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A ,V\fEERLY' PUBLICAT-ION DEVOTED TO BORDER HI 5TORY. issued Weekly. Ry Subscnptiou $2. 5 0 per vear. Entered as Second Class Matter a t New York Pos t Office by S TREET & SMI TH, 238 fVilliam St .. N r No. 80. Pricef Five Cents. 0 DAW$OtifS "' ''HARM O N E HAIR OF THAT BRAVE BOY'S HEAD AND l'l' WILL BE 'l'Hlll LAST ACT OF YOUR COWARDLY LIVES!" CRIED BUFFALO BILL.
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ffiO[b[b, A WEEKLY PU6Ll"CATION DEVOTED TO BO.RDER HI S,TORY hnu Weelly. By Suhscriptum 1,z.50 per year. Enteretf as Seam Matter at the N. JI'. P1ut Ojfiu, by STREET & SMITH, Willia,,. S t ., N. Y. Entered accrdinr to .Act of Conp-ess in the year rqoa, in the Office of the L1'61-arilln of Conrress, Waslzinpon, D. C. No. 80. NEW YORK, N ovember 22, 1902. F i v e Cen ts. BUFFALO tBILL'S SPRE;SHOTS; O R, Buck D a wso n's B i g Draw. By the author of "BUFF ALO BILL" -CHAPTER I. ONLY A BOY "Now, pards, we've got him! Throw !" Half a dozen lassoes thrown with vigor and skill fell about the head and shoulders of a rider passing along a Vil estern trail, and in an instant he was dragged heavjly from his saddle to the ground, while his horse, at tempting to bound away, was also caught in the coil and brought to a sudden halt. Half springing to his feet, the one who was lassoed I gave suddenly three loud, ringing, distinct whistles that could be heard almost a mile away. Were they a signal for help? Or were they intended as a warning of danger? With a bound the men who had cast their lassoes sprung from their hiding-places behind the rocks upon either side of the trail, and in an instant had their prey bound fast. Why, pards, it's only a boy!" cried the leader. "So it is," from the otliers, fialf a dozen in number, gazing at their captive. "Yes, I am a boy, for I am but eighteen, but I am man enough to face your coward gang if I only had my arms free,'" was the plucky response. The men showed their at his nerve and appearance. He was tall, slender, yet wiry in build, while his broad shoulders denoted great strength. Bronzed was his face by exposure, yet every feature was weil molded and characteristic. He was a hand. some youth. His hair was long and waving, and he looked just what he was-a bold adventurer into a wi l d Wes t with a wilder class of men frequenting it, and from which the Indians had not yet been beaten back, and where lawlessness reigned almost supreme. Dressed in a blue woolen shirt, beJ,Jeath his collar a knotted scarf, a pair of corduroy pants stuck in the
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THE BUl"f' A L O BILL tops of high boots, and wearing upon his head a slouch hat, his f!-ppearance was both bold and picturesque. He was with revolvers and bowie; a rifle hung at his saddle horn, and he carried a roll of blank ets, bag of provisions, another of cooking utensils, Sitddle bags well stocked, and a lariat, while he was mounted upon a clean-litnbed, hardy plains pony. His captors, seven in number, were typical' border Their were back down the slope, and they had been lying in wfl,it 011 the trait for some pqrpose, when they saw the youth coming up the towu are a one, kid." "No thanks fer the compliment. I've your seven m,en afraid to blink an eye .or a hand, and you've got me at bay, and are sure of me as I am of some of you, so Jet us strike for a bargain."
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THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES "\Vhat does yer mean?" was left standing alone in the open trail, his horse near "I'll give up the money I told you I had if you'll let him. me go with my outfit." Almost at his feet lay the dead desperado, while now "You've got more than you said." half a dozen revolvers were covering him, and those "I have only got what I told you I had." who held them were under cover of the rocks. "You have got ter let us search yer ?" "Men, I'll keep my eye and gun on the kid, while "I will not." you looks around to find out who fired thet shot," said "Then we don't strike no bargain." the captain, seemingly more anxious to guard his pris"Y ou had better, for you will be the first one I drop oner than to reconnoiter for the one whose aim had if I am forced to pull trigger, and I warn you that I been so unerring. am like a cat, hard to kill, while I know where to send The men looked about them anxiouSiy. a bullet for life, and can take several of you along beThey were not desirous of looking for the unseen fore I go under. So you'd better come to terms." and unknown foe any more than was their leader. These, his fearless words, and bold front fairly dis"I say, cap'n, it's ther one he gave thet signal to," mayed the desperadoes; they did not know just what to suggested one. do. The boy's leveled weapons did not quiver. Firm "Yes, I kinder thought he wasn't alone," the captain as a rook were his hands, and his eyes were upon each rejoined. "Ther shot came from over there in thet one of his foes. thicket, so you men flank around both ways and see 1f The desperado captain saw that there was but one you can get a shot at him." thing to do. Once he had come to terms with the The men slowly prepared to obey. They crept youth, those revolvers down, he wouid act as he along among the rocks upon their hands and knees. pleased. So h e said: This seemed to amuse the youth, for he laughed, as he "All right, boy pard; I'll strike a trade with yer, for said: yer jist beats all I ever seen in a youngster, and I "Better crawl like the snakes you are lest your heads likes yer style. I wouldn't 1'ill such as yer fer a good be seen above the rocks and bushes, and you get an deal, and I'll show how I likes yer by saying thet yer other shot." kine jine our band if yer wishes ter do so." The heads went down at once, the leader crouching "Join a band of cutthroats to save my life? You lowest. But no shot.came,. and he called out: don't know me! I'd rather die honest than live a "Make haste, men; I'll keep this kid under cover -thief and a murderer." and bore him, too, if he makes a move." These bold words greatly angered the men, but the "Better tie him afore we go," suggested one. captain said: "That's so. Jist rope him!" ordered the captain. "Keep quiet, pards, fer every one has a right to his The men all crawled to where the youth stood, the opinions. I said I'd make terms with the kid, and I leader keeping his revolver resting upon a rock and will, fer I agrees to take the cash he has anq let him go leveled at their captive, who now knew well that a with his life and the rest of his outfit. move on his part to resist or to escape would be fatal. "You, Sam, jist step forward and let him pay you The lariats were still about his body With these over the cash." h d heh' h" f the men tied the boy's an s me! him, 1s eet were The man adqressed as Sam did not seem to relish secured, and one lasso was left with the noose about the duty of being collector, but he stepped forward his neek, the other end in the hands of the leader. while the youth called out: Then the five crept among the bushes, while their "You mean square, captain, for its honor among captain, crouching low among the rocks, still kept his thieves, you know." revolver aimed and the iariat in hand to drag him do\.vn "Yes, all is square," and, as the youth lowered his should he attempt to move off. revolvers, each desperado whipped out a weapon and covered him, while Sam called out: "Say, who fired thet shot, young feller?" asked the "I has yer now, young feller." leader. They were Sam's last words, for a sharp report rang "I did not see who fired it, but it was a dead shot, out in the distance, and the desperado dropped dead. wasn't it?" Some unseen friend had chipped in! "Too dead for poor Sam, and for you, too "What have I got to do with it?" CHAPTER III. A LIFE FOR A LIFE. The outlaw band, with the one exception of the man who had dropped undff the unseen shot's deadly aim, sprang to the cover of the rocks, while the youth "You knows who did it. You has a pard, and he is hanging around; but, my men will git him 60on. ''I'll make you a bet that they don't." There was such cool assurance in this wager that the outlaw looked anxiously about him, as if expecting he would be the next target for the unseen dead shot. "I bet a dying man, young fellow."
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' 4 l'Hf, BU ff BILL STORlf:S. "I don't understand." "You is j ist the same as dead." "I'm all right." "Don't yer believe it. for you'll soon have yer toes turned up ." ff\: ou intend to kill me?" "Yes, I does. Out here tber game 1s a life fer a life." "I have taken no life." "Yer pard did, an' es we can't git ther man a clilver at h i s cnir11t4e, and pulled The result the reader knows, and the youth laughed lightly as he saw the other oi1tlaws spring to co-ver.
