A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
DEVOTED TO BORDER Hi STORY

Issued Weekly. Fy Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Sa, Class Matter at New York Post by STREET & SMITH, 238 Welliam St., iv. ¥.

 

 

 

 

 

No. 71. "Drie. Five Cones

BUFFALO BILLS

 

 

 

MUNTING THE PARADISE GOLD m4

 

 

 

 

‘WIRE! I COMMAND YOU! BRING THE HORSE DOWN!’’ WAS THE STERN RESPONSE, AND BUFFALO BILL LEVELED HI§
REVOLVER ‘AND PULLED THE TRIGGER,

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

  
 

eee. are

 

ee,

 

 

 

 

 

A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY

 

 

 

Issued Weekly.. By Subscription $2, 50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & oe: 238 Willtam St., N. ¥.
Entered accerding to Act of Congress in the yéar 1902, tn the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Wasting, 2

 

No. 73.

NEW YORK, September 20, 1902.

aaa

Price Five Cents,

 

 

 

the Paradise Gold

 

 

 

By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.”

 

CHAPTER: 1,
BUFFALO BILL APPEARS.

 

A column of soldiers was filing slowly out of a stockade
fiort in Arizona, and the band was playing the “Dead
March” «Up

Mio ac casi ehsery ver, it would have been thought a
funeral, that the soldiers were marching to the grave with
some dead comrade.

But no; there was no dead man’ being borne to the
grave, but a live one.

A soldier rode upon a wagon, seated upon.his coffin,
or the corpse was‘yet to be made that was to be buried.
The. man seated upon his coffin was-of fine phy ee

Mydressed in uniforin, and had a face that was clean-shavet
and so revealed ev ery feature.

it was a strong face, though deadly po now, a face
that was fearless, “passionate, determined i in expression. 3

He looked. ‘neither to the right or, the left as he was
borne along, but kept his eyes fixed ahead upon a spot in

    
  
 
    
    
   
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  

a group of men were standing, awaiting the coming
cortege. .

Where those men stood was seen fresh earth turned up,
and an open grave.

Save the strains: of the. funeral march played by the

 
  
 

 

the little valley, wpon the bank of a pretty stream, where .

band, no sound broke the stillness, and all faces looked
solemn and stern.

Down the hill wound the column, the infantry foeied
in three sides of a square, the open side toward the brook
and the sun, now near its setting, and the execution squad
marched to the grave, and halted.

Just then a. horseman came up at a gallop, on his way
to the fort. He saw the scene on the banks of the stream,
recognized there the cornmandant of the fort, and wheel-
ing, rode toward him.

The horse was a splendid one, the rider a magnificent
specimen of manhood, tall; of fine build, upright in bear-
ing, and with a face which, once seen, could not be readily
forgoiten.

‘His hair swung in many waves below his broad shoul-
ders, a mustache shaded his stern, expressive mouth, and,
dressed in buckskin, with a wide-brimmed sombrero and
top-boots, he was a most picturesque-looking personage.

He sat his steed like one ved | in the saddle, and about
his waist was a belt of arms, while a rifle hung at his
saddie-horn.

All eyes were upon him, as he rode up, for all recog-
nized the noted scout, Buffalo Bill, who had yoluritarily
gone on a long trail, through a dangerous Indian coun-

cs

 

 
 

   

 

ej

try, to the headquarters of the district commander, to see
if a reprieve would be given the condemned man.

The condemned soldier, who now stood at the head of
his open grave, his coffin at his geet, had flushed at sight
of the horseman, and then once more turned deadly pale,
though otherwise he showed no fear and. was perfectly
calm.

The scout threw himself from his horse, when ten feet
away from the commanding officer, who was near the
prisoner, and, saluting, handed to him a paper. .

Not a word was uttered, and a deathlike silence was
upon all. oe nh

The eyes of each man moved in their sockets, turning
from the prisoner to the commandant, as he read the of-
ficial paper handed to him by. Buffalo Bill,

The prisoner’s face did not change; not a muscle quiv-
ered; only his breast rose and fell more rapidly.

Turning .to the prisoner, when he had read the docu-
ment, Major Randall said:

“Wallace Weston, Buffalo. Bill risked his life to go to
Fort Wingate and present a plea for a reprieve for you.
For your sake, | am sorry to say to you that the plea
was in vain; for the colonel says that your offense, in tak-
ing the life of a brother soldier, was a most heinous one,
and, having been tried by court-martial and sentenced to
death, he can do nothing—that you must die, and may

Heaven have mercy upon your guilty soul.”

-

The voice of Major Randall quivered as he spoke the
words, but in firm tones the doomed man replied:

“I expected such a response; but am I to die bound like
awild: beastr’

“No; free his arms and feet of the bonds upon them,”
ordered the major.

Two soldiers stepped
man was free.

He turned and gazed about him an instant, his eyes
suddenly falling upon the magnificent horse ridden to the
spot by Buffalo Bill; then, with a mighty bound, he had
cleared the space between, had thrown himself into the
saddle, and with a wild, defiant yell, was away. »
_ “Shoot him down!’ shouted Major Randall, in tones of
peremptory command.

But vain the attempt!

Not a musket was loaded, and the execution squad had
not yet charged their guns. moe

“You are a dead revolver shot, Cody ; bring him down,

forward, and in a moment the

for he is yet within range,” cried the officer.

The fugitive had dashed straight for thé streant, and
had forced the gallant horse to make the leap.

Down he had gone into ten feet of water, but, rising
quickly, was swimming for the other shore, and the
stream. was hardly fifty feet wide. ie

At the command, Buffalo Bill drew his revolver,
eled it, and then said:

“Remember; Major Randall, that man once saved ‘my
Mier 2 oe so ee ae

“Fire! Icommand you! Bring the horse down!’ was
the stern response, and Buffalo Bill leveled his revolver
and pulled the trigger. :

Every eye watched Buffalo Bill as he pulled the trigger.

All knew that he was a dead shot—a man who never
missed a foe or game he fired upon. : ns

Uhe hand was steady, the fugitive not vet a hundred
yards away, and that same revolver had brought down,

lev-

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

had started out after the fugitive soldier, now a deser

catching him was very slight.

  

fired by that iron hand, aimed by that unerring eye,a deer |

at a hundred yards.

The sharp teport came, the flash, and the bullet sped on |

its way.

A murmur ran through the crowd of soldiers, as they
saw the bullet strike the water two feet to the right of the
horse!

An impatient imprecation came from the major’s lips,
and Buffalo Bill fired again, just as the horse reached the
other shore.

Again a murmur, for the bullet knocked up the earth to
the left of the feet of the animal.

Once he had reached the land, with a yell of defiance,
the fugitive was away, glancing over his shoulder, while
rapidly shot after shot rung out from the revolver, ~

But not a bullet touched horsé or rider, or, if it did,
there was no evidence of its doing so.

Calmly the scout returned his revolver to his belt, and
walked away, while Major Randall quickly ordered the
cavalry, who were on foot, to double-quick to the fort and
pursue the fugitive. ee

Intense excitement for a few minutes followed the dar-
ing escape of the condemned soldier, but military disci-

_pline promptly brought order out of chaos; the band be-

gan to play, and the troops marched back to the fort.

As the head of the column reached the stockade gates,
out of them rode a squad of cavalry, headed by an officer,
and they started off in hot pursuit of the fugitive from
death at the hands of his comrades for a crime committed.

“And Buffalo Bill missed him, though he fired six
shots,” were the words going from lip to lip, and men

 

   

   
  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shook their heads ominously, while now and then wag one_,

bold enough to say that:

“He did not aim to hit him—Buffalo Bill never Hitebea 3

his game, be it man or beast; he did not wish to ki

  

him, or bring down his horse, and have him recaptured.” :
This was the opinion that rapidly gained ground; but,

whether true or not, Buffalo, Bill had nothing to say. .He

quietly went to his quarters, making no remark at the ‘i
loss of his horse, saddle, and outfit, not to speak of his —

rifle, which hung upon the horn of his saddle.

Fort Yaraway:was a very dangerous post, for it was in _

the midst of the Indian country, a military check upon the |
movements of the hostiles, and a barrier to keep them
back from the settlements that were beginning to extend

further and further out upon the Utah and Arizona fron-
oe eee .

Several hundred »soldiers were stationed there, consist-

ing of a couple of sections of light artillery, two troops of

cavalry, and three companies of infantry, with a score of -

scouts, under Buffalo Bill, who was’their chief, and in

my

 

 

 

   
 

 

time of need further. increased his command by some

thirty cowboys, who were stationed at the post, guard
a herd of cattle that. were kept there. ce
Half a troop of cavalry, under Lieutenant Tompki

as well as a man under death sentence, and yet the hope

‘There was one chance, and that was, as he had
toward the desert lands, they might be able to cut hin
drive him into them, and, without guide, food or w
rather than risk the tortures of starvation, he would

 

 
 
 
 
  

 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  

 

    
 

 

himself a prisoner again, and submit to death by ex OL
son | 7 ee

 

  
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. . 3

Away went the cavalry at a run, crossing the stream
where the fugitive had, and pushing rapidly on toward a
hill which they hoped to reach while there was yet light
enough to obtain a view of the vast expanse beyond, then
the soldier could be seen if within six or eight milcs.

They pushed their horses hard, and reached the hilltop

“just as the sun was touclting the mountain horizon on the

distant mountain range.

With his fieldglass to his eyes, Lieutenant Tompkins
swept the expanse before him, and almost instantly called
out :

“There he goes! He is heading directly along Death
Trail, and for the desert. ;

“We must deploy into a long line, and thus ptrsue to
the desert.”’

The order was given, the troopers deployed into a line
a mile in length, and thus advanced at a gallop in chase.

A deep canyon split the plain on the right of the line,
and a red cliff on the left, which no horseman‘ could as-
cend, and then stretched away into the desert, so that the
fugitive would be driven away from all hope of food,
water and grass for his horse, and be forced to risk the
deadly danger before him, or return and give himself up.

Lieutenant Tompkins was not a man to give up a chase
until all hope of success failed, and, though he had come
without rations for his men, he pushed ori at the risk of
bringing suffering upon himself and his soldiers.

With the moon almost at its full, and the troopers scat-
tered across the ievel plain of sand, from range to can-
yon, there was no chance of the fugitive slipping past
them and going back into the mountain country, where
game, grass and water were in abundance.

Out upon the desert they rode, guided by the light ot
the moon, and not until after midnight did Lieutenant
Tompkins call a halt for rest, for then there was no grass
for the horses, no water, and the men must go supperless
to their blankets. ‘

The morning dawned to show that the fugitive, like
themselves, had slept wpon the desert.

He was visible a few miles away, just mounting. the
horse of Buffalo Bill, which had saved his life thus far, to
continue his flight.

He saw the troopers as they did him, and started fur-
ther into the desert at a canter.

“Come, men, Buffalo Bill had ridden a long way, so
his horse must have been very tired, and must now be
broken down.

“Our animals are fresh, and we can catch Weston by’

”

pushing him hard,” called out Lieutenant Tompkins.

He threw himself into his saddle, as he spoke, and, the
men following his example, they were off at a swinging
gallop: ° :

Miles away was visible a clump of trees, and the guide
told the lieutenant that there was a spriyg there, good
grass and firewood in plenty, but beyond there was not
another drop of water, blade of grass or tree for many,
many long miles, the desert stretching away from that
point into a woodless, treeless, waterless waste of sand.

_ That the horse ridden by the fugitive, splendid animal
though he was, could not last much longer, the officer
and his men soon discovered, for their animals, not being
jaded, as was the scout’s horse, by a four days’ hard ride,
were used up. -

wrens

So they pushed on.the more rapidly, convinced that inl
the oasis. or motte, they would bring the prisoner to bay.

They drew rapidly nearer to the motte, in which they
had seen the horseman disappear, and, though the sun
was blistering hot, the dust of fine sand torturing, and the
heat causing their horses to pant like hounds, they did not
draw rein until they dashed into the little bit of timber,
men and animals glad to find water and shade at hand.

The gallant young lieutenant, convinced that the fugi-
tive would stand at bay, preferring to die fighting rather
than be shot down at execution, halted his men, and rode
on alone, determined to try parleying with Wallace Wes-
ton before firing upon him.

As he came near the center of the timber, he started, as
a shout greeted him, and, to his surprise, saw the soldier
mounted upon a fresh horse, and flying away like the
wind, while, standing near, with head hanging low, was
the horse of Buffalo Bill, stripped of his bridle, saddle and
outfit. | ‘

A loud call brought his men to the spot, and, as they
saw that the fugitive had a fresh mount, and a good one,
the guide called out: 5

“Fe has picked up a stray horse that has wandered
here, lieutenant, and that ends the chase.”

“Can we not follow him, Casey?”

“No, sir; for, you see, our critters are dead beat, and
his mount is as fresh as a bird; but he is going to certain
death out yonder on that terrible desert.”

‘Will he not flank us, and get back to the hills?”

“No, sir, for the canyons from there run in such a way
that he can only come right back this way, or go straight
on across the desert.”

“Then he will do that.” :

“No, sir, for he'll never be able to strike the other side,
as he will be overcome with the heat, see mirages, and

-ride round and round in the desert until he dies, or his

horse does, and that means that he will quickly follow.”

“Well, we will halt here until to-morrow, for the horses
will be all right, though we ourselves must starve it out.

“Tf he comes back, it will be in that time, and if he does
not, he will go to his death, as you say, for no man or
beast can: long survive out on that arid plain.”

Making a show of still pursuing, Lieutenant Tompkins,
the guard, Casey, and a few of the troopers whose horses
were in the best condition, kept up the chase, while the
others were told to stake out their animals, and hunt about
for some kind.of game to stay their hunger.

After going half a dozen miles, howeyer, Lieutenant

Tompkins, in mercy to man and beast, gave the order to

retreat, leaving the fugitive, whose horse was still fresh
and far ahead, to continue his flight without further pur-
suit. .

Returning to the motte, the troopers found that their
comrade had hunted in vain for any kind of game; but
water was in plenty, and that refreshed them, while their
horses had good grass to feed on, which caused a ser-
geant to lament, and the others to acquiesce with him,
hungry as all were, that-they were not, for the time being,
grass-eaters themselves.

That night they started upon their return to the fort,
‘having done their best, but failed.

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sith.

4 2 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

CHAPTER II.
NORE. UGE Vudu ON dee

When the commandant of Fort Faraway found that the
troopers, under Lieutenant Tompkins, did not return late
at night,.and knowing that they had gone off, in their hur-
ried pursuit, without rations, he ordered a force to be
ready to go out the next morning and carry supplies to
them.

He also sent for Buffalo Bill, and when the chief of
scouts appeared, said:

“Cody, there is no one who regards you more highly
than I do, no one who would be further from doubting
your loyalty, and yet I feel very sure that in this case
you did not seek to bring down the horse upon which
Sergeant Wallace Weston was making his escape.”

“Major Randall, you may recall that I found Wallace
Weston dying on the plains; that I took him to the near-
est fort,#and was the cause of his enlisting as a soldier
when he recovered. He had been’a soldier before, thotigh

. he would have nothing to say of his past.

“T liked the man, and, though stern, and holding apart
from all, he was yet very popular, and rose to a corporal’s
position, then to that of sergeant. That there was some-
thing between Sergeant Manton Mayhew and Weston
more than the quarrel that ended in the former’s death, I
am certain; but Weston would say nothing as to that, and
accepted his condemnation in silence, and without a mur-
mur.

“Vou are aware, I believe, Major Randall, that Ser-
geant Weston, when we had the Indian battle in New
Mexico, and in which my horse was killed, rode back
alone, at the risk of his life, leading an animal for me to

mount, and, but for his aid then, 1 could never have es.

caped alive.

“Tt was for this that I rode to the general’s quarters to
try and get a delay in his execution, hoping that he might
be able to bring some evidence that would change the sen-
tence of death against him.

“T came just in time with the refusal of the general to
interfere, and the man, a bold fellow, as you know, leaped
upon my tired horse and made his escape. ,

“Vou ordered me to fire, and I obeyed, but I was firing
upon the horse that had been my comrade in many a
danger, on many a long trail, and I was to bring down the
man who had saved my life—the man I was instrumental
in getting to enlist in the army.”

Major Randall listened with deepest attention to the
scout, and then said, while he was impressed with what

»he had heard: :

“T do not wonder, Cody, that you did not care to kill
that-man, and yet I know had you wished to have done
so, you could have brought both horse and rider down,
for you are too deadly a shot to have missed, even with
a revolver.

“You have lost your horse and outfit, and I can only re-
port that firing upon the fugitive failed to bring hiin
down.” :

“Thank you, sir.

“But I wish you. to take the trail after him, run him to
earth, if possible, and, if you capture him, as the day ap-
pointed for his execution has passed, I will take the re-
sponsibility of delaying further until a full report can be
made to headquarters, and in that time, if Weston can be

a?

&

made to talk, to speak for himself, he may be able to clear
away the evidence so as to get clemency shown him.”

“T hope so, sir.” ae

“Now, go with Lieutenant Peyton and twenty men,
after that gallant, young Tompkins, who will push on, if
he starves his men and kills his horses, to capture Weston,
whom, however, he has always liked,

“T ieutenant Peyton and his men can push on, while
Lieutenant Tompkins returns to the fort, and you are to
be the guide and scout, and I feel that you will do your
auty.

“T will endeavor to do so, sir.”

“Vou have other horses and outfits, I believe ?”

“Ves, sir, and will be ready for the trail when you give
the order to start, sir,” and, saluting, Buffalo Bill left the
major’s quarters. .

Half an hour after, Buffalo Bill, as scout, rode out in
advance of the squad, with supplies, going to the relief of
Lieutenant Tompkins. 5

The party pushed ahead at a brisk pace, carrying sev-
eral pack-horses with them, and it was just daybreak,
when passing over the ridge, for Buffalo Bill had followed
the trail in the moonlight, that they came in sight of the

e

- returning squad.

They at once went into camp, and when their half-fam-
ished and tired comrades rode up, coming from the desert,
they had a good breakfast awaiting them.

The two squads greeted each other with cheers, and
the haggard faces of those who had been over forty hours
without food told how they had suffered. :

But, though he let his men return, Lieutenant Tomp-
kins, who was the senior officer of the troop that both

~squads came from, told Lieutenant Peyton that he would
-go on with the fresh men, while he, who had lately had a

sick Attack, should return to the fort.

After a rest of two hours, and a good breakfast, the
handsome young officer placed himself at the head of the
fresh troopers, and, with a farewell to their comrades,
they rode on toward the desert, Buffalo Bill riding im ad-
vance.

“We will push on to the motte to-night, Cody, and
camp there, and to-morrow follow the trail of the fugi-

tive from there, for I will not give up the pursuit until [

capture him, or know that he had gone to his death in the:
desert,’ said Lieutenant Tompkins. |
The squad descended the range, from the shelter of the
trees, going down upon the burffing, treeless plain, and
held on between the cliffs upon the one side and the can-
yon on the other, to the desert.
Riding up to the side of Buffalo Bill, Lieutenant Tomp-
kins said:
“Tave you ever been. far out into this Arizona desert,
Cody?”
“Yes, lieutenant, I penetrated it once to solve a mystery.
of a fertile valley said to be in the center. ee
“That was some time before you came to the fort.
“Oh, yes, I have heard of that, and that you found a
band of gold-diggers there who kept everybody away?”
Pay Ga, Site” y
“It is a very dangerous trail, to push into this desert, I
can well understand from my short experience with it.”
“It is death to the man not acquainted with the geog-
raphy of its surroundings, and, carrying no food and
water, to penetrate it beyond the reach of his vision, where

ia

     

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i

   

 

he can keep the mountains in sight, for after we leave the
motte ahead it is sand, rock and barren waste, with no
water, for the holes that have water at times are now
dried up.”

