A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY

Issued ee By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at New Vork Post Office by STREET & SMITH, 2798 William St. NEY

No. 76. Price, Five Cents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SHRIEK THAT ECHOED IN BUFFALO BILL’S EARS FOR MANY A DAY BROKE FROM THE OUTLAW’S LIPS AS HE FELL.

 
 

 

 

 

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A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY

 

 

 

 

Issued Weekly, By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as ae? Class Matter at the N. VY. Post Office, by STREET & rune 238 William St., N. ¥.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1902, tn the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 

No. 76.

NEW YORK, October 25, 1902.

———w

Price Five Cents.

 

 

PANTHER PETE’S REVENGE.

 

By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.”

~

 

OU CHALLER I.
NED NORDECK’S BOX PARD.

When Ned Nordeck, the driver of the stage line be-
tween Fort Taos and Fort Summer, two posts on the far
Western frontier, pulled out of Herders’ Ranch, a mining
settlement at which the coach stopped, his team going
well, a cigar between his teeth, and a miner seated upon
the box with him, he was not in the best of humors, for
he had hoped to have the company of Lieutenant Willis, a
bright, young officer stationed at Fort Taos, and who had
been spending a few days at Herders’ Ranch, on the long
ride, instead, as he told Jack Tobin:

“A guy like that.”

And he pointed to the man who was to be his outside
passenger.

But Ned Nordeck admitted to himself that he had mis-
taken his man before he had ridden very far.

“Have another-cigar, for yours is about burned out,
pard,” was the way the stranger broke the ice.

Ned accepted. ,

“Was it not about here that there was a big battle
fought lately?” asked the stranger.

7

ae

@

“Right on this ridge ahead, and Lieutenant Willis, of
Taos, was the officer in command, along with Buffalo
Bill, the great scout.

“It was a great victory for the soldiers.”

‘And the settlers, for Herders’ Ranch and ther ranches _
turned out a big force, and they caught thé Injuns be-—
tween ther soldiers and themselves, and, oh, my! Wal,
ther redskins ain} quit wailin’ over it yet, I guess.”

Then Ned described the battle that had occurred there,
which he knew nothing about, having heard no less than
forty different versions regarding it, and the stranger lis-
tened attentively, at last remarking:

“You have driven this trail for years?”

No, faint

“T thought some one ‘told me so.”

“They was stuffiin’ yer, or lied Owe: for drivers
in these parts don’t drive no trails for years.

“Why not?”

“They don’t live long enough.”

“Ts the country unhealthy ??”-

“Wal, thar’s a disease here thet are quite fata] ter
many.”

 
o THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

What is it?

' “Bullet fever.”

“Ah!” ot ;

“Then, the drivers catch it?”

\ "You bet they does!”

“Are many killed?”

“Wal, on ther Taos trail I drives, from S: andy Sink
through Herders’ to Fort Taos, a one-hundred- “mile run,
there has been five deaths in ther past three years.

“Five drivers have been killed ?’”.

“Sure; and seven others has been run off thee vail, not
wishin’ ter go ter glory from a stage box, and two has
been wounded so bad they is laid up, crippled.”

“This is a bad record for the trail, indeed.

‘Were you ever shot at?”

“Was I ever shot at?”

Yes:

“Does yer see this wound in “my left hand?”

“A bullet chipped a piece out off there; ther scar on my
cheee es ‘

es

aN bullet a eeonad a piece out of there, and [ has a piece
0’ lead in my leg now, ‘and a wound in my body.

“Oh, yes, pard, I has been shot at sundry times, and Tm
glad it was no worse.’

“You are a brave man to still drive the trail.”

“See here, pard, if I wasn’t a brave man, [’d eut my

throat, for a coward ought to diey and I don’t mean ter
praise myself, nuther.” _

“You expect to still stick to the trail, then

_Pard, I am a driver.

“T went into the work from love. Q” horses, oe and
to be out in God’s fresh air, looking at the beauties of na-
‘ture He had made.

“T took slim chances when I began, for it wasn’t in the
Injun and outlaw country; but, when I was sent here, |
wouldn’t back down when they told me this box had been
the execution block of a number of good men.

“If better men than I be was willing to die here doing’

their duty, then I might risk it, I thought, and am still
risking it, and, so far, “has only been picked, but some day,

or. night, Vl get a bullet through my heart or brain, and -

then I will take the trail so many has gone before me, so
many has yet ter go, and the end of which only: the dead
knows, for none ever come back. ea
“Vou take it very calmly.”
‘What is ther use o’ frettin’ ?”

“T sleeps well when off duty, I comes tip fer my feed

three times a day, reg’lar; I enjoys a drink in season, a
cigar ona drive, ‘L likes a clever pard with me, shakes my

foot at a fandango witha pretty gal, can swap a lie with

any man, and enjoys living for all it is worth.
“T hates a mean man as I does a snake, don’t pick no

quarrels, nor allow no man to impose on me, and if ther.

outlaws sees their way clear ter kill and rob men fer gold,
instead of work fer it, that’s a matter with theiz own con-
scierice, and if they gets into trouble, I hain't hard on ’em,
fer they. has ter answer fer their sins, not me.’

“Vou are certainly a philosopher.”

‘Wal, I don’t know what a philosopher is, but, as ‘yer

ain t
ver "Se

ad no teason ter call me had names, maybe Tas, ef
so, only don’t explain i it’s mean, for maybe

you ‘d hev to hoof it on ter Taos.”

The passenger laughed, and explained what a philoso-
pher was, and Ned replied:

“Vou knows, fer you seem edicated, and I ain’t got no
more ‘knowledge than what i picks up from what nature

and human kind teaches me.’

CHAPTER ih
THE OVERLAND DETECTIVE.

The passenger on the box with Ned seemed: much en-
tertagned with his conversation, and asked him about the
ride on beyond Taos.

“Waal, that’s an all-kind-of-a-drive, rough, pleasant,
dangerous, and safe, according to what tarns up; but |
has only been over it a few times, taking the place of Ben
Bird, who were kilt by the Comanches, until they. could
put a reg’lar man on.’

“And the ride from Herders’ Ranch to Fort Sumner ?
asked the stranger.

“That’s another gantlet of death ter run,. fer they
knocks ’em over there more than they do on my drive.

“Tt’s only a few weeks ago a driver was kilt and an
army officer wounded, while the Cobras—that’s the name
the outlaws goes under—got big money from their haul;

 bu¢ a Lieutenant Balfour” at the fort, came ter Herders’

Ranch, met Buffalo Bill, and they got ther money peck,
and downed some o’ ther gang.
“Lem Luby is drivin’ the run now,
game as they make ‘em, pard.”
"How 1 is it when you meet Indians:
“Run for it, like the deuce, shootin’ as we goes.
“T’ve had two chases, and I knows what they is,(so I

and he’s about as

599

drives race-horses in my team.’

“And, if the Cobras hold you up, what do you do?”
*Pard, I is here ter pertect my passengers and freight,

as far as it lies in my power to do, but: I wasn ‘t born a

fool, and, if I sees ther chances are big-ag’in me, I jist
does ther right thing—lets ‘em rob ther outfit, and pray
ter some day get even.

Hitt sees a chance, no odds is goin’ ter make me tet it
go without a fight.”

“Vou ate a brave man, pard, and I hope you will long
live to drive this trail,” replied the passenger, and, after
some further conversation, he said he was sleepy, and
would get into the coach and havea nap where he did not
fear falling off as if he dropped to sleep upon the box.

Ned drew rein for him, and he got inside. :

As he drove on again, Ned mused to himself :,

“Now, that man ain’t sich a foot as I tuk him for.

“He’s dressed rough, and looks like a gold digger, but

he can talk like a edicated gent, and I gtiess he's seen |

better times than wild life out | here
“1 hope he’ Il come up on Tse box agin, for [ finds him
entertaining.”

ae his was a fact, as Ned had done all ay taiking him-

self,

“Pard Nordeck, do you know who T am? a
wD doesnt.

“You have quite a rich freight along.”
“Who said SO?”

AE Say: 50.7

 

 

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. THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. —

POOH WiHitiKe SO. ee s \

“T know so.”

“You knows more than I does.”

“No, I do not; but it is your duty to say that you have
not.

“Now, I know that there is a large sum of greenbacks,
government money besides, with valuable express matter
for the fort, and ah important registered mail.”

“You thinks you has it down fine.”

“T have, as you will see.’

He took from his pocket an official envelope, and, ‘tak-
ing a letter from it, read:

“Detective Carrol, of the United States Secret Be vice
Corps, is hereby commanded to select a guard of picked
men from his force, and guard the mail eee that carries
a large sum of money to the First National Bank in Santa
Fe, also some government funds sent to the pavmaster at
Fort Taos, valuable express matter, and an important
mail, some of it registered.

“By order of THE CHIEF.”

Ned Nordeck gave a whistle, at hearing this, and then
said:

“Let me see thet paper, pard?”

“Pardon me, but I am not allowed to trust it out of my
hands; but I read it to you to let you feel you need have

) no anxiety about being robbed of your valuable freight, as

we are here to protect you.’
“Them is your men inside?’
means
“Not miners?”
SNOn«
“All detectives ?”

“Yes: five of them.” :

oW ell, I hope the Cobras won’t jump us, for ther fight
will be hot, or there won’t be any.”

_ How do you mean?”

“Waal, | means this:

“I has traveled trails a long time, and I mind when I
come out of Herders’ Ranch, “with two on top and eight
inside, including me, eleven of us.

“Well, them men was armed all ovér, and, ter hear
them talk, I just hoped ther Cobras would be on hand, for
we'd plant a graveyard right whar they tackled us.

“Them men stung big, sung loud, and I began ter feel
sorry for ther Cobras.

“At last we come to a place whar’ ther Cobras had
jumped-me afore, and thar’ was several green mounds on

jther side of ther trail, which nobody can mistake for other

 

 

than what they is.
“T hed seen ther bodies ~lanted in ’em.
“Waal, all of a sudden, loud and pipin’ come a cry ter

bold up.

“I were covered with a gun, I seen thet, and so I halted

“Then ther robber, for there were but one in sight, he

id ind riddle ther coach if there was any sign of nght.

“Then ther singing was low ter soft music, for it turned

 

fiuto beggin’ and prayin’ fer mercy.

| “Thet outlaw chiet then raade ‘em git out, one by one,
ind lay down.

3 '

“Then he picked ’em clean; he tuk every dollar, watch.
and chain, they hed; and they. hed a great deaJ, fer they
was a lot of young fellers goin’ ter ther fort ter ther wed-
din’ of a young officer they knew.

“Oh, how they prayed, sandwichin’ profanity in with
prayer; they begged, promised, and all to no good, for the
outlaw got it all.”

“Did you lose much ?”

“Bless yer, he never bothered me, though I hed a big
freight aboard, only ther men who was goin’ ter wipe ther
Cobras off ther face of ther ‘arth.”

“He let you go on, then?”

“Yas ; told me ter hump along, and I did so, and it were
like a fitneral procession all ther rest o’ ther way, fer them
gents was so quiet.

“They all hed weddin’ presents fer ther lady and gent
who was ter be married, and them was tuk, too, and ther
party had come all ther way from New York.”

_And they never recovered their things?”

“Every dollar, and everything else, was waitin’ fer ’°em
at the fort, for ther outlaw chief was Lieutenant Mc-
Kenny Willis, who hed made bets. with brother officers
he could hang up ther whole outfit, which he did, and all
alone, and won his, bets, too, and ther joke nearly kilt
them ten fellers,” and Ned laughed heartily at the re-
membrance of the young officer’s practical joke upon the
tenderfeet wedding guests.

 

CHAPTER ITT,
NED NORDECK SURPRISED.

The detective had listened with interest to Ned’s story,
but then seemed to think that it reflected upon the courage
of his men and himself, so said:

“So you think we would surrender, too, if the outlaws
held up the coach ?”

“Waal, you hasn’t been singing loud of what you would
do, and, as fightin’ is yer trade, I guess you'd do some
shootin’, but:I want ter tell you that, no matter how brave
men is, and how many, when they hears ther order of
“Hands up, or die!” from ther thicket;-or behind a rock,
they does jist what they is told, ninety-nine times in a
hundred.

“I has driven brdve men over this line, I hain’t no cow-
ard myself, but I has seen them hand over their valuables,
and I has fished in my pockets and got out my little pile,
fer a revolver muzzle p’intin’ in yer face is a mighty
strong argiment, and extends a very pressin’ invitation
fer ver ter come ‘down out of yer tree.

No, pard, yer is caught in a ambush, and, though men
loves ther money, they ist lets it go when it comes to a
question of gold or life.”

“Then you think sending me along, with my four men
as a guard, is a poor protection to the coach?”

“That's what I thinks.”

“T am sorry.”

“Now, you may be used ter thief- icin crook-
chasin’, and all that, but when it comes ter sendin’ ten-
derfeet out here ter down Cobras, they ain’t in it a little
bit.

“If you was Buffalo Bill, now, with four genus that
officer I spoke of, Lieutenant Willis, and a squad of sol-
diers, come expressly for a fight, ter trap ther trappers,
then, when they got ther word, they wouldn’t be knocked

 
 

 

ae ‘THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

silly by scare and surprise, but would pile out and go at it,
and ther chances are Mr. Cobra would have ter crawl fer
ther nearest hole ter hide in.’
The detective laughed, and then the relay was reached,
where a change of horses was made.
The men got out, stretched their legs, and talked with
the two stock- tenders, and the trip was resumed.
The detective again returned to the box, and, after
going a number of “niles, he asked:
“Was there a hold-up anywhere near here: a
“Right on ahead, and yer’ll see ther graves I told
yer of,
“Tt was there that Lieutenant Willis,
roug rh clothes, held up ther weddin’ party.’
“Don't pass the place without showing me.’
lw one fer it’s ther boss place fer a hold-up.’
“Have another cigar.”
Ned accepted the invitation, and soon after said:
‘Thar is ther place now, and, ef ther Cobras hadnt
been scared off ther trail by Buffalo Bill, yer might hev a

masked and in

»

chance ter find out how bad a hold-up would scare yer,

pard.”
“Pard Nordeck, I have a favor to ask of you.’
Well, ef I kin, Vil do at? * |
“Just draw. rein a minute.”

“Ver wants ter see ther place, does you?’ and Ned
halted his team.

The stage door flew open upon a side, the four men
sprang out, and, as they did so, the man on the box cried:

“The favor I wished to ask is this: I don’t wish you to
be a fool, for you are a brave man, and I do not wish to
harm you; but I am a detective for the Cobras, and have
spotted the valuable cargo you carry, and we want it.”

The revolver had already looked squarely into the face
of Ned Nordeck, and a furtive glance showed him that
tour other weapons were covering him, and he raised his
hands above his head, crying out:

“Oh, Lord, be marciful ter me, a fool!”

The men laughed, and the pleasant tellow, who Ned

had thought had been so very entertaining as a listener,

said :

“We are five against you, Ned, and there is no chance
for you.

“T like you, and I told my men they-should not kill you,
as was planned, for you were to be shot in the back from
the coach window.

“Vou shall not lose a dollar yourself

“Don’t say that, for I has a hundred along of my own
money, and ther hae watch and chain ther Oricet at ther
fort give me, and ther diamond pin in my scarf that ther

3)

 

boys at ther ranch made me a present ee so take ° ‘em all;

take ’ fem all!” cried Ned.

“But we don’t wish to rob you, a poor driver.”

“Never mind me! Rob me, or shoot me, fake your
choice, for, if ther company has ter lose, | don’ t want ter
save mine; so take it all, pard!”

“Well, it might get you into trouble to save your things
and lose the company’s, so we'll take all.

NO see, the Cobras are not driven off the trail yet by
Buffalo Bill.”

“T can swear to that fact.”

“We let up, for he was crowding us close, killed our
captain, and so we lay low for a while.

“But, you see, we gained by it, for we've got a new

 

; sent for ag’in.’ |

captain, and the money and valuables began to go through
again, and the Fort Sumner coach will carry a big freight
when it pulls out at midnight from Herders’ Ranch.”

“Tord, and I can’t save it !”

“Vou can’t save your own, and you won't get into Fort
Taos until night, and, unless you can fly, you will not be
able to warn Lem Luby, of the Sumner coach,” was the
reply of the outlaw.

CHAPTER LV:
LEFT ALONE.

Ned sat watching the plunderers, as they took the
money and valuables out of his strong box, and then the
mailbag, which they did not open.

All were put into a couple of thick canvas bags, which
were strapped together, so that they could be thrown
across a saddle.

“You will have to delay here until our men come to
meet us, as, if they do not put in an appearance, there be-
ing some mistake about the place of meeting us, we will
have to take your horses, Ned.”

“How in thunder will I get on, then?”

“You will have to foot it, for, if we have to ride from
here, we can be easily followed, while our men, if they
core, will not ride a horse within a couple of miles of
here, and on foot we will not leave a trail.” ©

“But yer won't need six horses.”

‘Not to ride, but to keep you from riding, yes, for you
can’t get in to the fort before morning, having to foot it.”

‘“That’s’so,. said ‘Ned,

“Tt will be late to-morrow afternoon before I can get
soldiers back here on your trail.”

“Ves. a3

But Ned did not express aloud his thoughts that there
was a relay station twenty miles this side of the fort, and
the one he had passed seven miles back on the trail, and,
if they took his horses, he could go back there, send word}.
to the ranch by one of the stock-tenders, and, getting
fresh horses for his coach, push right on to the fort, ar-
riving there by midnight, anyhow.

“Are you the chief?” he asked of the leader.

“I am the sub-chief.”

“You hain’t Cap’n Cobra, then?”

“No; but I’m one of the Snakes.”

“What might be yer name, fer I'd like ter know yer
more intimate.”

“If I gave you my real name, you would have the
hounds of the law out here after te for a killing scrape ]
got into several years ago, so I'll tell you that, in : the band]
I am known as Rattlesnake Rob, called Rattle for short.

“Well, yer look it.”

“Does yer know how much worth yer has got?”
“About forty thousand, in all,”
““You is right, and yer’ll see thet ther government won’
stand no such nonsense, nor ther company, nuther.”
“What are they going to do about it?” :
“Hang 3 Vet, e
“Tt’s. catchin’ before hangin’.’

“T has observed that; but 1 Ab hev noticed thet Buf

falo Bill made some of yer dig dirt, and maybe he'll b

 

ad hope. not.’
_ Ned Nordeck laughed, and then asked:

 

 

 
 

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- ‘SHE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 5

“Whar is Cap’n Cobra?”
“Here, there, everywhere.”
“That means nothing,”
“He may be here any minute, he may be in Herders
a yi ’ y
Ranch now, or at Fort Taos, or Sumner.
6é s : is 93
None of us know anything about his movements.
oF §

>

The leader seemed now to be growing impatient, and

his anxiety was shared in by Ned Nordeck, who began to
fear his horses would be taken.

But, after an hour’s delay, and just as the leader had
ordered the men to-unharness the six horses, one of the
outlaws called out:

“There they come’

Through the timber was seen coming a man wearing a
mask, and dressed in the green costume representing a
snake’s skin.

He was on foot, but he carried a rifle on his shoulder,
and came along at a brisk step. 7 ‘

As he approached, he saluted the leader, and said: +

“The horses are all ready, sir, if you are.”

“We have been here an hour waiting.

“Any word from the chief?”

“Only that I was to have horses at a given point for
you, and come on to this place to meet you, and come on
foot, to leave no trail.”