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q"fff: BUf P' ALO BILL STORIESo 5 But his friend remained in sight and bound, it to him, while he could see that he was under cover of Eeveral revolvers. "I will snake my way around and see if I can get nearer by way of the trail we were on," he muttered, and at once began to retrace his steps to his horse, watching as he went to see if he could get in another shot But the outlaws were al s o on the watch for him, and sudclenly he b e held a man before him in the pines. Instantly his rifle flashed again and the man dropped. But yells were he a rd here and there, shots were fired, bi,11lets came dangerously near to him, and he boimded tQ his horse threw hims e lf i11to his saddle, and was off like a flash, a defiant shout upon his lips, as he knew that neither his hors e nor himself had been touched. Determined to get back t1pon the trail he had been following and approach the spot where his comrade was in trouble from that direction, as he felt that they would not be on the watch for hi111 from that direc tion, he rode swiftly along through the pines to get at the bottom of the range he was on and then follow it up until he came to the trail leading up the slope. To do this he had nearly mile to ride, and was just nearing the plain, by the best way he could pick out, down the slope, when a break in the pines gave him a view that brought him to a sudden standstill. Along the base of the range rocle a well-defined trail, and behind a larger rock crouched three Indians One of them wore a chief's war-bom1et and had a rifle while the other two were braves and were armed with bows and arrows. They were there evidently for some purpo se, and their backs were toward the yoqth, while they were a couple of hundred yards distant. The pine straw had deadened the sound of hoofs, and the youth's presence was not known or their dan ger from the rem suspected. Having moved back until the pines hid himself and horse, should the Indians look around, the boy began to search for the cause of the ambush he ::;aw. He looked out upon the plain, and at once located th
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THE BUFF ALO Bl LL STORIES. another moment he would have sent a fatal bullet upon its flight; but ere he touched the trigg er as firm a hand sent a shot on its way to end his career, for there was a sharp report, a whiz, and a bullet entered the brain of the ambushed chief. In a heap he sank behind the rock, while his two companions, with startled eyes, sprang to their feet and turned to face the foe behind them. As they did so, the youth had his revolver out, and another shot struck one of the braves squarely in the face, just as the other dropped also in his tracks, for the horseman had taken a hand in the fight, also. The youth saw that he had slipped from his saddle, and, by his horse, was standing with his rifle thrown across his saddle He had realized the situa tion with the eye of a perfect plainsman, and, seeing the two braves over the rock, had fired at one as the youth brought down the other. But he still main tained his position. He had foes in front of hi'm, how many he did not know, yet he certainly had a friend also. Who was he, and where was he? The youth saw that a minute of time had wiped out the tri o of Indians, and that the horseman whose life he had saved still stood at bay, watching and waiting, and the cool nerve of the man under tl)e surprise won his admiration. But there was no time to lose, so the youth stepp e d out into view, and with a shout waved his hat while he called out: "vVe got them all, pard !" The horseman at once raised his hat and came for ward, while, going back for his horse, the boy joined him at the foot of the range, and just where the three dead Indians lay. Each gazed at the other fixedly as they met. The horseman was the first to speak, and, str_etching forth his hand, he said in a deep, sonorous voice: "I do not know that we have ever met before, young friend, but we will be firm pards from this day, for I owe you my life beyond a doubt, and I am not one to forget a favor." "l was skipping from some outlaws who held up my pard and have him a prisoner, if they have not killed him, when I saw those redskins lying in ambush, and then caught sight of you off on the plain; so I just waited to chip in where I could do the most good." "And you chipped in just right, young pard; but, let us not hesitate here if you have a friend in trouble." "vVe can save him now, sir, if he is not killed, for I know you from the pictures I have seen of you in the papers." "Ah! And who do you think I am?" asked the man. "W. F. Cody-Buffalo Bill, sir." ".Yes, I am Buffalo Bill," was the modest response. CHAPTER VI. GETTING ACQUAINTED. Tf!e youth had heard of the great scout had read of him, and had made him his ideal of splendid man hood. It had been his dream, his hope, some day to meet the border king in buckskin face to face, and now his with his ideal had begun by his saving his life. "Well, pard, as you know who I am, suppose you tell me who you are, and what brings you out into this wild land, thottgh that you are at home here I have had reason to know," said Buffalo Bill, with a smile as he gazed into the face of the boy, beaming as it w;s with admiration for him. "I can hardlJ. realize my good fortune, sir, in having met you, for I have known of your deeds since I could read." "_Thanks for the compliment, and let me return it by saymg you have begun to make a hero of yourself in great style, for two Indians with as many shots is won derful work for a plainsman even You are a dead shot young man." call us the boy sures hots, sir, my pard and I-111 1 exas, where we live." "That is the State to produce great plainsmen. "My father has a large ranch there, sir and my pard was chief of cowboys on it, young as he is; but then, he is not like ordinary fellows." ot if he is like you; but your friend, you said, was m trouble." "Yes, sir, I stopped to cut up a deer I had shot, while he rode on to find a camp and he ran up o n seven road agents, who held him up." "Ah, we must see to this!" "I heard his signal of danger when he was caught, so I was careful not to be seen, and I shot one fell ow, who was aiming a revolver at my pard. Then the gang came for me, but I gave another a dose of lead and got away. "I came this way to flank them, when I saw your danger." "I see, and halted to save me?" "Yes, sir, though I was a little scared that you might tum out to be an'Other of the band The made no reply, but turned to the Indians, and after looking closely at them, said : "They are Sioux, and this chief I knew as one of my most vindictive foes. Ofteh before he has tried to kill me. "This was at the fort yesterday, and there learned that I was coming this trail, so skipped off to where Black Bonnet, this chief here, was evidently waiting, and the three went into hiding to kill me. There may be more of them about, but I hardly think so. "But, little pard, we must be off. We will now put
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'l"HE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 7 them on the top of yonder rock, and not wait to bury either side of the trail, knew that he c>uld get near them. They will be safe there1 from the coyotes, and to them unseen unless they had a sentinel on the watch. a few logs or stor:ies and pine straw will hide them Knowing the trail well, Buffalo Bill was sure of the from the vultures. spot of the hold-up, the very place Qr the coach to "But you have not yet told me your name." be halted by men in ambush. "Leonard Ashley, sir, and my friend's name is Har-Leaving his horse over the ridge, the alert scout ad.: old Hart." vanced with the noiseless step of an Indian through "Then, Master Leonard Ashley, we will go and see the pines for some distance. He then halted, for what we can do to help your pard." voices came to his ears. With this the bodies of the Indians were put upon "They are there, and that boy is indeed in dire the top of a boulder out of reach of the coyotes, and danger. No delay now!" s ome logs were placed over them, after they had been "I am not afraid to die, only do not hang me, but covered with the pine droppings. shoot me instead, for I know now that you intend to This clone, the scout and the youth remounted and kill me was what the scout distinctly heard uttered rode along the ba s e of the range until they came to by the brave lad. the stage trail leading over it. "He shall be saved, be the risk what it may," was "They are over the range, eh, on this trail, are the instant resolve of the dauntless plainsman. they?" He dashed back through the pines, mounted his "Yes, sir, or were." horse, and rode at a gallop over the pine straw until "They are there yet, for I know just what they are he came within a short distance of where the Desperawaiting for." does of the Overland, i1iclden by the boulders, were "What is that, sir?" about to commit a foul crime. "The Overland coach passes here an hour before They had robbed the youth of his money, had taken sunset." his weapons from him, and, with a lariat noose about "I expect that is it." his neck, were proceeding to hang him. "I know it is, and having plenty of time, for it A tree was near with a limb that stretohed far out will not be along for an hour yet, they first roped in over the trail. Over this one end of the lasso had your pard to rob him, and perhaps to kill him, if he been thrown, and it had been pulled taut, while four did not pan out rich." men held it, awaiting the leader's command. "He had nearly a hundred dollars of his own, sir, / The boy's hands had been bound behind him, his and a large roll of money for a rrian in the mines, to feet were also tied, and he 'stood with pale face await whom he was carrying it, so that he might return ing his end, yet he did not show a quiver of fear as he home, for the miner has been ill and unlucky out here. looked upon his merciless foes. "Then he had my money, also; and that amounted There lay th e man his young pard had killed, and to several hundred more." seated upon a rock supporting his aching head, which "The outlaws will get a rich haul from him, then, if was bound up, was the one who had been wounded. we do not thwart them. The outlaw leader stood before Harold with tri"Wait here while I go on ahead, but he ready to umphant face; and the four men who were detailed as come on at my command, for they must think I have executioners were ready for the word to swing their a strong support." Yictim into mid-air. "I understand, sir. Give the signal or call and I'll The stage would not be along for some hours, so answer, and make them believe there are more than they had plenty of time for the "fun," as they deemed one corning to your aid." it. "That is just it," and Buffalo Bill rode up the trail Upon the lad's coat, on the ground, lay the money to find the road agents. taken from him, with his belt of arms aria all-e1se CHAPTER VII. A SURPRISE. Buffalo Bill dismounted before gaining the top of the ridge. At its base, several hundred yards away, was Leon ard Ashley awaiting to see him ever out (')f sight, when he Wl'&uld ride up to the place the scout then was I . I pa.ssmg. The outlaws, if still where they had held up Harold Hart, were but a short di!;tance from the top of the range, and the sco t, with tl:e pines and boulders on valuable, awaiting division after the hanging. "Say, men, I have done you no wrong; you have robbed me of all I possess, and money that is no_t mine, so why hang me?" said the youth, and there was no entreaty in his voice, only reproach. "You lied to us abut the mney you had, and your pard killed Sam tl\ere and weuncled Ben right bad, so yciu have ter answer fer hi.!'I wrk," WM the unfeeling re!'lponse of the outlaw leatler. "I do not want to die, though I will n(')t be a if I have to; but I came out here on a mission of great importance to me, to save a man's honor, perhaps his
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8 I Uff'ALO BILL STORIES. life, and you will do no good by killing me, so let me go on my way. Moneyless though I will be, I can do some good." "Not you, for you are too dangerous to turn loose and thus put tli.e Government trailers upon our tracks. No! Yer has ter die, and that is all there is about it, so git yer prayers said mighty quick, fer we won't be mean enough ter hang yer and not let yer pray." "To pray in the presence of such as you would be blasphemy No! My heart is open to my Maker, and I will die with hope of a hereafter, but I will utter no appeal to Heaven to be greeted with jeers from you! So, do your worst, for I am ready to meet my fate!" Did not this pluck of the boy win their admiration, or his fearle ss face and lone, helpless position touch the!r heart s ? Not so! Such brutes in human guise had heart s callous to all mercy. They would keep their threat and hang him. "Up with him, boys and--" "Harm one hair of that 11rave boy's head and by Heaven it will be the last act of your coward lives!" The words were uttered stern and threatening, and the men who had draj!Q"ed the youth off his feet let go the lariat and turned to find that a horseman had spurred i1:to their midst and had them cO\ered with a reYoh-er in e:ich hand. CHAPTER VIII. AT THE REVOLVER'S MUZZLE. "Buffalo Bill!" The name broke from the lips of the outla;, r leader, and it was eachoed by his five followers. Every eye was upon him, and not a man of the six dared make a moYe to draw a revoiver. The scout had ridden right up to the group of rocks unseen. had drawn his revol vers and spurred his hor se into the open space, halted sudde nly and faced the six road agents. A swoop of Indians would not h ave startled them as this s udd en appearance o f the great borderman. Of course he was not alone. His followers must be near: perhaps even then held them under cover of their rifles. Even a man of Buffalo Bill's great daring would not risk the odds of six to one agains t him, so mu t have a force at his call. So they sto o d helpless from sheet fright. The youth had dropped to the ground, but, bound as he was had risen to his feet again. There he stood, his eyes not upon his foes, but riv eted upon the scout., The color had surged back into his face as he saw before him the man of whom he had heard sinc e his boyhood. Harold Hart beheld him in all his splendor of true courage-a single man confronting six desperadoes, and for his sake! Breathing hard with suppressed excitement, the boy, a monient before upon the very brink of a terrible death, gazed it1 awe and wonder, and waited the out come of Buffalo Bill's intrepid act. His revolvers were ready for the trigger touch, and his eyes seemed to be looking upon each man before him. They were now grouped close together, and a rapid shower of bullets into their midst would do deadly work. They did not speak; they waited for the scout to do that. In a moment came the order : "One of you cut the bonds off of that youth, but if another of you moves a finger it will be the last act of his life." The ruffians stood silent and motionless: not one of them moved to obey. They saw not only the loss of the boy to them, an_
