~‘the regular trail into the hills.
Mdyeuioo, Buffalo Bill saw, that the
mike 01’ '. iron—She'd boots had

  
 

  
 

” d,hack;,f’ . , I
' 84‘s},  driven by horsemen
901m. air, and when the driv-
{fluseefthat the buffalo

    
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
   
   
    
  

" Bl“ "Vb" 313° Imitl‘aieutlenant Lee.
at the herd whert‘fit‘pame tlhis‘ way
 to the trail.”    '

.’;.""I’.bb’serve it."._ “ . r ' ‘ e

- "and; their tracks destroy the wagon
gentile herd was driven when it
’ this‘yvay, as it would never have
‘tothe traitsq closely.”
“that‘inean that it was
 “utomitigi’tte ’

,7 a,

   
     
 

“And you wishto push on to where
the herd was driven on the trail and the
wagon tracks are visible?”

“ That is just it.” '

“ Cody, you are a wonder, I.again say,
and I'll follow your lead anywhere."

“Thanks for the compliment, sir,” and
Buffalo Bill now set the pace at a rapid
canter.

After several miles had been gone over
the scout suddenly drew rein.

It was at the top of a range, over-
looking a wide plain.

“Here is where the buffalo herd was
found, sir, feeding on that plain, and
you see they were rounded up and driven
in this direction, striking the trail here.”

“Yes, and I see that we have found
the wagon train trail, Cody,” said the
officer, pointing to where it was visible
coming up the slope and could be seen
marked across the plain.

“There is one thing you have failed
to observe, sir." . '

“What is that?"

“And neither have our two scouts
there observed the fact." ,

" No. but you have made a discoveryfl
am sure." ' '

“ Do you observe, sir, that though we
are looking upon the wagon trail, it is
coming this way?”

“ By the Lord Harry, but you are
right, Cody! ~

“ What does it mean? " ‘

 

driven , d

“ It means that this is the trail made to
Shelter Valley, and that the buifa‘los hid
~the one made coming backa from the
stream to this point, and more, we failed
to see where Captain Warburton turned
off, so he has covered up his tracks well,
indeed.” ' _ .

“Well, if you were at a loss,.so were
the Indians, Cody.”  ‘ / ,

‘ “ There were no Indians following him,
air.” « I

vent them doing so, urely."

“If therewtere no Indians, sir, why‘
did he leave his strong camp in Shelter
Valley'to come this way, and hadthere
been Indians galore, also, why-.did he
leave; it, when he knew help was, com-
ing?” , ‘ -

“I give it up.” ,

“I don’t sir, for, as there ‘is a mys—
tery hanging over his movements, I am
interested in finding it out, and will do
so in the end," and Buffalo Bill’s lips
closed in a way natural to him when
he had made up his mind to carry out ~a=
certain purpose. » i

I». I.

 

x  CHAPTER XXVIIIt * ,
, I UNDER SUSPICION. __

Having thoroughly. satisfied himself
that the wagon train had notpassed back
over the trail ‘it had come, ‘B‘uflal’ogmll
tugetdh Ward Shelter Valley; stranger:

u
the flank dt: the
side, with orders. to ‘not‘e’if- they'feouldf
see where time wagons  turned off at
any point. . ‘ ’ -' , _ _.

With Lieutenant Lee he rode back
along the direct trail, making a close ’ob-
servation all along the way.

The way was thus gone over, and late
in the afternoon the fourmen met again
at the stream. , ' p v

“I saw no trail, sir, and the wagons
never turned off," Said Maddern.‘

“ There was no,show of’em on my side
either. ChiefCod’y," remarked Belt. .

they? got this far, and We faile
ties it,”, the lieutenant said. ’
‘ “ But where, sir, I
pose, for, as I understood it, the ranges
on either side would have blocked their

\ .

h We ‘39:“? ll? slums"?
5‘ Then  sin + t

waY.“ \ I-K‘ ’ I,
(6  I ‘ , 'n ' i I ‘ >  
a D0 You  they ware n": ,

  
   
  

 
 
  

the end; 613i
"id *

 

“But he covered‘u this tracks to pre?

sent his two eoniradas’l to

“Then the wagons turned off before~
d to no—.~, ’ _ 

' ;  notiknow roams strange may
and~for what purs- '

7, can go magnetite agiy'rh

Q  -' :1 filfdu know , that win: he
so if

 

After examining the sandy bottom
closely he called out:

“Maddern, gallop down this stream
for a mile or so and see if there is any
obstruction in it to wagons passing by
following its bed.”

Maddern started off at a, gallop.

“You, Belt, go up the stream for a
mile or two.”

Belt rode away along the bank in the
direction ordered. ‘ -
“COdy, do you think the train could ,

have turned off here? ”

“There is no other place for it' to
have done so, sir.” . ‘

‘ “ If it went down the stream there is
no outlet save by ,Shelter Valley.” , ,

“You know this, sir? ” \_ 1‘

“ I do, for I have scouted along there
several times." ‘

“And if the train went
stream? ”

“ It would hear away from Shelter Val-
ley, and go into the Indian Country.

“I have never been up that way fur— _
“ther than this ford, and I do not think “ '1‘”
any of the fort scouts have either.” . ,, .

“Nor have I, sir, though I scouted.
some through this country several years
ago.” "
“If the wagons have gone up ”the
stream, what then?” .~

“ In that case, sir, I would say that -
Captain Warburton was not running
from Indians." , _ “I

u  O ‘

“But what" then? ”

“I speak ,only, sir, from guess 'work;  "
but it looks to me as. though he was ',
not anxious to be rescued, as in going 
into the Indian country he would 
turning his back upon all help from the

     
   
  
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
    
   
 
 
  
  
   
   
   
    
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
 

up the

fort.” ' ,
“ I cannot say a Word
argument, Cody. , , .
, “But if we find the train has gone up
the stream, what is to be done? "  
“I willgo ahead alone, sir, marking.
I my; trail, while the two scouts compilers,
within, sight of this ford, and I am going--
to ask you to return to camp and j  ' 
captain Lennox in possession of the tail,
facts, as we know them.“ ‘  ‘ ‘ “
“ I will do so", . ,3
“ And suggest, please, Lieutenant Lee
‘that be open those graves and find out; 2
just who is in them." - r ~  l '3
“ A good idea)? . i -' I I ’
“ And in the».morning, ~sir, [starts ’
force to come; this wayr‘andfrollow;
trail, while it would be a’ 
leave the expected relate

against that ,

  
       

 
     
 

camp. to fall back uponfiin ease erased,

or call to our help, all 111d we stti. :a

finger force at ,redskins than: we ' '
n ‘n - I} V: . 4. z

 Go ahead; Cody. and make anyfsngl»
gestlon ‘yonwish, for I- know  
tain ,will be only tangled
your. vieWs, ,‘as he has unbounded. "

  
      
 
  
  
 

     
   
 
    
   
 
  
   
  

  
 
 
    

«leads ‘in‘ you". ,  _ U
I .‘f {whavemo more to Suggestmirgqt
 befithat I will have tit/stick to. .
trail alone,,as soldiers moyingfiate‘ 
Indian ,country 'may,,eatise a gath‘ ,
of warriors we do not wish. m7" ,
would thwart our purpose}? ,- ‘   -
“ Which 1311111038 18 ,tosflnd War!) a
and his command? ” fr” ,, ' 1.4:, '
 " Yes, sir, it he inn-tether, “
“I see that-sauna WW1
him, Cody? ”' "  " . 
“ In the. absenceot ‘
smmmadect

  
  
   
  
 
  

   
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

    
 
   
  

 
  
  
  
 

 
 

  
      
    

     

"It _ 
,. “ He’ new

i

some soon ” reason"  

a.“

   
  
  

" have

    

bat they iqok- queer.  say the;
“‘I agree with A'yeu-zh'n‘t 
heirs withcittfnil moot that

  
 
 
  
 
 

1%

fort, time it that beings:  W3"

discoveries so far“
. is,»

   

  
 
 

 

alderman

  
 
    
 

 

 
   

14:

 

splendid fellow and a perfect soldier as
well.”

“I met him, sir.”

“ So you did.

“ Then the men are all fine fellows, true
as steel, We believed them to be, and
even did 'Warburton go wrong, the ser-
geant and the soldiers are not the kind to
join in his dishonor, so you see how
hard it is to believe ill against any of
them.”

“It is, sir, a hard thing to believe ill
against any soldier of our army, and I
hope Captain \Varburton can clear the
clouds away from him which his strange
actions have overshadowed him with.

“If he can, I will be only too glad to
say I am wrong; but I confess I believe
there is something wrong, as it now ap-
pears to me; but there comes Scout Mad—
dern,” and the scout came up at a. gallop.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE Two TRAILS.

Lieutenant Lee and Buffalo Bill had
dismounted, while awaiting the return
of the two scouts, and their horses were
feeding near where they sat under a tree.

Malddern rode up at a gallop and said:

“A mile below, sir, there are some
rapids, which nothing could pass fol—
lowing the stream, and there is no trail
on either bank.” .

“ Then that settles the matter in that
direction. _

“We will wait to see what Belt has to
report,” said the Chief Oif Scouts.

It was half an hour before Belt re-
turned, and he also came back at a gal—
lop.

“Well, Belt? ”

“ I went all of three miles up, sir, and

. could see a long distance further, and

there was no obstruction in the bed of
[the stream.

“If there is any, it is at the range you
see yonder, sir.”

“ There were no trails coming out upon
either bank? ”

“ None, sir.”

“ And the bed of the river could be
followed by wagons?”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ And the depth of the water?”

“About as it is here, sir, as far as I
went.” '

“ All right. I am going up the stream
alone, the lieutenant will return to camp,
and you two will go into camp in yonder
thicket, where you can watch this ford.”

“Yes, sir.”

“ How are you off for provisions,
Cody?”

“ All right, thank you, Lieutenant Lee,
for I never leave camp without my saddle
roll and camp outfit, with supplies for a
week.”

“ It is well to be prepared, and you are
an able general, not to be ,caught without
supplies. ,

“ But now to marking your trail? ”

“ It will be by a rock turned over here.
a broken limb, leaves scattered along, and
in various ways my scout friends here
can follow as readily as a tendenfoot
would a turnpike, sir.”

“ All right, I’ll see that Belt and Mad-
dern are in the lead, for they know your
ways now, and can readily follow you,
as you say.

“ Now, I 'will go to camp, and luck at-
tend you.”

The officer grasped Buffalo Bill’s hand,
returned the salute of the 'two scouts,
and, crossing the stream, went back over
the trail at a center.

Buffalo Bill went with Maddern and
Belt to the thicket, where they were to
camp, half a mile from the crossing, and,
seeing. that they would be all right. he
rode on up the stream —‘~--~ the bank.

He reached the spot where Belt had
turned back, and pressed on more ran-
idly, as he desired to reach the shelter of
the range several miles ahead before

nightfall, and there go into camp.
Keeping his eye on each bank as he
rode along, he could find no trace of
where the wagons had left the stream, for
he was perfectly assured that they had
come that way. ' . .

 
    

 

by the tracks of a herd of buffalo."

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

The soft sand of course left no traces in
the bed of the stream, and only here and
there did the banks allow of any wheels
coming out or entering the water.

As he was nearing the range Buffalo
Bill halted.

He had several times seen a track on
the bank that puzzled him.

“That is not a wolf’s track, but a
dog's," he muttered.

“And here is the trail of a horse com-
ing up out of the bed of the stream.

“I really believe it has been all along
on the other bank, and I failed to see it,
as also did Bolt, for we were looking
for wheel tracks.

“Yes, it leads down into the stream
from that bank, comes out here, and
goes on in my direction.

“But it is an iron-shod track, and of
a large horse, I take it, from the size of
the hoof and the depth of track that
shows weight.

“ Yes, and the dog’s track folIOWs it
along.

“Anyhow, I am not wholly in the
dark, for no Indian rode this horse, or
had the dog with him.

“The trail, however, is not over fresh,
and was made ‘when the wagon train
went along, or soon after.”

While thus musing,'Buffalo Bill had
been riding slowly along, watching the
trails made, by the horse and dog in the
soft ground.

Increasing his pace as the sun neared
the horizon, he continued on until he
reached the base of the range.

Here the stream turned abruptly to the
left, following along the base of the
range, and its bed was now pebbly.

The trail of the horse and dog was
also there, and continued on up the bank
of the stream. '

“I will hold on a little further, and
then camp,” said Buffalo Bill, and he
picked out ahead a good camping place.

Just as he reached it his eyes saw
ahead that there were rapids in the
stream.

“ They will tell the tale, for no wagons
can pass them,” he said, as he dashed
rapidly up to the rapids.

“ And they do tell the trail, for there
is the wagon trail.

“ It leaves the water here, and there is
where 'it went into camp.

“I’ll camp there, too, and it is just
what the rider with the dog did, I see,”
muttered the scout, as he saw the tracks
of the horse and dog leading in the same
direction.

Riding up into the sheltered nook
where the ashes of campfires Were visible,
Buffalo Bill dismounted, saying as he
did so: -

“ The man with the dog was not with
the wagon train, but following it.”

 

CHAPTER XXX.

ON THE TRACK OF BUFFALO BILL.

Back to camp went Lieutenant Lee,
and some anxiety was felt by those who
saw him returning alone.

He at once went to where Captain
Lennox was camping, and saw that the
men were making them-selves comfort-

able, having erected wicky-ups for the.

officers and themselves.

Scouts had been out and killed several
deer and turkeys, and the campfires were
blazing for the cooks to prepare suprper.

A couple of scouts were well out from
the camp, to report the coming of any
redskins, and guards were watching the
horses feeding in the valley, while double
sentinels' were on duty.

“ Well, Lee, glad to see you back.

“But I hope you have no bad news
about Cody.”

“ No, captain Lennox. good news.
rather, for he has discovered what he
went to find out, or, rather, I have some-
thing to tell vou that will surprise you.”

“Did you find Warburton? ”

“ No, sir.”

" He certainly went over that range.”

“ He, did, sir.

“His trail is seen all along until it
near-s a stream, and there it is hidden

vI, .

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 “in 25,, ‘v. ,
wrun‘r  .e'i "

“So Warburton did make that wide
flank movement to reach the fort, and
save for our victory over the Indians
at the pass, our expedition is useless.”

“Not so, Captain Lennox, for War—
burton did not flank around to reach the
fort.”

“He has not been surprised by In-
dians? ”

“ Not that I know of, sir.

“ But I’ll make my report just as Cody
asked me to do.”

“And where is he?”

“Off on Wurburton’s trail.”

Then the lieutenant went on to tell
his story, from (the wiping out of the trail
by, the buffalo tracks, the following on
until the wagon tracks were seen, but
coming to Shelter Valley, not going
from it.

lie told of the tracks showing how
the buffalo had been driven over the
trail to destroy it, and of the discovery
made by Buffalo Bill, that the wagon
train could have disappeared but one
waY, up or down the stream, and by fol-
lowing in its bed.

“It could not go down, as Maddcrn re.-
ported, on account of rapids, while Belt
reported the stream clear, he thought, to
the range.

“ So Cody asked me to return, left his
two scouts camped near the crossing.
while he went on up the stream, and is to
mark his trail.”

“Now that seems to show, Lee, that
VVarburion was bewildered, and hardly
knew what to do, for if he has gone in
that direction, he will run upon enough,
Indians to utterly crush him.”

“Yes, sir.

“But Cody will travel much faster
and overtake him, I hope, in time to turn
him back, while he asks that you follow
with what force you deem best, starting
at daybreak to—morrow.” ‘

“I will do so.”

“And if the reinforcements from the
fort have not arrived, sir, you might
leave, word for them to halt and await
you here.”

“Yes, or at the stream where those
scouts are encamped, as they would be
that much nearer if wanted for a sup—
port, or to fall back upon.” ‘ ‘

“ Cody spoke of that, sir, but said that
was for you to say.

“ I will have them camp there, if there
is grass and wom.” ~

“There are both, sir, and 'the stream
close to the camping place.”

“ I will start to—night then, and camp
there, being that much nearer Cody.”

“ Pardon me, sir, but it is getting time
for those Indians on foot to‘be along, and
they would make a desperate effort to
overwhelm any small force you left
here.”

“You are right, Lieutenant Lee, and
I’ll wait until morning; but I will send
a small force on to the camp on the
stream, and let Ithem start out on Cody’s
trail at dawn, for I do not wish him so
far ahead alone.”

“Can I command that advance, sir?

“ Yes, if you wish."

“I do, sir.,

“I am greatly interested in Cody’s un‘
raveling of this affair, and wish to see
just how he will do it."

“ He is a very remarkable man, Lieu-
tenant Lee: but did you hear- him express
an opinion of Captain Warburton’s
strange departure, and going from, in—
stead of toward, help?"

“ Yes, sir.”

“What did he say?”

“ That Captain Warhurton was flying"

from his friends, rather than Indians, of'
whom he must have little fear, to take
the trail he has.”

“ It is beyond my comprehension.

“But I suppose he will be able to ex-
plain, when we d'o find him, if he is not
massacred with his men before we do-
come up with him." ,

“He will have much to explain, sir.”

“Yes, too much, I fear, and you feel a

as I do, for you, as I, have known the
ueg rumors about the fort. and which.
we tried to. keep from Colonel Waring’ss
ears. '

 

 
    

 

 

 

 

 

  

~ ‘  :1.- watt”,

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

15

 

 

“ Do you think Cody has heard them? ”

“He has had no opportunity. sir; butt.
he has drawn his own conclusions from
what he has discovered."

“Well, Lee, what do you think?”

“I hardly dare express myself, cap-
tain.

“We will wait for further develop-
ments.”
“It is best.”

“And, captain, Buffalo Bill asked me
-to have you open those graves and see
just what was within them.”

“It shall be done at once.”

“Yes, sir,.ifor as I go on in advance, I
should like to know so as to report to
Cody what is in them, should I overtake
him.”

Captain Lennox at once sent a squad
of men to open the graves, while Lieu-
tenanrt Lee prepared for his change of
camps, and selected a sergeant, corporal,
and fourteen men to accompany him, say-
ing he would also take along the Scouts
Maddern and Belt, as there would be no
Eeatson of their staying longer at the
or .

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE ADVANCE GUARD.

For the second time the bodies of Don—
ald Ellis and those with him were taken
from their graves.

As the soldiers dug down to the bodies,
They found that they had been buried
With great care, and the officers watching
the work so remarked upon the care
taken in the burial of them.

It was an unpleasant task, this remov-
ing of the dead who had been in their
graves for several days, but it was a
duty that was done without a murmur,
and each body was looked at and partic—
ulars regarding it jetted down by Cap-
tain Lennox, while Lieutenant Basil Lee
made a copy for Buffalo Bill.

The work finished, the graves refilled,
Lieutenant Lee ate his supper, and with
his men and a week’s supplies carried
on a pack. horse, started for the camp of
the scouts upon the stream, nearly ten
miles away.

It was night when the ford was
reached, but as they entered «the stream
a form suddenly appeared on the bank
and approached Lieutenant Lee.

“ I am Scout Maddern, sir.

“ I saw you coming, and at first thought
you were Indians, for I heard no jingle
of sabre and spurs.”

“ No, we saw to it that We should move
as quietly as we could, Maddern.

“But, where is your camp? ”

“Over in 'the timber there, sir, and
Belt is there, but the chief left, you
know, for his lone trail up the river.”

“Yes, I know.

"‘ And we are to follow him at day-
llght, so will go into camp now." _ n
“ And I will remain on duty here, 511‘?

“011. 110, 'there is no need of it.

“You and Belt both go with me, as
You need rest.

"-1 am glad to find you on the watch,
as you were.”

“They were the chief’s orders, sir.”

“And you obeyed them to the letter.

“ Where is your horse? ”

“ In camp, sir.”

The lieutenant rode on toward the
camp, Maddern walking by the side of
his horse and his men following.

It Was very dark, for the new moon
had set half an hour before, and, ap—
DroaChingIthe timber, suddenly was heard
Sharp and clear:

“ Halt! VVh‘o comes there? ”

“Friends from the fort! ”

“Halt, or I fire—”

“ Hold on, Belt, it is all right,” cried
Maddern, quickly, and he added:

“It is Lieutenant Lee and his men.”

“ I beg pardbn, sir.

“I was asleep, heard you coming. and.
not having time to get away with our
horses, played a bluff.

“I was not looking for troopers to
come, so did not know just what I had
to face.”

“ You did right, Belt, and, with your
pard, Maddern can be fully depended

~’. h ‘\'
’ V v  
.g,

   
  

 

upon, for many men, after the hard serv-
ice you have seen the last few days,
would have rested instead of being on
the alert.

“But we are here to camp with you
for the night, and follow Chief Cody, in
the morning.”

“ I certainly am glad to hear that, sir,
for I feel anxious about Mr. Cody.”

“ Well, I would if it was any one else,
but he has a way of taking care of him-
self that is very remarkable.

“Now, men, turn in, for you need all
the rest you can get,” said the officer, and
the men unsaddled their horses, staked
them out 'with those of the scouts, and
spread their blankets.

“Don’t you think I had better stand
guard, sir, and Belt can relieve me?”
asked Maddern of Lieutenant Lee.

“I do not think there is any, need of
it, Maddern, but if you wish you can do
so, though I will not put you on duty.”

“ Well, sir, I have got to return to the
crossing for my blankets, for I was lying
down when I heard you coming, and left
them there.”

“ All right, .go ahead, and stand guard
if you wish, awaking me to relieve you
at midnight.”

“ Yes, sir,” replied Maddern, but as he
walked off toWard the ford, he muttered
to himself: ’

“ I’ll wake Belt lt-o relieve me, not you,
Lieutenant Lee, for we can stand it bet—
ter than you can, and then an officer
who is willing like you to spare his
men, is the kind that I like.”

With his long, swing stride, Maddern
walked off on his way to the ford, where
he had left his blankets by a small tree.
for, as he had said, he had been lying
down until he heard the approach of
hoofs, and in joining the lieutenant had
forgotten them.

With no dread of danger near, he ap—
proached the stream, and was just about
to pick up his blankets, when suddenly
a lasso settled over his head, and he was
dragged forward over the edge of the
bank, down ten feet to the sand below.

So unexpected and quickly. carried out
was the attack upon him that he had not
time to resist, and before he could utter
a cry for help a hand was upon his
throat, and a revolver shoved hard into
his face, while he heard the low threat:

“ Give an alarm, and it will be the last
utterance of your life.”

Who his captors were Scout Maddern
did not know, but he did know enough
to obey the order given him and not
throw his life away.

 

CHAPTER XXXII.

. A MAN MISSING.

Lieutenant Basil Lee awoke at mid-
night and looked about him.

It was too' dark to see the time by
his watch, and he did not care to strike
a match. .

But he knew that it was about the hour
when Maddern should have called. him.
for he had trained himself to wake up at
the hour for duty.

Rising from his blanket bed, he saw
that the whole camp was lost in sleep.

He remembered where Belt had spread
his blankets, and walking there he saw
a form lying fast asleep.

“ It is doubtless Maddern, for he called
Belt instead of waking me up.

“I will look up Belt and take his
place,” and the kind-hearted lieutenant
made the rounds of the camp.

But he found no guard on duty.

Surprised, after what Maddern had
said, he went to where the horses were.

All was quiet among them. but there
was no one on guard near them,

Back to the camp he went. and then
concluding that, the scout, had taken his
position at the crossing of the stream.
nearly a. ouarter of a mile away, he
walked there. _

But no one was visible. all Was silent.

He looked among the scattering trees
and bushes, but saw no sign of the
scout. , ‘r
The lieutenant could not under tand it.
Then he thought that after all” addern

. Iii 

 

 
   
 

   

 

   

had turned in for the night, believing,
as he had, there was no reason for a.
guard, for did any one cross the stieam
it would arouse the sleepers very quickly.

But only one form lay where he had
seen Belt wrap himself in his blankets
and lie down.

“I do not wish to disturb the men,
and he is doubtless among them, or he is
scouting about the camp.

“ He will doubtless arouse me when he ‘

returns,” and withthis the lieutenant re—
turned to his blankets.

He quickly dropped off to sleep, but
after a couple of hours awoke again.

Then he lighted a. match and looked at
his watch.

It told him that in a couple of hours
it would be dawn.