“Vet the sergeant went straight out into its desolation.”

“Ves, lieutenant, for he felt that sure death was beh*~~
him, and a chance of life ahead.”

“You have no belief in finding him, I am sure?”

“Ves, I have, sir.”

“His body?”

“That is it, sir, for, though he got a fresh horse, as you
told me, in the motte, I had but little food in my haver-
sack, and there is no chance of his standing this terrible
heat and suffering long.”

“You expect, then, that he will either drop on the trail
or return?”

“He'll not return, lieutenant, for he is not that kind of
aman, but push on to death, rather.”

“Was it not strange about his finding that horse, Cody,
in the motte, at the very moment your horse could go no
further?”

“Some men are born for good luck, Lieutenant Tomp-
kins, and the escape and finding of that horse leads me to
think he is one.’’

“T agree with you, but do you think you can follow his
trail over the desert ?”

“Oh, yes, unless we have a windstorm to drift the sand,
and that is not likely.”

“Well, I like the fellow, and I believe that he had more
reason for killing Sergeant Mayhew than he would admit
to the court-martial.

“Weston is a strange man, Cody, and I have an idea
that he has seen far better days, and is a man of educa-
tion,’ : as
“T have thought the same, sir; but there looms the
motte, and, if he has been driven back, we will find him
tirerey:.

“For my part, I hope not, though I shall leave nothing
undone to capture him,” said the kind-hearted lieutenant.

The motte now loomed up ahead, and the two horses
pushed on without urging, their instinct telling them that
there Was rest, water and grass ahead of therm .

The heat was intense; there was a glare of fite, it
seemed, rising from the desert, and both men and animals
were suffering.

When at last the shade of the motte was reached, there
was an instant relief, but even there the burning sun
caused the heat to be almost unbearable.

The horses were soon feeding at will, and the men,
throwing themselves down in the shade near the spring,
awaited for night to come on before making an effort to
cook their supper.

After dark they had a light meal, and sought rest, for
they were to make a start early enough in the morning to
bring them. to the spot where they hdd given up the trail
before, for from there on Buffalo Bill would have to fol-
low the trail of a single horse.

With cooked food, canteens filled and orders not to
touch a drop without permission, the pursuing soldiers
made an early start, and reached the spot where the single
trail of the fugitive held on just as the stn rose and cast
its burning rays over the desert.

gre

Ahead and alone, Buffalo Bill followed the ‘dim trail at

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

a pace that he knew the horses could stand, yet swifter
than that at which he thought the fugitive had gone.

The trail led directly in a straight line for miles, then
swerved a little to the right, and not long after began to
go on a zig-zag course.

The scout halted, and, when Lieutenant Tompkins rode
up, he was examining the ground attentively.

“Have you lost the trail, Cody ?”

“No, sir; I have found another.”

“What do you make out of that ?”

“Simply that both trails were made by the same horse.”

“Then he has doubled upon his track ?”

The scout made no reply, and a peculiar look passed
over his face, while he said:

“Tt may be, sir, and yet I doubt it.”

“Well, you have good eyes, for I only now and then
cafi see-a track.”’

“Ves, sir, and that track tells the story,’ and Buffalo
Bill led the way once more.

An hour after, a large rock towered up, standing alone
out in the desert, and toward this landmark the trail ran.

As they neared it, all saw an object lying at the base of
the rock, and, approaching closer, Buffalo Bill said:

“We have found him, Lieutenant Tompkins, for there
lies both man and horse.” |

“Dead ?” .

CES. City,

CMAP irre Tile.
A GRAVE IN THE DESERT.

The men all approached the solitary rock in the desert,
which stood out like a monument to the dead, with an air °
of reverence.

They had admired the sergeant, whom they knew to be
brave to recklessness, of a generous nature, though stern
and fond of being alone.

The man he had killed they did not like.

He was wont to speak of his having been born a gen-
tlemen and rich, and that fraud had deprived him of his
fortune.

He was overbearing, and at times possessed a very ugly
temper. ;

What had passed between Weston and his brother ser-
geant, no one knew, more than to hear angry words and
see one man fall, when a bayonet in the hands of the other
was driven through his breast.

A cocked revolver was found upon Manton Mayhew,
and Sergeant Wallace Weston had said that he killed his
brother sergeant because the two quarreled and he was in
a Tape.

More than this he would not say, and the court-martial
that tried him could not get him to, and so he was found
guilty of murder and sentenced to be shot.

The men remembered his bearing, they recalled that he
had not weakened thtough all, and when the chance of-
fered itself to escape he had daringly made the effort.

Now, as they approached his body, lying by the rock,
they were sad at the fate that had been his, yet mentally
decided that it had better be thus than an execution.

As Buffalo Bill rode by the side of Lieutenant Tomp-
kins. toward the rock, and then came within a hundred
yards of it, a pack of snarling coyotes were seen to sud-
denly dash out of the shadow and go across the plain

  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

 

 

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ana lego aman nas ge

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' with a lope natural to them, glancing back as they did so

a

in fury at being driven from their prey.

ihe cowardly brutes! They have already been teat-
ing him to pieces,” said Buffalo Bill, and, raising his rifle,
he fired several shots at long range.

Each shot brought dewn a coyote, and this sent ne

_ others off at a speed which only those brutes can make
- when really frightened.

As the troop neared the rock, they as horse and
rider lying near together.

Both had been the prey of the desert dogs, Noe the face
and hands of the fugitive sergeant had been torn beyond
recognition, and the sharp teeth of the pack had slashed
the animal’s flanks in many places.

The soldier’s clothing was badly torn, and the saddle,
bridle and trappings were still upon the horse.

The horse was soon stripped of his trappings, and the
blankets of the scout, attached to the saddle, served as
shroud and coffin for the dead sergeant, who was wrapped
tightly in them, and tied securely with the stake rope.

With their sabers, the soldiers began to dig a grave

close under the rock, Buffalo Bill remarking that, when

the grave was half filled j in, the huge stone, by their united
strength, could be rolled upon it, and become a monument,
while. it would also save the body from being torn up by
the coyotes.

This plan was followed, and Lieutenant Tompkins,
with uncovered head, repeated the burial service for the
dead over the unfortunate sergeant, whose life had been
a mystery to his companions, and who had met such a sad
end.

“Poor fellow! He simply starved to death, and, with
the heat, could stand it no longer,” said the scout.

“But why should his horse have died so soon, Cody ?”

“We do not know how fresh or used up the animal was,
lieutenant.
found by Sergeant Weston.”

“True.”

“And then, too, I noticed that one chamber of my re-
volver, the one lying near the sergeant’ s hand, was

empty.’

“You think that he may have shot his horse, then?”
“Tt might be, in a fit of despair, not wishing to die
alone, he t may have killed the animal.”
“Poor fellow ! But,
should be so far from water, Cody?”
“These little, cowardly. dogs, ‘sir, have a wonderful

. scent for food, and an instinct, too, that is remarkable.

They may have followed the sergeant, feeling sure that he
was going to his death.”
“Which is quite probable. But come, we have followed
Weston to the end, and must be on our return, for I have
no desire to see any of my men and horses go under.
“Tt is growing late, yet we must push on ‘to the ‘water

- to-night, Cody.”

By all means, sir, for both men and horses’ sake. I
can measure the strain upon them here on the desert.”

“Yes, and I can feel it,” answered the lieutenant.

The heads of the horses were at once turned upon the
homeward trail, and they needed no urging on their way,
for they knew that their destination was the motte, where
water and grass awaited them.

Backward glances were cast by the soldiers at the. grave

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

In fact, he may have been half dead when

is it not strange that coyotes -

in the desert, marked by the solitary rock, and all felt sad —

   

at the bie of the man who had died there alone and in
suffering.

The night camp was made in the motte, and the fol-
lowing night, just at sunset, the party retur ned to the fort.

Lieutenant Tompkins at once made his report, and Ser-
geant Wallace Weston was put down as dead; while the
young officer was thanked by the major for his services,
and Buffalo Bill also for having guided the party to where
the trail of the fugitive ended.

 

CHAPTER TEN.
THE RUN FOR DERE.
The man who had so bravely made a strike for his life,

when all hope seemed gone, whgn he was surrounded, as
it were, by a couple of hundred men, when death’s shadow

was falling upon him as he stood at the head of the open) —

grave dug to receive his body, had calculated well his
chances of escape, and quickly determined to risk them.
The arrival of Buffalo Bill, his horse standing near,

the open side of the square, the stream and timber beyond,

were all seen in a flash, and then came the thought that
failure could only bring death, a volley and ail would be
over.

So it was that Sergeant Wallace Weston made the des-

perate rush for life, bounding to the side of the scout’s

horse, and with a mighty leap throwing himself into the
saddle.

He forced the horse over the bank, arose from the
depths and went swiftly toward the other shore.

Turning in his saddle, he wondered why he had not:

been greeted with a volley, and then remembered that the

guns of the soldiers were unloaded, that no one would
Bus without orders, that the men would have to be taken
out of their position in square and formed in ae muskets

loaded, and then fire.

Militat ry discipline had saved him thus far.

Then he saw Buffalo Bill level his revolver and pull
the trigger.

He ducked in his saddle, for he well knew the scout’s
deadly aim.
_ The shot falling near him in the water, another on the
bank, and each bullet flying wide, he said, grimly:

“He would not kill me—he aimed to miss mey.£!
never forget brave Buffalo Bill for that.” .

A few “hundred yards had been gone over, and ti.
man realized that the horse he rode was far fpeen fresh,

and he recalled that the scout had made a hard ride to try
and get a reprieve for him.

But his chances were desperate, and the horse must
suffer to save him.

He forced him ahead as hard as he dared, for he kaa
that it would not be half an hour before cavalry would be
upon his track, and, if he could escape them until night-
fall, in the darkness he might be able to completely eee
pursuit.

He held straight on until he reached the range of ‘bits, |

“They will not follow me there,”
examining the outfit of the scout, he found that he had

with him a couple of days’ rations, at least, a canteen of ©

water, roll of blankets, with the rifle and ammunition in
plenty.
_ As he reached the desert, he saw dark objects on the

 

 

 

 

 

. which he crossed, and, descending, headed for the desert.
he murmured, and, |

   
    

 

 

 
 

    

 

 

 

cio Teg a ASCE A gg AMAL ila Nie ci ig DO SH

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. @

_ slope of the hill, visible in'the rays of the setting sun, and

he knew that they were troopers in pursuit of him.

“They can follow me no further than the desert, for
then they must halt, and I will have a night’s start of
them, even if my horse fails me and I am on foot,” he
murmured, as he rode along in the gathering gloom of
coming night.

With the heat of day no longer oppressing him, and a
drink of water just as he left the hills, the horse rallied
somewhat, and was urged steadily along. out upon the

‘desert.

Proceeding in a walk, after darkness came, the fugitive
continued his flight, until the moon rose and lighted his
way.

He could see nothing of his pursuers, and at last de-
cided to halt for the night, out of mercy for the noble
animal he rode. ° e

He bathed the nostrils of the horse, to refresh him,
spread a blanket upon the sand, and, grasping the rein,
lay down to rest, after eating a small piece of deer meat
and a cracker.

Worn out with all he had passed through, he did not
awake, as he had expected, at midnight, but slept on until
the dawn was near at hand.

Then he awoke with a start, looked about him for a mo-
ment, and all the horror of his situation flashed upon
him.

“T must get away from here, for even now they may be
near me. a

“Poor horse, without food and water, and day upon us,
you, indeed, will have a hard time of it.”

Quickly rolling up his blanket, and throwing it over
the saddle, he mounted, and rode on, to soon discover that

‘the troopers were not far away, and, coming upon his

trail like men who meant: to capture him, suffer what they
might in the effort to do so.
Akead of him loomed up green trees and the presence

of water and grass for his horse.

Was'it one of those mirages of which he had so often
heard, luring the traveler on to death?
He half feared so until he saw that his horse also beheld

the green trees, scented the water, and pushed on more

rapidly, with ears bent forward and every now and then

' giving a low neigh of delight.

“Tt will save you, good horse, for you are hardly able to

-bear me now,” said the fugitive, and he urged his horse
on, for his own lips were parched, his throat dry, and he

had eaten nothing since the few mouthfuls the evening be-
fore.

At last the motte, the green oasis in. the desert, was
reached, and, rushing up to the little stfeam flowing from

_ the spring, the horse shoved his nose deep down into its
-*.cool depths.

Xs the rider. sprang from the saddle, he uttered a cry of
delight, for there, not a hundred yards away, was a fine
animal gazing at him, with a curious look, as though won-

* dering who and what he was.

‘The man at once started toward the strange horse, and
was glad that he did not run from him. 8

He succeeded in catching him, and leading him up to
the noble animal that had borne him so long a distance
and so well, quickly transferred the saddle and bridle
from him to his fresh mount. 2

Filling his canteen then with cool water, and with an

affectionate caress to the most noble animal he was leav-
ing, he mounted and rode away from the spring. —
Halting at the last grassy plot, he hastily pulled enough

for a small feed, wrapped it in his blanket, and, mounting,

rode on once more, and just as the troopers were coming
rapidly toward the motte.

“This horse is fresh, their horses are dead beat, and
Fate, after providing me with this fresh mount, will not
allow me to be retaken.’ ‘

As he so mused aloud, a different look came over his
face, the expression of stern resolve to bear up against
despair faded away, and he had the appearance of one
filled with hope for the present.

He looked back, and saw that the troopers rode into
the motte, that they halted there, and after a short rest a
few came on. eos

But he had no fear now, apparently, and rode on his
course, though at times he seemed to hesitate as to which
way he should go.

When darkness came, he again camped upon the
desert, giving his horse half of the grass he had brought
for him, and.a few swallows of water from his canteen.

When dawn broke, he was again in the saddle, and,
after riding for several hours, beheld a rock ahead.

The horse seemed to wish to go directly to it, and he
had observed several times that the animal was inclined to
co his own way.

Now he rode directly for the large bowlder, neighing a
couple of times, and, as he approached it, he saw a pack of
coyotes go whining away.

“Coyotes away out here on the desert mean that they
have found food there,” he muttered, and when he rode
up to the rock he made a startling discovery.

There lay the form of a man, clad ‘in buckskin and

miner’s dress combined. io
His hat was near, and he lay with his head upon his
saddle, a blanket beneath him and a bridle and trappings

near.

found their game.

Raising his rifle, he fired several shots, which sent the

voracious brutes scattering far away over the desert.

Then he gave the balance of the grass he had with him

to his horse, and unsaddled him, while he began to search
the body of the man he had found dead there in the
desert. : ay Ga a ay

Unwrapping his blankets, he discovered a buckskin roll,
in which were a few trinkets, a watch, chain, ring arid
sleeve-buttons, with several photographs and a map with
a “key” attached to it. Me

There was a bundle of letters and some papers, all of
which the fugitive glanced over carefully, and with vary-
ing expressions coming and going upon his face the while.

‘At last from his lips broke a wild, exultant shout, fol-
lowed by a burst of laughter, as-he ered. | 4

“By Heaven, but the star of my destiny is in the ascend-
ant, for again has fortune favored me!

“Yes this map and key, and these papers tell me where
I can find untold wealth—where I can dig a fortune from
the earth in bright, yellow gold!

“Thrs poor fellow has died here, starved to death, and,
as I live, I believe this is his horse, which has strayed
back te where he could find grass and water. '

‘eR ee

The face and hands of the man had been disfigured —
but slightly, showing that the coyotes had not long before ©

      
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
    
 
   
   
 
   
  
  
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nara i iA SOI cif ict

 

8 -

“Yes, for the animal would come in this direction, and
this was his master !

“Being dead, this poor piece of clay needs not the for-
tune I have found on his dead body—no, it is mine, mine!

“Fa! what thought is this that comes to me?

“By Heaven, Ill do it; and, if the troopers yet follow
my trail, they will find my clothes on a body half devoured
by coyotes, the scout’s saddle, bridle and rifle, and the
horse they saw me ride away from the motte lying dead by
my side, for I must make the deceit a perfect one.

“Yes, Wallace Weston will be reported as having died

upon the desert, while in reality he will be far from here,

digging a fortune out of the earth.
‘Ha! ha! ha! Iam now defiant, for I was not born to
die as this poor wretch has.”

With this, he drew off his unt and the clothes of —

the dead man, and quickly made the exchange, taking
from his pocket a small pair of shears and cutting away
the beard, which he did not wish to betray him,

When all was ready, he took up the saddle and trap-
pings of the dead man, and, raising his rifle, shot the horse
that had served him so well.

“Tt is cruel, but the brute must die for the human,” he
said, in a low tone, and then walked rapidly away from
the spot. a

Glancing back when far away, he smiled grimly as he
saw the coyotes sneaking back to devour their prey.

He hurried from the rock in the gathering gloom, carry-
ing with him his load of the saddle, bridle and outfit of the
nan he had found dead.

“Tf found by the men who are pursuing me, they will
bury him, and that will end my career to the world.

“I would like to put the poor fellow in a grave, but then
he serves me too well to permit of that.

“What a coincidence,that he should be just my size,
and with his beard cut off not unlike me, he will readily
pass for ine.

“Ah, me!’what is before me now, I wonder?

“After all that has come up in my favor, I cannot but

believe that the future holds more in store for me than has

~

the past.
“Now, let me see! Which way will I go?
“Why, back the way I came, of course, for I can find
that oasis in the desert that served me so well before, and
from there to the mountains can be made in a day’s jour-
ney, though I must approach them by night, so as to be
seen by any one who. may be in the hills.
“Then, too, the Land of Gold is in that direction, and

‘ thither I go now, for there lies my future.

“Somewhere I will pick up a horse, so I will carry this
rig, heavy as it is. ;

“Now, turning my face upon the past, I front the fu-
ture, and all that it has in store for me,”

Thus he mused, as he stood in the desert, with the moon
rising to light his way.

Having decided, he took his course, from the rising
moon showing him the points of the compass, and set off
upon the back trail.

Walking, as he was, he knew that he could hide where
horsemen could not, and he could hear the tramp of cav-
alry far away.

His tracks would make no impression, so his trail could
not be followed.

On he went over the moonlit desert, keeping up a steady

5

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

 

 

tramp until midnight, when he ate sparingly of the little
food he had secured with the scout’s haversack, and took
a few swallows of water.

With the saddle, bridle, lariat, rifle and belt of arms of
the dead miner, the canteen, blankets and ammunition, he
had a weight of sixty pounds to carry.

But he was a powerfully-built man, and walked along
without seeming effort.

At last, having kept up a brisk walk all night, he saw
the dark shadows-ahead that marked the outline of the
little clump of timber in the desert, with its cool spring to
refresh him.

He walked more briskly now, anxious to enter its shel-
ter while it was yet dark, for he knew not- but that his
pursuers might be camped there.

The sun, however, rose before he reached the timber,
and, as he gazed into its shadows, he halted.

After all he had passed through, were his pursuers lurk-
ing there for him?

If so, they saw him, and were awaiting his coming.

To escape now would be impossible, if he was seen, so
he would go boldly on and face the ordeal, whatever it
might be.

So on he went, with firm tread, stern face, and ready to
face the worst. a

He entered the timber, his heart in his throat, as it: felt
to him, yet calm of mien.