“So my instructions said.

“Come, men, unharness these horses; unfasten every
buckle, and scatter the harness about,

“Then get the wrench and take the nuts off the wheels,
and it will give Ned here a couple of hours’ work to get
ready to start on, and that will allow us ample time.”

_The orders were carried out, and Ned Nordeck was left
standing alone in the trail, viewing his scattered harness
and the work left for him to do, while the outlaws disap-
peared in the timber, carrying their booty with them.

 

CHAPTER VG:
THE MEETING AT THE FORD.

Ned Nordeck was not a profane man, but he admitted
that just then he tried a few choice oaths, to see if they
would comfort him.

To his surprise, he discovered that they would not rise

‘to the occasion, so he sat down to think over the situation.

But he sat for a moment only, and, springing to his
feet, cried:

“T clean forgot Buffalo Bill!

“Tl meet him on ther trail ahead !’’

Buffalo Bill, king of scouts, was at Fort Taos at the
time, and had recently killed the leader of the Cobras.
He was still watching the trails, however, fearing that the
band might get together again, under some new leader.

This thought seemed to inspire him, for he quickly

‘picked up the wrench, put the nuts on again, and then be-

gan to collect his pieces of harness,

This was no easy task, for every strap had been un-
buckled and scattered.

But he got them together at last, put the harness upon

_ his horses, hitched them to the coach, and, springing upon

his box, called out:
“Now, go like skeered antelopes!”
Away went the team, and Ned did not spare them.
THe held the reins well in hand, kept his whip ready to

touch up any horse that showed a sign of laziness, and
cast mile after mile behind him.

At last the descent began toward the river, and he was
nearing the ford, when he beheld a horseman riding along
the bank and coming down the stream.

He had a horse following him, and, as he rode out of
the timber, Ned Nordeck gave a yell that could have been
heard a mile, and cracked his whip a dozen, times by way
of a salute. Bese

“Buffalo Bill! Buffalo Bill!

“I'd rather see yer now than git a fortune!”

“Ah! Ned, I thought you were'on a racket when I
saw you,’ said Buffalo Bill, as he halted by the coach.

“Pard Bill, I’m drunk clean through, with mad.

“I tell yer, I’ve been done fer awful.”

“You have been robbed by Cobras, who took passage
in your coach, and they got a rich haul.”

“You knows it all?”

“Yes, | am on a little secret service work.”

“That's what ther feller said thet robbed ther coach.’

Buffalo Bill laughed, and replied:

‘I did hope to get here in time to warn you, as I had
information that the Cobras were going to break out
again; but it’s a long and hard trail I have to travel, so
Iam too late to prevent the robbery, but may be able to
recover the stolen goods,”

Then Ned Nordeck told the whole story of the ride
from Herders’ Ranch, all that the leader of the band of
plunderers had told him, of the halt and robbery, the com-
ing of a man who reported horses were in waiting for
them a:couple of miles away, and how they had scattered
his harness and did other things to delay him.

“T will see Lieutenant Willis, as he is at Herders’
Ranch, and by daybreak we will have that booty, if it has.
been taken where I suppose it has.

“Tf it has not, why, I can circle around the place of
hold-up, a couple of miles away, and strike their trail after
they reached their horses, and track them.

“Now, Ned, I wish you to tell the colonel the whole
situation, and ask him to send to the ford here a sergeant,
corporal, and sixteen men from Lieutenant Willis’\troop, ”
and Brazos Ben, Dot Driver and twelve other scouts, and
start them off as soon as possible, and either Lieutenant
Willis or myself will be here to meet them.”

“Tit do it, sir;, but, now, let me tell you that Lem
Luby’s coach is going to catch it, too.”

“How do you know this?”

“Tl tell yer,’ and Ned told what the road-agent had
said: c
“Luby leaves Herders’ Ranch at midnight, and he will
be held up soon after daybreak. 1 may be able to head
Rent Oli. .

“Now, I’m off, and you had better push through at
good speed,” and, -remounting his horse, Buffalo’ Bill
crossed the river, and rode hard for. a secret camp, in
which he hid while watching the trails, while Ned set his
team going hard for the fort. ages

 

CHAPTER VI.
THE SCOUT LYING IN WAIT.
Buffalo Bill found his horse left-in camp looking lone-
some, but still, with his long stake line, finding grass in
plenty to feed upon, and with the brook near for water,

 
 

 

6 a THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

He hastily cooked his supper and ate it.

“Now I must be off, and Comrade has got to travel,.

for dark is coming on, and I have got to drop all else
now to warn Lem Luby of the intended attack upon him,
and it is mighty near a fifty-mile ride from here,” he said.

With this, Buffalo Bill turned off of the trail to the

right, and began to go across country, taking his own
ideas of the way to guide his horse.

He had the points of the compass, the distances from
place to place, the lay of the land, and the general direc-
tions the stage trails led down fine, so he knew. just about
where he would strike into the one leading from Herders’
Ranch to Fort Sumner.

He well knew that the coach driven by Lem Luby
would leave the ranch at midnight, drive along at a good
pace until it struck the first relay, and then would reach
the hill country and go slow, as the trail would be rugged,
and it would be night.

Once in the hill country, and day having dawned, Lem
Luby was liable to run upon the Cobras anywhere.

He would not come to another relay to change horses
until fifteen miles this side of Fort Sumner, and between
the two relay stations the outlaws had been wont to act,
the nature of the country protecting them in an escape.

So Buffalo Bill pushed ahead steadily, urging his horse
into a canter whenever he could do so, and making the
best time he was able.

Midnight came, and found him twenty miles away from
the trail.

But he argued that Lem Luby had more than that dis-
tance to drive before he reached the spot where he wished
to head him off.

Day dawned, and Buffalo Bill was but a few miles from
the trail, and Luby was not due for a couple of hours.

So Buffalo Bill halted in a piece of meadowland border-
ing a brook, unsaddled his horse, and staked him out, and
then built a fire to cook his breakfast.

He was perfectly calm, and a confident smile was upon
his face. ee
He was, as he said to himself, “playing to win,” and he

had the cards well in hand. . ;

He ate a hearty breakfast, put out the fire, lighted his
pipe, and leisurely saddled his horse, which was much re-
freshed by the hour’s rest.

Mounting again, the scout pressed on, and in half an
hour came out into the stage trail.

He turned in the direction of Herders’ Ranch, and, rid-
ing a short distance, halted there.

Then he set to work, after staking his horse out, to get
a disguise he carried, which made him resemble one of
the outlaws, ready to put on, should there be any one
on the coach box with Lem Luby.

Over half an hour he waited, and then came the rum-
bling of wheels, and he muttered:

“The coach is coming.”

Anxious that Lem Luby should not mistake him for a
road-agent, Buffalo Bill stood out in the trail, where he
could see him, and waited for the coach to come in sight.

Soon it did so, driving at a slow pace, and a glance at

the trail ahead revealed the form of the scout to Lem _.

Luby, who at once came to a halt.

Taking off his sombrero, Buffalo Bill waved it, and
beckoned Lem Luby on, for he saw that the driver did not
recognize him at first glance.

But Lem quickly saw that the one who barred his way
was the scout, and he gave a yell of delight, and drove on.

As he came to a halt, he was about to give another yell,
when Buffalo Bill put his finger upon his lips, and the
driver at once said, in a whisper:

“What are it, pard Buffalo Bill?”

“Trouble.”

“Enough said.

“T thought you was a Cobra—don’t shoot me—when I
seen yer in ther trail, but when yer played yer cards [
knew yer, and my heart dropped back where it lives, for
it were crowdin’ my tongue out between my teeth.”

z

“T don’t wonder that you were alarmed, Lem, for you

have a very valuable freight aboard.”

“You knows ther game, then?”

Ves.

“Well, I declare.”

“And so do the Cobras.”

“Qh, Lord! I’ve played the wrong card ae

“Not yet, for I rode all night to head you off, to save
the freight.”

“Pard, you is a trump!”

“Ned Nordeck was held up yesterday, and robbed of a
most valuable mail, express, and his money box.”

“My? my!”

“The gang played miners, bound for Santa Fe, and
rode through with him.

“T jeutenant Willis is on the trail, and will have scouts
and soldiers ready by to-morrow to strike, for the Cobras
are at their old game again.”

“And playin’ to win?”

LaVeS

“What shall I dor”

“T came to help~you out.”

“Tist so, and I bless you, Pard Cody.”

“Vou have a very valuable cargo, so my idea is that you
let me hold you up and take it all from you.”

7 Nou bet):

“T will take it, or send it by my men, into Herders’
Ranch, and on your way back you can bring an officer and

‘soldiers to carry it to the fort, under escort.”

“You are playin’ yer trumps now, pard.”

“The Cobras will certainly catch you on ahead, and you
can paralyze them by simply saying you were held up
back on the trail by outlaws and robbed. :

“We will make tracks here, and every sign of a halt and
pillage of the coach, to show that you are telling the truth ;
in faét, will smash your strong box, and leave it here, for
I will have to take the things in my saddle-bags.

“Tf they wish to prove what you say, these signs will
do it, and you might say that you saw one man on horse-
back—-myself, you know—and two on foot, you and I, for
it will not be. lying.”

“Pard Cody, don’t you worry about my lying, for I can
do it when there is a reason. Why, I has had blisters on
my tongue for weeks from dodgin’ ther truth.”

“All right. I am glad your conscience will not cause
you to suffer to any great extent.”

“Now, let us get to work.”

“Ther cards is shuffled, cut, and ther play begins,” said

Lem Luby, who, as an inveterate gambler when off duty,
always “spoke by the cards” when he had anything to say.

The freight was a valuable one, even more so than had

been that carried by Ned Nordeck.

 

 

 
 

 

ane eee

ee —

 

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. ag

But Buffalo Bill packed it all away upon his horse, and
the signs to indicate a robbery were scattered about.

“NG ow, Lem, tell the colonel just what I did, and that I
turned road-agent from necessity to save your freight.

“Tell him if I cannot get the booty into Herders’ Ranch
on time, I will hide it, and send a letter to Jack Tobin for
you, §o the officer sent as an escort can find it.”

“TU tell him, sit.’

“Now, drive at a slow pace, and look like a very
wretched man, as you sit upon your box, as though you
did not care whether you lived or died.”

“I can look it; I used ter put that look on when my
mother-in-law was around, for she drove me to drink;
and, to reform, I took to the trail and drove a coach.

“Tl wear my too- much-mother-in- law expression.’

“Then you'll make the Cobras weep,” said Bene Bill,
as Lem gave him an example of how he intended to look.

“Maybe it will drive them ter throw up ther cards 0’
sin and play ther game o’ salvation.”

“They will—when they die; not. before.

“But my idea is, you'll be held up about five miles from
here, and, if you delay all you can, it will give me over
two hours’ start of them, and that will be enough, for
maybe, if they follow me, they will run upon a snag they
are not looking for, if I can get to the lieutenant and his
men.

“Good- -by, Lem, and I hope the loss of the booty will

not get you into trouble.”

aT hopes not; but Til take what comes, no matter how
the game goes, if I can only save the jackpot, ” and Lem
Luby, a rough diamond hero, drove on his wav, as Buf-
falo Bill mounted and rode off through the timber.

 

CHAPTER VIL.
‘A’ WISE PRECAUTION,

Lem Luby drove on his way, playing his part well.
His team went along, with ‘loose reins, and the driver

looked like one who had lost his pocketbook and best

friend. :

One door of the coach was open, the cushions were off
the seats, the boxes beneath were open, and the rear boot
was unstrapped.

The whole appearance of the driver and his coach was
one of demoralization.

Thus Lem continued for several miles, and he then, in

“spite of his apparent dejection, began to cast anxious
looks ahead of him.

He knew, his danger if the Cobras suspected he had
outwitted them on purpose,
They were liable to put a bullet through his brain, and

~ leave him dead in the trail, the’coach standing near with-

out a team.
No one knew better just what the Cobras were and

, would do than Lem Luby.

“So he kept his eyes well abroad, and at last muttered :
“Well, Ud like ter pass in ther-game ef I were able, but

if I can’t I'll play my hand. TJ told yer so!”

It was himself whom Lem Luby had “told so,” for this

last remark was occasioned by suddenly seeing a masked

man step out into the trail ahead of him and. top el a rifle
full at him.
Others appeared, also, as if by magic, upon each side

of the trail, until ca saw that there were seven of them.

They were all masked, and dressed in the garb of the
Cobras, representing the skin of a shake, and with stuffed

| serpent skins as hat-bands.

‘There was no need to utter the Eaead GL ‘Halt! and

hands up!’

That rifle leveled at his heart spoke soteies and Lem
drew rein by calling to his horses and putting his foot

-hard upon the brake, while he called out :

“What! Has I got ter be robbed ag’in?

“Yes, Lem Luby, as long as you carry bade ang ! the
Cobras need pocket change, you will have to be ene
said the leader, stepping forward.

Yhen, yer ought ter go in cahoots, fer t’other gang got
all I has.” a

“What do you mean?” asked the leader, a

list what I says, for all I hed was in ther bad
t’others got.”

“What others?”

“Them that ordered me up back on ther trail.”

“Where ?”

“Some five miles back.”

“When? 2)?

“A leetle over a hour ago, for I has felt so bad since [
hev let ther team play ther hand they wanted to, and poke
along same as a funeral outfit.” :

“Lem Luby, are you telling me the truth?” and the out-
laws had all crowded around, now greatly excited.

Cie dn t lie, ef I tried ter ; but it hain’t no he—I only
wish it was.’
“Your coach has been robbed ?”
_ ves, and yer pards got a big haul.”
“Our pards ?”
xvas, for they was rigged out same as-you is.’
“And they held you up rand robbed you?”
vou bet; they played trumps, and took my pile.”
“How many ?”’
a seen three of ’em only, but them was enough.
“One was on horseback, and thar was two afoot, and
they swept ther coach of chips.” 7
ue believe you are lying.”
“T feels downright hurt you should suspect me.’

“I shall search you and your old hearse.”
~ “You is welcome, for they cleaned my chips out along
with ther balance.” :

“What did you have?”

“A big roll of money for the taasden anethes ce the
post trader, some ExDICSS packages of value, and some
registered mail.”

‘Them is right; but I can hardly believe your: story.”

US a pity, becatise you is a liar, and cheats. in ther

' game, yer suspects me.’

The leader made no reply to this, ‘but called his men
apart, and they talked earnestly together for a while.
~Then he returned, and three of the Cobras began to

“search the coach, and Lem Luby, as well. .

‘The search was a fr uitless one, as oe reader KNOWS.
Then the leader said:

_ “See here, Lem Luby.”
“Welle”

“We are going to return to the spot shee you say you

Ww ere robbed.”

‘wer call 20; 204 Darl fine w ith you,’ was the emphatic
reply.
“But you go bask, too.”

 
 

8

_ “See-here, Pard Thief, I thinks I has suffered enough
without being turned back on ther trail; besides, it’s bad
luck ter turn back.”

“You have had your bad luck.”

“T could have more.”

SHlow. sof.) 5) ee

“T wasn’t called upon ter pass in my chips and tarn my
bloomin’ toes up to ther daisies.” ie

“Vou will be, if we don’t find it as you have said.”

“What does yer mean?” A

“T mean that you go with us back on the trail; and, if
there is not the proof we seek af what you say, we will
kill you, and leave you in your old hearse.”

“God bless Buffafo Bill, fer. ef he hadn’t put ther signs
thar, I’d hev tuk ther glory trail,” muttered Lem Luby,
with a heart full of thankfulness for the scout’s thought-
fulness in manufacturing proof of the hold-up.

Lem Luby put back over the trail with evident. reluc-
tance.

But there. was nothing else for him to do than obey.

The outlaws went into the timber, mounted their horses,
and rode back with the coach, some ahead, some follow-

ing behind it.

Lem saw that there were just. seven of them.
He drove rapidly, for he knew he would be some four

_or five hours late in getting to Fort Sumner as it was.

@

 

He saw that the outlaws were very much disturbed by
what he had told them.

They did not understand who the other band of road-
agents could be. ue
“Lem Luby enjoyed their anxiety immensely, and called
out to the leader: :

“Don’t yer know who it is thet got my booty, pard
Cobra?”

“Oh, yes, we know.” Se

“Vou is lyin’ now, sartin, for yer looks as melancholy as
a corpse at a buryin’.”

“T tell you that I know

“And I says yer don’t fer yer is skeered ter death; but
somebody got it, and I tell yer thet I thinks yer all has
been fooled by some o’ yer gatig.

“Maybe it war’ ther chief, fer he were a fine-looking
feller thet held me up.” ;

“Vou said he was masked.”
“I says so now; but he were tall, and too fine a gent ter
be in the road-agent trade, I tuk it.”

“There were three, you said.”

“T seen three of ’em.

“Tf I’d ’a’ know’d there wasn’t more, I'd hev made a

$2?

“ptenk fori,

‘And gotten your head shot off.”

“Pm tight good myself in playin’ trumps, when ther
playin’ cards is shootin’ irons.”

“Oh, we know that, Lem Luby,

“You are a plucky fellow, a good fellow, a dead shot
and take big chances in doing your duty, and it is just

‘these virtues you possess that have ‘saved your life scores

of times.
“But, though those men who held you up were Cobras,
beyond a doubt, I cannot just place them, for you know
that Buffalo Bill came down here and hunted us hard.”
“Vou hain’t the King o’ Clubs, then?”
“Noa: 1m a sub-oficer,
“T thought maybe, you was so perlite and such a nice

 

6

os THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. -

looker, you might be ther Ace thet wins ther game, fer I
hears thet Captain Cobra, your new chief, are a remark-
able man.”

The outlaw leader was riding alongside of the coach
now, and he seemed much pleased with the flattery, for
he said: ee

“Many mistake me for the chief, but T am gly second
in command.” ; f

Lem Luby laughed, and replied, in his fearless way: |

“Wal, it’s a wonder yer ever got thet high, onless yer
kin cut a throat better than any one else, for I was only
jokin’ when I called yer a gent, and said yer looked like
ther chief, just givin’ yer a leetle sweetenin’ afore a bitter
dose, for. I does regard yer as.a very hon’ry specimen 0”
a man, the worst card in ther deck.

“Took like ther chief?

“Ho, ho, ho! Why, yer is thet how-legged yer couldn't
head a sow and pig off in a lane, and they'd hev ter put
bay winders inter yer coffin for ther spreadin’ out of yer
less. -He, he, hel”: |

The ertraged outlaw gave a look up at Lem, to warn
him to desist, and dropped his hand upon his revolver.

But Lem was mad clean through at being turned back;
he had gotten reckless, and he always jeered the outlaws
and defied them, so he continued :

“T ook like ther king snake o’ ther nest, indeed!

“Why, yer wears yer mask ter keep yer face from
frightenin’ yer horse, for, if e seen it, he’d kick his shoes °
off tryin’ ter hit yer with “em. He, he, hel?

The man grasped his revolver, suddenly threw it to a
level, and pulled the trigger. Cer

Lem Luby coolly reined his horses back at the shot, and
said, without the least show of emotion:

‘Yer is a blamed bad shot, fer, though thet bullet went
through my hat brim, it missed my nose four inches.”

One of the outlaws quickly said something to the leader,

- in a low tone, and he returned his revolver to his belt, and

glanced around upon his men, all of whom had collected
about the coach to hear Lem Luby’s opinion of the out-
law.