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THE BUFFALO BILL ST( )RIES. 9 CHAPTER IX. WELL MET. The youth was set free with no gentle hand by the mad dened road ruffians. "Did they rob you, young pard ?" asked the scout. "'{es, sir; of all I had." "That is your money with those other things there?" "Yes, sir." "Take it, and see if you have all. If not I will search these fellows myself." "They did not have time to hide anything, sir, so all is here." "It is well for them that it is. Is that your horse?" "Yes, sir." "Buckle on your belt and arms, then mount ):'Our horse and go with me. No, Doc, I do not want your company now. I have no time to run you all in to the fort. I shall let you off this time with the warning .. that I have my eye upon you and every one of your gang, so beware! "Hands up, all of you!" The men did not move. "Hands up, or I'll mark the man for life who re fuses!" Up went the hands of eyery one of the now infuri-ated gang. They caught a glance of their leader's bleeding ear. "Now, then, turn your backs and stand in line." The men sullenly but promptly obeyed. "Young pa rd, pass along behind that gang and gather up their be1ts of weapons lying there." The youth did so; every belt was secured. "Doc Driggs, as I sa id I shall let you go free now, and you find your weapons in the trail, a quarter of a mile on. "Send only one of your men after them and while waiting bury your dead companion there; then go your way. Only remember I am watching you in the inture." "Thanks for nothin'," growled the disgusted leader. The weapons were swung upon the horn of the scout's saddle, and, leaving the men standing in line with their hands up, Buffalo Bill added: "Now, boy pard, my way lies westward, so come with me if that is the way your trail goes." "Yes, sir; but I have a whom I must first find. He did not desert me, and I am not going leave him i n trouble." "Well said; but I can take you to your comrade." "You have met him, then, sir?" eagerly asked the youth. 1 "Yes; when we start on our way we will find him not far ahead, for he ha s flanked this spot, and had his guns ready for work this crew." "That's good news, sir, and I owe even more to you than I thought!" Buffalo Bill now turned into the trail just where the horses of the outlaws were hidden in the pines. He regarded these animals closely, then looked back at their riders, now grouped together a couple of hun dred away, and called out: "You are horse thieves, I see, as well as road agents, for I recognize a Government horse here, so &hall take him along." "Go on, Buffalo Bill, if you think thar is nothing to stop yer; but my time will come some day!" yelled Doc Driggs, savagely. "The sooner t!1e better; but I take this bay with the U. S. brand upon him," and throwing off the sad dle and bridle from the fine cavalry horse he had recognized as having been stolen from the fort, the scout led him by his stake rope and continued on the trail just as Leonard Ashley rode up. The hands 0 the two youths were clasped in the warmest greeting, while Leonard said: I owe it to this gentleman, Harold, that they did not hang me; but whom do you think he is?' "I know, for we met an hour ago and got ac quainted." "Modestly put, boy pard; but let me tell your friend that he saved my life, and his telling me of his comrade in trouble sent me to your rescue. "Now, we will leave thefr weapons here, and then ride on our way, for there is work for all three of us ahead." CHAPTER X. THE SCOUT'S FLANK MOVEMENT. The weapons of the outlaws were dropped in the trail; then the scout and the sure-shots rode on, the former remarking : "There is a valley just ahead, and the desperadoes will watch lo see if we cross it." "Do you think they will follow us, sir?" asked Harold. "Oh, no. They will not leave their place of am bush, but remain to hold up the coach, as they think we know nothing of their real game." "But can't we prevent that, sir?" asked Harold. "It is just what I intend to do with your aid." "Count on us sir." "Yes. indeed, for we will be only too glad to help you best that gang, sir, and we are not fearful of the odds when you lead us, Mr. Cody." "Two to one are not such big odds, boys, if one is in the right," answered the scout, and then he continued:. "I'll tell you how we'll do it." The two boys were all attention, and the scout went on: "Once we have ente r ed t he timber across the vallet we can ri d e for it at fnll spf'ed. It will be a ride of ten miles, and at a clipping pace, but we inust do it
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1 0 THE BUFF l\LO BI L L STOR IES. to head the valley and get back on the stage yond the riclg-e, and be time to catch the coach, if it is on time." "You will warn the driver and turn him back?" sugg-ested Leonard. "Not 1nuch! For we don'tturn back out in this country, in a good or bad cause, as you will learn when you have been here a while." -.. "Then you will ride on to guard fhe coach as : they often do in Texas?" suggested Harold., "We will not ride on our h
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\fHE BUfFALO BILL STORIES. 11 "My pard, Death Grip, here, that's all. "! fetched him to kinder help me out, for he's my good luck, as when he s along I generally through." "I believe that is so." "It is." "I sets a heap of store by that dog, Pard Bill." I know that you do, Buck. "But I have news for you "Good oi: bad?" "About even ." "Road agents were about, and you found 'em?" "I was r i d ing into an ambush Black Bonnet set for me, "\.vhen this youn.g man here saved my life, and his pard ha ving been corralled by seven outlaws we got him out of trouble." "Toes were turned up?" "One man was kiHed by this youth, another wounded by h i m also, and I had to bore a hole in Doc Driggs' left ear, so that was all the blood spilled "Vlei! I'm glad you found 'em, fer that saves me. "But who is the kids?" "Two y oung pards that are out here for reasons they hav e n o t told me; hut they are game, and are in the game w ith me to help you through." "Then there is trouble ahead?" "Doc Driggs and five of his men are lying in wait for you over the next range across the plain, two miles from here." "That is bad." "Not if you take me and my two young pards here for passengers." "Now, I see how it goes. "You swung around to head me off, and I guess five of us can wipe out six." "What five?" "You, me the kids and Death Grip." "Ah, yes; your dog counts as one every time." A nd the kids look in it to stay." "You can count on them every time." "Going to leave your horses here?" "I will put them in a camp a half mile ahead before we go over the range, and come back and get them when it is all over." "That's so." "Going in s ide, Pard Bill?" "Oh, yes ." "I'll let Death Grip go in with you, for he might git a bullet first thing up here." "True; and you, Buck?" "I'm paid ter take chances; ther dog ain't. "He runs with me fer friendship's sake." "A strong claim, Buck. "But let us move on and have it over with before sun s et." "Right you are. "I'm ready." The scout rode ahead of the coach, the youths fol lowed, and at t.he foot of the slope they crossed a stream. Up this a short distance was a camping-place, and here the horses were unsaddled and staked out to rest and feed. Then the scout and his two young pards jumped int o the coach, and, leaping down from the box at a word from the driver, Death Grip joined them, tak ing a front seat. Savage as he was, he made friends at once, seeing that the youths were his master s friends. "Jog along across the plain after crossing the slope, Buck, for they will be on the watch for you, and the ambush is at the group of boulders over the ridge." I know the place, Pard Bill, for I have been cor ralled right thar before." "I know that you have. "When they halt you, draw rein at once, for they are in an ugly mood, and would shoot quick. "Have your gun ready, for we will lay low until they are sure you have no passengers and approacQ. the coach. "I will go out one side with one of my boy and the other with Death Grip out of the other, and I think we can make it lively for Doc Driggs and his gang for a couple of minutes at least." "The sarpint I'm sart'i1 we can. "N'ow we'll push on," and the coach rolled on its way to meet what lay in its trail for good or bad. CHAPTER XII. LYING IN WAIT. That Buffalo Bill had known just what Doc Driggs and his followers would do was proven by the fact that they did watch him until he had disappeared from sight with the two boys and the horse he had taken from them. Their first duty was to get their weapons which he had left in tJie trail, and then having seen them cross the valley and disappear in the timber over on the ridge Doc Driggs said: "Pards, they ha v e gone. "Bad luck to em!" "The scout is on some duty as courier, I guesses. or he'd a tuk us in when he had us foul." "I guesses so." "Jist ter think, he held us up all alone." "Six of us." "Yes, but he had help." "T'other boy, the fellow as kilt Sam and must hev met Buffalo Bill." "Yes, but he didn't show up, thet boy didn't, at first." "'0,T ell, he needn t to, fer we was that scared we thought the scouts were a.Jon g with ther chief." "Thet's a bold game Buffalo Bill has of playing."
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12 THE BU ff J\LO BILL STORl?:S. -"Oh, yes, but he's played it once too often for me," growled Doc Driggs, who had been listening in no good humor to the comments of his men. "I hopes he has, cap'n. :Sut it ane lucky for us he didn't think of ther coach coming along and wait until it had." "Yes, for we'll git that anyhow, and from all I have heard it carries big money this trip." "We hopes so." "If it. wasn't ter git this coach we'd push right on after Buffalo Bill and them two kids, and have it out, for we is two to one ag'in' 'em." "Yes, cap'n, we is, only its Buffa.lo Bill, and I wants more odds than two to one when I goes for his scalp." "vVe could git him all right if we faced the music, and you bet we'd avenge poor Sam." "I hope we will some day, cap'n." "We must, for he knows us all now, does Buffalo I3iil, and you bet we have got ter down him if we wants ter strike it rich from stage coaches, and yer all knows them is a mine as pans -out big at times, pard." "So it does; but we has got ter lay low in camps now, or he'll light down onter us, and no mistake, when we are least expecting." "Yes, that's what w e'll do. HI wish we'd been masked.'" "What fer,, cap'n ?" "So he wouldn't hev se&11 our faces." "Lardy, that are funny, cap'n, for he'd a yanked our masks off as he did our weepons." The "captain" swore at this, and said: "Come, we'll go back and bt.1ry Sam, and then lay for thet coach; but I wants my ear fixed up, fer it hurts." "I guesses so, for ther hole are clean cut through it," and the men gazed upon their leader with commisera tion, at having to wear "Buffalo Bill's mark," as they called it. They soon returhed to the piace of ambush, and the chief, after having his wounded ear cared for, sent a man to watch that the scout did not come back over the trail to surprise them, and another to guard the plain for the coming coach. The others then dug a grave for their dead com panion, and he was decently buried, with a few words that Doc Driggs remembered of the burial service, though it seemed a mockery uttered by such vile lips as his. Rocks were then put upon the grave, the guard that was watching for the return of Buffalo Bill was called in, and no longer had they any fear from that quarter. The guard watching for the coming coach was, however, kept on post, for from his point of observa tion he was able to see it ovei a mile away, when it came into view on the plain. He had a glass to observe it with, and if there was seen to be a cavalry escort along they knew that they would have to light out very suddenly to save tliemselves. 1 But they had little fear of this, as the coaches se!dom were escorted hy soldiers. It was therefore without much dread that the out laws went again into ambush for their prey. If the coach was not gmirded they felt that they were all right. If it was they would have to skip into hiding and bear their disappointment as best they could. They were in no pleasant humor at the lo s s of one of their number, their recognition as a lawless lot by Buffalo Bill, who had cowed them into submi s sion sin gle handed, and taken from them their prisoner, and who was to satiate their vengeful feelings, v.ihile in losing him they had also to give up what, money they had taken from him. But they had seen Buffal o Bill and the two bo y s dis appear, had placed their comrade t,mderground, and had hope that the coach would pan out so well for them as to be a salve for their misfortunes thus far. With this belief they aw a ited the coming of Buck Dawson's stage, the fact that he might have pas sen gers playing no part with them, as they all knew how iittle it took to subdue men when under cover of a surprise and a revolver. At last came the sentinel with his report, and the word was given: "Ther coach is a-comi11g, cap 'n." CHAPTER XIII. THE ATTACK. Buck Daws on drove leisurely up the trail to the top of the rid ge, his face in no w a y shO\ving that he w a s in the very face of death. I Sometimes the road agents were wont to halt a coach by shooting the two horses in the lead. Then it was done by killing the driver without a word of warning to halt. \. Again a volley would be turned upon the driver and coach with no regard as to who might suffei. All this did Buck Dawson know, yet he did not flinch. If he was ;;hot from his box without warning, he would die in the discharge of his duty. What man could die more honorably? The bot1lders were beyond his leaders only a distance, the revolver he intended to use Jay by him upon the sat, and he held his reins well .in hand. It seemed that he "V.{lS driving along careless and st i spicious of danger. Instead, however, he was painfully on the alert. The leaders had rea-ched the rocks, then the spot where Harold Hart had been la ss oed. Had the outlaws taken their departure?