Quickly he arose, wondering why Mad-
dern had not called him.

Again he made the round of the camp. -

and visited the hOI‘S(S.

He saw no one.

Returning, he called to Belt to get up.

The scout was on his feet in an instant.

“Have you seen Maddern?"

“ No, sir.”

“He was to stand guard the first part
of the night, and then call me."

“It must be getting near to daybreak,
sir.” .

“It is.” .

“Did he not call you, sir?"

“ No, I awoke about midnight, and
made the round-s, going to the ford, but
could not find him."

“ He is scouting around somewhere,
sir.”

“So I believed.

“But I do not understand his long
absence.” '

“ He told me he was going to the ford
after his blankets, lieutenant.”

“ Yes, so he told me.

“But I could find nothing there.”

“ I’ll have a look around, sir.”

“ Do so.”

For half an hour Belt was gone, the ,

officer awaiting his return anxiously.

“I can find nothing of him, sir, and it
almost scares me, for it is not like Mad-
dern to leave camp this way.”

“I will arouse the camp, have break-

fast, and be ready to start with the first
glimmer of dawn, and see if we can find
him.”
" The men were called, campfires were
soon shedding a ruddy glow through the
timber, the horses were bridled and
saddled, and breakfast was gotten ready
and disposed if.

Belt had saddled his pard’s horse, for
the scout was still missing.

Just as the east grew bright Lieuten-

ant Lee gave the order to mount, and a.

search was made through the tiinber, as
it was feared some accident might have
befallen Maddern.

But he could not be found.

Then the lieutenant led the way, to the
ford, just as the sun was rising.

The blankets of the scout were not
there, but the keen eye of Belt detected
that the bank had caved in in one place.
and ten feet below, on the sand, were the
tracks of men and horses.

They led but of the stream upon the
sand, and then back into the water.

“That is Maddern’s track among a
thousand!

“ I’ll swear to it, for he had the small-
est foot of any man in 'the fort,” said
Belt.

Then he began to look for “ signs,” and
the result was that he said:

“Here is where his blankets were, sir,
and it is my opinion that men were hid—
den under this bank and lassoed him, for
you see something -was dragged along
here.” .

“ Yes, that is certain.”

“ And it broke off the bank when
pulled over just here.”

(I Yes.”

“Now, if he was captured, and I have
no doubt he was, when he came here to
get his blankets, whoever his captors
were took him up the stream, for they,
could not ride down it.” . _ ,r 

    

  
  
  
  

 
   
 


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Tris-saw  yr.

16

sufialo Bill’s Invincible's.

 

 

“It is strange we did not hear the
horses in the water.”

“Not under the bank, sir, as they
were, and they went very slowly, you
may be sure.

“There are the tracks of two horses
on the sand there and of three men.

“One of the three trails is Maddern’s.

“ There might have been more horses
in the stream.

“ But I am sure they went up instead

,of down, though we can scout around

and see.”

The men scattered to look for trails.
but none were found in the half hour’s
search.

Then the lieutenant gave the order to
march, and, dividing his force, they went
up the stream, and upon either bank.

After half an hour’s ride they came to
a halt.

Belt had made a discovery.

It was where two horses had come out
of the water and continued on along the
banks.

“ We are on their trail, sir, for theseaare
the tracks of the same horses that made
those in the sand at the ford,” said Belt.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE ROUND-UP RIDERS.

The sudden wrench to his neck, the
hard fall, and being dragged along and
over the bank was enough to stun any
man, and it was no wonder that Maddern
was compelled to surrender.

For a few moments he was uncon—
scious, but he quickly rallied, to find
himself gagged and bound.

Then he was made to mount behind one
of, his captors, the other stepping upon
the bank and going to the tree to see
what the scout had gone there for.

The blankets were found, were rolled
up, and taken along, the men keeping
their horses in the stream and moving
very slowly.

The scout saw that there were but two,
and they were bearded and wore long
hair, while they were heavily armed.

They said but little to each other, and
then spoke only in whispers.

That they must know of the existence
of the soldiers so near was shown by
their remarkable quiet, and the caution
with which they rode through the
water.

Just who they were the scout could not
guess.

After a ride in the bed of the stream of

I a couple of miles, they turned out at a

break in the bank, and rode on dry
ground, seemingly not deeming it neces—
sary to further cover up their tracks.

Continuing on for a few miles fur-
ther, they halted among some willows
on the stream, and, while one gathered
wood and made a fire, the other staked
the horses out to feed. ,

The scout, still bound hands and feet,
was lying upon the ground, but the gag
had been removed from his mouth, the
man removing it remarking:

“ I don’t want to choke yer, at least not
yit, so I’ll take this out, fer if yer did
tune up nobody w’u’d hear yer now.”

When a fire was built, the man put
on it a coffee pot, an'd began to fry some
bacon and a venison steak in a pan.

Breakfast ready. the scout was given
something to eat, which he declined,
though he did take a cup of coffee.

When the men had finished eating, the
scout watching them well as they sat
in the firelight, one of them said: '

“ Now, pard, who and what is yer?”

“Who are you, I’d like to know. that
has acted the part of outlaws?” a-sked
Maddern.

“Never mind who we is, for we has
ther call on you.

“ But. do you talk if yer knows what’s
good fer yer.”

Not wishing to make more trouble for
himself, Maddern replied:

“ I am a scout from Fort Fenton.”

“ You was guidin’ a command as was
camped in ther timber near ther ford.”

Seeing that they knew this much, the‘
scout answered:

I, ' “ Yes.”

 

“Where had you come from? ”

“The fort.”

“ Where were you going? ”

“Scouting for Indians."

“Who said Injuns was around? ”

“I say so."

“ \Vhar did yer see ’em? ”

“ They attacked a train in Shelter Val-
ley three days ago, and killed the whole
outfit.”

“ Lordy! We didn’t know that.”

“A command was sent out from the
fort, and we met them at the Rocky
Gate Pass, and did them up, capturing
all of their ponies.

“We came on then to scout after those
that had fled on foot. ‘

“Now, I ask you who you are, and if
you don't think you have made a mis-
take in treating an army scout as you
have? ”

“We hain’t made no mistake, no.

“We seen you on ther range jist at
nightfall, as we was coming along ther
ridge trail, and we liev a camp in Shel—
ter Valley.

“'We followed yer, fer Uhis way was
our trail, and we seen yer coming to
ther ford, so roped yer in.

“ No, we hain‘t made no mistake."

“Who are you?”

“Has yer ever h-eerd tell of ther
Round-up Riders? "

“ Yes.”

“What has yer heerd good of ’em? ”

“ Nothing, only bad, for they are a law-
less band that have a devil for a leader,
and——"

“ That's our captain, Captain Nero we
calls him, and he is ther devil of a fel-
ler as yer says."

“And you admit that you are out—
laws?” - '

“We is Round-up Riders, yes.”

“Then you belong to a band of cut-
throats that deserve hanging, and I
really thought you had been wiped out,
as we have not heard of your evil deeds
for some time past.”

“ No, we is enjoying good health,
thanks, though yer did crowd us to the
wall, and some of our men got taken
with ther rope fever.

“But you’ll find we hain’t dead yet, and
as turn about is fair play, we’ll take
you to our camp and jist string you up,
for we is gunnin’ fer jist sioh men as
you be.”

Maddern did not flinch under the
threat, but calmly remarked:

“ I have seen too many brave men die
to shrink from what they had to face."

“Well, you is game, that's sart'in, or
leastwise yer sings that way now.

“But wait until we gits yer facin‘ ther
death music and see if yer still crows
loud.”

The scout made no reply, and soon
after the men saddled their horses and
started on Uheir way, the prisoner riding
behind the other man now.

They had not gone very far before
dawn began to appear, and as they were
passing through a narrow ravine there
came a. sudden change in the situation,
and which was decidedly in favor of
Maddern, the scout.

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.

.lll'li‘ii‘AlA) mm. LYING IN \VAl'l‘.

Buffalo Bill had certainly found the
lost wagon train and its guard.

There was Uhe trail where the wagons
had pulled out of the stream and gone
into the camp on the slope of the hill.

The ashes of the camp fires were cold,
and the coyotes had picked the bones
clean, showing that the train was still
well ahead.

But Why had Captain Warburton
pushed on in that direction?

Why had an officer who had said he
had just escaped from a siege by In-
dians taken a way that would lead him
back into danger again?

Why had he fled from safety to what
would apparently be certain death?

For awhile, after reaching the camp,
and noting that the wagon trail from
there led still further on toward the

‘1

Via; "t

 
    

 

land of the redskins, the thought came
to Buffalo Bill that after all Captain
Warburton and his men must have been
captured or killed by Indians, and they
were taking the wagons and their prison—
ers, or Uhe dead bodies, to their villages.

But a search of the camp showed the
well trained scout that not one Indian
had been in that camp.

The scout built a fire in a crevice of
the rocks, staked his horse out in the
little glen, and set to work to get his
supper.

This over with he put out the fire,
spread this blankets, and turned in for a
comfortable night’s rest.

But he awoke soon after midnight, but
from what cause he could not say.

He arose and went to see if his horse
was safe.

The animal was all right.

Looking about the camp, for he felt
sure something had disturbed him, he
caught sight of the glimmer of a light
down the valley.

He was looking over a ridge and could
just see it, and it appeared to be over a
mile off.

Returning to his blankets he saw that
the light was visible from there.

“It was that light in my face that
aroused me.

“ The fire was just lighted, I guess. or
flared up, for I did not see it when I
got up.

“Now to see what it means?”

The scout took lhis rifle and started
out on foot to investigate.

He lost sight of the fire until he came
to a break in a ridge, and then saw it
again.

The fire was now not half a mile away
and burning brightly.

As he drew near he went more cau-
tiously, and approached within a. hun—
dred feet of it under shelter of the
bank of the stream.

He saw three men seated about the
fire, and one he instantly recognized as
Maddern. the scout.

The others he did not know, but, judg-
ing them to be other scouts from the
fort, whom he was not acquainted with,
and who with Maddern had come on
after him, he was just about to call out
to them when fortunately his eyes fell
upon the ropes on the hands and feet
of the prisoner.

Instantly he crouched down again and
attentively regarded the scene for some
minutes.

There was no doubt in his
that Maddern was in bad hands.

With caution he began to retreat, and
was soon walking briskly back to camp.

He had already decided what he would
do, and just how it should be done.

Back to camp he went, and securing
his lariat from off his saddle horn, he
hurried back on the ridge.

Here he made one end of the lariat
fast to a pine bush and crohching behind
it awaited the coming of Maddern and
his captors, who would come right
through that ravine unless they took to
the bed of the stream, which they were
not likely to do, he was sure.

He waited with the patience of an In«
dian, a patience gained by long and most
arduous training.

He waited, too, .with the calm indif-
ference of a man to whom danger was
a daily companion.

At last the east began to lighten, and
he felt that those for whom he waited
would soon be along.

Their going into camp, as they had so
near daybreak, was proof that it was
only for a tempm‘al‘y rest, that they
would soon be on their way again, espe-
cially as they had a prisoner with them.

That Maddern had been taken gave
Buffalo Bill the idea that his comrade,
Belt, had been killed, and he was anx-
ions to rescue the one and avenge the
other. "

Who the two captors were he did not
know: did not care, so long as they
held his comrade, a brother scout, a.
prisoner and securely bound.

mind

At last Buffalo Bill, peering through,

i '5' ', 'VJ"

 

i
I

M...»

 

 

N

 

 

 

 

  
   
 
   
  

   

1
ri-n‘

the foliage of the, little: hush, saw the
three coming, and he prepared for the
ordeal before him.

 

!
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE SITUATION nuvunsrm.

'i‘he preparations of Buffalo Bill‘ to
rescue his companion l‘rom captivity
were quickly made.

’liiey would have to pass just a few
fee. below his pesition, and not thirty
i‘eet distant from him.

he saw as they came near in the un-
certain light that there appeared to be
but two horsemen.

Had his comrade been killed?

Had he been allowed to go free?

,Where washis horse? 4.

He had not noticed that there were
buttwo horses, when he recognized Mad-
dern by the light of the camp fire.

‘ it would not do to let those men pass
even if Maddern had been released.

They would run u on his camp.

No, he must ohalenge them at least
and make them account for themselves.

ills lai'iat was ready to whirl and
throw, his rifle lay ready ior his grasp,
and he could draw a revolver in an in-
stant.

The men were coming straight toward
him, and his eyes were fixed searchingly
upon them. '

The light was yet uncertain, but the
presence of his companion was suddenly
revealed by one of the men accidentally
dropping his hat.

“Say, Dave, 1 can't git off easy with”
this teller behind me, so you jist pick up '

my. hat.” .

Buifalo Bill heard every word that was
said. ‘ ‘

Instantly he knew the truth, that his
comrade was riding behind one of the
men, the one who had dropped his, hat.

With a growl the other got down and
picking up the hat followed on.

The horse bearing two was now,within
reach of "the scout’s lasso, and it was

‘ already making its deadly circles 'to be

thrown.
A- oilher second and the noose was

glaunched straightior the head of the
horse. . ‘

The aim was' true, the animal was
caught, and, bounding forward, was
brought to a halt with a suddenness that
made the lariat twang like a harp strings

' The "horse wa .dragged back upon ’his
haunches, and t 6. two riders were near-
ly unseated. _

vBui‘falo Bill did not Wait to see the
result oi.’ his throw. _

lie knew what the result was,.and in—
stantly called out:

“Haiti

“ Hands up, both of you! ”

‘ The man who had picked up the hat
ihad

realized that his companion was
caught, and hastily drawing a revolver;
while! he whirled his horse about as

’ though he was on a pivot, he fired toward

the scout.

FAnother weapon flashed almost at the;
same instant, and the man fell headlong
from his saddle, clutching his bridle rein
in his death agony and thus bringing his

horse to a standstill.

in the meantime the other outlaw had

.drawn'his knife and was leaning forward

to sever the lariat when Buffalo Bill

- . called out: ;

“ Drop that knife or you are a dds

'maii! ”

I As the scout spoke the man tell from
hissad'dle, for, bound as he was, Mad-
dem had raised his, hands and dealt his

 Captor a stunning blow, on the black of

the neck that felled him as though he
had been shot. ‘

I 1 .“Ho, chief, you‘ve got them!” cried

Maddern, as Buffalo Bill came bounding

-; » down into the ravine, and bent over the
“maxi plying nearest to him. '

I .

f‘ Well done, maddern. foryou 'sav
' on: kgigehim. though of routes 1

defeat. -

upRiders, chief? " I ‘- .

after me, and

soon as we have breakfast."

‘when the lieutenant arrives? " '

you before} go: howl'll work my trail
so the lieutenant will
what to do.”

the pristiner started. and looked fixedly at
, 5 Then the asked-With great: earnestness:
:: serve an:

 

him, as he may be, playing pos'sum,.you
know, and rm tied to the saddle here.”

Buffalo Bill bent over the man, un-
buckled his belt of arms, searched him
for other weapons, and then took the
rope‘ from off Maddern and bound him
securely. .

He then told Maddern to go upon the
ridge and release his lariat from the
tree, while he walked to where the other
outlaw lay.

“ He is stone dead,” he said as he felt
his pulse, and then added:

“But he has a death grip upon ,the
bridle rein and holds his horse."

Placing the body across the saddle he
led the horse up to _,_where Maddern
awaited him, the outlaw, having rectiv-
ered consciousness, sitting upon the
ground.

“ Vv’e’ll mount him on this horse, pard,
and go to camp,” said Buffalo Bill, and
untying- the legs of the man he put him
in the saddle as he might have done a
child. ' i '

Then leading the horse, while Maddern
led the animal bearing the dead body,
the scout started off for his little camp
just as the sun peered over the eastern
horizon. '

CHAPTER XXXVI.
scour MADUERN 0N GUARD:

Arriving at his camp, Buffalo Bill
placed the dead outlaw by a tree, folding
his hands devoutly upon his breast,
while Maddern set to work to gather
Wood and build- up the fire. \

Thus far not a question had been
asked by BuiIalo Bill as to why. he found,
Maddern a prisoner, and "the outlawsa’t‘
‘silent, and malignantrfaced gazing at the.
man who had so quickly changed his
tridmph of the night before into ‘a fatal

Having put the two horses, both very
fine ones, out with his own, Buffalo Bill
returned to the camp fire and said:

“Well, pard, who are your friends?”
' “ Have you ever heard of the Round—
“ Yes, as a band of cutthroats.” ‘

“ Well, they told me they belonged to
that band.”  y I 
" Then that fellow had better" been
shot,’ for he'll be sure to hang." ..

“I never said it. ' V ' ~

“ He lies, pard, for I is a honest man,”
cried the prisoner. '

“ Thenyour. looks sadly belie you.“  1.

“ That malntried to take us in, and we while theface of the
jist got ther best of him.” A '

Maddern laughed, and said:

“Yes, you did get the best of mel’ll 

admit, for they lassoed me, chug".  
“And Belt?” asked’Butfaio Bill, and?
denly. t

“He's safe, sir."

I’m glad to hear that, ilor_I feared

t y had killed him." ' pear up the "valley following the
trail;  '-~ ' "  ‘

No, sir. I was the only one caught,.
and I‘ll tell you-how it was.” ' , .,
This 'Maddern did, and Buffalo/Bill.»
listened attentively", and. said: 1  
“Lieutenant Lee is venmkinldto some .
it is just assign to .have

him within call it I should need'him.
“The, party will doubtless be along
in a few hours, so I'll leave you here
with the prisoner and the dead body, as

v

"Had I not best go with you, slrnfor
we can tie-the fellow so he‘ll be her _

“ No, I Will push on alone, and I’ll

'A»

“Yes, sir." ‘ .

“ And you can say for him from "But-l '

faioIlill that he intends to find theend ,.
'0! this trail he has started upon.” -

As Buflalo Bill" uttered his ownname

 

greet: Bill?  I

  

     

 

Idered that the Round—up Riders are to. be '

Mada/8m. lndifi'erenuy, ll. v
, ,,
V  y ‘ 4
’I“«Weu..l don’t.""  V

you do.“ .

understand Just“, ‘_ :4

. , 4:  i,- ’3"
gran who:  one a

, .

 

“William F. dey?”' r - e.

“Yes.” v , i

“I thought you was stationed down
at Fort Flagstaff?”

“ So I am.” ‘

“What is you doing up here? ”

“I came on business." .
. “Well, I has heard a heap of you,-
Buf'ler Bill, but never seen yer afore,
and I is durned sorry I sees yer now, fer‘
they tells me thetiyou hev sounded ther
death-knells of more men than any other
man of ther plains, and I guess its so,
from ther clever way yer picked oi! my
pard and lariated me.” .

“I do not like the name of being a"‘=~
man~killer, but just such as you are, _
lawless and merciless men, have caused I '
me to win a record I would gladly not.
hear," said Bufialo Bill with some show 3-;
of annoyance at what the man had said. ,

Seeing this Maddern remarked: '

“Lieutenant.Lee will take this man. 
off of your hands, chief, for he is a. terror ,.
to outlaws, and Colonel Waring has on

    
   
    
    
   
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
  
   
  
  
    
  
  
   
    
   
   
  
  
    
   
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
   
   
   
 
    
   
 
   
  
   
  
    
    
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
   
   

shown no mercy after their red deeds of
a year ago. i '

“But breakfast is ready, sir.” , .

Bulfalo Bill at once took the bonds of! ,,
the prisoner’s hands, but he said he was
not hungry, and ate but little. 

The meal finished, the, prisoner was"
securely bound again, and ,Buflalo,Bill:r
walked apart withMaddern, who said-z,

“ You saved my life, chief, for those
fellows intended to kill me I‘ am surefire:
» “Perhaps not; but you will have'th'e
chance while alone ‘with him to. get iirom
him information that may prove of im
portance to us, and ,I leave you to get
him to 'tell who and what he is, ahdgfhie
life might be spared if he wouidmput'vus;
on the track of capturing the balanced:
his band. ,‘ ‘ ‘_
' “His going in this direction is,me
that their retreat is somewherefheres
but you know wihat'to say tohim‘, '
leave it to you. ' ' e . ‘

“ Now, I’ll go on ahead, and if yo
see that I have. marked~tne ‘traiiqm
quen'tly come on rapidly.  , -

“‘If I mark it far apart; it will-‘1 - _
go slow, and it you find alike;
across it, halt in .the nearest Temp
place until I return to you.f’ ,1 '   ”

“ Yes,'gsir, I’ll explain this to Lie
ant Lee,” ' V" ' 5

“130780,” and soon after Banal 

mounted his splendid} blacknhofiis
rode away, follbwing the  
. prisoner mm
with his going. ., . ‘, I‘
' ' CHAPTER! XXXVIIKH
' V, r THE'REFUSAL. 
“ Say, pard, yer don’t want:

feller“roped, does yer? " asked the 

oner as he watched Bhitoio “Bill.

  til-depends," was ' the

f‘ Upon what? " .

“Whether he deserves who
if  L

K

‘ I only take  6

a 9‘1,

   

“‘- 1 1m   s
“It hammer in

   
   

    

 
    

   
 
 



   
  
  

   
   
    
 
 

'HMZJIOHg‘aGcording to’mifi‘
,. “My goodnesoi.   
3‘: hain’t. guilty.” , ' 
~“Gf’w11a’tt”.  . 

  
 
  

tight

      
 
 
  

  
  
  

“fillies ran. 2 __ to .

  

   
    

éssrves h
.< u '

   

 

18

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

q

 

where I would have been shot by your
lawless leader beyond a doubt.

“ You confessed that you belonged to
the Round-up Riders, and that alone
should hang you.”

“And Buffalo Bill kilt my pard and
lassoed 

“Very true.

“He saw me bound and a prisoner,
and that told him who you were.”

“Well, say, I see you is ag'in’ me, so
there's no need of argifying ther p‘int
any more than there be politics and re—
ligion, so I’ll tell yer what I has ter
say.”

“‘Well.”

“I don’t wan ter hang."

“ Few men do.”

“I wants ter git free.”

“You are away off in your ambition.”

“I’ve got money." -

“You ought to have since you have
been a Round-up Rider for a long time.”

“I didn’t steal what I has."

“ No, you killed your man before you
picked his pocket."

“ No, I got it out of ther ground.”

“And put many a poor devil into the
ground to get it.”

“ No, I didn’t.

“But I’ve got it.”

“ Where? ”

“At my camp.”

“As your pard did not have even the
photograph of a dollar on him I was won—
dering how he could be traveling with a
man of wealth.”

“I has money in my camp, hid away
thar.”

“ Well.”

“ I’d rather live poor than die rich.”

“ Well? ”

“ I'll give up if you‘ll let me go.”

“ How much "have you got? ”

“ Several thousand pieces.”

“ And you are going to make me your
heir? ”

“Say, pard, don’t talk that way, fer
yer gives me ther shudders.”

“What then?”

“ I mean I was going ter give yer ther
dust ter let me go.”

“ Money talks." 7

“Well, I’ll go git it.”

“I don’t see it.” ‘

“ You kin go with me.”

“I’d rather not. '

“ I’m all right as I am.”

“ Thar hain’t no one thar, now my pard
is kilt.”

“ See here, I’ll come to business.”

“ Well? ”

“You belong to the Round-up Rid-
ers.”

“I don’t say it?”

“ Never mind, I know it.

“You guide me to your retreat and let
us capture the whole Round-up outfit,
and your life shall be spared.”

The man turned deadly pale.

“ Will you?”

No answer.

“What do you say? ”

“ Betray the outfit and save my life? ”

6‘ Yes.!)

“ Pard, yer don't know what yer
says.” '

u  n

" If I did sich a thing I'd die sure.”

,“ Not if the band was captured or
A killed.”

“ Yer don’t understand.”

" What will you do?”

“ I’ll take you to where my dust is hid,
. give it ter you, and you is ter let me go
free.”

“You could not bribe me. with any
such sum.

“If I’d steal a large sum I would pick
a man’s pocket, and to accept a bribe is
no morethan thieving. .

, “No, Round-up, I am not built that
way, thank God.”

“ Then I hangs?”

‘,‘ Unless you turn State’s evidence
against your vile gang of cutthroats.”

“I don’t dare do it.” '

“ Then it’s a case for the rope.”

I» “ You won’t l’arn nothin’ by hang-
 ing me.” .

