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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Beadle's Boy's Library of Sport, Story and
+Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1., by Prentiss Ingraham
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Beadle's Boy's Library of Sport, Story and Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1.
+       Adventures of Buffalo Bill from Boyhood to Manhood
+
+Author: Prentiss Ingraham
+
+Release Date: April 8, 2005 [EBook #15583]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUFFALO BILL ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Starner, David Garcia and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+A NEW FIELD! WITHOUT A RIVAL! JUST THE THING! TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION!
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+           Beadle's BOY'S LIBRARY of Sport, Story and Adventure
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Entered at the Post Office at New York, N.Y., as Second Class Mail Matter.
+$2.50 a year.  Copyrighted in 1881 by BEADLE AND ADAMS. December 14, 1881.
+==========================================================================
+Vol. I.  Single   PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS,    Price,   No. 1.
+         Number.    No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.     Five Cents.
+==========================================================================
+
+
+           Adventures of BUFFALO BILL FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD.
+
+          Deeds of Daring and Romantic Incidents in the Life of
+                 Wm. F. Cody, the Monarch of Bordermen.
+
+                   *       *       *       *       *
+
+                     BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM.
+
+[Illustration: MADDENED WITH FRIGHT, THE BULL BOUNDED INTO THE AIR,
+SNORTED WILDLY, GORED THOSE IN ADVANCE, AND SOON LED THE HERD.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Adventures of Buffalo Bill
+
+From Boyhood to Manhood.
+
+Deeds of Daring, Scenes of Thrilling Peril, and Romantic Incidents in
+the Early Life of W.F. Cody, the Monarch of Bordermen.
+
+BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+PROLOGUE.
+
+
+That Truth is, by far, stranger than Fiction, the lessons of our daily
+lives teach us who dwell in the marts of civilization, and therefore we
+cannot wonder that those who live in scenes where the rifle, revolver
+and knife are in constant use, to protect and take life, can strange
+tales tell of thrilling perils met and subdued, and romantic incidents
+occurring that are far removed from the stern realities of existence.
+
+The land of America is full of romance, and tales that stir the blood
+can be told over and over again of bold Privateers and reckless
+Buccaneers who have swept along the coasts; of fierce naval battles, sea
+chases, daring smugglers; and on shore of brave deeds in the saddle and
+afoot; of red trails followed to the bitter end and savage encounters in
+forest wilds.
+
+And it is beyond the pale of civilization I find the hero of these pages
+which tell of thrilling adventures, fierce combats, deadly feuds and
+wild rides, that, one and all, are true to the letter, as hundreds now
+living can testify.
+
+Who has not heard the name of Buffalo Bill--a magic name, seemingly, to
+every boy's heart?
+
+And yet in the uttermost parts of the earth it is known among men.
+
+A child of the prairie, as it were, Buffalo Bill will go down to history
+as one of America's strange heroes who has loved the trackless wilds,
+rolling plains and mountain solitudes of our land, far more than the
+bustle and turmoil, the busy life and joys of our cities, and who has
+stood as a barrier between civilization and savagery, risking his own
+life to save the lives of others.
+
+Glancing back over the past, we recall a few names that have stood out
+in the boldest relief in frontier history, and they are Daniel Boone,
+Davy Crockett, Kit Carson and W.F. Cody--the last named being Buffalo
+Bill, the King of Bordermen.
+
+Knowing the man well, having seen him amid the greatest dangers, shared
+with him his blanket and his camp-fire's warmth, I feel entitled to
+write of him as a hero of heroes, and in the following pages sketch his
+remarkable career from boyhood to manhood.
+
+Born in the State of Iowa in 1843, his father being one of the bold
+pioneers to that part of the West, Buffalo Bill, or Will Cody, was
+inured to scenes of hardship and danger ere he reached his tenth year,
+and being a precocious youth, his adventurous spirit led him into all
+sorts of deeds of mischief and daring, which well served to lay the
+foundation for the later acts of his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A CAPTURE OF OUTLAWS.
+
+
+When Will was but nine years of age his first thrilling adventure
+occurred, and it gave the boy a name for pluck and nerve that went with
+him to Kansas, where his father removed with his family shortly after
+the incident which I will now relate.
+
+The circumstance to which I refer, and that made a boy hero of him in
+the eyes of the neighbors for miles around where his parents lived,
+showed the wonderful nerve that has never since deserted him, but rather
+has increased with his years.
+
+The country school which he attended was some five miles from his
+father's house and he was wont to ride there each morning and back in
+the afternoon upon a wiry, vicious little mustang that every one had
+prognosticated would some day be the death of him.
+
+Living a few miles from the Cody ranch was a poor settler who had a son
+two years Billy's senior, who also attended the same school, but whose
+parents were too poor to spare him a horse from the farm to ride.
+
+This boy was Billy's chum, and as they shared together their noonday
+meal, the pony was also shared, for the boy rode behind my hero to and
+from school, being called for each morning and dropped off near his
+cabin on the return trip.
+
+Owing to the lawlessness of the country Mr. Cody allowed his son to go
+armed, knowing that he fully understood the use of weapons, and his
+pistol Billy always hung up with his hat upon reaching the log cabin,
+where, figuratively speaking, the young idea was taught to shoot.
+
+The weapon was a revolver, a Colt's, which at that time was not in
+common use, and Billy prized it above his books and pony even and always
+kept it in perfect order.
+
+One day Rascal, his pony, pulled up the lariat pin which held him out
+upon the prairie and scampered for home, and Billy and Davie Dunn, his
+chum, were forced to "hoof it," as the western slang goes, home.
+
+A storm was coming on, and to escape it the boys turned off the main
+trail and took refuge in a log cabin which was said to be haunted by the
+ghosts of its former occupants; at least they had been all mysteriously
+murdered there one night and were buried in the shadow of the cabin, and
+people gave the place a wide berth.
+
+It was situated back in a piece of heavy timber and looked dismal
+enough, but Billy proposed that they should go there, more out of sheer
+bravado to show he was not afraid than to escape a ducking, for which he
+and Davie Dunn really little cared.
+
+The boys reached the cabin, climbed in an open window and stood looking
+out at the approaching storm.
+
+"Kansas crickets! but look there, Davie!"
+
+The words came from Buffalo Billy and he was pointing out toward the
+trail.
+
+There four horsemen were seen coming toward the cabin at a rapid gallop.
+
+"Who be they, Billy?" asked Davie.
+
+"They are some of them horse-thieves, Davie, that have been playing the
+mischief of late about here, and we'd better dust."
+
+"But they'll see us go out."
+
+"That's so! Let us coon up into the loft, for they'll only wait till the
+storm blows over, for they are coming here for shelter."
+
+Up to the loft of the cabin, through a trapdoor, the boys went quickly
+and laid quietly down, peering through the cracks in the boards. The
+four horsemen dashed up, hastily unsaddled their horses and lariated
+them out, and bounded into the cabin through the window, just as the
+storm broke with fury upon forest and plain.