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1'HE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. 13 Another step answered the question, for loud came had not hesitated an instant, but bounded away among the the rocks like deer, straight for their horses. "Halt, and hands np, if you love life, Buck Daw-The way they took shielded them from the rifles of son!" Buffalo Bill and the boys, though Buck Dawson got a The fo o t of the driver was put hard upon the brake, shot at the one in the rear and sent a bullet through and the team was reined to a standstill. his arm, causing only a slight flesh wound, however . Then the hands of Buck Dawson went up above his The man gave a yell of pain as he bounded forhead. ward, and then glancing behind him he uttered a cry "What does yer want, yer thieving he of mortal terror. growled forth. What caused it was the sight of the huge dog upon Yo u knmvs," answered a voice from the rocks his track. Still no one appeared The same glance had also shown him a tal.l form "Yer'll g o as light in pockets as yer is in head if yer leaping from the c0ach which he knew but too well, e x p e ct s t e r git m o n e y from this coach on this run," and he shouted: he s aid. "It's Buffalo Bill, cap'n !" "Yer lies, Bu c k Da\1\'Son, and yer knows it, for we This name gave wings to the feet of the outlaw ain t n o foo ls n o t ter be po s ted jeader and the man running. by his side. "Search the old hear se. then, and me, too, if you He' knew just what to expect. don t b eliev e me, for I t ell yer agin' yer git nothing." He did n o t glance behind, but he heard a loud bark, "I intend s to s e a rch the c o ach and y ou, too, and an
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14 THE BU ff J\LO BILL STORIES. were able to reach their horses, throw themselves into their saddles, and clash away in the pines, followed by a few shots at long range from the boy parcls, who saw too late their mistake: In the meanwhile Buffalo Bill could not make Death Grip release his hold upon the shoulder of the writh. ing, fright-dazed man, who was pleading pitifully: "Take him off! Take him off! "I surrender! Don't let him kill me!" The scout
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t'HE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. Suddenly his face lighted up and he said: "I. has it now who yer favors. "Say, Pard Bill, does yer know thet mail rider for the Of mountain fr1ining camps thet disappeared so sudc!en, and all said he ran off with the mail bags 'cause they had so much r noney in 'em?" "Yes, I remember the man they called the Midnight Mail Rider, because he always rode his run by night, if he is the one yott refer to." "He is, and his name was Hart." "Yes, and he always had a dog with him that he Scout, and that there Death Grip is ther brother of thet same dog, Jor. he two of 'em as like as two guns, and would take one 911 one ride, t'other on the next, and so on, and he did ther same with his ponies." "Yes, I remember the man well, but I never believed that he was guilty of robbing the mail, for he did not seem that kind of a fellow." "You are right, Pa.rd Bill, he didn't, and he wasn't, fer I know'd him well and more than once he saved me and my coach from ther r:oad agents. "Hart were a square man clean through, and it were him that this young feller is ther living picter of." "You are right, Buck, the youth is strangely like the Midnight Mail Rider," replied Buffalo Bill, gaz ing at the youth. The face of Harold Hart had flushed and paled by turns, as he heard what the "driver had said. His cotnracle had glanced at him and said some thing in a low t o ne which neither the driver nor Buffalo Bill had caught. Now the youth asked with some degree of excitement: "What did you say his name was?" "Hart is what he called himselt, though out here, boy pa.rd, a man don't go under ther name he did East, exceptin' in mighty rare cases, but I thinks it were his real name." "\Vhen did you see him last, sir?" "Three year ago." "Where?" "He was ther mail rider of the mountain mining camps, and had run of fifty miles which he took twice a week each way." "Is he not riding now?" "No, for he hev been missing fer three year." "Missing ?'f . "vVell, I calls it so, for somehow I canit believe he is dead, any more than I can that he robbed ther mail." "He was accused of robbing the mail, then?" "Yes, there are them as says he got big money out of ther bags and skipped." "Three years ago?" "About thet." "And he had not been seen since?" "No.'' "YOU do not believe he is dead?" "I does not. "What has become of him, in your opinion, sir?" "I thinks the Indians capt11red him and holds him a captive, or maybe the wad agents, and then ag-ain he might have been kilt by one or t'other." "Did they have n9 proof of his bein& alive or aead ?" "I:Iis horse came in one afternoon, jist as a band was going out to search for liim, for he was clue at daybreak. "The1 horse seemed beat, and there was blood on th er saddle." .... .. "Ah!" "Then his clog was missing also, the twin to Death Grip here, and ther mail bags was gone, and that is all we have ever know'd of tl;i.er fate of poor Hart, ther Midnight Mail Rider." . Buffalo Bill was watching the youth as he ques tioned the driver, and he saw more in all that was asked and answered than did Buck Dawson. The scout felt sure that the youth kflew the man whom all knew as the :Midnight Mail Rider. He recalled nQ>\T. the ;;tory of the missing man. How he had been a miner, but an unfortunate one in striking paying dirt, and had volunteered to ride the mail >vhen big money had been offered to carry the bags through the run of the mining camps, a ride was considered an almost fatal one, sooner or later. The scout recalled also that the mail rider had been famous as the possessor of t.>yo splendid horses and a couple of large, savage clogs, one or the other of which went with him on each ride. Then he had suddenly disappeared, and it was said by many "that he had skipped off with the mail, was most valuable on that last ride. So Buffalo Bill was not surprised when the youth said. "Hart is my name, and I feel sure that the one you speak of is my father." CHAPTER XVI. THE SURE-SHOT BOYS' MISSION. The words of Harold Hart caused Buck Dawson to toward him, and grasping his hand, he cried : "YOU is right! "Now I knows yer, fer you is ther image 0 yer father, and I can swear yer is the son of ther Midnight Mail Rider. "Boy, I is yer friend fer yer father's sake, for I loved him as I did a brother." Harold Hart was touched by the earnest manner and kind words of the stage driver, and replied: "We will be friends, sir, and let me tell )'.OU now, as I intended to tell Mr. Cody here when we camped, that I came out here to find m,r father.''
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1'HE BU Ff ALO BILL STORIES. "And I came to be his friend, come what might," said Leonard Ashley. "And a true, good friend he has been, for he le.ft a comfortable home and those dear to h i m to come with me. "Once my father was a rich man, a Texas planter, but he was robbed of his wealth and had to take me from college, wh1Ie he accepted a positi o n as chief herder on the ranch of the father of mi friend here. "It was not long after before a murder was com mitted, the victim being the man who had ruined my father. "Circumstantial evidence pointed to my father as being the murderer, as he was arrested tried, found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. "Len, my pard here, and I aided him to escape from prison, boys though we were, and I was given my father's position on the Ashley ranch. "But I was confident of the inn o cence of my father, and I set to work fo pro v e him not guilty. 1 ,"Two months ago I did so, and then I decided when the real murderer was known and my father's inno cence proven, to set out and find him, to clear his name of the stain upon it. "I had only heard from him once each year, for he feared to write me, and the la s t letter : came from these mountain mines. "So here I decided to come and Len Ashley came with me. "But now s ou tell me that my father has another cloud cast upon his name, that he is not here, and may be dead. "No, no, there is no dish onor upon him, though he may be dead." The boy's voice quivered as he spoke, and both Buf falo Bill and Buck Dawson held out their hands and grasped his in warm sympathy. At this the boy raised his head and sai d earnestly: "Yes, dead he may be, but he is no mail robber, no fugitive with stolen booty "But, I sw ear to you both 'that, dead o r alive I shall find him, know the truth, and clea r his name o f this last charge, a s I did of the one of murder." Bravo my bo y and mark my w o rd s y o u will do it, for you have it in you to do s o," cri e d Buffalo Bill, and then he quickly added : "And Jet me sa y r ight n o w that I will help you to find your father or know what his fate has been I want two jus t s uch pards as yo u are b oy s th o u g h you may be in ye a rs, and I will call y o u my boy sure shots, and we travel the same trail, for yours is a noble mission, Harold Hart, and I have seen you both tried and found true." "Thet's ther mu s ic ter si n g, Pard B ill, and I'll be with you in your hunt, s o c all o n me for m y s t e el, lead or g o ld, as y o u m a y need it B uc k Daws on said Both Harold Hart and Leonard Ashley were much pleased at the words of Buffalo Bill and Buck Dawson, for that the latter was the scout's friend and had been the firm pard of the mail rider, as Mr. Hart had be come, was enough recommendation for the two l?ds. "Well, boy pards, does you go on with me ter the fort, or will yer remain with Chief o f Scouts Cody, for it is getting late, and I l:ias ter drive pretty fp.sfter make up ther time I has lost, and may be I shouldn't say lost nuther when I saved my life I g uess and ther boodle too by ther delay. The boys looked at each other and then a t Buffalo Bill, to see what he would say. He answered promptly : "I will keep my su r e-shot boy pards w ith me Buck, for I guess they are willing t o foll o w m y l e ad. "Indeed, yes," said Harold Hart, while Leonard Ashley responded : "You say and we'll do, sir." "Yes, that's the way to talk, put in the driv er. "Follow Buffalo Bill s lead and y ou s trike the r ight trail." And, Buck," said Buffalo Bill gl ancin g a t the outlaw prisoner, who had b e en t o o far off t o he a r wh a t had been said : "It will be best not to let it be kn o wn who t he bo y s are, that Harold Hart is the son of th e Midnight M ail Rider for it ma y help us in our effort t o k now ab out his fate not to let the miners that this youth is here looking him up.' "You are right, Pard Bill." "You see Buck, I have my o wn ideas about the fate of the mail rider, and if I a m right th o se w h o may know about him would be put on their guard if the old story is revived again." "Right you are, Pard Bill, so we ll s ay nothing and lea v e all to you; but don t you forgit that D o c Drigg s, the man wh o led the outlaws, and his clo se pard, Nug g et Ned e s caped, and they are a bad pair t o ha v e at large." "I have n o t forgotten them Buck n o r shall I d o so quie tly re sp o nded Buffalo Bill. But hi s w ords meant a grea t d eal to the dri ver, w ho knew him well. "Well, Pard Bill, I'll git along o n m y way for night ain t far off so I'll jist say g oo d by and s et ther team a-go ing, with graveyard fruit inside and a cu ss o n ther b o x with me thet ought ter be h a n ged. "But I has jist this ter s a y afore I go, a n d that i s thet I tuk ther belonging s of M ail Rider H art w hen h e didn't git back, and I has hi s two h o rses terd ay s o me traps as were in his cabin, along w ith some papers as m ay be imp o rtant, and this d o g, and yo u bet I tarn:;; Death Grip over now to ther boy and he 'll find him useful as I has. "Come, D eath Grip go with ye r yo u n g bos s n ow for yer belongs ter him-that's him r ight thar," and the driver pointed to Harold Hart.