The leader relapsed into silence now, while I.em drove
on at a more lively pace, eying, however, whenever he .
saw the opportunity, the crowd of Cobras, who rode too
near his coach wheels, and once unhorsing one, though
not hurting him much, for there was no more reckless
man on the frontier than was Ler Luby when he got into
one of his ugly humors. :

“There’s ther place I war held up, so make what yer
kin ott of it,” he cried, as they drew up at a spot where
Buffalo Bill had left the “signs” of the pretended rob-
bery.. ‘ cs 7
The outlaws sprang from their horses.

They saw the strong box, broken open, and the leader
said: | #

“Te has told the truth, for here is the proof.”

Luby heard just what was said, and called out:

“T suppose I kin go now, Snakes?’

SEO 1

Lem waited to hear no more, but turned his coach
about, and started off at a brisk pace, but, glancing back
ere he had gone very far, he uttered a startled exclama-

tion, for he saw a horseman approaching the Cobras.

“Tf it ain’t Buffalo Bill playin’ a lone hand, as Viper,

\

 

 

 
 

 

 

hope I may die; but I can’t help him, for 1 don’t dare
- stop, as it might give ther racket away.

-Qh, ‘Pard Bill, let ther angels up yonder pertect yer
- now, fer them devils holds’a full hand ag’in yer!’

 

CHAPTER VIII.
BUFFALO BILL’S BOLD VENTURE.

Ww hen Buffalo Bill rode away from the spot where he

no played such a clever game with Lem Luby, to save
s freight from the outlaws, he went,a few miles back
in ae direction he had come.

The ea that Buffalo Bill carried was one that he
had secured from one of the Cobras he had met and killed.

This was a néw man, known as. Viper, who had been
sent on an errand by the chief, and had met the scout and
been killed by him.

A note he carried showed that he was a new man, and it
served to introduce him to the other members of the band,
and Buffalo Bill hoped to Dass. himself off as Viper, with
very little difficulty.

So he dismounted, and began to carefully make his
toilet.

He had his comb and brash with him, his razor, a small
mirror, andthe effects taken from Viper, along with the
disguises.

Among his own effects there was a wig that had been
pawned by a bald-headed man for a bar bill, and the hair
was iron-gray.

This the scout put on, after-he had snugly packed his
long hair close to his head.

The Mexican suit of the Cobra and the sombrero added
to the disguise, while, having cut off his ate and
taken his mustache down from curling upward at the
ends, by the aid of soap, he was a very much disguised
man from the handsome, dashing, debonair Buffalo Bill.

Then he blotched his face with some iodine he had in
-+his holster medicine chest, and assumed a totally different
expression from that natural to him. -

Satisfied with his make-up, he mounted his horse, and
began to look about fos a hiding place for the booty he
carried.

He was not long i in finding the very place, a crevice be-
tween two rocks, where all was black below.

Letting the bags down with his lariat, he found a rest-
ing place for the ‘booty, and, cutting a vine, he bound it in
the crevice, thus hiding the line which held the bag.

Then he set-off for a cliff cavern, where he knew the .

Cobras sometimes hid, and was not long in reaching
there.

It did not take hing lone to discover that there was a
fresh trail there, doubtless made at early dawn, as the
outlaws had pushed through after robbing Ned Nordeck.

There were the tracks of seven horses, which would ac-
count for the five Cobras who had been passengers in the

coach with Driver Nordeck, and the man who had come to”

the scene of the hold-up on foot to meet them, with one
horse to spare.

_. The tracks showed that the men had not been very long
at the cliff, but had gone off in a direction toward the Fort
Sumner stage trail.

Buffalo Bill dismounted, and approached the entrance
to the retreat, cautiously.
Having been there once before, and seen the secret en-

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. ; 9

trance, he knew well how to gain admission, by means of
the trunk of a large tree, which had been hollowed out,
and, brought to the spot, had been placed over a hole in
the ground, and fastened there.

The trunk stood in a thicket, which no one would enter
without some good reason, and about the height of the
scout’s head there was a swinging door cut into the tree,
which he opened.

Reaching his hand inside, he ee out a short ladder,
which enabled him to step up and enter the opening, and,
drawing it in aiter him, to descend to the ground within,
where there was a hole in the rock.

The props which held the old hollow tree trunk in place
furnished a ladder for the descent into a large cave, which
opened out into the solid face of the cliff.

Not a soul was within this cavern, as Buffalo Bill could
see, but, that it was a secret retreat of a band. of hunted
men, there- was undoubted evidence about him.

Rifles, revolvers, and knives hung here and there, and
rolls of bedding were scattered about, with cooking uten-
sils, lariats, several lanterns, and a lot of provisions.

‘There had been a fireplace made of rocks near the open-
ing, and a chimney, from which a stovepipe could be
thrust out some feet from the cliff when a fire was needed.

But there was no trace of the treasure he sought,
though that the outlaws had been there he had every evi-
dence, for a few embers still burned in he fireplace.

Suddenly the scout said:

“They have a secret hiding place here T know, but how

_to find it is the question.

“Ah, I have it! They are far from here now, doubt-
less, but those who are to hold up Ned Nordeck must
know, and I will find them, for this disguise and the letter
I got from the outlaw I killed will pass me.

“ Anyhow, Vil chance it,” and he left the cavern and
started back for the stage trail, to come upon the seven
outlaws just as Lem Luby was ‘driving | away.

The outlaws started as they saw Buffalo Bill coming
through the timber, and were on their guard at once.

But they beheld no one else, and, as he came leisurely
along toward them, he saw: that they were masked, so he
took a mask from his pocket and held it before his face,
as a means of showing that he was one of them.

Not one of the seven men now grouped together, with
arms in their hands, recalled what one of their band the
horseman could be, and yet they felt sure there was no
mistake; he must be a Cobra.

“Ah! Heis one of the men who robbed { the coach, and
was acting under orders from the chief.”

Thus oie the leader, and this seemed to be the ac-
cepted opinion of all. =

Another minute Buffalo Bill a idden ‘up ie the
group, and he boldly lowered his mask, and asked :

“Ts this Rattle’s band: Of menses.

‘No; Ll am’ Moccasin, and it is my. band. Who are

ou : 7?

: “Tam Viper, a new man, and a messenger from Cap-
tain Cobra, but I was to seck Rattle, who “had orders to
hold up the Taos coach.”

“Did he do so?”

“Yes, but I was late, so missed him, and took the trail
on this way to the secret cavern, but*found that it had
been there and gone, and, knowing that you were to at-
tack the Sumner coach, I came on here, thinking Rattle

 
 

.

10 a THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. | |

had jomed you. Here i is my fetter to Rattle, if you read
naan?

The man who had Jed the ne and called himself
Moccasin, took the note and read it, while he said:

“YT am half-Mexican, half-American, so speak Spanish
as 1 do. English. So you missed Rattle?”

ot NCES. 39.

Then Buffalo Bill recalled what Ned Nordecs had told

him about the outlaw having said an attack was also to be.

made upon Lem Luby’s coach, and he continued:

“As | shall now go back to tell the chief that Rattle
made his haul all right, what ‘shall I tell him from you?”

“T am sorry I cannot send good news ; but, the truth 1 As,
the coach was held up before it reached us.

“Three men did it, but who they were we have no idea,
and I now begin to fear that they were either traitor
Cobras or not of our band.

“Did the captain say anything to you about a third
party being out?”

“No: he only ordered you and Rattle to act.”

“Then those who robbed the coach were, evidently, not
of the Cobra band.”

“Can you not trail them from here?” asked Buffalo
Bill, innocently, recalling how well-he had covered up the
tracks of his horse a short distance away.

“Ves, for they must have all been mounted, though the :

driver of the coach told me ce was. only one that he
saw on horseback.’

‘And they got all the booty ?”’

“every peso.’

Ww hat shall I tell the captain ?’

“When do you go back?”

“Right away, unless your retreat is near, so | could go
there to rest and get a meal.”

“Qur retreat is “thirty miles from here.”

“T am a new man, you know, so am not aware of the
retreats. :

“Tam an old friend of the captain, and, meeting me,
he took. me in with him, so I am to ride as messenger.

“Tow will I find you, if he sends me to you?

“The captain: knew of a new retreat, and sent us there,
aiter calling us together: again, for, you know, Buffalo
Bill raided our old stronghold.”

“es, I know.”

“The old retreat is a dandy, too, and we are to all stay
there to await orders by messenger what to do.”

“I won't attempt to go there now; but aren i‘ uel afraid
of bein g tracked ieee by. the scouts and soldier

Co No, “indeed, for we follow the well-beaten au to the -

river, Aa then it is a wade and swim alternately for five
ee and we come out where no nee or scouts would
ot or be able to tr ack us,’

CHAPTER Ls:
_» SHE SCOUT. AND. THE OUTLAW OFFICER.
‘What shall 1 tell the. captain?” asked Buffalo Bill,
anxious to no longer delay his departure, as he saw there
was no chance of getting to the retr cat, and thus learning

the way there.
“Tell him I shall at once ta ie tte trail: a ae who.

robbed the coach, and we to track them down and Tepe

the booty.
“JE successful in rescuing what was 4 len I shall place

it in che secret Hiding ig place of the lif cavern, and then
go to the retreat in the mountains.

“Tf not successful, 1 shall also go there, with my. men, .

to await: further orc ders from him.’

“Pl tell him; but I guess you I find it hard wee to
find these robbers.

Main atraid that T wall, hue I will soon sew.

“You are sure that Rattle’s band got their booty?”

“They must have done so, for i came to the tracks
where the coach had been held up, and their trail led to
the secret retreat on the cliff, which Captain Cobra told
me how to find.”

“Nop the trail of’ all.”

“Oh, no; the trail of one horse led there.”

me thought it strange, for only the officers and mes-

sengers know of that retreat.
“But, if the trail led them there, the booty was left
_ there.”
“Tam sorry I did not see Rattle, for [ had orders to

look over the booty, and take Captain Cobra a complete
list of all that was there.”

“See here; come with us to see what we can do in track-
ing those robbers, and then we'll camp for dinner, and you
can get rest and food.

“Phen I'll start the men to the retreat, and go to the
cliff cavern with you, for I know the secret hiding place,
and you can make out the list.”

adie itl

‘The men were at once set to work picking up the saa
of the “three robbers” Lem Luby had reported, and, after
a very close search, found only the: tra ul of Buffalo Bill’s
horse.

This they followed for a mile or more, to suddenly lose
it on soil that left no trace of a track.

due disguised scout, playing the part of the outlaw,

Miper, to oper ee helped diligently in the search, smil-
ing within himself-as he thought of how he could tell them
a secret of how he h aa ridden across that hard, rocky soil
to a brook, entered it; then, with “mufflers,” which he

never went without, had ee the hoofs Of his horse,

turned him right back out of the brook, and, riding again
over the trackless soil, had gone on his way, leaving no
trace of a trail.

Havine searched in vain for the trail, Moccasin or- >

dered his men into camp, and Uns were soon busy getting
dinner.

The meal over, horses were nan up, and the men
were ioe to take the trail to the retreat.

‘Ride slow, mien, for I will try and overtake you, but

do not be surprised. if I do not, for | may take a notion to
go with Viper here and see the captain, So as to clear our

sleirts for not having gotten that noob
With this, the men rode away ‘toward the he
evidently. greatly chagrined at ‘their failure to get the

booty Lem Luby had carried on his coach, but glad, at

least, that Rattle and his band had gotten that w Wiel was
on the way to Taos.

Side by side, Buffalo Bill and Moccasin ee pad the
former drew a long breath of relief when he felt that he
had only one man to deal.with instead of seven.

In half an hour they had reached the spot, near the se-
cret retreat, where ithe horses were left, and Buffalo Bill,

to lull any suspicion, at once led the way, opened the door

in the hollow tree, took out the ladder, and entered.

 

Pe,

 

 
ee

 

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. | 41

But Buffalo Bill was very watchful of the man, who
had begun to appear a trifle nervous.

He was a large, athletic fellow, and looked like a very
Hercules, while his movements were quick and decided.

Entering the cavern, the man said:

“So the captain did not tell you how to find the booty ?”

“NO tora he expected Rattle, who knows the secret,
would be with me.’

“True. © Now, see here!

They had approached the entrance to ne cavern that
looked out of the cliff.

It was a splendid view they got there a the country
beyond for miles, the river dashing along far below at the
base of the cliff, a perfect window, as it were, in the rocky
wall.

(222

 

*

CHAE ik x.
THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

The outlaw stood a moment looking out of the opening
in the cliff, as though admiring the view, and then said:

“So you don’t know how to find the secret hiding
place a

“ENO:

“Well, it is a good secret, as a ee see.
the cavern.’

“Where is it?’

“Vil show you.”

He stepped back to the dark corner, down which the
shaft came from above, and bigucte back with him a
stout sapling, with hewn sides, some fifteen feet in length.

Returning to the corner, he brought another of the
same size, and laid both of them with one end pointing
out of the cavern opening.

.Ihen he shoved them close against the rocks on either
side, the one on the left fitting closely in a niche in the
rocky doorway. a

Each end extended about three feet out of the opening,
and the other ends were then propped hard down by poles
put upon them and fitting | hard against the ceiling of the
cavern.

Buffalo Bill watched the man’s movemerits carefully,
and the outlaw worked with a look on his face, for he
was unmasked now, as though he delighted in surprising
Captain Cobra’s new man.

Returning again to the dark corner, the outlaw came
back bearing a wide board, or plank.

It was very heavy, for it was twenty feet in length, a
the scout aided the outlaw in placing it in position.

This position was in shoving one end out of the open-
ing, resting ay one beam and catching the other under
the bear on the left.

This held it in position, one end running out along the
face of the cliff for some fifteen feet.

But the outlaw was not yet satisfied, but fastened the
end under the prop securely to it with a lariat.

“One has to have a cool head to rig this platform and
go out upon it. How is your head: Ge

Yb areht?

“I am glad, for I would have to dene you all the booty
to see. Bo you know there are but two of us in the band
now who know this secret?”

Stepping out upon the broad, thick pees the out-
law said:

It is not in

“Come, for it will hold half a dozen.”

The scout followed, unflinchingly, and stood gazing
oe from the dizzy height at the roaring river beneath

im

The cliff shelved under ‘from the top, and, as he fol-
lowed the outlaw along the dizzy walk, Buffalo Bill saw
that there was a slight curve in the rock some six feet
from the entrance to the cavern, and the plank was rest-
ing against this. Around this curve half a dozen feet he
beheld a hole in the rock.

It was some five feet square, and the bottom of it was
nearly on a level with the plank.

From the entrance of the cavern, any one looking out
could not have seen it, on account of, the curve in the
rock, 7
To. hide it from any one looking up from the plain
across the river below, a piece of canvas, a curtain, painted
the color of the rock, had been hung, and was securely
tied at the bottom.

“The chief found this cave by accident.

“He saw it while riding on the plain one day, and some
time aiter, when on the cliff, beheld the hole in the rock.

“Tying ‘his lasso to a tree, he went down it, and found
this retreat, so made use of it.

“Lowering himself over with a lariat one day, to find a
break in the rock where he could hide treasure, he saw
this hole, which is a small cave, as you see, half a dozen
feet deep only. » See?”

He had unfastened the canvas curtain as he spoke, drew
it up, and revealed the little cave filled with booty.

The scout gazed with interest, for he saw there more
than the bags ‘which had been taken from Ned Nordeck.

There were rifles and revolvers, fine Mexican saddles
studded with silver; fine silk serapes, and a locked box,
iron bound, evidently containing valuables.

3ut, best of all, there were Ned Nordeck’s mailbags,
and what else had been taken from his coach.

Looking over them in a casual way, Buffalo Bill took 2
list, and said: ¢

“T am ready to go now.”

“All right; we will have to take down the platform, for
the chief never leaves that up; in fact, never allows it to
be put up in the daytime; but we will soon have it down.”

 

CHATTER XE,
A SUSPICION VERIFIED.

Buffalo Bill returned to the cavern from his dizzy po-
sition, taking good care to keep a sly watch upon the out-
law, to see that he did not slip anything into his pocket of
value.

The two set to work to remove the platform, the scout
aiding, and noting just how it was done.

Then the two left the place, Buffalo Bill going up last,
for he was getting more and more suspicious of the out-
law.

As the latter closed the door behind him, and followed ,
Buffalo Bill toward the horses, he said:

“Well, I must be off; and report to the chief, and IT’ll
have him understand fully that you were in position and
ready, and held up the coach, but the work had already
been done, doubtless by this man’ Lem Nichols you syoke
Olu Ol

ies, ior . do not wish the ole to blame me.”

 
   

id

“You. are going right on to the retreat, I suppose?”

cores; LE “overtake my men before night, or at their
camp.”

“As I am anew man, I wish you’d be good enough to
give me an idea of how you get to the retreat.

“You leave the trail at the river, you say? >

“Yes, and go down stream.

“The river is not deep, you know, except in places, but
- you ¢an watch where the shoals are, and follow them,
keeping toward the right bank.

“At times you will have to swim your horse from one
shoal to another.

/“After passing some red cliffs, five miles below the trail
crossing, you will see, on the right bank, three pines
growing ona point.

But | swim your horse right for those pines, for there is

a break in the rock bank right beneath where you can
land, and a split in the chff, which you can enter and ride
up to the top, or, rather, lead your horse, for it is a rough
climb.

“Once on the top, you-can follow the trail to the .re-
treat, which is in Canyon Mountain.”

“Thank you, for that is explicit.”

“But, I forgot to tell you, there are rubbér pants the
chief had made, to draw over your clothes, and they are
thoroughly waterpoof, coming up to yout waist.

“You will find them in the point of rocks, just below
the ford, before the water grows deep.”

“You até vety kind. Good- by.’

The scout shook hands with the outlaw, and they
patted, Buffalo Bill riding away in the direction of the
Taos trail, the other toward the new stronghold of the
Cobras.

But Buffalo Bill did not go far before coming to a halt.

“T feel that that fellow is going to lodt the cave, and, as
[ intend to do the same, though from a different purpose,
t will watch him.

“Tl go back.”

With this, he dismounted, unsaddled his horse, staked
his mount, for he wished to give him all the rest he could,
and started back on foot.

As he neared the cliff, he gave a low chuckle, for his
suspicions against the outlaw were verified.

The horse of the Cobra was hitched close up to the cliff,
and the rider had already entered the cavern.

Buffalo Bill leaned his:rifle against the hollow tree, for
. the ladder was outside, the bark door swinging open.

Unbuckling his belt of weapons, he took out his bowie-
knife and one revolver, thrusting the former in his
breeches waistband, ready for use.

Then he threw off his coat and hat, and got ready for a
desperate struggle, if it must come to a fight for life.

_ Buffalo Bill then stepped into the hollow tree, atid
slowly began to descend, having softly closed the shutter
behind him, to leave all dark at the bottom of the shaft.

_ As a breeze was blowing, the man would, doubtless,
think the door had blown to.

Down the shaft, step by step, the scout went,
itig the bottom, he turned, revolver in hand.
Buffalo Bill stood in the shaft, watching and waiting.

Soon the outlaw appeated in the opening, his arms
full.

He stepped into the cavern, and, taking up a large
pair of thick canvas saddle-bags, evidently made for a

and, reach-

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIrs.

pack-horse and to carry booty, began to put the different
valuable articles in them.

He took great care in packing them away.

But Buffalo Bill made no move to interfere.

The robber returned to the staging and disappeared.