.,I.‘ .‘i..w,:
. . ,.

   
 

“ No, but we‘d get rid of a Round-up
Rider.”

“ Pard, I tell yer I don’t dare, fer we
don’t know in ther band who is square
and who is not.

“ And then all hain't thar that belongs,
while our law is t'het ther man who be—
trays his comrades has ter be burned ter
death at ther stake! ”

“My God!

“ Is this true? ”

“ It is, and I‘d rather hang than live in
fear of sich a fate.

“ Pard scout, we can‘t trade unless you
does as I tells yer, fer I'll give up my
dust, but I’ll die by ther rope afore I
turns traitor, and thet goes.” ,

Maddern talked much longer with the
man, but all to no purpose.

He would not turn traitor to
Round-up Riders.

the

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
\\'l'l‘ll SEALED Lirs.

Three hours after the departure of
Buffalo Bill, Belt appeared in sight of the
little camp, while close behind him came
Lieutenant Lee and his men.

They quickly caught sight of the camp,
and rode toward Maddern, whom they
saw awaiting them.

“Well, Maddern, I am indeed glad to
see you safe, for we feared the worst for
you," cried Lieutenant Lee.

“ I am all right, sir, thank you, but I
owe it to Chief Cody that I am.”

“Ah!

“You have seen Cody, then?”

“He left here several hours ago, sir.”

"And whom have you there? ”

“ A dead man and a prisoner, sir.”

“ Who are they?” -

“ Round—up Riders.”

“Good!

“They were your captors, for your
pard Belt has studied out how you disap-
peared most cleverly.”

“ I‘ll tell you how it was, lieutenant,
and how Chief Cody chipped in just at
the right time to save me."

“ It is a way he has of doing, Maddern.

“ But to your story.”

The story was told, all listening with
deep interest, and in concluding Mad—
dern told of his trying to make terms
with the outlaw, and his failure.

“ All right, we'll see if we can encour—
age him to tell, for We need not start
from here until after noon, as Cody is
not so far ahead,” said the officer.

With this he rode on to the camp, or—
dered his men to strip their horses, and
let them have a good rest and feed, and
they would all have dinner before going
on.

The lieutenant decided also that he
would send a courier back to the ford,
where Captain Lennox was doubtless
then encampedl and suggest that he
should send an advance guard to camp
where he then was, as there was a pris—
oner there, and a dead man to be cared
for,- while Buffalo Bill had found the
wagon trail and was following it, and he,
Lee, would follow on after Cody.

A note was written and the courier,
the corporal of the little command,
mounted one of the outlaw’s horses, to
spare his own, and dashed away ,upon
the return trail, Lieutenant Lee saying
to Maddern:

“With a. force here, the captain at the
ford, and the reinforcements from the
fort encamped in Shelter Valley, we will
have a communicating line of consider-
able strength, and Cody will be well sup-
ported, for we will be between him and
this point.”

“Yes, sir, t‘here’ll be over three hun-
dred men within a few hours’ call,” re-
plied Maddern, and then he asked:

i“9Will you talk with the prisoner, now,
s r. ”

‘6 Ye‘s.”

The lieutenant walked to where lay
the dead outlaw, and Maddern drew back
the blanket that was spread over the
form. I -

“ I do not recall having seen him.

 

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1| (§:,‘.".' l l» \ ‘mw

   
 
  
 

il- ' f.
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, up”, ,. . -,

 

“Call the men to see if any of them
recognize him.”

The men passed silently by, but not
one recognized the dead man or the
prisoner. ,

The latter looked very anxious under
the scrutiny, and cast furtive glances
into the face of Lieutenant Lee, as
though to read there what his fate was
to be.

“Well, my man, you have gotten into
trouble at last," said the officer.

“ I didn‘t do nothin’, sir, for that scout
lies.”

“ I have always found 'him most truth—
ful, and'l believe his story.“

“ That hangs me, I s’pose.“

“Your own acts condemn you, and I
am but the executioner who carries out
the order that all Round—up Riders are
to be shown no mercy.”

“ Hain‘t I ter be tried?”

“ Your acts have condemned you, and
I must obey orders.”

“Not now! Oh, not now!" cried the
man.

“I will give you just half an hour in
which to ask forgiveness for your crimes,
and if such as you can do so, to pray to
your Maker.”

“ Don’t kill me! ”

“Your life will be spared upon one
condition.”

“What is it, quick, tell me! ”

“ That you atone for the evil you have
done by aiding me to wipe out the red—
handed band to which you belong.”

“No! No! No!

. “ I cannot do that! "

“Then 1 must do my duty," and the
officer turned away.

In just half an hour the men were
called together, a lariat served as a rope,
and a rock for a platform, a tree for a
gallows.

The doomed man was placed on the
rock, his hands and feet bound, the noose
was put about his neck, and all stood
ready for his execution.

“Will you save your life or not? "

“I dare not.

“I will die with lips sealed," was the
strangely firm response.

Lieutenant Lee was surprised, and, of
course, not intending to hang the man,
but to frighten him into a confession, he
said: "

“I will give you another respite, leav-
ing Captain Lennox to decide your fate.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
ON THIS WAGON TRAIL.

The lieutenant and his men- could not
but admire the pluck of the man who
would die rather than betray his com-
panions.

“It must be a terrible hold, indeed,
that keeps a. man’s lips sealed in the
face of what he believes certain death,”
said Lieutenant Lee to Scout Maddern,
and the latter remarked:

“ I’ll tell you what it is, sir.

“The doom of betrayal is to burn at,
the stake, 'and he told me nothing could
save him, for the wiping out of the band in
the retreat would be but half the work,
as that would not include the secret
agents and spies of the lawless organiza-
t on.”

“So much more reason why such a.
band should be wiped out,” was the re-
P Y-

Dinner was ready just at noon, and
soon after the order was given to pre-
pare for the march.

Belt and two soldiers were to be left
in the camp in charge of the prisoner
to await the arrival ,of the force Captain
Lennox should send, and then with the
corporal they were to follow rapidly on
and overtake the lieutenant. who did

not care to curtail the number he had

started with.

As the party reached the wagon trail
whgre it left the stream, Lieutenant Lee
sai :

“ Buffalo Bill was right, and I know of
no one else who would have come this
far to find where the trail left the bed
of the stream, while it shows

.9 y.‘ t t  . \ .u“

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Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

19

 

 

determination of Captain Warburton was
to cover up his tracks.”

“Yes, sir, and he must have known
of some band of Indians he thought
would pursue, that we have not discov-
ered.”

The lieutenant did not at once reply.

But he cast a quick glance at the scout
to see if he was hinting to find out if the
lieutenant knew why Captain Warburton
had come that way.

At last he said:

“ Is there not a trail along the range
ahead, Maddern,:that Captain Warburton
could have taken and flanked around
again into Shelter Valley?”

“ Yes, sir, he could take it to the trail
that comes down into Shelter Valley‘near
where our camp is there, but wagons
could not go that way, and, besides, he
would have to run along the border of
the Indian country for a long distance
to take it, and after all burn his wheel
outfit.”

“ You are sure there 'are no trail wheels
could follow back into Shelter Valley?”

“I know of none, sir, and, more, the

one Captain Warburton would have to.

take is the very one the Indians will re-
treat by through Shelter Valley, so they
would meet them.”

“ You mean the Indians we fought and
dismounted? ”

“Yes, sir.” _

“Well, Cody will find out why Captain
Warburton retreated this way.”

“ I hope so, sir, for it looks as though
the Indians must have captured the out-
fit, and have killed all of the men, or
have them prisoners.”

“ But we saw no traces of Indians.”

“ No, ,sir, but at the ford the buffalo
herd wiped out all tracks, and it might
have been there."

Lieutenant Lee at once jumped at
this straw of comfort.

He would far rather have his brother
officer and his men utterly wiped out by
redskins than know that the whispers
about Captain Warburton and his com—
mand were true.

As they progressed on their way, the
officer continuing to ride ahead with
the scout, the marks of Buffalo Bill were
readily seen.

Here he had broken a limb off a tree,
there stripped a switch of leaves, and in
other places scattered leaves along.

This was done only where the nature
of the ground was too hard to show the
tracks.

The indication of the signs was that
they should go slow, and Maddern was
governed by this.

The lieutenant was pleased at not hav-
ing to quicken their pace, as he wished
the corporal, Belt, and the two soldiers
to catch up by night time.

After regarding the trail most care-
fully, Maddern finally said:

“ There were dogs with the train, Lieu-
‘ tenant Lee, for I see their tracks. and
there were cattle as well, while in the
camp we left I saw sheep and hog tracks,
which were let out of the wagons to
feed.”

“ You scouts are great readers of signs,
Maddern.”

“We will all give in to Buffalo Bill,
air, for he is the best I ever saw, and
h? is teachingms lots we never dreamed
o .

“But here is a good night camp, sir,
and it is growing dark.”

“Then here we camp, and—there
come our men now,” and, as the officer
spoke, Belt was seen with a brother
scout riding by his side, while the cor-
poral and the two soldiers followed not
far behind.

 

CHAPTER XL.

THE CAPTAIN'S LETTER.
The camp was a good one, and by
dark the soldiers had made themselves
and their horses comfortable. \
. The scout with Belt had dispatches for
the lieutenant, and was to return to
Captain Lennox the neat morning with
what news there‘was ito send, back.

I (

 

 

Lieutenant Lee sought his camp fire,
which was apart from the others, and by
its light read what Captain Lennox 'had
written.

He first paid a compliment to Buffalo
Bill for his rescue of Scout Maddern and
also for having discovered the wagon
train.

Then he went on to state that the re—
treating Indians on foot had made a des-
perate dash upon his camp in Shelter
Valley to capture their horses and gain
revenge, but had been beaten off with
considerable loss and gone on toward the
mountain, where they would be sure to
meet Captain \Varburton, who was re-
treating around that way.

The reinforcements had arrived from
the fort, consisting of a troop of cavalry,
two guns, and two companies of mounted
infantry, with half a dozen scouts.

This force, save a company of mounted
infantry and the two guns, would remain
in the Shelter Valley camp, while a troop
of cavalry and one gun would be left at
the ford camp, the remainder coming on
with him to the spot where they then
were.

This would give him a gun, two troops
of cavalry, and a company of mounted
infantry, and, with the two- other camps,
two hundred men more to call upon, or
fall back upon as the case might be,
and the lieutenant was to so report to
Buffalo Bill, who would then know what
he could look to in case of an Indian
advance in force.

The captain further stated that he
had sent back to the fort to ask for two
more guns, and as many more men as
could be spared to, come to Rocky Pass,
where the Indian ambush had been
thwarted by Buffalo Bill and the wound-
ed had been sent.

The dead outlaw had been buried, and

‘the prisoner would be held in camp to

make another attempt to wring from him
his secret.

In concluding the captain wrote:

“ My scouts who know the country
ahead say that the wagons can be taken
to the Indian village, and there a is hope
that Warburton may after all be a pris-
oner and the redskins have the train.

“The scouts also say that Warburton
can flank around along the base of the
mountain range back to Shelter Valley,
but that he would have to leave his wag—
ons at the ridge overlooking the valley,
for only horSes could go down, and it is
hard work for them.

“If, however, VVarburton is taking
that trail the scouts say he will surely
meet those desperate Indians retreating
on foot, and they will overwhelm him,
for they can corral him while they send
to their village for help.

“Just how far ahead of Buffalo Bill
the wagon train now is, I do not know;
but I hope that 'he can overtake Warbur-
ton and turn him back, for then, if pur—
sued, he has your force, mine here, the
one at the ford, and the other in Shelter

Valley to protecthim, and all of us, with'

the reserve at Rocky Pass, can defeat
any force the Indians can bring into the
field.

“ If important news transpires send me
a courier at once, for I shall keep a line
of seVeral scouts between you and my
camp.

“Allow me to congratulate you, in
concluding, upon your very able manage-
ment of the advance guard, and to Buf-
falo Bill convey my perfect satisfaction
‘with what he is doing.”

Such was the long letter of Captain
Lennox, who as senior captain at the fort
was Acting Major.

Lieutenant Lee at once wrote his re—
ply. stated that he would push ahead,
rapidly or slowly, according to the
“ signs.” agreed upon with Buffalo Bill,
and if he communicated with the Chief
of Scouts he would urge the necessity of
catching up with Captain W'arburton be-
fore he should meet the retreating In-
dians on feet.

This letter was given to the captain’s
scout to start back with at daybreak,

. and, after ahearty supper, sentinels were

1.
"l

 

 

placed and the lieutenant and his men
turned in early to get all the rest they
could.

It was just the peep of day when all
were in the saddle again, and the scout
courier starting back for the headquar-
ters’ camp, Lieutenant Lee, with both
Maddern and Belt ahead, pushed out on
the trail of the wagon train, and now so
well marked by Buffalo Bill.

CHAPTER XLI.
THAILING To DOOM.

The reader who has kindly followed
my pen trail thus far has seen how
much of life, hardship, and suffering the.
massacre of the emigrant train in Shelter
Valley has Occasioned.

He has seen a family wiped out, save a
young girl, whose fate remains in mys-
tery, while a number of faithful negroes,
men, women, and children, perished with
the white family they had clung to.

The reader has been led to his own
conclusions regarding Captain Warbur-
ton and his men, whose red deed is bur—
ied in deepest mystery.

It has been seen that the massacre,
for such it was, caused the Indian battle
fought at Rocky Pass, and the loss of
redskins and soldiers.

Then, too, it ‘has been seen that there
was one survivor of the Donald Ellis
train who was not in the camp to share
the fate of the others.

This survivor was the noble negro
Don, dressed like a Mexican, with the
equipment of a wealthy cavalier upon his
horse, the latter being an animal it was.
hard to match. '

It lhas been seen how the mourning new
gro cared for the dead, and how upon
their graves vowed revenge upon the.
slayers of those he loved. while, not.
finding the body ‘of sweet Myrtle Ellis
with the others, he felt sure she had be-_
come a captive of the outlaws, and an-
other vow was registered by the faithful

Don that he should be as surely rescued >

as her family should be avenged.
That luck favored Don in finding the

things left at the fatal .camp, and the ,

return to it of the pack horse, along.
with the large and savage dog, so justly
named Terror, has also been seen. '
T‘hat Don started upon the trail in the
right way was proven by the manner
in which he followed the wagon train.
Alone though he was, he was not to-
be turned back from his intention, and
it will be well to now follow him upon
his trail as a Black Nemesis, having but,
the aim in view to rescue Myrtle Ellis
and avenge the dead, or lose his own life
in the attempt to do so. -
Terror seemed to understand thor-
oughly what was expected of him, that.
his white master lay buried in the Shel-
ter Valley camp, and that his duty was.
to cling to Don and not go on to join
the train, as he at first supposed he must.
do.
Having seen the men who had so
cruelly come in possession of the train
strive so hard to cover up their tracks

and go up the bed of the stream to de-.
stroy all trace of the way of their re-.

treat, Don waited until they were well

‘out of sight and then slowly began to 

follow. . ,
He did not hurry at all, keeping miles

his observations on foot when

should camp at night.

they

When the wagons at last left the bed ,
of the stream and went into camp at": 
the place where Buffalo Bill found the '

trail, Don sought a camping place a.

couple of miles away, had his supper,-

and, leaving Terror on guard, then set
out, rifle in hand, and on foot, to recon-
noitre his foes. -

He went along with the confident, easy
air of the perfect plainsma‘n, who knew
just what he was about, and after a
walk of twenty minutes came in sight
of the camp fires of Warburton’s com-
mand. "

Then he went with extreme caution,

and at a. safe distance scouted around
the camp from. the cliff on one side

to

back in the rear, and intending?- to take- I J

    
 
 

 
 

 

20

Buffalo 'Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

the base of the mountain range upon
the other, the camping place being in a
blind canyon and some hundred yards
from the stream. ~

The negro saw the soldiers moving
about, preparing supper, looking after
the stock, and attending to the many
other duties.

That the men were the uniform of
United States soldiers did not deter Don
from his intended blow of vengeance.

He only saw in them the ones whom he
had seen cruelly shoot down Donald
Ellis, his wife, and boy, and his own
parents and others dear to him.

He saw in the men before him only
murderers, no matter what their out-
ward covering might be.

He did not know what the fate of
Myrtle might be, and he had vowed to
avenge and meant to keep his word to
the letter whatever the risk might be to
himself.

The captain he could distinctly see
.seated by the camp fire. ,

But he was not the game that Don
wanted first.

He would strike at the men first.

Their leader would come later.

. Nearer and nearer he crept to where
he could get good aim and have flight
open to him after his shot.

At last he found a man upon whom
he could draw a deadly bead.

They had been merciless to those he
loved, he too would be merciless.

But, as he raised his rifle an exclama-
tion broke from his lips and he quickly
lowered it again.

 

CHAPTER XLII.
THE BLACK NEMESIS.

The negro was about two hundred yards
from the camp fires of the soldiers.

The horses were staked out near him,
the cattle‘were up in the blind canyon,
the wagons were camped in a semi-
circle, to serve as a. bairier to the stock,
and the entire ,front was open to full
View.

Back to where he stood was an open
space to the stream, and by running
across it, after he should tire, Don could
leap down the bank and then dart along
on the road as far as he pleased, then
come out and gain his own camp.

The soldiers had built four camp fires,
at one of which, apart from the others,
sat the chief in a. camp chair. ‘

He was alone and apparently lost in

deep meditation.

At the next camp fire several men
were getting supper, and further on the
balance of the party were now gathered,
for no sentinels had, as yet, been put on
guard. ,

Any man at the last two fires could the
negro pick off, if he wished, and he was
making up his mind to do this when one
of the men left the group and walked
over to where his chief sat.

It was the one wearing the stripes of a
first sergeant upon his sleeve, and whom
Captain Warburton had addresstd as
Camp. *

He was the one who had taken the bold
stand against his captain, and had been

'- the means of saving Myrtlc‘s life, the
. fair young prisoner of the

party, the
last of the band of campers in Shelter
Valley, so fatal also to them.

“I‘ll take him," muttered the negro,
for he did not know that Camp was the

v one who had demanded mercy for Myr—

tle.

So Don got into position and was rais-
ing his rifle, when suddenly, as has been
said, he uttered an exclamation, and
quickly lowered it.

The cause was evident. A third per—

I son suddenly appeared in the light of

the chief’s fire.

It was Myrtle! ‘

She had come from the direction of one
of the ambulances, the one that had

been her mother’s and her special quar-
ters, and as she approached the fire Cap—
», tain Warburton hastily arose and placed
‘ a. camp chair
. dotted his hat.

for her, while Camp

 

 

The girl took the seat ofi‘ered, and
seemed lost in thought.

The negro lowered his rifle, took the
field glass he always carried from the
case at his belt, and turned it upon the
girl.

“It is Missy Myrtle!” he said with
quickening voice.

“Thank God, she is not dead!

“No, no; perhaps it would be better if
she was dead,” and he gazed at her with
feelings that caused his massive chest
to heave convulsively.

“Does she know, poor child, that they
killed her father, mother, and brother?

“Does she know that they killed all
of my people, too?

“No, no, they have deceived her in
some way, or she'd never sit there so
calmly at the camp fire With the murder-
ers of those she loved.

“I wonder 110w they did it?

“I wonder what they told her?

“She knows I was not in camp, and
what can she think?

“There she sits, looking into the fire
as though she hoped to see loved faces
there. ‘

“But she will not.

“All are gone.

“ No, 1 am here, and I’ll let her know
that she is not deserted, poor child.

“ I’ll tell her in my own way that Black
Don ‘is on the track of the murderers of
her people.

“1 will tell her that she is not de-
serted.

“And I will begin my story tle-night! ”

The last words were uttered with al-
most savage earnestness by the negro.

Once more he raised his field glass
and gazed long and earnestly upon the
young girl as she sat there by the camp
fire, while Captain Warburton and Ser—
geant Camp talked together.

If she heard she seemed little inter-
ested in, what they were saying, but sad-
ly gazed into the fire.

The sight of Myrtle in the hands of
those who had killed her people caused
the negro to grit his teeth with his
effort to be calm.

He was almost tempted to throw his
life away, to rush in upon the campers,
and kill whom he might. .

The sight of “her brought back all of
the horrors of what he had seen, and all
of his terrible sorrow, his irreparable
loss.

But as he looked he grew. more calm,
and soon settled down into his usual
cool manner, while he said:

“I must not be rash, must not be a
fool.

“ She is to be saved, and they are to
be avenged.

“But now to tell her I am here."

With this he raised his rifle slowly
and took deliberate aim at Sergeant
Camp.

Another second and the flash and re-
port followed, while the bullet sped 0
its way to the human target. \

 

CHAPTER XLIII.
DON'S musr 1:1.ow.

Sergeant Camp was speaking when the
flash came from the bushes two hundred
yards away, and at the thud of the lead-
en messenger he threw up his arms and
tell his length upon the ground.

This Don saw, and he also saw the
captain spring to his feet, as did Myrtle
at the same time, the latter clasping
her hands and shrieking away in wild
alarm.

“Poor child, I frightened her.

"But she will soon understand," mut-
tered Don, as he still kept his stand.

His eyes Were upon the camp, and
he meant to see the result of his shot.

He could have fired again.

But he did not, would not, then.

He would go about his revenge in his
own way.

He heard the loud alarm of Captain
Warburton, saw him grasp Myrtle’s arm,
and hasten her away from the light of
the fire toward the wagons.

He heard loud orders given.

0 /
l' l y

f

 

 

.to avenge had greatly

He saw that the soldiers. cooks, and

all, quickly leaped out of the arc of light.

about the camp fires.

Then he knew that he must look to
his own safety, for in the darkness skir-
mishers and scouts would be quickly sent
out to hunt down the one who had fired
upon the camp.

The negro had no time to lose, for a
volley might be sent toward him at any
moment, and a random shot might hit
him.

Quickly he. sped toward the stream
and leaped down behind the bank.

Hardly had he done so when a dozen
rifles flashed, and the bullets rattled
among the trees and over his head.

Then the shots began to patter in lively
style.

The soldiers were advancing in skir-
mish line, firing as they came to put to
flight or kill their hidden foe.

Running along under shelter of the
bank for a quarter of a mile Don then
made for a position where he could see
what was done.

He saw the soldiers advance to the
stream, he beheld their position by the
flashing of their carbines, and he heard
the shots that were fired to frighten the
unseen foe.

“ They are making a heap of fuss and
wasting powder for nothing.

“I’m all right,” he muttered.

Soon the firing ceased, but the negro
knew that during the advance sentinels
had been dropped here and there to keep
in hiding and protect the camp from
another secret shot.

“ I guess I’ll go now.

“ But to-morrow night
they have not scared me Off.

“And Missy Myrtle will know I am
still on her trail.”

Back to his camp he went and found
Terror on watch, as a low growl told
him as he approached.

“ Good old dog, I’ve.hit them the first
blow, and there will be more.

“ Now, we’ll turn in, for we won’t be
bothered here.”

The camp was soon silent, though Don
did not go to sleep fora long time.

The sight of Myrtle and his first blow
disturbed him,
and the whole dread past Iiitted before
him in the darkness of his lone camp.

He slept late, for there was no need
for him to hurry, and he got his break-
fast and shared it with Terror.

His splendid black horse and the pack
animal had fared /well during the night,
for the grass was plentiful, and they
were well rested.

At last Don started once more on the
trail. ,

As he drew near the camp he dis-
mounted and went along on foot to have
a view of the camp. ,

The place was deserted, save‘for coy—
otes, and these told him that no human
being was lurking there.

Returning to his horses he again
mounted and soon reached the place.

The coyotes scattered at his coming,

they‘ll find

'and riding up to the fire where he had

seen Myrtle, the captain, and sergeant,
he looked about him.

“ I do not see any blood.

“ But then the coyotes would have
lapped that up; but where is the grave
of the man I killed? " -

Riding all over the camp he failed to
find any grave.

Then he extended his search, but with
the same result.

"Did I not~kill him after all?

“Could I have missed him?

“ No, no, I could not do that.

“I saw him fall; but he may have
been only wounded.

“I’ll push on now, and when they
camp to—night it will tell the story.

“But there must be no misses, that is
certain. . 7

“They are going toward the Indian
country; but that don’t scare me a lit-
tle bit, for where they go I can follow,”
and mounting once Imore the Black
Nemesis continued on the trail to be on
hand at the next camp.

