DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY

Entered as Second Class Matter at New York Post Office by STREET & SMITH, 238 Wilitam St., N. Y

 

Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year.

No. 153. | Price, Five Cents.

ne

 

eze0ed |

 

 

The two scouts smashed into the bunched enemy, there was a swift clinch, and then two of the outlaws
received cracks on the head that made them groggy, and, almost stunned,
they were whirled into the river.

 
 
 

 

A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
_DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY

SILL

STORIES

 

 

Issuad Weekly.

By Subscription ‘ge 50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, bl William St.. N. Yo.

Entered according to Act of Congress tn the year 1904, en the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D

 

Wo. 153.

BUFFALO BILLS BLIND

OR,

NEW YORK, April 16,

Price Five Cents.

LEAD:

1904.

The Pirates of the Prairie.

 

®

By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.”

 

CHAPTER .T.
BUNKUM BEN FROM HEADWATER.

Buffalo Bill, king of bordermen, reclined on the river
bank, taking it easy, when his wandering gaze caught
sight of a rather curious-looking derelict which seemed
to be stranded near the center of the stream.

The north fork of the Platte River, before it strikes
on to the arid Nebraska plain, gives promise of be-
coming quite a stream.

It starts in the mountains of Colorado, and over a
rapidly descending course it moves with all of the
flurry and ambition of youth.

But its ambition and courage seem to flunk com-

pletely as soon as it strikes upon the level plain, where -

there is so little for it to do.
It becomes at once sluggish, lazy and treacherous.
It is broad and shallow, and there are places where,
with a breadth of almost half a mile, you can hardly
cross it with a rowboat without running aground in
the shoals.
_ But for dangerous quicksands in certain places one
might wade across it almost anywhere with safety. .

se A pe Neath poe Sea, ene Ne

It was on the bank of this river that Buffalo Bill
was taking his ease, after a hard day of riding.

It was near the middle of a warm afternoon, and
the scout had been in the saddle, except for a short time
at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, since an hour
before dawn.

This was nothing for him; but the horse he had that
day was not his best. The reason for this will be ex-
plained in the proper place.

At first he thought that the object in the river was
merely a piece of driftwood. Then it occurred to him
that driftwood in the waters of the North Fork at that
season was an infrequent object to the most watchful
eyes.

It looked more like a boat. At this suggestion the
scout sat up and stared at it harder, and as there was
nothing the matter with his eyes he made sure that it
was a boat, and that there was a man in it.

This was interesting, and it might be important, es-
pecially as the man was splashing in the water with
his hands as if he was trying to convert himself into
a side-wheel propeller.

The boat did not move either upstream or down. _

Spe Ga Cie WO lors ors ooo mete

 
 

It just swung back and forth at the bow, as if the
stern was hitched to something by means of a hinge.

“Snagged!’’ muttered Buffalo Bill.

The scout sank back again, for when he settled down
for some rest he made a business of it, the same as he
did in everything else.

That was the secret of his wonderful energy and
endurance. He knew how to do up a lot of resting
for past and future needs when he had the opportunity.

But the next moment he sprang up again, for he
saw another boat shoot out into the stream from the
other side and its nose was directed toward the derelict.

“Ha!” he exclaimed, and picked up his rifle.

tt looked as if there were a half dozen Indians in
the boat which had just put out. And yet the scout
knew better.

, “Aman with a painted face, a scalp-locls bunched up
on his crown, and two or three buzzard’s feathers stuck
“in it isn’t necessarily a specimen of the race of noble
redmen. The crew is made up with paint and feathers
- and nothing else, so far.as the Indian part is concerned.

“They're prairie pirates—that’s what they are, and
I’ve struck into them sooner than I expected by a full
two days’ journey. Queer, too, for reports said that I
would have to go a hundred miles or more farther be-
fore I should glimpse any of them.

“Cuts my rest-up shorter, and promises the wind-up
so much the earlier. I-suppose I’ll have to doesome-
thing for that pilgrim who seems to be stuck in the
ddl of the river. ‘Though they probably won’t
murder him just for the sport of it. Perhaps [ll wait
a bit and see what they do.”

The man in the stranded boat worked harder than
ever to get clear of the obstruction on which his craft
was stuck. ‘

But it seemed to be a bootless struggle.
would not budge.

The boat

It swung to and fro in the lazy current, and that was-

all.

Buffalo Bilf put his fieldglass to his eyes and sized
up both the occtipant of the derelict and the “Indians”
in the other boat.

The one who was stranded was instantly recognized
by the scout as a bum and hanger-on at os saloons of
a Colorado mining camp.

Buffalo Bill had seen him several nae ae had had -

nothing to do with him, and had never taken the trou-
ble to find out his pedigree.-

_ There were too many of his kidney in the mining

settlement to make it worth while to look them all up.

They were like the hobos of the Eastern cities and

towns—hardly worth the leather that it took to kick

them out of the way.

“I believe they called him Bunkum Ben. He talked
and guzzled whisky—that’s all I remember about him.
re made-up Indians won’t do anything worse than
have-a little fun with him, and that is all a bum is good
for, anyway. Let him paddle,”

tHE BUPTALO BILE STORIES.

 
 

eK
ei
Rigs:

 
 
    

 

The scout sank back again, more to avoid being ob-
served than anything else. At the same time he kept

   

= we
an eye on the business that was doing on the surface @ hi
of the sluggish river. | to

He saw that Bunkum Ben was splashing frantically
to start his boat. He saw the other boat draw up-to the #-
derelict, and one of the pretended Indians jumped into fF he
the craft that was stuck. -

Then there was a tussle, and Bunkum Ben got tum §
bled into the water. But in a moment they fished him

out, and he was dragged into the boat of: the Prairie
Pirates.

 

There they all seemed to have a rap at ii on the of at
ears with the backs of their hands, and the yells of B in
the mountain bum quavered across the water a a fo!

   
  
 

mock pathos which was ludicrous to those who relished
that sort of sport.

Buffalo Bill did not like it. He didn’t mind oT
giving the bum a ducking—that was probably good
for him, as it was likely that his skin needed the con
tact of water.

But when it came to inflicting a severer punishment
on Bunkum Ben, the scout made up his mind to. draw
the line, when something happened that gave him
pause.

From the opposite side of the river another, and then
a third boat put out.. Then, after a brief interval, three |
more boats shot out from the shore, making six in all, @ | :
and each one of them containing half a dozen Prairie § :
Pirates, all made up in Indian costume and paint. .
“That looks lively,” muttered the scout. y ov
His position was a little too conspicuous. He § :
crawled back among the shadows of a thicket, and then Be _
got upon his feet. . ‘i ,
He hurried back to where his s0rse was picketed § :
and led the animal in among the sparse growing trees |
St

that fringed the banks of the river. 7

In that place trees grew scantily, even where there F ™*
was water. And the plains were too dreary for de- §@
scription.

Having hidden the horse the best he could, the scout
returned to a spot from which he could continue toob-
serve the men in the boats. met

He had not used his glass when he saw the five —
boats put out, for he could see plainly enough, he @&

 

thought, to make it unnecessary, since he felt confident :
as to the character and number of persons in the boats.
Now he surveyed them through his glass, however, :

S

 

and made another discovery that ‘redoubled his interest.
One of the boats contained a woman captive.
Her face was not visible to the scout, but from her
figure and attitude he felt certain that she was young.
The boats were by this time all lined up near the
derelict. They had Bunkum Ben shivering and pro-
testing in their midst.
ey seemed to be plying him with questions, and
when his replies were unsatisfactory they would hit
him over the head with a paddle.

  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 

    
  

  

THE B

 

UFFALO

“They were doing him no serious injury; but they
were giving him all the pain they could, and making

  

- to come. a :
“This is getting interesting,’ muttered the scout.
As to the character of the crews of the boats, he
had not the shadow of a doubt.
_ He had been hearing of the depredations of the
Prairie Pirates along the north fork of the Platte for
more than two months, although he had been at a place
- so distant that he could not take a hand in the game.
@ But the pirates were making the conditions intoler-
— able to all peaceable citizens, while emigrants, whether
in large parties or small, could get through the line
of the pirates only at the greatest hazard, or by suffer-
ing heavy loss in valuables or lives.
Two of the best all-around guides of that region had
been recently killed by these same Prairie Pirates.
The outlaw crew committed many of their depreda-
tions while disguised as Indians, and while the genuine
redskins were ugly enough at that time, much was laid
to them of which they were not guilty. |
It was this state of things that Buffalo Bill had been
asked by the commandant at the nearest frontier post to
investigate.

 

 

hen ah

a. f The scout had been offered as many men as he would
a) «require to lead an expedition which should clean the
ric  dveaded outlaw gang off the earth.

} But he had not yet had time to get to the post, and
| it looked as if he would need to open the ball before
he could get any soldiers to help.

The prospect did not worry him any. He had been
up against a big gang in a lone-hand game before, and
he knew what was trumps.

 

ted © ;

ees ___But, as matters stood twenty miyutes ago, when the
F scout flung himself down on the river bank, there had

fe seemed to be no special hurry.

Now it was another story.
With a female captive in their hands, it must be a
hustle to get her clear.  —~

The boats were within easy range for a man with the

 

ob- ie. : :

_.& . rifle practice of the king of bordermen.
tye But it would seem to be useless to open fire on them,
ie when, at best, he could not hope to lay out enough

 

: of them to set the captive girl free.
& When matters which have been gliding along with

  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  

2 a degree of smoothness take an unexpected turn, and
ay start a string of complications, these generally keep up
until they cannot get any thicker.
‘er So in this case, just when Buffalo Bill was deciding
12, on a course to pursue to the end that the woman cap- .
os tive of the Prairie Pirates should be rescued, and some-
= thing accomplished toward the cleaning out of the out-
law crew itself, a new wrinkle came along to claim his
nd attention. —
Lit It was in the shape of another boat on the river—

  

as if there were not enough already.

 

him generally miserable with the terror of worse things .

aaiiiiiamamaamiaiiiie ne

al gg OR SS He
we :

BILL STORIES. | / 3

It was nearly a mile up the stream, and near the
middle of the placid current.

To the naked eye it was a mere speck on the surface
of the water. But, again calling to his aid the field-
glass, the scout was able to make out the figure in the
boat with such distinctness that an exclamation of as-
tonishment came from his lips.

“Tt is Hickok—Wild Bill, the pistol prince!”

At.the sight of this famous borderman at that time
and place, Buffalo Bill’s surprise knew no bounds.

He had good reason to believe that Wild Bill was
far away from that place, and engaged upon a mission
most remote from the one which now claimed the at-
tentiém of Cody himself.

“There’s no keeping track or trace of that man,”
muttered the scout. , oe

“But I’m right glad to get a glimpse of him now—
that is, if he doesn’t run his nose into that nest of
pirates before I can tell him of the danger.”

It hardly seemed possible that Wild Bill could ap-
proach much closer to the other boats on the river
without observing them.

And yet he came nearer and nearer, while the Prairie
Pirates, having ceased their persecutions of Bunkum
Ben, were getting their boats into line to cross over
to the side from which Buffalo Bill was watching them.

“There has got to be a mix-up!” muttered the scout.

CRAP TER: 11,
A MIX-UP ON THE NORTH FORK.

It was Buffalo Bill who began what he termed the
“mix-up.”

He did it by drawing bead on one of the Prairie
Pirates in the leading boat.

The rifle-crack and the yell of the stricken outlaw
joined in the echoes from the thin timber line that
fringed the opposite bank of the stream.

The shot went true, as a matter of course, and the
one who was hit made his death plunge into the river,
nearly upsetting the boat in the act.

Then followed a chorus of shouts, which would have
given away the deception attempted by the Indian
make-up of the pirates if nothing else had done so.

Indians never expressed themselves by shouts—
their savage way of yelling has an intonation unlike
that of any other race of beings on earth.

The savages of all races yell when they are pained
or pleased. But the American Indian has a yell of his
own that is totally unlike the specimens in that line as
furnished by other barbarians.

The shot and death of their comrade plunged the
party into chaotic confusion in no time.

Besides, the lone boatman up the river seemed to be
aroused from his dream, for he espied the other boats
for the first time and ceased paddling.

Something went up to his eyes, and Buffalo Bill
knew it was a fieldglass like his own.

  
    
   
    
 
  
    
 
   
 
  
  
  
 
    
  
  
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
  
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
   
  
  
    
    
   
  
   
   
   
   
    
    

  

  

   

- had fired.

Pe RTs FER TN TLIC OT OT TRC SIE

 

THE

 

He was sizing up the crew upon which Buffalo Bill
And it did not seem to take him long to
make up his mind which side in the affair he would
choose to back up.

Nor did he appear to be in the least daunted by the
heavy odds against him. For, instead of trying to
seek shelter, he plunged his paddle deeper into the
stream and sent his light boat fairly leaping over the
surface in the direction of the Prairie Pirates.

The latter, not having observed the direction from
which the death shot had come, and seeing Wild Bill
slashing the water with his paddle as if he meant to go
throt eh them, inferred that it was he who had fired the
fatal missile.

As a consequence their leader ordered three of them
to fire at Wild Bill. And they made a scramble for
their rifles, which lay in the bottoms of the boats, as
they had little idea of having use for them then.

Crack! crack! crack! stuttered Buffalo Bill’s new
repeater, and two of the men who would have fired
upon Wild Bill tumbled toward each other, smitten
with death.

The third was merely nipped on the left ear by the
hastily fired shot, and he uttered a snarl and flung
himself over into the lap of the man back of him to
avoid the sudden storm of lead.

By this time they realized that they had more than
one enemy to contend with, and that it was some one
who was himself sheltered, and who could pick them
off just as he liked.

Their leader was touched with a sudden suspicion as
to the identity of the unseen marksman.

Repeating rifles were not very common then, and
yet more rare were the men who could snap out three
shots with one so rapidly and make every shot show
its mark.

That leader, made up like an Indian, the same as the
others, was a man with rather striking features.

He made few words, and these proclaimed him to be
a man of education and natural refinement.

But. the paint on his face did not disguise the lines
of malignity which, young though he was, had traced
themselves deeply about his eyes.

A life of hate was stamping itself on his face.

Lines of cunning showed under his eyes. A curl of
scorn twisted his lips. The set of his jaw told of a
will power which it were dangerous to oppose.

Such was the leader of the Prairie Pirate
man as yet but little known on the border, although he
was fast getting to be feared.

In thus showing his hand Buffalo Bill had acted
against his iiclmion.

The girl captive must be rescued. And with her
guarded by so many captors, that end could not be
accomplished by one or two men in a mere dash, no
matter how nervy it might be.

His manner of procedure to the end of<the girl’s

         

! {
hat len i A ae ai Al he tae ete ele os a gh Alt Aa i a an ih yay a: ge yt is: pre eg

BUFFALO

rescue : wolild have been a different one, and less open,
but the approach of Wild Bill spoiled the plan.

The position of Hickok, down close to the level of
the water, precluded his making out the inmates of
the boats so clearly as Cody had done, and he was
unaware of the presence of a girl prisoner.

But he was just reckless enough to pitch into the
Prairie Pirates without waiting to see what kind o:
backing he was likely to receive.

That compelled Buffalo Bill to swing out with a
trump cards, and make sure-of the first tricks that wer
going.

By the time the Prairie Pirates had time to realize
what was doing, Wild Bill was close enough to take a
hand in the game.

THe dropped the paddle and picked up his rifle, and
while the boat was still going ahead under the momen-
tum, he fired two shots at the pirates, directing them
at the occupants of the nearest boat.

Only one of the outlaws was killed, but another was
doubled up with a splintered rib and lacerated flesh,
while a third howled with a branded cheek from the
deflected bullet that had splintered the rib of his com-
rade in the same line with him.

It was a good deal of execution for two shots, and it
mixed up the Prairie Pirates almost as seriously as
the swift shooting of Buffalo Bill had done.

They were already making a swift break for the
shore. :

Of course, they drove their boats toward the alge
from which they had but just come.

Their young, stern- faced leader gave his commands
in a terse, almost metallic tone, which brought a singu-
larly perfect and eager obedience.

The behavior of his followers seemed to imply that
the leader was either feared by them, else he had sub
jected them to a discipline that was almost military A
its strictness.

Buffalo Bill, in observing the retreat of the Prairie
Pirates, was struck by this peculiarity. And he re-
called what had been said of that leader by those who
had come in contact with him, to their cost.

It was to the effect that there was no other man on

eh

_ the border whose power over his followers was so great

and so constant as that of the so-called Prairie Paul,
pirate of the Platte.

The scout had already scanned the occupants of the
boats with his glass in an effort to pick out the feader,
and if possible to make him out plainly enough so as
to be able to recognize him upon another occasion.

But it chanced that the young leader’s position was
such that he was hidden partly from the view of Buf-
falo Bill by other occupants of the same boat.