+
+As still as mice the boys lay, but they quickly looked toward each
+other, for the conversation of the men below, one of whom was kindling
+a fire in the broad chimney, told them that, if discovered, their lives
+would be the forfeit.
+
+In fact, they were four of a band of outlaws that had been infesting the
+country of late, stealing horses, and in some cases taking life and
+robbing the cabins of the settlers, and one of them said plainly:
+
+"Pards, when I was last in this old ranch it was six years ago, when we
+came to rob Foster Beal who lived here; he showed fight, shot two of the
+boys, and we wiped the whole family out; but now let us get away with
+what grub we've got, and then plan what is best to do to-night. As for
+myself, I say strike old Cody's ranch, for he's got dust."
+
+The boys were greatly alarmed at this, but, putting his mouth close to
+Davie Dunn's ear, Billy Cody whispered:
+
+"Davie, you see that shutter in the end of the roof?"
+
+"Yes, Billy," was the trembling reply.
+
+"Well, you slip out of there, drop to the ground and make for your home
+and tell your father who is here."
+
+"And you, Billy?"
+
+"I'll just keep here, and if these fellows attempt to go I'll shoot
+'em."
+
+"But you can't, Billy."
+
+"I've got my revolver, Davie and you bet I'll use it! Go, but don't make
+a fuss, and get your father to come on with the settlers as soon as you
+can, for I won't be happy till you get back."
+
+Davie Dunn was trembling considerably; but he arose noiselessly, crossed
+to the window at the end of the roof, and which was but a small
+aperture, closed by a wooden shutter, which he cautiously opened. The
+noise he made was drowned by the pelting rain and furious wind, and the
+robbers went on chatting together, while Davie slipped out and dropped
+to the ground.
+
+But ere he had been gone half an hour the outlaws were ready to start,
+the rain having ceased in a measure, and night was coming on to hide
+their red deeds.
+
+"Hold on, boys, for I've got ye all covered. He's a dead man who moves."
+
+Billy had crept to the trap, and in his hoarsest tones, had spoken,
+while the men sprung to their feet at his words, and glancing upward saw
+the threatening revolver.
+
+One attempted to draw a weapon, but the boy's forefinger touched the
+trigger, and the outlaw fell dead at the flash, shot straight through
+the heart!
+
+This served as a warning to the others, and they stood like statues,
+while one said:
+
+"Pard, who is yer?"
+
+But Billy feared to again trust his voice and answered not a word. He
+lay there, his revolver just visible over the edge of the boards, and
+covering the hearts of the three men crouching back into the corner, but
+full in the light from the flickering fire, while almost at their feet
+lay their dead comrade.
+
+Again and again they spoke to Billy, but he gave no reply.
+
+Then they threatened to make it warm for him, and one suggested that
+they make a break for the door.
+
+But, each one seemed to feel that the revolver covered him, and none
+would make the attempt, for they had ocular demonstration before them of
+the deadly aim of the eye behind the weapon.
+
+To poor little Billy, and I suppose to the men too, it seemed as if ages
+were passing away, in the hour and a quarter that Davie Dunn was gone,
+for he had bounded upon one of the outlaws' horses and ridden away like
+the wind.
+
+But, at last, Billy heard a stern voice say:--
+
+"Boys, you is our meat."
+
+At the same time several pistols were thrust into the window, and in
+came the door, burst open with a terrific crash that was music to
+Billy's ears; while in dashed a dozen bold settlers, led by farmer Dunn.
+
+The three outlaws were not only captured, but, being recognized as old
+offenders, were swung up to a tree, while Billy and Davie became indeed
+boy heroes, and the former especially was voted the lion of the log
+cabin school, for had he not "killed his man?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+BILLY'S FIRST DUEL.
+
+
+Near where Billy's father settled in Kansas, dwelt a farmer who had a
+son and daughter, the former being fourteen, and the latter eighteen.
+
+As is often the case with boys, Billy fell in love with Nannie Vennor,
+which was the young lady's name, although she at eighteen was just seven
+years older than he was.
+
+But she had been over to call on the Cody girls with her brother, and a
+deep attachment at once sprung up between the boys, and Billy became the
+devoted slave of Nannie, making her a horse-hair bridle for her pony,
+gathering her wild flowers whenever he went over to the Vennor farm, and
+in fact being as devoted in his attentions as a young man of twenty-one
+could have been.
+
+But Nannie had another lover, in fact a score of them from among the
+neighboring young settlers, but one in particular who bid fair to be
+Billy's most dangerous rival. This one was a dashing young fellow from
+Leavenworth, with a handsome face and fine form, and who always had
+plenty of money.
+
+Folks said he was very dissipated, was a gambler, and his name had been
+connected several times with some very serious affairs that had occurred
+in the town.
+
+But then he had a winning manner, sung well, and Nannie's beaux had to
+all admit that he was every inch the man, and one they cared not to
+anger.
+
+From the first Billy Cody hated him, and did not pretend to hide the
+fact; but it seemed the boy's intuitive reading of human nature, as much
+as his jealousy on account of Nannie Vennor.
+
+One day Billy was seated by the side of a small stream fishing.
+
+The bank was behind him, rising some eight feet, and he had ensconced
+himself upon a log that had been drifting down the stream in a freshet,
+and lodged there.
+
+Back from him, bordering the little creek ran the trail to the nearest
+town, and along this rode two persons.
+
+The quick ear of the boy heard hoof-falls, and glancing quickly over the
+bank he saw three horsemen approaching, and one of these he recognized
+as Hugh Hall his rival.
+
+Just back of Billy was a grove of cottonwood trees, and here the men
+halted for a short rest in the shade, and all they said distinctly
+reached the boy's ears.
+
+"I tell you, pards," said Hugh Hall, "I cannot longer delay then, so if
+old Vennor refuses to let me have Nannie I'll just take her."
+
+"The best way, Hugh; but what about the wife that's now on your trail?"
+asked one.
+
+"What care I for her, after I have run off with Nannie?"
+
+"But she'll blow on you to old man Vennor."
+
+"I do not care. I'll deny it to Nannie, say the woman is crazy, and one
+by one the family will drop off until she only remains, and then she'll
+get the property."
+
+"You are sure it's coming to 'em, Hugh?" asked one.
+
+"I am so sure that I drew up the will of Vennor's brother four years
+ago, when I was practicing law in Chicago."
+
+"He may have changed his mind."
+
+"Nonsense; he died shortly after, and the will says if Richard Vennor
+was not found, and the fortune turned over to him, within five years
+after Robert Vennor's death, the fortune was to go to charity.
+
+"Now I kept the secret dark, came out to look up Richard Vennor, and
+having found him, shall marry his daughter and get all!"
+
+"Your wife will give you trouble."
+
+"I wish you to get rid of her then, and I'll pay well for it."