I

I
l

 

 

  

 

BuffalowBill’s Invincibles.

21

 

 

 

CHAPTER XLIV.
True L‘AI’TIVE.

When the List shots were fired upon
the people of the Donald Ellis wagon
train in the camp in Shelter Valley,
Myrtle had been in the tent devoted to
her mother and herself in the long over—
land trail they had come.

The firing had alarmed her, the shrieks
of the negroes added to the terror, and
rushing out of the tent her eyes had
fallen upon the dead body of her mother
and brother.

More she had not seen, not even who
their foes were, and with a moan she
had sunk down in an almost deathlike
swoon.

When she at last came to conscious—
ness she found herself in her tent lying
upon the little cot.

It was night, but a light burned in
the tent, and seated by her she beheld a
man in the uniform of a sergeant ot'
cavalry.

He was chafing her hands and had been
bathing her head to restore her to con-
sciousness.

She started at the sight and cried ex-
citedly:

“ Oh, what has happened? ”

“Calm yourself, miss, for you are
among friends.
“ No harm shall befall you now,” said

the sergeant in a. tone meant to be most
kind.

"Where are my parents, and—oh! tell
me that it was a terrible dream, that
they are not dead!”

“My poor child, I wish I could tell
you what you ask, but alas! I cannot."

“They are dead! ” she cried.

“Can you listen now to the story I
have to tell you? ”

“Yes, yes.

“ Tell me the worst, for I know, I feel
that all are dead, for our camp was at—
tacked by—"

“I'll tell you all. ‘ '

” Your ‘camp was attacked by a band
of outlaws, and they rushed in upon it,
killing all of your people.”

“But the soldiers we saw coming?"
cried Myrtle, and closing her eyes she
lay moaning bitterly as she heard the
story of death that was told her.

“Yes, it was our coming that saved
your life, even.

“You had fainted, so were thought
dead, or you, too, would have been shot
down.

“But ere the outlaws could commit
still greater crime, we dashed up, for they
did not see us, and saved you, and the
camp from being looted.”

“Would to Heaven I had been shot
too,” moaned the girl.

“No, no, don’t say that, for you are
young, and life is before you, miss.

“This terrible grief will soon .be
soothed by time and new friends, new
associations will comfort and cheer you,
while in our captain and his men you
have warm friends.”

“ You are very kind, I know; but were
all killed, the negroes and all?”

“It was a complete wipe—out, or mas-
sacre, save yourself, poor child.”

“Oh, if I, too, had only gone with the
_ others! ”

“ No, n.0, for Heaven knows best, and
later you will feel so.”

“I cannot, I can think, feel only that
I am utterly alone, that all I loved are
gone.” ,

“Let me urge you to take this medi—
cine now, and to-morrow you will feel
better and will know all.

“The train is yours, and we are here
to protect you and your belongings. miss.

“But now you must sleep, and this-

medicine will do you good.

“And remember that good friends are
about you, if we are but rough soldiers.

“ Take this now.”

He held a cup to her lips, and eagerly
she drank its contents.

She seemed to grasp at anything to
deaden the keen anguish she felt.

Sitting by her until he saw that she
had sunk into a deep sleep, the sergeant
then rose, closed the flaps of the tent.

.\ v r "

 

extinguishing the light, and walked over
to a campfire where the leader of the
uniformed band was pacing to and fro,
his hands clasped behind his back.

“She has'recovered from her swoon,
captain.”

“And is mad, I suppose, crazed with
what she beheld?”

“No, she took it with strange calm-
ness.”

“ She does not realize the truth.”

” Yes, sir, I think so.

“She was in the tent when the attack
was made, but had seen us coming, and
when I told her a band of outlaws, not
observing our presence near, had at-
tacked the camp, she considers all was
just as I have said.”

“That is the way she believes
lthen? ” quickly asked the captain.

“It is, sir.”

“Did she ask no questions you could
not answer?”

“ None, sir.”

“It is fortunate, then, as it is.”

“I told her that all her people were
gone, that we had saved her life and the
train for her, and that you and your men
were her devoted friends.”

“ Good!

“What then? ”

“I gave her a generous dose of mor~
phine. and she is now asleep, and I will
keep her so for quite awhile.”

“I leave her to your care, Camp, for
you were, I know, a physician before you
became a soldier; but the sentinel at the
lower end of the camp is calling, and I
will go there.”

It was the arrival of Buffalo Bill, whom
the sentinel had challenged, and which
the reader has already been made ac~
quainted with.

it,

 

CHAPTER XLV.
A BITTER ORDEAL.

When Myrtle returned to conscious—
ness, or, that is, awakened from her deep
sleep under the influence of the morphine,
she found herself in a strange camp.

She was not in her little tent, but in
the ambulance, and there had been a
great effort made to have her comfort-
able.

Her head was aching,
weak and wretched.

The sun was shining, and she saw 301-
diers moving about the camp.

It was the camp reached after leaving
Shelter Valley, and she had slept through
the visit of Buffalo Bill, and later through
the hurried departure that followed his
going.

She had been put in the ambulance,
and continued to sleep during the retreat
from the valley, the drive up the bed of
the stream, and only after the arrival in
camp the next morning did she wake up.

It was a long time before she could
collect her scattered senses.

But at last all the horror of what she
had gone through with came slowly be-
fore her. I

She lay there awake, and in bitter,
painful thought.

She did not give way to her cruel grief
in a burst of tears, for she felt too
deeply for that.

She was strangely calm, and her face
was deathly white.

She only knew that she must be in the
care of those who were good to her.

At last she rose and looked out of the
ambulance.

She saw soldiers moving about, and
cooks busy at a fire cooking dinner.

She sprang out of the ambulance and
met Captain Warburton face to face.

He bowed with marked courtesy, and
said:

“I was just going to see if you still
slept, miss. ,

“ I am Captain Warburton, and we are
retreating from foes, carrying you and
your wagon train along.

“ The acting surgeon of my command
looked to your cdmfort, as well as he
could, and told you the sad result of the
attack on your camp. A»

“‘ But you have the deepest sympathy
of myself and my' men, and

1‘ I ._...

and she felt

I

we are your,

 

friends, so command us in all that we
can do for you.”

He spoke- in a. strangely sympathetic
voice, and pressed the little hand ex-
tended to him in silence, for ‘at first she
could not speak.

But at last she faltered:

“Were all slain? ”

“Alas! all.”

“And I am all alone?”

“ We are your friends, miss.”

“ Where are they? ”

He divined who she meant, and re-
plied:

“ I had 1them all buried, my dear child.

“ But we were forced to leave in great
haste, for I have but a small force, and
both outlaw bands and hostile Indians
infest this country, and I am now re—
treating to a safe place, before we start
on our return to the fort.

“Your tent and its contents I had
placed to itself in yonder pines, where
you will be safe and alone, and I will
escort you there, and have your ambu—
lance drawn up there also, should there
be anything in it you need.

“ Let me suggest that you drink a cup
of coffee I will send you, and eat some
dinner, while you must make an effort to
rally out of your grief. '

“You are a brave. girl, and we will
need your aid, so forget your sorrows in
helping us.

“Now I’ll take you to your tent, and
let me tell you that we will remain in
camp here until to-morrow."

She had listened to all he said, but in
a way that showed she did “not realize
anything as-it was, in the change that
had come upon her.

She went with him to the secluded
spot where her tenlt had been pitched,
and there he left her.

But soon several soldiers drew her am-
bulance up near the tent, and they bowed

to her with deepest reverence, their
heads uncovered.
Then the captain returned, accom-

panied by, a soldier bearing some coffee.
and her dinner.

The soldier got her a bucket of fresh '

water, and her dinner was spread out on
a little table taken from the ambulance,
the captain doing this for her. ~

“You are all so kind,” she said, an
she was left alone.

She dashed her face into the cool water,
combed her wealth of hair and braided
it, and then ate her dinner, and with a.
relish she had not believed herself cap~
able of.

Later she took a stroll, accompanied
by the train dogs, that now kept close to
her and seemed to be a great comfort to
her.

During the afternoon she packed her
mother’s, father’s, and brother’s things
away in the ambulance, and then laid
down to sleep.

When she awoke it was dark, and she
arose and walked toward the campfire,
where she saw Captain Warburton.

She took the chair offered her, and
merely said: .

“I came to join you at supper, sir.”

Then she sat gazing into the fire until
there came the sudden ring of a rifle, and

Sergeant Camp dropped before her eyes. .

 

CHAPTER XLVI. *.

' A SECRET FOE.

The shot that dropped Sergeant Camp
so suddenly was a shock that came with-
out a single thought in the minds of the
men in the camp that such a thing was
possible. ‘

There was certainly no pursuit to fear ,

from Indians, they believed, and they
had seen Buffalo Bill start for the fort.

Could he have met a command and
come on in chase of them?

But why would soldiers thus attack
them?

Thoughts flew rapidly through brains,
and the result was a scattering of the
men to dark covers, away from the fires.

Captain Warburton had seized Myrtle
by the hand and almost dragged her to
cover. ~

The girl had hardly started at the shot.

.l " "4

 

 

 
 

'22

 

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

Her sensibilities were too deadened by
"what she had passed through for alarm
or quick action.

“Some devil has fired upon our camp
.and killed the sergeant.

“You must remain in cover here," said
the captain.

Then he called to his men Ito advance
.as skirmishers with their carbines, pelt—
ing the way ahead with bullets as they
went.

The men had rallied quickly.

The stacked arms had been seized, and
the reader knows how when they fell
back guards were secretly left on the
watch, in good retreats.

Captain VVarburton had advanced with
his men, repeating rifle in hand.

Myrtle had remained for a moment
where she had been left.

Then she saw a movement of the pros-
trate form of Sergeant Camp.

At once she advanced toward him.

With a nerve 'to be admired she knelt
‘by the man and tore open his shirt, while
she said, as she saw his eyes fixed upon

er:

“You were wounded in the side: but it
may not be fatal.”

“1 do not believe it is, miss.

“ The blow was a severe one, knocking
the breath out of my body, but I believe
the bullet glanced on a rib.”

“ Get up, if you can, and I will fix you
.a bed out of the firelight, and the cap-
tain will examine your wound.

“I don’t want you to suffer, for you
were good to me.”

The man looked at her with a strange
expression upon his dark, bearded face.

But he did not speak, only placed his
hand upon the wound, examined it, and
said:

“ I believe I am all right.”

Then he arose, and yet he staggered
and remarked:

“It may be worse than I think, miss,
but I hope not.”

Myrtle took the blanket roll he pointed
to and spread him a bed very quickly.

Then she led him to it and aided him
to lie down.

Next she gave him a tin cup of water,
and then put a soft, folded towel over his
wound, which was just over his heart.

The bullet had cut a deep gash, but
had glanced on a rib and passed on.

But the rib was broken, that was cer-
tain, by the blow.

When the captain came back, having
placed his sentinels far out, he was much
pleased to find the sergeant not dead.

“You are a brave little nurse, miss,
andw”

“My name is Myrtle, Captain Warbur-
ton,” she said, simply.

“ Ah! a sweet name, indeed.

“ It shall be Myrtle, the Mascot, then.

“But, Camp, who can have been our
foe, for I believe there was one only?”

“ Buffalo Bill,” was the low reply.

“ Buffalo Bill?

“Why, man, he left us——"

Camp was about to speak, and say
that he had doubts of Buffalo Bill be-
lieving'what he had been told, and he
might have followed them to convince
himself if his suspicions were correct,
when Myrtle said, quickly:

“ You-surely do not mean Buffalo Bill.
the great scout, for why would he fire
upon soldiers? "

The captain and the sergeant saw their
mistake. and the former said quickly:

“ There are two Buffalo Bills, Miss
Myrtle, one the great armv scout, of
whom you have heard, the other one we
have cause to fear.

“Do you know this Buffalo Bill, the
scout? ”

“No, sir, but my father knew him
when he was out here gold hunting a
year ago with Don.“

“And your father had been here be-
fore? ”

.“ Yes, sir, he came out to look for gold,
he and Don."

“ Who is Don?” -

" Father’s right-hand man, a negro
whose family belonged to us in slavery
dam. , . "

,5 "-an was our friend, as well, as serv-

e \

   

   

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4‘
\

    

ant, and mother felt no fear when he
was with father.

“ Why, when we were on the New Mex—
ico trail, on our way here, Don discov—
ered that we were to be attacked by El
Diablo, the Mexican outlaw, and his
men, and he killed the chief himself
and several of his men.”

“ And where is this Don now?“

She did not answer for some time.

Then she said, in a low tone:

“ Dead.

“Yes, he is dead.

“All of my people, white and black,
were killed last night.

“Have you forgotten, for I
can? ”

never

CHAPTER XLVIl.
STILL SHADOWBI).

Anxious to, take the thoughts of the
young girl off of her loss, Captain War-
burton, at her reply, said quickly:

“So your father was a gold hunter,
was he?”

“Yes, sir.

“He lost a fortune through a relative,
and he came out to the far West with
Don to look for gold." '

“Did he find it?”

“Yes, sir, after nearly two years he
did."

“And he
there? "

“Yes, sir, we were going to his gold
find.”

“ Now it belongs to you.”

“ I suppose so, for I am the last one
now.”

“But how will you find it? ”

“ I have father’s map of the trail to it.”

“You are fortunate.”

“ I would rather now even One of the
little pickaninnies back again than all
the gold that may be there."

Again the captain saw that he was
treading on dangerous ground, so said:

“Never mind, all will come right for
our sweet little Mascot, for she will
soon have friends to love her and make
her life a bright one.

“But now, Miss Myrtle~"

“ Don't call me Miss."

“All right, Myrtle.

“I want you now to help me to care
for the sergeant’s wound, and we’ll soon
have him all right again, though the shot
was well intended."

The wound was an ugly looking one,
and it was found that the bullet had
struck a pocket knife in the pocket of
the sergeant’s hunting shirt, and with
such force that the rib beneath had been
broken.

But the ball had glanced down, cut
into the flesh, and torn its way out
through the clothing, a close call, in-

 

was taking his family

deed, for the sergeant, as Captain War—

burton had said.

With a broken rib, the sergeant would
have to keep very quite and ride in the
ambulance, but, as he facetiously re-
marked:

“ Not so quiet as he would have kept
had the bullet not glanced on the pocket
knife.”

Supper was soon after served, and the
captain and Myrtle ate at the same table,
a table that had belonged to the train.

Soon after the girl said good—night and
went off to her little tent, leaving the
captain and Camp aloné.

“ She will soon be all right, Camp."

“She is too stunned now to feel just
what she has lost.

“But you heard what she said about
that map? "

“ Yes, she has it.”

" Yes.”

“And it is doubtless a rich mine.

“But about that negro, Don?”

“What about him?”

“How many negroes were killed?”

“ Four.” ”

“Then he was doubtless one of them.

“Oh. yes, it was a complete wipe-out,
save for the girl."

“Yes, the whole party were in the
camp, beyond a doubt.” -

“ There is no doubt of it.” \

,After a short silence the captain said;

    

   

   

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1".» $43.91“: 

 

 

“Now to the one who fired the shot
that so nearly, ended your life?”

“What about him? "

“Who was he? "

“I only wish I knew, captain."

“It could not have been an Indian.“

“ Oh, no.”

“Ah! I have it.”

“ Well, sir? ” ,

“It was that wild fellow the men call
the Man Grizzly."

“Why did we not think of that before,
for he was surely the one.”

“Then we must look out for him.”

“Yes, indeed, :for we will surely hear
from him again.”

“It will be necessary to set guards
around the camp at night.”

“It will, indeed, for we know what
the Man Grizzly is.”

For an hour longer the captain and
his sergeant talked together, the two
appearing to be upon strangely familiar
terms, and then the fires were allowed
to die down and the camp was in deep
repose, saw for the three sen‘tinels on the
watchfor another visit from their secret
foe.

The next morning early the train pulled
out for the trail.

The sergeant rode in the ambulance.
and Myrtle drove, as she had asked to
do so.

The stream here led through a canyon-
like valley between two mountains, and
the trail was a fairly good one.

But there was now no effort made to
cover up the trail as before.

Sticking to the bed of the stream, as
they had, for miles and miles, and de—
stroying their trail with the tracks of
the buffalo herd, they felt assured that
they had conCealed most 'thoroughly the
way of their flight, save from one.

That one they supposed to be the
strange man they knew as the “Man
Grizzly.”

For him they must keep a bright look-
out in their night camps.

At noon a halt was made by a large
Spring that flowed into a rock basin at
the base of a cliff overhanging a valley.

But hardly had they gathered around
the campfires to eat their dinner when
there came the crack of a rifle, and one
of the soldiers dropped dead in the midst
of his comrades.

 

CHAPTER XLVIII.
TIIE TIIIRI)‘ SHOT.

There was consternation in the camp
when this unexpected shot came into
their midst and a soldier fell dead.

The sun was shining brightly, and
that death was lurking in its light no one
had believed.

But it had come, and a second time the
unseen foe had made the camp feel his
fatal presence.

Myrtle was eating her dinner with
Captain ‘ Warburton, while Sergeant
Camp, with his body bandaged tightly,
was lying on a blanket near the men.

The man who was killed had fallen
almost in the fire, and in scattering to
shelter the men had left him lying there.

The bullet has pierced his head, and he
had never known what hit him.

The men scampered to the wagons.

The captain had sprung to the shelter
of the ambulance.

Myrtle had not moved from the camp
table, where she had just finished her
dinner.

“Run, Myrtle, run!

“Come where I am,” cried the captain,
while Sergeant Camp. moving with re-
markable activity, had crawled under a.
wagon, and now shouted:

“Yes, run, miss, run!”

“I will not move,” she replied, firmly.

“You will be killed.”

“No man will kill a girl. he, he ever
so wicked, Captain Warburton.’

“But this is a human hyena, a.mad
man,~one whom we call the Man Grizzly.
and he knows no mercy.” _

, " He will not kill me,”, and the girl
looked calmly up toward the cliff from
whence the fatal shot .had come.

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Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 
   

23

 

 

“You do not know .him as we do, for
he is a butcher, and will surely kill you! ”

“ If he does, I will be at rest, for are not
all I love dead? ”

As she spoke she saw that the cloth-
ing of the dead man was beginning to
catch on fire.

Quickly she arose from the table and
ran to the fire.

Then she dragged the body away from
it and put out the flames.

Captain Warburton had followed her.

He must not flinch in the presence of
his men.

He went. close under the cliff, however,
and glanced Upward.

It was a wall of rock, but could be
scaled.

It was some hundred feet in height,

Going back for his repeating rifle, he
called two of the men to follow him, and
at once began the climb.

The men followed, but they did not
appear to relish the task.

Reaching the top, the captain and his
men made a spring for it, and disap-
pered from sight.

For half an hour they were gone, and
then the chief appeared, and the men
soon after, and all began to descend to
the camp. .

“We saw not a trace of him.

“ Neither was «there a trail, Camp."

“ It seems that We must keep a guard
by day, as well as by night, captain.”

“ It does.

“It is the only way to protect the
camp.

“ I have now but twenlty men left, and
two of those are wounded, three, in fact,
including you, Camp.”

“ Captain.” '

“ Well? "

“Take the body along.”

u  9)

“Well, he did not kill me, and if he
finds no grave here, he will believe he
has failed a. second time, and perhaps
give it up!”

“ A good idea, Camp.

“I will act upon it.” _

“You can drop the body in some
stream we pass, or even into some can-
yon.”

“ I will.”

“Who is this Man Grizzly, Captain
Warburton, that seems so deadly a foe
upon your path? " asked Myrtle, joining
the two men.

“ I do not know.

' “ We only know that he dresses in the
skin of a grizzly bear, and has the head
also on it, to draw on over his own head
as a hood, though be generally has been
seen wearing an Indian war bonnet of
feathers.

“ He rides a fleet horse, and is a dead
shot, for the man who lies yonder is the
fifth one that he has killed of my men.”

“Does he kill for no reason?”

“He may have an imaginary wrong,
Myrtle. *

l ‘eallv believe he is some poor
madman, for such are common in this
wild Western land.”

Myrtle made no reply, but, as the am-
bulance team was ready, she took her
seat and drove off once more on the trail,
Captain Warburton riding ahead.

They went into camp earlY. and a spot
was sought in a, valley where it was
comparatively open.

It was on the banks of a mountain
stream, and with a guard across it, and
out in the valley surrounding. they con—
sidered that even the Man Grizzly dare
not approach near enough to fire a fatal
shot into their midst,

But they were mistaken. ‘

Just as supper was over another shot
came, and another of the men got a
bullet in his brain asthe stood near the
campfire.

 

CHAPTER XLIX.
. A. “'ICIRD JOKE.

The camp was wild with excit ment as
this third shot of their secret f e came
1mm their midst and claimed another
Victim. _ , a

 

All but one ran from the light of the
campfire into the shadows.

The one that did not run was Myrtle.

Captain' Warburton tried to force her
with him, but she would not move, and
commanded him to leave her alone.

He did so.

He did not care to be the fourth victim
of the secret foe.

The sentinels were even more sur-
prised at the shot than were the men
in the camp.

Three sentinels were two hundred
yards out from the edge of the camp,
lying upon their blankets spread upon
the ground, and in a semi~circle from
the bank of "m stream upon which was
the encampment.

A fourth sentinel had been ferried
across the stream on the back of a horse,
a comrade going to bring the animal back
again.

The stream was all of four feet deep
there.

This fourth sentinel lay on his blanket
two hundred yards away from the river
bank, and a desire to take care of him-
self would keep him awake.

Those who stood guard at night could
sleep in the wagon on the march by day.

But the shot had come from the stream.

It had been fired within a hundred feet
of the camp-fires.

The flash had been seen by but few.
but those few had placed the position
of the dead shot.

He had peered over the low bank from
the stream.

The first thought had been to run for
the darkness beyond the arc of light cast
by the fires.

This accomplished, the men grasped
their carbines and waited for «their chief
to give an order.

It soon came in trumpet tones:

“Guards, close in rapidly to the banks
of the stream, above and below.

“ Men in camp, divide your forces and
go up and down the bank in a double-
quick.

“ I will mount and follow you.”

The captain ran for his horse and
leaped upon his back without saddle or
bridle, calling 'to the guard there over
the animals to do the same and go up
the bank, while he dashed down it.

The men were not two minutes obeying'
orders, and they met the sentinels below
and above; went upaand down the banks,
searched every break, and the waters,
but nowhere was their foe visible.

In some way he had slipped into their
lines, and just as mysteriously he had
slipped out again.

Over an hour was passed in the search,
and then the men, save the sentinels.
returned to the camp.

Myrtle was seated near Camp, talking
to him.

She was questioning him- about their
deadly shadower upon their trail, for
she was becoming more and more inter-
ested in the strange Nemesis that was
dogging to death the little command.

The night passed without another
alarm, and the first thing the light re-
vealed startled the camp.

There, peering over the bank, as
though standing in the stream, was a
human face, and his arms, extended out
upon the ground, appeared 'to be grasp-
ing a rifle. aimed full at. the group of
men gathered for breakfast about the
campfire. .

In the grnv light the men saw only a
foe aiming at them.

Wildly they bounded for cover, while
""“19 fillictly walked toward the man.

.“ It is the dead man you put in the
river, when we camped last night. to go
down with the stream,” she called'out.

A laugh followed her words, and the
men came out of hiding.

 This is not a rifle. but a black stick.

‘The man is propped up here, as
though he were aiming at you,” she con-
tinued. and added:

“Don’t be afraid of a dead man, sol-
diers.”

Another laugh followed, and the men
ran to the spot. where Captain Warbur-
ton had Joined Myrtle. v

   
 

 

It was a ghastly sight, for the man
was propped up with sticks, his head and
shoulders being above the bank, and his
arms outstretched, grasping the long
black stick that served as a rifle.

It was really the body of their com-
rade, killed in the last camp, and brought
along to keep the slayer from knowing
what deadly work he had done.

The body had evidently been found by
the secret foe, and the weird joke played
to show the men how near he had been
to camp, in spite of the guards.

“This is becoming unbearable, Camp,"
said the captain, as he walked back to
where the sergeant was lying near the
fire.

“ It is, sir.

“But what will the next camp prove
for us? ”

“Heaven only, knows."