Soon he came back with another armful of booty.

_ This, too, was packed away more earefully.

A third trip was made, and still more booty was put
into the saddle-bags.

But still the outlaw went again.

Returning, he had several repeating rifles in his arms,
and half a dozen belts of arms,.revolvers, and bowie
knives.

“VH ask him to hold up.”

With this Buffalo Bill stepped out into the cavern,
walked quickly to the front of the cavern, and stood just
across the canvas saddle-bags

Fie had thrown off his wig, his long hair had fallen
down, and one who had ever seen him before would now
not fail to recognize Buffalo Bill.

A moment more, and he heard a step on the staging,
and the man appeared in sight, with one of the fine
bridles swung over his arm, and a splendid Mexican
saddle held in his hands in front of him.

He interided to make an exchange of his own outfit for

‘those he carried, and get all he could.

But as he came in front of the entrarice his eyes fell
upon the tall form of the scout filling the cave, and with
a revolver covering him, while he heard the words:

“Hands up!”

The shock was a terrible one, the déspair of failure
and death filling the place of triumph and joy.

He dropped the saddle wpon the, staging and sprang
backward for the shelter of the cliff, but he missed his-

footing, a wild shriek of terror and despair Broke from
his lips, a shriek that echoed in Buffalo Bill’s ears for
many a long day, and he fell from the dizzy height and
plunged downward to the surging torrent below.

CHAPTER (rk:
TWO HORSEMEN.

Buffalo Bill, with all his nerve, received a severe shock
when he saw the man’ go backward off of the staging.

He realized that the sudden surprise, the destruction of
all his hopes, at beholding him barring his way, had
caused the man to momentarily lose his nerve, and, weak-
ening, he had thus fallen.

Springing into the entrance of the cavern, the scout
leaned over and looked downward, just as the body struck
the water with a loud report.

For fully a minute the scout stood looking from the
cavern, and then muttered:

JA frightful death, but preferable to hanging, I should
say.

“Now to get away from here, for I do not care to go
through move to-day than has already fallen to my lot.”

He stepped out upon the platform, glanced into the
little cavity in the rock, and took note of what remained,
putting the saddle and bridle back again, for miraculously

_ they had caught on the plank when the outlaw dropped

them.
Tying the canvas covering in place again, the scout re-
entered the cavern, drew the large canvas saddle-bags,

 

Soa a

F

 

ie)

— A

in

Tie

 
 

‘3
‘i
Ke
-
i

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES,

full of booty, back from the entrance, and then set: to
work to remove the platform from along the face of the
cliff,

He closed the door in the tree behind him, leaving all
as he had found it, and putting the saddle-bags over his
shoulders, he walked toward the outlaw’s horse.

It did not take him long to mount and ride away from -

the cliff retreat, taking the direction where he had left his
horse.

Reaching the spot, he saddled up, and then transferred
the saddle-bags to the animal he had ridden there, lead-
ing him by the reins instead of the stake rope.

His way now lay in the direction of the rock where he
had hidden the treasure he had taken from Luby’s coach.

This was found without difficulty, drawn up and tied
securely upon the pack animal.

It was growing late now, and Buffalo Bill knew that
night would overtake him before he got far on his way.

Then he considered. that Ned Nordeck had reached the
fort by midnight, anyhow, barring accidents, of the night
before, and the party of scouts and soldiers had been sent
out by Colonel Kane by daylight at least.

This being done, they would go to his secret camp, as
the rendezvous he had appointed to join them, and if
he could reach there by the next morning, they would
only have to await his coming one night.

He knew Lieutenant Willis well enough to know that
if he delayed much longer in reaching the camp, after
what he had heard through driver Nordeck, of his in-
tention to go across to the Fort Sumner trail to warn
Lem Luby of his danger, the officer would fear that harm
had befallen him, and at once seek to follow his trail to
find out.

So Buffalo Bill pushed on his way, halting near sun-
set in a little valley where there was a stream of water
and good pasturage.

Anxious to. prepare his horses for the long, hard tide
before them, he stripped them of their saddles and bridles
to give’them complete rest.

Then he set about gathering wood to cook for him-
self a good supper, anxious to make up by eating what
he had lost in sleeping. :

The sun was just on the horizon when he saw his

_ horse raise its head quickly and give a low neigh.

Instantly the pipe he was smoking after his supper was
cast aside, and he was on the alert for a foe.

Then there rode into sight, two horsemen, and, to his
surprise, they aproached his camp with their hands raised
above their heads as a token of a peaceful mission.

“Cobras, T’ll wager high on it, and playing a trick
game,’’ muttered the scout, as he stood on guard, watch-
ing their approach.

Regarding the two men very closely, Buffalo Bill stood
ready for their coming.

“They may be gold prospectors, but I guess they are
prospecting in men’s pockets.

“T’ve got too big a pocket just now to take any risk,”
the scout said.

A moment after, as the two horsemen came further
into view, Buffalo Bill gave a low whistle.

Then he murmured, in a measured way:

“That stirely looks like a case of resurrection, though I
never knew the grave to give up its dead before.

13

“Yes, it is the outlaw Sol Nichols, whom I thought
was dead long ago.

“It is like an apparition from the grave, but I’m not
taking chances even with ghosts just now.”

The two horsemen had approached very near now, and
Buffalo Bill fully recognized the man whom he had
seen gambling with Taylor Travis one night at Herders’
Ranch and cheating him, and playing with money which
Lieutenant Balfour, of Fort Sumner, knew had been
taken from Captain Baring, and who was then on his
track, ;

In the arrest following the recognition, one of the men
present among those taking sides with the accused man,
had been killed by Buffalo Bill, and his other companions

-had thereupon made themselves scarce.

Buffalo Bill and Lieutenant Balfour had found upon

the accused«man, Sol Nichols, the money and other things
taken from Captain Baring, and in taking the prisoner
to the fort by Lem Luby’s coach, the Cobras had rescued
hint.
But the rescue had been not to save the man, but to
execute him, for, by the laws of the band, he had for-
feited his life for having, with a few followers, tried to
take the results of the robbery for themselves.

Sentenced to death, one of the three guilty men had
fallen, to later slip away, for the one who had pulled
trigger on him had not aimed to kill.

The brother of Sol Nichols, Lem Nichols by namie, had
also vowed vengeance.

Now the scout saw the two approaching, and though
he had never seen Lem Nichols, he could réadily cuess
who he was from his resemblance to Sol Nichols, whom
he did know, but had supposed was dead.

The brothers were twins, and strongly alike in face and
form, and as they came up Buffalo Bill knew whom he
had to deal with, and that Sol Nichols had in some way
escaped the death to which he had been sentenced.

They were Cobras now, he knew, and desperate men.

Sol Nichols had a grudge to settle with him for aid-
ing Lieutenant Balfour to arrest him, and they had come
there for a purpose. .

As aides in hunting down the outlaws he no longer
needed them, but he would go slow, find out their game,
and see if he could not trump every card the two played
against him.

Always refraining from taking human life unless
driven to it, though he knew that there must be trouble
following their coming, he would not take the slightest
advantage, as they came with a show of peace.

But such show he knew well meant treachery upon
their part, unless they had-niore to gain by being true.

Buffalo Bill had. cast aside his disguise.

There was no further use for it that he could sée, so
he had bundled it all up together and tied it upon the
pack-horse, resuming his own dress, and looking like his
old self, save for the sacrificed imperial.

As the men came nearer to his camp, he knew that Sol
Nichols must have recognized him.

Perhaps they had been watching him, and had thiis laid
their plan ‘of action.

There were his horse and ‘the outlaw officer's feeding
near.

So thus he stood to face the two brothers, one of whoirti

certaiily appeared like an apparition fron the grave.

 
 

CHAPTER: XII,
A PAIR OF LIARS.

The two men halted about twenty feet from where the
scout stood.

They still held their hands up, and had assumed a ost
ludicrously innocent look to try and appear honest.

“Well, pards, what is it?”

“Ver is Buffalo Bill?’

“T go by that name.”

“We know’d it.”

“Yes, and you are Sol Nichols, and the other is a
brother, I take it, unless all signs fail.”

“Yer has it—we is brothers.”

“And you are Sol and Lem Nichols, one of whom I
have met, and both of whom I know as members of El
Cobra’ s band.”

“You 1s off ther trail; pard” ~

“Don’t lie to me, Sol Nichols, for I arrested you in
Herders’ Ranch when Lieutenant Balfour pointed you
out as the intended slayer of Captain Baring, as the one
who had killed the driver of the coach, and who had the
property he had stolen on him.”

‘I admits it all, pard, but you said we is Cobras, and
I says no, fér we was, but ain’t now.”

“Ah! you have reformed, eh?”

“Jest so.’

“Your close call from death scared you, did it?”

“You knows about it?”

“I know that you and two others were sentenced to
be shot by Captain Cobra, and that yeu brother vowed
revenge. But you escaped, it seems.’

“Maybe it’s my ghost.”

“Well, if I shot at you there would be no doubt of it.”

“Jest so. We has turned dead ag’in’ ther Cobras;
they is once more on the trail, and we wants ter j’ine yer
ter run ’em down.”

“What do you know?”

“We knows enough ter make terms with you.”

“Give me an idea of what you are worth to me.’

“What can we tell you?”

“Where are the Cobras now ?”

“They is on their way to the retreat.”

WW herer

“It is near the same old stronghold you #aided.”

“And their captain?”

“He is there, too.”

“Where did you just come from?”

“The retreat.”

“Then you are still Cobras?’

Oh, no, we was scouting around, but they did not
see us.”

“Have they been up to any of their lawless deeds of
ate: ‘
28S; they robbed Lem Luby’s coach this morning.”

“Get much PX

a, m thinking so, for they went right for their retreat
again.’

“How is it, if you know ae I see you coming from
just the opposite direction ?”

The men both looked confused, but Sol remarked :

“Well, you see, we had started for the fort to see you,
but thought we’d better find out all we could, and so
turned back to try and discover the secret retreat Captain

  

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

Cobra has on a cliff some miles back, and the first thing
we knew we seen you in camp here.”

Buffalo Bill knew that the man was lying, but said:

“That was it, was it?”

fVas. a9 y

“And you, Lem Nichols, were you not afraid to venture
to the Loren

“No; for we thought as how you would pertect us, as
we had come ter help yer run down ther Cobras.”

‘Have you been in Herders’ Ranch of late?”

“T has, but Sol ain’t, for he is supposed ter be dead, yer
know.”

“And you have friends there?”

“Yas, for they don’t know I was a Cobra.”

“How long were you there.

“Two days.”

“Where did you meet your brother ?”

“T heerd in ther ranch from ther man as was ter exe-
cute him, but didn’t, that he had spared him, as Sol had
saved his life time and ag’in.

“So he didn’t aim at Sol, as he whispered he woulda
and brother fell, though, all thought kilt like ther rest.

“My pard told me Sol had told him ter let me know
whar’ ter find him, so I got a lot of grub and ammuni-
tion, and went out to whar’ he were, fer we intended ter
down them Cobras.”

“I see. But everybody in Herders’ Ranch believes
that I have gone back to the Northwest, and I heard from

good authority: that there was much talk about it, so how |

is it you expected to find me at Fort Taos?”

Again the two men looked confused, and Lem said:

“Well, yer see, we thought if we didn’t find you thar’
we would Lieutenant Willis, your pard, and he’d be glad
ter trade with us.’

“Well, you have found me, so what trade have you to
offer

“Yer see, pard, we has got a great deal to tell yer, so
if yer lets us camp with yer ter-night we'll talk it over,
and go back to-morrow ter ther secret retreat we spoke
of, and which Sol knows about, show it to yer, and wait
until yer hez gone to ther fort for sojers ter march on
ter ther Cobras’ retreat an’ bag ’em all.”

“And you expect pardon for what you do?”

An’ some money ter boot.”

“All right; I want proot that you know where that
secret retreat is, so go and bring me something from
there—a serape, a bridle—something to prove you know
the place, and when you come back to camp turn in, for
fam very tired, and we'll talk it over in the morning.”

Buffalo Bul saw the quick glance each man gave the
other, and noted how readily they agreed to his proposi-
tion.

But he kept his eyes on them until they had ridden
ee then set about spreading his blankets for the
night

CHAPTER XIV.
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT,
: That the two men had lied to him Buffalo Bill well
new.
“They had told him that the new retreat of the Cobras

was near the old one, and it was all of forty miles away
from it.

 

 

 

 
eee, ere a Ieee

cb

 

 

 

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. fs

e They had said that Captain Cobra \ was in camp, ‘and

he knew that he was not.

Their report that the coach had been robbed by the
Cobras that morning was but half the truth.

That the two men had been dogging him, following
his tr ail, he felt sure, and seeing him go into camp, had
flanked around and approached from the direction he was
traveling, was a part of their game. —

ie did not believe. the two men knew of the secret
retreat, for Captain Cobra had allowed only his officers
and messenger to know it, as it was there he hid his
booty.

Anxious to. get the upper hand a the two outlaw
brothers, Buffalo Bill planned to do so, and hence had
made the proposition he did to them to prove their know!-
edge of the retreat and bring him word,

This got rid of them, and then he began to arrange for
an all- night camp.

In the mieantime the two outlaw brothers rode away
from the camp with alacrity, just as the sun was setting.

They rode at a canter, and, looking behind them, saw
the scout’s preparations for camping,

They rode on until the shadows of night gathered
about them, but did not drop the elimmer of the little

campfire wholly out of their sight.

They took matters leisurely, returning as. the silences
increased, walking and leading their horses, until they
got within a quarter of a mile of the scout’s camp.

Then they halted, staked out their horses, and sat down
on the ground and conversed in low, earnest ‘tones.

Thus one, two, three hours passed away, and then they
mounted their horses and rode for the camp.

Going to the little meadowland, they staked their horses
out with those of the scout, carrying their saddles up to
the camp.

They placed their saddles upon one side of the. fire,
and began to spread their blankets,’one of them remark-
ing to the scout, whose form lay all muffled up near:
T's only us, pard, for we‘has ‘got back.”

>There was no reply, only a-movement of the blankets.

Then the two men passed around the fire toward the
blanket-enveloped form, one on either side, and by a
quick motion of their right hands a revolver was leveled
downward, and rapidly shot after shot rang out, as: on
lets were poured down into the form.

~ But suddenly a dark object fell from the tree over the
head of Sol Nichols, striking him a blow that felled him

‘to. the ground, - while the form of a man dropped feet

foremost directly upon the” Aes of Lem Nichols, and
he, too, went down.

The blows were stunning, but quick as the movements
of. a panther, Buffalo Bill sprang from one to the other

and seized the remaining revolver from the belt of each,

while, placing his foot upon the throat of Sol Nichols,
he began to wrap his Jariat around him, while he called
out sternly :

“Tf you move, Lem Nichals, I pall kill you!”

Lo firmly bind § Sol Nichols was the work of a minute,
and then another lariat was produced, and Lem N ichols
came in for his turn,» |

Sp you wished to. make terms nk me,- 7 aid you?

“And you went to the retreat as I asked you to do?

And you have reformed?

“T suspected you, and d planned to tr ‘ap a for you were
two to one.

“IT took that log’ up in the tree to help me out, and it
did so, and all the harm you have done is to shoot those
blankets full of holes, but they belonged to your old
friend, Officer Moceasin, not-to me.

“While waiting for you I got a couple of hours’ sleep,
so feel much rested, and we'll push right on.’

Whar’ yer goin’?” growled Sol.

“To the fort.”

Fifteen minutes after, Buffalo. Bill, with his prisoners
bound in their saddles and their horses in lead, along with
the pack animal, was on | his way to find Lieutenant Willis
and: his men.

CHAPTER XV.
THE SCOUT ARRIVES.
When the capture of the two outlaw brothers had been

made, Buffalo Bill felt that he had won a decided victory.
fe congratulated himself that ‘he had made the capture

without fe ving to take the life of either one.

He had some difficulty in making the. men moutit
their horses, but when he-toek out his knife and said that
he. would use the point freely to make them obey him,
they mounted to their saddles and were secitrely bound
there. ‘

When he. started on his way he kept his prisoners close
up. to.him, and thus led the way through the night,

Dawn at last came.and an exclamation from Sol Nich-
ols caused the scout to look around, and he saw that the
canvas treasure bag on. the back of the outlaw’s horse
was what surpri§ed both of them.

“You recognize the bag, do you: win

“Ves, Gtis) Captain Cobras! 2

“Tt’s mine, now. Picked it up,”

“Thar? wasn’t nothin’ of aes in it e yer picked it

up.”
“Not when I picked - it up, maybe, in I’ve got some
things i in it now I prize.”
“You has got Officer Moccasin’s horse, too, a see.’
“Who is Officer Moccasin ?”
“One of ther Cobras:
“T guessed as much.”
“He were second officer.”
“Who is Rattler”
“He’s first officer.”
“Where is her” :
-“In the retreat I told you ae
And Moccasin ?”
“es-thar, too, 2. gtiesses, unless you've kilt him,”
“No, 1 did not kill him.”
‘Whar’. did yer git his horse?”
“{ found him hitched toa tree.” . eet eu
There was a silence of some> minutes, and then Lem
Nichols asked :
“You is.a scout from ther Northwest, ain’t yer?”
ab Yes. apt > f p
“What's ver pay: : oo
“How does that interest you: a
‘We. wants ter. know.”
“Well, I vet sixty dollars a Poe as ieee pay, with
five, ten Land twenty y dollars a day extra when i in any very

Zig

 
 

 

\
‘

ie THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“niportane and special service; but I suppose you often
steal much more at a single hold-up.”

“Right you is, and what’s more, we ain't squandered
our money.”

“Then I have done well in roping in two rich bankers.”

“We didn’t say that, for we hav’n’t our money with us.’

“Where is it?”

“That’s our business ; but if yer wants ter be Teason-
able, we'll talk to you.”

NG o ahead. 39

“You aint rich.
_“No,sindeed, I’m only a poor scout.”

“We has got ther dust.”

Well?”

“Now, you has got us s dead ter rights.”

“Granted.”

“You cotralled us mighty slick, and yet did: right, fer
we war’ huntin’ yer scalp hard.”

“Mes: ?

“Now, nobody knows you has us, and we don’t want
ter hang.”

“No. 7

“We'll hang if yer rakes us to T 408. D

“Without the shadow of a doubt.”

“Lordy! Don’t speak so unfeeling.”

“Do you wish me to pray with you?’

“No, but we wishes yer ter hear us say that we has =

money, and though we loves it, we loves life more.”

Yes,”

“We c’u’d lead you to ther Cobras’ den if yer’d trust
us, and we'd like ther revenge 0’ doin’ so; but-yer won't.”

“No; for you lied to me and sought to kill me.

“I do not need your aid, and will prove it by. bringing’
other. Cobras into Taos soon to hang with you.” ~

The men were staggered, but they evidently believed
the scout was not deceiving them. 5

So Sol Nichols said:

“Weil, we has been robbin’ and eaniblin’ fer years, and

we has got a snug bit o’ gold laid by; but if you tl do
ther squar’ thing by us, and let us go, we'll guide yer ter
whar’ our bank is, ‘and yer can help yerself. 2

“Where is it?”

“Hid away in ther Taos ane Ranch trail, some twenty

miles from here.”
TVIk free you after I get the gold you mean.’
“Let us free now.’
The scout laughed and said:

“We'll camp now for breakfast, and then push on for

a camp where I have some friends I wish you to-meet.”