He had more to live for now than ever, for he held in
his possession the secret of a mine which the papers at-
tached to it said was a fortune of gold.

‘Must he lose all now?

But not a sound broke the stillness, not a leaf stirred,
not a moving thing was in sight.

Straight to the spring he went, and quenched his thirst,
and then he ate his breakfast, but partook very sparingly.

Bathing his feet and refreshing himself with the cool
water, he walked over to where there was a thicket, and,
creeping in among the cedars, spread his blankets, and lay
down to rest. :

Worn out, he slept soundly, and he heard not the tramp = a

of horses, but was awakened by the sound of voices.

Fe half arose, with a start, to see a squad of cavalry
riding into the timber. :

Leading them, as guide, came Buffalo Bill, and an of-
ficer, whom he recognized. as Lieutenant Tompkins, fol-
lowed, with the troopers in his rear. z

To try to escape would result in instant discovery, and
yet it seemed hardly possible that he could avoid detection
if. they remained there long, 2.5 =~ eS

Scarcely darin® to breathe, he lay flat upon the ground,
aud awaited the result of their coming. KG

He heard them talking distinctly, and his name was
mentioned.

The horses were turned loose, and this indicated a stay |
of at least some hours. f 4

Fires were built to cook food, and the weary men |
sought shady places to rest, but not one came into the |
thicket, though they threw themselves near by, in its
shade.

Fortunately, the thicket kept off what little breeze there
was blowing, and they avoided it, anxiolis to get what air
they could.

N

  

 

 

 
 

 

 

ey

   

Lying flat upon his back, the hunted man, drenched
with perspiration, his heart beating violently, lay as still
as death, awaiting life or death, as it might be to him.

CHAPTER. V.
THE GOLD-HUNTER.

The hours dragged by like days to Wallace Weston, as
he lay there in the thicket, with his comrades not two hun-
dred feet from him, some coming near enough to have
seen him, had attention been attracted into the cedars,
which, fortunately for him, it was not.

At last the shadows grew longer, the rays of the sun-
light gilded the treetops, then that faded away and twi-
light settled over all, followed by darkness.

“The hunted sergeant breathed more freely then, but yet
knew that he was not safe, not until the soldiers left the
thicket.

He heard the conversation between Buffalo Bill and the
lieutenant, as to what was best to be done toward pursu-
ing him, and then knew that the soldiers had sought their
blankets for the night.

Still, he dared not go to sleep, and only felt that he was
able to change his position, for he had been lying flat upon
his back for hours.

_ Again the hours dragged along into a tedious length of
time, and it appeared an age to him before he heard the
call for the men to saddle up and be ready to start.

The moon was riding high in the heavens now, and he
could see the troopers moving about, and at last form in
line, awaiting the command to mount and start on their
way

e¥ cl Y

When at last he saw Buffalo Bill ride away, the lieuten-
ant and his men following, he could hardly refrain from
giving a shout of triumph.

> He had not eaten a mouthful since he had thrown him-
self down to rest, and his canteen lay some yards away,
and he dared not make an effort to get it, so he was sui-
fering for both food and water. |

“The moment the troopers rode away, he arose and re-
Aonnoitered carefully, to see that none had remained.

He then arose, gathered up his things, and went to the
spring, where he quenched his thirst, after which he ate
ugain, sparingly, of the little food he had left.

Refilling his canteen with cool water, he shouldered his
belongings and started at a brisk step away from the tim-
ber, taking the same trail by which he had come.’

he fear came to him that the pursuers might give him
up, once they got some distance from the timber, and he
felt the full heat of the desert, and for them to return
would be to overtake him. %

But he had an hour or more before daylight came, and
had made a long distance in that time.

The sun rose, but still he pressed on, for the goal he
sought was among the mountains ahead, which looked so
near, yet were so far away. .

On, on he trudged, feeling now that he must approach
the mountains by day, with the danger behind him, for of
the two dangers he must choose the least.

With a bite of food now and then, a frequent swallow
of water from his canteen, and not daring to halt for rest,
fearing his limbs would become stiff and painful.

The sun at last disappeared behind the mountains, and
yet the mountains were miles away.

tA

Cy

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

All trace of the timber in his rear had long since disap-
peared, and he knew that he had tramped many a long
mile ; but hope of shelter and safety lay before him, and so
on he went. 1

At last he reached the slope, climbing the foothills, and
toward midnight had reached the mountain range. _

His path lighted by the moon, he went on until he came
to a mountain stream, and then, seeking a secluded spot,
he spread his blanket, ate a little food, and, hardly able to
stand, lay down to sleep. Pcs

In an instant almost he was fast asleep, and when. he
awoke the sun was shining in his face.

Plunging into the stream, after a good bath, he felt.re-
freshed, and the last of his food was eaten with a relish.

Then he shouldered his traps once more and pressed
on, on, wénding his steps toward a region which his
knowledge of the frontier told him no one went near, the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, of which wonderful tales
were told around the campfires, weird stories of a strange

country which no white man dared penetrate, and which

the Indians said was the abode of evil spirits.

He knew that, as he went on, there was no danger of
being pursued in that direction, that all danger from those
who had been his comrades lay behind him, and that what
nger there was ahead he would not worry about until
had to face it. .

Suddenly he saw, crossing his trail ahead, a fawn, feed-
ing as it went, all unconscious of his presence.

Quickly his rifle sprang to his shoulder, the flash and
the report followed, and the deer dropped dead.

With food at hand, he built a fire, and soon enjoyed a
hearty meal, after which he still pressed on until he came
to a hilltop, which gave him a view of a vast expanse of
country, with the Grand Canyon of the Colorado visible
far away in the distance.

A cheer burst from his lips at the sight, and he cried, n>

exultant tones :
‘There lies my promised land!
‘In yonder Grand Canyon is the gold mine I seek, the
treasure that is to make me a rich man.” . oh
And there he stood, gazing upon the wonderful scene,

until the shadows of night fell about him.

The morning dawned grand and beautiful, and the gold-_

hunter arose from his blankets and gazed about him, with
a look of admiration, as he beheld the scene.

Suddenly there attracted his eye a column of smoke
floating upward from the timber bordering the rim of the
mighty chasm, a mountain split in twain, that markec
what is known as the “Grand Canyon,” the most wonder-
ful of nature’s work.

“What does that smoke mean, I wonder?” muttered the
gold-hunter.

“Indians do not go there, I have heard Buffalo Bill and
others say, so it must be white men.

“But who Pe.

“The man whose clothes I have on, whose map and be-
longings Ihave, certainly went there, and found a gold
mine, t06. See

“His diary says that he neither saw Indian or paleiace
the year that he was in the Grand Canyon, and so I must
be very cautious, and see just who I am to meet.

“His papers also direct me to where he left a cache con-:
A

taining several months’ provisions, and other things
will be useful, and I must follow the directions on the map

 

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10

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

and find. them; but first let. me go to see what yonder

smoke holds in store for me.’

Eating the cold deer meat left over from his supper the
night before, for he dared not build a fire to cook more,
the gold-hunter started on his way once more , toward the
curling smoke, all of a dozen miles away.

In that pure air, walking is but little effort, and he made
good progress until he reached the timberland, above
which he had seen the column of smoke ascending.

Then he went forward very cautiously, having taken
his bearings of the locality, so that he could find the camp
without trouble, and at the same time keep out of view
himself

Reaching an open space in the timber, he beheld the:

camp upon a hilltop, and saw that the fire was still burn-
ing.

‘From the nature of the gr ound about it, Wallace Wes-
ton was convinced that the camp had a canyon at the back
of it, and, with the open space in front, was well pro-
tected against surprise. .

The canyon was, therefore, his best way to get near it
unseen, and he accordingly flanked along through the
timber, keeping well out of sight, until he came to "where

“the hill broke off abruptly.

Here he saw the canyon, which his knowledge of wood-

‘craft told him was the one that ran up in the rear of the

camp. :

Up this he went, the sides gradually growing steeper,
until he had gone fully a mile.

iiere he halted, deposited his traps and rifle, and began
to chmb up the steep sides, the top of the cliff being all of
a hundred feet in height.

It was a dangerous and tedious climb, but he at last

reached the top, and peered over" carefully.

His face changed color instantly at what he beheld.

There was the camp, for he had calculated well, not
twenty-five feet from him.

There was a wicky-up there, as though the camp was
not one of a night, and a couple of horses were staked out
not far distant.

The fire was still smoldering, and near it lay a huge

¢, with a most savage-looking face.

But the animal was asleep, and, the wind being favor-
able to the gold-hunter, he did not observe his presence
so near, or scent him.

“There is a customer to look out for,
yet saw the dog I wa§ afraid of.

“Still, he looks ugly, and he guards the camp.”

There, clinging to the cliff, and peering over it, the ser-
geant took i in all. there was about the camp, and was pre-
paring to crawl over the rim of rock and enter it, when he
Saw a movement in the wickiup.

Ah, there is some one there, after all.

OW ell, I must face whoever it is, for, if a white man, I
hardly have. anything to fear.’

So saying, he ‘drew himself up over ae edge of the cliff,
and, with revolver in hand, cautiously approached the
camp.

He had gone but a
opened, and, with a savare velp of surprise and anger, he
bounded toward the intruder, who saw that he had a very
dangerous brute to deal with,

dog

, though I never

_ few steps, when the eyes of the dog

But he did not flinch, did not show the slightest sign of

fear of the savage animal, appearing like one who held

4

his salvation in his own hands, aid was well aware of the
fact.

With a voice that rang out sternly, he cried:

“Down, you devil ! down, sir !?

The dog halted, looked at the intruder curiously, met
the unflinching gaze fixed upon him, and realized that he
had met his match,

Instantly he dropped his head, giving only a vicious
growl, as though still struggling to terrify the one who
sought to subdue him.

Onickly the soldier stepped toward him, ai him a

kick, and said, sternly:

“Down, sir!”

ihe dog dropped at his teet, wholly subdued, ia as a
voice came irom the shadow of the wickiup, crying :

“My God! who are you?’

‘The voice was that of a man, and the words came as in
intense as while there was a pathos in them as
though the speaker was suffering either in mind or body.

With. half a

ting now humbly at his knees, and completely. subdued.
He saw, lying on the blankets spread under the shelter,

the form of a man, his face pale and haggard and his iy

hands and feet securely bound.

His face was bearded, his hair long and unkemy
his appearance seedy, for his dress, that of a mine
his boots a id hat were worn out, almost

“And I
Wallace Weston, impressively, as he gazed down upon
him.

“T am one in distress, one over whom the shadow of
death has fallen, to soon end all.

“T am a poor unfortunate, held a prisoner here by one

whose greed for gold is far greater than his. humanity &

The words were uttered with evident effé :
eyes of the speaker were fixed upon the intruder into the
camp, who stood gazing at him in wonder and pity.

“How did you get here and not be torn to pieces by

 

that savage brute: » asked the man in the wickiup, as the,

other did not speak.
“I do not fear dogs.”
“But you are known to him} ” :
“Oh, no, though he now knows me as his oem
see
“Down, sir!

 

1)?

The dog obedientiy dropped at the caldiee! s feet, while

the one in the wickiup said:

“Wonderful!
me-to pieces did I attempt to leave this spot.

“Who are you, that possesses such power over a brute?”

After a moment of hesitation, the answer came:

“T ama gold-hunter; by name, Andrew Seldon.”

Andrew Seldon was the name.on the papers of the dead

gold-hunter he had found in the desert, and Wal lace

Moen determined to make it his own.

“And I, too, was a gold-hunter, and came here with one 7

I deemed my friend, in search of the precious metal.
M Tiwas a eeologist, had experience as a prospector, and
he who now holds me a prisoner profited by my knowl-

edge, and when at last I struck it rich, found a mine, he ;

showed the cloven foot, believing that he could go to it,
“Hie shot me down, as he believed killing me, and at

dozen strides, still holding his revolver
ready, the soldier stepped to the wickitip, the dog trot-=

ask the sarhne question—who are you?” “said

That brute is my guard, and would tear

    
  
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
  
  
   
   
  
    
 
   
  
   
  
  
   
    

   
 
 

 

  

 

 
ae

 

 

ae Le oe nc Se tl a rn

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 41

once went in search of the find I had made, guided by
what I had told him. |

“But in vain he searched; he could not find the gold,
and, cursing hiniself for being so hasty, he returned to
camp, to find that his bullet had not proven tatal, -°

“Instantly he threw himself upon his knees by my side,
begged me to forgive him, said that he was mad, and
knew not what he did. :

“Bool that I was, I believed that he was sorry, and for-
gaye him. Most tenderly. he cared for me during weeks

of suffering, until at last, a few. days ago, I was able to go

_ about.

“Then he asked me to take him to my mine.

“T refused to do so at that time, asking him to wait un-
til I was a little stronger, and at once he showed his true
nature again. "

“Frankly, he told me that he would kill me unless I told
him where the gold was.

“T refused to do.so, and so, making that huge brute
hold me at bay, he bound me hand and foot, and so I have
been for a week.

“Each day he leaves camp in search of the gold, and
that dog is my guard, while he has told me that if he does
not find it by next Sunday, three days away now, he will

- jill me, and he is one to keep his word,”

Wallace Weston had listened attentively to the words
of the sufferer ; then he bent over and quickly unbound the
lariat that held him so securely.

“You are in no: danger now, for you are a free man, and
can meet your cruel foe upon equal terms.”

“Would that 1 could, but I am as weak and helpless as
a child,”

“Then I shall protect you, and your enemy will have me

to deal with.

“What is your name, may I ask?”

“Lucas Langley.”

“Well, friend Langley, I will remain here in the wicki-
up until your enemy comes and meets me. Will you tell
me who and what he is?” ;

“THis name is Hugh Mayhew, though he is known in
the camps as Black Heart Bill, for he was a desperado of
the worst type.

“T was a fool to come with him on this gold trail, but,
then, I had saved his life, and he was always most friendly
toward me, though a terror to others, and I trusted him 3
but now, from his own lips, I know that he wished me
to come along to find gold for him, which, when found,
meant my death—but, sir, you are as white as death!” and
the miner gazed with amazement into the face oi the man
who had told him his name was Andrew Seldon.

With an effort, he recovered himself, and said, though
his voice was hoarse with suppressed feeling: =

“Yes, it is from your recalling a name I heard long ago,
and that I can never forget.

“Hugh Mayhew, you said?’

“Ves, sir, that is his real name, though, as I told you,
he is better known in this wild region as Black Heart
Balle

“A name well fitted to him and his evil life, for 1 know
him, and I tell you now, Mr. Lucas Langley, that IT also
have a score to settle with Black Heart Bill, and that
means that it shall be his life or mine,” and the face of the
speaker showed the miner that he was in deadly earnest.

The miner was deeply impressed by the words and man-

ner of the one who had come before him almost as an ap-
parition, and was there, as he said, to protect him, when
he was unable, from his long suffering from his wound
and being bound, to help himself.

“You really know this man Mayhew, then, Pard Sel-
don?” asked the miner. '

“T do know him only too well, for I met him years ago; _
but we will not speak of that now, as I desire to be ready
for his return.

“When do you expect him back to camp?”

“Tn an hour or so, for his time for returning varies, as
he comes back to dinner sometimes, and then again not
until night.”

“Well, when he comes I will be ready for him, and you
had better keep up the appearance of being still bound.”

“T will do as you say, sir.” :

“T will give you one of my revolvers, and
“My own are there, for you see my belt hanging on the
tree yonder.” :
“J will get it for you, and you remain in the wickiup,
while I hide yonder behind the roots of that tree which

has blown down.” f

Ves 7 y

“When he returns to camp, I will have my eye on him,
and hear what he has to say to you.

_ “At the proper moment I will appear

“And kill him?”

“T will not shoot him down, as he deserves, but give -
him a chance for his life.” :

“No, no, for he is the deadliest of shots, full of nerve,’
has plenty of courage, and is merciless.”

“Still, I will meet him on equal terms; but how are you
with a revolver?”

“T am a good shot.”

“Well, if he kills.me, then your own chance for life is
to shoot him down, and a few days’ rest will make you
able to travel, and you can return to your mime, or go
where you please.’

“Thank you, pard; but let me tell you that, though I
would be merciful to any one else, yet it will not do with
Black Heart Bill to give him any chance whatever, for it
will be fatal to you.”

“Still, I will do so, for I wouid not murder even that
man, vile as he is.

“From which direction does he come?”

“From down the valley yonder.”

“And he is off prospecting now?’

“Ves for my mine, for he looks only for that now.”

99

 

33

 

» “Have you anything to eat in camp?”

“Yes, over by the fire you will find plenty that was left
from breakfast; coffee, venison steak and hoecake.”

The gold-hunter went to the fire, set the coffee-pot upon
the coals, and found in the frying-pan a good steak and
some bread.

He ate heartily, and felt much refreshed, after which
he returned to the wickiup and continued to talk with the
miner until the latter said, quickly:

“He is coming.

“See, that brute is pricking up his ears.”

‘All right,” said the gold-hunter, with the utmost sang
froid, “I will be ready for him.

“Throw that rope about your ankles and wrists, as
ee you were still bound, and I will seek my hiding-
place.” c

 
 

 

 

 

Soarranse Ne

12 THE BUFFALO

With this, the gold-hunter quickly sought the spot he
had selected, a hole made by a tree having been blown up
by the roots, and where there was a secure hiding-place,
_ not twenty feet from the wickiup.

The dog sdt out near the fire, his ears pricked up and
lis eyes watching down the valley, where there soon came
into view a horseman, riding at a gallop.

“It’s Black Heart Bill, as I thought.

“That dog always scents him a long way off,”
Lucas Langley, from his place in the brush shelter.
“All right; 1 am ready for him,’, came the quiet re-

sponse, and the eyes of the gold-hunter were fixed upon
the coming horseman, as he peered through a hole in the
mass of interwoven roots.

At last the horseman came clearly into view, and the
gold-hunter saw that he was well mounted and equipped,
carrying, in addition to his belt of arms, a rifle across his
saddle.

The horse came along at a lope, straight for camp, and,

said

arriving near, the rider dismounted, took off the saddle |
and bridle, and staked the animal out near the other two”

animals,

Walking briskly up toward the camp, the man leaned
his rifle against a tree, and turned toward the wickiup.

He was a man above the medium height, well built, and
his movements were quick and. decided. |

He wore a long beard, his hair fell upon his broad
shoulders, and his face was darkly bronzed, handsome,
expressive, and yet one to dread, for in it lurked a look

of utter recklessness, while there was a cruel curl to his’

lip and an evil glitter in his eyes.

He was dressed in buckskin, top boots and large
rinumed slouch hat, and at a glance, if one did not study
his evil face closely, looked to be a magnificent creature,
the very picture of a border hero.

But one studying his face for a moment would fear,
not like or respect, Black Heart Bill, the man who had
won the name from his brother miners of being a man
without a heart, pity, or a noble impulse.

Such was the man whom the gold-hunter had volun-
tarily agreed to face in a struggle for life or death.

CHAPTER Vis
THE DESPERADO’S THREAT.

The man’s face, as he strode toward the wickiup,
where Lucas Langley, his victim, lay, pretending to be
still bound, was full of malignancy, and his eyes lurid
with an evil resolve.

“See here, Langley, I have hunted over every foot of

land which you have been able to prospect since we came
into this country, and I can find not the slightest trace
of gold or silver, only some rich copper ore.

“Now I came to this country expecting to find gold
through your knowledge of minerals, and I know, from
the few nuggets you brought into camp that you struck
it tieh.”