“It is a judgment, think you? ”

“ Curse your superstitions, man.

“I accept all judgments that come to
my life.

“A cruel fate guides me, and I follow
blindly and take the consequences, good
or bad,” said Captain Warburton; in
reckless mood.

“ Do you take this second body along
also? ”

“ Yes.

“We will be a traveling funeral pro-
cession before long,” was the bitter re-
ply, and soon after breakfast the train
pulled out once more on its perilous trail.

 

CHAPTER L.

NUMBER. FIVE.

It. was necessarily slow traveling, with
the stock in the wagon train, for only
at times were the sheep and hogs brought
along by the unfortunate gold hunter,
Donald Ellis, allowed to ride in the
wagons.

They were made to walk when it was
possible, and the soldiers would not (18-
sert them.

“ Your father came well‘ prepared into
this country, to found a perfect home.
with his coops of geese, ducks, and chick-
ens, his cattle, sheep, and hogs, not to
speak of his horses and mules.”

“We expected to be here for several
years, father said.” ~

“Well, we will leave nothing behind,
Myrtle.” ‘

“ Save my dead.”

“ Alas! yes.”

“But we will take the outfit, though
we must travel by slow' marches each
day.”

“ Is there any hurry?”

“ Well, no.”

“Then I do not care when I reach
the fort, only—"

“Only what, my child?” .

“ If it takes three weeks, at one man a.
day, I will be the only one to reach the
fort with the outfit.”

“You are right, if that deadly devil
continues to pick us off.

“ But I’ll see to it that he kills no more
of my men.”

“ How will you? ”

“ I’ll find a way.”

“Are you going to carry the two dead
bodies now?”

“ Yes.”

“ My'old negro mammy used to say it
was bad luck to travel with a corpse.”

“ Sh—l

“ Don’t let: the men hear you say so.”

“ Wait until to-night, and see if it is,”
said the girl, in her brusque waY, and
Captain Warburton, in spite of his nerve,
shuddered.

The train made over fifteen miles be
fore camping for noon, and it was nearly
a mile to the nearest spot, apparently,

‘cre a foe could find a place -of con-
cealment from which a shot could be
fired.

on this account no sentinels were put
out, as no necessity was seen for it.

Dinner was prepared. eaten, and the
men were hitching up for a start, when
a puff of white smoke burst out from the
verv plain, it seemed, quite half a mile t
distant. ‘

The sound of the report and the bullet

 

 

24:

 

Buffalo I Bill’s Invincibles.

 

 

came together, and the latter struck
with a dull thud the body of a man.

He gave a cry, rose, looked about him,
and with a low moan sank, to rise not
again.

“ Mount and follow me!

“We will catch that devil this time!”
shuted the captain.

A dozen men were in their saddles in
an instant, and among .them went Myrtle.
for she had expressed a desire to ride
horseback on the next march, and her
horse had been saddled for her.

It looked as though the man had ven-
tured to crawl upon the plain near
enough to the camp to fire, and now
would have no chance of escape, as he
would have to run for it, with no shelter
near.

But he did not spring up to run for it.

Was he going to stand his ground and
fight it out?

Myrtle was well ahead, with Captain
Warburton, and they first discovered the
secret. .

The plain was seamed there by a small
gully, only to be seen when close upon it.

The Secret Foe had crept‘up this until
he reached the shallow end, picked out
his man, and fired.

Then he had run back down the gully,
which deepened and widened toward the
end, and, mounting his horse, was well
away before the soldiers reached the spot
from whence he had fired.

“Follow me!” shouted Captain War-
burton, and on they went, Myrtle still
in the lead with the officer.

The end of the gully was reached, and
there there was an abrupt bank, twenty
feet in height.

The horses could not get down, heavy
timber was beyond, and the chase must
be given up without even a sight of the
.foe. '

“ We will yet catch him, men.

“ Until we do, we must keep the bright—
est watch pqssible and take our chances
of being the next on the list.”

Back to camp they went, and the train
pulled out.

Another fifteen miles was made, the
trail running along a ridge, and halt-
ing just where the descent was made.

The cattle were driven down to water
in the valley, and back again, and a sen-
tinel was placed at either side on the
narrow ridge.

These were regarded as all that were
considered necessary in that well-pro-
tected camp.

But they were not.

Again a shot was heard, and this time
it was one of the sentinels that fell.

The Secret Foe had struck down Ser-
geant Camp wounded, and four men
killed.

Then a gloom as dark as the shadows
of Death fell upon the men of the re—
treating train, and Myrtle said:

“ My old negro mammy said it was
bad luck to travel with a corpse.”

CHAPTER LI.
THE SECRET FOE.

Don, the Black Avenger, left his camp
after his night’s rest with the firm de-
termination to stick to the trail of the
wagon train.

What he had seen in the camp of the
men, the presence there of Myrtle, but
made him the more determined to carry
out his vow, made over the graves of
his parents and his people.

His first duty having been done, the
camp visited, and no dead body found
there, he did not despair that his aim
had'not left a grave to mark the camping
place.

He followed on, and, looking far ahead
from a rise of ground, he felt that the
train would halt at noon somewhere near
a cliff overhanging a canyon, and which
he could see distinctly.

“There is water there, from the fringe
of willows I see, and there they will
camp.” he said to himself.

With this idea in view, he pulled off
from the train trail to make a flank
movement.

The pack horse and Terror kept well ‘

 

up without urging, and at last the ridge
was reached some couple of miles from
the cliff that looked dOWn upon the plain.

If he had made a mistake, he could
readily discover the fact, and again over-
haul the train by night.

Staking his horses out on the ridge, and
leaving the dog to guard them, rifle in
hand he skulked along the ridge, keep-
ing under cover of the timber that was
there.

At length he gained the shelter of
some bushes and lay down.

He had been right in his conjecture.

The train was coming to camp at the
cliff.

Soon the train was there, and the negro
crawled to the edge of the cliff, a broken
bush in his hand.

He peered over,
among the rocks.

There was the camp, not two hundred
feet from him.

He saw Myrtle, and he saw each man
of the command.

Carefully he studied their faces, as he
could, using his field glass at times.

His black face softened and saddened
as he looked at Myrtle, and then, as he
turned his gaze upon the men, it would
become hard and stern.

At length, having seen all that he
cared for at that time, he reached back
for his rifle.

“They are treating her well; but it is
not from any feeling of sympathy and
kindness for her.

“ She look-s sad and older, but she bears
up well.

“Surely they have deceived her, for
they appear to her as friends.

“There is the man I wounded in the
other camp, and did not kill. ,

“My bullet must have struck some-
thing in his pocket.

“ He is the sergeant of the command.

“I will not fire /upon a Wounded man,
so will take another.

“ I’ll take that big; ugly—faced fellow
there.”

The rifle was leveled and the trigger
was touched.

The report followed and the man fell.

Waiting barely long enough to see that
the aim had been deadly, the negro drew
back from the bush that sheltered him,
and ran like a deer along the ridge.

He had seen that the cliff could be
scaled, and he did not care to be seen.

So long as Myrtle believed that he was
the shadower he did not care.

In his owu good time they should see
him, he had decided.

Back to his horses he sped, and was
soon mounted and away.

He went.on ahead now, for he looked
over the plain and picked out the trail
the train must follow.

A wide detour he had to make, not to
be seen, but this he did, and at last
camped in the hills beyond the plain.

It was not yet sunset, and he spied
the train, and watched it go into camp
on the stream.

Then he began to walk down the
stream bank, leaving Terror, as before, to
guard the camp.

It was growing dark, and he felt sure
that sentinels would then be sent out.
and from the situation of the camp he
knew just about how they would be
placed.

When night-came he picked up a piece
of driftwood, added others to it, and made
a raft that would readily bear his rifle,
belt of arms, and clothing.

This he floated down the stream with
its load, and soon drew near the camp.

A stone and the end of his lariat not
used in tying the raft made an anchor,
and then, leaving it there, rifle in hand
he waded dOWn the stream .until he got
near the camp.

He saw the horse cross with the two
men, one of them being the sentinel for
the other side.

Rack went the equine ferry and rider,
and then the negro waded on down the
stream below the camp, to get a better
look at the men from a safer position.

Suddenly, as he reached the shore, he
stumbled over a dead body.

fastening the bush

 

CHAPTER LII.
srmoowun To DOOM,

The negro halted very suddenly when
he felt the dead body with his foot.

He had seen it on the edge of the water,
and supposed it to be a log.

Discovering just what it was, he was
tieigpted to leap away from his ghastly
in .

But he was devoid of much of the
superstition of his race, while he was
wholly devoid of fear.

Leaning over the body, he drew it out
of the water and felt the face.

It was a white man, bearded, and a
Wound had killed him.

It did not take Don long to reason out.
just who he was.

“ They brought the body along to fool
me, and threw it in the stream here to
get rid of it. and not have me see it.

“ I’ll fool them, and they’ll see it again.

“ They did not throw it far enough out
in the stream, and so it drifted along the
shore to this place.

“ All right, I’ll fix it to give them a.
scare.”

There were rocks here and there in
the stream, and, going up the stream.
towing the body after him, the negro
sought the largest one of them.

Here he fastened the body, and it sank
beneath the surface of the waiter.

Climbing upon the rock, he looked
across at the camp.

For some time he stood there, and then
stooping, he picked up his rifle off the
rock, raised it slowly, and, taking de-
liberate aim, pulled trigger.

Instantly he dropped down and slid
into the water, crouching there by, the
rock, and holding his rifle where it would
not get wet.

He knew that his shot had done its
work, and there waited, taking the
chances, while the men searched for him.

But it was not supposed that he had re—
mained, after his shot, and no one rode
out to the rocks to discover if the foe
was hiding there.

Until the search ended Don held his
position, and then, holding his rifle in one
hand, and drawing the body along with
the other, he went ashore right opposite
to the camp.

With some sticks of driftwood he found
upon the shore he arranged the body of
the dead man as has been seen, and gave
the camp a fright when it was discovered
in the morning.

The negro then retraced his way up
the stream to where he had anchored his
little raft, went ashore, and dressed
himself, and struck off for his camp in
a run to warm himself up after being so
long in the cool water.

The night passed without disturbance,
Terror sleeping with one eye open while
his master slept, and Don was in no
hurry 'to turn out early in the morning,
knowing that the train could not escape
him.

After a good breakfast he set out, and
after a ride of a few miles sighted the
train.

He had determined to strike a blow in
each camp, and he noted the way the
trail led.

“They’ll camp on the plain to-day,
and it will be hard to get a shot at
them,” he said, as he saw the stretch of
open country ahead.

But luck favored the determined aven-
ger, for he saw where 'the train halted,
and at the same time discovered a ravine
running far into the plain. ‘

Leaving his horses and dog in some

-timber, he ascended the ravine until it

became too shallow to go further without
being seen.

Passing across the plain at half a mile
distant, he saw the camp.

No one was on guard.

It was not thought that they were
needed there.

The trail ran some distance from the
ravine, and it was not therefore visible,
it appearing as though the plain was un-
broken.

The repeating rifle was a good one, and
Don knew that it was deadly at that dis-

 

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tance, and further, if he hit his human‘

target.

The sights were raised, when he had
calculated the distance, his man was
picked out, and the result of the long
range shot the reader already knows.

Like a deer he ran down the ravine.
gaining the timber where his horses
were, and sat there watching the foiled
horsemen as they found that they could
not descend into the lower plain.

“Now for to-night’s camp,” he grimly
muttered, as he set out to flank the train
and get. ahead, for he had observed the
nature of the country further on, and he
knew that hiding places were frequent.

Gaining a ridge well in advance, at the
base of which there was a small stream,
he said to himself:

“They’ll camp on that stream, I guess.
and put sentinels up here and out upon
the plain.

“Never mind, another man is doomed
to (lie here, watch and camp where they
may.”

\Vith this he rode back along the ridge
and sought a camp.

 

CHAPTER LIII.
’l‘lili (‘Al’TAlN'S PLAN.

The shot of the Black Nemesis on the
ridge once more alarmed the camp of
soldiers.

With a guard at the base of the hill
where the trail deScended, and another
off along the ridge, Captain Warburton
had felt secure.

The only way for 'the “Man Grizzly,n
as they still believed their Secret Foe
'to be, to get near enough to fire upon
the camp would be to face one of these
hiding sentinels. ,

The men therefore hoped‘to hear a
shot, and feel that it was the sentinel
that had fired this time.

They did hear the shot, they ran along
the ridge with hope, but not hearing the
triumphant shout of the sentinel, they
reached him with despair.

There he lay dead.

The men were becoming demoralized.

Could this thing go on?

Must a man die at every camp?

Could they not manage to kill their
dread foe?

Captain W'arburton saw that something
must be done.

Life was dear to the men, and he knew
that they would desert the train, rather
than take further chances of sure death.

The captain had the dead sentinel
brought in and placed with the other
dead, saying to the sergeant:

“We will bury them all here in the
morning, Camp"

“Yes, captain, but you will have to
decide upon some plan to kill our foe,
for I tell you frankly the men‘expect it
to—night, or they will leave.”

“I fear that, and I’ll tell you what I
have decided upon.” '

“Yes, sir.”

“ We will bury the dead here.

“ You are skillful with your knife, so
carve on a cedar board I saw in one of
the wagons, an inscription for the dead.”

“ Yes, sir.

“Their names and what else?”

“ Carve as follows:

“ ‘A Fatal Trail.

“ ‘ Killed
u . by

“ ‘A Secret Foe,

“ While cam-ping from Shelter Valley to
“ ‘ this spot,
“ ‘ Four men of B Troop,

‘ “ ‘ ———-th U. S. Cavall'y.’ "

“I will do it, sir.”

“ Now, I’ll send for the board for you,
and then 'tell you my plan.”

One of the men was sent for the .cedar
board, and it was found to be just What
the sergeant wanted for the WOl‘k he had
to do.

He was a most skillful wood carver,
and set to work at once. while the cap-
tain talked, Myrtle having gone to her
tent for the night. . _

“By' to-morrow noon,” said Captain
Warburton, “we will reach the Red
Range, and you know that the heavy

. ‘ l - . y I s
_ . , , . . _ . , t . .
I ‘ ' * . ‘ . ' ' ll, . l -‘ _ . i ' y ’
 Ii. .. Jr... ..   _  .' gunfire. 5. .~.m., . 3': i. :. .l ._ t. . r

 

wagons can go no further, though the
ambulances can.

“There are plenty of pack saddles
along, and we can take all that the
wagons contain with us."

“Yes, sir."

“ There are several places where Wheels
cannot pass, but we can get the ambu-
lances our and I wish to leave noth-
ing behind save the heavy wagons.

“Where we leave the wagons will be
in an open plain under a low bluff, and
by placing mountedscntinels on the
bluff our foe can get nowhere near us,
’or we can see him for miles off on the
plain.

 There is water and grass there, and
we will make a camp.

“But we will start off with our pack
animals for our fort, and push on through
the night. '

" Once at our fort, we have nothing to
four,”

“True, sir, but between here and the
fort the Man Grizzly will surely let us
hear from him."

“Now to my plan.”

 Yes, captain.”

“If he cannot get near us in our noon
camp, before we enter the Red Range, he
will wait until night to strike a blow.“

“And we won’t be there.”

“ Listen!

“I wish to leave a dozen of the men
there, and, besides their horses, several
others that are used up.

“These will give a, show of our being
there, and the Secret Foe will creep in
toward night to get his deadly shot.

“ Now, my idea is to have the men
keep the fires going, and just at night-
fall to slip out of camp and lie in wait
at a distance, surrounding the camp."

“I begin to see now.”

“The Secret Foe will see no one in

‘camp, and creep nearer and nearer to get

his shot, and he will pass within the line.

“The man he passes nearest to must
take no chances, but let him get within
the circle.”

“I see, sir.”

“The fires will reveal him to all, and
then the men can close in upon him and
catch him like a rat in a trap.”

“it is the very thing to do, Captain
Warburton, and this plan, made known
to the men at once, will keep ‘tliemfrom
deserting the train.”

“I will at once let them know, an-
swered the captain. and the men were
called to the council.

9)

 

CHAPTER LIV.
THE THAI) Star.

The men heard the plan of action with
manifestations of delight.

f It was to be action against their secret
oe.

Had the plan not been made known to
them, fear would have caused some of
them to desert the train during the night.

They retired to their blankets with
hope of soon having their Secret Foe
within their revengeful grip. '

The serge-ant went on with his wood
carving, while the captain and he talked
together about their plot to capture, the
“Man Grizzly,” for they were sure that
he was their Secret Fee.

At last the sergeant finisher] his task,
and, with the captain, turned in for the
night,

It was not dawn when the camp was
aroused, breakfast was gotten, the grave
was dug, and soon after the four bodies
were placed in it. '

The head-board was put above the
dead, and then the train pulled out for
the next camp. going at a brisk pace.

The next halting place was just as the,
captain had said, and it was noted with
pleasure that with guards out the Secret
Toe could not get anywhere near the
camp.

The work was at once begun of strip-
ping the wagons and packing the saddles.

Two ambulances were to be taken, one
for Myrtle and her baggage. the other
for +he cases of fowls and oth 1' things
not to be carried upon pack satdles. '

..  .  -.I,.-,. \ . ‘
‘h"' u. ~.. 5: x.’. 2.2%. ».-._.“,t:.,."_,,:. i  ‘

 

Myrtle watched the arrangements in
her calm way.

What her thoughts were she concealed
and not an objection did she make.

Much of the belongings of the negroes
was to be left behind, and when the men
left the camp, after springing their trap
upon the Secret Foe, they were to be
burned, along with the wagons.

Some new clothing brought along for
the negroes caught the fancy of the men,
and Captain VVarburton said:

“ You can wear it and spare your uni-
forms, men.”

This they did, but the calptain still
stuck to his fatigue uniform.

The sergeant was to remain~in charge
of the men that were to stay behind, the
captain accompanying Myrtle and the
pack animals. along with the few men he
carried with him, for ten in all were left,
to have no mistake in snaring the Secret
Foe.

Myrtle had her own horse, and when
the start was made, rode in advance with
the captain.

The pack horses and mules followed,
some two-score in number, with the cat-
tle, sheep, and hogs, the men, and two
ambulances bringing up the rear.

The wagons had been grouped togeth-
er, and dummies made to represent the
ambulances, while the broken-down cat-
tle were put in conspicuous places to
fool the Secret Foe, along with the 'used-
up horses and the animals of the men
left behind.

Around the base of the bluff passed the
outfit, and soon after entered the foot-
hills of the Red Range, and were lost
sight of. A

The sentinels were well out from the
camp, and were keeping a bright lookout
for their hated enemy.

But nowhere could he be seen.

When Sergeant Camp came back from
seeing the outfit Well on the way, he
rode around to each sentinel and gave
him his orders, and also told the men in
camp just what they were to do when the
first shadows of night should fall.

The sergeant was recovering from his
wound, and did not mind the little exer-
cise he had to take.

Until the sun Set he lay about camp.
and the cooks had supper ready for the
men.

This was served to those in camp and
carried out to the sentinels.

Wood was brought from the stream
near and piled upon the fires, and by
their light the men made themselves
busy in spreading down their blankets,
as though to go to rest.

Then they disappeared in the darken-
ing twilight, and began to stretch out in
a circle. .

The sentinels were reached, and they,
'too, went on to widen the circle.

Upon the bluff, the two sentinels went.

further back, and crouched down to cap-'

ture the Secret Foe, should he approach
the camp that way.

At last the deadly circle was formed,
and the sergeant and his men lay down
to await the coming of their foe, When
the trap should be sprung that got him
in their power.

 

CHAPTER LV.
A LETTER LEFT BEHIND.

Don had fired his fifth shot and escaped
never having been seen by‘his foes.

He was glad of this.

He did net care to have them know
who he was until his own good time to
do so.

Somehow, he felt that Myrtle knew that
he was the deadly foe upon the trail of
her captors, but he also felt that she
would not make the fact known, espe-
cially as she believed that thosewith her
were her friends.

Having fired the fifth shot,'that had
killed the sentinel, he again retreated
to nvis camp.

He was very sure that the soldiers
were becoming terribly afraid of him.

He was also sure that they were getting
dangerously "near to the Indian country,
but, as before, he comforted himself

\

 

x.-.

 

    

   

i

.- with‘the thought that where theycould
go he could follow. 4
Why they did not bury their dead he

did not know; save that they did not
wish him to have the satisfaction of
knowing that his aim had been fatal.
. As usual, he did .not make an early
start the next mdrning, and he started
from his camp to follow the train along
the ridge to the cliff, and from there
see where the trail lay. » -

He approached the camp cautiously, for
 he was constantly expecting an ambush.
. The train had camped on the ridge,
,, instead of at its base, as he expected, so
' that had necessitated his cautious hunt
 for the sentinel he knew had been placed
‘ there. r‘

i ' That he found him is knowu. ,
‘ Now, as he reached the deserted camp
' ibis eager eyes fell upon the newly made
« grave and the cedar head~board. .
Ho dismounted and read the inscrip-
tion carefully. '
 fi‘There are four men here in this
grave, .for I only wounded the sergeant.
' "f And United States cavalry, are they?
,,.“,I cannot belleVe it, after what I saw
 them do. '
 " They have fooled poor Missy Myrtle.
but they can’t fool me-why here is; a
"slip of paper pinned on the board close
.«to the ground.” '. .
‘, ‘He took it, and, opening it, read:

a mu. I
" If you are the one who is the Secret
do of Captain Warburton and his men, I
know that you are believing that they
killed’ourpeople and have me a prisoner.
5*, ‘iBut. it is not the case, for they are
goodrsoldiers, and outlaws did that foul
1' me, Captain Warburton arriving in
mete prevent their killing "oe, for I
had fainted, and plundering the wagons.
' {have not told them that Lsuspect
, ,gistheir deadly foe, fdr I did not wish
touget‘you. into trouble, and they believe
it "who a wild creature they call the

1:1 Grizzly. j I
'At'flrst I did 'not think of you, I Was
 dazed by all that had occurred; but
hen, ,I remembered that you had‘ re-

our train-Was folloWed, and I know, too;
 ‘ of your repeating rifle, the
has so different from others. V

_, 780. I write you, good Don,'to tell'you
fight: to kiii'any more inaccent men, but, to
.  I“ y ' 'td' Fort Fenbon, for Captain War-
‘ Yen-is, going there, and I willmeet
_, ~~for wears all‘that are left. '

d-by‘ Don-" ' .
r.‘   "Missy MYRTLE.”
ueyesrof ‘therbrave, strong negro
with tears as he read this note, and

Wheat/ed With emotion. ’ '
“grinds Missy Myrtle! . '

‘ey ghaye deceived her, for she
11f [oxidise did not see what I saw..'
 notdo as she asks me, for she
now, (ides: she, Terror? ' ‘
_g,W£ll",10HoW them, Terror, and
rat; them whenever we “can, and we
rescue Missy Myrtle, tea, and then

 the fort.” .3
doggw‘agged his.” tail and looked
liough he understood just what;

r.  ‘ ,1 ’ .
can say‘that he did not?‘
scientific ,: saw .119 train far
5i heiidisc cred. hot-it was
more rapidly , than it ’had yet

  

' . ,oiflsnka‘rou'nd again and

duals. -- » a g  -
have hurled th_e.,dea‘d;‘ and be):
some plan, nottt‘o got any on

   

erl rile-i Iwruld jhm now.

w

I '~ ' r I   ,
"there when}. they. camp

   

 

 ‘Missr; "ions: did not k110i? *

  

CHAPTER LVI.

, THE SPRINGING OF‘THD TRAP.

The Black AVenger had a. long ride
of it in flanking around, and his horses
and Terror were pretty well tired when
he at last discovered the noon camp of
the train. ‘

This done, he went well back in the
foothills to a little valley through which
ran a mountain rivulet.

He had killed a deer, knowing that he
was well out of hearing of his gun by

any one in the train, and he selected an,

ideal spot for his camp, where there
was a canyon with such. a narrow en-
trance his lariat stretched across would
close it up, thus giving his horses several
acres of rich pasturage within. . -

Dressing his deer he hung it up and
then set out on foot for the train camp.

But try as ‘he might he could get no-
where near the train.

He was too far off for a long-range
shot, even with his rifle. '

He flank-ed around behind a rise and at
last reached the bluff.