A halt of an hour was made, the scout getting break-
fast, and allowing his prisoners’ oS to oS freed one
at a time.

Then they mounted-and rode on again ata more rapid =

pace.

ahead, and in less than an hour dashed into the secret

camp, where he was greeted with the wildest of cheers by ~

the scouts who had arrived there from the fort, Lieuten-
ant Willis setting the example when ‘ ‘he saw that he had
two prisoners with him.

Buffalo Bill rode into the camp nt 4 aie upon his.

face, and he politely acknowledged the, cheers’ [ee him
by raising his hat.

- But for fear of missing the 2 cad scouts he

Crossing the river he rushed on rapidly, es rest was :

would -have : halted, tied his prisoners to a tree, and had

several hours’ sleep, forsthe reader will remember how
al ho Pp;

he had been constantly on the go for four days and nights.

The prisoners showed their’ anxiety in. their faces, and
they were very pale and nervous.

They began now to see the shadow of the gallows fa
ing upon them.

"To Brazos Ben, Dot nd several other scouts their
faces were known.

They had been seen about Herders’ Ranch time and
again, and were regarded as hangers- -on,. but not sus-
pected of other than gambling and being tough citizens
until Sol Nichols had been trapped by Lieutenant Balfour,
of Fort Sumner, aided by Buffalo Bill,

And all had believed that Sol Nichols had been exe-
cuted by his comrades in outlawry, when here he was,
riding into camp as the prisoner of Buffalo Bill, while
along with him was Lem Nichols.

All gazed at the scout and his prisoners with interest,
and Lieutenant Willis called out:

_ “Come, Cody, you are just in time to have dinner with
me, so turn your prisoners over to Brazos Ben and come
along.”

“Thank you, Sif.
“Here, Brazos Ben, took ee: these two men, and re-

‘member they are Snakes, so watch them’ well.”

“Pll do it, chief,’ and Brazos: Ben led his prisoners
away.
Buffalo Pill then had dinner with the lieutenant, who,

“seeing that he was worn out and could scarcely keep. his
eyes open, made him go and lie down, remarking:

‘We will talk it all over later, Bill.”

The scout dropped upon his blanket, and was at once
dead to the world in the deepest of slumbers.

Lieutenant Willis went with Brazos Ben to inter-
view the prisoners, and they both began offering to him
to betray their outlaw comrades, if he would pledge them
their lives, liberty, and.some money.

Lieutenant Willis heard all that they had to say, and
replied:

“TH leave all to Chief Cody.” ge
“But we can make arrangements with you, sir, as ther
scout said he would leave it all ter yer,” urged Sol Nich-
ols.

“When he tells me what he wishes I will quickly an-
swer.’

“But ef we don’t hev yer promise give us tight now

we won't answer, ef we hang fer. it.”

“Ail right; it will be your necks.”
The men gro oaned, for they saw that their es was

useless.

*T put irons on *em ther sergeant gave me, sir, as the
lariat hurt them,”’.said Brazos Ben.
_ “That was. right, for we wish not to harm them.”
“And they hada good dinner, sir, but forgot to bring
their appetites along with them.”
* They'll eat when they are hungry, Ben.”
“Now, which of you is Sol Nictiols, for I can egy
tell, though 1 have seen you both before.”
“Tm Sol Nichols.”
“7 thought you had been shot by Captain Cobra.
See h’aint SO, yer. Secs, though it ain't ‘his: ae aes
living.”
“How did you escape: ee

SiicrenisSencctemesiesepeie senses sence ei

 

 

 

 
 

tee inca

;
|
t.

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“Yl tell yer, sir, ef yer’ll promise me my life.”

~ “Tam not so anxious to know, and make no promises.”

“You, Lem Nichols, sée that Buffalo Bill found the out-

law stronghold without calling upon you,’

“I wish I’d shot yer that day I held yer up on ther trail
and offered ter make terms with yer,’ growled Lem
Nichols.

“Too late for regrets on that point now.

“Come, Ben, I wish to talk with you,” and Brazos Ben
followed the officer away on a walk along the stream.

The camp kept very quict, so as not to disturb the sleep-

ing. scout, though nothing short of a shot would have
awakened him then.
The afternoon passed away, night came, and at supper

time Buffalo Bill arose greatly refreshed, and sat down to
enjoy. the meal with Lieutenant Willis.

CHAPTER XVI.
RHE STORY ATOLD.
“y ou certainly rally rapidly, Cody, for when you came
in this afternoon you were nearer dead than alive, and

now you are yourself again.’
Lieutenant ‘MeKenay “Willis made the remark as he sat

: at jhis camp supper with the scout.

“You see, sir, I had ridden considerably over two hun-
dred miles without sleep for nearly four nights, and with

‘but little rest, while I had the strain upon me of the two

robberies, and playing outlaw myself in holding up Lem
Luby and then in being for a while an El Cobra in Moc-
casin’s band, after which I had a night of it with my two
prisoners.”

“It is a wonder you are alive, Cody.”

“Oh, I'm very much alive, lieutenant, and ready for an- -

other long jaunt, but I wish to tell you just what I did,
and then show you what is before us.”

“T am most anxious to know, but I saw you needed rest
and sleep first of all, so did not ask you anything.”

Buftalo Bill-had finished his supper ard as he and the
lieutenant lighted their pipes, he asked:

“Can the sergeant and Brazos Ben be present, sir, for
it will be best to. have them know, as we may -have to di-
vide our forces.”

“Certainly,” and the lieutenant el Brazos Ben

‘and Sergeant cae to come to his camp.

They were soon there and he said, pleasantly :

“Chief Cody has awakened from the dead, sergeant,
and wishes you and Brazos Ben to hear a story he is
going to tell me.’

Then he continued :

“I went to see your prisoners, Cody, and with Brazos .

Ben as a witness, had a talk with them,

“They tried to impress upon me that you had ‘arranged
with them to Betray their outlaw comrades, and no time
was to be lost, and all that was wanted was my pledge of
setting them free.”

a hope you did not so pledge yourself, sir,’ said Buf-
falo Bill, quickly.
Not L for I ‘mistrusted them.”
' After a moment of silence, Buffalo Bill went on to say:

“You heard, sir, Ned Nordeck’s story of how he was

robbed by the men whom he apse bona fide passen-
gers?”

  

42

“Yes, the colonel wrote me, and Sergeant Long and
Brazos Ben told me what they knew.

“That was a most clever piece of outlawry.”

“Tt was, sir, and when Ned told me he was almost
heartbroken, for they had taken everything.

“T was going to circle around to get their trail, but he
happened to tell me that they had said that other Cobras
intended.to hold up Lem Luby, so I at once decided to
try and checkmate them.

“T told Ned not to make known to 9 the colonel about the
men we wished, and where I could join them, and came
to my secret camp here and got a fresh horse and wrote
the note to you, and, going to the ford, left it there.”

“Tr found it all right, as it frightened my horse, and I
built a fire and read it, so went on and met the men.’

“That was what I hoped for, sir.

“But I then started for the Fort Sum ner trail and it
Was no easy ride, as | went by guess.’

“Tt was a wonder ful ride, to make at night.”

“I camped on the trail, sir, and I may say really held
up -Lem. Luby and robbed him, for I took all he had,
threw out his strong box empty, ‘and we arranged to have
it appear that the Cobras hal done. the work.

‘Then 1 went off to hide my booty, changed my aad
and returned to the trail just as Lem Luby was driving
off, for the outlaws had held him up, and, doubting his
story after being robbed, had made him return to the

scene with them.”

“It was well that you had arr anged for them.”

“Yes, sir; I had half suspected they might, and Luby
would be in trouble if there were no signs.”

“But there were.”

« There were, and as Luby drove away he saw me
and looked half scared to death.”

“Where were the outlaws?”

“They were there, sir, for I had arranged my toilet,
put on my disguise, _and was playing Viper, the Cobra
captain’ "s messenger.’

“Bill Cody, you te death too far,” said Lieutenant
WwW illis, sternly.

“Now, sir, there is the whole booty taken from Ned
Nordeck and Lem Luby, and more, too, that was hidden
away in the cliff, for there is a bag ‘of gold dust, and one
of jewelry taken from passengers,

“T have told you that story, and now I have a plan, as
we have gotten the treasure, to capture the robbers.”

The lieutenant, Sergeant Long and Brazos Ben listened
with the most rapt attention to the story of Buffalo Bill.

Another man they might have doubted, but not the

“man whose whole life was made up of acts of heroism.

They had the booty before their eyes as proof.
eWelel t=
That was all that Brazos Ben had’ ‘said, and it ex-

“pressed volumes for him.

Sergeant Long made no commient, but simply ued
the scout in silence:

As for Lieutenant Willis, he was silent for a moment,
and. then said:

“Now, Cody, what else”

“The capture, first, of Captain Cobra, sir,

“But who is Captain GOobrar se).

“I do not know, sir. He is the new leader, as the old
leader of the band was killed a short time ago.”

m ‘Where is he?”

 

 
18

1 donot know; sin”. 3.

“How are you to find him?” |

“T have a guide, sir. One who will lead me to him,
Sif,”
~“T do not understand.”

You remember the splendid horse [ got from the mes-
senger, Viper?” ;

“Ah, Woes

“Now;. he was. comparatively fresh when I captured
him, had not been ridden far, and hence came from some
of the ranches, ‘

co leeds:

“The man Vi iper came from Old Mexico, from the cap-
tain’s note, so the horse he rode must have been left, as
well eis out, at ae ranch where this new animal was
secured,
~. “Now, i plea Lieutenant Willis, is—of course, sub-
ject to your approval-»-to have you, Brazos len, two
scouts, and the corporal and two soldiers go together,
making eight of us in all, for we do not ‘know what force
may be at the ranch where we find Captain Cobra.

“Sergeant Long, with Dot Driver and the rest of the
command, can go over across the ford and camp there at
a good place 1 know, and on our way back from the
‘ ranches they will be right on our trail to the new “retreat
of the outlaws.”

ve Ahi 12

“We-can pick up the whole:force then, sir, a keep=.

ing clear of the trails, strike for the new retreat, which I

feel certain I can find, getting there before they learn

of Captain Cobra’s capture, or, if we fail to catch him

at the ranches, before he learns . the attempt, we

can doubtless bas him with his men.’ Pe
“The very thing.”

“Tf, we, .fail to find him at one. ‘ the ranches, sir, we
shall at least know who he is, and if he has e gone.to H erd-

ers’ Ranch we can go by and: ‘pick him up, sending one of
the scouts to tell the sergeant to move across to. the Fort
Sumner trail and meet us, w hich will save. time.
ie see, and.a good plan: itis:
“Now, sit, we can go to the point where T met Viper
BAG from there I. will ride his ae an giv ing t
tree rein.

5 “When we see ot way SS goes, dete! BS “we will

to.the place by night, we will the: Hert! ‘day, you and T,
letting the others

Sit; go with: Na pet's horse in _ lead,
follow. te
Ves?

io tas? my belief, ‘sir, ‘that the toe se will tree the out-

law chief, so to speak, as I have an idea that he is some
one who. is a a double ae a ee and (Cobra

both;”

ds ‘begin to think SO: al 80, . Oba:
to start?” Cee

“A Bout: dawn, sit, so-as ig ‘make. the ride Feo to.
Bere and. have a erent rest. 10f, our

pee Ss grave before
work to follow.”

“You hear, sergeant, so arrange according! Lys

not a word to any one of what our. plan is or what neu
have heard.

The sergeant and: ee Ban. ies en respective
camps, the lieutenant and Buffalo oS turned in, a all
encampn wentor xcs

gory,

was socn- silent i. the. wait launter’s:

‘five ue now up in the timber, join us,’

the animal

When do you. wish

but say :

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.
CHAPTER XVII

~ NORDECRK’S SUSPECTED PASSENGERS. 7

_ The sun was just rising the next morning. when. the
command pulled out of the little camp.

In the lead rode Buffalo Bill as guide, and Lieutenant
Willis was riding with him.

Then came Brazos Ben and the sergeant, and tole
ing was the. corporal with his sixteen men behind him.

The two prisoners were next, with a scout by the side
of each, and Dot Driver followed with the rest of the
scouts, the pack-horses and extra animals, among the
later. being Viper’s splendid steed that was yet to play a
most important part.

‘Crossing the ford, they were about to turn off to “the

right, to go to the camp Buffalo Bill had in view, when
Lieutenant Willis recalled the fact that it was “stage day,”
and Ned Nordeck was about due at the ford.

So they ‘waited by the side of the trail, and soon the
coach was discerned far away, coming toward the ford.

“It would be well, sir, for those who might be in the
coach not to. see the command, as. they perhaps would
mention it in Herders’. Ranch, and I should not be seen
either, so you and Brazos Ben could meet Ned Nordeck,
sir.

“Tam glad you spoke of it, Cody, for you are right,”
answered the.officer, so the little command moved on to
the camp Coc ly had in view, and when the coach crossed
the ford only Lieutenant Willis and’ Brazos Ben were
there.

‘Ned Nordeck gave a signal that he had passengers
inside, and drew rein, while “those within the coach looked
out.

= Well, (Nordeck, 00 Haye overtaken us, but we. will
follow. yousclose into Herders’ Ranch as soon. as my
said the lieuten- ».
At ee Rais a be oad smile broke over the.face ‘of
Ned Nordeck, and he replied:

“All right, sir.” Ioshall not drive over fast, though I
came along pretty well to the ford, for I were detained
picking up the six gents inside the coach, sir—miners
from-up Santa Fe way, they tells me, and hooking . it
across country, fearing to be robbed.”

“Ah, -that is it, is: it? and, riding up to the ‘coach,
Lieuténarit Willis glaticed within and: Said:

“You are miners, then?’

“Ves sir, and-we has our boodle Bien, ee was pwd
of’ riding horseback, or sticking to the trails, for fear ther
Cobras. we has Heard so much about might jump us.

“But we str uck ther stage trail, and concluded ter rie
from here on,” said one of. the men. —
» Well, you need have no fear now, for the oie
of late have put us on our guard at the fort, and you will
be: well protected, though you may not sée us, and all we
wish is ior the Cobras to make an attack, for oa are
more than you see to take care of you.’ eee

Then turning to Ned Nordeck, the officer continned

“You have a valuable freight, driver ?” .

“Yes, sir; a lot of gold dust came into Taos” on the

coach from Santa ee

 “Allsri¢ht,-have no fear, it will be safe.
“Tf not in sight, we will be near enough to aid you.
“Drive on, now,” and Lietitenant Willis nodded as he

 

 

 
 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

saw that Ned Nordeck had scribbled something on a slip
of paper and dropped it over his dashboard into the trail.
The coach rolled on, and the lieutenant and Brazos
Ben remained seated upon their horses in the trail, the
former remarking:
“Ben, those are Cobras, or they belie their looks.”

“Sure, sir, for did you see how scared they looked.

when they saw us.”

“Ves, I saw that Ned Nordeck was in trouble the mo-
ment he drove up.

“The coach is out of sight now, so
he threw down.”

Ben quickly dismounted, and picking up the crumpled
paper, handed it to the officer.

, Smoothing it out, he read, scrawled with a pencil :
' “T picked these pilgrims up six mile back.

“One I kin swear was with t’others thet held me up
t’other day, and I believes they is Cobras; so stick to me,
fer I has thirty thousand in gold dust along.”

“Ben, is there not a trail where we can cut the trail
off within the next few miles?”

“Yes, sir, down Dry Canyon, for there is no water
in it. now, and it saves us three miles.”

“Good! Buffalo Bill is not over half a mile away,
so we will make the ride. :

“Come on,”

They dashed on aiter the command, and were not
long in overtaking them.

“That explains what Moccasin told me, sir, that there
were to be three hold-ups together.

“We can nip this one, too,” said the scout, when he had
read the driver’s note and heard what the lieutenant had
CORSA. re

Directing the corporal to take half of his soldiers and
the scouts, with the prisoners and pack-horses, on to the
camp, which Dot Driver knew how to find, the other half
of the command dashed away for Dry Canyon to head off
the coach.

hand me that paper

CHAPTER XVIEl.
Hie TUCK,
When Ned Nordeck drove on he wore a different ex-

pression from what he had when he came to the fort.
He knew that there was some trouble in the coach.

The men were talking in low, earnest tones, and he

sat smiling blandly on the box.

“Nipped,. by the great Rio Grande

“min luck, or 1’m.a tiar.

“Half an hour ago I was as good as robbed, but now
I is ther top dog in the bow-wow pickernic.”’

The road was a trifle rough, after leaving the ford, .as
Ned had to wind around a small mountain to reach the
plain beyond. pate os

It was through the other side of this mountain that Dry
Canyon ran, in the summer a cut-off of several miles,
but never traveled by the coach in spring and winter.

“Hold on, pard.” “

Ned drew rein as he was approaching the spot where
- Dry Canyon came out into the trail.

“What is it?” .
“Say, Herders’ Ranch are a pretty tough place, ain't

he muttered.

39
!

+

ite) -
“No more tougher than ther average.”

\

\

49

“We has heerd thet it is, and we don’t want to take
our dust in thar’ and be robbed of it, so we'll continue
to hoof it,” |

“How so?” ;

“You has our pay fer ye’r ride, so keep it, and we'll
hoot it, givin’ Herders’ Ranch ther go by, and showin’
ourselves in settlements only where we knows honest
folks lives in ’em.”

“It’s your funeral, not mine, so do as yer pleases.”

“All right; good-by, and thank yer.”

‘The men had lost no time in getting their traps to-
gether, and as they got out of the coach they were sud-
denly startled by the words:

“Which way, men?’

It was Lieutenant Willis who asked the question.

He was on foot and rose like an apparition from among
the rocks, while half a dozen scouts and soldiers appeared
coming up, it seemed, from the very ground all around.

The six men did not see the whole force, or they might
have thought before they acted.

They saw the officer and several soldiers on one side.

They failed to see other soldiers ahead, and Buffalo
Bill and half a dozen scouts in the shadow of the trees
behind them. Tea

So they made the mistake of opening fire. .

Their fire was a deadly one, for a scout and a soldier
dropped dead under it.

But the fire that answered theirs was more deadly, for
three of the men were killed and the other three threw
up their hands, but one was not quick enough, as Ned
Nordeck called out:

“T’m inter this pickernic with both feet.”

He fired as he spoke, and the one who had been the
leader also fell.

The other two, terribly scared, were quickly seized and
put in irons. .

“We did not expect a fight, Cody, but.a quiet surren-
der; but they fired first and killed a soldier and one of
your scouts.”

“Ves, sir; and leave four less of their number to hang.

“Now to see that we made no mistake.”’ Me

A search of the traps of the pretended miners showed
that the alleged “gold dust” were pebbles and sand.

The man whom Ned Nordeck had thought he recog-
nized as one of the band with outlaw officer Rattle, had

“been killed, but he was sure that it was the same one,

while, that no mistake had been made in attacking Ned’s
passengers, there was proof in the costume the party
wore under their miners’ garb, while on the body of
the chief was found a note in Spanish from Captain
Cobra to Adder, as he was called, stating that when word
was brought to him from Rattle, stating that the coach
had been held up on its run to Taos, he, Adder, was to
attack it on the return, when it was known by him, Cap-
tain Cobra, that a large sum in gold dust would be sent
through from Santa Fe. : ‘
The note also stated that the men-were then to strike
across to the Fort Sumner trail, and catch Lem Luby’s
coach on its run to Herders’ Ranch, as they would have
ample time to go back to where they had left their horses
and do so, and he, the chief, also knew that a good sum
in dust was also to be carried by the stage on that run.
Continuing, the letter stated that if the four attacks
arranged were successful, the Cobras could go into their

 
 

20

new retreat and remain in hiding for a couple of months,
until the impression was given out that they had been
satished with their large tobberies | and had really left
the trails.