“You are right, I did; but what the find will pan out
when worked I do not know,” was the quict answer.

“Well, Til take chances on its being a rich find, and I
aim willing to go halves with you if you take me to it.”

“Yes, go halves until the opportunity offers to shoot

me dead.” 2
“I am tired of longer delay, and I swear-to “you, by

BILL STORIES.

Heaven, Langley, that I will kill you within ten minutes
if you do not swear to mount your horse and guide me
to that gold.” ,

“I will not do so, to be killed by you’as soon as you
know the secret.”

“You refuse?”

rey, do.”

“Well, Dll give you the ten minutes, and if you do
not consent then I will put a bullet through your heart
as you lie there.”

“And never find it then.” -

“Dll be better off, at least with you out of the way,
for my provisions will last longer, and I can change my
camp at will, not being tied down by your being unable
tol So."

“You placed me here. by trying to kill me.”

“Yes, and curse you, you would not die. i

“You have as many lives as a cat,” and the man took
another glance at the watch he held in his hand, while
he continued, speaking with the utmost deliberation:

“It is now just ten minutes to one o'clock, and when the
hands point to one I will kill you.

“If you decide at the last minute to weaken, call out,
but be quick, for I will have my finger on the trigger to
Oi it

“Would you shoot a man now prostrated by your —
shooting him down without mercy two months ago, a
man bound hand and foot, and wholly in your power?”

“Of course I would. Have you forgotten my record
as Black Heart Bill?”

“Alas, no, I believe you are capable of any crime.”

“You should know me, when you saw what I did in
the mines.” .

“T remember but too well.”

“Then do not hesitate, unless you wish to be shot, and
left here for the coyotes to pick your bones.”

“I care not what becomes of my body after I am dead;

but I did hope for some mercy from a man whose life I

saved at the risk of my own.”

“Bah! what care [ for sentiment? My race were not
born chicken-hearted, and I will not be the one to show
that I am not worthy of my ancestors by showing the
white feather when it is only a man’s life that my bullet

snuffs out like a candle,’ and the man gave a bitter,

mocking laugh.

“Well, I shall not weaken, Black Heart Bill, so do your
worst.” .

“T will; but I will be mercitul, for I will give you a
chance to pray, and I would like to hear a man on the
eve of death praying for his soul’s satety.”

“Will you irge my hands:

“NO Wie .

“Why not?”

“TL wish it.”

“You wish to clasp them in prayer, eh?

“Well, that is simply a-fancy to clasp the hands and
bow the head, for it does not make the words any more
binding. No, you shall die at the end of your prayer,
and the crack of my revolver will emphasize,the Amen.”

“Black Heart Bill, you are more of a brute than that

savage dog of yours!”

“Why not, for | have the human brain with the brute
nature to make me so. But your time is about up, so

say your prayers, and remember that I will yet find your

 

 

 

 
 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

gold mine and revel in your wealth. Come! pray if you
intend to, for.you are doomed to die within just two
minutes,” and the villain glanced at his watch once more
and turned to step to the tree a few feet away, where
he had hung his belt of arms when-he came into camp.

But as he turned he heard the startling words:

“And you are doomed, Hugh Mayhew! Hands up,
quick! for 1 am as merciless as you are.”

A startled cry broke from the lips of Hugh Mayhew,

and his face became livid at hearing a strange voice be-
hind him, when he had not beheld a human being with
fi the exception of Lucas Langley and himself, within a
kt hundred miles of where they were encamped.
- Then, too, he beheld the tall form of the gold-hunter
between him and his belt of arms, and knew that he was
at his mercy, for a revolver, held ina hand as firm as
a rock, with an eye glancing along the sights that did
not quail, and the muzzle pointed directly at his heart,
covered him, and something very like a moan of despair
came from between his set teeth.

Realizing that he was unarmed, and facing a revolver
in the hands of a dangerous man, Black Heart Bill, with
the training he had had on the border, did not hesitate
to obey the command and raise his hands above his head.

‘Toes that satisfy you?’ he growled.

“Hor the present,. yes.”

“By Heaven! but I know that face!’ cried the des-
perado. rates

“Do you think you do?”

"L know tty,

“Tf I am the one you think, then you must know how
little claim you have on me for mercy, Hugh Mayhew.”

“Ha! I knew I was not mistaken, for you have not a
face to forget.”

“Especially under the circumstances when you saw it
, last.’

“Yes, they said you had not died as we supposed, but
had recovered and left the country,’ and Black Heart
Bill spoke rather. to himself than to the man who had
faced him, spoke as though he was recalling the past.

“No, I did not die, as many believed, but am alive and
hold you at my mercy this time, Hugh Mayhew.”

“You would not kill me in cold blood, would you?”

“Tf I did, it would be doing by you just as you would by
me,”

“T would at least give a man a chance for his life.”

“You lie, for but two minutes ago you vowed to kill
that poor man there, whom you had already shot down.”

“It is false, for 1 shot him by accident, and I was only
trying to frighten him into telling me something I wished
to know.”

“Again you lie, Hugh Mayhew, for if you shot him
once in cold blood you would again, and you have a rec-
ord of being merciless, while 1 happened.to hear all that
you said, listened to your threat from my hiding-place
there, and had I[ not held you up your victim would now
be a dead man.

“No, you should expect no mercy from me, Hugh
Mayhew.” *

wee. Peeiouy,

“You ask it?’

WiMies 7)

“You plead to me for mercy?”

“1 can do nothing else.”

 

 

 

cA EE TRS RAMA DE scale EN oo ene De eae

13

“Well, you know what it is to be cornered, to have
one have the drop on you.

“Yes, you now suffer as you have made others suffer,
as you have made your victim feel, the man who saved
your life at the risk of his own, the man who came to
this country trusting you, believing that he had at least
the hold of friendship upon you.”

“How know you this?”

“Simply from his own lips, and now by your own ad-
mission that it is true.”

“T.owe him nothing.”

“You square all debts by death, Mayhew; but yet I
will show you mercy.”

“T felt that you would.”

“You judged me from being your opposite.”

“Well, let us shake hands and be friends.”

“Shake hands with you?” roared the gold-hunter. “I
touch your hand? By Heayen, but I’d rather place my
hand upon the head of the most poisonous of reptiles,
Hugh Mayhew. Oh, no, if I have to put my hand ‘upon
yours, it will be when I have killed you, and I have to .
fold your hands in death across your coward heart, for
when dead, then only will I not hate you.”

The man had lost his calm manner, his voice quivered,
his eyés flashed and he spoke with savage vehemence
which caused his enemy, be his crime against him in the
past what it might, to cower before him in fear.

“You said that you would spare me.”

“T said that I would not kill you without mercy, that i
would give you a chance for your life.” '

“What chance?’

“T will show you.

“Mr. Langley, come here, please.”

To the horror of Black Heart Bill, Lucas Langley, his
victim, whom he believed to be still bound, arose and
came slowly toward the goid-hunter, carrying his revolver
in his hand.

“Pard Langley, step off twenty paces, please, here on
the level ground, mark each end, and also the center be-
tween them.

“You understand ?”

“Pertectly.”*

“Place one of that man’s revolvers at one end, one of
mine at the other, looking at both to see that they are
loaded and in perfect condition.

“Then with your own revolver in hand, and cocked,
take your stand near the center position.

“T will escort Mayhew to the starting point, both of
us unarmed and facing each other.

“At your order:

“‘Right about wheel, forward, march,’ we both step
off for our respective end of the twenty paces, going at
a pace which you regulate by calling out aloud the num-

ers up to ten.” .

“T understand, sir, and will do as you say; but as this
man is my foe, as he sought my life, and to rob me, had
me come with him here to this weird land just to profit
by my work and then to kill me, I feel that I, not you,
should be the one to face him in this duel,’ said Lucas
Langley.

“My dear friend, with all that this man, so justly
named Black Heart Bill, has done to you, his crimes

‘against me have been far more, and I alone am the one

 
 

 

14 _ THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

to face him now in what shall be a fight to the death,”

was the stern rejoinder of the sergeant, and he added:
“Now let this duel be fought.”

 

CHAPTER VIL
THE DESPERADO’S LAST CHANCE.

The situation there in that lone camp was a painful
one, for there stood three men, one the foe of two of
them, and the scene was soon to have the shadow of death
fall upon it.

Black Heart Bill seemed to realize fully the situation
of danger he had gotten himself into.

Where the sergeant had come from, or if he was really
alone, he did not know. }

But there. in the wilderness, shunned by redmen and
palefaces alike, but which the greed for gold had caused
a few only to penetrate, he had met one he had wronged
in some cruel way in the past, one who was now holding

‘him answerable for that wrong. .

To do this the fugitive sergeant had said that he would
risk his own life by giving him a chance to kill him.
: That Black teart Bill was at his mercy was certain,
yet he appeared not to be the man to take adavantage of
the fact, but to risk life im his punishment of him,

Séeing how matters stood, Lucas Langley stepped up
to the fugitive sergeant and said:

“T have told you, sir, that that man was a dead shot,
and you do very wrong to risk your life against his.

“Better. rather let him go.”

“To hang on our trail and kill us both from ambush?

“No, you do not know him as I do, my-friend.”

“And you demand that he shall fight you this duel?”

“Certainly.”

“But the tremendous risk to you?” ’

“Do you know I do not feel it to be so, for, after what
I have passed through, I do not believe I am to die by
that man’s bullet—in fact, I am not at all troubled as to
the result.” =

“Then I must arrange as you requested ?”

“At once, please.”

The miner moved slowly about, to obey, stopped off
the twenty paces, marked each end, and the center with
a rock, and placed one of Black Heart Bill’s revolvers at
one end, one of the sergeant’s at the other.

Then he said: Oe

“All is ready, so come to ‘your positions.”

The gold-hunter stepped briskly to his place, having

put aside his other weapon, for Lucas Langley now held
his revolver ready to fire upon him if he made any at--

tempt tobe tricky.

Black Heart Bill stood like a man who felt that he had

come to a chasm he could not cross.
- His eyes had wandered down the valley to the rim that
marked the towering banks of the Grand Canyon, and he
had gazed into space with a far-away look as though he
longed to pierce the great beyond.

He moved to his position mechanically, his bronzed face
having a deathly pallor now, and he stood like one who
obeyed because he could not help himself. +

There they stood, the two splendidly-looking men, un-
armed, and back to back, their eyes upon their respective
revolvers lying ten paces from them, |

At one side near them Lucas Langley now took his’

position, and he looked weak, pale and anxious.

The gold-hunter was perfectly unmoved, save for the
stern expression resting upon his mouth. =~

_ His position gave. him a look down the bright sunlit
valley to the Grand Canyon, and so on the Blue Buckskin
Mountains beyond.

His outlook was a cheery one, if he could gain hope
from that.

On the other hand, and it was by accident, Black
Heart Bill faced the shadows, looking into the dark and
heavy timber upon the other side of the camp.

The huge dog, which Black Heart Bill had very ap-.

propriately named Savage, seemed to realize with brute
instinct that something was wrong, for he stood not far
away, his tail drooped as though in fear, his eyes glaring
from one to the other of the three men.

It was a scene that the actors therein could never for-
get—a scene made necessary from man’s inhumanity to
his fellowman.

A silence that was painful rested upon all, until it was
broken by the voice of Lucas Langley asking:

Are you ready rt

The gold-hunter bowed, the desperado spoke.
~ He said:

“T cannot say nay, for you two are determined to mur-
der me.”

The sergeant wheeled upon him and said: 2

“Hugh Mayhew, if it be your lot to die, why must i
be with a lie upon your lips, for am I not giving you
an equal chance with“myself >?” :

“There are two against one.”

“It is not so, for I am taking the same chance that you
do. If it were otherwise I would have shot you down,
as your own conscience tells you that.you deserve at my
hands.” :

“That man is your friend.” ; :

“I hope that he acts for you as squarely as he does for
mie.’
A sudden gleam came into the eyes of the desperado,
as they rested upon the dog. :

THe saw a chance for life, and with a quick motion of
his hand called, pointing to Lucas Langley:

“At him, Savage! Take his throat in your tron jaws!”

At the command of the master, the ugly brute at. once

gave a savage growl, his hair stood up like bristles arid
there was no:doubt but that he would have sprung upon
the one who held the revolver, Lucas Langley, who
might or might not have killed him as he rushed toward
him. .

Then would the desperado have made a spring and
seized his revolver, hoping to bring down the sergeant
before he could grasp a weapon.

But the last chance of Black Heart Bill, to play a game
of treachery, was thwarted by the nerve and wonderful

magnetic power of the gold-hunter over the brute cre-

ation, for with a stern command to the dog, the mastered
animal dropped down and the desperado ewas foiled.

“You are tricky to the last, Black Heart Bill, I see,”

calmly said the sergeant. |
“Curse you, I told you that I had no chance.”
“For treachery no; but otherwise the same that I have.
“Come, stand back to back with me, and move at the

 

Ro ees.
 

 

 

   

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 15

word: but remember, if you attempt to quicken your
pace, Mr. Langley will drop you in your tracks.”

“T will, so help me, Heaven, and you know, Black
Heart Bill, that I am a dead shot.”

An oath was the only reply from the desperado, and
then the sergeant said:

“Now, Langley, give the word, and if [ fall you will
find my traps over in the canyon yonder, just at the base
of the cliff, and you may fall heir to what 1 have, but
write to the address given in papers of Andrew Seldon,
and share the-fortune you will learn the secret of. Let
me also tell you that if I fall, kill that man without
mercy, for he will not spare you.” ,

“T thank you, and will act upon your advice, and
quickly; but, Heaven protect you is my prayer,” fer-
vently said Lucas Langley.

Then came from the lips of Black Heart Bill a mock-
ing lauglf, which was checked by the voice of Lucas

. Langley, now strong and ringing:

“Are you ready?’ Ree:

-“Ves,” said the sergeant firmly, while Black Heart Bill
said nothing.

“Forward—one! two! three!” and in the same clear
tones the second called out each number, until the last,
ten, was spoken, when, quickly, both men stooped, seized
the revolvers at their feet, and wheeling, fired.

The fwo shots rung out as one, and the fugitive ser-
geant at once lowered his weapon, as though satisfied,
while the arm of the desperado remained leveled, his hand
still grasping his revolver.

But only a few seconds he stood thus, and then the re-
volver dropped from his hand, his arm fell to his side,
his eyes glared at his enemy, until suddenly he fell heavily
his full length upon the ground, a dead man.

The bullet had pierced his heart.

“Thawik God!” came fervently from the lips of Lucas
Langley, and, steppjhg forward, he grasped the hand of
the sergeant, who stood looking down upon his fallen foe.

“Search his body, please, and see what he has that
may be worth sending to his home, for I know where
he lives,”

1
1
i

Lucas Langley did so, finding a watch and chain, a
ring, a buckskin bag of jewelry of various kinds, another
of gold, a roll of bills, a trotebook and several letters.

These he handed to the sergeant; who laid them aside,
when he stepped up to the body, crossed the hands upon
his breast, and then wrapped the form in a couple of
blankets. .

“I will dig a grave for him, as soon as I have brought
my traps into camp,” he said, and ke walked away to find
an easy descent into the canyon, where he had left his
things.

In half ah hour he had returned; and then he set to
work to dig a grave with the pick and shovel of the
miner.

_ This done, he raised the body in his strong arms, bore
it to the grave and laid it away as tenderly as though the
man was one*whom he had cared for in life as a friend.

The grave was filled in, and returning to camp the
two men, so strangely met, had supper together, and the
fugitive sergeant for the first time in many a long day
ate a meal in peace, without a cloud hanging over his life,
and one where there was much to tempt. him, for. Lucas

Langley ‘and his desperado friend had come most com-
oletely supplied to the wilderness.

After the meal was over, and the dog was fed by Lucas
Langley, who wished to become friendly with him, the
two talked together for an hour or more.

Phen the two men wrapped themselves in their blan-
kets and sank to sleep, leaving the dog, Savage, to be
their guard through the night, though they anticipated no
danger in that region, for Lucas Langley said that during
his stay there with Black Heart Bill not an Indian or a
white man had been seen.

CHAP iE NE,
PARDS.,

_ The morning dawned brightly, and Sergeant Wallace
Weston arose refreshed and feeling like a new man.
Lucas. Langley turned out of his blankets briskly, his
mind at ease, and feeling bodily all right, he said.

The sergeant had given his name to his new-found
riend as Andrew Seldon, the name of the dead miner
e had found upon the desert, and whose belongings he
l so strangely come in possession of.
de did not refer to his past, and was not questioned
by Lucas Langley, who, however, had told him that. he
had had trouble in his old home which had. driven him
to seek a home upon the border.

What that trouble was he did not say, and the fugitive
sergeant did not ask him.

Savage had guarded the camp well, and greeted the
two men as they came out of the wickinp with a wag-
ging of the tail and a look that seemed to say: |

“I know when | am well off, and accept the situation
without a murmur.” /

Andrew Seldon, as we must now call the fugitive ser-
geant, patted the dog on the head, and when Lucas Lang-
ley again fed him, after breakfast, the two seemed to
have become most friendly.

The breakfast was a substantial one, consisting of hoe-
cake, venison steaks, bacon and coffee, and’ both men ate
with a relish. a

Then Andrew Seldon had a look at the three horses,
and found them all fine animals. |

The guns and stores were looked over, cleaned, and all
in the camp put in good readiness for a move, for Lucas
Langley had said: a

“We will go to our gold mine and camp, for there is
a brook of water there, plenty of timber, and it is a safe
retreat, with good grass for our horses.’’

So they. packed their camp equipage upon the pack-
horse, upon which Seldon placed the saddle and bridle’
he had brought with him so many long and weary miles,
and then they set off on their trail for the camp which
had so nearly cost the finder his life, and which in the
end had been the cause of Black Heart Bill’s death.

It was in a canyon breaking into the Grand Canyon,
a fertile valley, small in size, but well sheltered, watered
and wooded. ‘ :

A spot was chosen for the camp where a superb view
into the Grand Canyon could be had, and their axes soon
cut down small trees enough to build. a fair cabin for
them, and to run a fence across the head of the canyon
so. that the horses could not stray out when allowed to

be loose.

£
h
1.
1)

Lac
I

  

 

 

 
  

13 .

ina 1 couple of days they were’ comfortably settled,
game was plentiful, there was fish in the stream, and the
health of Lucas Langley had so improved that he once
more considered himself a well man.

Resting on Sunday, which day followed the finishing
of their work, they set to work bright and early Monday
morning to hunt gold.

Lucas Langley “had explained that the gold he had
found was in the brook, and that he did net doubt but
that they could trace it along the water bed to a mine.

So they began in the stream, wading up it, and with a
bag and their pick with them

‘‘T’ve got a piece of gold,” ae Andrew Seldon, hold-
ing up a fair-sized- water-worn lump of precious metal.

“And I have another nugget,’ was the reply.

And so on, slowly up the stream they went for a mile
or more, when they found that the brook started from
several springs in a hill, and went no further, as Langley
had hoped.

The first day ended with a fair find, of perhaps a thou-
sand dollars in weight, and the pards retired early quite
well satisfied.

But the next day the find was less, and so it went on
from day to day until the bed.of the stream was about
cleaned out of yellow metal.

After two weeks, and after a hard day’s work when
the finds made only amounted to a few dollars, Andrew
Seldon said:

“Pard, I believe we can do nothing more here?”

af hat is my opinion unless we went to work in the
hill,

“That is long and tedious work, so 1 suggest that we
now go to my mine.”

“Then you have one?’