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THE BUFF ALO BILL STORIES. CHAPTER XVII. THE SILENT SENTINEL. The faithful dog seemed to have the intelligence of a human being, for ht; walked directly over to Harold Hart, wagging his tail as he did so. The boy bent over and caressed him, saying in a low tone: "Good old dog. "We'll find your master yet, won't we?" The d o g rubbed his head against the cheek of the youth while Buck Dawson said: "I believe he knows who yer is, fer thet dog understands what many humans cannot. "Yes see, yer lboks so tarnally like yer pa and yer v oice is jist like his, so ther clog knows as well as if he d talked it over with yer, as has Pard Bill here and m y self. "He does seem to take a great liking to you, boy pard, and if he will go with you we will find him most us e ful for h e used to go on the run once each week with yonr father, y o n know, and so knows his exact trail, for I do n o t belie v e he has forgotten it." "He knows, I'll g a mble on it," said Buck Dawson. "And, Buck, let me ask you to drive out as your leaders, on your way back, the two horses that used to be ridden by the Midnight Mail Rider, and the boys here will change theirs for them, for we'll meet you on the trail somewhere "I'll do it, and you bet, Pard Bill, you is striking the right trail to find ther boy s father, or my name ain't Buck Dawson." "I hope so, pard." But n ow, good-by, and, boy pard, see if the dog will follow you." With a grasp of the driver's hand in farewell, Harold Hart turned away, calling to the dog. Death Grip l oo ked at him, then at Buck Dawson, ran to the latter, licked his hand, and at a word from his old master ran after the youth. The latter p a tted him affectionately, while Buck, closing his st a ge d o ors, mounted to his box, by the side of his prisoner, and with a word to his team drove on, calling back: "I guess I won t fer.git this spot, pards. "Be a good dog, Death Grip, for I is betting big money on yer." The dog wagged his tail, but remained by the side of Harold Hart, who made no effort to keep him, should he show an inclination to follow on after the coach. "He' s all right, boys. "Buck is right, for the dog is next to human in his intelligence; has more sense, in fact, than many men I know. "But now let us strike the back trail, for the camp where we left onr horses." With this the scout led the way back over ti1e stage trail, and the boys followed at a brisk pace, for Buf falo Bill was a good walker. Death Grip followed, keeping close to the side ot Harold Hart, who seemed much pleased with his com panionship. :pown the slope they went, acro!Os the plain, and over the next ridge, to the camp where the horses had been left. The animals were found just as they had been left, and in a short while a fire was blazing brightly, blank ets were spread, and Buffalo Bill w2.s g etting supper, a performance all were much interested in, even to Death Grip, for he watched the s cout's every move as though calcnl ating th e minutes before he would come in for his share. The horses had rested :.veil from their long, hard ride of the afternoon, and were put upon fresh grazing grounds for the night. ,, Supper over a n d Death Grip well feel, the latter had been put upon guard for the night, all knowing that no human sentin e l was needed with such a good watch as Buck Dawso n had said they would find the faithful dog to be. It was after a long talk together that the three pards turned in for the night. Buffalo had learned fully the history of his young friends, and had asked many questions about Mr. Hart, the Midnight Mail Rider, to try and find some clew other than his having been killed, to account for his strange disappearance. "We will find him, boy pards, or know what his fate really was, if dead," the scout had said cheerily, as he led the way to his blankets. For a"while Buffalo Bill iay awake; unable to sleep, for his mind was busy plotting for the finding of the lost mail rider. At last he dropped to sleep, but a:fter an hour or so he awoke with a start. He knew that something out of the usual run had awakened him. 1 The fire had burned low, it was about midnight, and yet there was light enough for him to see some form creeping toward the spot where Harold Hart was sleeping. Instantly his hand sought his revolver, for he now detected, as he believed, that it was a huge mountain lion. But quickly it came to him what it was. He had forgotten about Death Grip momentarily upon awakening. It was the dumb sentinel, and he went up to the boy and put his cbld nose close to his face, at the same time giving a very low whine to rouse him. "There is danger about," said the scout, and he called in a whisper:
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THE BUff BILL STO RIES. "Boy Pard !" "Ay, ay, Mr. Cody, I avvake," was the low re of the boy. CHAPTER XVIII. THE TIMELY WARNING. Harold Hart was awake. He had not gone to s leep, fqr his mind was hus y with all he had hean! from Buffalo Biil and Buck Dawson about his father's uncertain fate. The dutiful son had cleared his father's name of the chaq;e of murder, afterhaving aided him to escape from the gallows by getting him out of prison. He had come to the Northwest, accompanied by hi$ faithful nard. Leonard Ashlev, to find his father ancl tel l him -of the good news he had for him in having proven him not gniity, while he had also to let him know that the estate had been found not to be so bad l y :wrecked as was thought by the dishonest partner of Mr. Hart, so there was a snug little balance left for him to use as the foundation for building up another f That he had learned what he did about his father's supposed fate was a crushing blow to Harold Hart, and he lay awake thinking about it all long after he had retired to his blankets "Well, I have found some good friends here, in Buf fa l o Bill and Bttck Dawson I still have Len Ash l ey, and more. a new parcl in my father s dog, Death Grip, so I--" iie paused in his musing, for he distinctly saw sqme t hing within the fire-light, his blanket, and those of t he others having been spread off in t h e shadow. it is Death Grip," he said, and he watched t he dog as he came to\yard him sniffed the air, and t hen o nce n1ore moved cautiously on, ha-lting by him. Pretending to be asleep, he let the dog rub his nose against his face, then he uttered a low whine, and Buffa l o Bill spoke : '";f h ere is s u re clanger abroad, and the dog has com e t o 'warh you "His instinct is certainly remarkable," said the scout. "What danger can rit be, sir?" asked Harold. "Indians, perhaps, o r it may be Doc Driggs and S c otty trying to nm off our horses and get a shot a t u s." I w ill wa k e u p Le_n, sir." "Yes, and we will s lip out from the firelight, and iI w ill follow Death Grip, while you and your pa r d r e m ai n here "The dog will show me what the is." Len Ashley was awakened, and the scout said in a :Whisper: W hat i s i t, good dog?.. "Go a n d find them and I will come." The dog started off, saw the scout following, l oo ked at bis young but _tol9 to, go qn anci obeyed The scout followed close, and through the timber, Death Gr i p leading him, .toward the pla i n where the h orses were feeding. Then the dog stopped, and Buffalo Bill began to r econnoiter. He had not long to wait before he saw several forms skulkingslowly along. They were for the little campfire. "One, two; three, four, five," the scout counted, and these were increasing , "Indians, and a
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t'HE BU ff ALO BILL STORIES. 1 D But the fire of the boy sure-shots from another place, the killing of two of their braves, and wou1:1ding of several by the buckshot, was a complete surprise to them. CHAPJ:E_R XIX. THE BATTLE TN THE DARK. The very instant after the three shots from the two boys Buffalo Bill opened with his repeating r ifle di rectly upon the group of Indians. In the darkness, of course, he fired at random. But he had seen the redskins crouching down not very far from the fire, and he had noted the spot from whence the shots had come, so placed the exact locality of the young sure shots. Half a dozen shots rang out from his rifle in quick s uccession, and the Indians were taken aback by the discovery of a foe in a new place, and as they knew nothing of repeating rifles then, they supposed that each shot m eant a paleface enemy. At this they turned to stampede, for the shots of the scout, at ran dom though they were, killed a brave and slightly wounded another. Feeling assured that tl\e Indians would not stand to fio-ht after their surp rise, Buffalo Bill left the boy to work out their own salvation while he bounded toward the horses to protect them. Death Grip was at his heels. The scout and the dog were just in time for several forms seen running toward the horses to pull up their stake ropes and get away with them. Death Grip was not a noisy dog. He did not blus ter and give warning of what he intended to do. He simply did his duty in his quick, quiet way. The red skins were before him, rushing from the timber to the horses. Away he bounded after them. The scout savv them indistinctly in the darkness, and halting at the edge of the timber he raised his rifle. Then came the report, and that was a death knell to a brave. The others bounded forward the more rapidly. They must reach those horses. But again that fatal repeating rifle sent a messenger of doom upon its way just as there was heard in the tim ber the rapid rattle of revolvers. "The boy sure-shots are at it," cried Buffalo Bill, and he uttered his wild warcry, so well known by the Indians. It was answered by the "Texas yell" from the boys,
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20 THE BUFF ALO BI L L He called out soothingly to calm them, and then, as t hey quie t ed down, shouted : "Ho, young sure-shots, where are you?" T h ere a dead silence in the timber toward the camp, and he was sure that the Indians had stampeded i n their terror or they would have already have come for their ponies Determined to guard the animals at all hazards, he took his stand at the edge of the timber, where he could watc h his own horses, and left Death Grip on d u ty, near the Indian ponies. Had the boy sure-shots escaped, however, without a 'wound, or w orse still, had either or bbth of them been k illed? The silen.ce fleemed ominous to the scout. But he knew that when certain the redskins had fled far away he rnul
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THE BU ff ALO Bill STORIE S. 21 sent word to the others on foot, and you may be su re they are now on our trail. "I will send a line by you to the colonel, and my boy sure-shots here, your companions, and I will hold the station until help comes. "All right, Chief Cody, I will be mounted within five minutes/' replied B a rton, and by the firelight in the stocktender's cabin Buffalo Bill hastily wrote to Colo nel Cameron, the commander of the nearest post River Front. Buffalo Bill was attached to no field po.st at this time, being sent from place to place whereve r there was trouble with Indians or outlaws, and so was well acquainted with all the frontier c om manders His letter was as follows: "To COLONEL CAMERON, "Commanding River Fort. "Sir :-I have tc report th:it Chief Black Bonnet's pretenclecl friend s hip was a fraud, for he <).mbushed me \ vit h two \varriors and would have killed me but for a youth by the name of Ashley, who, with a c om rade, is on a mission to the mines. "Ashley and I killed Black Dennet and his two braves, then got Buck Dawson and his coach out of trouble with road-agents, five of whom \Yere killed, two alone escaping, one being the leader. "The youths. whom I call my boy sure,-shots, then took the trail with me, were tracked by Black Bonnet's band of thirty Indians, while in camp. "Vv e thinned out the number, caplured twenty-seven of their ponies, but three escaped mounted, and I feel assured dogged me to where we now are at Barton's stage station, where the dismounted warriors will doubtless attack ns by noon, or sooner, perhaps "I, therefore, respectfully ask for a cavalry force to <'Orne to our aid, and if we arc besieged they can hear the firing and corral the whole lot. "Pardon me if I suggest a larger force being sen t ;iorthwar,cl on a sco ut, as Black Bonnet's band may have some support. "I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servan t "Y../.. F. CODY, "Chief of S co u ts." This letter was sent by Barton, who w e n t off like the wind, to get it to the fort with all speed, though he had a ride of over thirty miles to ms,ke Having seen that all the horses were safe l y c o r raled, and all made ready for an attack, Buffalo Bill and the boys lay clown to get much-needed rest, Deat h Grip having already set them t h e example, as he deemed his duty as sentinel at an encl. J i m was left on duty, and, a good plainsman, he sco uted around the station, and just as dawn broke saw an Indian on foot skulking back over the trail. He half raised his rifle, but lowered it again \ \ith the remark: I co u ld plug him, but I'll let him go and r eport, they aon't expect our being ready fo r tliem. "Bvffalo Bill is right, though, in saying it is Black Bonnet's band, for that brave had the black feathe r headdress that chief warriors all wear. "And yet Chief Black Bonnet passed our station two flays ago and told us that he had come to l ove his white brothers, and Colone l Cameron and his soldiers all believed him, only Buffalo Bill did not, and he was right. "I tell y'ou he knO\YS about Indians from heel to sralp." \ V ith this tri bute to the great sco ut, Jim Barton re traced his way t o the fort, muttering: "\Ve are going to catch it, and \ vithin a few hours. "I hope Brother. George will lead the soldiers ba c k at a nm, for somehow I belic\e Black Bonnet's band have mo're reds n ear." Returning to h is station, the stocidcnder set to work to prepare a good breakfast, allowin g the scout and boys to sleep up to the l ast m oment, knowinl,!" well the y nceclecl it. He was sorry the horses had t o be penned up in the corr al, btlt it \\ as better t o have them go hungry for a while than to be turned out to feed and be cap tured. When Jim Barton at last called hi s visitors he had breakfast ready, and he told theti1 of his having seen the Indian ride away. "All right, we'll be ready for theni when they come "I have had a good rest, a nice breakfast, and fee l in fighting mood, and I believe you also do, boy pards." The said they did, and they certainly looked it. Then Buffalo Bill to ok his rifle, and, witn a cheering word started out on foot to ,reconnoiter. He had a consciousne ss that clanger was not far off At the sta tion all was ready for the fight, and as t he stocktenders were well supplied with arms and am munition they could make a good defense agains t big odds, for the cabin was strongly built, had a flat roof with a breastwork of logs on top, and the corral fence was high and built of heavy timber. About half an hour after Buffalo Bill's departu re he r eturned c1uickly and called oitt: "We are in for it, pards, fo r they are corning, and, as I feared, the band of Black Bonne t has been r e in forced by half a hundred more braves, and the d i s mount ed gang are riding behind the others. "They have com_e to get their ponies, an d w e h a ve got to fight for it, that is all." "All right, let t hem c o me," Harol d Hart, an d Len Ashley was feeling the same way and sa i d so CHAPTER XXIL THE STAND-OFF There was no flinching in the four cpmrades, who felt that it was to be a bitter fight for the m C\&ainst