. “A precious letter, shite, Cody, “dl a dead give away of
all their plans.

“But we can go on now with our plan, for Lem Luby
will be safe, as he goes through to- “morrow, and this was
the band that intended to hold him up.’

“They ll be held up with a rope now,’
lighted Nordeck.

“T will send men back to pick up their horses and take
them to camp, while we go on as we intended, Cody, for
the sergeant will attend to that and also to burying the
dead...

‘eYou, Nordeck, go on your way,

said the de-

now, and report in

Tlerders’ Ranch how you were robbed on your return,

for we wish it believed that vou were.”

AD will,
lie,’ was the reply of the driver, who was greatly tickled
over his lucky escape.

Sergeant Long was given his instructions to go to the
camp “Buffalo Bill had decided upon, and to carry the
dead with him, and bury them there, while Dot Driver
was to go in search of the outlaws’ horses.

Buffalo Bill and Lieutenant Willis were now mounted
for their ride, both well pleased with the work they had
done.

Accompanying then: were the corporal and two sol-
diers, and Brazos Ben and a couple of scouts, and they
started off at a: good’ pace. though in heading off the
coach as they had, they had not lost much ting: and had
gone hardly over half a mile out of their way.

As Brazos Ben knew every trail in that part of the
country, and could. eut corners,” as Buitalo Bill saie;
the latter being new there and with only a general knowl-
edge of the lay of the land, he led the way, and set the
pace. see
“A halt of an hour was made at noon, and then, push-
ing on, they reached the scene of Buffalo Bill’s and
Viper’s night encounter, while the sun was yet half an
hour high.

“You cut corners well, Ben, and ‘saved us. miles, as 1.

could see, for. when | Fode. it in the might. 1 had to tant
the way as I found it, ’ said Buffalo Bill,

They went inte. camp near the ¢
after a good supper the outlaw’s horse was saddled by
Buffalo Bill, and Lieutenant Willis, Brazos Ben, a sol-
dier and a scout mounted to accompany him, leaving
the corporal and two others in camp.

__ Buffalo Bill. went to: the trail where he had halted
Viper, the others following some distance behind, and
just in sight in the twilicht.

Now, good horses, show us where your home is.’
The horse started off at a brisk walk, and getting out
of the timber, went into a steady canter, as though he
knew just where he was going and was anxious to get
there.

The scout heed ie back as he ‘seemed inclined to

_ inereéase his speed, being anxious to go on.

Behind, a short distancé, followed: Licuténdnt Willis

lieutenant, and thank yer fer ther chance ter

others had been left in waiting.

‘rave of Viper, antes.

Varring the head of the horse toward the ranches, he
said: :

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

and the others, wate the ones of the dumb

guide with a great deal of interest,
So the miles were passed over until they had been a
couple of hours on their way, and then ahead loomed up

a light.

Straight for it went the horse, Sad soon halted at a
gate leading into a ranch.

“This is his home, sir.’

“He came direct, even ao ine light was visible.

“We will return in the morning. and investigate, hay-
ing daytime for our work rather than night, if you. deem
best, sir.’

‘| do, Cody, for there is-no immediate hurry,” re-
sponded the lieutenant, and a rapid gallop back to the
camp was made.

They were all in their blankets by eleven o’clock, out
up again and in the saddle when the sun was rising.

Buffalo Bill and Lieutenant Willis then rode ahead
alone, Brazos Ben following, with the others, yet not to
come in sight of those at ‘the fanch, but to await in a
clump of timber a mile away, and await a signal for his
approach, if needed, the signal to be a waving of a white
handkerchief.

It was about nine o'clock when the lieutenant and the
scout reached the gate of the ranch where they had
stopped the night before under the guidance of the out-
law’s horse.

The same dumb guide was along now, but was not rid-
den, the scout leading him from the timber whete the

When they came to the gate of the ranch they opened

-it and rode in, Buffalo Bill ‘remarking :

_ “Now to see if our dumb guide has led us astray.”

CHAPTER XEX.
a) TRE COWBOYS STORY,
The ranch was about the most pretentious in that wild

land, and as strongly built as a fort was the large log

cabin.
There was an inclosure of some dozen acres surround-
ing the home cabin and the outhouses near, the fence

being a stout stockade, like the forts of the frontier.

A grove was there, a stream ran through the in-

* Sclosure, gtass was plentiful and the fenced-i -in portion

could be teed as a corral for horses and cattle in case of
a raid by Indians.

In one corner of the inclosure, on the bank of the
stream, and sheltered by heavy timber, were the cabins of
the cowboys, some eighth of a mile ae from the
ranchero’s cabin.

A dozen fine horses were running about, ind as many
cows within the stockade, while there- were also a few
sheep, chickens, ducks, geese and hogs, giving it a very
homelike appeararice.

Riding up to the cabin, a hail brought from the de-

tached kitchen a Mexican wotnan, who appeared to recog-

nize the lieutenant, for she said in broken English:
"Senor will be sorry he not home to see senor officer.’
“Where is the senor?’ asked the leutenant.
“He go early to see oy senorita—come back to-
night.’’*
WT hank you; but we picked up this horse on our way.
“Ts there no one here to take him?”

 
 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“I call my man, Jacinto,’ and placing her hands to
her lips she gave a call, loud, long and winding, the notes
as clear as a bugle.

They saw almost itnmediately a fant come out of one
of the cowboys’ cabins, spring upon a saddled horse and
ride rapidly toward them

‘Jacinto come—he know, senor.

"Have senor had breakfast ?”

Yes, thank (you,
“Senors stay to ditinet?”

“No, thank you, we will go over to the ranch and see
your master,’ assured the lieutenant.

A moment after the horseman came up and the woman
met him and said. quickly, in Spanish:

‘The senor officer is a friend of our senor.”

The man was a Mexican half-breed, and said, politely,
in English:

“The senor is away.

‘“T ain Jacinto, the cowboy chiei of ranch, senors.”’

“We are going.to the ranch where your master is visit-
ing, but here is a horse this gentleman picked up and we
wish to know if he belongs here, for he was saddled
and bridled as you see, and perhaps some harm has be-
fallen his rider.

“Do you know the animal?”

Both Buffalo Bill and Lietitenant Willis saw the start
of the man as he glanced at the horse, which before he
had not appeared to notice.

He rode up to him, looked him over, and the saddle
and bridle, too, and said:

“Yes, senor captain, the horse belongs here; he is one

of the senor’s best animals.”
“How did he get away, | wonder ?”

“A stranger senor came here several days ago, and the °

senor loaned him his horse to go on with, as he had
important business north of here.”

“Ah! but can harm have befallen him?”

“Where did the senor find him?’

“Some fifteen miles from here, in a heavy timber, north,
near the hills.”

“Did the senor find him loose and saddled and bridled?”

“Yes,” said Buffalo Bill, wishing to relieve the heuten-
ant of any prevarication they might have to indulge in.

“T found the horse, and he was saddled and bridled as
you see.”

The Mexican’s face showed that he was worried, and
said:

“Perhaps his rider was killed on his way back, or
Baye the horse got away from him when he halted for
fost:

“Yes; but 1 leave the horse with you, as you say he
belongs to the senor, and we will tell the ranchero about
finding him.” |

“Please do- so, senor, and if his rider does not come
in on foot soon, Pll go in search of him.” ,

“No, you had better await the return of the senor, for
we are goillg io conic back with him.”

21

“Yes, senor.”

“Well, we must be off, so you take the horse.’

With this they rode away, and they saw that the Mexi-
can and his wife were talking earnestly together.

“Well, Bill, what do you think ?”

“The horse belongs there, sir.’

“Beyond a doubt; but do you make anything out of
that factr) ; ;

NO CS sire |

Fach ee bata

“We are on the right track.”

“It is hard to believe.”

“True, but we will soon know,’ and the two passed
on to the timber, where the others were awaiting them,
and upon looking back saw Jacinto was just leaving
the ranch and following their trail.

“Lieutenant Willis, we must catch that fellow,
Buffalo Bill.

eka

“Corporal, ride on with your met into a hiding place,
and Scout Cody and 1 will see to that fellow.”

The corporal rode on with the others, and soon wete
hidden from view, while Lieutenant Willis and Buffalo
Bill followed for a while, and then turned as though to
ride back to the ranch.

As they neared the edge of the timber, they saw Jacinto
not far away, and-coming at a rapid canter.

39

»

‘said

He saw thein, half drew réin, and then came on in a
confused way, while he said:

“Lost you way, seniors?

“T feared you would, so come to guide you.”

“Thank you, my man.

“We wish you to go with us, so lead the way,’ re-
sponded Lieutenant Willis. ;

Jacinto showed that he was worried, but rode to the.
front, and a moment after Lieutenant Willis and Buffalo
Bill rode to either side of him, the scout’s hand grasped
his bridle rein, and two revolvers covered him.

“My man, if you do not wish to die, quietly submit.
“We are going to your master, and you are to go with
us.”

“Oh, senor, I have done nothing.”

~“T am not accusing you, only we need you just now,”
and as Lieutenant Willis spoke Buffalo Bill had ven oa
the nian.

Soon they came upon the corporal and his party, and
the fear of the Mexican was very evident, Brazos Ben
retnarking:

“T know him, lieutenant, and he naine is Jacinto.

“He is known as a bad man in Herders’ Ranch.”

Having slipped irons upon his wrists which the cor-
poral had along, the party rode rapidly on for two hours,
and, reaching a timbered ridge, a halt was made.

 
 

 

woe | THE BUFFALO BILL,STORIES.

“Scout Cody and I will go on as before, and you re-

main here, corporal, until Brazos Ben sees our signal that

tells you ae at needed.”
Ces, sir.

“Well, Cody, a you ready :

“All ready, sir,” answered Buffalo Bill, and the two
rode out of the timber and directed their way toward a
ranch in the distance.

“Now, Cody, we will soon know it a

“Yes, lieutenant.”

“I wish you to act at the proper time and do as you
deem best.

“When you are sure of your game do as you deem
best, and I will back you up.”

With this the two rode out of the timber and followed
a well-beaten trail toward the ranch, leaving Brazos Ben
and his fellow-scout hidden in a thicket, each with a
field glass, to watch them and await a signal.

“Tt. will be a great shock to them all if your suspicions
prove to be correct, Cody,’ ’ said the, lieutenant, as they
rode along.

“Tt will, indeed, sir.

‘But it had better be a severe shock now than wait un-
til it is too late, and their happiness is nee a

“You are right.’

“I shall feel glad indeed if I can have done anything
to prevent so fearful an alternative as appears to be now
pending frem falling upon that happy family.”

“Yes, indeed, sir.”

“See, there they are seated upon the piazza.”

“Yes, sir, and the ranchero is there, I notice.”

“Then our ride is not in vain.

“Here we are at the gate, and, opening it, they rode
into the stockade inclosure of Evergreen Ranch, the
home of a wealthy rancher named Reeves. :

pe?

CHAPTER XX)
THE ACCUSATION

Ree Reeves, the daughter of the owner of Evergreen
Ranch, known as the Rose of the Ranch, was about to
order her horse. for a ride when she saw a horseman
coming toward the house.

She took a glass from where it hung upon the piazza,
turned it upon the horseman, and said:

“It is he. Now 1 shall make my charge direct.”

She therefore resumed her seat in an easy-chair, picked .

up a book and pretemded to read, though read she did not.
Her manner seemed nervous and ill at ease.
She was seated upon a side of the large cabin that was
not the living end, and no one was near her or within
call. |

\

She had walked hither when she recognized the com-
ing horseman, and had drawn a seat near to her own,

Near her were the steps that led to the rack where ~

visitors hitched their horses, and before her was a fine
view of the surrounding country..

The horseman, wn was Taylor Travis, a young
ranchero, came along slowly.

He seemed in no hurry, and had not quickened his pace
in his long ride across the prairie,

Entering the stockade through the massive gate of
logs that “hung on weights and rose and lowered by a
slight pressure, instead of opening on hinges, he rode
up to the hitching rack, dismounted, and, seeing where
the maiden was seated, waved his hat to her.

She bowed in' return, and. approaching, he ascended to
the piazza and joined her.

She was now perfectly calm, and reevad him with
a smile and a grasp of the hand. |

After some general conversation for a half an hour,
he asked her if she would not go for a ride with him, |

“Father and mother have gone over to Bender’s Ranch
to see Mrs. Bender, who is quite ill, and I prefer to await
their return,’ was the reply.

“Suppose we ride and meet them,” he asked.

“No; I prefer to remain here.”

At that moment, approaching the house with Buffalo
Bill, Lieutenant Willis saw the young girl rise to greet
them, and she warmly grasped his hand, with the words:

» “TI must alone give you welcome, Lieutenant Willis, as

my parents are absent on a visit to a neighbor who is ill,
but they will soon return.”

“I thank you for your welcome, Miss Reeves, and de;
sire to present my particular friend, Chief of Scouts Will-
iam F. Cody, whom you. have heard of as Buffalo Bill.”

“Ah, I am most happy indeed to welcome you, Mr.
Cody, for indeed I have heard of you many times. You
are both acquainted, I believe, with Mr. Taylor Travis.”

Taylor Travis had remained back where they had been
seated, leaving Rose to advance alone and receive her
guests, but as she mentioned his name he advanced
quickly.

“Indeed, we eve met es Miss Rose, and I am
most happy in meeting both Lieuténant Willis and Chief

‘Cody again.

“T had no idea that you were in he part of the coun-
try, gentlemen, you, Mr. Cody, having returned to the
Northwest, it was said.”

“It was a mistake, Mr. Travis, for as I faa HO: com-

pieted the were ae brought. me to Fort Taos, I re-
mained to do so,” said Buffalo Bill, as they all now took
seais upon the piazza.

 

V

th

in
th
co
sel
Bi

tra
the
he

the
ane
for

hot
dea

for

 
 

 

‘THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“T thought that you had done your work remarkably

well, Mr. Cody, as you drove the Cobras out of ie coun-
iy remarked Rose.

“Yes, they disbanded after you had killed their leader,”
added Taylor Travis.

“No, that was a blind only—-I will abt say to have nie
leave for the Northwest, but to lull suspicion regarding
them, have valuable freight sent through on the coaches,
and thus be able to make several attacks consecutively and
get large rewards.”

“You astound me, Mr. Cody

“Are you aware that they intended doing as you say?”
asked Taylor Travis.

“They have made. the attacks nceady. sir,
different places, holding up Lem Luby’s Fort Sumner
coach, again the Taos coach, driven by Ned Nordeck, and
a second time catching the latter driver on his return to
Herders’ Ranch.”

“Can this be possible, Le erenk Willis ?” asked Taylor
Travis.

Tet 1S, Sits

“Then the booty gained must hdve been very large, as
the company was expecting no hold-ups.” :

‘The drivers state that they carried very rich cargoes.
But this can hardly be interesting; Miss Reeves.”’ |

“On the contrary, Lieutenant Willis, 1 am most deeply
interested.

in three

“T suppose, then, that you and Mr, Cody are again on

the trail of El Cobras?”
ayy es; and we came to this country to get what aid we
could. We just went by your ranch, Travis.”

“I regret 1 was not at home, but command me if I can

serve you.”

“Thank you, we will,” said. the officer,
Bill remarked : Ae :

“By the way, Mr. Travis, we picked up a horse on our
trail, which your man Jacinto said was yours, bearing
the saddle and bridle of some friend you loaned him to,
ine having just come on from Mexico.”

“Tndeed | and where was the rider?”

od strongly suspect that harm has befallen him,
there were bloodstains on the saddle, and——~”

“My God!. Can my poor friend have been murdered 2”
and Taylor Travis was visibly affected.

ber

 

The horse we left with your man, promising to in-
form you of what had occurred.”

“Pardon mé, Miss Rose, if I at once return to my

home, for the gentleman Nie Cody ls of was a very”

»

dear friend of mine, ane

‘We will accompany you to your home, Mr. Travis,

for we go that trail,’ and Buffalo Bill arose.
“J shail be happy to have you come, gentlemen, but I

while Buffalo

for

23

shall ride like the wind, and I know the hospitality of this -
house too well to believe Miss Reeves will allow you to
depaat before dinner. I must be off at once, for v

“You will remain here, sir!

“Hands up!’ cried Buffalo Bill, as he a the
ranchero with his rev olyer, to the utter amazement of the -
Rose of Evergreen Ranch, while Lieutenant Willis calmly
looked on, a simile of triumph hovering about his lips.

 

CHAPTER XXE:
UN MASKED.

Rose Reeves uttered a slight exclamation of amaze-
ment and alarm commingled, but she did not appear like
one who was in love with the man whom Buffalo Bill,
held under cover of his. revolver.

The ranchero, as white as though dead, for an instant
seemed dazed, and did not raise his hands.

Then he said in a reproachful tone:

“What horrid joke is this, Mr. Cody ?”

“It is far from a joke.

“Hold out your hands, or I will shoot you dead in,
Mu) tracks!

The man saw the scout’s eyes, and reluctantly held one
hand out, while he moved the other toward his hip...

“Tf you place your hand on your revolver, you will
never draw it! Obey me!”

Rose Reeves stood calm, white-faced and watchful.

Lieutenant Willis did not move.

The ranchero suddenly held out both hands, and quickly

Buffalo Bill snapped a pair of steel manacles upon the
wrists. Viana ated
Then he hastily unbuckled the belt of arms the ranchero.
wore beneath his riding jacket, and said: .

“Sit there, sir!’

Dropping into the seat, the ranchero called out:

“T appeal to you, Miss Reeves! This is your house,
and you allow this desperado to insult me thus?”

“Mr. Cody, sir, is an officer of the law. If he is mak-
ing a mistake, he must, be responsible,

“I cah do nothing to save you, for an ‘officer ‘of the
army, ny, his presence and silence, upholds the act of Mr.

(??

Cody.’

The words were quietly uttered, and, turning to her, | in
his courteous but frank way, Buffalo Bill said:
“T owe you an humble apology, Miss Reeves, for cre-

: ating such a SCEle in Your home, in OMT presence.

“But this man intended to escape us, and I acted as I
did to avoid having to kill him, or be killed by him,”

“Of what do you accuse him, sir?”

“Tam sorry, Miss Reéves, as he has been an honored
guest beneath your roof, to tell you that I accuse him of ©

 
  

  

a THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

leading a double life—of being a rancliero, honored by
those who know him, and secretly of being one of the
Cobra band of outlaws.”

“What! A Cobra!’ cried Rose, excitedly.

“Yes, Miss Reeves.”

“Tt i8 false! (He lies that says so.”

va hope, when you oe such a oe accusation, Mr.
Cody, you have the proof.”

“T have what is satisfactory prcot to me, Miss Reeves,
and Lieutenant Willis can say whether he believes as I
do or not.”

“T believe that he is all that Mr. Cody says, and more,”
was the officer’s reply.

“And you, too, utter a base lie ag t me!” cried the

ranchero.

Lieutenant W illis* made no reply, and Buffalo Bill con-
tinued :

“I not only accuse you of being a Cobra, sir, but of
being Captain Cobra, the new chief of the outlaw band.”