At the same time, in response to a quick command of
the outlaw leader, the boat containing the prisoner
was pushed to the front of the retreating line of boats,
and two extra men leaped into it with their paddles to
lend their aid to increase the speed of the crait,

SOP GO EN a EO a ea Lk a Ay A gt tele. ei pe Ni es at i et TR au I

 

hee

 

 

 

A = sto

 

     
  

 
 
 

- Buffalo Bill knew that the water was so shallow that
his horse could ford the stream at that point. But he
“was not certain as to the character of the bottom, and

 

 

it i c
of as he knew that there were quicksands a little further
as | _ up, and at some other points along the length of the
‘ ' river, near-the shores, he dared not risk his horse at
1€ _any except a regular fording place.
a . ‘There was such a ford a mile above.
i |  He-had noticed it an hour ago, when he was riding
is [ down along the sinuous course of the stream.
‘ef  But.it was not his purpose to depend upon going

' back to that to cross the stream until he had sized up
e — the situation a little more carefully.
a... It was not likely that Prairie Paul would have beaten
| a retreat in the manner he was doing unless he had

 

d started out on an expedition of such importance that
we he was afraid that a temporary reduction of his force
r would result in a defeat of his project.

: He was acting more like the prudent commander of
. a military force than the mere leader of a lawless crew
? of prairie pirates.

: The boats were by ie time well under way in their
‘retreat to the other side, and they had the one contain-

; —@ ing their prisoner next to the leading boat.

. 1 This guarded the captive from any possibility of

| i | rescue, and at the same time the boats being in such a

: - perfect line, there was some hazard of hitting the pris-

| oner in case Buffalo Bill should continue firing.

a The risk was the greater as the length of the range
increased. The scout recognized it, and would not

3 shoot again until the situation shifted.

- & Meanwhile, Bunkum Ben, dripping wet, but happy
.., @ to find that he was still alive, and that the torture to
t -—& which’ he had been subjected was not likely to be re-
- | newed, set about paddling his craft toward the shore

1 & where Buffalo Bill wads at that. moment concealed.
When he had been tumbled out of his boat the latter
> F was thrown clear of the snag, where it had been swing-

. _§ ing at the moment oh the scout had first discovered
) fe him. ’

The scout was thinking hard and fast what to do
about trying for the rescue of the girl prisoner of the
» Prairie Pirates, when he saw Bunkum Ben’s boat jamb
, {fF — its nose up against the bank of the river almost at his

B- feet:
' Ben leaped ashore, but he had not taken three for-

- ward steps before he uttered a startled exclamation.

Ss It was called out by the grip of Buffalo Bill’s hand
f on his arm,

“Ho! so it is you, Cody!’’ exclaimed the man as he
| looked into the face of the scout.

s “Tt is I, Bunkum Ben. But you needn't’ shout it
‘ quite SO loud. Sit down here on the ground, man—lI
want to ask you something.”

The'bum from the mining camps sat down, looking
- as “meek as Moses,”

br
pe

 

 

   
 
 

  

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

CHAPTER TL
DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH.

Bunkum Ben may have been a good-looking man in
his day; but that day was long past.

He was not an old man, either, except as a man | may
grow old without the lapse of many years.
~. He had probably passed his fiftieth milestone; but
it was ten to one that he was unconscious of the fact at
the time, for he was either asleep or drunk.

As he leaped ashore on the bank of the North Fork
and was nabbed by Buffalo Bill, he was in a fairly
sober state. ;

This was by no fault of his own. He had merely
run out of the supply of the’ kind of fuel with which he
was in the habit of keeping up steam.

No doubt he had some whisky inside of him. Abso-
lutely without it he would not have been Bunkum Ben
at all.

But his fright, the necessity for work when he found
himself on a snag, and, lastly, the ducking, all had the
effect of sobering him.

He looked woe-begone and feeble. More, he looked
hopeless, almost despairing, when he found that he had
got to endure a talk with Buffalo Bill, with the won-
derful eyes of the scout fixed upon him the while.

For this state of mind of Bunkum Ben’s there were
good and sufficient reasons, some of which will pres-
ently appear.

“To begin with, Ben,’”’ began the scout, “how long
had you been swinging back: and forth on ued snag
when those fellows ran a-foul of you?”

“By—I reckon I must have been stuck half an hour
pretty nigh,” drawled Bunkum Ben.

“You were coming down the stream, of course, for
you would never try to paddle against the current?’

“Vas, I was comin’ down, easy like. I dunno how
I come to run ag’in the durned snag. But fust I knew
I was stuck, and [ll be whanged if 1 could make the
boat budge.”

“Vou started from the mining camp at Headwater ?”’

“Wall—er—yas.”’

“When did you start from the camp?’

“T’m whanged if I can tell ye, eggzactly. Ye see,
-driftin’ down with a slow current is sorter monotonous,
and I fell inter a doze once or twicet.”

“Did you start last night?”

“Must have been yesterday sometime.
come so fur to-day.”

“And you may have left the camp two days ago—
night before last, for instance?”

“Maybe I did. But I don’t see why you're so
durned particular.”

- “T am particular, and you had better be careful to
give me as many straight facts as you can. You know
I had to use some means of discipline on you once upon
a time, and I'll repeat them if you try any bluffs.”’

“Of course, Mr. Cody, of course. ll tell ye the

Couldn’t

    

   
THE BUPFALO

truth as fur as I kin remember it, but ye must make
allowances for my g sittin’ sorter confused about dates.
Ye see, ['m a reg ‘lar sort of a feller, and the days air
pretty nigh all alike to me.’

“The days are all about the same to you, there’s no
doubt about that. But that won't let you out of tell-
ing the truth in this case, and the whole of it.

“Vou will want to forget some things because the
telling of them won’t sound well for you. But that
won't do. .You came straight from the camp at Head-
water, and while I know to start with that you would
never have left the camp if you hadn’t been fired out of
it, that part of the yarn isn’t what I’m interested in.

“You were on a booze befor® you left, and they got
tired of having you bum, around in all of the places.
That part of it P’ll take for granted, and you needn't
make any excuses. Did that new and fresh young
mine owner and prospector, Thede Travis, come back
to the camp after I came away, four days ago?”

“Wall, I don’t mind tellin’ ye that. Him and me
ain’t no great friends. Yas, he did come back. But
he didn’t stay more’n two or three hours.”

“Was he alone ?’’

oY as. 6

“Did he seem to have any friends in the camp?”

“Nary a friend to start on. But when he went away
. two feilers went with him.”

“Who were they?’

“One of ’em was called Red Grimes. T’other [
didn’t know, but they was a pair that seemed to be al-
ways together. Sort of pards, I reckon.”

“Bums like yourself?”

“No. But they wasn’t pop’lar in the camp. There
was talk of runnin’ ’em out.”

“Where did Travis and this crew go when they left
the camp?”

“Durned if I know. I heered some sayin’ that they
was goin’ on a prospectin’ trip furder up in the moun-
tains, and some of ’em laffed at that. I reckon,
though, that they made off in the direction of this heer
river—some eres nigh the headwaters of the North
Fork.”

Buffalo Bill riled for a moment in_ silence.
Bunkum Ben regarded him a little anxiously. ‘So far
~ no questions had been asked that he had any objections
to answering.

But they were bound to come, and he knew it.

_ He had the best of reasons for knowing. that Buffalo
~ Bill had a way of scenting all kinds of crookedness.

‘There was no throwing him off the track.

In what he knew about Thede Travis, at the camp
of Headwater, there was just one episode that bore
relation to himself, and he dreaded disclosing it, for he
- feared that the scout might impose a penalty of some
kind. .

Bunkum Ben did not like penalties.

At the same time, he had so little appreciation of the
fine points of justice that he did not understand the

 

BILL SPORTES

principles upon which Buffalo Bill was in the habit of
meting out the consequences which the shady char-
acters of the border earned for themselves.

Bunkum Ben was like a dog that gets thrashed for
all sorts of things, whether he is to blame or not.

“Well,” said Buffalo Bill at last. “What did Thede
Travis want you to do, Benjamin?”

“Oh, whang it all!’ groaned the bum.

“You expected me to ask that, didn’t you?”

“Lord,..yas!”

“Answer it straight and it will be all right. I’!
know whether you tell the truth or not, and I wont
make any mistake.’’

“He wanted me to do a little spyin’ for him, that’s
all. But ye know that ain’t in my line 3

“T know it is exactly in your line, if you only could
keep sober long enough at a time to make a success
of it. How much of it did you do before you got

caught ?”

“Whang it all!
mind, pretty nigh.”

“Answer my question, Ben.”

“T got ketched right off. It was about a letter that

I reckon you kin redd anybody’s

I was hired to kerry over to a party in the camp. F |

dunno much about it. But Travis said he reckoned it
might interest him, and he fetched out a gun to prove
that I better give him the first readin’ of. it.”

“You mean, he agreed to give you unlimited whisky
for the privilege. A gun on one side of the argument
and a bottle on the other. But you needn’t mind about
that. It isn’t your mischief that I’m ee for just
now. How about the letter ?”’

“T gin it to Travis, jest as he ast me to.”’

“Then what?”

“Barker, the feller the letter was to, knowed some-
how that the letter was to be sent to him by me. I
reckon there was a ‘greement forehand. He was
’spectin’ the letter, and knowin’ my weakness for
strong drink, he hed an eye on me.’ :

“And he caught you at your game! ee

Sorter.”

“Did he get the letter ?”:

* “Yas. Jest as I was handin’ of it to Travis. Barker,
he’s one of them quick sort of fellers, same as you: be—
quick on the draw. He jammed a gun agin’ my nose
and another agin’ Travis’ ear, and we didn’t stop to
argy the case. It was after that that they run ’em out
of the camp.”

“And you?”

“I run myself out. More ’spectable, I reckon, “to
have a sudden business call and go on yer own hook
than it is to go on the run with cayuses and guns tread-
in’ on yer heels.”’

“No-doubt about that. Did Travis and you go to-
gether ?” %s,

“Lord, no. We ain’t pards. He squealed on put-

tin’ up his part of the contrack. I never seen no
whisky for the service I done him.”

 

 

ch FO
 

 

 

®

“And the two you have spoken of went away with
Travis?”

Yass -

“Looks as if he was 5 recruiting a gang,” said Buf-
falo Bill, reflectively. ‘And that is another straw to
show that he has something to do with the Prairie
Pirates. He is a young man, well educated and from
the East, and I wouldn’t naturally suspect him of talk-
ing a permanent part in a regular outlaw organization.

“And yet it looks like it. And it looks as if I was
on a trail that would lead me to a clearing up of the
business, that is, if they don’t get the better of me.

“Travis is in the gang, and acts as a sort of recruit-
ing sergeant—we'll grant that as a starter. He is
picking up the Of -scourings of all the settlements and
mountain camps to increase the numbers of the gang.

“But who is the leader? There must be a cool man
behind the whole pa They are getting to be the
scourge of the prairie all about here. They have two
or three squads at work, and they strike in more than
one*place at once.

“Here are a part of them right here, and in such dis-
guise that it isn’t easy to identify any of them. And
that isn’t all.”

Buffalo Bill again turned upon Bunkum Ben, who
appeared to be falling into a doze, standing up.

“That crew on the river, who just held you up—
they weren't redskins, though. their skins appeared to
be red,”’ said the scout.

“No, they wa’n’t Injuns,” said Bunkum Ben.

“What did they dump you into the river for?”

Ben hesitated. His eyes’ had. a faraway look in
them. ~

“Come, now is the time to brace up and tell the
whole truth. You will find it to your interest to put
yourself on record, once and for all, against the whole
tribe of Prairie Pirates who are operating under Prairie
Paul. There is something operating against them that
will wipe them off the face of the pa quicker than
you have any idea On

Ben braced up.

He was afraid of the Prairie Pirates, especially of
the leader. But somehow the speech and airs of the
king of bordermen made him feel that Prairie Paul’s
rule in the land was drawing to a close.

2 | ey wanted me to tell °em what I seed comin’
down the river.’

“Did you do it?”

“They'd held me under water till it quit bubblin’ if I
hadn’t.”

“What did you see that they were so anxious to

99

f = know about?”

_ “Nothin’ but a small outfit on t’other shore of the
| river goin’ toward Headwater. The people had lost
| - one of their party—a gal—and they axed me about her.
That’ s all I knew, aud all I could tell the made- -up In-
juns.”

“That was ai r muttered Buffalo Bill.

THE bePrALO BILE STORIES.

CHAPTER IV.

A RUN. OF BAD LUCK.

Buffalo Bill had obtained the most important item of
information from Bunkum Ben last.

He knew that there was a small party on their way
to the mining camp, and he had expected to meet them
coming up the river on the same side that he was de-
scending.

He well understood that they were too weak to take
the risks of such a journey in the condition of the coun-
try along the North Fork.

He had expected—or hoped—that they would not
get fairly started on their journey before he should —
either meet them or be able to carry out his other plans -
in regard to the prairie outlaws.

Now he knew that the girl captive whom he had
glimpsed in one of the boats on the river was the miss-
ing girl from the party referred to.

Yet*it did not appear from the account of Bunkum
Ben that there had been a fight between the Prairie
Pirates and the gold hunters.

The ‘latter were made up of a party of three men,
the wife and adopted daughter of one accompanying
them. p

One of the men was no other than Philip Ross, a
wealthy young man from the East, who was looking
for an investment.

Ross was a fellow of force and character, and he had
come by his money through the death of a friend who
had discovered a hidden cache of gold in the Black
Hills.

The friend had been killed by Indians, and Buffalo
Bill had been instrumental in helping Ross to retain
possession of his legacy, which for a short time was in
a ticklish situation.

The incidents of this affair have been told in a
former story, and need not be repeated here.

But the taste of adventure obtained by Philip Ross
in that case made him thirst for more. Besides, he
wanted to do his hustling in the West, where he could
make his fortune double itself. .

The only other members of the little gold-hunting
party whom it is necessary to mention are Mr. and

Mrs. Roger Hallam and their niece, who was also their |

adopted daughter, Bertha.

This girl, who had plenty of beauty and spirit to go
with it, had had some tough experiences in a Texan
Indian raid some time before, the incidents of which
have also been narrated in a previous story.

Now she was in the midst of what was likely to
prove the most important episode of her career.

From the moment that Philip Ross had first seen
pretty Bertha, he had been too thoroughly charmed to
see anything else very clearly.

His desire to be near her was a heavy pull to draw

‘him toward the mining country at Headwater. In

joining the fortunes of the little party of gold hunters

 
 

 

 

    

&

were too numerous to be met by a single opponent, and

8 THE BU Pao
he became a seeker for a double prize—for love and
gold.

Just how far Bertha favored his suit it would not be
fair to say. She was a girl, and knowing her power,
seemed bent upon using it to her utmost.

The truth was, she had once been deceived by the

~ character of a lover, and since that time she had not

seemed to have any too much confidence in the op-
posite sex.

There was one man whom she trusted fully—Buf-
falo. Bill. Whether or not she entertained any
stronger sentiment for the great scout, she had never
told anyone.

Cody was not the man to encourage that sort of
thing, but he was human enough to be impressed by

‘the warm demonstrations of gratitude which she had |

once or twice made in moments when, perhaps, she
was hardly aware of what she said and did.

Her adopted father knew that she had gone out
away from the camp at noon for a lively gallop on her
own horse. Philip Ross was a little sore because she
had firmly, yet laughingly, declined to allow him to ac-
company her on the ride. :

He had argued that it was not safe for her to go
alone, and in “this he was right. But the fact that he
showed how eager he was to be with her made the girl
perverse, so she resolutely refused to let him go with
her.

When she ue been gone for an hour, and no signs
of her were seen, while they were ready to resume their
journey, the first faint alarm of Mr. Hallam and Philip
assumed graver proportions.

Ross had had experience enough on the border to be
able to follow’ a plain prairie trail with tolerable cer-
tainty, and he set out alone in pursuit of the willful

eel

The camp had been pitched near the river. There
was only the sparsest growth of timber at that point.

Bertha had gone out toward the open prairie and
disappeared beyond a swell in the gently rolling sur-
face.. e

Philip soon found where she had changed her course
and returned to the river, striking the latter at a point
two or three miles above the place where her friends
were encamped. :

From there she would have returned to the camp.

But just there Philip Ross discovered unmistakable
evidence that she’ had been captured, and from thé
signs he obseryed.he judged that her captors were In-

_ dians.

In this we know that he was Se, although it is
easy to understand how he made the mistake.

The discovery filled the brain of the young man with
a fever of anxiety, and he was soon racing along the
trail of the girl’s captors.

That trail showed that the captors of Bertha Hallam

‘had time to retreat.

- the next volley of bullets that they sent after him.

  
  
  
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
       
     
   
   
     
      
       
      
 
     
   
     
     
     
     
       
     
       
     
     
     
     
    

BILL STORIES.
also, what was more singular, that they were without |
horses.

They seemed to be making for a certain point alor
the banks of the North Fork.

On horseback it was easy for Ross to warm up the §
trail, and it was not long before he came upon them |
so suddenly that he was discovered by them before he |

He saw nothing of their prisoner in the glimpse
which he obtained of them. That did not convince
him, however, that she was not with them.

Made up as Indians as they were, they kept up the
bluff by further imitation in yelling and the general |
antics of their race upon discovery of a foe almost in ;
their midst.