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2J t"HE BU ff' ALO BILL STORIES. very heavy odds. Buffalo Bill did not hide the situa tion, and the two boy sure-shots did not show any weakening at what was before them. It was critical, as four men had to fight four-s core bra-:es, and the latter rendered desperate by the loss of their chief and their companions slain the nigh t before. There was no backing down in the defenders, and Buffalo Bill placed his comrades in the positions he deemed best. One thing was in their favor, and this was that the Indians did not believe their coming was known. It was their belief that they would surprise the stock tenders, and recapture their ponies, along with the stage-horses there, and get the scalps of the twa Bar ton brothers whom they knew were in charge. They had tracked their ponies there, and supposed that Buf falo Bill and his two boy pards had left them there and then gone their way. In this the scout that he had the advantage of a surprise for the reskins that would amount to a great deal. So the Indians dismounted out of sight of the sta tion half of their force, and left the others to follow on horseback. They crept cautiousfy forward, and when they got into the open space, free of the timber, saw no sign of the stocktenclers. AJJ seemed quiet there, and the stocktenders were not apparently on .the alert. As they left the timber, some forty in number, and stooped in form and with light step, approached the stockade, Buffalo Bill and his three companions were watching them while Death Grip, unable to see, was anxiously waiting for another chance to show what he could do. The Indians pressed nearer and nearer, wholly un suspecting a surprise where they expected to catch the stocktenders off their guard. To the edge of the timber came the mounted braves, awaiting to charge when their dismounted force reached the stockade. Buffalo Bill had the two boys on one side of him and Jim Barton on the other. All the weapons in the stockad<;! had been brought to that side, ready for use, and there were rifles enough to give each defender a couple. Then there were half a d o zen extra revolvers. Near e r and ne a rer came the red line, until but a hundred yards away. "Pick y our men, aim true, and fire!" With the comman'tl of the scout came the flash of the four rifles Then followed the louder shotgun barrel of Len 'Ashley's combined weapon and with the constant rat tle of Buffalo BiJJ's deadly repeating rifle were heard the reports of the others that had been hastily seized by the defenders. :The re s ult was a terrible surprise to the Ind_ ians, and the rain of lead upon them wa$ most demoralizing to one and all, especially as half a dozen fell w1der the fire and others were wounded. In their stampede on foot the crv came for the moui1ted braves to charge, and at revolvers were turned upon the reel horsemen. But they could not face the fire of the deadly marks men, and quickly retreated to the co ver of the timber. "They wiJJ hold a war talk now, and send for rein forcements, if they have any near. "Then they will surround us and attack later on every side. "If help comes from the fort we are all right." "I hope it will come, Chief Cody said Jim Barton, but the two boy sure-shots said nothing Then several hours passed away, and not a redskin was visible all the while. Noon passed, the defenders had dinner, and then Buffalo Bill called out: "Each man to his p o st! "See there!" All saw that the Indians were mounted and coming to the edge of the timber: And more, they were now advancing from every side while a single glance was sufficient to show that they had been reinforced to more than treble their force. "It is as I feared, they had help near," coolly said the scout. "And where is our help?" asked Jim Barton. "Coming. "But be ready, all, for this will be the fight of our lives." The scout's voice was stern now, and rang like a bugle call. He \Vas nerved for the de s perate combat. With wildest yells, the redskins now rode out of the timber into full view, and Buffalo Bill called out : "They have found the body of their chief, boys, which we put on the rock, for that fellow on the white horse is wearing his magnificent black war-bonnet. "I wiJJ try him at long range, but no one else fire until I give the word." Then Buffalo Bill ran his eyes along the sights, his rifle cracked, and the chief on the white horse, who had been made leader in place of Black Bonnet, fell from his saddle, amid a demoniacal chorus of yells from the two hundred braves . CHAPTER XXIII. THE FIRST STEP TAKEN. The splendid shot of the scout was greeted by cheers by his comrades, and each one nerved himself to face the deadly Their faces were pale, y es but there w a s no waver ing, and, glancing across the roof at the two youths, Buffalo Bill cried:
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t'HE BUFF ALO BILL "Bravo,"hiy boy ".You are. made of the right stuff, and If y_ou have to dit: you'll face death gamely." As the w o r ds were uttered the brave s set their ponies into a run. But suddenly, like a bur.st of tht'lnder from ;:i. clear skv, came a deep roar, a .whirring sound followed, then a bur s t in the midst of the mass of red horsemen. They we1":, ... clazed by the shot, for the shell came from a hlll a mile away that looked dbwn upon the stockade station. A twelve-pounder piece of artillery had been taken there, and gotten into position. The soldiers had arrived. Bai:ton had done his work well. Dismayed by the heavy roar of the gun and the shrieking, bursting shell, the Indians knew not which way to turn. But _in the moment of their hesitation there was heard a cheer from a hundred cavalrymen, and out of the timber in the direction from whence had come the gun fire dashed two troops, with revolver in one hand, sword in the other. 1 There was no resisting that mad charge. The gun had startled the redskins, and they had been surprised completely. The charging troopers doubled up their line, spread out in a circle as they were nearing upon the stockade, and they dashed for shelter at mad speed Not a shot came from the stockade. "Don' t fire on them now, the poor fellows are whipped," Buffalo Bill had said, and he descended from lhe cabin roof to meet the officer in command. "Ho, Cody glad to find you all right, for I feared we would be too late, and your scouts reported severa l fairly large trails of redskins moving this way. "The colonel took your suggestion and sent a large force, and it is-well he oid; for we have some three hun drecj. Indians to fight. "I've got them going now, so will drive them to their villages. "vVho are these good-looking young fellows there?" and Major Timpson, the commander of the detachnodded the two youths. "I call them my boy sure-shots, major, and they are dandies. "They are from Texas, and are up here searching for a friend in the mines j "May I introduce them, sir?" "Certainly, for Barton spoke of them, and I admire their ,'and like their )ooks." Harold Hart and Leonard Ashley were called i.1p and presented to the major, who cordially greeted them, and asked them to go with him in the pursu.it. Mounti n g the ir horses and accompanying Buffalo Bill, they were glad to do s o and they had a good op portunity to see what a cavalry charge of redskins was. When the ;>oldiers went into camp that night, as Major_ Timpson had five troops of cavalry and four guns, and could drive all the redskins back to their yil lage, Buffa!o'Bill decided to leave Texas Jack in charge of his company of scouts, to continue the chase, aod return with his boy sure-shots to the trail to meet Buck Dawson on his run back. He had promised to hdp Harold Hart discover the fate of his father, an
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24 THE BUFF ALO BILL. STOR !E!\. CHAPTER XXIV. BUCK DAWSON'S FOUR PASSENGERS. The words of Buck Dawson were a \ivarning that Buffalo Bill acted upon at once. He knew that the driver had some one in the coach whom he had reason to fear, and he called out in his deep tones: Ay, ay, Buck! They are the ones my sure-shots and I are after. we'll riddl e the coach if they make a mu ss." The men had drawn back at sight of Buffalo Bill. \ Vou ld they s ubm it or fight, was the question. The scout did hot allow them much time to make up their minds, for he cried in a comn'landing way : "Sure-shots, be ready to fire! "Ii my orders are not obeyed by the se men in the co ach, I'll give the order to fire, and every man of you turn lo0se upon them." "Ay, ay, chief! called out Harold Hart; "the men ha ve the coach covered sir At this Buffalo Bill stepped toward the coach, just as a man looked out and said ; "What does this outrage mean, Buffalo Bill, that you an army officer, are holding up a coach and robbing honest passengers?'' "You have not been robbed to any alarming extent yet, Dud Ross. But come! No nonsense. Come out of that coach mighty quick, and one at a time. "Get the lariats ready, Len, to tie these fellows Do you hear, 'Out with you!' The man hesitated, and Buffalo Bill sen t a bullet through the top of the coach just above their heads. Instantly the man called Dud Ross jumped out, to once thrown to the ground by the scout, disarmed, and bound. "Next!" Anoth. e r man came out, and was also quickly disarmed and bound. "Number Three!" Out came yet another to share a like fate. "Number Four !" There was some hesitat i on, and Buffalo Bill was leveling his revolver when Number Four stepped from the c oach. He had a $.!ouch hat pulled down far over his head, .a bushy beard and long hair. The scout grasped him with no gentle grip, and off came his hat, a wig and false beard. "Why, Doc Driggs, it is you? and masquerading, eh?" There was an exclamation from the two boy snre shots, and Buck Dawson uttered a cry of "Well, I know' cl :hey was a bad lot. y er see, Bill, they tuk passage with me at the last of the mining camps, and they pretended ter be awful afraid they would be held up and robbed. "But, yer see, I had my eyes and ears open, and I seen and healcl enough ter kno w they intended ter jump me somewhere on ther trail and git er big lot of yellow metal in ther rough as I has along. "They know' d about it, yer see, and though Doc Driggs got away t'other day, and Scotty with him, yer see he begun bad work ag'in mighty quick, and if ther feller yonde r h ain' t Scotty in disguise, I'm lying like a Turk." The man he pointed to had his beard and hair cut short, wore a changed hat, _and suit of clothes, but was none other than Scotty, who had escap ed with the out law leader. 'i\'ell, Buck, they are safe now, and you can carry them on to the fort. but keep your eyes on them, and if they g i ve you any trouble they will go quiet enough if you kill them, you krn?w, and it is better that than to be robbed o r shot by the cutthroats. "Tell the colonel that I will make a full report to him of what I know of these men when I return to the fort." "I'll do it, P:ird Bill, and I does thank you and them boy sure-shots of yours fer all yer has done for "Don't mention it, Buck; but keep your eyes open for any straggling red sk ins ) for we have had a big fight vvith them and they scattered, yet a few may be about." "Thankee, ag'in. "But, yer see, I have ther. horses yer wanted-the mail rider's; they is thar in the lead!' "And good animals they are. \i\ T just unharness them and put the boys' in their place." With this the scout and Buck took the leaders out of harness, and, ha ving dismounted and stripped the i r ani mals of saddles and the boys l ed them forward, Len Ashley remarking: "I don't know whether my horse will work in harness o r not, Mr. Dawson. "I never a s ks them, boy pard; for when 1 slaps ther leather on them they has to go as I wishes."