In his calm way, Buffalo Bill continued to tell his story,
and, pledging Roe Reeves to secresy, told how the coach
robberies had been thwarted; that the lieutenant, with
scouts and soldiers, was aiding him, and he gave a signal
that caused Brazos Ben and the others to ride out of their
hiding place and come at a gallop toward the house.

He had told of his meeting with Viper, the letter he
carried, and how the outlaw’s horse had led them to the
ranch of Taylor Travis.

_ Then he continued:

“The man Jacinto told us that it was his master’s horse,
and that the one he had loaned it to was a oe of his
trom Mexico.

“That aided me in my suspicion, and, when we cap-
tured this man Jacinto, who is coming yonder, when he
was on his way to look up the body of Viper, we found
upon searching him, a list of cattle and horses on the
Travis ranch, and some instructions.

“Jacinto told us the ranchero had written it, and it was

the same handwriting that was on the outlaw ee in- -

structions to the man Rattle.

“Hore is the Vi iper note, so, if you have any of the writ-
ing of Taylor Travis, you can satisfy yourself by compari-
son with this note of instructions written by Captain
Cobra,”

“I have several notes written me by Mr. Taylor Travis.

ay will get them, and see how they compare with the

writing of Captain Cobra,” and Rose left the piazza.
When she returned, in a few minutes,’ she found the
party, under the corporal, had arrived, bringing with them
Jacinto, who glanced despairingly toward vee ranchero as
they rode up.
Resuming, Buffalo Bill said:

“Before you compare the writing, Miss Reeves, permit

    

said:

 

me tos say that all during our conversation about fies horse
picked up and the acts of Cobra, both Lieutenant Willis

and I closely watched the face of Taylor Travis, and were.

convinced that we had made no mistake.

“When he attempted to leave for his home, to escape,
Lieutenant Willis gave me the signal agreed upon; that he
was sure we had made no mistake, and | acted.”

Rose Reeves took the note found on Viper, and com-
pared it with her letters.

A mere glance was sufficient, for she said:

“The same hand penned both.

“T wish no further proof of the man’s guilt, and I now
can understand many of his actions that were blanks to
me before

“Thad ie told him I did not trust him when you gen-
tlemen rode up; but there come my father and mother, I
am happy to say.” :

Lieutenant Willis went to greet the ranchero and his
wite, who seemed surprised at the appearance of so many
horsemen there.

The story was quickly told, and Taylor Travis was led
away by the corporal, who had orders not to allow him
to converse with the other prisoner, Jacinto.

Then Mr. and Mrs. Reeves would have it so, that they
should remain to dinner, as it was then noon, and Lieuten-
ant Willis and Buffalo Bill sat down with them in. the
dinine-room, while a most substantial meal was served to
the others out on the piazza.

Immediately after dinner, Buffalo Bill suggested that
they start, as it was most necessary to get to the ranch of
Taylor Travis before-an alarm could be given, and then to
press on to the retreat of the outlaws before any news
should’reach Herders’ Ranch of Captain Cobra’s capture.

Tt was one o’clock when farewells were said to the la-
dies, for Mr. Reeves and-a couple of his cowboys went’on
a the party, and at a gallop Buffalo Bill led the way
for the Oak Park Ranch, where Travis had his home.

The horses were kept at a good speed to the timber near
the ranch, and there a halt was made, and all watched
Buffalo Bill while he made a gag a and thrust it into the
mouth of Captain Cobra, and bound ne manacled hands
to the saddle horn.

Jacinto was treated the same way, and then the sagutt

‘We want no calls, no signals, and, to make all appear
well, lieutenant, will you lead, with Captain Cobra, so as
to make him look like a host conducting fr riends to his
home ?”

“T will, Cody,” was the ae
the ranch.

and the party set out for

The wife of Jacinto saw them coming, and did not ob-
serve the condition of the ranchero or her husband until

      

 
  
  
  
  
   
  
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
    
   
  
 
   

they halted, and then she gave a wild yell, and bolted like
a.deer for the cowboys’ quarters.

But Buffalo Bill’s lariat gave a whirl in the air, and
caught the Mexican woman Pe she had time to alarm
the cowboys.

Instantly, Brazos Ben had dragged her into the house,
and the cowboy who came at her call, slipposing he was
wanted, was quickly made a prisoner.

“There are four of my pards out with the cattle, lieu-
tenant; are you going to rope them in, too—and for et
may I ask?” he said.

The gag having been removed from his mouth, Captain
Cobra said: a

“That mah and his four pards-are innocent, for only
Jacinto and his wife know who and what I am.”

“AM right; if innocent, they will have nothing to fear.

“Mr. Reeves, you will remain in charge of the ranch,
with your two men, for all of the cowboys here must re-
main prisoners until we finish our work,” said Lieutenant
Willis. .

One of the cowboys from the Reeves ranch was then
sent after the four out with the cattle, and they came in
without. suspicion of. harm, and made no resistance when
covered.

“We leave it all to you, Mr. Reeves, for you know us,’
said one.

A search of the cabin had proven to Lieutenant Willis
and Buffalo Bill that they had proof enough of the ranch-
ero’s guilt to hang a dozen men; and then, mounted upon
fresh horses, the very best on the ranch, the party. started
off, carrying their prisoners, Captain Cobra and Jacinto,

with them, the woman and the five cowboys being left

to the care of Ranchero Reeves and his two men.

‘We must reach the sergeant’s camp by midnight, rest
until dawn, and then push for the new retreat of the
Cobras,” said Buffalo Bill, and the men determined not to
spare themselves or their horses until the -work was fin-
ished. '

CHAPTER XO XxT.
BUPFALO BILL LEADS.

With Buffalo Bill in the lead, and good horses under
them, Lieutenant Willis knew that the pace would be a

good one, and the others knew it, too.

There was great anxiety on the part of the scout to
reach the little command in camp and push for the retreat
of the outlaws before, in any way, word could reach them
of the capture of their chief, the failure of their last at-
tempt to rob Ned Nordeck’s coach, and that their game
of crime was drawing to a close. |

For this reason, both Buffalo Bill and Lieutenant Wil-
lis were anxious to push on.

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. — 25

But they could: not go beyond the strength of their
horses, and they must remain for hours in the camp when
they reached it, for rest.

Buffalo Bill’s brain was busy, however, and suddenly a
thought flashed upon him, and he called back, as he was
leading, to ask Lieutenant Willis to ee ride - with
him.

The officer at once spurred to the front.

“Well, Bill, anything wrong?”

“No, sir; 3 the contrary, I have an cae I wish to sug
gest to you.”

“Go ahead.”

“You know that the coach relay oe is about six
miles ee where the sergeant’s camp is.’

Nes . ;

‘As the trail bends around the range, it is really nearer
to the outlaws’ retreat than the camp.” :

“Well ?”

“They a? there some twenty horses, and they 4 are all

good ones.’

“T know that.”

“Now, why can we not push at once for the relay sta-
tion, and get fresh horses in place of these we ride, while
Brazos Ben and another scout make all haste for the

‘camp, and tell the sergeant to saddle up and meet us at a

point on the trail we are to take?”

“Splendid!”

“By doing this, sir, we can, by dawn, be twenty miles
from the camp, and, with ee fresh horses to
push on with.”

“The very thing to do, Bill.”

“The men can stand it, sir, and will gladly accept the

hard work, while, if you wish, you can leave the prisoners .

at the relay station, under guard, to await our return.”
“No, Bill; we will take them with us, for Captain Cobra
is a perfect devil; he has money in plenty, you may be
sure; men are human, so can be tempted, and I do not
care to risk him in the care of the stock-tenders at the
station.” :
aay a is true, sir, so along the prisoner goes with us.’

“Ves.”
“Rit I will send Brazos Ben on to tell the ee to

move at on and head us on the trail, as we go by. the

relay. station.”

“By all means; and Brazos Ben will know just where
we are, to join forces.” oe

“Yes, sir; but not a word is to be said to the stock-tend-
ers of where we are going, as you know we do not know
whom we can trust; in fact, it would not be best for me
to go on to the sergeant’s camp, carrying the prisoners
along, so the men then would not see them, and you oo
get, at the relay station, fresh horses enough for all of us.

 
 

“That would be the better way, Cody, and your horse
that you tide now can be carried on to where we join you
on the oa and there staked out somewhere, to await our
return.”

oo Wes, sir’

Brazos Ben was called to the front than, ‘the plan ex-
plained to him, and he also said it was the best, while he
remarked that there was a point ten miles from the ser-
-geant’s camp and seven from the relay station, where the
two trails joined, and there the separate commands could
meet, the first one to arrive waiting for the other.

So Brazos Ben was to go with the lieutenant, the cor-
poral, and a soldier, the rest, with the prisoners, to ac-
company Buffalo Bill.

Half a mile farther on they parted, and Buffalo Bill led
on, at a still more rapid pace, knowing that he would not
have to depend upon the horses they rode to carry them
on to the retreat.

It was just midnight when the scout and his party were
challenged by the sentinel at the little camp.

The sergeant was up, and greeted Buffalo Bill as he
dismounted from his horse, and the command was at once
called to get ready for the march.

Sergeant Long learned of the capture of Captain Cobra
with delight, and was glad to find out that all looked so
favorable for the running down of the entire band.

“Our horses are all fresh, sir, and can stand a ride of
seventy or eighty miles well at a push, with rest at the
other end of the trail, and we can make it without a hitch,
never fear,” said rose Long. |
Then he continued: .

“Now, sit, I wish to tell you that there was a visitor to

our-camp, whom I thought best to Nas asa pe ae

your return.”

“Who is he, sergeant ?”

“He is a man who has been to the bid oicasionatin and
lives the life of a hermit, being a great hunter.

“There are many who say he is one of the ne band,
_and he certainly knows all about them.

“He came into camp yesterday, and wished to see you.

“TI told him you were not here, and then he asked to see
Lieutenant Willis.

“Telling him also that he was. absest) he told me that he
_had recently made some important discoveries about Cap-
tain Cobra and his men, and We to Abie his aid in
hunting them down.”

“This is strange, indeed ; a he may bas a spy.”

“So I feared, sir; and, when he said he would come

again, I told him that he must remain, that he could not
leave, as he knew of our camp there. ay

“He made no resistance, said I was right, ‘and asked to

have a couple of men go with him to his camp to see to his

‘THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

 

stock, as he had not expected to be gone long when he ©
left.

“I sent Scout Dot Driver with him, with four other
men, fearing a surprise; but he took them to his retreat,

and affairs there were as he said.

“Then he mounted a good horse he had, and returned
with them.”

“And is here now?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you know his name?”

“They call him Panther as sir.’

“Ah, I have met him.

oe him here, ser rgeant, and we will have a talk with
him.”

The sergeant soon returned with the man, an old trap-
per, who had lived alone in the wilds, and had the power
to tame panthers and other wild beasts.

He was manacled, but did not seem to mind it, and said,
without using dialect:

“T came here to see ‘you, Mr. oe for I wander this

- country at will.

“T knew that you had not returned to the Northwest, as
reported, though the outlaws believed you had, for I see
them often, as they stop at my camp.

“A short while since I discovered just who Captain
Cobra was, so I at once determined to hunt him down, to
lead a force, headed by you, against him.

“Captain Cobra has sought, time and again, to’ faaive me
act as a. spy for him, but I have told him I was no outlaw.

“Driven here to seek a life of seclusion, and nurse my
sorrows in secret, I yet have been honest in my life, and,
though thrown in the path of the Cobras, I have not been
one of them.

“As thee came a uiiaeed in my life a while since, and [

discovered who and what Captain Cobra was, I deter-

mined to hunt him down.

“For that purpose I came here to your ne to o
you, and serve as your guides for I can lead you to his
new retreat. |

“Will you trust me, Mr. Cody: ei

Buffalo Bill looked the man steadily in the face for a

‘moment, scanned him then from head to foot, and then, to

the sergeant’s surprise, said:
“Yes, I will trust you; and yOu can accompany us, for
now I know you.
“But I, to’, know how. to find pat new retreat of "ta
outlaws, and I have with me Captain. Cobra, his ranch-
man, Jacinto, and three other prisoners, all of whom go

with us to seé that we find their stronghold.”

‘Panther Pete’s whole face changed at the knowledge.

that Captain Cobra was a prisoner, and at first he seemed

fairly stunned; but then he said, earnestly :
“At last! At last my revenge is complete!”

 

 
CHAPTER <XIL
KNOWN.

  

Sergeant Long, surprised at seeing how readily Buffalo
Bill believed the story of Panther Pete, was more sur-
prised when the scout told him to take the irons off the
prisoner, and ‘said :.

“You will ride in the lead, with me, Panther Pete, for
we start in a few minutes for the Cobras’ retreat.”
“Ves, sir; but I wish that you had a few more men.”

“Tieutenant Willis and a few more will join us ahead -

on the trail; and, then, the Cobra force has been cut down
by three killed the other day, their officers, Moccasin and
messenger Viper, that I cannot account for, those of the
band who were kidnapers, whom Lieutenant Willis and I
iknow the fate of, besides the chief, Jacinto, and a trio of
prisoners the sergeant has here.

“Yes, I think we have men enough for what remain,
Panther Pete.’

“So do I; and I believe you will find every man you
have not accounted for in the retreat, for those were the
orders, sir, and so you can make a clean sweep of them.”

“That is what I wish to do.

“Are you ready, sergeant?”

PAM veady, sit: 3

“Then we will move,” and Buffalo Bill rode to the
front, with Panther Pete by his side; the sergeant and sol-
diers came next, then the pack-animals, the prisoners, and
the scouts bringing up the rear. -

The pace set was a good one, and, after ten miles, the
trail came out into a valley, where they found Lieutenant

~ Willis and his men awaiting them.

A change to the fresh horses was made, and it was
time, for the horses of Buffalo Bill and those who had
come on with him from Captain Cobra’s ranch were about
used up.

et brought Harding, one of the stock-tenders, on with
me, Cody, to take the tired horses back to the station, for I
know both men there, they being old and ees soldiers,
who were honorably discharged a year a ago.’

“You know best, sir,” replied Buffalo Bill, and the
stock- tender started slowly back with the worn-out ani-
mals, .

Then a start was made again, Buffalo Bill leading, with
Panther Pete, as before, and about whom he had said a

‘few words of explanation to Lieutenant Willis, who had
been surprised at seeing the mysterious man with the
Barty

“T can save you many a mile, sir,” said Panther Pete,
and Buffalo Bill was not long in finding oyt that such
was the case, as now and then he would turn from the
trail on a cut, and would come into it at another point.

“How did you know of the retreat ?” asked the scout.

 

‘THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

x

“T have hunted all through there, and, when the Cobras
told me where they were, I knew at once the camp they
had selected.”

“Taylor Travis was my foe from boyhood, for there
has been a feud between his family and mine for three
generations, and a score of deaths on each side have been
the result.

“His caer began it by robbing my grandfather
of his sweetheart, and a duel followed, and thus continued.

“All knew that some day either he or I would die by
each other’s hand, but I would never have pushed the
feud had he not done so, and one day fired at me in the
streets of a village near our respective homes, when my
wife was with me.

“I was badly wounded by one shot, my wife was killed
by the other, but by accident.

“A. foe of mine had told him I had sworn to kill him
at sight, and was looking for him, taking my wife sone
to protect me.

“This was proven in his favor, so he escaped.

“T recovered, and went abroad, for I had means, and,
while returning home by way of San Francisco, news
reached me that my little daughter had been drowned in
the river near my plantation. a

“I never returned home. She was all I had left, and,
drifting about the nes I at last settled in these wilds as
a hermit.”

By the time Panther Pete had concluded his story, the
scouts had been guided to the outlaws’ stronghold, and
they went into cae: deciding to make the attack at night-
fall.

The battle was won by the scouts and soldiers, though
the Cobras fought with terrific desperation, and would not
ery for quarter until three-fourths of their number had
fallen.

Lieutenant Willis had: peed slightly wounded, four
scouts and two soldiers had been killed, and half a dozen
more had received wounds, so the victory was dearly won;
but Buffalo Bill had escaped Pe though in the thick-
est of the fray.

A camp of a couple of days was made.in the canyon;
and then, the dead having been buried, and carrying the
wounded on wooden stretchers, the little command took
up its march, by easy journeys, to. Fort te Where
Travis, or Captain Cobra, was executed. ce

| ‘THE END.

Next week’s issue, No. 77, will contain “Buffalo Bill
and the Renegade Queen; or, Deadly Hand’s Strange
Duel,” a thrilling story of the ime scout’s eee oe

the Sioux Indians. ‘

 
Things are running along in fine shape now, boys,

 

The contest has shown itself to be a winner, the biggest yet.
-_ Remember that the neatness and legibility of your story counts for something.

The contest is so close that the least little thing counts, and the boy who takes pains to make hil con-
tribution look nice has a better chance than the boy who does not.

Look on page 3/ for full particulars.

 

A Railroad Dream.
(By George Fennel, Pa.)

I will now relate to you as best I can a dream I once

shad. It was in the winter; the snow.was about a foot
deep. My mother and I went to the train to meet a
friend that we expected. On arriving there we-found
‘that the train had already pulled in, only stopping for a
short time.
the train. We. looked about the depot, and not seeing
her, we got on the train, to walk through, thinking that
‘she may “have been asleep and had not awakened, and
might go on through to some other station.

As we walked through the train we did not find her.
She was all ready to get _
that he would take us home.

until we were in the last coach.
off, and we said, “Come on and get off.” She replying,
said; “This is not where you live.” We told her it was.

She looked’ out of the window, but did not attempt to

move. ‘We waited for a while, and I was just going to
ask her if she was not coming, when we heard the con-
duetor say, “All aboard!” We started for the door, and
were going to get off when we found to our surprise
that the door was locked.

We went back to her, and she said that there was a
prisoner in the car, and they had to keep the door locked
fer fear he would escape. And then she said that we did
“not live there any way, that we lived in the next town,

We began to wonder if we did. We would have to go
to the next station any way before we could get off, as the
_ train was going too fast to get off without getting hurt.
-$o we sat down with her, and were talking when we

heard the conductor unlocking the door, coming after
He walked along ‘through the aisle without:

the tickets.
collecting a ticket from any one, as no one had got on
there but us. _

He stopped when he got to us nor our. tickets.

We had to hurry to see if our friend was on °

_ Florida, for tarpon.

My mother told him how we had been forced to stay
there.

He said, “I am sorry,.but if you have no tickets you
will have to get off.”

He took us both to the door, and unlocking it, kicked
us off. We wer€ just going over a great, long high
trestle, and so we had a great distance to fall.

It seemed as though we had fallen down into a hole in
the ground, and where we came face to face with the
prisoner that was in the coach we had just been kicked
off.

He knew us the minute we saw him, and he said, “‘I be-
lieve you are the people that are mistaken as to which
town you live in.’

I replied that we were. He told us to follow him and

The hole we had fallen into was a sewer and it emptied

~ into the East River.

To follow him, we had to jump into the water and swim
down’ as he did,

When we started down we had to go under the track.
Just as we were under the tracks we heard a loud noise,
which was the train that we had just been kicked off.

We could hear the noise, but the water was going
so swiftly that we could not get back to see if any onc

was hurt, as the train came rolling down the bank.

We were finally thrown out into the East River, where
I awoke.