They turned upon the young horsemen and dashed
toward him like a whirlwind, several of them hurling
their hatchets, others firing their rifles, and all yelling
like so many fiends.

A bullet nipped the inoree in the flank, another 7
notched the rider’s left ear, a third scraped Ross’
thigh, while two of the hatchets whiffled so close to the }
young man’s head that he ducked in an involuntary
attempt to dodge the missiles.

And yet no serious damage was done to either the
horse or its rider.

It was a close call and he knew it.

He had good nerve, but he knew that nerve couldn’t
save him if he kept still and gave them another inning.

He flung up his rifle and made a quick shot back at
the crowd of yelling foes, and then dashed ahead with
out waiting to see whether the shot was effective or
not. ie

As a matter of fact, he wounded one of the men, but
not seriously enough to throw him out of the game.

Then he was off at a pace that they could not begir
to follow without horses. With some small trees and
foliage to shield him, he was comparatively safe from

   

But he knew then that he could not rescue Bertha
Hallam from her captors without help.

He knew also that such assistance as Mr. Hallam
might give would be next to useless.

Ross rode swiftly until he was safe from the bullets

of the foe. Then he pulled up to consider the situa- @ t1
tion. .

“What do they want of the ea ?—that is the ques- i F
tion,’ he asked himself.

Even with his inexperience, there was something
about the style of the painted crew that puzzled him.

He recalled some things which he had heard from
the lips of Buffalo Bill, and these did not accord with
the make-up and behavior of these pretended Indians.

A strong impression that this was not an py
Indian raid was borne in upon him.

He had heard something about the Peale Pirates
and of Prairie Paul, their mysterious leader, at the last
post they had visited. . |

      
     
     
     
     
    
      

  
   
     

 
  

But at the moment it did not occur to him that these
F painted rascals belonged to the gang.

Ross was in a place where the assistance of a man
like Buffalo Bill would have been valuable beyond
© measure.

' The distance back to the camp was not great, and
Ross soon put Mr. Hallam and the other man of the
party in possession of the facts of the situation.

The decision was made immediately that all would
change their course so as to bring them back to the
river, and that they should hover near enough to the
captors of Bertha so that they should be informed of
their every move, and be prepared to take advantage of
the first opportunity for her rescue.

In the meantime there was a chance of encountering
7 some experienced scout, or a stronger party of gold
hunters or emigrants, who might aid them to rescue
the girl from the supposed Indians.

The incidents just detailed occurred a short time be-
fore the events told in the three preceding chapters.

Mr. Hallam had encountered Bunkum Ben and had
asked him about the pretended Indian party. But they
had obtained little information of value from him.

 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 

for any assistance from the bum, whose face and speech
proclaimed his besotted condition.

Meanwhile, Buffalo Bill began to wonder what had
become of Wild Bill, whom he had seen coming down
the river.

He swept the bosom of the stream with his glass, but
saw no signs of the Pistol Prince.

“He has gone ashore on the other side, probably,
-with an idea of getting that girl out of the clutches of
the Prairie Pirates,’ was Buffalo Bill’s conclusion.

“But the party is too strong for one, man to tackle,
even a man with the reckless nerve of Wild Hickok.
I'll cross over and take a hand in the game.”

» The scout would have swam his horse across had the
H water been deep enough, and forded the stream, could
_ he have been sure that there were no quicksands.

As it was, however, he decided to ride up the stream
# to the fording place before alluded to, as that would
® afford but little lost time, and the safety of the pro-

 
  
 
 
  

rat
ith-
or

 
 
 
 

but #

  
 

gin
ind

 
  

om

 

 

ets J] ceeding more than made up for the insignificant extra
1a- @@ trouble. o

# Cody was not the man to take unnecessary chances.
es- I He had known too many heavy stakes: to be thrown

® away for the lack of a little precaution.
f ‘Benjamin,’ he said. to the bum, with an air of
solemnity which was the only thing which could im-
press the rather weak will of the man, “it'll be night
F pretty soon and I’ve got to make good use of the time
® there is left. You will stay here until I get back if
f you care anything about living. You can’t be friends
| with everybody. If I catch you hobnobbing with any
res. of Prairie Paul’s gang I’ll count you as one of them,
ist @ and you know what’ll happen to you.”
f... Oh, Lord, Cody, you know that I———’’

 

 

   

©.

THE BUFFALO

And they knew at the start that they could not hope —

 

 

Bile STORIES. 9

“T know that you'll sell your soul for a sup of whis-
ky, and I know, too, that you’re mortally afraid of
dying with your boots on. Huddle yourself down
right where you are and let me find you there when
I come back, which may be at any minute.”

Bunkum Ben obeyed.

The eyes and voice of Buffalo Bill gave him a kind
of scare that nothing else could have done.

The scout flung himself into the saddle.

He raced up the river to the fording place and
crossed over to the other side.

Before starting he had made sure, by the aid of his
glass, that at least a part of the boats which had been
used by the Prairie Pirates were still nestled close un-
der the shelving river bank on the other side where the
occupants had hidden them upon making their hasty
landing.

Once fairly on the other side he raced boldly down
the stream again, following a little used trail that ran
close to the river bank. :

Before coming in sight of the spot where he believed
the outlaws to be assembled, Buffalo Bill made a dash
out of the timber onto the edge of the open prairie.

There, at the first sweeping glance, he saw the two
white-topped wagons of Hallam’s gold-seeking car-
avan., ;

He instantly divined that this was the party which
he had been informed was on its way to Headwater
mining camp.

He did not know the names of any of those who
made up the little party. But he guessed that the girl
whom he had seen in one of the boats of the outlaws
belonged to the caravan.

He instantly wheeled his horse and started toward
the emigrant camp.

As he did so, he heard the spiteful crack of a rifle,
and his horse pitched forward with a whine of pain.

The scout landed on his feet.

A glance told him that the shot from ambush, poorly
aimed though it was, had kroken one of the horse’s
forelegs.

He instantly wheeled and sent a bullet into the ani-
mal’s brain to end its misery. .

Then he turned to meet the rush which he expected
from the enemy.

CHAPTER V.
OVERWHELMING ODDS.

There was:no.rush.

A thin puff of smoke rising above the trees a full
hundred yards down the stream showed where the shot
came from. It showed that a foe had been hiding
there, on the watch, and that it had been his fool’s
luck to drop a good horse belonging to a good man,
more by chance than because he was a good marksman.

The truth was, the result of the attempt/proved that
he was a poor shot, for he had aimed at the head of

   

  
 

 

na Re

io THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

Buffalo Bill and had hit a foreleg of the horse which
the scout was riding—about as a wild a shot as could
have been made.

Bad luck for the scout, and nothing else. Cody
knew it. He knew that there were more than a score
of the Prairie Pirates hidden in the thin timber belt,
and that they would sneak up and try to pick him off
if he were to give them a chance.

Ordinarily, Buffalo Bill would hardly have hesitated
to go ahead and try making things lively for the enemy,
regardless of the odds.

But at the very beginning of his present expedition
he had been greeted by an ill omen.

He was not superstititious to the same degree that
most bordermen were.

But hardly any man that ever lived, no matter how
well educated or sensible, ever pursued a career full of
peril and adventure for a great while without falling
into the habit of observing the seeming connection with
certain omens of good and ill fortune, and the trains of
circumstances that followed them.

It is so with sailors and soldiers, while great travel-
ers and explorers, almost before they are aware of it,
fall into the same habit.

The result is, that they come to look for a succession
of mishaps of greater or lesser importance if they are
treated to one at the beginning of a new undertaking.

Men who plunge into games of chance, whether for
gain or sport, even those who engage in stock specula-
tions, are apt to become more or less superstitious as
to runs of good luck and. bad.

Likely it is all nonsense; but sometimes it appears
to be almost the only sure thing in the world, and the
habit of believing in “luck”? is a hard one to cure.

It was an impulse of this kind and nothing else that
caused Buffalo Bill to refrain at that moment from at-
tempting to make swift payment of the injury which
_ the shot of the ambushed foe had done to him.

Not that he had anything like a quali of fear.

He merely felt that things were running against him
for the time, and that the fact called for extraordinary
caution on his part if he would succeed in rescuing the
girl captive from the outlaw gang.

‘Then, too, he wished to learn something about the
small caravan.which was in camp in such dangerous
proximity to thé Prairie Pirates.

He thought it possible that the members of the emi-
grant party nae nothing of the nearness of the outlaw
foe.

Striking into a loping trot, the scout was soon within
hailing distance of the wagon camp.

THe soon spied a man on the wheel of one of the
wagons looking at him through a glass.

The scout paused and returned the compliment.

An ejaculation of amazement burst from his lips.

“That is young Ross!’ exclaimed Buffalo Bill.

In a few moments the scout was face to face with

the young man, shaking him by the hand she putting
questions as fast as Ross could spit out the answers.

It did not take long for the border king to get pos-
session of the facts of the situation, including the cap-
ture of Bertha Hallam.

The mention of the identity of the girl br ought him
another shock of surprise. At the same time he had
figured out the sentiment which the young man enter-
tained for the girl.

And Buffalo Bill seemed to feel again the tremulous
kiss of gratitude which Bertha Hallam had given him
when he had. saved her from death many months be-
fore.

“Of all men in the world, you are the one that |
have wished a hundred times in the last hour that I
might see,” said Ross, after the whole story of the cap-

ure of Bertha had been told.

Hallam came up at the moment, and the warmth
with which he greeted the scout when Ross introduced
them showed that he was quite as well pleased at the
coming of Cody as was the younger man.

“By the way,” said the scout, “I reckoned it was
possible that Wild Bill was with you, when I caught
oe of your wagons a few minutes ago. Haven't you

een him?”

“Yours is the first friendly face we have seen,’
answered.

“Hickock landed from a boat on this side of the
river and at a point pretty nearly opposite here. I
have heard no shooting, so it can’t be that he
pitched Ze that crew of desperadoes yet.’

“T’ve heard you speak of Wild Bill, Mr. Cody,
it hasn’t been my luck to meet him yet,” said Ross.

“He is ptire nerve, and the quickest man with the
pistol I’ve ever seen yet.”

“Quicker than yourself?”

“With, the small guns, I think he is.’

“Then the two of you would make a tough com-
bination to get up against.”

“We Have occasionally lined up together, with red
devils or white ones in front of us. But, while=we
have known each other for some time, on the whole,
we have not often followed a trail together.

“Wild Bill is all right, Ross, and if we can have him
to chip im on the trick against the crew of Prairie
Pirates yonder they'll think a cyclone has hit them.”

“Do you reckon that we are strong enough to attack
that number? You say there are no genuine Indians
among them.”

’ Ross

but

“T never ee to count up forces when a thing has
got to be done. But now that they know I am on
this side of the river, and that I can from here no
longer command a view~of the river, they’re likely. to,
také to their boats again and try for a sneak down
stream.

“Besides, now that they have shot my horse they
will believe it to be easy to get out of my way.”

“We have two or three extra horses, and you can

 
TREE  BUEE ALO

Mhave one. There is a black little gelding, not fairly
‘broken to the saddle, and I haven’t had the nerve to
MH mount him since he fired me over his head the first
@ time I tried for it.”

| “Let me see him,” said the scout, in his decisive way.
| The next moment he was looking at a sleek but
@ somewhat lank young horse, whose small head, wide
# nostrils and broad chest, with limbs so slender that
they looked like pipe stems, told: Buffalo Bill that he
® had found an animal cf rare possibilities in speed, spirit
@ and endurance.

# “Is he yours, Ross?’’ he asked.

& “Yes, Hallam and I bought a bunch together, and
| in dividing them up this one seemed to be useless to
"him, so I took him as a part of my share.”’

“Tt is just what I seem to need at the present time,’

Perhaps the sale of a horse was never made any
quicker than that one, for Buffalo Bill was the owner
of the handsome gelding inside of a minute after he
had first set eyes on the animal.

And it was not mueh more than-another minute be-
fore the horse was fitted with saddle and bridle and
the king of bordermen was riding over the pe with
he speed of a cyclone.

Arrow—which was the name that Ross had given

| to the gelding—had the most peculiar gait of any horse
hat the scout had ever bestrode.

His gallop was unusually long in its reach, and taken
eemingly without effort. There was a rhythmic pul-

@ sation of the whole body, as if the horse were running

)) to the time of music. :

© To ride the animal was anealaty fascinating.

It was like floating through the air in a dream.

» While Arrow had been intractable with Philip Ross,

( in Buffalo Bill he seemed to recognize the master for

# whom he had been waiting.

| While he pulled hard on the bit, and seemed so full

# of surplus strength and spirit that he could hardly be

f curbed, yet he made no attempt to throw his rider, as

i he had done in the case of Ross.

| “This is good luck, anyhow!’’ muttered the scout

as he brought Arrow about on the course and again

| drew near to the white-topped wagons of Hallam’s

q | camp.

By this time the brief twilight of prairie land was

: _ falling over the river and plain.
| “There is no time now to lose, Ross,” said the scout

; as he pulled up at the side of the young man.

_ The latter could only admire the way in which the
king of the border had tamed the wild prairie steed.

| _ “Will you make a dash for the camp of the outlaws ?”

: Ross asked.

ay,

“For the river first, so that I may make sure whether |

# they have struck down the river or not.”
| “And if they have?”
“Horses are faster than boats, or the slow current of
the stream. But I suspect that they will not try the

BILE SORES. II
river again until after dark. For that matter, it is
queer that they should trust themselves to anything so
slow as rowbodts at all. 3

“I think that they expect to be joined by reinforce-
ments at some point below here, and there they will
have horses. So the sooner we get after them, the
better.” K

Hallam and Ross mounted ready to follow the lead
of the scout. The remaining man of the party would
stay to guard the wagons, although the others were
unlikely to get so far away from the camp that they
could not return instantly in case of an attack.

The dash for the river was made, and they came in
sight of it at a point from which they could almost see
the camp of the enemy.

But just then they heard shouts, and saw a large
body of horsemen dash into the midst of the Prairie
Pirates.

They were reinforcements for the gang!

CHAPTER VL
ROATS, BULLETS AND BANDITS.

Of the twenty-five Prairie Pirates who had come out
onto the river in boats, two or three were counted Ott
in the shooting which Buffalo Bill had chipped in
while they were in sight.

This left about twenty-two of the original number
in good fighting trim.

But in the glimpse which Buffalo Bill and his com-
panions obtained of the reinforcing party, who had
joined them on horseback, they judged that the new-
comers numbered nearly, if not quite, fifty men.

They were well mounted, with thirty led horses, and
all literally “armed to the teeth.”

The whole party presented overwhelming odds to
the five men—counting Wild Bill—opposed to them.

The hearts of Ross and Hallam sank as they realized
that Bertha Hallam was helpless among that powerful
and lawless crew.

But the anxiety of Buffalo Bill was increased in only
one direction.

“Tt is a hopeless case. To try for a rescue against
such odds would be to throw away our lives without
hope of any good result!” groaned Ross.

“To make an open attack, of course, it would be
giving them the battle at the start,” said the scout.

“Then you see no hope?”

“There’s hope enough to float a ship. It calls for
strategy first, nerve next, and probably some quick
shooting in the windup. But we'll win.”

rl don’t see where you can gather ie, hope out of
the situation.”

Buffalo Bill’s manner suddenly beer stern, like
that of a military commander before a battle.

“1 think, Mr. Ross,” he said, ‘that 1 may depend
upon you to stay in the fight as ne as there is any-
tne doing.” ;

 
 

12 THE |BUFFALO

“To the death!” was the low response.

“There is too much depending on the issue for me
to weaken, even if I was the greatest natural coward
in the world,” said Hallam, primly.

“That is all I ask. Any man is a coward when it
comes to a question of his own life. It is the necessity
of putting up a a fight for somebody else that keeps him
facing the guns when he feels like running away.’

‘Do you “think they will go down the river to-night,

ow that the expected horses and reinforcements have
ee them?” asked Ross.

“No. It is going to be too dark. Whatever plans
they may have for the immediate future, I reckon they
are planned for this vicinity, and that they expected to
meet a little below this point. Their encounter with
me, and the capture of Miss Hallam made this part.of
the crowd stay here until the others came up, as they
had no horses for continuing the journey, and they
didn’t fancy boating while Wild Bill and I were pop-
ping at them from the shore.”’

This was evidently a correct inference.

The scout declared that it was now dark enough for
their purpose.

He was more anxious to protect his new horse from
‘any chance shot from the enemy than he was about
himself.

_ The timber grew so sparsely that there was little
difficulty in making their way through it with their
horses. :

They kept within_its shadows until they were so
close to the encampment of the foe that the stamping
of the horses and faint mumble of voices were audible.

Then the scout dismounted and left his horse in
charge of Hallam while he crept closer yet to recon-

noiter.

It was now so dark that, while crouching close to the
ground, nothing was visible directly in front of him,
on the same level with his face.

He soon reached a point where there was quite a
thicket, and through the interstices of the shrubbery
he could see the ae of a large camp fire which had
just been gotten to going.