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'CHE BU ff J\LO BILL STORIES. 21 The two animals, however, took kindly to the harness, ancL the four prisoners, having been bound se the coach, Buck shook hands with B uffalo Bill and his boy sure-shots and mounted his box. "if I gits a l oa d of deviltry to carry in on each run, Pard Bill, we'll soon clean up ther trails of road agents," the driver said, as he gathered up his reins. With a call to his horses and a whoop, Buck Daw son started up the team the two :1ew leaders going well and at a lively pace. Buffalo Bill and his young friends watched'tne coach out of sight, and then the scout : "Well, Harold, we have the two horses your father rode the mail trail with. and one of his dogs, and none of them have forgotten it, I feel s ure, for animals have lasting memories." CHAPTER XXV. TRAILING THE MYSTERY. "Now, boy pards, my plan to trail th'is mystery of the 'Midnight Mail Rider," said Buffalo Bill, when the three were in camp. Thcty had had dinner, the horses were sta. ked up,
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26 THE BUff ALO BILL STORIES. The other horse and Death Grip were tried, but they stuck to the trail. "What does it mean?" asked Ha1 "I do not know from Len, but the scout made no reply; he was deeply thinking. At last he said : "Boys, this is the horse ridden by Mr. Hart on his last ride. I shall let him lead the way. I am certain he knows wh(lt h e is about. See how nervous he is, and, as I said before, animals have good memories Mounting again, the scout allowed the bay to go on as he pleased among the boulders. After a quarter of a mile the horse halted, when his rider at once dis mounted and looked about him for signs. The boys did the same. Suddenly the scout spoke: "See there, boys! It is a broken revolver; and, yes, it is all rusted and has been lying there for a long time." The scout picked it up, and saw that the butt had .j.been shattered by a ar).d the hammer was broken of( but there were two loads yet remaining in the I weapon. .. As they were examining the little gun they were startled by the long-clra.wn out howl of Death Grip!. The dog had strayed off a short distance from the I sp ot, and, hastening toward him they: found him gaz1 ing e age rly at the ground. As th ey approached him he raised his head and gav e a nother dismal howl. "Boy Pards, Death Grip has made some important discovery," s a id Buffalo Bill, and as he searched the s p o t wh e re the clog stood he beheld a well-like hole in the l'OCk S l o oking clown foto s o me dark recess below! CHAPTER xxvr. TOLD BY THE DEAD. The h o le in the rocks was barely large enough to c.idmit o f a man s form, but Buffalo Bill said: iI e r c will the story be told, boy pards. The bay )10rs e h as bee n a most faithful guide, ar_i.cl he knows wh a t happened he re. See, he is no longer nervous now!" The horse quietly by, with the but the dog see med wild to get down into the cavern ; if su<::h it w as We lower him, boy p.ards," Buffalo Bill decided. A blanket was taken, lariats attached to the corners, a11d Death Grip was placed in it. He made no resistance, and was lowered into the openmg. The distance down was some twenty-five feet. The moment the blanket touched bottom the sprang out. dog Instantly the blanket was drawn up while Death Grip began to bark, whine, and howl alternately. "He has made a discovery. I will go down now "No, Mr. Cody, you are too large, I fear. Let me go!" urged Harold. Buffalo Bill saw that the opening was hardly large enough for him, so said : "I guess you are right, Harold; but, with the dog there, it is all right. Leave your belt of arms, so you can squeeze through better;" This the youth did,. and Buffalo Bill instructed: "Make your lariat fast to that tree and slip dmvn, while I cut you some pine-knot splinters for a torch." When Buffalo Bill came back with a handful of pine knot splinters he found that Harold had slipped clown the lariat and was in the darkness below, while Leonard Ashley was just preparing to follow him, having also laid his belt of arms aside. "Here, Len, take these splints with you, and light them as soon as you get down into the cavern." I Tpen Len Ashley swung himself upon the lariat, and after a slight effort, got through the crevice in the rocks. Down he went, and, .lying flat down, the sc out peered over. He saw a match lighted, the pine torch -caught, and in the bright glare he gazed upon a strange .sight. Buffalo Bill beheld the two boy sure-shots, the dog, a skeleton, and some leather mail bags. Death Grip was silent now, standing by the side of his young master, and there, on the rocky flo or, lay the skeleton form of a man. At his feet lay his rifle, and in a dark corner was an other skeleton-that of a dog. There, also, were two leather mail bags, still bearing the U. S. locks unbroken, but in each 11. slit had been cut with a sharp knife, 11.nd the taken out!. Upon the floor, about, were a few letters all torn open. Many of them had contained money, beyond a doubt.
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THE BUFF l\LO BILL STORIES. 27 Harold Hart knelt by the side of the skeleton form, and he knew now that there was no doubt; it was all that remained of his father. Upon the left little finger, around the bone, was a ring the youth well knew, and there were other marks of identification. "I am too late," the youth said, in a choking voice. Then his eyes fell upon a package of letters in one of the bony hands. He grasped them, and a pencil fell from the hand also. Upon the envelope a'f each had been written, in an unsteady hand, with lead pencil, what was evidently the story of a dying man. Each envelope was numbered, and the boy read, by the light of the torch: "If my body is ever found, know that it is all that remains of Harold Hart of Texas, 11,0W known as the Midnight Mail Rider of the mines. I was attacked upon my ride by road agents, led by a masked chief, whom I did not know, but among his band I recog nized men known as Doc Driggs, Scotty, Sam Bird, and others. Thev shot me because I resisted and killed two of the gang: and, believing me dead, threw me into this cavern, along with my faithful dog, my rifle, and the mail bags, which they robbed of all in them of value. I write this knowing that death is near, and the one who folds my remains will convey a lasting favor by sending the news of my sad end to my son, Harold Hart, Jr., Sunset Ranch, via San Antoni(), Texas. "I can write no more. HAROLD HART." Holding out the last of the envelopes read, the one with the signature upon it, Harold called out to the scout, looking down through the crevice: "Mr. Cody, the fate of my father is told here by his own dead hand !" CHAPTER XXVII. CONCLUSION. The myste r y was solved. The Midnight Mail Rider's fate was told by his own hand, having written the story with pencil upon the backs of the envelopes, the contents of which had been rifled by the road a gents. The names, also, of the robbers had been re vealed, one, Sam Bird, having met his fate at the hand of Len Ashley. But Doc Driggs and Scotty were still alive, and had gone on to the fort in Buck Davvson's coach, bound hands and feet, as prisoners. They would be safe when wanted. The skeleton form of the mail rider and that of hili faithful dog were taken up tenderly, and placed in thd blanket, which Buffalo Bill drew up out of the cavern. The mail bags also were taken, for they were to be sent to the United States Mail Department, to shoWi that Harold Hart had been true to his trust, and had not been false, as many had assumed. The rifle and other things found in the cavern were also drawn up by the scout, and then the dog, aftet, which the two youths followed. Dawn the mountain side, to a pretty spot pon thet banks of a small stream the remains of the mail ridetl were borne, and there, going into camp, a grave dug, a coffin of poles was made, and the much-wronged man was laid at rest, his dutiful son reciting over hi1u the service of the dead. That night the three pards spent in the little near the grave, and the next morning the trail was taken up for the fort. The horses were given their time, and a camp was made on the way; but they arrived the next to find that Major Timpson had come in, after a mosti successful cha-c:e of the Indians. THE END. Next week's issue, No. 8r, will contain "Buffald Bill's Texas Team; or, The Dog Detective." Are you interested in the further adventures of Buck Dawson; Len Ashley and Harold Hart, Buffalo Bill's trio of boy; pards? They had other adventures in tracking laws which they remember to this day-and well may, for they were as thrilling experiences as a IX>Yi may well go through. Of course, you know who the Dog Detective is. Death Grip, the dog, and some splendid detective work he did. Judge Doom, the "terror of the toughs," will also be introduced to you-that is, provided you have! not heard of him already. Look out for Judge Doom. He's a corker, and so is the story we issue next week. Watch for it. When you see the cover you'll open it, and once you begin to read it you'll never drop it till you've come to the last word of the last line of the last paragravh of the last and one of the best Buffalo Bill stories ever is. sued.