Ves) 33

“Where? 29)

“Not very far from here, and I will start bright and
early in the morning, leaving you to follow with the
horses and camp outfit, for I will mark my trail.”

jth right, pard, and I hope it ye pan out better than
ray find?

“Tt will, and I will share with you in thirds; for there
is another to have a third.”

“That is liberal enough, and | am caueted?

“There is a cache of provisions there, too, and so we
will be fixed for a winter’s work.”

“Tam with you, pard, so you lead.”

“Late in the fall it will be well for one of us to go to
Fort Wingate, the nearest place to us where we can pur-
chase provisions, and get all we may need, and mail some
letters home, for I wish to send the things taken from
‘Black Tleart Bill home to his people.”

“Not to tel them how he died?”

“No, except that he was killed in a duel.”

“Don’t send the jewelry, for it will give him away as

a road-agent, for he got that by holding up stage coaches
and robbing the passengers.” \

“I will say nothing to cause sorrow and shame to those

who love him, for there are some that do.”
“You have a big heart, Seldon, and I am glad of the
day that I met you, for 1 owe life, everything to you.”
“Tam glad to have served you, Langley, and I hope
that as pares we can enrich each other, for I am sure my

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

find will pan out rich for all interested in it; but to-mor-

row will tell.”

The next morning the gold-hunter started aloge upon
his trail of fortune, Jeaving Lucas Langley to follow with
the camp outfit.

The same confidence that he would win, in his. duel
with Black Heart Bill, filled the breast of Andrew Seldon
as regarded his finding the gold mine of the man whose
name he had taken.

He set out early from camp, having decided to go
mounted, that his pard ‘might the more readily follow his
trail.

Hevhad studied.the map and direeuons he had found
upon the body of the dead man found upon the, desert,

until he knew them by heart, and he had discovered that
the’ canyon where they were encamped was marked in

the drawing of the Grand Canyon.

The latter had been mapped out for several miles on
either side, and by a skilled hand beyond all doubt, the
drawing being perfect.

The estimated width and depth of the Grand Canyon
had been given, its topography, and one spot marked
where it read:

“This is the only descent I can find into the canyon,

and the trail is narrow, dangerous and long, it being a
dozen miles to the river, eight thousand feet below.
~ “Once in the depths of the canyon and the beauty of
the scene is in unison with the grandeur of the view from
the mountain heights upon either side.

“There are springs of icy water, trees that must keep
their verdure the year round, the river and streams ‘are
alive with the finest of fish, game is most abundant, there
being mountain sheep, deer, antelope, elk, bear, turkeys,
ducks, geese, quail, doves, rabbits and squirrels, while

wild peach and plum trees are found, with berries, and ~

the best of soil for raising vegetables.

“In the depths of this marvelous caiflyon one cond dwell
undisturbed fot centuries, it would “seem, would never
know as or have a sorrow, and be at peace with God
and ma

At one spot on the map of the canyon was a mark, be-
neath which was written:

“Here lies my gold mine, which I have staked out and
laid claim to, marked the stakes with my name, which [
have also painted upon the rocks, with my right and title
as finder, and, as I firmly believe. the only man who ever
penetrated to the depths of this canyon, this the greatest
of Nature’s handiwork.”

The trail leading from the camp, where Andrew Sel-
don had found gold, to the one descending into the Grand
Canyon, was plainly traced, and where the descent began
was written:

“Warninge—Let who goes down here, if I be not his
guide, remember that it is the Trail of Death, for I lost
one horse, that fell over the cliff; but two men, holding
a rope on the outside against an animal, to force him
hard against the rocks, could pass him down in safety.

“The spots most dangerous are marked with a warn-
ing.

“The trail down is twelve miles, perilous every step of
the way, and the gold mine three miles up the canyon, at
the head of the stream marked-in the map.”

_ “The directions are explicit enough; but can it be that

am ‘to find the fortune there that that poor man says, he

 

fe

   

 

 

  
   
      
    
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
 

 

 
  

who found it and then lay down upon the desert to

‘starve?

“Tam a creature of Destiny now, Fate can have noth-
ing more in store for me in the future than I have suf-
fered in the past, and so I shall blindly follow where
Destiny. leads,” and Andrew Seldon rode on at a canter
along the rim of the mighty canyon.

“At last he came to a spot marked in the map where he
must begin the descent to the canyon.

There was a swale there, descending to the rim of the

canyon, where there was a large projecting rock, like the .

mighty prow of a steamer.

Down to this he rode, and by a close survey he found
a rough and rocky way around the rock, beneath its
towering height, down a shelf-like path along the face of
a cliff three thousand feet in height.

None but a sailor, or a man of giant nerve dare make
that descent. :

-But what man had done, man could do, argued the bold
gold-hunter, and he said:

“T will do it.

“Wallace Weston is dead to the world, and the real
Andrew Seldon died on the desert.

“T ani now Andrew Seldon, and what he did, I can do,
so down that path I go.”

He dismounted, staked his horse out in the motte, wrote
a few lines on a slip of paper, telling Lucas Langley
when he came up to await his coming there, and then
set out on foot down the trail.

Having staked his horse out up the swale, where he
could find good grass, Andrew Seldon went around the
base of the rock and started down-the perilous trail, which
the papers and map in his possession designated the Death
Trail.

It was a narrow shelf of rock, running along the face
of the cliff, gradually descending and not more than four
feet wide at its: greatest width, ;

Here and there it went into chasins, then down a steep

-erade and again among a clump of cedars which had

found a footing there.

On walked the gold-hunter, now pausing to gaze down
a precipice, a sheer drop of three thousand, feet in places.

Through a rocky tunnel he went, then around a jagged,
narrow point where the words were painted on the rocks
with the red clay found in the vicinity: -’

“The Death Turn—the worst spot on the trail.”

The gold-hunter paused at the very point, leaned
against the rock and gazed downward with a coolness
that showed perfect control of his nerves.

He stood on a shelf just three feet in width at the

point, and with folded arms gazed out over the limitless

expanse spread out before him.

He looked up the Grand Canyon for a hundred miles;
across to the river on Kaibab Mountain a dozen miles,
and down the canyon as far as the eye could reach.

Above, a couple of thousand feet, towered the over-
hanging cliffs, and beneath his feet he could look down
into the canyon six thousand feet. :

A loose stone lay on the shelf, and picking it up he
dropped it over the edge, watching its flight downward
until distance hid it from view.

Down the valley, winding along, and, looking like a
huge silvery serpent, was the Colorado Grande, a river

@

os | ‘THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. _ A?

at that point two thousand feet in width, yet looking as
though a deer in full flight could leap it.

There were red and blue cliffs of stone, pink and gray
cliffs, forests of heavy timber, mountains and valleys,
rugged peaks, plains and hills, all within the mighty
chasm known as the Grand Canyon, and, spellbound, the
soldier stood gazing upon the scene before him for an
hour and more.

At last he mused aloud:

“Oh! how small man is, how infinitely nothing in this
vast scene of nature.

“Well, I must not stand longer here, though I could
gaze for hours and never tire. ‘

“T need go no further, for this warning says this is the
worst spot on the trail; but we can carry a horse around
it where two of-us can help him.

“Tt must be done,” and shouldering his rifle Andrew

Seldon returned slowly up the trail again.
The sun was near its setting when he reached the swale
where he had left his horse.
Avglance showed him that his pard had arrived, for the
other horses were staked out, and a fire had been built
in the edge of some cedars and Lucas Langley was pre-
paring supper, having killed-some gaine on his way over.

He greeted his companion’s coming with a shout and,

said:

“T am glad to see you back again, for do you know I
began to feel really nervous in being here in the midst of
so sublime a spectacle as is before us, and I feared for
your safety.”

“Oh, no, I am all right; but I can appreciate what
your feelings are, pard, and yet to-morrow 1 will show
you scenes that dwarf the one before us.. Now, let me
ask you how your head stands a high ‘place, or does it
make you.dizzy to look down from great heights?”

“Not in the least, for I was once a midshipman in the
navy.” ; ‘

“Iam glad-of this, for we pass places to-morrow in

our descent to the canyon, that would try the nerviest —
man.”

““T can stand it, if it is no more than looking over a
precipice,’ was the answer, and supper being ready, they
sat down and ate it.

Turning into their blankets at an early hour, they were
up and ready for the start at dawn, and the perilous
descent was begun.

The three horses were placed in single file, but not tied
together, and Andrew Seldon passed a stout lariat along
the outer side, held to the horns of the saddles by a piece

of string only..

Then he led the way around the rock, holding one end
of the lariat, the horses faithfully following, while Lucas
Langley, with the other end held firmly in his grasp,
walked behind.

The rope was held taut by the two men, and the leader
walked slowly, allowing the horses.to pick their steps.

Now and then there was a stumble, then a moment of
painful suspense, as a horse half hesitated, but the trap-
pings had all been packed on the outer side of the sad-
dies, allowing the animals to scrape as close as possible to
the cliffs. .

At last the most’ dangerous point was reached, the turn

around the rugged rock, and here one horse was taken

      
    
    
     
   
    
   
   
   
    
    
   
   
    
    
   
    
    
   
   
    
    

   
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
   
  

 
   

18

at a time, Langley coming forward and. the two men

using the rope to hold the animal hard against the cliff.

_ One horse passed in safety, and the two men breathed

more freely.
A second one was also guided by, though he missed

going over by the merest accident. ee

_ The third had also a narrow escape, one hind foot slip-

ping, but by a miracle he recovered himself.

Then the three horses were left in comparative safety
beyond, and the two men stood regarding each other
with looks. of thankfulness.

- Both were pale, and Lucas Langley slightly unnerved,

for he had not,yet fully recovered his strength.

“You have passed over before, Pard Seldon, but it is
new to me, and you are the only leader I would have fol-
lowed around that cliff. :

“It is worth a fortune indeed to take the risk.”

Andrew Seldon made no comment upon the remark
that he had passed there before, knowing that his com-
rade believed that he was going to a mine which he had

discovered, and which he wished him to believe. \

But in response he said:

_ “You will find the game more than worth the risk,” I
think. 5 :

“Now let us go on: we :

Down the Trail of Death théy slowly went, for the
danger was by no means over until the depths of the can-
yon were reached. ° -

It was late in the afternoon when they arrived at the
end of the cliff trail, and remembering his instructions in
the papers and in the map, Andrew Seldon led the way
up the canyon.

Above them wound, miles high they seemed, the cliffs
of the canyon on, both sides of the river.

A balmy breeze was blowing down the cliff-banked val-
ley, the roar of the river dashing over a rapid Was heard,
birds sung in the trees, peach trees and plum trees were
there, laden with fruit, and a more weirdly beautiful scene
could not be imagined. .

| Quail ran ahead of them on the trail, a herd of dee
bounded away at their approach, a motintain sheep stood
far up on the rocks overhead, gazing down upon them
in wonder, while a large mountain lion was seen gliding
among the cedars, and Savage had to be called back
sternly, for he sought a combat with him.

The shadows were deepening then, for the sun was
behind Kaibab Mountain, and all nature seemed to invite
them to rest in the new-found depths of the Grand Can-
CYOU.. é : cat :

After a ride of several miles, for they had mounted their
horses after reaching the canyon, the eyes of the fugitive
sergeant rested upon a name on the cliffs,

What he saw was:

Nb
99
4

“ANDREW SELDON’S CLAIM.
“Found and staked Paradise Gold Mine
OG ist, (eo.

“T have found it,” he muttered to himself, while his
face shone with triumph. ee “
Lucas Langley was of the opinion that his
was the owner and finder of the mine. S
_ As he gazed upon the grand and inviting view, he did
not notice that Andrew Seldon’s eyes were not taking in

companion

we

   

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. =,

¢

the surroundings, but were roving about the immediate
situation. pees

He was looking for the cabin of the miner which was
marked on the map, the brook and pasturage for the
horses, so as not to show ignorance of the scene.

At last he spied the cabin, built of logs and nestling
away in a protected nook among the cedars.

The brook, clear as crystal, bubbled along a few paces
from the door, and just beyond was a rocky gateway,
where there was a canyon of a hundred acres in size, well
watered, wooded, and with only the narrow entrance for
egress and ingress. weg

There was a barrier at the entrance,gbuilt of logs, so
that the horses could have ample freedom to roam, and
the grass was long, juicy and of the very best variety for
grazing. oe

Having taken in the situation of the camp, while his
comrade was lost in admiration of the scenery, Andrew
Seldon said:

“Come, pard, we'll have ample time to
and night is not far off. nae

“Let us get to work, and I'll open up the cabin while —
you lead the horses up to the canyon yonder and turn —
them loose, only shut the barrier so they cannot stray.” —

Lucas Langley at once unsaddled the horses, leaving
saddles and packs at the cabin, the door of which was
chained and fastened with a padlock.

But Seldon took a key from his pocket, one he had
found on the miner’s body, and soon opened it.

The cabin was some twelve feet by ten; stoutly built,
with a cave in the cliff, against which it was built, serving
as a fireplace, the smoke coming out several hundred feet
above among the rocks. ‘

There was one bunk in it; a table of small saplings put
together, instead of boards, the door being similarly made.

There was a chair made also of slender poles, and in
the fireplace a few cooking utensils.

_ This comprised all the furniture in the cabin, save a
few blankets, a heavy double-barreled shotgun, some fish-
ing tackle and a pair of rubber boots. =

“How long ago did you discover this paradise, pard?”
asked Lucas Langley, returning from having put the
horses in the canyon. amb

“It was discovered just about a year ago.”

_ “And you dared venture down here alone, into a can-
yon the very immensity of which is appalling ?” : “35

“Nothing venture, nothing gain, you know, pard,” was
the evasive response. ey

“That is true,’ and Lucas Langley went out and
fetched in an armful of wood, which was already cut and
piled up outside.

A bright fire was soon blazing in the natural chimney,
the cabin looked cheerful, and the two men unpacked their
fraps and put them where they would be handy when
teeded:.. we ela

While Lucas Langley prepared supper, Andrew Seldon
went to work with a hatchet and nails found there and
soon had’ another bunk built.

Savage sat tipon his haunches enjoying the scene with
evident satisfaction, while he watched with hungry eyes
the broiling venison steaks upon the coals.

With evident relish, the two comrades sat down to their
first meal in their new home. eres
The shadows had deepened in the canyon, when “Bey

see this scenery,

Gait

 
 

 

had finished ie and stepped outside, and, though all
was aglow on the clifftops, with the last rays of the setting
sun, down on the river all was black, so dense were the
shades i in those depths.

They stood looking about them, watching the sunlight
die, until night settled over all, and the stars shone above
with a brightness the men had never seen before.

From the canyons came the howling of wolves and the
fretful cry of the panther, while the owls, disturbed by
human presence near their retreats, hooted most dismally.

Walking up into the canyon, where the horses were,
they found the animals standing huddled together against
the barrier, in evident alarm of the wild beasts, and greet-
ing them with welcome neighs showed how glad they
were to have their masters near.

“We must stake them out near the cabin at night,
pard,” said Andrew Seldon.
~ “Ves, and Savage will be near to guard them.”

So the horses were led down to a grassy plot near the
cabin, and Savage was left on duty as guard.

Before going ‘into the cabin to retire, Seldon fired sev-

_» eral shots, and every cliff took up the echo until it sounded

like a mighty battle in progress.

Tt was long before the last echo died away, and the two
gold-hunters went to bed deeply impressed with their
grand, weird, in truth, their appalling surroundings.

Leaving his comrade still sleeping, with the first streak
of dawn Andrew Seldon crept out of the cabin, the door
having been left open during the night.

There had been no disturbance while they slept, save an
occasional loud-mouthed bark from Savage, the shots hav-

_ ing put a quietus upon the howling of the wolves and the
cries of the panthers.

The horses were just rising from the ground to eat
their breakfast, and Savage greeted the coming of his new
master with evident delig cht.

The clifftops, over eight thousand feet above the level
of the valley, were br ightening under the rays of the ris-
ing sun, and. the shadows in the canyons were growing
lighter i in here.

Passing? up the canyon, Andrew Seldon paused under a
lofty cliff, from whence flowed a dozen tiny springs, and
stood gazing at the map he had in his hand.

Going close up to the rocks, it took him but a few
moments to discover that there was gold cropping out in
many places, and there were indications that the base of
the cliff had been worked with pick and shovel, and after
an hour’s search he muttered:

“Itis found! .°

“Yes, poor Andrew Seldon was Boke: he had_a fortune

in gold i in this canyon.
“Even worked as we two can work it, we have riches
i far beyend our needs.

starvation in the desert ; and, sentenced to death, I live to
‘reap the benefit.
“Such is life, so goes the world.

“Tn his little buckskin pouches he carried several thou-
sands of dollars in gold, and I possess it now ; but. will do
my duty by those whom he mentions in. his letters.

“I am Andrew Seldon now, for Wallace Weston ‘is
dead, and so even Lucas Langley, my: faithful friend, and
all others, must believe me.

“T will hunt up the cache of: provisions to- ‘a and then

: THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

19

we will be fixed until late in the fall, when I will go to
Wingate and get what we need for the winter, for we can
work here during the cold weather, as snow will not reach
us down here.

“When I go, I will mail two letters, one telling of Hugh
Mayhew’s death, for that I killed Manton Mayhew will
doubtless be alr eady known, and the other letter will be
to Andrew Seldon’s little daughter, telling her of the for-
tune in store for her.

“Then it will remain for me to secure this fortune, dig
this yellow gold from the mines, and in time become a
rich man, so that I can enjoy life far from the scenes that
I knew in boyhood, away from those that have hunted me
down through life, for, as Andrew Seldon, I can live in
peace, and Wallace Weston is dead.”

So musing, the gold-hunter turned back toward the
cabin, halted after a few paces, glanced at the map he
carried, and then turned short off to the right.

Climbing some fifty feet up the steep side of a cliff, he
came to a hole in the rocks, a small cave, and in this was
found, wrapped closely in canvas, provisions of various
kinds, ammunition, an ax, saw, hatchet’ pick, spade and
shovel, rope, some matches and blankets and cooking
utensils, all new, and placed there for future use, should
his cabin be discovered by any chance and destroy ed and
robbed.

“This is, indeed,’a good find,’ muttered the gold-
hunter as he descended the cliff and returned to the cabin,
where he found Lucas Langley busy preparing breakfast.

“Well, pard, the things in the cache are all right, and
just what we need.

“I put the horses in the canyon, and then took a look
at the mine, and we will find good picking there, gold
enough to make us rich men.”

“Well, Iam glad to hear it, though it seems that I could
pass my days in this spot as a poor man, and never tire
of it.

“Soe ri firew in my line twice, and caught those fine
fish, and we have a mess of peaches, as well ; this place
is, indeed, a paradise,” and Lucas Langley waxed elo-
quent over their new home in the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado. 5

After breakfast was over, with picks and shovels, they
went to the mine beneath the cliff, and an hour’s work
convinced them that they would have a long year’s work

‘to get only the gold grains that were- cropped out in

abundance.

“Now, pard, we will take a ride around the canyons
near our ranch to-day, and rest to-morrow, as it will be
Sunday, and begin work on AOE

“What do you say?”

“Just as you do, for the pola is found, our quarters are

: With a fortune in, his grasp, he lai ee ee bed died oie perfect, game and fish can be procured in abundance, and

this is an ideal spot in which to dwell.

“Yes, Pard Seldon, J am happy here, and bless the day
when you found Paradise Mine, while I am more than
thankful that you allow me to share it with you, a debt I
can never repay you, while I already owe you my life.”