+
+"We'll do the job, and help you all we can," said one, and the second
+one of the pair whom Billy did not recognize, echoed his comrade's
+sentiments.
+
+"Well, Hugh, we found Lucy was trailing you, and hearing you was about
+to strike it rich, concluded we'd come and post you for old friendship's
+sake."
+
+"And I'll pay you for it; but we must not be seen together, so I'll wait
+here while you ride on to Leavenworth, and in an hour I'll follow you."
+
+This agreement seemed satisfactory, and two horsemen rode away, after a
+few more words, while Hugh Hall threw himself down upon the grass to
+rest.
+
+For awhile Billy Cody was very nervous at what he had heard; but he soon
+grew calm, and having waited until he knew the two men were more than a
+mile away, he cautiously stood up upon the log and glanced over the
+bank.
+
+Hugh Hall was fast asleep, and his horse was feeding near.
+
+Noiselessly Billy drew himself upon the bank and approached the man, his
+faithful revolver held in his hand.
+
+"I wonder if it would be wrong if I killed him, when he is such a
+villain!" he muttered.
+
+"Yes, I won't do it; but I'll make him go straight to Mr. Vennor and
+I'll tell him all I heard.
+
+"Here, Hugh Hall, farmer Vennor wants to see you."
+
+The man sprung to his feet, his hand upon his revolver.
+
+But Billy had taken the precaution to get behind a tree, and had the
+drop on his rival.
+
+"Oh, it's you, you accursed imp of Satan," cried the man angrily.
+
+"Yes, it's me, and I want you to go to Mr. Vennor, for I'm going to tell
+him all I heard you say," said the boy boldly.
+
+Hugh Hall knew Billy's reputation as a fearless boy and a sure shot, and
+he saw that he was in great danger; but he said quietly:
+
+"Well, I was going to the farmer's and we'll ride together."
+
+"No, I'll ride and you'll walk, for I came down the stream fishing
+to-day, and haven't got my pony."
+
+As quick as a flash the man then drew his pistol, and firing, the bullet
+cut the bark off the tree just above the boy's head.
+
+Instantly however Billy returned the shot, and the revolver of Hugh Hall
+fell from his hand, for his arm was broken; but he picked it up quickly
+and leveled it with his left, and two shots came together.
+
+Billy's hat was turned half round on his head, showing how true was the
+aim of his foe, while his bullet found a target in the body of Hugh
+Hall.
+
+With a groan he sunk upon the ground, and springing to his side, Billy
+found him gasping fearfully for breath.
+
+"I am sorry, Hugh Hall, but you made me do it," he said sorrowfully.
+
+But the man did not reply, and running to the horse feeding near, he
+sprung into the saddle and dashed away like the wind.
+
+Straight to farmer Vennor's he went and told him all, and mounting in
+hot haste they rode back to the grove of cottonwoods.
+
+Hugh Hall still lay where he had fallen; but he was dead, greatly to
+Billy's sorrow, who had hoped he would not die.
+
+Then, while farmer Vennor remained by the body, Billy went for the
+nearest neighbors, and ere nightfall Hugh Hall was buried, and his two
+allies in crime were captured in Leavenworth, and given warning to leave
+Kansas forever, which they were glad to do, for they had not expected
+such mercy at the hands of the enraged farmers.
+
+But before they left they confessed that Billy's story was a true one,
+and told where the wife of Hugh Hall could be found, and once again did
+the boy become a hero, even in the eyes of the bravest men, and the
+settlers gave him the name of Boss Boy Billy, while Nannie Vennor, now a
+mother of grown sons, each Christmas time sends him a little souvenir,
+to show him that she has not forgotten her boy lover who fought his
+first duel to save her from a villain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+SHOOTING FOR A PRIZE.
+
+
+While Mr. Cody was an Indian trader at Salt Creek Valley in Kansas,
+Billy laid the foundation for his knowledge of the red-skin character,
+and which served him so well in after years and won him a name as scout
+and hunter that no one else has ever surpassed.
+
+For days at a time Billy would be in the Indian villages, and often he
+would go with the warriors on their buffalo and game hunts, and now and
+then would join a friendly band in a war trail against hostiles.
+
+Another favorite resort of Billy's was Fort Leavenworth, where his
+handsome face, fearlessness and manly nature made him a great favorite
+with both officers and men.
+
+On one occasion while at the fort a large Government herd of horses,
+lately brought up from Texas, where they had been captured wild on the
+prairies, stampeded, and could not be retaken.
+
+Once or twice Billy had come into the fort with a pony of the fugitive
+herd which he had captured, and the quartermaster said to him:
+
+"Billy, if that herd remains much longer free, they will be harder to
+take than real wild horses, so go to work and I'll give you a reward of
+ten dollars for every one you bring in, for the Government authorizes me
+to make that offer."
+
+This was just to Billy's taste, and he went at once home and spent a
+couple of days preparing for the work before him, and from which his
+mother and sisters tried to dissuade him; but the boy saw in it a
+bonanza and would not give it up.
+
+His own pony, Rascal, he knew, was not fast enough for the work ahead,
+so he determined to get a better mount, and rode over to the fort to see
+a sergeant who had an animal not equaled for speed on the plains.
+
+Rascal, some sixty dollars, a rifle, and some well-tanned skins were
+offered for the sergeant's horse and refused, and in despair Billy knew
+not what to do, for he had gotten to the end of his personal fortune.
+
+"Sergeant," he suddenly cried, as a bright idea seized him.
+
+"Well, Billy?"
+
+"They say you are the crack shot in the fort."
+
+"I am too, Billy."
+
+"Well, I'll tell you what I'll do to win your horse, Little Grey. I'll
+put up all I have offered you against your animal and shoot for them."
+
+"Why, Billy, I don't want to win your pony and money."
+
+"And I don't want you to; but I'll shoot with you for your horse against
+mine and all else I have offered."
+
+The sergeant was a grasping man, and confident of his powers, at last
+assented, and the match was to take place at once.
+
+But the officers learning of it were determined Billy should have fair
+play, and a day was set a week off, and the boy was told to practice
+regularly with both pistol and rifle, for the terms were ten off-hand
+shots with the latter at fifty and one hundred yards, and six shots
+standing with the revolver at fifteen paces and six from horseback, and
+riding at full speed by the target.
+
+Billy at once set to work to practice, though he had confidence in his
+unerring aim, and upon the day of trial came to the fort with a smiling
+face.
+
+Nearly everybody in the fort went out to see the match, and the sergeant
+was called first to toe the mark.
+
+He raised his rifle and his five shots at fifty yards were quickly
+fired.
+
+Billy gave a low whistle, but toed the scratch promptly, and his five
+shots were truer than the sergeant's, and a wild cheer broke from one
+and all.
+
+At one hundred yards the sergeant's shooting was better than the boy's;
+and so it was with the pistol shooting, for when standing the sergeant's
+shots were best, and in riding full speed by the target, Billy's were
+the truest, and it was called a tie.