Drawing closer yet, he could see the forms of the
men eathered about the big fire.

Several were moving about as if engaged in the

preparation of supper.

Some were standing. Others were lounging on the
eround, and one appeared at the moment to be ad-
dressing the others.

But the speaker’s tones were so a and guarded
that Buffalo Bill could catch hardly a word that was
a oe

When he had ceased,
ed up and exclaimed:

“Three cheers for Prairie Paul, the nerviest man
for his years on the plains!”

_ Instantly seventy odd voices were raised in the re-
sponse, a shout that made the air tremble

. however, one of the men

BILL. STORIES,

“Not much attempt at secrecy about that,’’ muttered
the scout.

“IT suppose that they think they are powerful enough
in numbers so that they need have no fear of being
detected.

“And in an open fight I reckon it would take a good-
sized company of soldiers to make them give in.

‘We can’t give them an open fight, for it looks as
if it was up to me to cut them off before I can have
time to go back and get help. I don’t dare to get away
from them for the length of time it would take for me
to get to the post and back.

“In the first place, I can’t bear the thought of leav-
ing that girl to her fate in their midst. © Prairie Paul
is making himself known and feared by the prompt and
invincible cruelty with which he acts. He smashes
everything before him.

“So far I have heard of his taking only three pris-
oners, and none of them was a woman—antil the pres-
ent case.

“Of those taken all were mercilessly shot. I be-
lieve he expected to obtain ransom in the cases of two
of them, but found that there was no one to pay for
their lives, while they had nothing except what they
had with them—dand that he took away without pledg-
ing them anything in return.

4 seems to be his policy to tefrorize the whole
country over which he roams. He thinks that he can
make his very name feared so that he can rule the
isolated settlements and mining camps, as 1f he owned
them, and make them pay toll for the privilege of ex-
isting within the bounds of his domain.”

What Buffalo Bill said seemed to fit the case ex-
actly.

A band of outlaws is formidable only through the
quality of its leader.

He bears the same relation to his men ye a gen-
eral does to an army.

A poor general. may lead the flower of a nation’s
army to disaster and death, or to glory through victory.

Buffalo Bill had downed many a tawwless leader 1n
his career, and in nearly every case he had found. that
the death or capture of such a leader meant the anni-

‘hilation of the organization.

Here he was almost face to face-with the ‘rising
young leader of the most powerful band of outlaws
that had been organized in that locality for some time.

That leader was disguised as an Indian, and although
he was surrounded by the members of his band only,
so far as he knew he seemed to be careful to maintain
the character which he was acting.

As Buffalo Bill observed him closely, it ‘seemed to
him that there were one or two tricks of motion which
were familiar. :

But when he spoke it was in a deep tone which was
either disguised, or else wholly unfamiliar to the scout.

Cody could have made absolutely sure of killing the
leader of ‘the Prairie Pirates by a single quick shot,

 
4 his arm. But he drew back,

THE <BUPEALO

‘and he felt almost justified in taking the advantage,
@ even though it was to shoot from ambush, contrary to
@ his sense of honor.
|. He was not a barbarian.

But there was another consideration.

With the prisoner among them, the chances were
@ that the killing. of their leader would be instantly
© avenged by some of the members of the baad in the
‘death of the girl who was in their power.

» Besides, it would precipitate a fight in which every
© advantage would lie with the stronger party.

| Buffalo Bill could have escaped alone, but the chances
| were against Ross and Hallam, as well as Bertha.

That would be too dear a price to pay for the chance ~

© of wiping out Prairie Paul, the pirate of the plains.
7 The scout considered it only for an instant.

Then he looked to see if the prisoner was in sight.
‘He judged that she was. concealed at the farther side
of the encampment.

He crept cautiously around in that direction.

™ In doing so he was obliged to pass close to the bank

i of the river.

’ One of the pirates was posted close to the stream,

™ evidently watching the surface of the stream, or pos-

© sibly on the lookout for a demonstration from the other
'side, where they had reason to think enemies might be

» watching them.

In trying to avoid the sentinel Buffalo Bill was
© obliged to step upon the very edge of the river bank.

© The latter was shelving and gave way under his foot.
One of the outlaws’ boats was drawn close up under
© the overhanging bank of shrubby turf.

© Buffalo Bill sprang to avoid splashing into the river,
® and so landed squarely in the boat.

| The other boats were drawn up alongside of it.

Of course he made some noise, and the attention of

' the sentinel was attracted.

The man saw the form of Buffalo Bill in the boat,
and for the instant, in the gloom, he assumed that it
was one of the outlaws.

But his wits. soon came to him, and he bent forward
to get a surer look at the one in the boat.

The scout had drawn his knife.

He did not want to fire pistol or rifle if he could
‘avoid it, as it would precipitate the whole gang upon
him, and he would have a close call to pull out of the
.game with his life, at best.

But lie knew another trick.

The man on the river bank was beyond the reach of
the knife held in his
hand by the blade.

He flung the weapon with fertile force and ac-
curacy at the breast of his enemy!

BIL SLORTES.

CHAPTER. VI.

A OWeaAisD ST RU GG LB

The knife went true, and the blade deeply pierced
the breast of the bandit.

But death by steel or lead is seldom so instantaneous
that the victim may not utter an expiring cry.

It was not in this case.

The wail of death agony broke upon the air with all
its terrible intonations.

The surface of the broad river seemed to catch the
voice and send up a moaning echo.

The prairie bandit plunged off the bank and fell into
the boat that lay next to that in which the scout was
standing.

Altogether, there was noise enough made to have
aroused the whole gang, had every man of them been
asleep at the moment.

“It is my present run of luck!’ muttered Buffalo
Bill.

He heard answering shouts from the gang, and
mingled with them the voice of Prairie Paul, the leader,
was “piving out a terse command.

“T reckon they’ve got me, ’spite of any human kick!”
thought the scout.

It seemed to him that there was no way of
the run of luck which had started against him.

He sprang ashore, for there was no chance to shield
himself from a shower of bullets on the surface of the
river.

But in obtaining a footing he struck his
against a small tree.

The slender trunk bent and recoiled like a spring of
steel, and on the unstable bank, which bent under his
weight, the scout was thrown backward, and he had
to spring again into the boat, or fall into the water as
an alternative.

“Tuck!” he breathed, and shut his teeth hard with
the determination to overcome what seemed to be a
persistent chain of circumstances all running against
him. |

His brain was aflame with the flood of projects
which rushed upon him.

Only one seemed to contain a glimmer of hope of
any measure of sttccess, even temporary.

The two boats, one containing a living man, the
other the still quivering corpse of the outlaw, were
side by side. : ‘

The scout reached over and raised the body of his
dead foe up, bracing it in a semi-sitting posture in the
stern of the boat.

Then he gave the craft'a push that sent it out several
yards into the stream.

The slow current of the river caught the boat and
bore it steadily down the stream.

The nearly upright body of the dead outlaw was
visible from the shore, but so indistinctly that its

beating

shoulder

 
 

14 THE BUFFALO
identity or condition could not have been distinguished
in the gloom. |

At the same time Buffalo Bill pushed the boat in
which he was at the moment up the stream, so close to
the shore that it could not be seen by the men on the
bank as they rushed down to ascertain what had hap-
pened.

At that point there was really no downstream cur-
rent, there being, instead, a sluggish back tow that as-
sisted the scout in propelling the boat in the desired
direction without making it necessary to greatly dis-
turb the surface with paddle or oar.

He had not pushed the craft three boat lengths be-
fore he heard the outlaws rushing down to the brink
of the stream. i

A moment later there was a sputter of rifle shots
and the whine of bullets as they zipped across the water
in the direction of the boat containing the dead outlaw.

The strategem had worked, so far, at least.

They had mistaken the boat containing the dead
bandit for the object of their search, and the impact of
fully a dozen bullets in the inanimate body caused it
to pitch over sidewise, so as to lean face outward over
the gunwale. |

A shout of exultation from the Prairie Pirates told
that they thought they had finished the unknown foe.

But there was another problem on their hands, and
the fact that they discovered no traces of the man
whom they had left on guard was enough to excite
their suspicions.

They did not suspect, however, that they had been
riddling the dead body of their comrade with bullets
when they thought they were disposing of their un-
known enemy.

They immediately set about making more careful in-
vestigations.

In these their leader, still in the guise of an Indian,
took the leading part

He exclaimed almost instantly:

“There are two of the boats gone, and there is blood
here on the edge of the river bank. Clancy is dead.
The boat we just saw going down with the current
didn’t contain our enemy. You idiots! You wasted
your lead in the dead body of Clancy himself !’’

So much for the quick insight of the leader.

He did not take time to deride their blunder, how-
ever, aS some would have done.

“Man the rest of the boats, instantly!’ he ordered.

They obeyed. Even while they were about it he
had another command ready.

‘A dozen of you go up the river along the shore—
scout every yard of the way. The same number go
down the stream. Let another dozen mount horses
and make a search out on the open prairie.

“Be lively, and if you see anything alive give it the
lead. Don’t take any chances. Better to kill a friend
than to let an enemy escape. The quickest way of
doing a thing is the best way.”

erred me aia iat aaa ou i \

BILL STORIES:

 

o

These commands were all spoken loud énough for
Buffalo Bill to hear. a
He knew that discovery for him-was almost a dead. @ |
certainty; but it was not of that that he thought then. |
He had been face to face with such odds before.
He had been captured by desperate men, both red and
white, with a lawless death sentence hanging over him.
He mightshave to face the same ordeal again at this
time, and he might not, as he had done before, be fa-
vored by fortune so as to escape at the last moment.
The border king was not thinking of his own danger
at this time. He well knew that the peril to Ross and |
Hallam, as well as to the wife of the latter, and also —
to Bertha, already a prisoner in the hands of the out-
laws, was even greater than his own, for they were not
so capable of managing for themselves as he was.
Therefore it was the thought of the others that
nerved him to a greater effort than he could have put
forth for himself. 4
It had often been the same in the past. | @
He knew that he could not long remain concealed,
now that the enemy were leaping into boats, rushing
through the timber, and mounting to ride over the
plain, all at the same time.

It was now a matter of making the best time pos-
sible in putting distance betwixt himself and his foes,
and at the same time getting back to his companions.

A few quick strokes with the paddle carried him
around a short bend in the river, and placed a jutting
patch of land between himself and the Prairie Pirates.

At the same time he heard the splash of the paddles
of those who had started in the search on the water.

They were pushing out into the current so that they
could get a view of the stream close up under the
shelving banks.

He shoved the nose of his boat-up against the muddy
shore.

He was on the point of leaping out when a hand
reached out of the darkness and caught his right arm.

 

 

 

 

sprees

 

 

It was one of the few times in his life when Buffalo .
Bill was almost at the mercy of the one who had sur- °°
prised him. Dy

But this time it was not another touch of the bad #@ a

luck he had been having for the past few hours.

“Easy, pard; it’s Hickok!’

These words were uttered in a husky whisper at the
same instant that the hand grasped the arm of Cody.

AnD Wild Bil?

Even in that critical moment the pair found time to
clasp hands with the grip of comrades in peril.

Wild Bill was in the boat in which he had come
down the river, and he had been hiding close to the
bank, waiting for an opening that might never have
presented itself. : 2

It was not a time for explanations. For that matter,
none was really needed, for Wild Bill‘had been observ-
ing the last movements of Buffalo Bill, and he had

 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
   

@ reard the commands of Prairie Paul as distinctly as

  
    

 

or §

@ aad the border king.
ad. # He knew just what sort of a fight they were up
n. (against.

jm “Out of the river or in?’
nd M The question came from the lips of Hickok.
m. fm “In, for the first part of the game. We haven't the
1s whole crew to fight here, and we can keep them guess-
a- ing longer by sticking. to the water until we have

olayed our first trick.”

er JM These comments were exchanged in Wises At
id J che same time they saw the boats of the enemy shooting
so Mm out toward the middle of the stream.
t. | The two scouts raised their rifles silently, and at the
ot a same instant.

j@ Cody’s was.the repeater, which had but recently
it |™# some into his possession.
it [ Hickok’s was a double-barrel.

© Both began te talk, spitting lead and fire out from
che pitchy darkness of the shore with deadly accuracy.

d, — The sputtering fire, the perfect aim, the yelling. of

io | he stricken men, one or more of whom were chosen

1e fas marks in each of the boats of the enemy, combined

(co make a din like that of a battle..

It gave the outlaws the impression that they were

  
  
   
  

: m@ attacked by more than a dozen men, at least.

But for the angry rallying shouts of Prairie Paul
. ‘rom his station on the shore, the men in the boats
e would have made a dash for the opposite. side of the
e ‘iver, and the others on the shore would probably have
a tbandoned the offensive campaign upon which they

iad started.
| . But they had a leader who would never confess de-
‘eat while he lived to issue commands or take a hand
n the fray.

i He led in the dash along the shore toward the point
@ vhere the boats of the two scouts lay hidden.

, Under his inspiring commands twenty of his com-
“ W@ -ades strove to get ahead of him in the run for the
_ {@ ooint of danger.

7 At the same time his rallying cries forced the men
i (@ n his boats to face the spurting flame from the scouts’
ifles and start a return fire.

A grunt from Wild Bill, who dropped his weapon.
old that he had been bitten by a bullet in the first vol-
ey from the pirates.
| Yet the hurt was too insignificant to count him out.

He grabbed the weapon again, and at the same time
is companion leaped up, saying’:

“Now we aré safer in the timber. Some of that
sad spattering this way might make us sick—and
nere’s somebody reckoning on us for their lives!”

They leaped ashore, almost into the faces of a half
ozen of the enemy !

   

  
 
 
   
  
   
 
   
  
  
 

THE Boer AlLo BILL STORIES

CHAPTER VI.
A CAMPAIGN

OF HATE.

To such men as Buffalo Bill and Hickok there is
hardly such a thing as being taken by surprise.

They are trained to be constantly on their guard, and
to them the unexpected seldom happens.

In this case it was the outlaws who were taken off
their guard.

The two scouts smashed into the bunched enemy,
there was a swift clinch, and then two of the outlaws
received cracks on the head that made them groggy,
and, almost stunned, they were whirled into the river.

One of them sank and drowned almost without a
kick. The other did not get ashore until he had bat-

' tled with the current in a blind fashion, and had nearly

collapsed from exhaustion.

While they were battling with the current of the
river, the other four who had led in the dash for the
stream were stabbed, hammered and hustled, and

finally sent splashing into the stream.

It was all done in such a hurry that the half dozen
leaders in the dash were disposed of before the rest
of the crowd could come to their assistance.

The two scouts could not have worked more per-
fectly in unison if they had planned every move in the
game beforehand.

Both started on a run amid the shadows of the tim-
ber the instant they had disposed of the leaders of the
assailing party.

They heard the voice of Prairie Paul among them,
and the hands of Buffalo Bill itched to take hold of the
man.

He would have been glad to match himself against
the man who showed such a gamy disposition. But
there was no time for it then.

The leader of the Prairie Pirates was surrounded
by his friends, and there were others within the sound
of his voice.

It could not be hoped that the two scouts would be
able to down the whole crew of pirates in a single
fight.

There-was too much at stake to make a try for it.

Buffalo Bill thought of the splendid horse which he
had just purchased of Philip Ross. He feared that
some adverse chance might throw the animal into the
hands of the outlaws.

He knew that there was likely to be a need of a
swift horse in making the rescue of Bertha Hallam in
the near future.

“This way!” he uttered, and made.a dash toward the
spot where he had left Ross and Arrow, the new racer,

In the darkness it was no easy matter for the pirates
to keep on the direct track of the scouts.

Neither fugitives nor pursuers could-make their best
speed at a run under the conditions. As it was, one
or two painful collisions with trees resulted from their
haste.

  
16 : THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

At last the edge of the timber was reached, and they
could hear the crashing of the underbrush under the
feet of the outlaws.

The latter were uncomfortably close in the pursuit,

Buffalo Bill saw Ross and the horses, and made a
dash for them, at the same time saying to his com-
panion :

‘Jump onto my horse behind me. It won't be for a
long chase, and he can carry double easy for a short
dash. He has the courage for it.”

It was no time to argue. Wild Bill knew well
enough that Cody’s judgment, whether quick or slow,
was generally the best for the moment.

These two men had been on several occasions
friendly rivals, but Hickok never pretended that he
could excell the border king in any of the peculiar
tricks of their careers, unless, possibly, it was practice
with the pistol.

Wild Bill had not received the title of the Pistol
Prince for nothing.

Cody was in the saddle, and Wild Bill followed,
while a swiftly spoken word told Ross of the situation.

The sounds of firing and shouting, the sudden ap-
proach of the scouts, capped by the leaping of both of
the latter onto the back of the young horse, roused Ar-
row’s spirits almost to the point of frenzy.

The young animal made a furious leap, and then
sped out on to the prairie with a speed that made him
appear to be unconscious of the double burden.

Ross, with his horse, and himself by no means a

heavyweight, could not keep pace with the powerful

young animal mounted by the two scouts.
Hallam did not attempt to lead in the race out of the
timber and away from the camp of the Prairie Pi-

’ tates.