But he could see. a sentinel upon it,
and so he had to keep in cover.
The sentinel, too, was not

range.

Don was angered. He felt that the
command had gotten the best of him
at this camp.

The train had come on rapidly, had
gone into camp before neon, and was
remaining a long time.

Something was going on against him
he was sure,

As the train still stayed in camp, he
was sure they would‘ remain there for
the night, especially as they had thwart-
‘ed him of a shot.‘

Convinced of this he went back to his
camp and had a combined dinner and
supper. ' .

He also took a haversack of provisions
with him. , ,

His horses were all right, Terror was
given more than he could eat, and left
to guard the camp, and then the negro
set out to have another look at the camp,
and prepared to remain in hiding. as long
asthe train stayed there. ,‘

Ih making his flank movement to get
around to the other side by night, Don
suddenly came upon a fresh trail.

He stopped quickly and examined it.

Then he started off at a trot to try
and get near enough to‘ see who had made
‘the trail. ‘

This, he could not do, for they had

within

, too great a start.

Then he discovered that there were no

, wagon tracks, in the trail.

But the tracks of two ambulances were
there.

Also there Were the tracks of the
horses, cattle, and sheep of the outfit.

Instantly Don turned back; muttering:
« “ They have divided the train,

"‘ It is some plot; but I am not to be
thrown off the scent.”

The) sun . was setting now, but he
hastened on, and soon‘ after dark saw
the lights of camp fires ahead. 4 . .
' He left the bluff now, flanked out upon
the plain‘, and advanced with the great-
est caution. .

Soon he came to where he could see
the camp itself; under‘ the bluff he had
longed to reach early‘in the afternoon.

He saw the wagons, and he saw what
purported to be the ambulances. '

But this'he knew ,was a fraud.

He had seen the tracks onLhe ambu-
lances leading into the foot hills. ‘

He was looking now through his field
glass and oOuld see the cattle, horses,'and

‘ wagons that had been left behind as a

blind: , a i , ,
He noted. all carefully, for the camp
fireswere burning brightly. -

He knew it was too early for the :men
to turn infer the night, and yet he could
not. discover a human being moving
 . . 113* in film!
withers,  «is  move.

   
 

  
  
    

   

~it

- .fi 
w .
A“;

 

y» be ., watched, but

1:

About the wagons his glass showed
him some dark objects that looked like
men enveloped in blankets as though
asleep. .

“They would not lie there if they
were men, fearing a shot if I saw no one
else to shoot at ,

“I guess it‘s a plan to make me be—
lieve they are camped here, while they
are pushing on into the mountains.

“ The Man Grizzly, Missy Myrtle said
they thought I was, must have given
them a big scare some time.

“ Well,'i’ll give them another yet.

“ They've left the wagons and the
worn-out horses and cattle behind to fool
me, while they have gone on, and the
camp is deserted by them, I guess.

“ I'll go on and chance it anyhow, for
if it is I must be on their trail before
dawn.”

With this he arose from the ground and
walked boldly toward the camp.

Five minutes after, like apparitions,
men arose from the ground and stern
came the order: '

“Hands up or die! "

The trap had been sprung.

He had walked in between two of the
guards, and, as he was upright and not
attempting to hide, he was seen by the
others, and instantly the chain had
closed in upon him from the rear.

He wheeled at the threatening com—
mand and saw that he was covered by
half a dozen rifles.

Instantly he knew that death was cer-
tain if he moved, and so he called out:

“I surrenders, gemmensi

“ I is only a poor nigger! ”

 

0

CHAPTER LVII.
THE UNERRING TRAILER.

It is now time to‘turn back to the
wagon train, and see what progress had
been made by Buffalo Bill .in the lead,
Lieutenant Basil, Lee and his” advance
guard, and the largdr commands that
were surely pushing toward the Indian
country in their pursuit‘of that myste—
rigus oflicer, Captain Warburton and his
m n. "

Thelfact that Captain Warburton was
going so dangerously near. the Indian
country could not be understood by his
brother officers, and many were the whis-
pers regarding his strange conduct. ‘

It was hoped that he was flanking
around by the Red Range to in that 'way
reach Fort Fenton, though it was several
days’ tnavel out of his way and most
dangerous.

It was also hOped that he had some
reason, the command‘knew not of. for
going away from help‘ instead of to'
meet it. , r .

Still, whatever his motives, as he had
gone that way he must be rescued. '

The fear was felt that he might be

a.
to

those defeated at Rocky Pass, and be
overwhelmed by them before even But-

back with the cheerful news that help
was at hand. '

a reserve in the surrounded camp at
Rocky Pass, and a good force had reached
Shelter Valley and gone into camp there.

At the crossing of the 'stream’ in the
plain, wherethe wagon train had turned

Captain Lennox had left Captain Mer-
ton with a good command, whileihe

geant Camp of the fugitive party under
Warburton had so nearlyiost his.,life
fromthe unerriug rifle of Don, the Black
Avenger. \~. , x

With his men then stationedin adja—
cent camps, Captain Lennon: felt no fear
‘of. the couscouences from, an attack of
Aha/Indians in large, numbers, or'of res-

they had corralled him. ,

 

  
  

The captain had-also abidin
* d “and

  

 

Buffalo gem in than
~  ‘Ii "

   

Don was taken completely by surprise.-

met by the retreating braves on foot,
falo Bill could‘overtake him to turn him. ~

The dommands from the, fort had left'
off the trail. to cover up their tracks, .

had pushed on no the camp where Ser—v

cuing Captain Warburton from them if;
a faith“ in:

    
  
 
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
 
  
   
  
  
    
  
 
  
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
    
  
 
  
  
 
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
  

m'

.1

 

 

 

 

    
        
    
     
     
  
 

 

HWH-U

V

\v n—-\V

\v '¢

 

B is ire. ‘ "  " '  

.

 

So matters stood back along the trail,
while the Warburton outfit was pushing
on, dogged by the Black Nemesis.

Along on the trail, Buffalo Bill pushed
along cautiously and slowly.

He did not care to run the risk of an
ambush.

He knew that the tracks he saw of
two horses and a dog were made later
than had been the trail 0f the wagon
train.

His great experience
readily told him this.

This suggested to him that either some
one or two of the train were belated,
and were hastening to catch up, or there
was some one dogging Captain Warbur-
ton’s tracks. '

The noon camp was found by the scout,
and he examined it carefully.

The tracks of the two horses and the
dog were near there.

in plainscraft

Here Buffalo Bill wrote a note to Lieu-v

tenant Lee and stuck it upon a stick,
making known his discoverery that some
one was following the Warburton train.

Again pushing on he came to where
the trail of the two horses and dog
branched off from the main trail.

A line on a slip of paper stuck in the
crotch of a stick told that the scout was
to follow the small trail, and for ‘Ihe
officer to let a part of his force do the
same.

On this trail the scout read signs like.

from an open book.

He found the camp of the Black Neme-
sis, tracked him then to the ridge, saw
where he had lain on the cliff, and the
bush that had shielded him was still
there.

“Who and what is he?" asked the
scout of himself.

He had seen enough to tell him that
the two horses were on the trail of the
train for a purpose.

Once more on the trail of the wagon
train, Buffalo Bill quickened his pace,
and he went into camp on the stream
where the Black Nemesis had fired his
thirdis‘hot.

The scout walked about, read “ Signs."

‘ saw the same footprints in the sand that

he had marked in the other camps, and
said:

“ I believe that the massacre was not
complete, and that one or two escaped.

“ Perhaps they were not in camp when
the attack was made in Shelter Valley.

“ Anyhow, whoever this, or these, may
be, they are dogging the train for a pur-
pose.

“I will push on from here and.spend
the night at their next halting place.”

And he did so, making further discov-
cries.

 

CHAPTER LVIII.
UNBAVELING A TANGLED TRAIL.

As a means of showing my reader just
what wild frontier life is, or was at the
time of which I tell, I have endeavored
to trace the movements of each individ-
ual and command separately, showing the
movements of Captain Warburton and
his men, the action of the Black Neme—
sis, the splendid bordercraft revealed by
Buffalo Bill, and the movements of Cap—
tain Lennox and the separate forces
under "his leadership. I

It has been seen how much depended
upon the central figure, Buffalo Bill, the
“ star” of the combination.

But for his going to the camp in Shel-
ter Valley the scenes and happenings of
my story would have been far different.

.But, discovering what he had, and with
his own idea of things as they occurred,
he was shaping matters in a most thor-
ough way.

There was of course no knowledge on
his part of the Black Nemesis, though he
had become convinced that there was an
avenger upon the trail at Captain War-
burton’s command, from some reason or

other, and the tracks of two horses led.

him to believe that Ithere were two men
dnstead of one.

But this was natural, as he suspected
another rider on the negro’s pack home.

 

The fact of a dog’s tracks being seen
led him to consider the more that the
followers of the Warburton outfit were
survivors of the wagon train mas-
sacre.

Having read the signs” from his ex—
perience in border life up to the cliff
where the Black Nemesis had fired the
third shot, Buffalo Bill rode around and
down to the train camp, leaving on the
cliff a note and another in the deserted
encampment, giving his ideas up to that
time to Lieutenant Lee, who was follow-
ing with the two scouts, Maddern and
Belt, most able advisers.

From the cliff the, scout took the trail
again of the two horses and dog.

He wanted to see their course and
could very readily go back to the wagon
trail.

By doing this he came to- the little
camp in the timber, followed the sin-
gle tracks of a booted foot to the ravine
and up it to where the Nemesis had lain
concealed and took the long shot at the
camp there in the open plain.

Here Buffalo Bill found a single shell
of a cartridge that had been fired.

He had found one also on the cliff.

He had ridden up the ravine and now
he continued on out upon the plain to
the open camp.

But he found no graves, and wondered
at it, considering that he felt sure that
an avenger was following the train.

011 he went, with a line left for Lieu-
tenant Lee in the camp, telling about the
empty shell he had found.

- His next halt was on the ridge.

He was still on the trail of the aven-
ger, went to his camp, and not able to
see the footprints from there in the hard
soil, had to guess at the ridge being his
point of destination.

Riding along the ridge his eyes fell
upon the cedar headboard and the grave
in which lay four bodies.

Stones had been put upon the grave
to keep the coyotes from digging up the
bodies.

Here the scout went into camp to con—
sider.

He had found in the grave something
decidedly tangible.

He was beginning to unravel the tan-
gled trail.

Having left his horse down on the
meadow to feed and rest, Buffalo Bill
returned to the ridge to look about him
thoroughly.

He went back along the ridge, found
where the sentinel had been placed, and
killed, and further on picked up another
empty shell.

Then he returned to the grave and
again read what was very cleverly cut
into the cedar headboard. '

" Four men of Troop B, ——th Regi-
ment, U. S. Cavalry,” he muttered. Cap—
tain Warburton’s troop and regiment.

“And the four are in this grave.

“Killed in camps from Shelter Valley
to this spot.

“I have three of the four shells that
held the fatal cartridges. '

“Who is the fatal dead shot but one of
the train who survived the massacre?

“And the bodies were brought this
far, not to let him see that his work was
deadly.

“But here they buried them.

“ Can it be that they killed the man?

“I guess not, or they would not have
found his camp and the horses I would
have run upon, unless the second one
got away. .

“ But I doubt there being but one man
and the dog, for I have seen but the
one human track about the lone camps
of the avenger.

“Well, I will leave another note for
Lieutenant Lee, and the next camp will
tell if the avenger met his fate here or
not, and which the burial of his victims
would indicate. ,

“ I am catching up with the train, and
should overhaul them at their noon camp
to-morrow, camping in their noon camp
of to-day myself to-night.

“I’ll have my dinner and light out,
and leave Lieutenant Lee *to have these

u

r

 

men dug up, and thus recognize just who
they are.”

With this Buffalo Bill descended the
ridge to where his horse was feeding,
built a fire, and after having his dinner
started once more upon the trail.

He had not gone very far before he
was sure that the avenger was still on
the trail, for the tracks of the horses and
dog showed that they were following the
train, not being taken along with it.

 

1 CHAPTER LIX.
THE scours FIND.

Buffalo Bill again stuck to the trail of
the avenger, instead of that of the train.

He had seen that the train had moved
more rapidly from the last camp, than
before on the march, and he knew that
there was some cause for this.

He accordingly quickened his pace.

Still following the trail of the avenger.
early in the afternoon he went along
over an open plain, with the mountains
growing nearer and nearer in the dis-
tance.

He knew these mountains as the Red
Range, and was sure that Captain War-
burton, if going to Fort Fenton by the
roundabout way he had chosen, would
leave the range on his left hand; run-
ning along their base until he came to a.
river, which he would follow down to
the military post. ,

It was upon this stream that Fort Fen-
ton was situated, but all of a hundred
and fifty miles from the Red Range.

If Captain Warburton did not follow
along at [the base of the Red Range, but
turned into the mountains, the scout
knew that he would be going direct into
the Indian country.

As he drew near. a barren ridge that
ran from the foothills out into the plain
for some miles, the scout saw that the
wagon train continued straight on, while
the tracks of the two horses and the dog
led back toward some timber.

He followed the latter.

It led him for a couple of miles to
where there were timbered hills, 3. val—
ley, and a stream.

Continuing on, he came upon a narrow
canyon opening upon the valley, and
out of it was flowing a small rivulet, to
mingle with the large stream in the
valley. .

The tracks led into this valley.

But suddenly the scout halted.

His way was challenged, and by a loud
bark, while Terror stood in the mouth
of the canyon as a sentinel.

Looking in, the scout saw a camp, with
a saddle and pack saddle swung across a.
bent-‘do-wn sapling. -

Witlhin the canyon were two fin
horses, one a jet black stallion.

Terror had ceased to bark, but was
guarding the entrance to the canyon, and
watching the scout.‘ ’

Buffalo Bill was not afraid of any.-
thing, especially a dog,

But he did not wish to shoot the dog.
and, feeling sure that his master was
away from camp, he decided to make no
attempt to investigate further.

He saw a. lariat stretched twice across
the canyon, to keep the horses within.

At once he took out his notebook and
pencil and wrote:

“ I have been following you from Shel-
ter Valley.

“ HaVe observed your work along the
trail, up to the grave of four soldiers.

“ I am also on the trail of Captain War-
burton, and would like to join forceeiwith
you, so if you return to your camp await
my return, for I now go to find the camp
of the soldiers, and suspect that you have
also gone there, to hunt another victim,
for I take you to be avenging some
wrong.

“W. F. CODY, (BUFFALO BILL,)

“Chief of Scouts. U. S. Army,
“For Department of Platte.”

This note Buffalo Bill pinned upon the
lariat, Terror merely growling a threat
not to venture within the canyon. -

Anticipating his return there, and
wishing to relieve his horse of all extra

\

 

 

 

28

Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles.

 

weight, the scout stripped off his roll of
blankets, camp equipments, and saddle-
bags, hanging them across the lariat.

Then he set out, greatly to the joy of
“Terror, who looked at the things left with
marked suspicion.

Believing that the'avengcr would be
on the bluff at the end of the ridge, for
the train must have camped on the plain
near, and unable to track him on foot,
Buffalo Bill decided to go that way.

He was sure that he could see well out
upon the plain from the bluff, which he
.had observed far back ended abruptly,
yet was not very high.

He had also seen that it was devoid of
trees, while a little stream he had crossed
came from that way, doubtless flowing
out of the ridge, would be just where the
train would camp.

He had some hours yet until nightfall,
and he was certain that if the train was
not there, he could discover it from the
bluff.

That it was still there he was led to
believe from having found the avenger’s
camp only a couple of miles or so away
from the bluff.

Among the ridge, therefore, Buffalo
Bill rode, and at last leaving the timber,
he came out into the barren space.

He had not yet seen the avenger, but,
suddenly, he saw smoke rising ahead,
over the bluff.

Riding cautiously 011, Buffalo Bill sud-
denely reined in his horse on the very
edge of the bluff at the \startling sight
before him. v

It was a sight to appall, as well as to
surprise and wonder at.

The bluff was not over thirty feet
high, and where a man could scramble
down it here and there, it would be a
hold one, indeed, who would make th
attempt on horseback. '

The sight that met the vision of the
scout was a camp of half a score of
men.

There were two wagons, stripped of
their covers, and hauled up near to each
other, the poles were carried aloft, and
the ends were some eight feet apart.

From the end of each was stretched a
pole .unbolted from another wagon, and
firmly tied there, thus forming a cross
beam.

And this arangement was to be used as
a gallows for a man whom Buffalo Bill
saw standing beneath, a lariat about his
neck, his hands tied bhind his back,
while four of the group grasped the
other end, ready to drag him into the air
at the command of their leader.

 

CHAPTER LX.
UNDER SUSPICION.

-When Don, the Black Avenger, saw
that he was trapped, he was too cool-
headed a man to throw his life away by

‘ attempting flight or resistance.

ad

He thought of Myrtle in the hands of
the murderers of her parents, and quick
as a flash he determined to surrender
and play a ,part, in his hope to rescue
her.

So at once he threw his hands above
his head and said meekly the words that
uttered the challenge.

Sergeant Camp was one of the men
nearest to him as the negro’s manner and
words deceived rhim, for he said:

“ All right, nigger, I’ll just take that
belt of arms and rifle you carry, and
then we can talk.”

“Yas, massa,” replied Don, speaking
in a strong darkey dialect, Which at oth-
er times he never used.

“ Here dey is, sah.”

“I’ll take them, don’t you touch
them.”

“ Sartin not, sah.”

Don was thus disarmed and led to the
camp fire, where all the men now assem-

bled to have a look at him.

“Well, who are you? ”
“A poor’niggah, sah.”
“ Where are you from? ”
" Texas. sah.”

“What is your name?”

 

“Don, sah.”

“ How is it you wear such a gorgeous
Mexican outfit and carry such fine weap-
ons? ”

“Dey was given to me, sah, by my
massa.

“You see, sah, dat dere was a bad
Mexican outlaw kilt, and I got his clothes,
sah.”

“ Who was your master? "

“ Massa Donald Ellis of Texas, sah.

“Hain’t yer seen him, fer I got lost,
and has been following ther trail of
der waggins fer days, sah, and I is
mighty nigh played out, and I eat my
last mouthful dis mornin’ sah.”

“ Are you on foot? ”

“Yes, sah.”

“And have you been following the
trail? ”

“ Yes, sah.”

“ Where from? ”

“A walley, sah, where massa must hev
had a jout with Inguns, for there was a
number of graves dere."

“How did you get lost?”

“I were a huntin’ in de rear, sah, an’
my horse got away from me, so 1 had ter
walk. . .

“ Massa must hev been mighty skeert
of Inguns, or thoughted they hed kilt
me, or he’d never gone on an’ left me be-
hind.

“ Hes yer seen ’em, sah? ” .

“Yes, they have gone on, and we are
to follow as soon as your case is attended
to.”

“Yes, sah. I is mighty glad, sah.”

“Have you been the one who has been
killing a man in our band at every
camp we have made?”

Don did not flinch. He simply rolled
his eyes and said: '

“Me killin‘ gemmans, sah.”

“Have you been alone on the trail?"

“ Yes, sah.”

“ Somebody has been creeping up and
shooting into our camp.”

“Dat was bad.

“I jist seen yer camp fires, and were
a walkin’ fer ’em, sah, when yer jump
me.

“ My! but wasn’t I skeered! ”

“ He was not the man, sergeant,” said
one of the men.

“ I guess not.

“But if not, who was?” and again
turningto Don the sergeant continued:

“Did you see no one else upon the
trail as you came along?”

Remembering that Myrtle had said in
her letter that the men thought that their
secret foe was one they called the Man
Grizzly, Don at once applied it to his
case.

He had observed that the men had
changed their uniforms for zhe new
clothes that he knew to ha ve been in
the train.

He also recognized the faces he had
seen at the massacre camp, and. again
upon the trail severa- times

So he replied:

“Yes, sah, I seen a man on de trail,
but he look more like a white beai dan a
human.”

“ Ah! When did you see him? "

“ I seen him several times, sah."

“ What was he doing? ”

“He say he hev some big game ter
shoot.”

“ Well? ”

" He come on ahead of me—”

“ He was mounted then?”

“Yes, sah, he have fine horse.’

“And you saw him several times? ”

“ Yes; sah.”

f‘ What else did he tell you?”

“He say he done kilt some game.”

“Did he tell you who?”

“ No, sah.”

“ Nigger? "

“ Yes, sah."

“I believe you are lying?”

“ Lordy, massa! I b’lOng to de church
—I can’t tell a lie! ” exelaimed Don in a
tone of horror.

“I am sure that you did see this Man
Grizzly, and I know that he must have
told you something about us, and his
motive for firing upon. our camp.

 

" In fact, I am very sure, play your
part well though you do, that you have
come into our camp as the Man Grizzly’s
spy."

“ Lordy, masse!
1 is! ”

“ I don’t doubt your story about being
lost, and following on after us; but I
do know that you have met the Man
Grizzly from your own confession, and a
captive we have has not even spoken of
you. I

“‘You.have got far more sense than you
pretend, for 1 never seen a finer face of
intelligence in a negro.

“You have met the Man Grizzly, and
you are allied with him against us, and,
though he has done the killing, you are
the spy, so 1 shall make you a prisoner
and keep you close, so you can tell me
what I am determined to know.

“Come, men, a guard must be set at
once, or the Man Grizzly will be again
sending a death shot into our camp,”
and four men at once scattered to posts
of duty, while the sergeant saw to it
that Don was securer bound.

CHAPTER LXI.
BUFFALO BILL HAJS HIS WAY.

The morning dawned in the camp una‘
der the bluff to find Don a prisoner,
bound hand and foot.

He had met his fate calmly, wondering
what the morrow would bring to him.

He felt more his captivity on account
of being unable to aid Myrtle’s escape,
yet trusted that he would be taken to
her.

Then, too, he regretted the ending of
his revenge through his capture.

Having started to play the part he had
he made up his mind to stick to it.

The guards at dawn came in, even
from the bluff, and the men all took a
good look at the negro.

They were certainly impressed with
his splendid physique, his manly, intelli-
gent face, and look of utter fearlessness.

The sergeant seemed in no hurry to
move. ,

Breakfast was gotten, and then the
men went apart from the negro and had
a long talk together. .

It was expected that the Man Grizzly
would appear the next night.

He would come to claim another victim
surely, and perhaps attempt the rescue
of his ally, the negro.

So they decided, for they were surely
convinced that the negro had told the
truth, as far as 'the Man Grizzly being
the avenger, though they felt equally
certain that he was his ally.

The sergeant had decided, therefore, to
spend another night in the camp where
they were, and lay another trap for the
capture of the Man Grizzly.

It would also give the captain a chance
to reach his destination, and by staying
where they were, give the man they be-
lieved to be still on their 'track the idea
that the whole train was encamped there.

The sergeant had a talk alone with
the negro captive, but he could learn
nothing from him any more than he had
already told him.

At dinner time the men had worked
themselves into an ugly mood against
the negro.

They wanted him off their hands, to be
put out of the way.

With this feeling, they told the ser—
geant what lthey wished, and what was
no more or less than that the negro
should be hanged.

Sergeant Camp at first urged against
it, but they reasoned that he would go
into camp and let their fair young captive
know the truth, for they had begun to
believe that the negro really knew all,
having been told by the Man Grizzly.

Against such argument the sergeant
had little to say. and 'at last he yielded
to the demand that‘the negro should be
hanged.

This decided upon, the men eagerly
set to work to prepare for the execution
of the negro. _

Sergeant Camp went to him, and,

l’se a ’onest nigger,

 

 

 

 

 

 

w\y~. ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

_ Buffalo» Bill’s Invincibles. 2

A
Q

 

 

shirking the responsibility, he told the
prisoner that the men demanded his life.

Don did not flinch. He merely said:

“Dere’s but one time to die, boss, and
We has all got to go dat way.

“I guesses I kin die, as many another
man has done.

“ I hain’t over scary.”

“You are a plucky one.

“ But the men are going to hang you,
and You see they are now making a gal—
lows out of wagon poles, so you'll haVe
just about half an hour to live.”

“ All right, boss, I’m ready, if I has got
to go,” was the vplucky response.

The sergeant walked away, looked at
the impromptu gallows, gave advice
about strengthening it with guy ropes,
and then called to two of the men to
bring the negro.