+
+"How shall we shoot it off, Billy?" asked the sergeant, who seemed
+somewhat nervous.
+
+Billy made no reply, but went to his haversack and took from it an
+apple, and going up to his pony placed him in position, the rein over
+the horn of the saddle.
+
+The apple he then put on the head of the pony, directly between his
+ears, and stepping back while all present closely watched him, he threw
+forward his pistol and fired.
+
+The apple flew into fragments and a wild burst of applause came from all
+sides, while Billy said quietly:
+
+"I've got another apple, sergeant, for you to try the same on Little
+Grey."
+
+"I'll not run the risk, Billy, of killing him, so give in; but I'll win
+him back from you sometime," said the sergeant.
+
+"Any time, sergeant, I'm willing to shoot," replied the boy, and with a
+happy heart he mounted his prize and set off for home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WILD HORSE HUNTING.
+
+
+For several days after Billy Cody got his prize he did nothing but train
+the animal to his use and was delighted to find that Little Grey would
+follow him like a dog wherever he went.
+
+Having all arranged now for his wild horse hunting, he set out one day
+from home to be gone a week or more, he told his mother, and with the
+promise that he would bring her a small fortune soon.
+
+He had already discovered the feeding grounds of the herd, and thither
+he went at once, arriving in the vicinity shortly before dark.
+
+As he had expected, he found the herd, nearly five hundred in number,
+but he kept out of sight of them, as it was so near dark, and camped
+until morning, when he found they had gone up the valley for some miles.
+
+Cautiously he followed them, and getting near unobserved at last made a
+dash upon them.
+
+Into their midst he went and a good horse was picked out and lariated in
+the twinkling of an eye and quickly hoppled and turned loose.
+
+Then another and another, until Billy felt that he had done a pretty
+good day's work.
+
+He had discovered two things, however, and that was that Little Grey
+seemed more than a match for any of the herd with one exception, and
+that one was a large, gaunt-bodied black stallion, that appeared to drop
+him behind without much effort.
+
+"I've got to have him," said Billy, as he returned to his hoppled prizes
+and began to drive them toward the fort.
+
+It was a long and tedious work, but the boy was not impatient and
+reached the fort at last and received his reward, which he at once
+carried to his mother and received her warm congratulations upon his
+first success.
+
+Back to the herd's haunts went Billy, and again he camped for the night,
+but was aroused at dawn by a sound that he at first thought was distant
+thunder.
+
+But his ears soon were undeceived as he sprung to his feet, well knowing
+that it was the herd of wild horses.
+
+Instantly Billy formed his plan of action and mounting Little Grey rode
+into a thicket near by, which wholly concealed him from view.
+
+Here he waited, for he knew that the herd was coming to the river to
+drink, and a cry of delight burst from his lips as he beheld the black
+stallion in the lead.
+
+"It is the horse the settlers call Sable Satan and that belonged to a
+horse thief, father told me, who was shot from his back one night.
+
+"Well, if I can catch him I'll be in luck, and I'll try it, though they
+say he is awful vicious. Be quiet, Gray, or you'll spoil all."
+
+On came the large drove at a trot directly for the river, and a
+beautiful sight it was as they moved forward in solid mass, with flowing
+mane and tail and the rising sun glancing upon every variety of color.
+
+The leader was a perfect beauty, black as ink, with glossy hide and long
+mane and tail--the equine king of the herd.
+
+With his reins well in hand, his lariat ready, and full of excitement,
+Billy waited for the horses to reach the stream, which they entered to
+quench their thirst.
+
+As every head was lowered and the nostrils driven deep into the cool
+waters, out of the thicket dashed the Boy Horse-Hunter, and the
+clattering hoofs startled the drove, and in confusion and fright they
+turned to fly.
+
+Straight as an arrow went the boy toward the black stallion, which
+attempted to dash by with the mass.
+
+But with an unerring hand the lariat was thrown, the coil settled down
+over the haughty head, a tremendous jerk followed, and Sable Satan was
+thrown to the ground.
+
+With an exultant cry Billy sprung from his saddle, and quickly formed a
+"bow-stall"[1] which, when properly made, is more effective than a
+severe curb bit--and placed it upon the animal that was choked beyond
+the power of resistance.
+
+[Footnote 1: A "bow-stall" is formed by taking a turn with a rope or
+lariat between the nostrils and eyes of a horse, and passing one end
+over the head, back of the ears and tied on the opposite side. A second
+noose is then made around the jaws and from this the reins lead back
+toward the rider, who can then thoroughly manage the animal.--THE
+AUTHOR.]
+
+Loosening the lariat around his neck Billy sprung upon the prostrate
+animal, which, with a wild snort bounded to his feet, and with
+prodigious leaps started on after the flying herd, his daring young
+rider firmly seated upon his back.
+
+Finding he could not unseat Billy by bounding, he came to a sudden halt,
+and then reared wildly; but with catlike tenacity the boy clung to him,
+and then Sable Satan mad with rage and fright, attempted to tear him
+from his back with his gleaming teeth.
+
+A severe jerk on the bow-stall however thwarted this, and with a
+maddened cry the splendid prairie king bounded on once more after the
+flying herd, a call to Little Grey from Billy causing him to follow at
+a swift run.
+
+With a speed that was marvelous Sable Satan flew on, directly into the
+drove, the daring young rider still clinging to him, determined to dare
+any danger to keep the animal whose capture had baffled the very best
+horsemen of the plains.
+
+Sweeping through the herd, as though they were stationary, so great was
+his speed, the black stallion soon left them far behind, and glancing
+back Billy saw that Little Grey had not cared to venture into the midst
+of the wild band and was galloping away over the prairies.
+
+Not knowing who might pick him up, and having his rifle, ammunition and
+provisions strapped to his saddle, he determined to go on after Little
+Grey, and at once a fierce fight began between the boy and his horse.
+
+But the boy proved the master, and after a severe struggle the black
+stallion was subdued, and guided by the bow-stall was in full chase of
+Little Grey, while Sable Satan's former subjects were flying away
+northward without their leader.
+
+When in chase of Little Grey, Billy soon discovered the remarkable speed
+of his new capture, for he overhauled his former pet with ease, and now
+thoroughly broken in, the saddle and bridle were transferred to the
+black's back, and exultant over his success the boy rode on to the fort,
+where large sums were offered him for the famous stallion.
+
+But Billy refused each tempting offer, and on Sable Satan set out to
+capture more of the herd, and which he readily succeeded in doing; but
+as the Government offer of ten dollars for the fugitive animals became
+known, there were a number of men starting on the trail of the wild
+mustangs and though Billy got the lion's share, he did not quite realize
+the expected fortune, but was content with the few hundreds he made, and
+the ownership of Sable Satan and Little Grey, the two fastest horses on
+the Kansas prairies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SAVING A FATHER'S LIFE.