Those of the outlaws who were directly in pursuit
were not mounted.

It will be remembered, however, that Prairie Paul
had given orders for a number of his followers to
nrount and to scour the prairie.

This order was being obeyed at the same time that
Buffalo Bill and his companions were leaving the shel-
ter of the timber belt.

Having heard all the orders of the leader of the
Prairie Pirates, Buffalo Bill figured that. there would
not be more than a dozen of the outlaws left to guard
the camp and prisoner.

He hurriedly told Wild Bill of his calculation on
that point as they were borne at a crazy pace, in a semi-
circular course, over the prairie.

The whitish mist, with the absence of moon and even
of stars, on account of clouds, made it very dark.

They could not even discern the outlines of the tim-
ber long after leaving its boundaries.

_ “We will get back to the timber below the camp,”
said Cody, “but not too far away from it. Then we'll
try for the final coup for the rescue of the girl.”’

“You'll do the oes grunted Wild Bill, and

_ tempting to flee.

I'll try and. keep this wild beast of yours from running
"way down to Texas.”

“As you please about that. But there is just ;
chance of there being something on the shoot called for
before I get the girl clear.”

“Then count me in. Only, I don’t know what a
man can do with this wild zebra of yours if anything
happens to really stir him up. He seems to be made
mostly of legs and nerves, and the nerves keep the legs
going as if they were full of lightning.”

Hickok’s comments were a good fit for the antics
of Arrow, for the horse seemed to be able to dance a
jig and move straight ahead at racing speed at the same
time and carrying double at that.

Meanwhile Ross had fallen behind in the race.

Hallam had passed him and was close up to the
scouts as the latter drew near to the camp of the out-
laws, preparatory to attempting the liberation 0
Bertha.

Suddenly firing commenced on the edge of the tim-
ber, the outlaws having found that their foes had left
the shelter of the trees with horses,

The Prairie Pirates could not see either Hallam or
the scouts, but they obtained a slight glimpse of Ross,
as the outline of something flying through the gloom.

And from Prairie Paul came the command to fire
upon the flying figure.

Ross heard the whine of a bullet close to his face,
and at the same instant his horse pitched forward and
fell to the ground, quivering in its death throes.

Ross was agile and struck upon his feet. He sprang
to the saddle and snatched the weapons which were at-
tached to it.

The outlaws whose shooting had done the mischief
were not mounted, but under the command of Prairie
Paul they dashed out toward the spot where they were
sure they had seen a horse fall on the prairie.

Then followed some, swift maneuvering in which
Ross found more than his match in the craft of the su-
perior numbers who were in pursuit of him.

He fired back at them several times, but they threw
themselves flat upon the prairie and he oe no longer
see anything to fire at.

Then they began shooting at him again, and his only
chance lay in dropping to the ground as they had done.

But there was no safety for him then.

There were a dozen of the outlaws against him, and
they spread out, scrambling toward him through the
grass at a rate and from directions of which he had no
means of knowing.

For that matter, there seemed to be no use of his at-
There was as great danger in one
direction as another.

Although the young man did not ‘know it then, he
was soon to learn that he had more than an ordinary
enemy to contend against.

For Prairie Paul, from Bertha Hallam, his prisoner,
had learned the name of Ross as a member of the party

 
Tee BURPALO BIL STORIES 17

7 which she had been accompanying to the mountain
mining camp. |

_ And when he had heard that name the face of Paul,

the Prairie Pirate, flushed under the dark daubing of
aint which disguised his face. '

' “Phil Ross across my trail once more!’ he had ex-

claimed, in a low tone. ‘Good, then! This will turn

this expedition into a campaign of hate!”

' So the danger of Philip Ross was greater than he

even dreamed.

CHAPTER: Tx.

AT YET CLOSER QUARTERS.

One of the dozen men who, with Prairie Paul, were
closing in upon Philip Ross, had all the stealth of
movement that belongs to the Indian.

He moved so silently and swiftly through the grass
that he soon reached a spot from which he could hear
Ross’ movements as he tried to move stealthily toward
the shelter of the timber.

_ Inan instant the outlaw made a swift spring that car-
ried him to the side of the fugitive.

Ross leaped up, and the two clinched desperately.

As they swayed to and fro in the hand-to-hand com-
bat the outlaw gave utterance to a signaling shout
which told his comrades the direction to take to come

his assistance.

“Go, quick, and make sure of the devil—but alive!”
ommanded Prairie Paul. ‘‘Remember,’ he added,
you must take him alive. I would rather lose one of
our lives than his, until I have had a chance to show
’ him that, at last, he is down and doomed to a miserable
death, while I live, the final victor in a career in which
until now he had always been in the lead.

_ “Make sure of him, boys, but harm him as little as
you can. I have sworn to see Philip Ross die by
inches, and now my oath will be fulfilled!”
_ Ross heard the words, and the voice in which they
‘were uttered sent a strange thrill to his heart.
Could he be mistaken in that voice?
Was it not his old rival in school, in college, in
sports and in the greater prizes of life for which they
’ had competed?

Was this leader of the powerful outlaw organization

known as Prairie Paul—in truth, Thede Travis—the
graduate from the same Eastern university and in the
-same class with himself? .
_ This was the question that flashed through the
whirling brain of Philip Ross as he fought against the
powerful ruffan who had attacked him.

There seemed to be no doubt of it.

' He knew that Travis had linked his fortune with a

mall band of outlaws some time before.

But not once did he suspect that his classmate had
sunk—and risen—to the leadership of a dreaded band
of Prairie Pirates, the most powerful in numbers and

equipment of any that had been organized in the great
Northwest.

The realization nerved him to a yet more desperate
effort to overcome his antagonist.

Ross was a well-trained athlete.

For the first time in his life he found that his train-
ing for success in college sports might serve to save his
life at the hands of a muscular and brutal foe.

He played wrestling trick that caught his antag-
onist off his guard.

Then he used his skill as a boxer, and landed a ter-
rific blow on the man’s jaw.

That sent the ruffian reeling.

Before he could recover himself Ross had pulled a
revolver and fired.

The shot smote the outlaw between the eyes, and the
man fell without a groan.

But the others were already upon him.

He wheeled in time to send another shot crashing
into the brain of the foremost.

Before he could fire again he received a stunning
blow from the butt of a revolver, and sank to the earth
unconscious.

Prairie Paul leaped upon him as he fell.

He bent over his prisoner and made a quick examina-
tion to make sure that he was not hurt seriously.

Then he ordered the prisoner to be carried back to
their camp.

They had in the crooked chase left the camp further

‘behind than they ‘supposed.

Before they reached it they were startled by the
sounds of firing in the direction of the camp, while
shouts were borne faintly to their ears.

The sounds grew fainter yet, ceased, began again,

then became more distinct, although they were not so

loud as at first.

They arrived at the camp.

A dozen men only stood huddled about the fire,
which had been allowed to nearly burn itself out.

The eyes of Prairie Paul swept through the camp,
and rested on the place where his other prisoner, Ber-
tha Hallam, had been left barely half an hour before.

An imprecation burst from his lips, and his blazing
eyes sought the face of one of the men who had been
left to guard the prisoner.

“Birnie!” he exclaimed. ‘Where is the girl?’

The man quailed under the fierce gaze.

But his voice did not falter as he answered:

“She is gone!’’

Etrone |

Yes Capt, Paul”:

“Where ?<how ?”

“T don’t know where.
reckon.”

Prairie Paul—as he will continue to be called, al-
though it is known that such was not his real name—
was silent for a minute, and he seemed to be strangely

She has been rescued, I

 
THE BUFFALO

18

calm—so calm that the men looking into his face
trembled.

“Tell me how it happened?” he said, at last, as
quietly as though his brain were not aflame with a pas-
sion which was too great for utterance.

“First, you know there were only about twenty of
us left in the camp,” said Birnie.

“Well, go on.’

“A few minutes ago we heard a new disturbance out
yonder, just outside of the camp, on. the side next to
the river.

“We had a man posted there as a sentinel. We
heard him yell. “Three of the men here rushed to see
what was the matter.

“They were met with a storm of lead. Two of
them fell,,and the rest of us, standing within the glare
of the camp fire, made a good mark for the ones who

were doing the shooting.

_ . “My first thought was of the danger of losing the
prisoner. But the bullets began to.fly so thick here
that I had to dodge behind a tree.

“The rest of your men here made a dash out after
I heard one of them, as I supposed, call
‘Quick, Birnie, and we have

the enemy.
me by name, and say:
them!’

“The voice sounded like yours, Capt. Paul, and I
never thought of a trick. J ran to see what was up.
I heard running feet, and I followed. I kept on until
I reached the river, and then I came up with the rest
of the men that you see here now.

“They said that they had followed on in just the

same way, expecting each instant to come up with the
enemy-
_ “Then I understood that there was a trick in it all—
that the calls to me had been a decoy, and I rushed
back here as quick as I could. And here | found that
the girl prisoner had been carried off!’

“You weren't knocked down, thrown down, hurt in
any way?’ questioned Prairie Paul, in the same quiet
tone.

“Mihy, ne.-

“What were my orders to you before I left the
camp?’

it wasn’t to leave it, unless actually driven
away.”

_ “And if attacked, and there was danger of the pris-_

oner being liberated, what were you to do?”

“Shoot her instantly. But you see, I thought

“You thought your way was better than that of your
leader ?”” -

“No, not that.’

“That is what it amounted to.”

“But any man would have done the same.”

“No man who knew the meaning of the word dis-
-cipline would have disobeyed me in a single par-
ticular. Did I name any penalty for disobedience?”
NG : om

Pile. SPORES,

“Tt is just as well. Tl name it now. The penalt
is death!”

“No, no!—for God’s sake, not that!” ..

Out flashed a revolver, the hand of Prairie Pat
was raised, the weapon was leveled at Birnie.

Crack!—and up went Birnie’s arms, while a deat!
moan gurgled in his throat.

There was a murmur of fierce disapproval fror
the others in the camp, and there was a movemer
of the men toward their leader—a movement th
was full of threatening.

Prairie Paul whe ecled upon them with an imprec:
tion. This time there was a weapon in each han:
and his eyes seemed ablaze with an unquenchab!
fire.

They feil back, murmuring, but subdued.

The chief of the Prairie Pirates spurned the bod
of Birnie with his foot.

“Take the carcass and throw it into the river! i h
ordered. 2

And. the command was obeyed with an alacrit
that showed him to be the complete master of th
band.

At this juncture Ross opened his eyes, he had r¢
covered consciousness.

He met the gaze of Prairie Paul, the vindictive eye

eeming doubly malignant, framed, as they were, in
es painted like an Indian’s.

“You—you are Thede Travis?” exclaimed Ross.

“Do I look like him?” the other asked, with a fierc
curl of his lips.

“Yes—you look as if you had at last assumed you
proper character—that of a savagel’

The words came quickly and with an unexpecte
boldness from the lips of the prisoner.

“That. sort of remark doesn't trouble me in th
least. I’m not ashamed of my proper character, al
though I may say that it is just what you have bee
the means of making it.”

“So you hold me responsible for making a knave o
you?’

“By always striving to defeat me, you transforme
my whole nature. I became a creature of hatred an
bitterness.”

eH you were worse than a fool at the start!”

“Vou talk in a bolder vein, I reckon, than woul:
be the case if you knew the fate that is in store fo
you.”

At that instant Ross remembered that Bertha Hal
lam was—as he supposed—a prisoner of Capt, Pautl’s

The thought made his heart sink, for it seemed t
him that there could now be no hope for her escape.

“Ah—Bertha— Miss Hallam—w here is, shew in
suddenly exclaimed. S

“She got away, ye know one of the met
started to say, when Prairie Paul savagely cut in:

“Shut up!”

“Escaped |__thank God!” fd =

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THE BU AO

“She will be in my hands dgain within an hour—
perhaps sooner. And she shall see you die the linger-
ing death that I have sworn shall be yours

Ross relapsed into silence.

| The knowledge that Bertha had been rescued made
' him, for the time being, almost indifferent to his own
Fiate.

But he was soon to be brought to a more painful
realization of his almost hopeless situation.

Nay

 
   
  
 

CHAP LR Xx.
PHE TWO BILLS.

The story of the Prairie Pirate, Birnie, whom the

gives an inkling of the ruse which the scouts had em-
ployed in effecting the rescue of Bertha Hallam.
Buffalo Bill and Hickok had entered the timber as

’ the pirates.

' Hallam followed closely, and it was decided that he
| should take charge of the horses at a safe distance from
- the camp, as it would not be prudent to risk the crip-
| pling of Artow by a chance shot.

Too much depended upon having means of rapid
"flight in case of need—a need which was likely to
"| come.

Wild Bill made the first reconnoissance of the camp,
reported the number of men who had been leit on
suard, and the exact location of the prisoner.
| On this report Buffalo Bill based his plan, which
) was simple enough on the surface—that is, if it
_ worked.

4 attempt of the sort full of uncertainties.

| Buffalo Bill engineered the decoy game, and when
' the situation was at its most critical stage he carried
| through the program with a rush.

_ It is already known how it succeeded.

| . The first suspicion that Bertha Hallam had that
i there was an attempt for her rescue under way, she
| found herself deserted by her guard. 3

) Her ankles were bound together securely, but her
| arms were free, as, with such a large number of cap-
| tors, it seemed improbable that she should make any
» attempt at escape on her own part.

* Suddenly some one bent over her in the semi-gloom,
" cut the leathern thong that confined her feet, and lifted
» her in his arms as if she were a feather’s weight.

As he held her firmly in his arms a flash from the
’ camp fire lit up his face.

“Oh, Buffalo Bill!’ she exclaimed, in a tone that
| was scarcely more than a whisper.

' And for an instant her arms, up-thrown, clung
| around his neck.

- . Even in the critical danger of the situation, and the
i call for instant action, Buffalo Bill could not help won-

 

leader had left to guard Bertha Hallam in the camp’

" intended at a point a little below the encampment of

But the conditions were of a kind that made any

Bilin STORES. 19

dering if the demonstration she had made was alk
due to gratitude. And at the same time he recalled

the kiss which she had given him, in the same impul-_ .

sive way, under similar circumstances.

“She is- like a child, I suppose!” he reasoned.

And for the time, at least, he gave the matter no
more thought.

But a little later, when he had rejoined Wild Bill
and her foster father, and arrangements had been made
for taking her back to the wagons which belonged to
the little gold hiffting party, the scout wondered that
she did not ask. about Philip Ross, who had certainly
appeared to think the world of her.

The truth was, he was wondering what had become
of the young man—wondering why he had not come
up with them as they reached the timber.

A hurried dash had been made away from the camp
of the outlaws for immediate safety. Then they had
halted, for a more carefully planned retreat would
have to be made, else there would be a good many
chances of their meeting a strong party of the enemy.

Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill again bestrode Arrow,
while Hallam carried Bertha on the horse with himself.

They did not go far in this way.

“We need more horses, and we must have them,”
said the border king, pulling up short.

“The Prairie Pirates have a good bunch, just on the
edge of the prairie,’ suggested Hickok.

“T was thinking of them. Some of them are in use,
but not all: And a part of them haven't had anybody
on their backs, probably, for a day or two, as they were
led by the mounted party that got here a few hours
ago.”

“Just what we want,” said Hickok,

“Take your pick and stampede the rest.”

“That’s the wrinkle, Cody. And there won't come a
better time than the present for doing it.”

They had not far to go, but Bertha, hearing all that
was said, understood the risks.

“Fave you got to do it, Mr. Cody?” she asked.

“Yes. We can’t get away from big odds in a long
chase with the horses carrying double.”

“Couldn’t your friend—Mr. Hickok uh

“Ruther be called Bill, without the handle!’ brok
in the other scout, gruffly. :

“Wild Bill—is it?”

“That’s it. The name fits, you see, and the ‘mister’
sounds just as it would if you stuck it onto the name
of Sitting Bull, Red Cloud or any of the wild redskins
of the prairies and mountains. I’m as wild as they are,
only in a different style.”

“Very well, then I will call you Wild Bill,” said
Bertha, smiling at the rugged fellow through the
gloom. “I was going to ask if Wild Bill couldn't get
hold of the horses without your help just as well?
Then we could keep together.”

This was addressed to Cody.

Wild Bill laughed.

 

 
20 THE BUFFALO
“She ruther that I be shot trying to get the horses
~ than have you, Cody!” he said.

-— Then, before Buffalo Bill could answer the other
leaped to the ground, adding:

“Tt’s a better scheme than for both of us to go
back, too. I’ll break in on that bunch of horses all
right, and pick out what we want. You take the girl
with you, Bill, for your horse can carry her extra
weight without knowing it, and easier than Hallam’s
can. ae

‘Wait here, but be ready to make a break if you hear
me let out the yelp of a coyote. Don’t worry, but Pil

1

come around all right, horse or no horse!

The plan was a good one, and Buffalo Bill could ob-
ject to it only because he preferred to take all the big-
gest risks himself.