Don arose, and, his feet being set free,
he walked boldly between the men.

His hat was taken of, also his coat,
his arms were pinioned behind his back.

Then his cavalry boots were drawn off,
and he stood beneath the gallows, with
the noose of a lariat about his neck.

The crossbeam and Ithe lariat had been
greased, to have it run'easily, and then
came the sergeant, who said:

“ Have you said your prayers, nigger? ”

“ That is none of your affair.

“Do your murderous work, and do it
quickly, for I’ll never beg for mercy~—I’d

' as soon ask a coyote.”

The deep voice of the negro, his man—
ner of speaking, now fairly startled the
men, and one called out:

“I do believe he is the Man Grizzly
himself, pards.”

This seemed to impress others, and,
seeing it, even in that awful moment, the
negro laughed.

“String him up, men!” shouted the
sergeant.

But they were the last words he ever
uttered, for suddenly a report rang out,
and a bullet crashed through his brain.

The men were astounded, and turned
in terror as their leader fell dead.

They beheld a startling, thrilling
picture.

There on the bluff, mounted upon his
black horse, sat Buffalo Bill, gazing at
the wOuld-be murderers of the Black
Avenger.

Only an instant did horse and rider
appear motionless, like an apparition
upon the heights; then all saw him ride
down the perilous slope and dash into
their midst.

The negro saw and recognized the
splendid horseman whom he had seen
that night in the camp of the train in
Shelter Valley.

The men knew who it was, but not a
hand was raised against him.

“Men, I need not introduce myself.
rmore than to say that I shall kill the one
who attempts to hang that man, as I
killed your leader.

” This is no time for words, but ac-
tions, and. I have followed you to say that
Captain Warburton is going directly into
a large trap set by Indians for him, while
several hundred soldiers are on his trail,
coming to rescue him.

“Go ahead with all speed from here
and overtake him, and the rest of the
outfit, and turn him back before it is too
late, while I return at once and hasten
Captain Lennox and his men on to save
him, should the redskins pursue.

“ Mount your horses 'and be off, for I
will-see to this negro and the body of
your sergeant.”

Buffalo Bill spoke rapidly, without a.
pallllse, and sternly and commandingly, as
we .

The men were dazed by his coming. not
a. thought of resisting him was in their
minds, and they were but too glad to get
away. v

They had but one desire—to take ad—
vantage of Buffalo Bill’s words to go on
and join Captain Warburton and warn
him, not of danger from the Indians, but
from the soldiers that were on their
trail.

WQuickly they mounted, and quickly
"they, were off, leaving Buffalo Bill stand-
b the "Blagbm'en r r  -' . ‘

  
 

     
 
  

   

_ sir.

 

CHAPTER LXII.
THE MAN GRIZZLY.

“Well, pard, who are you? ” and Buf-
falo Bill turned to Don, cut his bonds,
took the rope from about his neck, and
gazed upon him with real admiration, for
he had heard his last words and seen his
brave bearing in the face of death.

“My name is Don, sir. I belonged to
the train of Mr. Donald Ellis, being the
last survivor, save one, Missy Myrtle,
that those fellows have a prisoner, for all
the rest were murdered in the camp in
Shelter Valley.”

“ Can this be true?” asked Buffalo Bill
with utter amazement.

“Yes, sir, though the butchers-there
wore uniforms, sir, and the captain and
the rest of the outfit have gone on ahead,
and Missy Myrtle is a prisoner with
them. All the family but her were killed.”

“ And you escaped the massacre?”

“Yes, sir, I was not in the camp, but
got to the ridge in [time to see the horri-
ble butchery.

“And I saw you, sir, go to the camp
and ride away. I took their trail, for
they ran off as soon as you left. I have
followed them and been avenging my
people all along the way.” -

” My poor fellow, you are a noble and
brave man, and I am with you heart and
hand in this sacred duty you have en-
tered upon.

“ It is hard to believe those villains are
United States soldiers, but ‘ they have
turned outlaws, so I know why they tied.

“ I was sent, and a large force is be—
hind me, to rescue them, and I have sus—
pected all along that they were flying
from aid.

‘f Now I know it.

“I shot that sergeant because he held
a revolver in his hand, as he stood up in
the wagon, and I believed he intended to
use it, even though they were dragging
you into the air.

“ I played the game I did, feeling my
weakness, and hoping to frighten Uhem
off, for I was sure they did not wish to
be taken, or care to have their captain

caught, and thus would be glad to get.

away to warn him.

“But, do you take my horse and go to
your camp, for I have been there, and
bring your animals and my traps left
there.

“I will remain in this camp, and I do
not believe it will be long before the ad-
vance guard will be along. Then we can
push on after those fellows, who, with
those you have killed, and the sergeant
here, do not number as many as we will.”

“ hey are just sixteen, all told, sir,
now.”

“And 'with Lieutenant Lee are two
scouts, a sergeant, corporal, and fourteen
men, so, including you and I, we will
have twenty—one, all told, but one man
must be sent back to hurry on the other
command, for we may need them on ac-
count of the Indians.

“As it is, I will ride back over the
trail while you go to your camp, to meet
the lieutenant and start back the best-
mounted man for Captain Lennox.”

A few minutes after, mounted upon one
of the horses the men had left, Don
started to his camp, while Buffalo Bill,
leaping into his saddle, rode rapidly back
over the trail to meet the lieutenant.

He had ridden several miles when he
suddenly drew rein, for he heard firing
ahead of him. ,

“ Ah! the lieutenant has run upon some
of those dismounted redskins retreating
to their village,” he cried, and on he
dashed at full speed.

The nature of the ground was such that
he approached unseen or unheard, to
dash upon a man at bay, crouching down
in a ravine, and fighting off a dozen red-
skins who had him surrounded.

With a yell Buffalo Bill leveled his re-
peating rifle and rapidly the shots
streamed out, and one, two, three Indians

fell, while the others, believing] the cav-

alry upoxtu1 them, fled in dismay.
“fiYou‘ ave saved me a second time,

h

  
     

    
 

    
   

.hgsker  1131118011t .01
'1)". a ’  in

I J

 
  

 

the ravine,

and it was the Man Grizzly that stood be--
fore the scout.

“I am glad to have been of service to
you, sir,” and Buffalo Bill gazed fixedly
into the face of the man, and was struck
by its striking look of intelligence and
courage, though it was haunted by an ex-
pression of sadness iha‘ was marked.

“ Are you trailing rthese Indians, sir? ”
he asked the scout.

“ No, I am trailing a wagon train, and'.
these redskins are seine of a force that
met the troopers from Fort Fenton sev-
eral days ago, and were oadly whipped.”

“ I am also trailing that wagon train,
but I have been on foot since my horse
was killed, as you know._and have had
only game to live upon, for I have run
out of provisions, and necessarily 
progress was slow.”

“ Do you belong to that train? ”

“ Oh, no; in fact, the whole party were-
murdered, and it is with the murderers
in charge of the train that I have to
deal, for several months ago I was com-
ing into this country with a party of
friends, nine of us, all told, and soldiers,
whom we looked to for aid, shot them
down and robbed us.

“ I alone escaped, being off on a hunt.

“ I at once determined to seek revenge,
to shoot as many, of that band as they
had killed comrades of mine.

“I had my horse, weapons, and we
had cached some provisions, blankets,
and bearskins.

“I went there and fitted myself out,
wearing this robe and head dress, more
to appear likea wild man than anything
e S8.

“Then I was taken ill, and for weeks-
was confined to my camp..

“At last I set out on ‘my trail of re—
venge, and these notches on the butt of
my rifle show that I have killed four of
that band. ,

“When you aided me so well, at the
risk of your life, I supposed you would
dash away in flight, and so I ran for the
canyon.

“As you did not go at once, I climbed
to the cliff to try and aid you.”

“ When I saw you in the Shelter Valley
camp, why did you run? ”

“I believed that you were my uni-
formed foes, for I did not hear what you
said to me; but, later, I felt that I was
wrong and that I had again met you, but.
then I was far away.

“Then I started upon the trail of the. V

wagon train, for I knew that some band
had murdered the poor gold hunters, as.
they had my party. I am now tracking
them to their retreat, which is here in
these mountains.”

“Indeed? Well, we will go together,
for I am on the same trail. I just left
another avenger on their track, a negro,
one of the wagon-train party. The mur-
derers have a young girl captive he tells
me.

“And more: the advance guard of 3?

large force of soldiers is not far from
here. I was just going to meet them, so
we will stick to the trail of these mur~
derers until we wipe them out—ah! there
they come now!”

As Buffalo Bill spoke Scouts Maddern.
and Belt came in sight.

 

CHAPTER LXIII.
THE CAPTAIN'S DOUBLE.

When the two scouts came up, Buffalo
Bill quickly informed them of what had
happened, and Belt was at once dis-
patched back to Lieutenant Lee, to ask
him to send his best-mounted man to
Captain Lennox with all speed, he in
turn to send a courier to Captain Mer-
ton, in the ford camp, and again a man
was to be dispatched to Shelter Valley.
and thence to the Rocky. Pass force, that

all might push forward toward the Red " 

Range.

.Away dashed Belt, and, leaving the soi~
dlers to bury the dead Indians when they
came up, Buflfalo Bill, Maddern, and the
Man Grizzly, who gave his name as Mar-
gln ffSanford, rode on to the camp at the

u . - ' ‘

,1,.

v Don had already arrived there, and he’

    
 

r

. I.
. .-
...

 

     

 
   

30

Buffalo Bill’s InVincibles.

 

 

 

gazed at the Man Grizzly with wonder,
but at once set to work getting supper.

He had ample supplies, and he cooked
for all, as the soldiers must soon be up,
and Buffalo Bill was anxious to push
ahead even in the night, for the new
moon would last them up to twelve
o’clock, and the figitives would not ex-
pect pursuit until the'next day.

“ We can catch them to—night, sir,” de-
clared Don.

“ If we don’t lose their trail, for they
may branch off to their retreat, which
our friend says is in the Red Range,
though he does not know where."

“We can track them wherever they go,
sir. right through the night, for Terror
there will take their scent and never
leave it.”

Buffalo Bill gave a shout to express his
joy at this news, and said:

“ We will surely catch them now! Ah.
here comes Lieutenant Lee.”

That officer came up at a gallop, fol—
lowed by his men. He was soon told the
whole story by Buffalo Bill, and met the
two avengers.

“ We will rest here half an hour, Cody,
and then push on. Belt will reach Cap-
tain Lennox by midnight, for, as he was
light weight, I sent him the whole run.
. “ With a fresh horse, he can make the

ford and Shelter Valley camp before
dawn, and a courier can go on from there
for the last reserve, «for he told me that
you feared we would have a thousand
warriors upon us before we got out of
this country.”

“ I do fear it, sir, for those braves who
had the Man Grizzly corralled will reach
their village by daybreak. They are sure
that the force of troopers who defeated
them at Rocky Pass have followed them,
and they will seek revenge; so our plan
is to capture that deserter band and start
on our retreat with all speed.”

“You are right. But it distresses me
'greatly to feel that Warburton has be-
come what he has, and Camp, too, and
the men.” ,

“ It is, indeed, a cruel blow to the army,

sir, but we will move whenever you say _

the w0rd, for our four-footed trailer
there, Terror, will find those fellows for
us, never fear.” '

Half an hour after the little command
was in the saddle, the sergeant, corporal,
and fourteen men following their officer,
who rode behind Maddern and the Man
Grizzly, while Buffalo Bill and Don led,
the latter'holding Terror by a lariat,
after he had put him upon the trail of the
fugitives. .

Two hours passed, and still the dog
went on with unerring instinct.

Midnight came, and a rest of half an
hour was taken: then Terror once more
took up the scent.

The timber was dark, the mountain
passes were black in gloom, but, silently.
the dog trailer went on, tugging at the
lariat. He seemed never to tire, and the
horses were not spared.

Buffalo Bill was sure that they were
traveling tWo miles to the fugitives‘ one.

He felt. too, that those he had sent on
Would continue their flight until they
overtook their captain, who would neces-
sarily travel very slow, heavily freighted
as were the ambulances and pack ani-
mals, and delayed here and there by the
rough trails.

Several times they had come to places
where only manual help could have got-
ten the ambulances and heavily laden
horses down. Even the pursuers them-
selves had to dismount at such places.

Through the night the pursuit was
kept up. Buffalo Bill knew that they
had branched aWay from the base of the
Red Range, and were pushing into the
mountain.

Just before dawn they espied a light
ahead. It was upon a ‘hill, on one Side of
which dashed a mountain torrent; the
other was a valley. -

Buffalo Bill, Don, and Martin Sanford
went ahead on foot to reeonnoitre.

In half an hour they returned.

“ It is a stockade fort, sir, but we can
scalathe walls and thus enter. It is an

’ flavu.‘  ,.

 
  

 

acre in size, and once within we can hold
it, for we are twenty—one, and they can-
not do m-ore than double us in numbers."

“You know best, Cody, and delay is
dangerous, as the Indians will be upon
us," answered Lieutenant Lee.

On foot, then, the little band crept
forward; the stockade wall was reached,
and upon the shoulders of men grouped
together Buffalo 'Bill climbed up, went
over, and made a lariat fast.

Up this the others followed, and in the
gray dawn they all stood in the enclos-
ure.

’l‘he fugitives had evidently all arrived
but a few hours before, and were sound
asleep.

T‘he ambulances were there, and the
men had thrown themselves dowu to rest.

“You demand the surrender, Cody, as
soon as we can see a little better." or-
dered the lieutenant.

The men were soon placed, and in
thunder tones Buffalo Bill shouted:

“Captain Warburton, we hold you“
fort, and I call upon you and your men
to surrender, in the name of the United
States Army. or no mercy will be shown
you! ”

Consternation ruled supreme at once;
but, then came a cheer from a cabin near.
then Shouts, orders, and the rapid rattle
of revolvers at close quarters.

It was a complete surprise; and more
—a complete victory!

Half a dozen soldiers fell,
more were wounded.

Lieutenant Lee had two slight wounds,
Don had a sabre cut from the leader,
whom he killed, and there came cries for
quarter from the few renegades who were
left.

The daylight revealed a strange sight
in that little fort, for, suddenly, out of
a large cabin opened by Buffalo Bill
came a. tall, handsome man, followed by
a score of others, who cheered wildly.

Springing toward the one in advance,
Lieutenant Lee cried:

“Why, you are Wallace Warburton, or
his double.”

“No, Lee, there is my double, lying
dead—my own brother. I am, in truth,
the real Wallace Warburton.

“My brother always hated me. He
went to the bad, and came out here to
ruin me, while he led the life of an out-
law.

“ He entrapped me and my men, for we
suspected no treachery from White men,
and, taking our uniforms, they have
masqueraded in them, while they held
us close prisoners here in this fast—
ness.

as many

“'bt he returned, and boldly
told me that he had murdered our uncle,
Donald Ellis, and his Whole outfit, save
his little daughter, who is a captive here
—there she is now talking to that large
negro—Athe man I saw kill my brother.
But. who is that splendid-looking man
there, and whom I saw from our prison
fighting like a very devil? "

“It is Buffalo Bill, to whom we owe
our success,” was the answer.

“ He is the man who solved their secret
for us, of outlaws being in the United
States uniform.

“Come, I want you to meet him, for
no nobler, truer man ever lived,” and
the two officers now approached Buffalo
Bill, who was talking With Myrtle, who
had gone to seek him with Don.

And in Captain Wallace Warbih'ton
Myrtle found an uncle to love, and smiles
shone through her tears, as she said:

“ I‘velgot you left, and Don.”

 

CHAPTER LXIV.
(‘4)N:‘l1'E<ION.

The whole story was told, how Walter
Warlburton had impersonated his broth-
er Wallace, and an outlaw had done the
same with Sergeant Camp, to give the
idea that an officer and his men had de-
serted and had become a band of outlaws.

The outlaw captain had murdered the
party of Martin Sanford, as has been
told, and he knew that his uncle, Donald

Ellis, had found gold in that country,

. . ’ r. g
\ we a \ ‘ “a

 

 
  

and was proceeding there to work his
mine, bringing his family and servants
with him, so he had determined to wipe
out the party, and thus gaining the map
of how to reach the mine, get all for
himself.

As Maddern had seen a party of In-
dians skulking about, and they had been
on friendly terms with the outlaws, it
was determined to corral the cattle and
horses in the fort, and not attempt to
leave with so small a force, while Buffalo
Bill and Don were to start to meet Cap-
tain Lennox and pilot the command on.

This was done, the scout and Don
starting on two fine horses found in the
fort, while Captain Warburton, refusing
to take the command his rank would give
him, put his men under Lieutenant Lee,
thus increasing the strength to man the
fort in ovcr il‘iirty fighters.

The next morning, when Buffalo Bill
and Don came up with Captain Lennox
and his men, they found the fort be-
sieged by several hundred Indians, and
more coming.

But, more soldiers were also coming.
Captain Merton and his men arrived at
noon, while by night the force from Shel-
ter Valley put in an appearance, and,re-
ported that the last reserve from Rocky
Pass would arrive by the next morning.

The Indians had gathered fifteen hun—
dred strong, and were still increasing, so
Captain Lennox at once determined to
give battle, opening with his artillery,
pressing forward with his mounted in-
fantry, and charging with his cavalry.

The Indians fought stubbornly, but
were beaten back at every point, and
when their scouts reported more soldiers
hastening forward, the reserve from
Rocky Pass, the redskins broke and fled,

,_feel‘o'.1g sure that an attack was to be

made upon Uheir village, fifty milesaway.

The retreat was at once begun by Cap-
tain Lennox, carrying his dead and
wounded and the hundreds of horses
and cattle and other live stock found in
the outlaw fort.

The march was a slow one, but when
the wagons were reached, they aided
greatlyin carrying the booty, and there
the dead were buried.

After a march of four days, passing
Shelter Valley camp purposely at night,
on account of Myrtle, the victorious com-
mand reached Fort Fenton.

There Buffalo Bill was as much lauded
as a hero, as Myrtle was as a heroine.
She at once became the Fair Maid of
the Fort, and was given a home in Co]—
onel Waring’s quarters, where the col-
onel’s beautiful daughter adopted her.

Later on Myrtle gained possession of
her father’s gold mine, for Don knew
just where it was, he having been the
companion of Mr. Ellis in his gold hunt.
The younggirl thus “struck it rich,”
and When she reached the age of eighteen
was very glad to turn the management
of her affairs and care of herself over
to Captain Basil Lee, as the dashing
young officer had become.

With the telling that Buffalo Bill still
lives, a. man of wealth, world renowned,
honored by all, and still the same noble
fellow he was in the days when he wore
the buckskin, my long pen trail comes to
and end.

THE END.

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

BY \VM. R. EYS’I‘ER.

190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tiger: oi High Pim.

210 Faro Frank: or, l1de “Mke’l Go-Down Purl.

813 The Hustler Noguo-(‘nivhen

838 Poker l’cte‘n lloublc Dodge,

851 The Tie-To Sport : or, High Muscling at Sinnen’ PM.
ass Monte linnl, the Sport.
901 Diamond I)» yr, the (alt-Edge Shooter,

91‘) Crack-Shot Dam-m Drop,

931 The Rpm-t 1" Velvet; or,,Bi¢ Burk’s Blun. ,

"45 "my “Ird'l Bonanza: 0?, The Rook-RM?!“ Root-Out.
1'62 Flip-Finn Fred at Hard Pin

969 The Girl Smyrnfihadower; or, (‘Inrk’s Clone Shave.
988 llunty "I" y’- Bonanza : or, The, Bear-Turner‘s Disguise,
1002 SIX-Foot. Sol, file Sharp-Shooter.

A New Issue Every Tuesday.

The Half-Dime Library In for ma by all Newsdulm, an
In“ per copy, or not by mail on receipt of six cents sub.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers,
92 William Street, New York.

 

 

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‘l
l
i
g

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘BEADLE’SleMEiiLlBRARY.

Published Every iVednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.
928 Old Sobersides, the Detective of St. Louis. _
925 \Vhite-Horse Wheeler, the Revenue Detective.
918 The Double Edgel Detective. V
907 Maverick Mark. the Man from Nowhere.
898 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport.
881 Tue S otter—Sport s NtCii-TIP Party.
870 High— Vater Mark; or. Silver-.Tip Sid.
862 Riata Rob. the Range Ciiam 1011.
855 The C -whov Chief‘s Sure-S 0t.
848 The Rival Red-Hat Sports.
837 Curly Kid. the Cheyenne Sport.
824 The Soft Hand Detective.
815 The Soft Hand‘s Clutch.
809 Dan Dunn. the Soft-Hand Sport.
796 The Frisco Detective’s Thug-Tangle.
789 Sam Cary. the River Sport.
780 The Dead Sport’s Double.
771 Prince John, Detective S ecial.
763 Dandy Don, the Denver etective.
754 '1 he Man from Texas; or. Dangerfield, the
Doctor Detective.
744 SWeepstakes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The Secret Six; or, OLd Halcyon.
712 The Man of Silk.
705 Bantam Bob. the Beauty from Butte.
693 Kent Kasson, the Pniacher Sport.
683 Bob iii-eels, the Rounder Detective.
675 Steel Sorry, the Sport from Sunrise.
668 Solemn Saul’s Luck Strt ak
661 The Get-There Sharp. I '
651 Silvertip Stwe, the Sky Scraperfrom Siskiyou.
645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.
636 Dandy Darling, Detective. .
627 Mossback Mose, the Mountaineer.
617 The Gri Sack Sharp‘s Even up.
597 Big Ban y, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
588 Sandy Sands, the Sharp from Snap City.
576 Silver-Tongued Sid; or. Grip Sack Sharp’s Sweep.
564 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, The Seraphs of Sodom.
555 Grip-Sack Sid. the Sample Sport. . '
54!? The Buried Detective; or. Saul’s Six Sensations.
541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve. '
535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift
527 Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective.
514 Gabe Gunn. the Grizzlyifrom Ginseng,
504 Solemn Saul. the Sad an from San Saba,
495 Rattlepate Rob; or. The Roundhead‘s Reprisal
488 The Thornu libred Sport.
474 Dadd Dea -Eye, the Desnot 01’ Dew Drop.
466 Old ough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg.
443 A Cool Hand: or, Pistol Johnny's Picnic.
438 Oklahoma N ick. ‘
433 Laughing Leo; or. Sam‘s Dandy Pard.
426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Blacx Sheep of Bismarck.
409 Rob Roy Ranch: or, The Imps of Pan Handle.
403 The Nameless Sport.
395 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers.
387 Dark Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills.
372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.
367 A Royal Flush: or, Dan Brown’s Big Game.
360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
355 Stormv Steve. the Mad Athlete.
351 Nor‘ West Nick. the Border Detective.
345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
339 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
331 Chispa Charley. the Gold Nugget Snort.
317 Frank Liglitfoot. the Miner Detective.
292 Moke Homer. the Boss Roustabout.
286 Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.
g; IS)|eeéthSaT.in. tug Dgivi'l of the Ming?
65 mp i n -: or. A an’Wa Ba k
249 Elephant Toms)! Dgiilranzo. y c
241 Spit-fire Saul. King of the Bustiers,
233 The Old Boy of Tombstone.
201 Pirate of the Placers: or. J0 uin's Death Hunt
180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of A zona.
170 Sweet William. the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible '
154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.
141 Equinox Tom. the Biil'y of Red Rock.
119 Alabama J oe: or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
105 Dan Brown of Denwi‘: or. The Detective.
88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey; or, Honesty vs, Crookedness.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport.

BY \VM. G. PATTEN.
610 Fire~E e. the Thug’s Terror.
795 Old Niglit‘flawk, the Crook Sliadower.
768 The Prm 'e of New York Crooks.
756 Old Burke. the Madison Square Detective.
747 Doublevoice Dan's Double Disguise.
$55 Bough-3&0), IDan on Deck.

2 oub e- oice hill, the Alwavs-on-De 1,: iv
696 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-it Alone 1339:3652? e
689 The Sparkler Sharp.

676 Hurricane Hal. the Cowboy Hotspur.

669 Old True Blue, the Trusty.

663 The Giant Sport; or, Sold to Satan.

656 Old Plug Ugly. the Rough and Ready.
648 Gold Glove Gid the Man of Grit.

$1 Aztec Jack,lthe esert Nomad. .
60% Colonel Cool, the Santa Fe Sharp.