+
+
+While in Kansas Mr. Cody became interested in the affairs of the State
+and joined the Free State party, and while making a speech on one
+occasion was deliberately attacked and severely wounded.
+
+He however recovered sufficiently to work on his farm again, but was
+constantly harassed by his old foes, who on several occasions visited
+his home with the intention of hanging him.
+
+On one occasion, when in town, Billy learned of an attack to be made
+upon his father, and mounting Sable Satan rode with all speed out to
+the farm.
+
+He was recognized and hotly pursued; but he got home in time to warn his
+father who took Little Grey and made his escape.
+
+The horsemen, a score in number, came to the farm, and finding Mr. Cody
+gone, the leader struck Billy a severe blow and when he departed carried
+with him Sable Satan.
+
+This almost broke the boy's heart; but he declared he would some day
+regain his horse, and for weeks he tried to do so, but without success.
+
+One night two horsemen came to the Cody farm and again asked for the
+farmer, but were told by Mrs. Cody that he was away.
+
+They would not take her word for it; but thoroughly searched the house,
+after which they forced Billy's sisters to get them some supper.
+
+While they were eating Billy and his father returned, and warned by one
+of the girls, Mr. Cody went up-stairs to bed, for he was quite ill, and
+suffering from the wound he had received.
+
+But Billy went into the kitchen and saw there the very man who had
+struck him the severe blow; and who had taken Sable Satan on his last
+visit.
+
+"Well, boy, that's a good horse I got from you," he said, with a rude
+laugh.
+
+"Yes, he's too good for such a wretch as you are," was the fearless
+reply.
+
+"No lip, boy, or I'll give you a licking you'll remember. By the way,
+where's that old father of yours?" said the man.
+
+Billy made no reply but walked out of the kitchen, to be soon after
+followed by his sister Mary who said anxiously:
+
+"Oh, Will, they say father must have come with you, and they intend to
+search the house again."
+
+"Then I'll go up and tell father," whispered Billy, and up-stairs he
+went.
+
+He found his father asleep, and his mother was seated near him and told
+Billy he had a high fever.
+
+"Then don't wake him, and I'll not let them come up here," said Billy,
+and he went out of the room and took his place at the stairs.
+
+A moment after the two men, both with pistols in their hands, came out
+of the kitchen and started to come up-stairs.
+
+"Stop, Luke Craig, for you can't come up here," said the boy.
+
+With a hoarse laugh the man sprung up the steps to fall back as a pistol
+flashed in his face and roll back to the bottom, knocking his companion
+down too.
+
+But the latter quickly sprung to his feet and dashed out of the house to
+where their horses were hitched.
+
+His horse was a white one, and his comrade's was Sable Satan, and to the
+latter he ran.
+
+But up went the window and in a loud voice Billy cried:
+
+"I've got my rifle on you, and I'll fire if you take my horse."
+
+The man evidently believed that he would, from what he had seen, and
+mounting his own horse dashed swiftly away in the darkness while Billy
+returned to the one he had shot.
+
+He found him badly wounded, but not fatally, and putting him in his
+father's buggy drove him to the nearest doctor, at whose house he
+remained for months before he was well again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+LOVE AND RIVALRY.
+
+
+Finding that Billy was becoming far more accomplished as a rider and
+shot, than in his books, Mrs. Cody determined to send him to a small
+school that was only a few miles away.
+
+Billy, though feeling himself quite a man, yielded to his mother's
+wishes and attended the school, which was presided over by a
+cross-grained Dominie that used the birch with right good earnest and
+seeming delight.
+
+Of course Billy's love of mischief got him many a whipping; but for
+these he did not seem to care until there suddenly appeared in the
+school another pupil in the shape of a young miss just entering her
+teens.
+
+The name of this young lady was Mollie Hyatt, and she was the daughter
+of a well-to-do settler who had lately arrived, and was as pretty as a
+picture.
+
+Billy's handsome face and dark eyes won her young heart, and the
+love-match was going smoothly along until a rival appeared in the field
+in the shape of a youth two years the junior of young Cody, and larger
+and stronger.
+
+These virtues on the part of Master Steve Gobel, with his growing love
+of Mollie, made him very assuming, and he forced his company upon the
+little maid, and had things pretty much his own way, as all the boys
+seemed afraid of him.
+
+As for Billy he let him have his own way for awhile, and then determined
+not to stand it any longer he sought Steve Gobel for a settlement of the
+affair, the result of which was, the teacher hearing them quarreling and
+coming out took the word of young Cody's rival about it, and gave my
+hero a severe whipping before the whole school.
+
+Since his meeting Mollie Hyatt, Billy had been a most exemplary youth,
+never having had a single whipping, and this cut him to the heart so
+deeply that he did not seem to feel the pain of the rod.
+
+And it made him treasure up revenge against Steve Gobel, who was
+laughing at him during the castigation.
+
+The next day Billy built for Mollie a pretty little arbor on the bank of
+the creek, and all admired it greatly excepting Steve Gobel, who, as
+soon as it was finished pulled it down.
+
+Poor Mollie began to cry over her loss, and infuriated at beholding her
+sorrow, Billy rushed upon his rival and a fierce fight at once began
+between them.
+
+Finding that he was no match for the bully in brute strength, and
+suffering under his severe blows, Billy drew from his pocket his knife,
+opened the blade with his teeth, and drove it into the side of his foe,
+who cried out in wild alarm.
+
+Springing to his feet, amid the frightened cries of the children, Billy
+rushed to his pony, drew up the lariat pin, and springing upon his back,
+rode away across the prairie like the wind.
+
+Coming in sight of a wagon-train bound for the West, he rode up to it
+and recognizing the wagon-master as an old friend of his father, he told
+him what had occurred, and that he feared he had killed Steve Gobel.
+
+"Served him right, Billy, and we'll just go into camp, take the boys
+along, and go over and clean out the house o' l'arnin'," was the blunt
+reply of the wagon-master.
+
+But this Billy would not bear to, and the wagon-master said:
+
+"Well, my boy, I'm bound with the train to Fort Kearney, so come along
+with me, and I'll make a man of you."
+
+"But what will my mother think of me?"
+
+"Oh! I'll send a man back with word to her, while you stay, for I won't
+give you up to that boy's friends."
+
+And thus it was settled; a man rode back to the Cody farm, and the
+following day he overtook the train again, and Billy's heart was made
+glad by a letter from his mother telling him that Steve Gobel was not
+badly wounded, but that under the circumstances he had better go on with
+the wagon-master and remain away until the anger of the Gobel family
+cooled down.
+
+Thus, as a Boy Bullwhacker, Billy made his first trip across the plains,
+and months after, upon his return home, found that the Gobels had
+forgiven the past, and that Mary Hyatt had, little coquette that she
+was, found another beau.
+
+But shortly after his return his father died, and having to aid in the
+support of his mother and sisters, Billy accepted a position as herder
+for a drove of Government cattle to be driven to the Army of General
+Albert Sydney Johnson, that was marching against the Mormons at Salt
+Lake.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+KILLING HIS FIRST INDIAN.