“Do not speak of it, Langley, or refer to the past, for.
we live in the present now, and hope for the future,” was
the response of Andrew Seldon, who was happy himself
at being able to hide from the world, no longer feeling
that he was a punted man.-

S

 
  

20
CHAPTER IX.
DR, «DICK:

> }

Not very far from where the town of Flagstaff, Ari-
zona, is ow located, there was, at the time I write, a min-
ing camp, known as Last Chance Claim.

A party of prospectors had hit upon gold in the canyon
they were passing through, after they had given up ail
hope and were returning home to keep from starving.
The result was that each man staked out a claim, the
* camp was christened Last Chance Claim, and, while one-
half the party remained to dig for gold, the other half set
off for the nearest post where they could get provisions
and tools, and spread the glad tidings that they had struck
it rich,

A wagon train of miners at once set out for the prom-
ised land, and along with it went a storekeeper, black-
smith and a landlord to opén a hotel, with several saloon-
keepers, all of which gave a solidity to the new camp that
at once brought it into such prominence that the stage
line put on a semi-monthly coach to and from Last Chance
Claim, which at once began to more than pay expenses.

Like many of the mining “cities” of the wild West, Last.
Chance was of mushroom growth, springing up within a
few. months into a population of several hundred souls,
not one of which was a female, and numbering a hundred
log cabins, one hotel, so called because the landlord said
it was and hung out his sign stating that it was the ‘‘Last

Chance Hotel,” as, indeed, it was, the last chance on earth.

to get anything to eat in that vicinity.

Then there was a blacksmith shop, stage office and
stable and half-a dozen saloons, where whisky, taken
“straight,” and out of.a tincup, was the popular, yes, and
the only, beverage. -

‘The cabins were scattered about, for several miles from
the center of the camp gold-digging was brisk, money
plentiful and all was going well in Last Chance, when one
day the stage coach came in with a new driver on the
box. eee

The old driver was there, but he lay back upon the ‘top
of the coach, with a bullet through his heart, and there
were two passengers dead in the stage.

‘The six horses had dashed up to the halting-place be-
fcre the Last Chance Hotel, the reins held in a master
hand, and at the rear of the coach, in lead, were two fine
black horses, one equipped with a gold-mounted saddle
and bridle, the other carrying a heavy pack.

The eyes of all were upon the strange driver, as he

drew rein, tossed the reins upon the backs of the wheelers ©

like one who knew what to do, and leaped nimbly to the
ground. os :

“Who is her” asked scores of men, for it was Sunday,

and, though a day of rest from working, it was a day of
sport in the camps. con

%

The stranger was dressed in gray corduroy pants, stuck
in top boots, the heels of which were ornamented with a

pair of spurs, representing an eagle’s head and wings, a
dark blue velvet sack coat, a white silk shirt, with wide
collar and black silk scarf, in which shone a brilliant dia-

mond, and a wide-brimmed black sombrero, around which —

was a gold chain in place of accord. :

There was a handsome gold buckle upon his belt, and a
suspicion that it contained revolvers, but they were not
visible.

  

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“Who is the boss here, gentlemen ?” he said, in a courte-
ous way, as he faced the crowd.

“Tam stage agent and landlord of this hotel, sir,” was
the reply of an individual who stepped forward and con-
fronted the stranger, and who was known as ‘“‘Landlord
ioanny »

“Let me explain, sir, in a few words.

“My name is Dr. Dick, and I was on my way: to Last
Chance to hang up my shingle as a physician and surgeon,
and gamble with all who wished to get on a card, when I
heard firing on the trail ahead, and rode rapidly forward
to see what it meant. .

“This coach had passed me half an hour before, with a
driver on the box and two passengers inside, and when I
came up I discovered that it had been held up by road-
agents. ‘

“They had killed the driver and passengers and were
robbing the coach when I appeared and opened fire upon
‘them.

“TI was only able to get in a couple of shots—there lie
the results under that canvas on the top of the coach.

“The others scattered, several in number, and I hitched
‘my horses behind, put the passengers in the coach, tossed
the road-agents’ bodies on top, and drove on to your
camp.

“An examination of your way bills will show whether
they got anything of value.

“That is the story, gentlemen, as it happened.”

The speaker had a face that commanded admiration in
its perfection of feature.

It was darkly bronzed from exposure, clean shaven, and
his expression winning, for his smile revealed a row of
perfectly-shaped, milk-white teeth, and his eyes were
large, black and expressive, while his hair, wavy and
glossy, hung down below his shoulders.

He had spoken in a way that carried conviction with his
words that he was telling the truth, and all were startled
when suddenly a voice in the crowd said, in a lond, angry,
tone: oe

‘Them as wants ter kin believe thet lie, bute] believe

: you did the killin’ and robbin’ yerself, durned ef I don’t

say so, and my name are Boomerang Bob, at yer sarviceé,
stranger, any time,”

Every eye in the now large crowd of miners, that had
hastened to the spot upon the arrival of the coach, turned

~ upon the man who had cast the lie into the teeth of the

handsome stranger who had called himself Dr. Dick.
_ All knew him as Boomerang Bob, se named from the
fact that, no matter who got the best of him ina fight or a

_game, he was wont in’the end to turn out victor, to “come -
back at them with both feet,” as he expressed it.

Boomerang Bob was.a man of giant stature, with long,

*red hair and beard, a darkly-bronzed face, and he dressed
in red woolen shirt, black pants, slouch hat, top boots and
-a belt, in which there were two revolvers on each hip and

a bowie-knife in a scabbard suspended around his neck
toa necklace of bear claws.

Boomerang Bob was an ugly customer to rouse, and
from the day he had come into the mines he had ruled the
miners with a rod of iron, for he celebrated his arrival by
killing two men, which at once made him solid with the
toughs and dreaded by the better class of men, who were
theré to work hard for what they earned. |

/

 

 

 
 

 

 

   

Since that day he had shot a negro, a Chinee and an
Indian, while, upon the principle of dog eat dog, he had
killed the desperado who had run the town up to his com-
in

With such a record, the crowd at once looked for Boom-
erang Bob to kill Dr. Dick, and, as a doctor was just what
was needed in Last Chance, they regretted that it would
be the case.

But Dr. Dick simply cast an eye over among the crowd,
and picked out the man who had insulted him.

His face did not change color, even, and he said, in the
calmest manner possible:

“Step out from the shelter of the crowd, and make your
charge against me, my fine fellow.”

Whether Boomerang Bob intended to step out or not,
the crowd had no desire to shelter him at the risk of
catching a bullet by accident, and they broke upon either
side of the desperado with a unanimity of pufpose that at
once left the man standing alone.

There was something in the cool manner of the stranger
that caused Boomerang Bob to be caught off his guard,
for he slowly put his hand upon his revolver, and growled
out:

“Well, I says it ag’in, and what is you goin’ ter do
about it, Velvet ?”

Just how quick a revolver could be drawn had been a
subject of much discussion and numerous bets in Last
Chance; but all who saw the doctor draw would have
wagered high that a weapon had never before been taken
from its holster and leveled in so short a space of time.

It did not seem to be half a second that it took, and
they heard the words, cooly uttered:

“Well, I am waiting for you to repeat your insulting
words !”’

Boomerang Bob was fairly caught at a Beye trAee,

for his hand rested upon his revolver, but the weapon had
not been drawn from its holster.

“Yer has got ther dead drop on me,
perado.

“T do not wish to kill you, or 1 would send a bullet
through your brain; but you insulted me, and I shall not
let you go without punishment.

“Hands up, and, if one holds a revolver, the bullet goes
through your heart!’

There was no mistaking the words or look now of the
stranger, and Boomerang Bob had been trained in ‘a
school to obey when the odds were against him, and hoped
to even up in the future.

So he quickly threw his hands above his head, amid a
deathlike silence.

“Turn the palms this way, sir!’

“What for ??

“Because I order it!

tObey 17

The desperado obeyed, and then came the question:

“Have you any choice among your fingers ?”’

“What does yer mean ?”

“I mean to clip one of them off at the second joint with
my bullet-—-which ‘shall it be?”

“Pards, does yer intend ter let me be murdered?”
shouted the bully; but he did not lower his hands—he
knew better. bat
“Your pards are not in this game.

39

growled the des-

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

  

21

“You challenged me to play it with you, and now, when
I hold trumps, you whine like a cowardly cur.

“Quick! name your finger, or ny bullet takes your

right hand off!”

“The little finger 0’ my left Hand, ” yelled Boomerang
Bob, excitedly, and, hardly had the words left his lips,
when there came a flash and report, a shriek of pain, and
the small finger of the bully’s left hand was cut off clean
at the second joint.

A wild yell went up from the crowd, in admiration of
the splendid marksmanship of the stranger, and the sym-
pathy, except among a few, was with the man who had
shown that he could resent an insult, in a crowd where he
had everything to fear, as he was unknown to all present.

The tiger was quickly tamed, for he still stood with up-
raised hands, down one of which a crimson stream was
trickling.

Having administered his ‘punishment, resented the in-.
sult offered him, the stranger stepped up quickly to the,
desperado, and, extending his hand, said:

“T have no hard feelings now, pard,,so shake.”

The hands were lowered, and one grasped that of the
stranger, who continued :

“As I said, 1am a surgeon and physician, and I will at
once dress the remnant of that littlé finger, and.in a couple
of months you will not miss it.

“Come, my instruments are in my pack, and I'll get
them.’

He stepped to his pack-horse, quickly slipped out’ a
leather case containing surgical instruments, lint and
medicines, and, calling for a basin of water, bathed the
wounded hand skillfully, and, binding it up, took a silk
handkerchief from his pocket and made a sling for the
desperado to carry his hand in.

“What's yer bill?’ growled Boomerang Bob, when the
work was done.

“We'll call it square, as it is my first call in Last Chance,
and [ wish you to come to me each day to have it dressed.

“Now, landlord, how can you fix me?’ .

“There’s a cabin separate over there 6n the hill, sir,
just built, and it has two rooms, and is very comfortable,
while you can take your grub at the hotel.”

“That just suits me; but my hofses?”

“They kin be stabled i in the stage sheds.”

“Good! Will you go with me to my quarters?”

“Yes, as soon as you have told me more about this at-
tack on the coach.” .

“T have told you all I know.

“Do you recognize the passengers or.road-agents ?” and
the doctor turned to the dead bodies, which had been
taken from the coach and placed in a row.

“We knows them two as a bad lot, and we suspected
’em of being crooked,’ and he pointed to the road-agents.

“The passengers is strangers, but Bud Benton, the
driver, we all knew and liked, and a squarer, better man
never held the ribbons over the backs of six horses.

“Pards, we must see that poor te Benton is
avenged.”

A yell of affirmation answered this remark a Landlord

Larry, and Dr. Dick said:

“That is right, gentlemen ; onan should be put down
in this country.

  

 
       

   

oe

“But, landlord, have you discovered if the road-agents
got away with much booty ?”

“Yes, they got a package of paper money the men sent
gold dust in to be exchanged for, as more handy of use,
and there was ten thousand dollars lost, while these pas-
sengers were robbed of money and jewelry, I- guess, as
they look as though they might have been well fixed.

“But when was this hold-up, stranger?”

“Dr. Dick is my name, landlord, | and I hope not to
be a stranger any more to Last Chance; but, to answer
your question, let me say that I am unacquainted with
your country here, and was simply following the stage
trail, so think it was about five miles.back, where there is
a stream to cross.’

“Yes, Red Run we calls it, for there awe been deadly
doings going on there before.”

“Well, if you send back on the trail, you may learn
more, for the horses of the two dead road-agents are
there, as I did not stop to bring them along.”

“You was right; boys, get a gang together and go to
Red Run, and see if you can get on the trail of them out-
laws.

“Now, doctor, we'll go over to your cabin.”

Landlord Larry led “the way to the cabin, a couple of
hundred yards away, and pleasantly situated.

It had just been built, and had.in it.a cot bed, a table
and couple of chairs, as much furniture as could be al-
lowed in Last Chance.

“This is all right, and I'll soon have all comfortable, -

with the things I carry in my pack,” said Dr. Dick.

The horses were unsaddled ‘and led away, and, opening
the large pack, the doctor unrolled some panther, ‘bear and
buffalo skins, Indian tanned, a number of redskin souve-
nirs, boxing-gloves, foils and masks, a bundle of weil-
packed clothes, with hats, boots, and several gold-mounted
revolvers and a repeating rifle. ©

He also. had a handsome dressing-case, gold-mounted,

with razors, mug, and all the necessary articles for toilet
iLSe.

it did not tale | him long to make his rooms look quite

cosy, and Landlord Larry made the effort of his life to

please him after he saw how he traveled in the wild West,
and told him he did not care what price he paid for board.

The result was that sheets were found for the cot, an-
other table, an. easy-chair, a basin and pitcher, and Dr.
Dick expressed himself as more than satisfied.

As it was Sunday, he concluded to “dress up” for din-
ner, and when he appeared at the hotel the miners were
paralyzed to see him dressed in white corduroy pants,
black velvet coat, the buttons of which were twenty-dollar
gold-pieces, and a Mexican sombrero fringed with gold
dollars, while the band was of a golden cord, representing
a snake, and having diamond eyes. ‘

About his waist was a belt, in which were two goles
mounted revolvers, and his whole makesup was gorgeous
in the extreme, striking with admiration the miners who
pole him, and causing one to at once cail out:

“Three cheers for the gold king !”’

The cheers were given with a will, and De Dick was

thus christened “The Gold King of Last Chance.”

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. | ES

 

CHAPTER X.
‘BUFFALO BILL APPEARS.

Dr. Dick was not long in making himself a decided
character of Last Chance Claim, even when to be other-
wise was the exception.

The party that had gone out to the scene of the hold-up
of the coach had returned, with the horses of the two dead
road-agents, and teld of evidence seen there of there hav-
ing been a hot fight.

The coach, in fact, bore testimony to this, in the bullet
marks upon it, but no trace whatever of how the road-
agents had come to the scene and departed could be found.

“Bud Benton, the driver, was a popular man in Last
Chance, and a brave one, and men spoke of avenging him.

The road-agents were given quick burial in the camp
Dee sound, which was very well filled for so new a
place as was Last Chance, especially when the place was
very healthy, and “sudden death” was the cause of most
of the taking off of the people.

For a man to die with his boots on in that camp was of
more frequent occurrence than to fall a victim to disease.

Bud Benton and the two passengers were given what
the miners called “a dandy send-off,” for the camps turned
out in force, a hundred voices sang “Nearer, My God, to
Thee,” as they marched to the grave, over three hundred
strong.

The “ceremony” at the grave consisted in singing and
a few comments by the miners, who wished to say some-
thing in farewell to Bud Benton and try and palliate his
offenses by telling the Lord that he was “O. K. and a
squar’ man all round, so don’t be hard on him when he
gits ter glory,”

The doctor attended the funeral, and was quite as much
an attraction as the corpses.

His “git-up’” was iramense, and he looked like a man
who was out of place in that rough camp.

But he had chosen to come to Last Chance to live, and
he had certainly come in with all in his favor, having
brought the coach in, with two of the outlaws whom he
had killed.

His summary punishment of Boomerang Bob had won
the admiration of the miners, for they saw pet he was a
dead shot, and had nerve as well.

The doctor’s first night in camp proved iho adven-
ture, and when morning came the miners saw that he had
hung out a sign, or, rather, nailéd one upon his cabin:

PDR Dik.

Physician, Surgeon and Sport.”

There were those who predicted that some day there
would be trouble between Boomerang Bob and the doctor,
for the former was no man to drop a quarr rel once begun.

In fact, Boomerang Bob’s,strong point was in coming
back at one whom he disliked, or who had done him an
injury.

He was very quiet about his having been punished by
the doctor, but this rather | meant trouble ahead. :

Still, he went to Dr. ick’s office the next day and
got. him to dress his w 8 ae as he had promised
him he would do. :

He was more polite than was his wont, but had little to Sy
say, and, after thanking the dector, said he would call” «
again in the morning. Lee a3 Z

 
 

 

   

“Do so, for I am a little afraid you are going to have
an ugly hand of that; but I can tell in a day or two better.

wit it turns out bad, I'll amputate it for you with pleas-
ti

Boomerang Bob did not know just how to, take this,
whether it was sarcasm or kindness; but he ens the doc-
tot the benefit of the doubt.

That day Dr. Dick had several professional calls, two
from wounds and half a dozen from sickness. |

He went promptly, did just what ‘was right, and left a
good record behind him.

After supper he went to the largest gambling den in
the camps, accompanied by Landlord Larry, and, after
going the rounds of the tables, sat down and played a
game with several who prided themselves upon their

“smartness’’ as gamblers.

All who watched the game decided that the doctor han-
dled the cards like an expert, and saw him. walk off with
several hundred dollars he had won, and this gained for
him another sobriquet of the ‘Doctor Sport.’

The stage had gone out on time, under another driver,
after his fatal adventure in coming in, and so the rumor
had gone along the line of posts and camps of the hold-up
and death of the passengers, not to speak of the robbery
by the outlaws of a large sum of money.

The report had been made to Fort Wingate by Land-
lord Larry, and the result was that, when the coach came
in again there was a guard of two soldiers upon it.

But, as no road- -agents were seen on the run, they were
taken off on the next trip, and the coach came in without
a guard.

But soon after its arrival a Boranan rode up to the
Last Chance Hotel, whose coming and appearance created
considerable commotion in the camps, for at once from
lip to lip spread the news:

“Buffalo Bill, the chief of scouts, has come to Last
Chance.”

This information was followed by the question, which
no one seemed able to answer:

“What is he here for?” ®

 

CHAPTER XI.
OUN Sep Be O Gia Ts SERVICE.

The days passed away at Fort Faraway, after the es-
cape from execution of Sergeant Wallace Weston, yet the
fugitive soldier, who had met so sad a fate upon the
desert, as was believed, was still the topic of conversa-
tion.

There was a mystery hanging about the man which
none could fathom, and, up to the time he had taken the
life of a brother sergeant, Manton Mayhew, there never
had been one word or report against him.

The wives of the officers who saw him were all agreed
that the sergeant was a gentleman born, and they. wove
about his life some hidden romance that must remain a
mystery.

Of course, his death was ofieaily reported in a few
words, that he had daringly escaped execution, had fled
into the desert without water or food, and several days
after Buffalo Bill had guided Lieutenant Tompkins and a
squad of cavalry to where the dead body of the sergeant
had been found, half devoured by wolves, his horse lying
by his side, and also furnishing a feast for coyotes.

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES,

 

23

The body had been buried where found, and a huge
rock rolled over the grave, | ,

If there was a single person who doubted that Ser-
geant Weston had not met his fate, he, or she, kept i a
secret, and he was remembered only as dead.

That he had suffered far more, in starving upon the’
desert, than he would through an execution, all felt cer-
tain, and he had their sympathy, for, somehow, they felt. |
that he had kept back testimony at the trial which, if it.
did got clear him, would, at least, palliate his crime.

He was missed from the fort sadly, for, a fine musician,
he had often given enjoyment by singing to his comrades
in a tenor voice that many said would have been his for-
tune had he gone upon the operatic stage.

Why a man that was educated, who was known to:
speak several languages fluently, who could sketch and
paint, and was really very accomplished, should have en-
listed in the army as a private when there were virtually.
other fields open to him in which to make a handsome liv- |
ing, none could understand, and therein lay the romance
of his life. |

He had quickly risen to a sergeant’s position, and it was
believed would be eventually recommended for an officer’s”
rank; but suddenly came his downfall, his killing of a
brother sergeant, his trial, sentence, habe and SHDpOSEd
death,

Thus matters stood at Faraway, when one day Major.
Randall sent for Buffalo Bill, who had just proven dis-.
patches in from Fort Wingate.