It occurred to him at the same time that, with the
night ahead of them, and with more than sixty des-
perate men, under such a leader as Prairie Paul, sure
of trying to recover the prisoner whom they had just
liberated, there were plenty of risks wherever he
might place himself.

By this time, too, he was concerned” about the non-
appearance of Ross.

“Go ahead and get the horses—yot u know good ones
when you put your eyes on them,” said Buffalo Bill to
the other scout.

Wild Bill glided away in the. darkness.

Cody spoke to Hallam in a low tone:

“Where's Ross?”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking.” :

“Oh! Was Mr. Ross with your” Bertha exclaimed.

Buffalo Bill noticed that she showed interest, but, as
it seemed to him, there was but slight evidence of
anxiety.

He well understood that Ross thought the world of
this girl, but whether or not the great scout was
pleased or disappointed at her apparent indifference, he
probably could not himself have explained.

There was considerable suspense to Buffalo Bill in
waiting for the outcome of Hickok’s raid on the out-
law’s horses.

By this time the rescue of Bertha Hallam must have
been discovered by. them, and the chances were that
they would be more keenly than ever on their guard.

_ This might make it more difficult to capture any of
the horses, or even to stampede them, as planned.

- Asa matter of fact, Wild Bill approached the horses |

just after the return of Prairie Paul to the camp with
his new prisoner.

Hickok knew that there was some new cause of com-
motion in the enemy’s camp, and he approached as
close as he could to listen and observe.

He was a witness of the killing of Birnie by the
leader, and at the same time he discovered that ee
had another prisoner.

BILL STORIES.

CHAPTER XI.

ANOTHER RUSE, AND THE QUEER RESULT. .

As an individual, Bunkum Ben, the bum from Head-
water, might not seem of sufficient importance to merit
the space of even a a of a chapter to record his
adventures.

But he had a part to play which was important to
others, and for that reason he will have to be looked
up again. |

Buffalo Bill had told him to remain in a place where
he had left him, until he—the scout—should return.

In exacting that promise from the bum, Buffalo Bill &

had no expectation of remaining on the other side of : .

the river for a great length of time.

But, being involved | in a complication of adventures, §
the scout hardly thought of Bunkum Ben‘again after |
leaving him, and he would not have taken the trouble
to return under the circumstances if he had.

Ben settled himself down to wait with a patience
which he would never have displayed had he been
required to work steadily for the same length of time

But at last he got tired even of the easy job of lying
still and waiting.

It occurred to him that he may deve been basely
deserted by Buffalo Bill. He was getting hungry;
worse than that, he was thirsty, in the way that water
would not satisfy. |

He would have given his kingdom, such as it was,
for a drink of the beverage that inebriates, whether it
cheers or not.

Bunkum Ben was a born coward, and his cowardice
had been increased by careful and continuous training.

He would not have risked his precious life to save
a whole nation, or the best friends he had ever had
in his career.

But to get some of the stuff that he was thirsting
after he w ould have risked anything.

The more he dwelt. upon the imagined delights of a
swig of liquor, the more it seemed as if he must have
it, by desperate means if necessary.

He had no hope of finding enough of spirits in the
possession of Buffalo Bill to help him much, even if |
he could drink the whole of it at one time. ‘

The scout usually carried some liquor with him for
an emergency, but as he made little or no use of it him
self, he was not the man to do anything toward assuag-
ing the thirst of Bunkum Ben.

But the outlaws—some, if not all of them—would
be pretty sure to have what he wanted.

They had given him a ducking, and treated him §
roughly 1 in other ways, but Ben would forgive all that
if he could work them for the stuff he erived:

Tt was hisadea, first (to try to steal a ble wes
good at that. He had a trick of creeping up on a man
when he was asleep and sliding the flask out of his
pocket.

 
ead: |

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THE BUFFALO

He had a skill in that line that would beat that of
| professional pickpocket in getting pocketbooks.
® He could locate a flask easy, and, having located it,
he would get hold of it somehow. If he got caught at
he trick he was likely to get banged over the head.

‘But the spoil was worth all the risk.

It was getting dark.

He saw that the outlaws on the other side of the
ver had kindled a fire, and he judged that they would

mp for the night.

Wath his mind wholly on the one thing—something

drink—Bunkum Ben crawled down to the boat in

y hich he had crossed the river.
| By this time it was dark enough so that he thought
he might cross, by running down the stream a short
fistance, in comparative safety, so far as the chance

discovery was concerned.
_ He made'’the crossing in safety, ended where he in-
fended, and then crept toward the camp of the outlaws.

But it all took a deal of time.
» Bunkum Ben- was slow, and he was more so than
ver, because of the necessity for caution.

‘By this time many of the events which have been
corded had occurred.

Bunkum Ben heard the firing and other sounds of
ouble in and beyond the camp of the Prairie Pirates.
“But what cared he for the strifes of men? Or for
their hates and loves?

He harbored no hard feelings against anyone. His

ly love was for a well-filled flask, and he plotted no
yorse sin than that of stealing one, and that only be-
fause no easier way of procuring it seemed to be
feasible.

| As he crept close to the camp he nearly ran against
a sentinel whom Prairie Paul had posted after his re-
umm with Ross as his prisoner.

still Bunkum Ben was lucky, and was not seen or
aeard,
_ He skulked around to another side of the camp—
hat next to the river.

There he nearly fell over a man lying—or squatting
—close to the ground.

The man uttered no outcry, but sprang up and
tarted to run.

Bunkum Ben was so astonished that he blundered
‘ight across the path of the other, who fell over him.

The stranger then grappled with Benjamin, found
is throat, gripped it, would have squeezed all the

_ That touched his curiosity, and he thought he would
ary and get a look at the face of the rather limp indi-
vidual whom he was unceremoniously choking to death.

oe was lig! ht ee tOL pie to aia out the ne

BILL SIORIES. 21

“I—TIl let ye live if ye won't raise a howl, Bunkum
Ben!” the man then said, loosening his grip on the
neck of the bum.

“T ain’t a-waitin’ ter howl,” gurgled Ben, “and I
don’t see what call ye had for chokin’ of me when my
throat is dry as a furnace to start with.”

“Talk in a whisper, durn ye, or it’s all day to both
of us,” said the other, who, Ben saw, was made up
as an Indian, and whom he therefore set down as a
member of Prairie Paul’s pirate band.

“What aire ye afraid on?” asked Ben, in a wheezy
whisper.

“TH tell.ye.7 im one of Prairié-Paul’s men, and 7
was left with some of the others to guard his gal
prisoner.

“That Buffaler Bill got eround here a spell ago and
played a trick that fetched a lot of us away from the
Te It was my business to stay right there, with
Birnie and one or two others, and not to git out of
sight of the gal.

“But I was fooled, and come pretty nigh bein’ killed
by Cody to pay for it. He reckons he did kill me. I
ain’t. much hurt though, and was creepin’ back to the
camp, when I happens to see Prairie Paul come back,
and heard him give Birnie the call-down for not
stickin’ to his post.

“Ye see, Cody got the gal away while we was wob-
blin’ round here in the dark on a wild-goose chase.

“Pauk was plug-ugly over the loss of the gal, and
what did he do but shoot Birnie dead right in the
camp. I seed and heered the whole racket, and thinks
I to myself, “I reckon I ain’t goin’ to walk up and take
the same kind of medicine, not if I knows myself.’

“And so I was layin’ here sort of waitin’ for a in-
spiration fer ter do somethin’ when along you comes,
and I jumped at ye, so’s not to be hauled back to the
camp, thinkin’ you was one of the boys.”

“Wall, I ain’t, and I haven’t no notion of givin’ of
ye away. But, Lord, ye made my throat feel wuss
than it did afore. I’m jest chokin’ to death for a drop
of somethin’. And, say, ye ain't got a leetle about yer
clo’es, have ye? jest enough to lubricate the hashness
that’s up and down the whole length of my wizen?”

“To be sure, Ben,” whispered the other, who was
known as Solemn Sam, from the extreme length of
his features, which were seldom relaxed in anything
that approached a smile. 8

“Ve see, I’m sorter in luck on that score. One of
my pards in Paul’s crowd, who was with me a little
spell ago, got plugged with a bullet when he was right
side of me, and dropped close to my feet. I stooped to
see if he was dead, and in feelin’ of him over, I come
across his flask, and durned if it wasn’t plumb full.

“Bein’ as I found he wouldn’t never drink any more -
on’t I took possession. ‘My own bottle happens to be
in pretty fair shape, and so Tm willin’ ie be social with

399

ye.

 

 
22

THE BUFFALO

“Thank ye, thank ye!” ee Bunkum Ben,
eagerly reaching for the coveted flask.

But the other said:

“Jest wait a bit.
Foller me.”

Solemn Sam cautiously glided nearer to the river,

This ain’t no place for a booze.

and then followed the stream for a hundred yards.

They came to a little opening , inclosed by the larg-
est trees that grew in the vicinity. Bunkum Ben fol-
lowed like a hungry dog that had. the promise of a
meaty bone.

Here Solemn Sam halted and shoved the well-filled
flask toward his companion.

Ben seized it and put it to his lips.

But again the other called a halt.

Bunkum fairly groaned in agony of spirit.

Mi tell .ve, 1 wanted to be social,-and ye can’t be
that unless we drink together,” said Solemn Sam, who,
as he spoke, produced his own flask.

“Here’s yer hair all off and dog’s hair on!”
Sam’s toast, and Benjamin drank to it hearty.

After that they didn’t trouble to think of toasts,
either original or otherwise.

It became a race between them, as it seemed, to’see
which should be first to empty his bottle.

They lounged on the ground in all the luxury of
abandonnfent to their vice, neither of them saying
much, partly because their brains were not extra full

of brilliant thoughts and partly because talking inter-
fered with drinking,

At the rate they were putting it down both were
soon in a condition to be forgetful of such trifles as
trouble and danger.

They became inspired with schemes for success and
triumph. Solemn Sam professed indifference for the
authority of Prairie Paul, while Bunkum Ben con-
fided his secret ambition to lead a band of desperadoes
who should defy the military posts all along the fron-
tier, and become the,terror of all the settlements.

He would obtain control of a big slice of the Western
Territories and rule them as a sort of king.

Was

It was a big scheme, and in his present condition ©

Bunkum Ben felt sure of making it work.

And Solemn Sam was to be his prime minister.

In the midst of these wild dreams of grandeur and
power something happened which nipped the whole
plot in the bud. .

After they got to drinking Solemn Sam and Bun-
kum Ben forgot to be cautious.

In fact, they became so puffed up with their sense
of invincibility that they did not care if they met
Prairie Paul and Buffalo Bill face to face.

By twisting the neck of the chief of the Prairie
Pirates they would remove a big stumbling block from
their path to glory.

They bragged, and drank, and blundered around in
_ the thicket with increasing recklessness.

Meanwhile Wild Bill had taken a look at the camp

4

BILL STORIES.

of the outlaws, located the horses carefully, and picked
out the animals he thought would best answer their
purpose. SS

Then he tried the stampede act, and in a trice the
whole bunch of horses were squealing and dashing
helter-skelter out over the prairie.

By this time several of the men, who had been out
scouring the timber in quest of the scouts, rode into
the camp.

Prairie Paul, in a rage at ‘the boldness of the enem y,
whom it seemed impossible to locate, while they seemed
to be everywhere, had no intention of repeating the
blunder which had been made by Birnie and the others
in leaving the camp momentarily deserted.

He was determined that his last prisoner, Ross,
should not have an opportunity to escape. |

He ordered a rush to be made to recover the horses.

Once more he commanded his men to shoot at every
living man whom they should encounter, unless they
were certain that it was a member of their own party.

At first he thought that there must be a considerable
number of the enemy, and he had a mind to blow out 7”
the brains of Ross to make ‘sure of him.

But he had sworn to recover his other prisoner, and

‘to have his lifelong enemy tortured to death in her

sight.
So, while ordering every man of his gang to redou-

ble their efforts to locate and smash the scouts who 4 ;
were playing so much mischief with them, Prairie °°
Paul stayed at the camp to make sure of guarding his

prisoner. (

Indeed, that seemed to be the post of the greatest
danger at the moment.

It was then, when the fierce and almost invincible
leader of the Prairie Pirates grimly stood guard over
Ross, alone in the camp, while his men were rushing |
hither and thither on every side, that Bunkum Ben and
Solemn Sam came reeling within the radius of light
from the fire. (

Bunkum Ben was singing in tone§ like those of a fog |
horn. e

Prairie Paul wheeled and fired at Ben, but missed
him.

And Ben, indifferent to death, lurched so heavily

‘against Paul that both fell to the ground.

aoe succeeded where valor would have surely
failed

CHAPTER: XL:
THE DANGER FROM A DESPERATE MAN.

Had Buffalo Bill been certain that Philip Ross was
in the hands of Prairie Paul, he would hardly have
remained back with Hallam and Bertha while a
went for the horses.

Wild Bill discovered the presence of the prisoner in |
the camp of the outlaws, and it was just like his reck-.

 
THE BUFFALO

essness to push his plan of stampeding the horses
rough in spite of the new complication.
"At the same time he expected, by some bold but
2 as yet unplanned break, to effect the rescue of Ross.
But, to his mind, the important thing was to get
“possession of horses and at the same time to cripple
he enemy for a. pursuit, as far as he was able.
For a single individual, where there were a hundred
shances against success to one for it, he did marvel-
sly well. ‘
He stampeded the horses all right, and got posses-
on of three of the best in the bunch.
Mounted upon one of these, he made a dash toward
the spot where he had left his companions.
He had not counted on any of the mounted out-
aws returning in time to take up the direct pursuit.
He was a little alarmed for the entire success of his
lans, therefore, when he found fully half a dozen
porsemen tearing in pursuit of him like fiends.
' He had intended to run the led horses out to where
| Buffalo Bill could take care of them, and then, while
the border king was getting off with Bertha to a safe
stance, he would return to the camp of the outlaws

4 part of his nature, believed that he would find a way

rush the prisoner out from under the noses of the

Had he had _any man except Prairie Paul. to deal

with, the plan would doubtless have been feasible.

As it was, he found his hands suddenly full with
“the chase that was hot at his heels, with the rifles be-
"ginning to flash and hang along a straggling line that

Was sweeping toward him at a pace that was quite
qual to his own.

It was at this time that Bunkum Ben reeled into

he camp of the outlaws, too drunk to be afraid, too

“blundering to have made a stand-up fight with a ten-
ear-old boy, yet just blind and reckless enough to dare
hat no man in his senses would have dared.

Prairie Paul recognized the man, and his condition.

“Cruel and merciless. as he was, he did not think
pf using the same desperate means against his in-
voluntary assailant that he could have done against one

Mewho knew what he was doing.

‘Therefore, he strove to throw off the weight of the
lurching form of Bunkum Ben by mere strength of

@arm, without resorting to the use of a weapon of any
ind.

Before he could succeed in this attempt Solemn Sam

arrived and took a hand in the game.

On the whole, he was in not quite-so stupid a con-
edition as was his companion. The sight of Prairie

Paul in that predicament, evidently at a disadvantage
for the moment, dulled Sam’s natural fear of the
eader.

It seemed to his befogged brain that here was a

BILL, STORIES. | 23

chance at last to get the upper hand of the one who
had ruled his followers with a will and hand of iron.

Without waiting to figure longer on the case Sam
made a plunge to, the aid of the blindly, clumsily fight-
ing bum.

The next moment Prairie Paul found himself labor-
ing to throw off two assailants who were holding him
down with a total weight which was nearly three times
that of his own.

Then it occurred to the leader of the Prairie Pirates
that there might be something more than a boozy
blunder in the attack, and he set about ridding him-
self of his assailants.

A flash of light from the camp fire showed him the
face of Solemn Sam so distinctly that he recognized
the man.

“You devil!” he grated. “So you are playing the
traitor! That explains how my prisoner got away so
easy. It couldn’t have been if my own men had kept
up to their orders and stuck to their post.”

It is doubtful if either Sam or the bum really under-
stood a word that came from the hard-breathing chief
of the Prairie Pirates.

All they were conscious of was an incréased activity
in the man’s resistance.

Then both fought with a kind of blind desperation.

The hand of Prairie Paul sought and found the
throat of Bunkum Ben, and he sou to choke the
bum into submission.

The hurt served to temporarily lift the mist of 1n-
toxication from the senses of Ben, and his next efforts
had a more definite aim.

At fhe same time Sam felt the prick of a knife,
which Paul had managed to draw from its sheath.

That had a similar sobering effect on him, and, being
well provided with knives and pistols, Solemn Sam
dimly realized that it was up to him to make use of
some of them if he cared to come out of the scrimmage
alive. °

Then Prairie Paul realized that it had become a
fight for his very life. _

“Philip Ross had been lying helplessly bound on the
edge of the opening, just where he had been deposited
when first brought in a prisoner.

The strange fight had begun right at his side, for
Paul had been standing over him at the very moment
that Bunkum Ben had reeled into the camp and lurched
against the outlaw.