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I Come, boys, get a move on you. The present contest is drawing t o <1clo se. "Now or never!" is the watchword. Think how proud you will be t o win one of the splendid prizes. For rules, see 3J. The Dream of the Queen of Dwarfs. (By James W. Lees, New Orleans, La.) On the thirteenth of January, 1901, I had a dream that w as very excitig. After returning from the fields, where I had been plow ing, I was very tired and, throwing myself upon a pile of hay, went to sleep. I then dreamed the dream that I am about to tell you. I was walking in a deep glen that led down to a golden river, that ran between two hills, when I met a man that was about the size of a four-year-old child. He said : "Come \\rith me and I will show you the palace of the Queen of Dwarflantl." I was now thoroughly interested, and followed close to his heels He went to a tall oak, and said: Tlic tree seemed to fall, but it did not; but the roots rqse up and formed a gateway, illuminated with sparkling lights. There were small steps of stone leading down ward. I went down these and beheld a door of solid glass, that shone like a thousand stars. This door opened to the gentle touch of the dwarf, and I was ushered into a room that was made of glass, studded with blue stones, and was illuminated with a thousand red lights that made the roomlook like it was made of thousands of colors. There was a throne of gold, studded with millions of dia monds. Beside the throne was a beautiful maiden, fair as a lily. She was the Q:ieen of Dwarfland. When I was ushered into the room I was changed and was as small as one the d.wuf!I. The f!Ueen becMoned te> me to come to her. I did 11e ;ma knelt .Iown be11idc her, but she lifted me up with her small hands. I that glerious music was playing, and she led me to dance with her. As as we were dancing the room was filled with pretty pri11cesses, who were dancing, too. t.olcl th. '!! l ... go, but I could come again. She gave me a bag of gems to wear the next time I came. I bid her good-by and started to go, when biff bang! "What are you doing here asleep, wHen the horses are to be fed and the sheep to be penned?" I was fully awake now, and found my father in an angry mood because I had slept so long and neglected my work. A Remarkable Dream. (By David Friedman, St. Louis, Mo.) I hereby relate a remarkable dream I had while in Buf falo. I used to go out fishing in my leisure hours, a sport 1 like very much. I was fishing about two miles above the Niagara Falls at that time, and in the excitement of the sport I forgot that the current is very swift at that point, and gets swifter as it nears the faJ.ls. Well, as I said, I hired a skiff from a nearby farmer, and getting into it I rowed along the shore, enjoying it very rriuch and gradually drifting toward the middle, when suddenly, as I was lost in thought, the skiff was given such a jerk that I was near.ly thrown out, and the next minute the skiff was flying along at about the rate of two mil e s a minute, and horrors, the truth burst upon me like a flash. I was going to certain death in the most horrible manner. I shouted for help, but of no avail. Onward, onward, I going, rapidly approaching death. Imaginc yourself n e aring your end so untimely, after you have planned some fine for the future. Your whole past flashes across your mind; there are loved e ncs y u would like to sec, semc that are unsettled, and while you think nearer and nearer di!! you approach your end. Now I can hear the roar, next I can sec mist rising from the falling waters, and the roar. ing, grinding noise, added to my a.n"uish, is bey_ond descriJ.ltion, .w.hile the time
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THE S TORIE$. nearer and nearer I go. Ano01er rni11ute, a half, a quar ter, a few more seconds, the noise is unbearable. Then another second and the crisis is at hanc\. I to Hi\n as I ne\er prayed before; no deliverance came, and now the end has come. Over I went. I saw nothing but water, water abov e me, water below me, water on all sides of me, and when I was about to be crushed to death the alarm clock struck and I woke up finding myself going, over the foot of the bed. All the bedd ing was on the floor and half the contents of the mattress, which I ripped up in my struggle, was strewn around me. Such was my experience in a dream. An Exciting Drea.m (By Ray G. Towse, \iVoodlawn, Pa.) As we live out of Pittsburg. where my brother works it is my j o b to get him a monthly railroad ticket, which I get at the station. The night before I got him his last ticket I had a p eculiar dream. I will tell it as I wou l d a story. One day I went to the station for a ticket, and the agent was out. I saw two men in the room, and asked them where the agent was. I am the agent," said one. Then I thought that I gave him the money, and as I gaye him the money the other one grabbed me. "Tie him up," said No. I. I strnggled to get away, but was quickly overpowered. "What will we do with him ," said No. 2. "The agent will b e h ere $0011," Sqid No. r, so lefs kill him by tying him to the track, for the express is due in ten minutes Soboth took me between them ahd tied me to the rails about one hundred yards from the statio .n. Then they left me. and it seemed a century before I h eard the wh:stle of the e ngine, which goes seventy miles an hour. Pretty soon I saw the headlight, as it was turning around the curve . It grew nearer and n earer, and pretty soon it looked as if it was about fifty feet away from me And as i t to go over me I woke u p, and found myself i n bed, and my brother shaking me and telling ll)e to be qiet. I was so e -cit ed that I did not go to sleep for about one h ou r aiter that. I have had many reams, but none as exciting as this. A Q u eer Drum. (By B. A. Grubb, Missoula, Mont. ) I dreamed I went to sea on a merchantman and t h e ship was wrecked on the twety-first day <;>ut. Everybody tm board went down but me, and I drifted ashore on a barrel of lemonade. The beach was lined w ith crystal i:iebbles, and it sloped up to a broad, mossy bed of gree n, which in turn blended into a l"let of red Large, tame bum ble bees suck e d the heney fr m t h e fl w e r s aa h urnme f a beautiful tufe. I wM weary an a s n fell i t a s leep. I I \\121.s sittiag- J. c vtlt ctv ere
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30 THE BU ff BILL STORIESo brought b.y another lady, in purple satin, with orange blossoms, 111 the same way. When we left my friend said ''Music,'' and th e n I was more astonished than flock of th e most beautiful plumaged birds I ever saw ar range? themselves in among the roses and orange blos soms 111 two half-circles in front of us and began: "\flie come from fai ry land, As mern as we can be. We are the real Golden Band Come to welcome thee." And such voices and such music I never heard before. My friend said they wonlcl :;ing anything I would like to hear. I suggested '-'Nearer, My God, to Thee," and "Home, Sw eet .Home," which they sang and many others I never heard before. It was fit for the gods. The last song was: "Now we will s ay, 'l;ood-h:v. Good-by, adieu, Vv e will forever pray God's choicest gifts for you." Then I awoke, and even after I got ';;p it seemed the air was loaded with perfume of roses and oranges. I will never forget that dream. A Hunting Dream. (By N. Haight, Seattle, Wash.) My most dream was when I was out camping. Vv e wer e 111 shack ove r the l ake. I thought that I was fightmg Indian&. \h/ e were all hidinrr in a barn and were receiving guns from one of the They gave me a double-barreled rifle, and I wouldn\t take it. I said I wanted a Winchester. 'vVell, the Indians didn't show up, and. the .m.en went out scouting, leaving me and the women still h1d111g. I went outside with my mother and another la
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riiER"f si"NiwcoNiESTr:icoRKIR"fl i The Contest iuststart: ng is going i? be:ihe gre a test we ever ran. It's an entirely new idea. The I Prizes are new and the finest we ever offered. The other contest& held in the BUFFALO BILL WEEKLY have I i all made splendid success, but thjs one is sure to break all r e cords. Why? Because it is a brand-new idea. i : a contest every boy in America has an equal chance in and because the prizes beat anything ever otfer ed before. All you have to do is to write out an account of any of your g Curious Dreams. l I Everybody has had remarkable dreams, and anybody who sends in an account of one has a cha11ce of I 9 winning one of the prizes. They consist of I I THREE FIRST-CLASS. PHOTOCRAPHBC OUTFITS, j : Including Camera and all Appllances for Taking and Developing Photographs. $ i Five Hunting Axes and Five Hunting Knives. g f Think of the fun you can have this winter with one of those cameras. You can take and qevelop lo photographs of all your friends. Full directions go with each camera. Think how useful and handy a first-1 rate hunting knife or ax will be when you go hunting or trapping in the woods this winter. To.Win a Prize.-Write an account of any curious or remarkable dream you have f matter what .it was about. Tell it in five hundred words, and send it with the coupon you will find on this i ; page, properlyfilledout tothe BuFFALOBILL WEEKLY, careofStreet& Smith, .:138William St., New York City. i HERE IS A LIST OF THE PRIZES; i The three boys who send in the three most interesting accounts will and of a natur!' to make it impossible for one part to $ each r eceive an Eastman Pocket KodaK, with complete hecoma qetached from another. The head bas an oblong semi-ei;cular outfit. The camera t11kes picture llx2 inches; film, and h1111 recess milled in eith.er side to receive the slotted end of ha;;dle, which 0 capacity for twelve pictures without reloading; weight six ounces. This is accurately milled to a close fit and firmly held by a !-inch steel f> f wonderful little camera takes pictures equal to the most expensive. It screw. This method of handle fastening prevents any liability of the I makes negatives of suc h sharpness and definition that beautiful enblade working loose on the handle. The u p per part of the handle is I largements of any size can be made from them. Haa perfect Achroslotted on the under side to receive tbe folded sheet steel guard, which matic Lens of fixed focus, Rotary Shutter, wjth sets of three stops, is so arranged as to be firmly held by a flat steel bar when open or square View Finder, and covered with fine Seal Grain Leather. Takes closed. i snap shots or time exposures. Easily carried jn ppcket or on bicyc le. I Complete with roll of film for twelve exposures and Leather Carrying The five boys who send in the five next best accounts will each reCase, with room for three extra film cartridges. ceive a .Sports:rnans Ideal Hunting Knife. @ There is about as much difference in point of utility and peauty between The five boys who send in the five next best accounts will each reone of our" Id eal" huntinll' knives and any other knife on the market ceive a Saf"et;y Hunting Ax. Dimensions over all llx4 as_ there is between a grizzly bear and a porcupine. They are hapd i inches: weight 18 ounces. The blade is made of solid tool steel, finely forged, hand tempered, hand t ested by the rigidest possible test and t empered and highly polishfld. The handle is made of 'mild steel, nickle finished in a manner that makes them the hand somes t knives in the plated on copper, with handle plates of engraved hard rubber. The market. The "Ideal" knives are made with 5--inch blades, leatlier guard is of sheet hinged on a spring in such a manner that either handle, brass and fibre trimming:;, with polished tip. A hand open or closed it is firmly held in position. The construction is unique some black or rus1et case "';th each knife. Now, Boys, You See Your Chance! COUPON. BUFFALO BILL DREAM CONTEST. I Name ................................................. Street and No ......................................... Oity or Town ............................ ............. State ......... .. Title ef Story ....... .............. ................... It's Up to You to Win a Prize! This Contest doses Dece11lber 1st. All entries must be in by that Remember, the "BUFF ALO. RILL WEEKLY" has the of any weekly descriptive of Indian warfare ever published. Your story, whether it wins a prize or riot! has a cha.nee of being published, and will be read through out the length and breadth of the Continent. ............................................... e. ................ .o. ..
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,.-------...... BUFF !\LO BILL (LARGE SIZE.) Containing the Only Stories Authorized by Hon. WILLIAM F. CODY ("Buffalo Bill') 52-Buffalo Bill's Bov Pard; or, Training the Buckskin Bov. 53-Bulfalo Bill's Vow of Vengeance; or, The Scout9s Boy Ally. 54-Buffalo Bill and the Mad Hermit; or, Finding a Lost Trail. 55-Buffalo Bi11's Bonanza; or, The Clan of the Silver Circle. 56-Buffalo Bi 's Mascot; or The Mystery of Death Valley. 57-Bufia; o Bill and the Surgeon Scout; or, The Brave Dumb Messenger. 58-Buffalo Bill's Mvsterious Trail; or, Tracking a Hidden foe. 59-Buffaio Bill and the Masked Hussar; or, Fighting the Prairie Pirates. 60-Buffalo Bill's Blind; or, Running the Death Gauntlet. 61-Buffalo Bill and the Masked Driver: or. The fatal Run Through Death Canyon. 62-Buffalo Bill's Still Hunt; or, fighting the Robber of the Ranges. 63-Buffalo Bill and the Red Riders; or, The Mad Driver of the Overlands. 64-Buffalo Bill's Dead-Shot Pard; or, The Wm-o-the-Wiso of the Trails. 65-Buffalo Bill's Run-Down; or, The Red-Hand Renegade's Death. 66-Buffalo Bill's Red Trail; or, A. Race for Ranson. 167-Buffalo Bill's Best Bower; or, Calling the Turn on Death Notch Dick. 68-Buffolo Bill and the Gold Ghouls; or, Defying Death at Elephant Rock. 69-Buffalo Bill's Spy Shadower; or, The Hermit of Grand Canyon. 70-Buffalo Bill's Secret Camp; or, Trailing the Cloven Hoofs. 71-Buffalo Bill"s Sweepstake; or, Hunting the Paradise Gold Mine. 72-Buffalo Bill and the Black Heart Desperado; or, The Wipe-Out at Last Chance. 73-Buffalo Bm s Death Charm; or, The Lady in 74-Buffalo Bill's Desperate Strategy; or, The Mystery of the Cliff. 75-Buffalo Bill and the Black Mask; or, The Raffle of Death. 76-Buffalo Bill's Road Agent Round-Up; or, Panther Pete's Revenge. 77-Buffalo B ill and the Renegade Queen; or, Deadly Hand's Strange Duef. 78...-Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Band; or, forcing the Rejskins to the Wall. 79-Buffal. o Bill's Decoy Boys; or, The Death Rivals of the Big Horn. so-Buffalo Bill's Sure Shots; or, Buck Dawson's Big Draw. I Back numbers always on hand. If you cannot ret them from newsdealer, five cents a copy wi11 brini them to you, by ma.il, postpaid. I STREET & SMIT-H, Publishers, 238 ST., NEVV YORK CITY. .. \.
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