“Cody, sit down, for I wish to have a talk with you,”
said the major, and the scout obeyed.

“You made remarkably good time through with hee.
dispatches. .

“Was there need for it?”

“No more, sir, than the rumors I heard at Wingate, that
the Indians were in an ugly mood, and that road-agents
were taking to the Overland Trail again, and had held up
a coach on the new run to Last Chance, Major Randall.”

“That is just it, Cody; the road-agents have been up to.
more deviltry, my dispatches say, and I am ordered to
look after the outlaws, with a force from this end of the
line.”

a forse will a little aod, sir, for at sight of the sol-
diers the road-agents play the prairie-dog act, that is,°
hunt their holes, and you look in vain for them.”

“That is my idea; but still, I must mere in the matter,
and at once, and hence I sent for you.” -

“Anything I can do, sir, command oo a“

“T know that you are willing enough, but I dislike to.

. send you upon a trip that is so full of deathly peril.”

“Don’t mind that, sir, for-it is our a to carry lige 3 in
our hands out here.”
vv ell, it seems the semi- south coach to Last ne

  
 

   

24

that new mining camp which is growing so, and where
the miners are striking it rich, I learn, was held up, not
many miles from the end of its run, by road-agents.

“The driver, Bud Benton, was killed, as also two of the
passengers, and they were all robbed.

- “The driver reported to the cologel, upon the run back,
that the coach was brought in by some daring fellow, who
killed‘ two of the road-agents and drove the others off.

“He brought it on the top of the coach the two out-
laws he had killed, and the bodies of the others, and thus
established a name for himself in Last Chance as a hero.”

' “He was a plucky fellow, sir, to attack odds as he did.”

“He was, indeed; but, Cody, my wish is to get at the
haunts of these out awe to know if any of them are of the
desperado element from Last Chance, and find out just
what can be done in the matter, so I desire you to take
what scouts you need from your band, and go on this
special mission for me.” |

“IT will go at once, major, and alone, for I can do better
detective work without any men, and it amounts to Be &
“I leave that with you, Cody.”
The scout rose, and said: ;
“I will be ready to start) sir, within two hours, and re-
port for further instructions.”
An hour after, he rode away on ‘his mission.
Landlord Larry knew Buffalo Bill, for he had met him
several times before, and he was proud to have the famous
scout as a guest at his hotel.

He gave him the best room he had, ordered a special
supper for him, and said:

“I wish to make you acquainted with the dandy man of.

our camp, Mr. Cody.”

“Who is-he, tay) ’ asked Bitar Bill.

“Well, that I can’t tell you, any more than that his name
is Dr. Dick, or that’s what he calls himself.” _

“Well, and who is Dr. Dick?” (i

“A dandy from ’wayback, for he’s the man who stam.
peded the road-agents when they killed poor Bud Benton
and his passengers, and got the boodle from. ‘em,”

“Yes, I heard the coach had been held up on the trail;
but, could you find out nothing about the outlaws?”

“Not a photograph of them, though the boys ae a
couple of days on the track:

“If you had been here, you might have trailed ’em: but,
it’s a shame to have a coach held up like that was, and it’ll
give a black eye to the prosperity of Last Chance.”

“Hardly, Larry, so long as the gold in the canyon holds
out, for people will take chances every day with death to
get rich, and, from all accounts, your mines here are pay-
ing well.” :

“The very best; but will you go over and call on the
Doc?”

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

     

“Oh, yes, if you wish it.”

“T does.”

“See here, Larry, can’you keep your tongue between
your teeth?”

“You bet I kin.”

“Tt is to your interest to do so, and it will be worse
for yeu to chatter.”

“T hain’t no old maid, Bill.”

“Some men are worse gossips than a dozen old maids
and a parrey: but I believe you will Keep a séctet.’’ 2

ory me, Bil?

“Well, tam ee on a sp

“Gold-huntin pe

nN
Y

ecial mission.”
“No, hunting gold-hunters, see?”

“Ts some of the miners playing it too strong?”

“I accuse no one; but, there is some one hunting for
gold in a careless way, trying to get rich in one haul by
holding up a coach, Paes using a bullet instead of a pick.”

“Tm catching on.’

ed am hére to ne out just where these outlaws are,

“ and you can help me.”
¥

ei do it.”

“Now, that I may not be looked upon as a scout de-
tectiye, a spy, let me tell you that I wish to go in partner-
ship with you ina mine, that is, apparently as a partner,

_ though really not one, for I am poor and could not buy

even a small interest in the mine that is making, you rich,
Leary

“Tt’s pannin’ out big, Bal

“So I have heard, and you are not losing money with
what it makes you happy to call a hotel,” and Buffalo
Bill smiled as he glanced at bce log shanty known as the
Last Chance Hotel.

“Tt hain’t no New York palace,
and its as big a gold mine in
the hill down the

Bill, bi ut it goes out here,
its way as that hole in
canyon is in its way.” ao

“T do not doubt it, Larry, and if you don’t give you
guests feather beds and finger-bowls, you feed them well,
I know.

“But now to my ne to ey here a few days.”

“Go ahead.”’

“Take me down to see your mine first, and pretend to
the miners that I, with several others whom I represent,
go in with you in shares, while I am looking about to find ;
a claim or two to buy for officers at the fort, at the same
time prospecting for a little lead on my own account.”

“T understand.”

“This will give me a chance to look about, Larry, and

-come here now and then without exciting suspicion, while

in reality I am on the hunt for outlaws, a detective to
ferret out what their game is, and what plays they in-
tend to make.”

  

 

 
   

Cy dL meszre ke Prt

Ne ED ee

   

 

 

“I’m with you, Bill, so now let us go down and look
over the mine-——unless you wish to meet the doctor first?”

‘No, I will meet him on my return from the mine; but

you have not told me who he is?”
‘Dr. Dick.”
Has other name?” -
“Dunno.”
‘What does he do?” s

- * . “Shoots, practices medicine, gambles and chips in as

partner in mines now and then.”

“Ts he well off ?”

“He does a big business in medicine, wins money when
he plays cards, has not made any mistake in mine in-
vestments, and dresses ’way up, wearing velvet, with gold
buttons. :

“In fact, his weapons are gold-mounted and he runs so
to the yellow metals we calls him here the gold king, and
also the doctor sport.

“I wants you to meet him, Bill.”

“And I wish to meet him, and will,” rejoined the scout.

Landlord Larry ordered two horses brought around,
and mounting, he and the scout rode away down the
canyon.

There were few in the mining camps of Last Chance
who had seen Buffalo Bill, but ail had heard of him, and

his record was a national one, and every eye, as he passed

along, seemingly unconscious that every gaze was upon
him, took him in from head to foot, and comments were
freely made upon his superb seat in the saddle, his. hand-
some face, and look of daring which his many exploits
fully backed up.

“They are onter yer, Bill, and you bet they knows yer,
for who don’t on this border,’ said Landlord Larry,
pleased with the admiration his friend commanded from
all.

The miners greeted them pleasantly, all anxious to see a
man about whom they had heard so much as they had
of Buffalo Bill.

Only a few had seen him before, but his record in the
mines was the common talk around the campfires, and
about the frontier assembling: places.

The scout spoke pleasantly when addressed by any one,
and once or twice, when cheered by a small crowd, raised
his hat in response.

At last the first one of Landlord Larry’s mines was
reached, and the two dismounted to have a look at it.

There were eight or ten men working with picks and

shovels in the side of the cliff, picking up now and then ~

the small yellow grains of the precious metal as they dug
them. out, but all eyes fell upon the landlord the scout
as they arrived and dismounted:

“These are my miners,” said Larry with an air of pride,
and Buffalo Bill answered:

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

 

25

“Glad to see you, boys.”
But hardly had he uttered the words when his eyes be-
came fixed upon one of the party.

It was a man who had shrunk back at sight of him, and
half turned his face away.

Following the gaze of the scout, all glanced toward the
man, and each eye noted that he had turned to the hue of
death. . 3

“Landlord Larry, there is one man that I recognize, and’
I am sorry to see that he is in your employ,” said Buffalo
Bill

“You mean Reddy, for he has turned Whi, at seeing
you, Bill.”

“Yes, I mean the man there leaning on his pick, Roger
Redfield, a deserter from the army, yes, and more than
that.”

“Tt’s.a lie! I never was in the ar my,” yelled the man.

“There is no need of your denying it, Redfield, for a man
masked as you are with red hair and beard, and black
eyes cannot hide his identity.

“You are my man.”

“Togay Loam notc’

“Tal prove it.”

“How ?”

“If I am wrong I’ll give you a chance to resent it by
allowing you to strike me a blow square in the face, as
hard as you can.” :

“Well ?? .

“Tf I am right, then you go back with me to the fort.”

“How ate you going to prove it, Bill?” asked Larry,
as he saw that there was an ugly look in the accused
miner’s eyes. :

“Tf that man is Roger Redfield, he has on his breast a.
blue anchor in India ink and ie initials K. R,”

“Come, Redfield, show up.”
“My name is not Redfield, and [ am not the man he be-
lieves me.” ‘

“Have you not the mark I speak of on your breast,
just here?” and the scout designated the exact spot.

“No, I have not.” .

“Dare you show ‘your breast?”

7 Ved

“Do so, and Dll.give you satisfaction for the insult.”

The man hesitated, unbuttoned his woolen shirt and
then said:

“I’ve got a bad scar on my eas I admit, where I
was burnt when a child by falling on a burning log; but I
have no brand such as you say, Buffalo Bill.”

“How did you know that I was Buffalo Bill, for Land-
lord Larry did not mention my name?”

The man’s face flushed and he replied:

“T just thought so, from what I Heard of you.”

“Now show your breast, Redfield.”

         
 

  

26 THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“Yes, Reddy, show up,” said Larry.

The man pulled open his shirt and revealed a red scar,

as from a burn, and a three inches square.
See!’

“Yes, I see that you felt that that brand would some
day. betray vee and so you burned it off, painful as was
the operation,”

“Say, pard, that hain’t squar’ ter Reddy,” a a miner,

“Yes, he’s showed up and ther brand hain’t thar as you
said,” another remarked.

“Men, ’'m not after you, so don’t drop in until your
time comes. :

_ “I came here on business with Landlord Larry, not on
the hunt for this man.
_ “But I happen to know his record, for he was in the
navy and killed a brother sailor and escaped.
“He enlisted in the army, and one afternoon was recog-
, nized by a naval officer who visited the fort where he was
stationed, and that night, before the charge was made
against him, he deserted, carrying with him a large sum
of money he robbed his comrades of.
“IT am not after blood money, for. there is a reward
for his arrest, offered by the soldiers of his regiment, and
I will give it to the Soldiers’ Home fund; but I have or-
ders. to arrest that man wherever I find him, and I intend
-.to do it now that I have found him.”
. The words of Buffalo Bill caused the accused man and
his comrades to move about uneasily and assume an anx-
ious look, seeing which Landlord Larry said:
» “But, Bill, you have not proved that this is the man.”
a“ Haven’t I 2”
“Weill see if I heaved not, aay.
. “In the first place, Redfield was a man of the size of
that one, and had red nae and beard, with intensely black

ff

sae eyes.’

: “Yes,”
sen he: had the brand on his Viteast that I speak
of,’
- “But this man has not.”
“Has he not a burn ae, where the brand was burnt
mee
ne _ Well, it a be as he says.’
“Then. why did he leave down on the. lower edge the
ae part of the two letters, ‘R. R.’—-see, there is over
- a quarter of an inch of the lower part of the letters, which
he failed to burn off, and had not the courage to repeat the
dose of burning, when he saw his mistake.’’ :
wee isn't so,” shouted the accused, :
_“Let us see, Reddy,” and Landlord, Larry oe for-
ward and drew the shirt aside. -

“By Jove, you are right, Bill, and have keen eyes to de-

tect that; but there i§ the blue India Ae sure enough, and

D the igus of twisters Rig? 2

 

 
  

“I say no,” yelled the accused man again, and: his

_ face grew blacker aand blacker with rage.

' “Well, Redfield, for the sake of argument, we will tion

the pend on your breast, and I'll prove it in | another
way.”

“How can you?”

_ “IT saw you in swimming at the fort once, and I noticed
that the small toe of your left foot was ee

Pet Wait.

“Tf I am wrong I’ll give you a shot at me ten paces
off, and if ‘ am right you go back to the fort with 1 me
when I go.”

“That’s squar’, Ree * said a miner.

* “PI not show up,” growled the man accused.
“Won't you! Off with that left boot, or I’ll send a

— bullet through your brain.”

The action of the scout was so unexpected, jhis move-
ment so quick in leveling his revolver,, which was drawn
from its holster like a flash, that Reddy was taken com-
rey by surprise.

_ He turned livid once more, while, with a quick glance

at the restless miners, ‘Buffalo Bill said:

“See here, men, I will stand no interference in the dis-
charge of ay duty, so be careful, for I have my eyes
on you, too.”’

This quieted an evident show of resistance, and the
scout repeated:

“Off with your left boot, Redfield, or I’ i carry out my

threat. “

2

Sit. down, ee
to take off the boot.

and the landlord stepped : es

. But the miner stepped back and said:

“See here, pards, that accursed scout has: got me down
fine, for I has got a toe missing; but it’s only a queef ac-

cident, and I hain’t ther man he says, so don’t let him

take me, and have me strung tp when. I hain’t guilty.

“Stand by me, pards |” ar

The acknowledgment of having a se risen, as Buf-
falo Bill had said, the burn on his. breast, with the parts
of the letters showing below, while he had red hair and
beard, with jet-black eyes, was convincihg proof to Land-
lord) Larry that the scout had made no mistake, that he
knew his man.

The other miners, too, were of the same opinion, but,
2 bi

-appealed to by their comrade for aid, they decided to help
him: out of a

bad situation.
As if a mental telegraphy had passed between them,
the seven men who were there as comrades of Reddy at

once drew their revolvers and covered Buffalo Bill, while

one cried:

“Run for it, Reddy, and git out o’ ther way!”

   

 

 

 

“But: Buffalo: Bill did: not change color, did not move

     
   

  

tv

vc

 

 

 

manner possible:
“Tf you stir from that spot I pull trigger, and if 1 am

riddled with the bullets of your comrades, I will kill you.”

It was an instant of terrible suspense to all, and Land-
lord Larry broke the silence, as the men stood there with

leveled revolvers, Buffalo Bill covering Reddy, and him-.

self covered by the revolvers of the seven other miners.

‘Men, I won't have this row, and you know I am not
one to fool with.

“Buffalo Bill is in the discharge of his duty, Reddy is
guilty, the man he says he is, and you are interfering
with a government officer, remember, so put up yer
weapons and don’t make fools of yerselves.”’

The words of Landlord Larry made an impression, but
it was at once destroyed by an appeal frem Reddy, who
called out:

“Stand by me, pards, and don’t let Buffalo Bill take me
to the fort to be hung!”

The situation was a most threatening one.

The miners were restrained from acting from two rea-
sons.

First, the man they covered with their revol-
vers was Buffalo Bill, a. government scout, a
man with a recerd which would quickly bring the

vengeance of his many friends and the army down upon

Last Chance, if he was killed there.

They could kill him, yes, for seven revolvers Ge yered
him, and the men were good shots that held them, while
he was not ten feet from them.

The second consideration was that they all liked their
employer, Landlord Larry.

He was Buffalo Bill’s friend, and he had sided with
him.

Again, not one of them doubted the truth of the scout’s
charge against the man they knew as Reddy, and whom
he had called Roger Redfield.

These were the ends of the two letters, the burn on
the breast to prove his charge a true one, and Reddy had
confessed to there being the small toe on his left foot

missing, which, with the fact that he was so strangely

marked with brightened hair and beard, and black eyes,
could not help but prove that there was no mistake.
They had also ae him say, too, that he had been a
sailor.
He was not an exactly popular man, yet was liked, for

_he sang a good song, played the guitar, and also told,a

good story.

Still he was their comrade, and he had Pleaded with
them to save him.

This they must do, if they could manage it, though
each one hesitated at pulling trigger on Buffalo Bill.
“Men, remember, you are turning your muzzles upon

é

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

the hand that covered the Bea and said in the coolest

 

     
 

27

a government officer, though I do not wish to protect my-
self under that guise.

_ “You are pretecting a murderer, a criminal, a man who
deserted from the navy, then from the army, and was
a thief as well.

“He even stole a handsome inlaid guitar given him by
the colonel’s daughter to repair, for he ak that instru-
ment well, and sings.

“He is my man, and I will take him if I have to shed
blood to do so.”

The mention of the guitar was further proot that Buf-
falo Bill knew his man.

Not one doubted it now, but they had taken a stand
they must maintain, and one of them, acting as leader,
asked:

“How is yer goin’ ter take him, Buffalo Bill”

“T will find a way.”

“But we has you covered, dead sure, and I says to
Reddy ter git.”

“And I say that if he moves [ll kill him.”

“Then we kill you dead sartin.”

“It may be, but I expect te die some day in the dis-
charge of my duty, so it may be’that my time has come,”
was the cool reply of the scout.

This response caused the miners some uneasiness,
which was increased when Landlord Larry said:

“Men, Buffalo Bill came here: on business with me,
for he has bought a share in my mine, and is looking
for shares in others for some officers.

“He is my guest, and coming here to prospect, for he
knows gold when he sees it, he recognizes a mam he has
orders to take wherever he finds him.

“You know as well as I do that Reddy is the. man
Buffalo Bill says he is, and I want you to understand
that if the scout. kills him, and you fire as you threaten -
upon a government officer, I knew the men who do the
work, and they'll be the first'in Last Chance before the
sun sets.

“Now, you’ve heard my opinion, so you better take my —
advice, as I know what is best.”

“Don’t let him a me, pards, and if he draws trigger
on me, avenge me,” pleaded Reddy, as he saw that the
words of Landlord Larry had their effect tipon his com-
panions.

A glance the leader gave at the others, and then at the
piteous, pleading face of the accused, and then said:

“We'll stand by you, pard, and don’t you forgit it.”

“And don’t you forget that I will stand by Buffalo
Bill,” said a stern voice, and Dr. Dick stepped around
the corner of a rock and advanced, a revolver in each
hand.

“Dr. Dick! the right. man in the right place,” cried
Landlord Larry, while Buffalo Bill had not changed a

  
   
   
   
  

    

‘muscle, nor moved his hand from a level or taken his

eye off the man his revolver covered.

“Pardon me, gentlemen, for breaking in on your little

‘séance, but I was riding down the valley, saw that
trouble was going on, so dismounted and drew near

enough to overhear that it was Buffalo Bill whom you
were threatening, and that because he was doing his duty.

“Gentlemen, drop your weapons, or I open fire, and

‘Jet me give you a hint that I never miss, and I only act

to prevent you making fools of yourselves.”

 

CHAPTER XII.
ieee OC O OCL Wid NS

The arrival of Dr. Dick put a new phase upon the
situation.

He was immensely popular in Last Chance, and a speci-
men of his shooting had been seen.

When he could have killed Boomerang Bob, he had
simply clipped a finger off, and then had doctored him
until he got well.

He was a gambler, yet never played with a,poor miner,
and never took all a rich one had in putting up his
money on a game. -

He gave his services free to one who had no money,
and obeyed a call as quickly for a pauper as one with
money.