The moment that Ross realized that the outlaw
chieftain was in actual danger of defeat, a wild hope
was born in the young man’s breast—a hope of es¢ape.

He knew well enough that the srucete was not
really being made in his behalf; he knew by the appear-
ance that it was all an es drunken blunder; at
the same time he knew that such a blunder might prove
his own salvation.

For the first time he tried his bonds to’ see if he
could loosen. them.

SAE

 

= 2 Seu) a aus en See eee
cesta ain cinta ca seen ee AN A OT =o se

 
24, THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

He had known that it was useless to make such a
trial before, since he would probably have been in-
stantly shot had he so much as gotten an arm free.

_ Now he strained at his bonds with all the despera-
tion that a hope of escape could lend.

He found them less secure than he had’ anticipated.

The thongs were damp and stretched. His hands
were very small and slender, yet remarkably muscular
withal.

In a moment, to his unspeakable delight, he found
that he had slipped one of his hands free.

He had a small pocketknife which had not been
taken away from him, and this he now managed to get
out and open the blade.

To cut the thongs binding his ankles was the work
of an instant.

Then he rose to his
cramped muscles.

As he did so, a hoarse cry burst from the lips of
Prairie Paul.

It was not elicited by physical pain, but the sight of
his mortal enemy free again.

The sight seemed to give him the strength of a
dozen men. The hand on the throat of Bunkum Ben
closed with such terrific force that the bum wilted un-
der the grip.

At the same time Solemn Sam felt the horrid sting
of a knife in his side, and his strength went out of him
all in an instant.

Bunkum Ben and Solemn Sam were cast aside like
two’ dummies, and up sprang the one who, as Thede
Travis, had been the lifelong enemy of Philip Ross.

The latter was unarmed save for the pocketknife
~ with which he had freed his limbs.’ He knew that, in
that condition, he would be no match for the outlaw,
who had for a year or two been trained in desperate
conflicts, and hardened by the wild life of mountain
and plain.

“Tt is death for me to fall into his hands again
now—he would plunge his knife to the hilt in my heart
if it came to a grapple!’

Such was the conviction of Ross. And, with the
consciousness of real danger, rather than of fear, the
young man bounded away from the spot with a des-
perate man at his heels!

feet, slowly expanding his

CHAPTER XUI.
A RACE FOR LIFE,

There were two kinds of a chase going on at about
the same time.

Wild Bill had more than half a score of Prairie
Paul’s mounted men racing after him, and they were
so close that he expected every moment that they
would open fire on him.

The darkness, that made him an indistinct figure
flying before them, was all that withheld their fire.

To confuse them the more, he lay as close as he could

to the back of his horse, and in the gloom he knew

that it must be impossible for the pursuers to distin- 9

guish the mounted horse from the unmounted ones.
Besides, having stampeded the other animals, these
were also running in all directions.

In’consequence of the confusion resulting from these |

conditions the pursuers did not care to do much shoot-

ing which was likely to result in the killing of their |

own horses.
So much Wild Bill figured on as being favorable.

While he had a headlong, and often reckless, way of |

» desis

; el
i tracl
my fron
Mm be a
=

Bi
PW ou
inot

ay

putting things through, which was liable at times to ‘

result to his own disadvantage as well as that of his

friends, yet he was quick enough to see all the chances a

in the game he was playing.

Usually he was far more cautious in behalf of others 9 :

than he was of himself.

So in the present case, when he realized that he had | :

precipitated a chase in which he was likely to be the
loser before it was over, his first thought was that
his own carelessness. must not draw his friends into the
trouble.

“Cody would be willing: to take an even hand with
me in the game, even if he knew it was going against
us,” was his thought. “But he wouldn’t want to draw
the girl and her adopted father into it. I wonder how

I'll get the horses to them and not drag the devils that

are chasing me too close to ’em?’’

There seemed to be only one thing to do.

He had started a. bold play. Now, to make it win,
he must put it through on the same lines.

He spurred on the horse he was riding, and at the 4

same time slapped and yelled at the other horses as if
he had gone insane.

It was a trick that set the horses nearly crazy, and a

what speed there was in them they made use of.
There was a spurt made that incteased his lead over

the pursuers, and as a result he got nearly beyond the | 4

range of their vision in the darkness.

He took advantage of the chance to change his | :
course so as to ride straight for the place where he had

left Buffalo Bill and his companions.
In another moment he swung around to where the
border king was waiting.

“Here ye are with the horses, Cody! Shove the gal
onto this one—it’s the best of the bunch—and [ll drop

onto another. Quick, Billy

Before’ the last injunction was fairly oun of his § i.

mouth Cody was carrying it into execution.

Bertha Hallam could ride in any saddle, or with
none.

She was on the back of the horse from which Wild
Bill had dismounted in a flash.

Hickok sprang upon another, and bent his lips close
to the ear of Buffalo Bill.

“They're after me like blue death!’ he said. “So,
if you would save the gal, ee fi,

“And you?”

 
, sy

THE BUrPALO

© “Till take this other horse and lead ’em off your
Mtrack. When you've had time to get a good distance
from ’em I'll try and shake ’em off my trail. But it’ll
@be a hurry-up game to the finish. Where’ll we meet
im —if we do meet?”

Buffalo Bill named a bend of the river, where they
H would, meet on the morrow, provided that chance did

cir inot throw them together before the hour which he

‘designated.

“But I don’t go far until I’ve made sure that Ross is
isafe—or the other thing!” said Cody, in a low voice.

“T reckon it'll be the other thing!” muttered Wild
Bill.

The thunder of the hoofs of the pursuers now be--

came audible, and Cody wheeled, with a jerk at the
ridle of Bertha’s horse, and a call to Hallam.
“Towards the wagons,’ was his low command.
Arrow led the way. The others—except Wild Bill
'—followed close.
Hickok was off in another direction—one that would
arry him back so as to cross the track in front of his
"pursuers.
_ He kept on until the latter were once more quite

| More by luck than skill,
emptied a saddle.

for he hardly tried, he
Then he yelled his defiance, swung
his rifle aloft, and rode recklessly onward in plain
sight of the pursuing crowd.

| They answered his shouts, but still refrained from
firing.

| It looked as if they counted on taking him alive. In
any case, they tore over the prairie at a pace that was
merciless to the horses, which were already getting

inded by the mad race.

The good judgment of Wild Bill in choosing the
| horses served him well, for it soon appeared that the
one he was riding was the superior of any of those
an the pursuit.

Besides, the animals in the bunch from which he
had made his selection, had not been ridden at all for
more than twenty-four hours, and were, therefore, in
a much fresher condition than were those mounted by
the outlaws.

For this reason Wild Bill soon demonstrated that he
eld the advantage in the race.
But that was not an unmixed gain.
As*soon as it became evident that they could not
utrace him they determined that he should not escape
with his life.
And, outnumbering him so heavily, it gue. a black
‘outlook for the brave scout.
| He thought of it the moment he became sure that
€ was gaining in the race.
| “I won't wait.for them to open the jig, when I
‘Know there’s bound to be one!’’ he muttered.
» Without slackening his pace, he turned in his saddle

st

BILL, STORIES. 25
and sent back two deadly shots at the bunch of pur-
suing horsemen.

One emptied a saddle; the other caused the rider to
reel, nearly fall, and then, whirling his horse and rid-
ing off in a direction at right angles with his former
one, while yell after yell of horrible pain came from
his lips.

The instant Wild Bill had fired these shots he flung —
himself flat on the neck of his horse.

_ None too soon,

A sputter of rifle reports, spurts of flame, and the
whistle of bullets, accompanied by yells of vengeance,
rang in the ears of the scout.

His horse uttered a scream of pain and leaped in
the air, then raced ahead again with a speed much
greater than that he had made before.

“Hit!” muttered Hickok. “And I’ll soon know
whether the hurt is going to tell against the beast or
not !’

He slipped fresh cartridges into his rifle, and rose in
his saddle long enough to shoot again.

But this time the range was longer, and he could
only dimly see the pursuing foe, as the spurt of speed
on the part of the horse he was riding made a decided
gain for him in the race.

He could not see that he had done any damage the
second time he fired.

At that moment his horse stumbled, then dropped
into an unsteady, wobbling trot.

“He’s bleeding, and it’s all over with the race! It
has got to be just a case of pure shoot!’

Even as he spoke the horse stumbled again and
nearly fell. Hickok leaped to the ground, and then the
horse lurched and dropped upon the prairie.

Wild Bill flung himself flat in the prairie grass,
partly shielded by the body of the’ horse, and. waited
for his foes with a pistol in each hand.

It was Wild Bill, the Pistol Prince!

CHARTER Oy:

THE ESCAPE:.OF: ROSS.

Pop—pop, poppety-pop! sounded the revolvers of
Wild Bill as the Prairie Pirates again came in sight,
riding toward him with the fury of a cyclone.

-With both him and the horse flat on the ground, the
pursuers had no suspicion that they were so close to
him until that sheet of deadly flame leaped up at them.

Three saddles were emptied at once, and the sur-
vivors wheeled to flee in a panic, without pausing to
try even a shot at the spot from which the deadly hail
of lead proceeded.

Pop—pop, poppety-pop! barked the little guns as the
enemy was in full flight. And two more saddles were
emptied, although the marksman could hardly see the
trace of anything to shoot at. Indeed, he was shooting
at the yells, rather than at the shadowy forms, which _

 
 

260 THE BUFFALO
might be only unmounted horses for all that he could
tell.

Wild Bill got up and stretched himself, then filled
the empty chambers of his favorite weapons, and
finally started to walk back toward the wagons of the
Hallam party, which had been bound for the camp at
Headwater.

He knew that he had pursued a somewhat circuitous
course in his flight, and he judged that he might be
so very far away from the miners’ camp.

Meanwhile, how fared Philip Ross, who was run-
ning for his life with his deadly enemy, Prairie Paul,
almost at his heels?

Had Ross possessed a single weapon with which to
make a fight he would not have turned his back on the
foe, even though he was aware that the training of
the outlaw probably made the latter the more skilled
in the use of either pistols or knives, if not in the
minor arts of self-defense.

But as it was, Ross knew that he would not stand a
chance of pulling out of such a conflict with his life.

Yet it was intensely galling to his spirit to be run-

ning away from this man over whom he had formerly |

triumphed in more than one match of muscle in
wrestling and boxing. :

Yet there had been another sport in which Ross had
beaten Travis in the days when they were in an acad-
emy together.

_ This was in running.

He now bent all his energies toward again proving
that he was the superior of his old rival in that-accom-
plishment.

He soon proved that he had lost nothing of his
ability asa runner. \

On the other hand, Prairie Paul showed that his ex-
perience in the saddle had been at the expense of speed
with his own legs.

He realized the fact almost at the start, and, while
he was reluctant to give up the luxury of seeing his
enemy suffer a slow death, he decided that he would
have to drop him with a bullet or lose him altogether.

“T’ll cripple him, and so\have him in my power
again!’ he muttered.

Ross was momentarily expecting a shot from his
pursuer after he was sure that he was gaining on the
run.

His wits were lively for a ruse by which he might
get the advantage.

He decided to gain the shelter of the timber out of
which he had been obliged to run to get his start, as
the other had been so close up to him in the beginning.

Now he pretended to stumble, and then to limp,
while he turned toward the timber.

The ruse deceived Prairie Paul, who found himself
gaining slightly on the fugitive.

Believing that he might have the pleasure of recap-
turing his enemy without crippling him with a shot

king.

 

BILL’ STORIES.

before doing so, the leader of the Prairie Pirates ref =
frained from firing. : -
This was what Ross desired. It-enabled him to .*
reach the shelter of the timber, and the instant that hel :
did so he darted ahead again with a tremendous spurt ey:
of speed. , pect |
Crack! barked a weapon in the hand of Prairie Paull, ,
as he realized that he had been tricked, and that his
quarry stood a chance of giving him the slip, after all ee
The shot came close to Ross’ leg. In the next breath os
abou

he was out of his pursuer’s sight, with trees between.@
He could not now run so fast as he had done on thef
open prairie; but he had a better advantage, for he pe
could dodge from one direction to another, and by theff . “1
aid of the shadows and obstructing trees make a mucliff peat
more effective flight. : ‘mat
In five minutes all sounds of pursuit had ceased. Ath “1
the same time he found himself on the bank of theff lege
river. toh
He found one of the boats which had been aban-§ “,
doned by the Prairie Pirates, and getting into it, he
paddled cautiously up the stream close to the bank.
He kept on for fully an hour without interruption.
Then he went ashore, rested briefly, for he had beenfin g
constantly exercising for some time, and then pushed B
through the timber belt, soon emerging on to the <«
open prairie again. said
There he halted and took observations as well as hej you
was able in the uncertain light. 6)
He beheld a number of horsemen riding hither andi frie
thither as if they were searching for something. That Pc
they were members of the outlaw crew he did not
doubt.

Yet he boldly started out across the prairie toward
the place where he judged the wagons were left.

Meanwhile, events were taking a turn which would
bring this train of adventures, which had followed each <«
other so swiftly, to an end.

Buffalo Bill lost very little time in getting Berthay
Hallam back to the wagon camp.

They moved so swiftly that Hallam was unable tof
keep pace with them, and when they came in sight off '
the wagons the older man had been left out of sight, 4
although they knew that he was not very far behind. @

Then for the first time Bertha broke the silence. | |

“Vou have saved me once more, Mr. Cody!’ she .
said, in a low voice. a

“Don’t count Hickok out of it,”

 

fron
@ clew

 

  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 

 

  

© Phi
answered the bordery 5

 
   

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m tom

at he
spurt

Paul

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t his

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reath
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a the
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‘Ss le-@

femy in trying to find you.
feet little mercy unless something is done to get him
out of his trouble.”

is no other than Travis himself.
“i@in a pretty bad fix if he is in that man’s power.”

said,

friend, also?”

 

would have liked never to let go.
jp scout again mounted Arrow, saying:

“T count out no one who deserves to be counted in.”
“How about Mr. Ross?” asked the scout.

“He had nothing to do with my rescue.”

“No.
And I take it that he will

“You think he has fallen into the hands of the
Prairie Pirates:

“Yes. And worse than that, 1 have a suspicion
‘about this same Prairie Paul which didn’t occur to me
before. To break up that crew of Prairie Pirates is
my mission to this vicinity at this time.

“T find that Prairie Paul, under that title, always ap-
pears in some sort of a disguise. He seems to wish to
maintain his real identity a secret.

“T have learned that Thede Travis, a former col-
lege mate of Philip Ross, and a bitter rival and enemy

to him, has been recruiting the Prairie Pirate band.

“A mystery has obscured the real name of the leader
from the first. I have worked on it almost without a
clew. Now I more than half suspect that Prairie Paul
In that case, Philip is

Bertha drew a quick breath. i

“T have heard Mr. Ross speak of that man,’ she
“As you say, if what you suspect is true, then
your friend, Mr, Ross, is in deadly peril.”

“My friend?” repeated Buffalo Bill. “Isn’t he your
“Why, of course. I like Mr. Ross.”

“And is that all, Bertha?”

wnat isvall.”’

“IT am older than you, so you will pardon my ask-

‘ing such a question, especially, as I hope that en count
‘me as your friend.”
each ®

“You—you are my best friend, Buffalo Bill. I don’t

|think anybody else will ever seem—seem nearer than
ryou!”’

Her voice was low and Hernaiee
Just then they arrived at the wagon camp, He Buf-

. Bill took her hand as she sprang to the ground.

_ For a-moment her small hand clung to his, as if she

) “I'm going to see what can be done for your friend,
@ Philip Ross, Bertha.”
Then he rode swiftly away across the prairie.

THE BUFFALO

But he has fallen into the hands of the en--

Then the great —

 

BILL STORIES. 27

CHAPTER XV-
CONCLUSION.

Half an hour after the departure of Buffalo Bill
from the wagon camp he was cutting in and out of the
timber belt in an~effort to dodge the Prairie Pirates,
who seemed to be swarming everywhere, while he was
likewise endeavoring to discover some signs to tell of
the fate of Philip Ross.

“He’s a grand, brave, bright fellow, whether there
is a love-chance for him with Bertha Hallam or not,”
was the thought of the great scout. _

As it happened, there was another searching for
Ross at the same time, even more eagerly than was the
scout,

The eagerness of one was that of the love of one
brave man for another, while the quest of the other
was actuated by the passion of hate.

Prairie Paul, believing that Ross would return to
the open prairie again as soon as he thought his pur-
suer had been thrown off his track, was patrolling the
outer edge of the timber belt, mounted on his best
horse, bent upon the determination to cut off the fugi-
tive.

In his search he observed Buffalo Bill, and with the
assistance of his nightglass, recognized the scout.

“He is the one man in the world I have reason to
fear!’ hissed Prairie Paul.

At the same time there sprang up in his breast a
fierce resolve to wipe this one peril out before the
present opportunity should pass.

Soon after he lost sight of the scout, and the latter
who had also spotted Prairie Paul, had lost sight of
him.

Both rode into the edge of the timber at about the
same time; each intending to get a glimpse of the
other, and to make a dash out at him.