+
+
+When the train and beef-herd, with which Billy Cody had gone, arrived in
+the vicinity of old Fort Kearney their first serious adventure occurred,
+and for a while the boy thought of his mother's prediction, that he
+"would be killed or captured by Indians."
+
+Not expecting an attack from red-skins in that vicinity, the party had
+camped for dinner, and most of them were enjoying a _siesta_ under
+the wagons, Billy being among the latter number, while but three men
+were on duty as herders.
+
+But suddenly they were aroused by shots, wild yells, and rapid
+hoof-falls, and down upon them dashed a band of mounted warriors, while
+others had killed the three guards and the cattle were stampeding in
+every direction. But the train hands quickly sprung to their feet,
+rallied promptly for the fight, and met the advancing red-skins with a
+volley from their Mississippi yagers, which were loaded with ball and
+buck-shot, and checked their advance.
+
+Knowing that they could not hold out there the train-master called out:
+
+"Boys, make a run for the river, and the banks will protect us."
+
+All started, when Billy called out:
+
+"Don't let us leave these wounded boys."
+
+They turned at his word, to find that two of their number had been
+wounded, one seriously in the side and the other in the leg.
+
+Raising them in their arms they started at a run for the bank, ere the
+Indians had rallied from the fire that met them, and reached it in
+safety, though the man who had been shot in the side was dead ere they
+got there.
+
+A short consultation was then held, and it was decided to make their way
+back to Fort Kearney, by wading in the river and keeping the bank as a
+breast work.
+
+A raft of poles was constructed for the wounded man, and the party
+started down the stream, protected by the bank, and keeping the Indians
+at bay with their guns, for they followed them up closely.
+
+As night came on, utterly worn out with wading and walking, Billy
+dropped behind the others; but trudged manfully along until he was
+suddenly startled by a dark object coming down over the bank.
+
+It was moonlight, and he saw the plumed head and buckskin-clad form of
+an Indian, who, in peering over the bank to reconnoiter had lost his
+balance, or the earth had given way, and sent him down into the stream.
+
+He caught sight of Billy as he was sliding down, and gave a wild
+war-whoop, which was answered by a shot from the boy's rifle, for though
+taken wholly by surprise he did not lose his presence of mind.
+
+Hearing the war-whoop and the shot, and at the same time missing Billy,
+the men came running back and found him dragging the red-skin along in
+the stream after him.
+
+"It's my Injun, boys," he cried exultantly.
+
+"It are fer a fact, an' I'll show yer how ter take his scalp," replied
+Frank McCarthy the train-master, and he skillfully cut off the
+scalp-lock and handed it to Billy, adding:
+
+"Thar, thet is yer first scalp, boy, an' I'm willin' ter swear it won't
+be yer last, for Billy, you is ther boss boy I ever see."
+
+Billy thanked McCarthy for the gory trophy, gave a slight shudder as he
+took it, and said significantly:
+
+"I ain't so tired as I was, and I guess I'll keep up with you all now,
+for if the bank hadn't caved in that Injun would have had me."
+
+At daylight they came in sight of Kearney, and after a volley or two at
+the Indians still dogging their steps, made for the fort and reached it
+in safety.
+
+The commanding officer at once sent out a force in pursuit of the
+red-skins; but they neither found them or the cattle they had driven
+off.
+
+After a short stay at Fort Kearney Billy returned with a train to
+Leavenworth, where the papers dubbed him the "Boy Indian-Killer," and
+made a hero of him for his exploit on the South Platte.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WINNING A NAME.
+
+
+When Billy returned home, after his first Indian-killing expedition, he
+carried with him the pay of a bullwhacker, and all of it he placed in
+his mother's hands, for the death of Mr. Cody had left the family in
+indigent circumstances.
+
+Finding that she could not keep Billy at home when he had found out that
+by his exertions, boy though he was, he could support the family, Mrs.
+Cody gave a reluctant consent for him to make another trip to the far
+West under an old and experienced wagon-master named Lew Simpson, and
+who had taken a great fancy to the youthful Indian-fighter.
+
+Bill was accordingly enlisted as an "extra," which meant that he was to
+receive full pay and be on hand ready to take the place of any one of
+the train that was killed, wounded, or got sick.
+
+The wagon train pulled out of Leavenworth, all heavily freighted, each
+one carrying about six thousand pounds weight, and each also drawn by
+four yoke of oxen under charge of a driver, or "bullwhacker."
+
+The train consisted of twenty-five wagons, under Lew Simpson, then an
+assistant wagon-master, next Billy, the "extra," a night herder, a
+cavallard driver, whose duty was driving the loose and lame cattle, and
+the bullwhacker for each team.
+
+All were armed with _yagers_ and Colt's revolvers, and each man had
+a horse along, Billy's being Sable Satan, still as good as the day he
+captured him, and a piece of equine property all envied the boy the
+possession of; in fact there were several of the men who swore they
+would yet have the horse.
+
+"I guess not, pards; the boy caught that horse wild on the prairies, and
+the man that lays hands on him settles with me."
+
+The speaker was J.B. Hickok, known to the world as "Wild Bill," and upon
+that trail he and William F. Cody for the first time met.
+
+Wild Bill was assistant wagon-master on that trip, and all knew him so
+well that the idea of possessing Sable Satan by unfair means was at once
+given up and Billy felt secure in his treasure, for such the horse was,
+as his equal for speed and bottom had not been found on the plains.
+
+As an "extra hand" Billy had nothing to do while the bullwhackers kept
+in good health, and no Indians were met with, so became the hunter of
+the train, keeping it well supplied with fresh meats and wild fowl.
+
+It was upon one of these hunts that Billy won the name of Buffalo Billy,
+though afterward it was shortened by dropping the _y_ after proving
+himself the champion buffalo-killer on the plains.
+
+Dismounting from Sable Satan to cut up an antelope he had shot, he was
+suddenly startled by seeing his horse bound away over the prairie.
+
+Springing to his feet he at once discovered the cause, for over a
+distant roll of the prairie a herd of thousands of buffaloes were coming
+at terrific speed.
+
+One chance of escape alone presented itself and that was a lone
+cottonwood tree standing some few hundred yards distant.
+
+In all the prairie around not another tree was visible, and Billy had
+noticed this lone sentinel as he was creeping up for a shot at the
+antelope.
+
+At full speed he rushed for the tree and hastily climbed it, securing a
+safe seat amid its branches, while yet the herd was some distance away.
+
+But glancing back over the huge drove to his horse he beheld a band of
+mounted warriors in full chase.
+
+The center of the herd was headed directly for the tree, and the Indians
+were so following that they must come directly under it.
+
+If discovered Billy knew well what his fate would be. The Indians would
+give up buffalo meat for a human scalp.
+
+These thoughts flashed through the boy's mind, and he at once decided
+what he would do.