He was generous, courteous to all, but all knew that he
was a dangerous man, and he commanded both their re-
gard and admiration. . +

Now that he faced the seven miners with a revolver

in each hand, standing in an oblique direction from them

while they covered Buffalo Bill with their weapons, they
saw that they were in as much danger as the scout and
the man they sought to befriend.

_ Each one seemed to feel that Dr. Dick’s revolver
covered him individually, and they also discovered that
Landlord Larry had his weapons drawn.

With three such men as Buffalo Bill, Dr. Dick and
Landlord Larry to face, they at once began to weaken.

The leader of the miners felt that he could see the
bullet in the doctor’s pistol, and he lost no time in calling
out:

“Buffalo Bill, you wins ther game, for when ther doc-
tor chips in, 1 weakens for one.”

Me, too,” said sever eral others in chorus, while one re-
marked:

“We'd like ter stand by yer, Reddy, but it’s no use,
for ve game iS ag’in us, and we don’t a nary a
trump.”

_ “Lam glad that you think that way, pards, for I do not
like to turn my gun upon my friends: but I won’t see
a clean rec-

Buffalo Bill shot down by any man. for he has

   

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

“ord, and though I never met him belote, I admire him for
his nerve.’
The doctor, from the moment of his arrival, Thad spoken
in the coolest manner possible.

He was not in the slightest degree excited, had looked
like one not interested.

But now Buffalo Bill said:

“T thank you, sir, for preventing binsichey and I can
only explain to you that I recognized this man as a mur-
derer, twice a deserter from the service, and a thief.

“TY proved his identity, but he appealed for aid to his’
comrades, and I hold no ill will against them for re-
sponding, for they showed a manly nature in doing so.

“But it is better that this criminal should suffer pun-
ishment than that half a dozen brave fellows be shot
down in protecting him.

“Again 1 thank you, sir.”

The scout led Reddy away after binding him, and
with the help of one Larry and Dr. Dick searched
his cabin.

Under the bed and beneath a pile of skins in one corner
were found jewelry and money that proved conclusively
that Reddy was one of the men who had held up the Last
Chance coach.

That night when all the miners were at supper at the
hotel, Buffalo Bill started on .a lone search through the
cabins of the other miners, who had been so anxious to
help Reddy in his fight against the scout.

In four of these cabins other booty was found, show- .
ing that the inmates were members of Reddy’s band.

After supper Buffalo Bill called Landlord Larry and
Dr. Dick aside and told them of his discoveries, and
later on in the evening. the trio paid a visit to each of
the four miners, who. Buffalo Bill had discovered to be
outlaws.

When tackled separately by these men none of them
showed fight, and the next morning Buffalo Bill had five
prisoners ready to start on the coach.for Fort Faraway, |
and for a long time after that Last Chance was free
from robbers and freebooters,

THE. END,

Next week’s issue, No. 72, will contain: “Buffalo
Bill and the Black Heart Desperado; or, The Wipe-
out at Last Chance.” Are you anxious to hear more

of the history of Wallace Weston, who was stipposed to
be dead, but who was living as a miner under another

name. You will find him taking part in the corking
story issued next week. Buffalo Bill returned to Last
Chance after a short time, and the wipe-out of desper-
adoes, conducted there under his auspices, is a thing that
the mining town remembers to this day. Don’t fail to
read about it,

%

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

  
  

 

 

 

 

Names of prize-winners on page 31.

new contest there.

      

SS
41 Save  . Be
ye ae ae es eye oe ia

 

Did you win a prize? If so, we congratulate you. If you didn’t, look on page 32, It tells all about the

It’s a corking chance for you—dandy prizes and a tip-top contest.

 

Overtoard from a Rowboat.
(By Elmer P. Noy, Conn.)

Not very long ago I had a very narrow escape from
drowning. It took place in the town of Wading River,
Long Island. a

My sister and myself were spending a few days there.
In back of our house was a small lake, but it was quite
deep. The people owned boats, and as I was very fond of
rowing, | soon learned how.

One morning [ was out in the boat as usual, then sud-
denly the boat upset and I went sprawling into the water.

The water was very deep where I fell in, and as I could

not swim, I cried for help.

As soon_as my cries were heard, the men folks got
another boat and came after me, arid I was landed safe on
shore.

&

e An Adventure With a Monster Fish,
(By W. B. Newman, Texas.)

Several years ago it was my pleasure to visit Weed
Lake, which lies east of Trinity River, in Anderson
County. This lake is considered by anglers to be the best
fishing resort in Texas, and at all times during the year is
crowded with sportsmen.

It was in the spfing of ’904 when I visited the above lake,
with a party of McClelland Cotinty nimrods acting in the
capacity of guides. We were three days in completing
our journey to the lake, which is seventy-two miles east
of Fairfield, the home of the writer of this story.

After reaching our destination and preparing camp
three of us decided to take a boat ride; so unloosing the
boat from its mooring, we began to row out on the lake.

‘We had not proceeded far when a big commotion was

_ seen in'the water just ahead of us. We paid but little at-

tention to the splash, as it is no unusual sight to see a
hundred garfish jumping at once, especially when the
water is as placid as it was that afternoon.

e

We were all in a very jocular mood, laughing and talk-

ing; in fact, having a picnic (as the boys express it),
when, without warning, our boat was lifted clear out of
the water and turned topsy-turvy, spilling us all out into
the lake.

Badly frightened and excited we began to swim for the
shore. I being a very slow swimmer, was left far be-
hind; in fact, so badly scared I could scarcely swim, look-
ing every moment to fall a prey to the monster that cap-
sized the boat. The rest of the boys finally reached terra
firma and I was almost in the act, when I was seized by
the leg and carried beneath the surface of the lake.

Words cannot portray my feeling when the creature
began dragging me to deep water. J then realized my
hopeless chance of life. A story my uncle told me years
ago flashed through my mind. It was his experience with
an alligator. The brute seized him and he forced the
alligator to release his hold by jabbing his fingers into
his eyes.

I now proceeded to adopt my uncle’s tactics, which
worked like a charm. I came to the surface more dead
than alive, from loss of breath :and blood—the latter
caused by a terrible gash made by the monster when he
seized me. :

My companions seeing me floating on the surface of
the lake jumped in a boat and came to my rescue. Thus
ended my thrilling experience with the monster.

A Sailor’s Life; oz, Hard Luck,
(By Franklin Donsér, Ohio.)

The 17th day of August was the day fixed for the sail-
ing of the ship Alert, from Boston round Cape Horn, to
the western coast of North America. i

She got under way early in the afternoon. I made my
appearance on deck in full sea rig for a two-years’ voyage.

I joined the crew and we hauled out into the stream. —
On the following night I stood my first watch.

My Watch began at eleven o’clock at night, with orders
to call the captain if the wind came up from the westward.

  

 
 

 

eviceg

30

At midnight, having called the captain, I got orders to
call all ee How | accomplished this I do not know,
but am quite sure I did not give the true hoarse boatswain
call.

“*A-a-Il ja-a-nds up, anchor a- te: Oye

When out about three days I was seasick, but could not
go to bed. The weather was bad a two sailors were
laid up already.

I was in my “bunk” half fed halt alive, when I was
aroused by the order from the officer :

“Forward there! rig the head!”

{2?

I felt tempted to tell him I had rather wait. till after

breakfast, but I knew I must take the “bull by the horns,”
so I took my bucket of grease and climbed up to the roy ral
masthead. Here the rocking of the vessel, which in-
creases the higher you go fr om the deck, and the smell of
the grease brought me into a “nice shape.” When I was
half done with my work my senses left me and I found
myself in salt water.

I had fallen from the yard arm. I tried to swim, but my
strength was gone and I was about to give up when a
rope was cast me from a lifeboat.

I grabbed the rope and when halfway in the ° ‘pump.
I found there was no time for dreaming and must ” ‘turn
to” at the first light.

Having called’ “all hands we commenced washing down
the deck. After we had finished and coiled up the rig-
gine I sat down on tlfe spars to wait for seven bells,
which was the sign of breakfast. : 4

A Snake Story.
(By Gilbert Tutt, Oklahoma. )

One day I went to the Cimaron River to go for a little
swim, when suddenly I got a cramp and swam for the
shore.

Looking back I saw a bullsnake making for me. I saw
I could not make the shore and I was very much fright-
ened. I stopped and caught hold: of his tail and cracked
his head off as I would a whip. He stung me, but I am
all right now. 1 will never go there again.

A Fight With a Grizzly.
(By L. Roberts, Louisiana.)

In the summer of 1896 I started on a hunt in the motn-
tains, accompanied by my friend and guide, Dan Wilson.
When we were going through a thick grove of pines all
at once I heard a sniff to the side of is “and looking up I
saw a sight that made my knees shake. Hardly ee
feet punt was a giant grizzly, oe on his hind legs,
and coming straight for me.

I quickly raised my rifle and fir be ae his foreleg, but
he was on mein a moment, and I felt his hot breath on
my cheek, when a shot from Dan’s rifle rang out and he
turned and went for him.

He quickly fired twice, but the bear seemed bullet-

proof and went on, and in less time than it takes to tell

Dan was in his grasp.

I could not fire for fear of Gadie Dan, so I drew my
long, keen knife and plunged it into him, @wice he
turned on me and caught me in his grasp, and: ils. thought
every bone in me was broken.

: le I slept.

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

Dan was hurt badly, but he managed to raise his rifle
and fire, putting thesbarrel almost in the monster’s ear.

The bear relaxed his hold and we sank down together.

He was dead when I came to, and when we examined
him he had five ounces of lead in his carcass.

Dan said that it was a close shave.

I now am the happy possessor of a necklace of bear
claws, fully six inches long. I had three ribs broken and
Dan was bruised up badly.

That was my last and only adventure with a grizzly.

A Leap for Life.
(By Edward Goforth, N. Y.)

One summer afternoon I was walking along the Grand
Trunk tracks at a station on its line called St. Davids,
in the province of Ontario, Canada. There was a long
freight train of empty and loaded cars pulling out of the
yard, and I was counting then as I walked along on the

‘dowr track.

I noticed a man standing on the back end of the van
car, but did not pay any attention to him. W hen the van
car reached me the man leaned out and said, “Look be-
hind you.’

I did so, and I saw the Montreal express train fushing
around a sharp curve, about fifty yards away.

The telegraph operator, who saw the whole occurrence,

_ told me that I made the quickest bound that he ever saw a

bov make, and it must be true, for I cleared three tracks
in two bounds and then dropped flat on the fourth. This
is the closest call I ever had, and I certainly do not want
another.

My Hunting Trip.

(By Jas. xamsey, Jr., Indiana.)

One day last winter Leslie oe one of my old friends,
came along and wanted me to go hunting with him.
Of course I readily consented to go—that is, if my
parents would let me. J. went and asked them and they
said that I could go; so I took my gun and we lit out.
We hunted all “day, and along toward night it began
raining. We wandered around in the woods “until after zie
while we came in sight of a schoolhouse, so we decided ©
to stay in there all night. We went in and built a fire
and [-went out to get. some coal. I had not been gone
long when my pard came running out and said that there
was an old tramp in there, and he said that he was going

to stay all night, too.

We argued together for a long ae after a while we
decided to stav, ‘rather than go home, throug! oh the snow
which was now falling-—the rain having changed to snow.

After a while it becar me time to go to bed, sO we
dragged the recitation bench up to ae fire and lay down
on it, while the other fellow lay down on the floor. We
had taken great pains not to leave our guns unloaded.

I stayed awake while Leslie slept; then he stayed awake
It was my time to watch when l heard
footsteps out in the hall, and our tramp got up and went
out there. I awoke Leslie and told him what-I had seen |
and heard, but before I got him fairly awake the tramp

came in, leading the way and followed by two stout, well-

armed men.

1

They ordered us to march.

 

 
Bea Pe 5 METRE AOA RT Tou Se

Peo

 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 31

Of course we obeyed. They, led us to a cabin in the
woods and down into a cellar, and left only one guard
with us, and, fortunately for us, our guns. The other
robbers had not more than got out of sight when I pulled
the trigger on the guard and he fell dead. ‘We started
to go away when we heard the other two robbers coming.

We dodged behind the door and let them pass up about
six feet and then pulled trigger. Both of the robbers fell
dead. , Then we left for home and told our story, and
came to find out that we had killed the-greatest robbers in
the country.

 

A Lucky Fall. 7 :
(By Tom Hull, NY J.)

One day as I was playing with a ball it went on the
roof of a house next door to the one in which 1 lived.

I asked the lady if I could go on the roof and get my
ball, but she would not let me.

I got onto the roof of the house I lived in and was go-
ing to get onto the other roof by walking across a board.

I put the board across and was going over when I[
slipped and fell into the alley between the two houses.

I would have been killed on the stones if it had not
been. for a baby carriage that was standing there, and
into which I fell without being hurt.

 

A Hairbreadth Escape.
(By O. H. Fisher, Ohio.)

I was riding along a lonely path in Hopkins County,
Arizona, on a hot -.ugust day in ’99, when the approach
of night and a coming storm warned me to seek some kind
of shelter for myself and horse.

Just as it started to rain I espied a light in the woods,
about one hundred yards to the left. I rode up to the
door and finally, after much persuading, gained admit-
tance. The family consisted of a rather fierce-looking
man and a woman of about the same caliber.

The hut was a rudely constructed affair, about 20x24.
In one corner blankets and old pieces of carpet were hung
up, behind which was the only bed.

After supper, showing much fatigue from my long ride,
oa shown into the inclosure and told it was my sleeping
place.

I closely examined the place and found it to contain
about half a load of pumpkins beside and under the bed,

and any amount of rats and mice.

As I said before, I did not like the looks of my host
and hostess, so I concluded to keep on the watch.

Taking a wig from my grip I carefully placed it on a
pumpkin and laid it on the pillow. I then crawled under
the bed to get some rest, as I was very tired. About
midnight I was suddenly aroused by a tremendous explo-
Sion, and pumpkin flying all around the “room.”

I jumped up and ran out smack into the old man, who
was just coming in. I gave him a blow with the butt
of my pistol which knocked him out; by this time the
woman had armed herself with a fierce-looking knife and
made toward me, but as I was nearer the door I bolted
and ran, not wishing to hurt the woman.

I secured my horse and left the place as fast as I could.

PRIZE WINNERS.

 

The judges who have been at work going over the
entries in Anecdote Contest No. 4 have at last selected the
seven boys who sent in the best stories. Here are their
names :

L. Roberts, 2044 Royal street, New Orleans.

C. D. Southard, Turner, Mo.

Joseph Bond, 3631 N. Bouvier street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Willis Butler, 760 Foster street, Shreveport, La.

. Thomas Kline, 6 Hingham street, Boston, Mass.

Edward J. Bredemann, 173 E. McCarty street, Jeffer-
son City, Mo.

Harold Ogilvie, Ratan, New Mexico.

By this time each of these boys has received a Famous
Fishing Tackle Assortment.

Three cheers and a tiger for each and all of them, and
three cheers for the host of boys who came near winning.

They are the boys who should try again.’ It’s the boy
who tries, time after time, who finally wins out.

Look on page 32. for the list of prizes in our new con-
test.

 

$ worth of Tricks & Make-ups,sent postpsid for 85 cents stamps eg
silver.A nicoMoustache or full Beard,Irish or Side Whiskers,any

color, bottle Spirit Gum to stiok them ou. Box of Burnt Cork te blackea
up, Im.Rubber Mouth, big teeth, sseret & apparatus for performing
ae ea =

 

it
the great vanishing half-dellar trick. This big offer cgceaenan
is to get your address tocend my large {Ils, oat’g of

    

SS plays, wigs, tricks & agts. latest novelties. Mention paper &
you saw this in and I will alse put in a Heavy GOLD plate finger G
Ring FREE,sond sino. Address Chas, Marsholl. Mér.,Lockpert,N.Y.

 

 

Numbers of

 

BOUGHT

 

 

 

The following numbers of GOOD NEWS will be
bought. Any boys having them in their possession

should communicate at once with
P. 0. Box 192, New York
If you have the following numbers, write at once: <

Numbers 137, 349, 370 to 377, inclusive.

@

 
 

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before.

Curious

winning one of the prizes. They consist of

 

Five Hunting ~

photographs of all your friends.

matter what it was about.

HERE 18 A LIST

The three boys who send in the three most interesting accounts will
each receivean Rastmanm PochKet Hodais, with complete
outfit. The camera takes picture 14x2 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
stiap shots or time exposures. Tasily carried in pocket or on bicycle.
Complete with roll of film for twelve exposures and Leather Carrying
Case, 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 1lx4
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 in position.

 

- COUPON.
BUFFALO BILL DREAM CONTEST.

Nain ane ewe UES gee ek oa nabar eae ede e alta
DSURCCL OIL ING ho oe ols von ks ban es ohne Sears
City or Town...... sith eee a nlc ears Jere Cees alesis emis ee
Mate hy re, lee os ee Co eae
MUBle OF StOPY C0 ie, eee a ee ee

 

 

 

The. Contest just starting is going to be the greatest we ever ran.

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

Everybody has had remarkable dreams, and anybody who sends in an account of one has a chance of

THREE FIRST-CLASS PHOTOCRAPHIC OUTFITS,

Including Camera and all EPs for Taking and Developing Photographs.

Axes and Five Hunting Knives.

Think of the fun you can have this winter with one of those cameras.
Full directions go with each camera.
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
Tell it in five hundred words, and send it with the coupon you will find on this
page, properly filled out, to the BuFFALO BILL WEEKLY, care of Street & Smith, 238 William St., New York City.

 

Now, Boys, You See Your Chancel

' The

It’s an entirely new idea.
Prizes are new and the finest we ever offered. The other contests held in the BuFFALO BILL: WEEKLY have

Why? Becauseit isa brand-new idea—

Dreams.

You can take and develop
Think how useful and handy a first-

OF THE PRIZES: —

and of such a nature as to make it almost impossible 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 prevents 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 ey held by a flat steel bar when open or
closed.

The five boys who send in ithe five next best accounts will each re-
ceive a Sportsman’s Ideal Hunting Mnife.
There is about as much difference in point of utility and beauty between
one of our “Ideal” hunting knives and any other knife on the market
as there is bétween 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 stag-horn tip. A hand-

The construction is unique | some black or russet case with each knife.

t’s Up to You to Win a Prize!

This Contest closes December ist.
entries must be in by that date.

Remember, the “BUFFALO BILL

WEEKLY” has. the greatest circulation of any
weekly descriptive of Indian warfare ever published.

All

. Your story, whether it wins a prize or. not, has a

chance of being published, and will be read through-
out the length and breadth of the Continent.

CrOoCogen OF SOCIS PBISeS see Bie ea0o¢ seeosens o¢ SEOs 0980080000 raoavaraeecasesoracorsonreres

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i The BOYS’
OWN
LIBRARY

 

 

 

A SERIES OF BOOKS
w2kFOR BOYS BY ie

 

 

= Vi 4k | Edward 3S. Ellis
| : ' NG : Horatio Alger, Jr.
2

James Otis |
Matthew White, Jr.i
Arthur M. Winfield
George Manville Fenn -
Capt. Ralph Bonehill
Wim. Murray Graydon
Brooks McCormick _

 

 

 

 

 

mE BOYS OWN LIBRARY consists of one hundred copyrighted titles
2) published in this series only. The books are bound in cloth in highly :
illuminated cover designs, and equal in every respect to the average
| high-priced works. Price, 75 cents each. For sale at all first-class
book stores. Catalogue. on application to the Publishers, # # # # &.

 

STREET & SMITH, 238 William Street, oe YORE: |

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