Both with shrewd brains, dauntless courage and un-
yielding wills, thus chanced to maneuver so similarly
that an unexpected thing happened.

Another horseman had entered the timber, and both
the scout and the outlaw leader halted to listen and
observe.

Each dismounted, so as to be able to advance more
noiselessly.

The third horseman passed on toward the river.

Buffalo Bill and Prairie Paul crept es through
the dense shadows.

So they almost stumbled.over each oer
There was an instantaneous mutual recognition.

‘

  
  

. 28

With deadly quickness they closed with each other,
and almost for the first time in his life Buffalo Bull
found a man with the peculiar skill as a wrestler that
could match his own great,
strength. “

To give a description of this singular and thrilling
battle of giants would be almost impossible.

No adequate pen-picture of such a contest would be
possible.

Yet it was speedily proved that the seeming equality
of the two men in strength and agility was only tem-
porary, for the younger man, with great possibilities
in his superb physique, perhaps as great as Buffalo
Bill’s had been at the same age, soon showed. the lack
which only years of experience and hardening could
supply. :

And, in physical training, it was a lack which would
never be made up in the case of Prairie Paul, the chief
of the prairie outlaws.

He was soon thrown to the ground.

Then it became a fight for his life, witl» the over-
powering forces of his adversary pressing him harder
every moment.

Knives were drawn, and Buffalo Bill felt the sting of

the weapon in the hands of his enemy more than once,

although the cuts were comparatively trifling.

On the other hand, the scout was inflicting wound
after wound, séme of them so deep that it was a won-
der that they did not wind up the conflict.

But it was a fight that could not last long.

Suddenly the knife fell from the hands of the chief
of the Prairie Pirates, and the latter Brew limp in the
grasp of the great scout.

Buffalo Bill heard a gurgling gasp, and then Prairie
Paul sank back from the grasp of the victor.

_ “He'll never fight again in this world!’ muttered the
scout as he leaped to his feet, wiped his knife on some
leaves, and returned it to its sheath.

Buffalo Bill struck a light and closly examined the
ghastly features of Prairie Paul.

“There isn’t a doubt of it!—this is Thede Travis,
the life enemy of Phil Ross! What a strange career
for a man with the golden promise that he had in
titel?

Buffalo Bill hastened Bane to the outlaw’s camp. and

soon made sure that Ross was not there.
Then he resumed the search of the prairie, and

was a little later rewarded by coming upon the young -

man, who was crouching in the grass as he approached,

THE BUPEALO BILL STORIES.

perfectly disciplined ©

 

 

waiting to see whether it were a friend or a foe who
was approaching him.

“Good! My boy, do you know what a en it takes
off my heart to find you alive? I had about given yoy
up!” exclaimed the border king, as they clasped hands

It was the handclasp of two strong-souled men,
whose hearts were becoming closer linked in friend,
ship and confidence by the hard and perilous experi.
ences which they were having together.

They rode back to the wagon camp together at
slow pace on Arrow’s back. And they found that
Wild Bill had just arrived ahead of them.

Bertha Hallam greeted Philip with a frank, friendly
pleasure, which was not just what the young man
might have wished.

If he were ever to win this strangely perverse, yel

brave and beautiful girl for a wife, it would not belle

without a good fight for the prize.
Buffalo Bill did not fear any attack on the wagons
now that Prairie Paul had been disposed of.
Without his leadership, there was little chance of
the Prairie Pirates ever again forming so effective al
organization.

It suffices to say that the party reached the camp at
Headwater safely, and that Ross and Hallam’s party
were successful in their mining venture.

Buffalo Bill accompanied them on the rest of the
journey, but other duties would not allow him to re-
main long in the mountain camp.

His next call was to quell more trouble with the red-
skins.

Wild Bill got drawn into the same affair, and he was
not the man to shirk his share of any kind of danger.

We will leave all our friends in the enjoyment of
their present success.

As for Bunkum Ben and Solemn Sam, it need only
be said that the latter was mortally hurt in the reck-
less fight with Prairie Paul, while the bum pulled out
of it with some bad cuts, with more years and many a
booze ahead of him. ‘

THE END.

Next week’s issue, No. 154, will contain “Buffalo
Bill’s River Rovers; or, Redskins and Rangers,” which
is the kind of yarn that won't let you eat or sleep until
you have finished reading it. The muddy Missouri,

a stranded steamer, Indians and: Buffalo Bill, all makeiip
up a combination that will keep the reader guessing tome

the last line of the last chapter.

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Containing the Most Thrilling Adventures of the Celebrated
Government Scout “‘BUFFALO BILL” (Hon. William F. Cody.)

 

 

116—Buffalo Bill and the Prairie Hercules; or, The Spectre Soldier of the Overland.
117—Buffalo Bill and the Doomed Thirteen ;’or, Out on the Silver Trail.
* 118—Buffalo Bill’s Ride for Lite; or, A Hard-Won Victory.
119—Buffalo Bill's Grim Guard; or, The Chinaman in Buckskin.
120——Buffalo_Bill’s Discovery; or, The Mystery of the Gold Treasure
121—Buffalo Bill’s Clean-Up; or, Routing the Rascals of Gold Dust City.
122-—Buffalo Bill’s Pards of the Plains; or, The Dread Shot Four.
123—Buffalo Bill’s Helping Hand: or, The Secret of Kid Glove Kate.
124—-Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Captain Hyena and His Red Angels
125—Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice; or, Waneta, the Indian Queen.
 ~26-——Buffalo Bill’s Red Trail: or, The Unmasking of Captain Hyena.
.127—-Buffalo Bill’s Death-Deal; or, The Wandering Jew of the West.
128—Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The False Guide.
1290—Buffalo Bill at Advance City; or, The Wolves of the Mountains.
130-—Buffalo Bill and the Black Trailers; or, White Coyote, the Renegade Chief.
131—Buffalo Bill’s Dead-Shot Dragon: or, The Man-Killer of Perdition City.
132—Buffalo Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress.
133—Buffalo Bill and Old Buckskin: or, Hugh Harcourt, the Man of Mystery.
134—Buffalo Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperado Dozen. .
135—Buffalo Bill in Arizona; or, The Black Brotherhood.
-136—Buffalo Bill and the Revolver Riders: or. Kent King, the Gambler Guide.
-137—Buffalo Bill in the Black Hills; or, Red Hand, the White Mystery.
138—Buffalo Bill’s Daring; or, The Branded Brotherhood.
139—Buffalo Bill’s Pluck; or, The Mysterious Boy of the West.
140—Buffalo Bill’s Long Chase; or, Grit, the Gambler Sport.
141—Buffalo Bill’s Nerve of Iron; or, The Chief of the Gold Wolves.
142—Buffalo Bill’s Raid of Death; or, The Border Robin Hood.
143—Buffalo Bill’s Triple Duel; or, Red Plume, the Boy Hermit.
144—-Buffalo Bill’s Boy Scout; or, The Phantom Spy of the Prairie.
145—Buffalo Bill’s Feather-Weight; or, Apache Charley, the Indian Athlete.
- 146—Buffalo Bill’s Fire Fighters; or, Darrell, the Drover from Dead Easy.
' 147—Buffalo Bill’s Boy ee: or, New York Ned’s Redskin Trail.
148—Buffalo Bill’s Five “Friendlies”; or, Wally Burt, the War Hawk of Tomaclub.
149—Buffalo Bill’s Banner Play; or, Cripps, the Canyon Centaur.

 

 

All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer,
five cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, pusveaid

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William St. NEW YORK

 

Da

 

 

Beoearessessesasoonscoaoce G0asg0o0eseoeeeoDoCasasqIGOEsS: IBesogesraeasacorqoesseoserers

   
OFASBEH< OE =< BE

  
     

 

 

  

BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY

Contains Biggest and Best Stories of All Descriptions.
A DIFFERENT COMPLETE STORY EACH WEEK.

 

 

 

O€AOAPEAOAVERG<BEROAVEAOABER OA VER O<BEAG ABE HOA BEA OA DEMO DEH O5 PEA O< BEA OAIEHOADO

35—The Life of the School; or, Out for Fun and Fortune. By author of “Bicycle Boys of
Blueville.’’ ;

36—Tom Hamlin, Mesmerist; or, The Boy With the Iron Will. By Matt Royal.

37—-The Puzzle of Panther’s Run; or, Leon Gale’s Triumph. By Frank Earl.

38—A Girl Crusoe; or, The W onder of the Isle of Gnomes. By Cornelius Shea.

39—The Cash Boy; or, From Prison to Fortune. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

40—The Electric Eye; or, Hel a by the X-Rays. By Weldon J. Cobb.

41—The Boy and the Deacon; Enemies for Life. By Harrie Irving Hancock.

42—Louis Stanhope, Hero; or, The Boy Who Disappeared. By John De Morgan.

43—Mat, the Fugitive; or, The Witch Doctor's Prophecy. By John H. Whitson.

_ 44—The Boy Broker; or, Fighting the Financiers. By Paul Rand.

45—Adrift in New York: or, Dodger and Florence Braving the World. By Horatio Dee, Te

46—A Lad of Steel; or, Running Down the Tiger. By Matt Royal. .

47—Which is Which ? or, Winning a Name by Proxy. By Weldon 7 Cobb.

48—A Dashing Fire Laddie; or, The Heroism of Dick Macy. By John De Morgan.

49—The Boy Wonder; or, Dick Gray’s Marvelous Pump. By Matt Royal.

50—Labor’s Young Champion; or, The Great Mill Strike. By the author of “A Lad of
Steel,

51—Into Unknown Lands; or, The Secret of the Boehanied Diamond. By Cornelius Shea.

52—-Two Brave Chums; or, The Outlaws of Blackwater Gap. By the author of “Dick

Hazel, Explorer.”

53——The Crimson Cross; or, The Mystery of His Birth. By Seon Maxwell.

54—Dean Dunham; or, The Waterford Mystery. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

55—Among Russian Nihilists; or, The Great Assassination Plot. By Jacques Simon.

56—The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton. By Oliver Optic.

57—Ned Newton: or, The Fortunes of a New York Bootblack. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

58—The Erie Train Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

59—Paul, the Peddler; or, The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant. By Horatio Alger,
‘dr.

60—The Five-Hundred-Dollar Check; or, Jacob Marlow’s Secret. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

61—Backed by an Unknown; or, Dick Darrell’s Hustle for a Living. By Cornelius Shea.

62—All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake. By Oliver Optic.

63—Phil, the Fiddler; or, The Story of a Young Street Musician. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

64—Dick Halladay’s Pranks; or, Fun at Strykerville Academy. By W. L. James, Jr.

65—Slow and Sure; or, From the Street to the Shop. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

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All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your
newsdealer, five cents per copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William St., NEW YORK

 

 

 

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CONTAINING

 

 

 

2PESL DELS BES

THE MOST UNIQUE AND FASCINATING TALES OF WESTERN ROMANCE

 

 

PES DE

 

®

345—-Diamond Dick at the Circus; or, An Old Friend in a New Game.
346—Diamond Dick at~Coney Island; or, A Warm Proposition Played to a Finish.
347-——Diamond Dick’s Skiplap Pard; or, The Cheerful Waif’s Big Winning.
348—inamond Dick’s Stand-Off; or, The Shotgun Messenger’s Last Trip.
349—Diamond Dick at Fort Piegan; or, Calling an Army Bluff.

350—Diamond Dick’s Makeshift; or, The New Boss at Hold-Over.

351—Diamond Dick’s Golden Spike; ot, Bucking the Track Layers.

352—Diamond Dick’s Schedule; or, The First Train to Dangerfield.
353—Diamond Dick’s Wild West; or, A Fair Field and No Favor.
354—Diamond Dick’s Double-Bill; or, A Hot Turn Between Acts.

355—Diamond Dick's Harewell Performance; or, A Warm Go for the Gate Money.
356—Diamond Dick's Dago Dupes; or, The Bowery Boy and the “‘Has-Been.”
357—Diamond Dick’s Phantom Hand; or, The Mystery of the “Fly-hy-night.”
358—Diamond Dick’s World-Beater; or, The Race for the Hurricane Handicap.
359—Diamond Dick’s Boy Pards; or, The Boarding House Puzzle.
360—Diamond Dick and the Safe-Crackers; or, Two-Spot’s Level Best.
361—Diamond Dick’s Last Call; or, Run Down on the Ferry.

362—Diamond Dick’s Four-Hands-Round; or, A Game ‘of Keeps in the Catskills.
-363—Diamond Dick’s Line-Up; or, The Young Sport’s Banner Play.
364—Diamond Dick’s Web-Foot Pard; or, Queer Work on the Hurricane Deck.
365—Diamond Dick’s Run to Denver; or, Old Sixty’s Last Mix-Up.
366—Diamond Dick Among the Pueblos; or, A Bold Play for a Big Stake.
367—Diamond Dick’s Dark Chase; or, Captured by Flash-Light.
368—Diamond Dick on the Bar-X Range; or, Captain Fan and the Rustlers.
369-—Diamond Dick as a Deputy Sheriff; or, Fighting the Mob at Piute.
370—Diamond Dick’s Pair of Winners; or, Two-Spot and Nixey’s Double-Play.

- 371—Diamond Dick in Old Mexico; or, The Gold-Bugs of Guanajay.
372—Diamond Dick’s Treasure-Trove; or, The Secret of the Great Stone Idol.
2373—Diamond Dick in the Field; or, Handsome Harry’s Peril.

374—Diamond Dick, Jr.’s, New Pard; or, Brick-Top Ben and His Little Joker.
378—Diamond Dick, Jr.’s, Roughest Trail; or, Foiling the Governor’s Foes.
376—Diamond Dick, Jr., and the Black Riders; or, Saved by a Daring Leap.
377—Diamond Dick, Jr.. and the Gamblers; or, Fighting the Poker Sharks.
378—Diamond Dick, Jr., at Three-Ply Tavern; or, More Work for Law and Order.

>

379—Diamond Dick, Jr.’s, Fight with the Flames; or, The Last Struggle with the Blacklegs.

 

 

 

 

 

&

Of>~ BE OS {POE SE DES SBE LE LES SBE PEL GELS BE SS BG BE SS ELS DEL BEL DELS PG

 

All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer. five
cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid.

 

 

 

LER

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William Street, New York.

  
STORIES OF THE REVOLUTION

 

 

Such as you are interested in are
contained in the new

BOYS OF LIBERTY LIBRARY

These books are written by well-Known authors,
published in well bound paper editions, and are

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Historical Stories for Boys on the Market

 

 

_ If you are interested in the early history of our
country, in the stirring times of Washington and
Putnam and Paul Revere, asK your newsdealer
te show you one of these books. They are
stories of boys who lived in the time of the
Revolution and deal with thrilling adventure
and fighting between Red Coats and Continentals.
Fiere are some of the first issves:

f {. Paul Revere and the Boys of Liberty, — - . - By John De ery
| 2. Fighting for Freedom; or, The Birth of the Stars and Stripes, - By Lieut. Lounsberry
f 3. The Young Ambassador; or, Washington's First Triumph,  - — By John De Morgan
) 4. The League of Five; or, Washington's Boy Scouts, - By Commander Post, 6, A. R,
15, The First Shot for Liberty: or, The Minute Men of Massachusetts, By John De Morgan
# 6, Dashing Paul Jones; or, The Hero of the Colonial Navy, = - By Frank Sheridan |

 

 

These books can be purchased for Ten Cents,
from all newsdealers, or from

. Is |
STREET @. SMITH, = ‘ “NEW YORK. 3

 
— = =: =

 
=
ei

SSS S/S i Si i Ss Si Si i Me

Brave and Bold

A Different Complete HANDSOME COLORED
Story Every Week C3 COVERS

 

Your attention is called to the works of HORATIO
ALGER, JR, now appearing in this weekly.

 

 

z ee

LATEST ‘TITLES

-59—Paul, the Peddler; or, The Fortunes of a
Young Street Merchant. By Horatio Alger, Jr.
60—The Five=-Huandred Doflar Check. By Horatio Alger, Je.
61—Backed by an. Unknown; or, Dick Darrell’s
Hastle for a Living. By Cornelius Shea.
62—AlIl Aboard; or, Life on the Lake. By Oliver Optic.
63—Phil, the Fiddler; or, The Young Street
Musician. By Horatio Alger, Jr.
64—Dick Halladay’s Pranks; or, F un at Strykerville
Academy. By W. L. James, Jr.
65—Slow and Sare; or, From the Sidewalk to the
Shop. By Horatio Alger, Jr.

66—Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.
By Oliver Optic.

67—Beyond the Frozen Sens: or, The Land of the :
iY, 1S mies. — By Cornelius Shea. ©

68—The Young aes By Horatio Alger, Jr.

ae ae” Ge ae” ae a al ae Os a ad a ed ed a a a aed ad hy ed ed hed) ed ed ed ae *

zi ae ee
a OT ae Ls i Fn

 

 

To be had from all newsdealers, or sent upon receipt of .
price, by the publishers ‘

Street © Smith, 238 William Street, New York |
SELLEERREEEEEEESELEREEESSEES