’7 Ca )tain Nameless. the Mountain Mystery.
0 1 01¢ Dismal. the Range Detective.

54o Hustler Harry. the Cowboy Sport.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

910 The Arizona Detective
894 Silver Sam. the Shasta Sport.
880 The SllVF‘l‘ Snoi‘t’s Double.
868 The Race—Course ])4-1,ecfive.
856 The Hayseed Detective.
772 Ca tain Corden, the Twister Detective.
755 W1 (1 Pete the BronchO‘Buster Detective.
726 Fearless Sam. lhe Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob, the Sport Detective.
572 Jauntv Joe, the Jockey Detective.
554 Mad Sharp, the Rustler
588 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective.
526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective.

he Drummer Detective.
432 The Giant Horseman. . .
“898 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective.

I

w " \- .w ‘ 7;  ‘:

 

BY \VILLIAM R. EYSTER.

916 Two Dead-Square Sports.
902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock.
891 Genteel Jim. Sport—at—Large.
881 The Clubman-Crook’s Cat's-paw.
867 The Frisco Sport. -
852 The Stranger S ort‘s Shake~up.
828 Kirk King. the an from Kirby.
818 Gentleman Dave, the Dead Game Sport
783 The King-Pin Tramp. 
767 The Sport of Silver Bend.
718 Uncle Bedrock’s Big Bounce.
707 The Rival Rovers.
687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a Charm.
677 Mr. Jackson, the Gent from Jaybird.
659 Gilt—Edge Johnny; or. Roldan and His Rovers,
650 Lucky Lester’s Lone Hand. '
634 Old Handcart‘s 111g Dump.
622 The All Around Sports.
603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar.
590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug.
578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile.
568 The Dude Detective.
558 Hurrah Harry. the High Horse from Halcyon.
549 Belshazzar Brick, the Bailli‘t of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon, the Sport \\ itliaScar.
503 The Dude from Denver.
478 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.
459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.
429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend.
402 Snapshot Sam; or. The Angels’ Flat Racket.
396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal Geor e, the Three in One.
356 Three. Han some S )orts; or, The Combination.
333 Derringer Dick, the an with the Drop.

Magic Mike, ‘he Man of Frills. -
229 Captain Cutswevc: or. The Little Sport.
214 The Two Cool Sports: or, Gertie of the Gulch.
182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. ’
160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or. The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY NED BUNTLINE.

657 Long Tom. the Privateer.

633 The Sea S y.

621 The, Red rivateer; or, The. Midshipman Rover.

584 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.

517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail.

361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot.

122 Saul Sabberday. the Idiot Spy.

111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime.
18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet.

BY JACKSON KNOX—“Old Hawk.”

838 Old Grips Still Hunt.

827 Detective Walden‘s Web.

778 The Butler Detective' or. Old Grip's Grip

770 The Showman Date I ve.

762 Old Grip. the De'ective.

740 Capt '«in Clew, the Fighting Detective.

732 The Hurricane Detective.

643 Casilemaine, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective.

582 Joram. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcon‘s Double.

561 The Thug King; or, The Falcon Detective‘s Foe.
518 Falconbridgc. the Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon‘s Foe: or, The Detective‘s Swell Job.
515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective.
509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective.

501 S riiigsteel Steve, the Retired Detective.

494 The Detective‘s S y. ‘

485 Rowlock. the Ear r Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

467 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

462 The Circus Detective.

451 Griplock. the Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand.

424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy.

3S6'Hawk Heron. the Falcon Detective.

BY J. C. CO‘VDRICK.

752 The Sus ect S ort- of Daisy Drift.

626 Ducats ion, t e Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood. the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominie Detective.

591 Duke Daniels. the Seeiety Detective.

580 Shadowing a Shadow.

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards; or. Riddles’ Riddle.
519 Old Riddles. the Rocky Ranger

499 Twilight Charlie. the Road Sport.

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
4522 Rainbow Rob. the Tulip from Texas,

436 Kentucky Joan. the S iort from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the 101d Star Detective,

390 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.

BY ED‘VARD ‘YILLETT.

483 Flush Fred. the River Sharp.

368 The Canyon King: or. a Price on his Head.

348 Dan Dillon. King of CI‘OSSCUL.

337 Old Gabe. the Mountain Tramp.

327 Terrapin Dick, the Wild wood Detective.

315 Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League
308 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.

298 L"- ger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.

289 Flush'Fred‘s Full Hand.

274 Flush Fred. the Mississippi Sport.

248 Montana Nut, the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
222 Bill the Blizzard: or. Red Jack’s Crime.

209 Rick Farley. the Bonanza Prince.

129 Mississippi Mose: or, a Strong Man‘s Sacrifice.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

W The White Squaw.

234 The Hunter’s Feast.

21% The Wild Huntress; or. The Squatter.

200 The Rifle Rangers; 0r. Adventures in Mexico.
74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake Queen.
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific.

55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
\
‘ \

i-'

 

BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM.

911 The Blue Blockader; or, The Coast Grayhound.

906 The Cuban Cruiser.

854 Tue Ocean Gipsy.

834 The Wild Steer Riders; or, Texas Jack’s Terrors.

819 The Rival Monte Cristos.

805 The Last of the Pirates; or, Doom Driven.

801 The Water Wolves’ Detective; or, Trapping the
Grave Ghouls.

791 The Coast-Raider‘s Death-Chase.

748 Arizona Charlie. the Crack-shot Detective.

704 Invisible lvan. the Wizard Detective.

685 The Red-skin Sea Rover.

679 Revello. the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rovers

672 The Red Rapier: or, The Sea Rover’s Bride.

662 The Jew Drtective: or, The Beautiful Convict.

640 The Rovi r’s Rtt ibution.

 The Biz-Buccaneer; or. The Stigma of Sin.

625 Red Wings; or. The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.

615 The Three i uccaneers.

610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep.

605 The Shadow Silver Ship.

600 The Silver Ship; or. The Sea Scouts of ‘76.

593 The Sea Rebel: or. Red Rovers of the Revolution.

597 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ’76.

581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner.

560 The Man from Mexico.

553 Mad: Monte. the Mutineer; or. The. Branded Brig.

516 T14 Doomed Whaler: or, The Life Wreck. ’

530 The Savages of the Sea.

524 The Sea Chaser; or, The Pirate Noble.

510 El Moro. the Corsair Commodore.

493 The Scouts of the Sea.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.

430 The Fatal Frigate; or. Rivals in Love and War.

399 The New Monte Cristo.

393 The Convict Captian.

377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.

369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the Sea.

364 The Sea Fugitive: or, The Queen of the Coast.

341 The Sea Desperado.

336 The Magic Snip' or. Sandy Hook Freebooters.

335 The Gentleman Pirate; or. The Casco Hermite.

318 The Indian Buccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.

307 The Phantom Pirate; or. The Water Wolves.

255 The Pirate Priest; or. Th'e Gain bler’s Dau liter.

246 ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overlan .

235 Lightning the Man of Chance.

224 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.

220 The Specter Yacht; or. A Brother's Crime.

210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness ot the Sea.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.

198 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skimmer.

184 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.

104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

103 Merle, the Mutiiieer; or. The Red Anchor Brand.

BY PHILIP S. ‘YARNE.

803 Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land.
583 Captain Adair, the Cattle King.
567 Captain Midnight. the Man of Craft.
544 The Back to Back Pards.
522 The Chain ion Three.
502 Bareback tuck, the Centaur of the Plains.
472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “Tie To."
431 California Kit, the Always on Hand.
401 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy " Bluff.
380 Tiger Dick‘s Pied e; or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack. the estizo.
338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town.
299 Three of a Kind; or, Dick. Despard and the Sport.
251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Des ard. _ p
207 Old Hard Head: or. W irlwind and his Mare.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of'the Iron Heart.
114 The Gentleman from Pike.
80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf.
51 Always on Hand; or. The Foot-Hills Sport.
29 Tiger Dick. Faro King; or. The Cashier's Crime.
4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai.

BY CAPTAIN MARK ‘VlLTON.

323 Hotspur Hugh; or. The Banded Brothers.
311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men.

305 Silver—Plated Sol, the Montana Rover.

291 Horseshoe Hank. the Man of Big Luck.

285 Lightning Bolt. the Canyon Terror.

276 Texa : Chick. the Southwest Detective.

271 Stonefist. of Big Nugget Bend.

266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves.
263 iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer
238 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo.

237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black'Lea e.
227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida i0.

223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or. Mad Tom‘s Mission
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide.

191 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

BY OLL GOODIES.
619 Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectives.
148 One-Armed Alf. theGiant Hunter. I
99 The Giant Rifleman: or. Wild Camp Life.
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.

BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY.

236 Charo ion Sam: or. The Monarchs of the Sims
150 El Ru io Bravo. King of the SwordSmen.

BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR.
919 The Sea Scout; or. The Patriot Privateer.
886 The King of Crooks.
858 Number One. the Dead-set Detective.
850 The Planter Detective.
730 Duke Despard. the Gambler Duelist.
604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadows).
500 The True-Heart Pards.

a new issue every Wednesday

Beadle’. Dime Library is for sale \by It
Newsdealers. ten cents per copy. or sent by mail On

receipt of twelve cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Panama.
98 WILLIAM ST., Nzw Yoll.

 

 

   

  

BEADLE’SrDlMErflBRARY.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

  
 

 

 

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingrahaln.

956 Buffalo Bill‘s Volunteer Vigilantes.

950 Bufialo Bill at Bay.

943 Buffalo Bill's Block Game.

936 Buffalo Bill s Black Pard.

927 Buffalo Bill’s Bluff; or, Dusky Dick the Snort.

921 Buffalo Bill's Quandary: or. Velvet Bill’s Vow. -

915 Buffalo Billand the SurgeonScout.

909 Buffalo Bill’s League: or, Red Butterfly.

904 Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail.

900 Buffalo Bill’s Rough Riders.

895 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.

890 Buffalo Bill’s Life—Stake.

882 The. Three Bills: Buffalo Bill Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill; or. The. Bravo in Broadcloth.

874 Buffalo Hill’s Buckskin Braves.

869 Buffalo Bill’s Road-Agent Round-up.

863 Buffalo Bill‘s Death Charm.

857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush.

851 Buffalo Bill‘s Double Dilemma.

845 Buffalo Bill‘s Redskin Ruse.

830 Buffalo Bill‘s Bovs in Blue.

826 Buffalo Bill‘s Shar Shooters.

822 Buffalo Bill’s Best OWer.

816 Buffalo Bi‘l‘s Red Trail.

812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death—Knoll.

794 Buffalo Bill’s Winning Hand.

787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot.

781 Buffalo Bill‘s Brand.

777 Buffalo Bill’s Spy Shadower.

769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake.

76") B.fl’alo Bill’s Dozen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.

761 Bullfalo Bill’s Mascot.

757 Buffalo Bill‘s Double.

750 Buflalo Bill‘s Bur. Four-,or, Custer‘s Shadow.

743 Buffalo Bill‘s Flush Hand.

739 Buffalo Bill‘s Blind: or. The Masked Driver.

735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men.

731 Buffalo Bill‘s Beagles: or. Silk Lasso Sam.

727 Buffalo Bill‘s Bodv Guard.

7'22 Buffalo Bill on the War mm.

716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout. Shadowers.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffled: or. The lieserterDesperadO.

697 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood.

691 Huffalo Bill’s lslind Trail; or. Mustang Madge.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop; or. The King of the Mines.

658 The Cowb 1V Clan: or. The Tigress of Texas.

653 Lass.) King's League: or, Buck Taylor in Texas.

649 Buffalo Bill‘s Chief of Cowboys; or. Buck Taylor

6-14 Buflalo Bill’s l'orarza ; or. S) ver (‘ircle Knights.

362 Buffalo Bill‘s Grin: or ()atn Bound to Custer.

329 Buffalo Bill’s Pledge: or. The League of Three.

189 \\ lld 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 llu ll‘ulo Bill.

839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot.

820 White Beaver ’s Still Hum.

807 Wild Bill, the Wild West Duelist.

890 Wild Bill. the Dead Center Shot.

639 Buffalo Bill's Gold King.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or, My Pards of the Plains.

414 Red Renard. the lndian Detective.

401 One-Armed Pam; 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 of’ the West.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier's Sweetheart.
83 Gold Bullet Snort: or. Knights of the Overland.

'59 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

By Leon Lewis, Ned Buntllne, etc.

778 Buffalo Bill’s Ben; 01'. Cody to the Rescue.

682 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Service Trail.

629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin Role; 0r. Daredeath Dick.

517 Buffalo Bill‘s First rail; or. The Express Rider.
153 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts.

117 Buffalo Bill 5 Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy.
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY H \lloLD PAYNE.

883 The Man from Mexico in New York.

872 The King-Pin Shark: or, Thad Burr’s Ten Strike.
861 The Tenderloin Big Four

853 The Quaker City-Crook.

844 Tracked to Chicago.

836 The Policy Broker‘s Blind.

829 The Frisco Sharper’s Cool Hand.

821 The T- amp ShadOWer’s Backer.

813 The Sham Spotter‘s Shrewd Scheme.

806 The Gran-J Street Gold-Dust Sharpers.

798 Detective Burr’s Luna ic Witness

792 The Wall Street Sharper’s Snap.

784 Thad Barr‘s Death Drop.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
731 Detective Burr's Foil; or. A \\ oman’s Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.
713 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase.

706 Detective Burr’s Seven Clues.

698 Thad Burr, the Invincible; or, The “L.” Clue.
690 The Matchless Detective.

680 XX. the Fatal Clew: or, Burr's Master Case.

“Y LIEU'I‘. A. K. SIMS.

914 Snowflake Sam's Double.

397 The Six-Shot Spotter.

887 The Stranger Sport from Spokane.

873 The Sport Detective’s Colorado Clew.
860 The Spangled Sport Shadower.

843 the Crescent City Sport.
832 Gid Gale's Block Game.
804 The King Pin of the Leadville Lions.

786 Chicago Charlie’s Diamond Haul.

776 Chicago Charlie, the Columbian Detective.

758 The Wizarl King Detective.

723 Teamster Tom, the Boomer Detective.

709 Lodestone Lem, the Champion of Chestnut Burr.
695 Singer Sam, the Pil m Detective.

688 River Bustiers; 0r. t e Detective from ’Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest S ort of Santa Fe.
666 Old Adamant, the Man of Roe .

618 Kansas Karl, the Detective King.

552'Prlnoe Pdmmse, the Flawqr of the Flock. '
568 E- ckleberry, the Foot-Hills. Detective.

I‘ At»:

 

,

 

BY CAPTAIN HOWARD IlOLlVlES.

929 Gentleman George, the Showman Sport.
91': Genteel Joe‘s Lone Hand.
903 The Train Detective. ‘-
896 Kent Keen, the Crook-Crusher.
888 Nightshade in New York.
879 Falcon Fl ml), the Flash Detective.
871 The Croo ' Cashier.
859 (flew-Hawk Kcene's Right Bower.
Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective.
Major Bullion. Boss of the Tigers.
831 Shadowing the London Detective.
817 Plush Velvet, the Prince of Spotters.
803 The Bogus Broker‘s Right Bower.
788 The Night-Haw k Detective.
779 Silk Ribbon‘s (firtsh-out.
766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter.
751 The Dark Lantern Detective.
The Never-Fail D:--tective.
72 Captain Hercules, the Strong Arm Detective.
Dan Damon, the Gilt-Edge Detective.
Silvar Stew, the Branded Sport.
Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadower.
Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadower.
' The Dude Desperado
Jason Clew. the Silk-Handed Ferret.
Monk Morel, the Man-Hun er.
S01 S hinx, the Ferret Detective.
612 Red ard and Yellow
608 Silent Sam, the Shadow Sphinx.
592 Ca )tain Sid, the Shasta Ferret.
579 Ol Cormorant. the. Bowery Shadow.
5 i. Captain Cobra, the Hooded Mystery.
551 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.

Silk Hand, the MolJaVe Ferret.

....
«2

840

A
‘1

550
5.13 The Magnate Detective.

532 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective.

5;. Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
51 Captain Velvet‘s Big Stake. ‘
505 Phil Fox, the Genteel Spotter.

496 Richard Rednre. the Two Worlds’ Detective.

487 Sunshine Sam, a Chip of the Old Block.

439 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

4“8 Coldgrip in Deadwood.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective.

453 Captain Coldgrip‘s Long Trail.

447 Votcano. the Frisco Spy.

441 The California Sharp.

434 Lucifer Lynx. the \‘ onder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

407 Captain Coldgrlp’s Nerve; or. In un Nick.

400 Captain Coldgrip; or. The New ork Spotter.
392 The Lost l'onanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or, Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the Sport of TM) Cities.

365 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.

: 52 The Desperate Dom-n.

347 Denver Duke. the Man with “ Sand."

310 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

335 Flash Dan. the Na bob; or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.

294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.

941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco.

IIY \VILLIAM H. MANNING.

948 The Red-Gloved Detective.

931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.

920 The Montana Miner in New York.

908 The Doomsday-Den Detective.

899 The Double-Quick Detective.

893 Yellow Gld. of Dark Divide.

385 The Expert DetectiVe’s Shake-up.

875 Trap ing the Race-Track Judge.

864 The olice Special‘s Dilemma.

84* The Genteel Sharper’s Combine

841 Graydon‘s Double Deal.

833 The Sport DetectiVe’s Grip}:

823 The Athlete SpOrt About own.

808 'i‘heCrook-Dctective‘s Pull.

790 Plunger Pete, the Race Track Detective.

782 ,Roval Rock, the Round—up Detective.

774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.

764 The New York Sharp‘s Shadower.

738 Detnctivc Claxton. the Record Breaker.

714 Gabe Gall, the Gambt-lier from Great Hump,

703 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Suspect

692 Dead Shot Paul, the Deep-Range Ex lorer.

655 Strawberry Sam. the Man with the irthmark.

646 Dark John, the Grim Guard.

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

623 Dan erous Dave, the New r-Beaten Detective.

611 Alka i Abe the Game Cl icken from Texas.

596 Rustler Ruhe; the Round~Up Detective.

585 Dan Dixon‘s Double.

570 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives

563 Wyoming Zeke, the Hotspur of Honeysuckle.

551 Garry Kean the Man with Backbone.

539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective.

531 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor’-West Pilot.

513 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives.

506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker cf Hornets’ Nest.

498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten, the, Northwest Detective.

479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.

479 The Duke of Dakota.

463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator.

455 Yank Yellowhird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills.

449 Bluff Burke. King of the Rockies.

442 Wild West Walt. the Mountain Veteran.

437 Deep Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mill

415 Hot Heart, the Defer-rive Spv.

405 Old Baldy the Brigadier 01’ Buck Basin.

297 Colorado Rube. tht~ Strong Arm of Hotspur.

279 The Gold Dragoon, or, California Bloodhound.
BY LEol‘l LEWIS.

797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Sharp.

785 Phe Down East Detective in Nevada.

773 Buffalo Bill's Ban' or, Cody to the Rescue.

699 The Cowboy Couriers.

686 The On-the-Winxr Detectives.

‘t

N)

 
 

  

  

484 Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer.
481 The Silent Detective: or, The RogusNephew.

  

 

      

456 The Demon Steer.
428>TheFlylng Glim; or, The Island Lure.

>2. ‘w --’ a . .
9%.“ .41.) 3 m: .a‘ up.” .. 1‘ ...

 

 

l
l
i

ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELS.
Dick Talbot Series.

741 Dick Talbot’s Close Call.

737 Dick Talbot in Apache Land.

73:! Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.

729 Dick Talbot’s Clean-Out.

72.") Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp. '

351 Dick Talbot: oi, The Brand of Crimson Cross
36 Dick Talbot; or, The Death-Shot of Shasta.

Alkcn’s Fresh of Frisco Series.

825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.
660 The Fresh in Montana: or, Blake's Full Hand
652 Tee Fresh's Rustic at Painted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; or, The Stranger Sharp-
556 Fresh, the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out.
537 Fresh Against the Field: or, Blake. the Lion.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or The Escobedo Millions.
461 The Fresh 01’ Frisco on the Rio Grande.

97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack

Alkcn’s Joe Phonix Series.

954 Joe Phenix in Chicago.

949 The Doctor from ’l‘rxas: or, Jot-Phenix’s Clue.

944 Joe Phenix’s Right Bilwer.

865 The Female Barber l>< tectiv ; or, Joe Phenix in

Silver City.
799 Joe Phenix’s Great Blue Diamr nd Case; or, The
New York Sport at Lrng Bram-h.

793 Joe Phenix’s Decoy: or The Man of Three.

760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Han .

749 Joe Phenix’s Big Bulge.

745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case.

708 JOe Phenix‘s Siren; or, The Woman Hawksiéaw-

700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks

681 Joe Phenix’s Specials; or, The Actress Detective

6‘17 Joe Phenix in Crazy Camp.

632 Joe Phenix’s Master Search:

628 Joe Phenix‘s Combinr ;< r,the Dandy Conspirator

620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow;or.theDetective’s Monitor

419 Joe Phenix., the King of Detectives.

161 Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe, Phenix, Private Detective; or, The League.
79 Joe Phenix, the Police Spy.

Alken’s Misc ellaneous Novels.

940 Captain Jack, the Scalper
935 The, Hawks and Wolves of New York

. 9:5: Detective Gordon’s Grip.

926 Old Sunflower, the Silent Smiter.

r 923 Old Sunflower. the Hayseed Detective.

901 The Hotel Swell—Sharp; or, The Siren Shadower.
892 The Countryman Detective.
876 Gold Button Sport; or, The Miner Sharps.
812 Teton Tom the Half-Plaid.
8'35 The KingPin Detective.
811 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports.
775 King Dandy, the Silver Sport.
753 Gideon’s Griglat Babylon Jan
717 Captain Pat cGowen, the Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle, Sun Up. the Born Detective.
670 The Li htweight Detective. .
665 The Fr sco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy, the Sport.
607 Old Benzine the “Hard Case " Detective.
594 Fire Face, the Silver King‘s Foe.
586 The Silver Sharp Detective.
577 Tom, of Calif ( min; or, Detective’s Shadow Act,
570 The Actress Detective: or, The Invisible Hand
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
1520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas.
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective. _
440 The High Time of the Pacnflc. _ .
423 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death. I
381 The Gy sy Gentleman: (r. mck Fox. Detective.
376 Black Beards; 01. The Rio (-irande High Horse
‘70 The Dusky Detective: or. Pursued to the End.
363 Crowningshield. the Detective .
320 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
25-2 The Wall Street flood; or. The Telegraph Girl,
203 The Double Detective: or,’l‘he Midnight Mystery.
196 La Marmoset. the Letectlve Queen.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Car: or. The lnnkeener’s Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or, The League of Three.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
72 The Phantom Hand: or. The 5th Avenue Heiress.
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or, Madman of the Plains.
49 The Wolf Demon: or. The Kannwha een.
42 The California Detective: 01‘. The W110 85 01' N-Y-
31 The New York Sharp: or, The Flash of Lightning.
27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New York.

NEW ISSUES.

964 Buffalo Bill's Invinciblcs. By Col. P. Ingraham.
965 Joe Phenix’s Mascot. By Albert W. Aiken.
966 The Sporting Detective. By Jos. E, Badger.

‘, 967 Wind River Clark, the Gold Hermit. By Lewis.
A 968 The Two Flags.

By 001. P. Ingraham.

JUST ISSUED.
959 Joe Phenix’s Double Deal. By Albert W. Aiken.

 

624 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls. »

  

960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. By Col. P. In-
, graham.

961 Ca. taln Cowl, the White Hood Chief. By Jon.
1 E. lBadger. '

, 962 The Demon Dwarf‘s Ally. By A. P. Morris.
5 968 The Sea Recreant. By Col. P. Ingmham.

A new issue every Wednesday.
Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by 9.11
l Newsdealers. ten cents per copy. or sent by mail on

receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS,
Puhlishers. 92 William street, New York.

43 v.1 «I _.

   

 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
     
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
 
   
  
  
     
    
   
 
 
 
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
   
 
  
  
   
 
  
  
   
  
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
    
   
     
      

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