Landing a Tarpon.
_ It was a lovely April morning when a party of gentle-
men from *the North started down the Bay of» Naples,

said one of the - gentlemen
and a man to row

“We had separate boats,”

to the St. Louis Republican reporter, “

 

 

 
 

 

us, it was understood: that:in-the ot cue of us got
_a bite the other was to time the catch, as we wanted to
make a new record, the best then being about two hours
from the time of a bite to that of landing a tarpon. I
was fishing with about eighty feet of No. 15 line and one
of the best rods and reels made in the country. I had my
-line out but a short while when suddenly there was a

click, click at the reel, and almost simultaneously up shot»

seven feet of the prettiest silver fish that ever glittered in
the sunlight.
-of the water the moment he strikes a baited hook. As
soon as he struck the water again there was a report as
sharp as a pistol shot, and my pole snapped right in the
center. I was chagrined and disappointed, for I felt
then that my chances of ever landing that fish’ were very
remote. . Nevertheless I grabbed the pole where it was
broken, and, with my right hand on the reel, waited for
his majesty to slacken up after his first run. He jumped
four times clear of the water while running away, my
man in the meantime following him up in the boat as fast
as possible. Then I began to reel in the line, and after
what seemed to be an hour I had him neat enough to the
boat to be gafted.

“But here was another difficulty to be .met. My man
was alarmed at the size and strength of the tarpon and
declared that he was afraid to gaff him with his hook, as
he was certain he would be pulled overboard. After
persuading him that I could rescue him in case of such
an accident he was induced to make the attempt of land-
ing the monster with the gaff hook. -No sooner did the
tarpon feel the steel than he made a sudden dive, snap-
ping the hook and pulling Robert almost into the | bay.
Off he went again, jumping eight or nine times more,
until he carried out nearly my entire eighty feet of line.
Then I began reeling him in again, my man at the same
time getting another “gaff hook and fastening a line to the
handle so as to avoid another accident.

“T knew my only chance of getting that tarpon was in
gaffing him as soon as possible, for with my broken pole
the strain on me was terrible, and I felt I could not play
him, much longer. When I had reeled him to the side of
the boat the second time Robert took good aim and with a
powerful lunge drove the hook right into his gill just as
he was about to make another jump. He then lifted him
bodily from the water into the boat, and in a twinkling
had thrown himself on him and nailed the struggling
giant on the bottom in genuine Greco-Roman style.

“T sank to the seat exhausted, thinking I must have
been several hours at work, when one of the gentlemen
exclaimed, “You're the luckiest man I have ever seen.
Wit. a broken pole you have landed that tarpon in just
fifty-six minutes.’ It was true, I had broken the record,
‘but, let me tell you, 1 had to remain in my cottage for
three whole days afterward in consequence of the sport.

The Dream of the Snake King.
(By. B.C. Sageicr, La.) :
About six months ago I was hunting in the Allegheny
Mountains. I had hunted all day, and toward evening I
came upon a small ravine, where | decided to camp for
the night. I was gathering wood for a fire when I
came upon a giant rattler. I ‘grasped a large stick and

  

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

thoughts I was inthe great temple of snakes.

You know the tarpon always jumps clear —

    

immediately began war. -After.a hard fight.I succeeded
in killing it. I then proceedecito gather my wood when
I came upon two more. I killed one of them, and the
other got away. After this I got into my blankets and
went to sleep.» I then dreamed a remarkable dream. I
There was.
one monster that was covered with silvery: scales, and
I thought he was the king. He lay coiled upon a stool
of E gold, with his head erect. I thought the two rattlers
that I had killed were there and were testifying against
me. There’ were’ thousands.of others there, too. I
thought. that the council sentenced me to be cut in small

‘pieces and offered as a sacrifice to the king.

The king of snakes then took a sinall vessel, filled with
fire, from “the stone pillar, and set ‘t on the ground in
front of me. He then gave the signal and ‘the other
snakes advanced, with gleaming eyes and terrible mouths,
to cut me up in threads. When they were upon me, and
all had raised their heads to bite me, | gave a start and
woke up.. When I did so I was in deadly peril, for there
was. a rattler coiled up beside me, I dared not move.
I slowly slid my hand along my. side and grasped my
revolver, but he had seen the movement and gave a low
hiss and raised his head to strike. I quickly took aim and
fired, blowing his head half off. J was terribly fright-
ened, and did not go to sleep for an hour or more.

A. Witch Dream

(By Henry Smith,

About four years ago I had a dreadful dream. We
boys were full of jokes and tricks as most boys are.
There lived an old colored lady a few blocks from where

the gang hung out, and who we thought was a witch.
One day as we had her after us, she got so close as to
spit upon me. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me,

Minn.)

“and reached home in time to escape.

That night I had her in my thoughts till I fell asleep.
Some time aiter I had fallen asleep | I thought 1 felt her
arms about me, but could not cry out. J jumped out of
bed and ran into the next room, where I.saw several more
witches. ieee

I then.ran into the pantry, got.a butch er knife, and ran
back and commenced to. cut them ddéwn.
et I was seized from behind and knocked out of
doors and bound to the porch post.

When I awoke | was lying on our’ back stairs.

: A Dream of the Devil.
(By Chas: Morgan, Conn.)

One night I went to bed rather early and dreamed I felt
a sharp pain in my side. I looked around; there stood
an imp with a spear in his hand, with forked teeth.

That imp. was one of the 1ro3 imps, all subject to their
king, the devil, who wore a crown, from which fire poured
forth.

Two horns protruded from his forehead. He had a
peaked nose and chin. He breathed fire from his mouth

and nostrils.
From his upper jaw protruded two long, sharp teeth,
 

e

30

three inches long. _ The nails on his fingers and toes were
long and sharp. His body was green.

He sat in a big chair surrounded by fierce animals, fire

emitting from their mouths and nostrils and had glittering
eyes.

The imps were dressed in the same way. When I
looked at the imp he was grinning, and he blew a whistle.

Then my door opened and in marched ten imps » and |

brought me to their king, who said: ia
“What is the charge against this rascal?” .
“Well,” said the imp who captured me, “the stole a
pocketful of apples, a cooky, a pie and was “fighting.”
“Well, give that wicked boy punishment before me.”
So he took me in the ducking-room and dumped me in
a tub of hot water and poked me with forks, but I lived
through it all. Then they took*me to the drumming-
room, * where one hundred imps were pounding on pans.
They placed me in a ring to roast me, but I lived through
it, so they made me walk a rope as fine as a thread, but I
fell. down, down, down, into a valley where snakes crawled
out of their holes and stung me. Below stood the 108
imps to catch me as I passed, and then when I reached
Jand I hurt my shoulder on a stone. Then I awoke and
found myself in bed instead of on the rocky bottom of

the valley, and Tabby Gray. my favorite cat, was playing -
with my ee

a neem

A Trip to the Moon—A Dream.
(By Charles G. Breden, Jr. N.Y)

Grand Excursion to the Moon!
On the Large and Capacious Airship Luna.
Excursion Tickets, One Dollar.
August.14, 1940.

So read the tickets which we (my chum and 1) pre-
sented atthe door of the elevator which shot us up aboard
the airship. We had for a long time been waiting for a
chance to visit the moon, but previously the fare had been
so large as to be entirely beyond our means; but now
that the price had been reduced to one dollar, we were on
pins and needles until the day arrived.

The Luna was truly magnificent, and when we boarded
it, we received the impression, but for the vast mica in-
closure, that we were on board a large steamer. The
mica inclosure, we understood, was used so as to keep in
the artificial air when we reached the high atmosphere
There were two decks, which were fitted up in handsome

style. On the upper was the house for the “sky pilot,”
looking in every way like the pilot-house of the sea pilot.

By the time we were ready to cast off, the airship con-
tained over a thousand passengers, but ow ving to the great
size of the Lima there was still Dey of room to move
around.

We, were off! . The. great.) wings” eee to move
slowly up and dow n, and then, as we rose higher they

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

4

There is nothing to equal a ride through the air, on

fills one with an ‘exhilaration unknown anywhere dlse,
and not to be compared. We passed through a storm-
cloud, with its deafening roars and blinding “flashes, and
then, as we left it behind, we saw above us, and on all
sides, the beautiful azure blue-sky.
Toward noon we landed on the moon and, with the rest
_ of the excursionists, we started on our explorations. The
-hand of man had wrought a wonderful change in the
mogn's surface. . Everywhere were well-laid streets,
containing magnificent hotels and residences, and we
could tell no difference between the city of the moon
anda city of the earth but for one thing—there was not
a particle of grass or verdure of any description.
have not the space to tell all the extraordinary things
we saw, but what pleased and astonished us most was
the wonderful caves which were to. be found at every
hand. The winding passages disclosed to view many rare
sights in the way of beautiful crystaline and remarkable
reflecting rock that cast forth all the colors of the rain-
bow. The caves were entirely composed of this rock.
~As we proceeded deeper, we noticed that the air be-
came ‘very close and hot. We inquired why this was so,
and were informed that far beneath us was the fiery fur-
nace that cast forth the light that illuminated the earth. :
Toward five in the afternoon we boarded the airship
for the trip home, having spent a most enjoyable day. As
we left the moon, something seemed to break and we
seemed to be slipping at a “terrific speed down, down,
down.
I awoke with a start and found myself on the floor. I
had probably eaten too many crabs the night before.

 

My Dream of an Adventure with a Grizzly Bear.
(By Leo Legler, Cal.)

I dreamed that my father and brother and I had built a
little hut.in the Rocky Mountains, where we used to go
every summer hunting and trapping.

‘One day I took my rifle and started out to hunt. I
‘went up an old path in the mountains.. As I got near the
river I saw a small rabbit. I took aim and was about to—
fire when I was startled by a growl in back of me.

I wheeled around and there, coming down the path,
was a huge grizzly bear.

I took aim and fired. A loud growl told me that I had
hit him. I looked and saw blood coming out of his ear.

eee | turned and was about to run when he bear struck me

on the arm with his paw, tearing my buckskin jacket
and flesh. I turned and began to run, and/when I looked

around and saw he was peaiig on me I thought I was
gone when—

Crack!
It was the. rifle of my father and the bear fell dead at

my feet.

Then I woke up.

 

 

 

 

moved faster and faster, with a great roaring sound, until
soon the earth was a vast map below us. Mae chum and
I had seats on the upper deck, and we were ina position
to fully enjoy our aerial voyage,

HPS  playz,wiga.trioks & agts. ‘latest noveitise. Mention paper

    
  
  

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i BUFFALO BILL DREAM CONTEST.

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The Contest just ‘starting is going to be the greatest we ever ran.

It’s an entirely new idea. The $

Prizes are new and the finest we ever.offered. The other contests held in the BurrALO BILL WEEKLY have |

all made splendid success, but this one is sure to break all records.
.a contest every boy in America has an equal chance in, and because the prizes beat anything . ever offered.
All you have to do is to write out an account of any of your

Curious

Why? Because it isa brand-new idea—

 

Everybody has had remarkable dreams, and anybody who sends in an | account of one has a chance of |

winning one of the prizes. They consist of

THREE FIRST-C

 

LASS PHOTOGRA

 

\PRIC. OUTFITS,

Tactiding Csiress and all Ppeliances for Taking and Developing Photographs ‘

Five Hunting Axes and Five Hunting Knives. —

Think of the fun you can have this winter with one of those caméras.
Full directions go with each camera.

photographs of all your friends.

You can take and develop
Think how useful and handy a first- @

rate hunting knife or ax will be. when you go hunting or trapping in the woods this winter.
To Win a Prize.,—Write an account of any curious or remarkable dream you have had—no

matter what it- was about.

page, properly filled out, to the BUFFALO BILL WEEKLY, care of Street & Smith, 2 38 William St.,

HERE IS A LIST

The Gas core who send in the three most interesting accounts will
each receivean Kastman PochKet Hodah, with complete
outfit. The camera takes picture 1$x2 inches; uses film, and has
capacity for twelve pictures without reloading; weight six ounces. This
wonderful little camera takes pictures equal to the most expensive. It
makes negatives of such ‘sharpness and definition that beautiful en-
largements of any size can be made from them. Has perfect Achro-
matic Lens of fixed focus, Rotary Shutter, with sets of three stops,
square View Finder, and covered with fine Seal Grain Leather. Takes
snap shots or time exposures. Hasily carried in .pocket.or on bicycle.

Complete with roll of film for twelve exposures and Leather Carrying

va with room for three extra film cartridges.

* The ‘five boys who send in the five next best accounts will each re-
ceive a Safety Hunting Ax. Dimensions over all 11x4
inches: weight 18 ounces. The, blade is made of Solid tool steel, finely
tempered and highly polished. The handle is made of mild steel, nickle
plated on.copper, with handle plates of engraved hard rubber. . The
guard is of sheet steel, hinged on a spring in such a manner that either
open or closed it is firmly held i in position. The construction is unique

Now, Boys, You See Your Chance!

 

COUPON.

 

 

 

 

Tell it in five hundred words, and send it with the coupon you will find on this

New York City.
OF THE PRIZES:

and of such a nature as to make it almost each for one part to
become detached from another. The head has an oblong semi-circular
recess milled in either side to receive the slotted end of handle, which
is accurately milled to a close fit and firmly held by a 4-inch steel
screw. This method of handle fastening preyents any liability of the
blade working loose on the handle. The upper part of the’handle is ¢
slotted on the under side to receive the folded sheet steel guard, which: @
is so arranged as to be firmly held by a flat steel bar when ee or :
closed. 5

The five boys who send in : the fiye next best ‘accounts will each re- 2
ceive. a Sportsman’s Ideal Hunting Hnife..
There is about as much difference in point of utility and beauty between |
one of our‘‘ideal” huntiug knives and ‘any other knife on’ the market
as there is between a grizzly bear.and a porcupine. They.are hand
forged, hand tempered, hand tested by the rigidest possible test and @
finished in a manner that makes them the handsomest knives in the @
market. The ‘‘Ideal” knives are made. with 5-inch blades,’ leather. ¢
handle, brass and fibre trimmings, with polished eee orn tip. A hated &
some black or russet case with each knife. - oO

It’s Up to You to Win a Prize!

This Contest closes. December Ist. ALL :

entties must be in by that date,

Remember. the “BUFFALO. BILL

A Wome cs ke bouts toy (tees seess | WEBER LY” Bas the oteatest circulation of any
' Street and No. ee ceee seer sesose i seers i eee a one es pow wae weekly descriptive of fading warfare ever publis shed, -
' ay Tow uae ae ate a ae “Your story, whether it wins a: prize or not, has a
. Tite of Borg rats oe fila Bed cheestagg chance 'of being published, and will be tead through.

owt the length and breadth of the Continent.

 

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LARGE SIZE.)

 

Containing the Only Stories Authorized by Hon. WILLIAM F. CODY (‘‘Buffalo Bill”),

48—Buffalo Bill's Secret; or, The Trai! of a Traitor.
49—Buifalo Bill’s Phantom Hunt; or, The Gold Guide of Colorado Canyon.
50—Buffalo Bill’s Brother in Buckskin; or, The Kedskin Lariat Rangers,
51—Buffalo Bills Trail of the Man eer sor, The Doom of the Branded Hand.
52—Buffalo BilPs Boy Pard; or, Training the Buckskin Boy.
53—Buifalo Bill’s Vow of Vengeance; or, The Scout’s Boy Ally.
54—Buifalo Bill and the Mad Hermit; or, Finding a Lost Trail.
55—Buffalo Bills Bonanza; or, The Clan of the Silver Circle.
56—Buffalo Bill’s Mascot; or The Mystery of Death Valley.
57—Bufla'o Bill and the Surgeon Scout; or, The Brave Dumb Messenger.
58—Buffalo Bill's Mysterious Trail; or, Tracking a Hidden Foe.
59—Bufialo Bill and the Masked HGseaL: or, Fighting the Prairie Pirates.
60—Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, Running the Death Gauntlet.
61—Buifalo Bill and the Masked Driver: or. The Fatal Run Through Death
Canyon.
62—Buffalo Bill’s Still Hunt » or, Fighting the Robber of the Ranges.
4 63—Buffalo Bill and the Red Riders; or, The Mad Driver of the Overlands, B
64—Buffalo Bills Dead-Shot Pard; or, The Will-o'-the-Wisp of the Trails. ie

65—Bufialo Bill’s Run-Down; or, The Red-Hand Renegade’s Death.
66—Buffalo Bills Red Trail; or, A Race for Ranson.

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67—Buffalo Bil’s Best Bower; or, Calling the Turn on Death Notch Dick. \
68—Buffaio Bill and the Cold Ghouls; or, Defying Death at Elephant Rock. | |
69—Buffalo Bill's Spy Shadower; or. The Hermit of G and Canyon. F

ay Buffalo Bill’s Secret Camp; or, Trailing the Cloven Hoofs. E
—Buffalo Bill's Sweepstake; or, Hunting the Paradise Gold Mine. .
io Buffalo Bill and the Black Heart Desperado; or, The 'Wipe-Out at Last | |
Chance. |
73—Buffalo Bilf’'s Death Charm; or, The Lady in Velvet.
74—Buffalo Bill’s Desperate Strategy; or, The Mystery of the Ciiff. :
75—Bufialo Bill and the Black Mask; or, The Rafile of Death. | a
| 76—Bufialo Bill’s Road Agent Round-Up; or, Panther Pete’s Revenge.

 

 

ee ! |
- Back numbers always on hand, If you cannot get them from your newsdealer, five cents a copy to
fe

: will one them to you, by mail, postpaid.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers,

Me : 238 WILLIAM ae NE Vw YORK COrYryv. ;
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| HIS new publication, the

in America.

 

 

 

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feared by criminals all over

 

 

 

 

 

OLD BROADBRIM hails from Philadelphia, is

he world.

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ty)

BROADBRIM WEEKLY, issued each

week, will contain accounts of the adventures of one of the greatest detectives

a Ouaker: aid. is

If you want to read splendid stories

of the shrewdest and sharpest kind of detective work, and learn the inside

history of some of the greatest crimes of recent years, read the OLD BROADBRIM WEEKLY.

eS : foe ees

No. 1—Old Broadbrim, the Quaker Detect-

‘ s a i [ hehe aac

tive; or Solving the Mad House Mystery.

Josiah Broadbrim’s adventures disguised as a lunatic—

inside the asylum—probing its horrors—the fight

with the maniac—the escapes—are all told in this story

together with the account of how the old Quaker foiled

one of the biggest and best planned will frauds ever
perpetrated.

No. 2—Old Broadbrim Fighting a Clique of
Crime; or, the Detective’s Ghost Ally.

This tells of the detective’s fight against the association
of villains in Philadelphia led by the famous Doctor
Lamonte—how they nearly succeeded in killing the
detective by the bite of a venomous snake and how he
foiled them by calling a Ghost from the Grave.

 

 

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No. 3—Old Broadbrim in a Race for Life; or
rteen Day’s Fight. :

Old Broadbrim had only thirteen days in which to
save the life of an innocent man condemned to die in the
‘electric chair. How the old Quaker after nearly losing
his life at the outset finally won his race, for life, is an
exciting story.

No. 4—Old Broadbrim’s Crimson Knot; or

The Bats of Baltimore.

The Bats of Baltimore were a strange crew of crooks
and criminals who inhabited the slums and docks of
Baltimore and follewed the leadership of a woman who
plotted all their crimes. Broadbrim’s hunt for a wealthy
man who has dissappeared mysteriously is told in this
issue.

These stories are among the very finest detective stories ever published. They

can be purchased for Five Cents at any newsdealers, or from

ao

232-238 William St., New York City.

SAYA A

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