+
+To remain, was certain death at the hands of the red-skins.
+
+To leave, as he intended, by the means of a buffalo was a fearful risk.
+
+But he would take it; and accordingly strapped his rifle upon his back,
+picked out his buffalo, a huge bull, and swinging quickly from a limb,
+watched his chance and dropped down upon the back of his choice.
+
+Clutching the long, shaggy mane he clung for dear life, at the same time
+holding himself on with his spurs.
+
+Maddened with fright the bull bounded into the air, snorted wildly,
+gored those in the advance and soon led the herd.
+
+Billy kept his seat nobly, a grim smile upon his face, and occasionally
+glanced backward at the herd and the pursuing Indians.
+
+And straight for camp went the herd, until discovered by the train men,
+who started out in force to head them off.
+
+But pell-mell into camp they went, stampeding the oxen and horses and
+frightening the men, and Billy began to feel that he must keep on his
+racer clear to the hills.
+
+But the animal was tired out now and had dropped to the rear of the
+herd, and Wild Bill, seeing his young friend, raised his rifle and
+dropped the buffalo bull just as he was running out of camp.
+
+From that day the boy was known as Buffalo Billy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+CAPTURED BY DANITES.
+
+
+With the usual adventures incident to a trip across the plains, an
+occasional fight with Indians, and several grand hunts, the train at
+last arrived near Green River in the Rocky Mountains.
+
+Billy, Lew Simpson and another of the train had dropped back during the
+afternoon for a hunt, and upon drawing near the place where they were to
+encamp, were surprised to discover a band of horsemen coming toward
+them, whom they observed, however, to be white men.
+
+Suspecting no harm from those of their own race, they rode forward, and,
+as they met, were startled to hear:
+
+"Up with your hands! You are dead men if you resist!"
+
+"Who are you?" asked Lew Simpson, angrily.
+
+"Joe Smith, the Danite," was the calm reply of that leader.
+
+"If I had known you were that accursed scoundrel I'd have shot you,"
+growled Lew Simpson.
+
+"Am awful glad you did not know it; but come, you are my prisoners, and
+your train is in my power," was the reply, and upon arriving at camp
+they found that it was but too true, for the boys had not suspected
+danger from men they had believed a party of United States cavalry.
+
+The Danite leader, Joe Smith, then ordered all that could be packed on
+horses to be taken and the wagons set on fire, and told the train men to
+set out on foot for Fort Bridger, saying:
+
+"You can reach there, but I guess Albert Sydney Johnson and his troops
+will never get the supplies."
+
+The train was burned, all but one wagon, which carried supplies for the
+men, and armed only with their revolvers, they were ordered away by the
+Danites.
+
+But Buffalo Billy was not one to see his splendid horse go without
+remonstrance, and, as begging did no good, offered to take him upon any
+terms he could get him on.
+
+"Boy, ain't you the one who killed Hugh Hall in Kansas some time ago?"
+asked the man who had Billy's horse.
+
+"I am."
+
+"Well, I owe you one, for he was my pard, and you got me run out of the
+country by your work, so I'm willing to be even by keeping your horse."
+
+"I'll fight you for him," said Billy, fiercely.
+
+"What with, boy, fists or knives?"
+
+"You are a fool to talk that way, for you weigh double what I do; but
+I'll fight you for the horse with rifle or pistol."
+
+The train men tried to dissuade Billy from this determination, for they
+saw the Danite was anxious to take him at his word, and to kill him; but
+he had made the offer and the Mormon urged it on, and the arrangements
+were made to fight with pistols at fifty paces, walking on each other
+and firing until one fell.
+
+They at once took their stands and Joe Smith gave the word, saying in a
+low tone before doing so:
+
+"He's a boy in years; but he must be got rid of."
+
+At the word the Danite advanced at a rapid walk firing; but Buffalo
+Billy stood still, and waited until he had received four shots, all
+coming dangerously near, when he suddenly threw his revolver to a level
+and drew trigger.
+
+At the flash the man fell, shot in the leg, and the duel ended.
+
+But the Danites would not give up the horse, saying that a wounded man
+could not continue the fight, and as Billy had not killed his foe, the
+animal could not be claimed by them.
+
+Wild Bill and Lew Simpson roundly cursed Joe Smith and his Danites for a
+set of thieves, while Billy said sadly:
+
+"Good-by, Sable, old fellow, good-by."
+
+As he spoke he went up to his splendid horse, that stood saddled near,
+and throwing himself upon his back, with a defiant yell, bounded away
+like an arrow from the bow.
+
+The Danites opened a perfect fusilade of pistol-shots upon the boy, but
+they flew harmlessly by him, and a number mounted and gave pursuit in
+hot haste.
+
+But Sable Satan left them far behind and they gave up the chase, while
+Billy hung about until the train-men came along, and joined them,
+receiving from one and all the highest praise for his daring escape.
+
+Some days after the disconsolate train-men reached Fort Bridger, to find
+that other trains than theirs had been robbed by the Danites.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A HOT INDIAN FIGHT.
+
+
+As it was late in the fall Lew Simpson and his men were compelled to
+winter at the fort, where there were a number of troops and train
+employees of Russell, Majors and Waddell, who were formed into military
+companies, officered by wagon-masters.
+
+As Wild Bill was placed in command of the battalion of train-men, he
+made Buffalo Billy an _aide-de camp_ and the boy devoted himself
+assiduously to the duties devolving upon him, and before the long and
+tedious winter passed was forced to experience hardships of the severest
+kind, as the garrison had to live on mule meat, and haul wood from the
+distant mountains themselves, their animals having been served up as
+food.
+
+In the spring Simpson started east with a train, and Buffalo Bill
+accompanied him as hunter for the men, his well known marksmanship and
+skill in securing game readily getting for him that position.
+
+One day Lew Simpson and an "extra hand" accompanied him on one of his
+hunting expeditions, and to their surprise they came upon a band of
+Indians coming out of a canyon not far from them.
+
+They were out on the prairie, and knowing that they could not escape on
+their mules, Simpson and the extra told Billy to ride off on Sable Satan
+and save himself.
+
+But this the boy would not do, saying that he would remain with them.
+
+"Then your horse must go with our mules," said Simpson.
+
+"All right, Lew," said Billy, though the tears came into his eyes.
+
+Telling them to dismount, just as they came to a buffalo wallow, Lew
+Simpson said:
+
+"Now, give 'em a shot just back of the ears."
+
+The shots were fired, Billy shutting his eyes as he pulled the trigger,
+and Sable Satan and the two mules dropped dead in their tracks.
+
+In an instant they were dragged into position, so as to form a
+triangular fort, and getting into the wallow, with their knives the
+three threw up the dirt as rapidly as possible to make their position
+safer.
+
+By this time the Indians, some half hundred in number, were rushing upon
+them with wildest yells.
+
+But crouching down in their little fort of flesh and dirt, Lew Simpson
+and his man and boy comrade leveled their rifles over the bodies of the
+slain animals, and, as the bowling red-skins came within sixty yards,
+fired together.
+
+Down went three Indians, and while Lew Simpson reloaded the yagers Billy
+and George Woods fired with their revolvers with such right good will
+the Indians were checked in their advance and turned to retreat out of
+range, followed by three more shots from the yagers.
+
+Five Indians and four ponies were the result of this fight, and it gave
+the holders of the triangular fort confidence in themselves.
+
+But the Indians did not give up the attack, but circled around and
+around the fort, firing upon the defenders with their arrows, and
+slightly wounding all three of them, while the bodies of the mules and
+horse were literally filled with shafts.
+
+After a few rides around their pale-face foes, the Indians suddenly
+charged again, coming from every quarter, and forcing the whites to each
+defend the space in his front.
+
+With demoniacal yells they came on once more, and once more the yagers
+opened, and then were thrown aside for the rapidly firing revolvers
+which did fearful execution.
+
+Glancing toward Billy Lew Simpson saw that he was perfectly cool and had
+a revolver in each hand, although his shirt was saturated with blood
+from the arrow wound in his shoulder.
+
+Unable to understand, or stand the hot fire of the revolvers, they again
+broke, when within twenty yards of the fort and rode off rapidly out of
+range.
+
+"You got three that time, Billy," cried Lew Simpson gleefully, as he saw
+a trio of red-skins scattered along in the front of the boy.
+
+Billy smiled grimly and reloaded his weapons, after which Lew Simpson
+dressed the wounds of his comrades, who returned a like favor for him.
+
+But the Indians had by no means gone, for they had gone into camp in a
+circle around their foes, but well out of range of the fearful
+Mississippi yagers.
+
+The three defenders in the mean time improved their opportunity to
+strengthen their fort with dirt and dig a deeper space within, while
+they also lunched upon their scanty supply of food.
+
+"They'll starve us out if they can't take us by charging," said Simpson.
+
+"They can't starve me as long as your mule holds out, Lew, for I won't
+eat poor Sable; it would choke me," replied Billy.
+
+"Well, mule meat's good," said Woods.
+
+"Yes, when there ain't anything else to eat, but I prefer buff'ler or
+Injun," was Billy's response.
+
+"We may have to eat Injun yet," laughed Lew Simpson.
+
+All made a wry face at this supposition and again prepared to meet a
+charge, for the red-skins were coming down in column.
+
+But again they were checked with loss, and Billy's shot brought down the
+chief.
+
+Darkness coming on, the Indians formed in line as though to ride away,
+when Lew Simpson said:
+
+"They must take us for durned fools not to know that they won't leave
+their dead unburied, and that they think they can draw us out. No, here
+is where we live until the boys from the train come to look us up."
+
+During the night the Indians, finding their foes would not leave their
+fort, set the grass on fire to burn them out.
+
+But it was too scanty to burn well and only made a smoke, under cover of
+which they once more advanced, to be once more driven back.
+
+With the morning they showed that their intention was to starve them out
+for they went into a regular camp in a circle upon the prairie.
+
+But during the afternoon a party of horsemen appeared in sight, and the
+three hungry, suffering, half-starved defenders gave a yell of delight,
+which the red-skins answered with howls of disappointed rage as they
+hastily mounted their ponies and fled.
+
+The train-men soon came up and were wild in their enthusiasm over the
+brave defense made, while the fort came in for general praise, although
+one and all deeply regretted Sable Satan's sad end, though his death had
+served a good purpose.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+BOY TRAPPERS' ADVENTURES.
+
+
+It was a proud day for Buffalo Billy when he returned home and was
+welcomed by his mother and sisters, to whom he gave all of his earnings,
+which were considerable, as his pay had been liberal.
+
+The neighborhood, hearing from members of the train of Billy's exploits,
+for he was very close-mouthed about what he had done, made a hero of
+him, and many a pretty girl of seventeen regretted that the boy was not
+a man grown, to have him for a lover.
+
+But Billy's restless nature would not allow him to remain idle at home,
+so he joined a party of trappers who were going to trap the streams of
+the Laramie and Chugwater for otter, beaver and other animals possessing
+valuable fur, as well as to shoot wolves for their pelts.
+
+This expedition did not prove very profitable, and not wishing to return
+home without enough furs to bring a fair sum, Buffalo Billy joined a
+young man, only a few years his senior, by the name of Dave Harrington,
+and the two started off for the Republican.
+
+Their outfit consisted of a wagon and yoke of oxen, for the
+transportation of their supplies and pelts, and they began trapping in
+the vicinity of Junction City, Kansas, and went up the Republican to
+Prairie Dog creek, where they found plenty of beaver.
+
+While catching a large number of beavers, one day they returned to camp
+to find one of their oxen had fallen over a precipice and killed
+himself, and they were left without a team.
+
+But the Boy Trappers, for Dave Harrington was not eighteen, determined
+to trap on through the winter, and in the spring one of them would go
+for a team to haul back their wagon.
+
+Ill fortune seemed however to dog their steps as trappers, for one day,
+while chasing elk, Buffalo Billy fell and broke his leg, and Dave
+Harrington had to carry him to camp.
+
+Here was a sad predicament, for the nearest settlement was one hundred
+miles distant.
+
+But Dave set the leg as skillfully as he could, built a "dug-out," for
+the wounded boy to live in, filled it with wood and provisions, and then
+set out to procure a yoke of oxen and sled to return for Billy and their
+pelts.
+
+The "dug-out," was a hole in the side of a bank, covered with poles,
+grass and sod, and with a fire-place in one end, and a bunk near it, was
+by no means uncomfortable; but the prospect of remaining there for a
+month alone, for it would take Harrington that time to go and return
+through the deep snow, was by no means a pleasant prospect for a boy
+under fourteen, and with a broken leg.
+
+Dave started the following morning on foot, and Billy was left alone,
+helpless, and in the solitude of the mountain wilds.
+
+To throw wood on the fire was a painful effort for him, and to move so
+as to cook his food was torture, and boys of his age can well feel for
+him in distress and loneliness.
+
+But Buffalo Billy was made of stern stuff, and knew not what fear was;
+but who can picture the thoughts that were constantly in his young
+brain, when the winds were sweeping through the pines at night, the
+wolves were howling about his door, and the sleet and snow was almost
+continually falling.
+
+It were enough to drive a strong man mad, let alone a boy.
+
+But he stood it bravely, each day however counting with longing heart
+the hours that went so slowly by, and hoping for his comrade's return.
+
+"Perhaps he has been frozen to death."
+
+That was his thought one day about Harrington.
+
+The next it was:
+
+"I wonder if he has not lost his way?"
+
+Again it was:
+
+"I fear the Indians may have killed him."
+
+When Dave had been gone about two weeks, Buffalo Billy was startled one
+day from a sound nap, to see an Indian standing by his side.
+
+He was in full war-paint and feathers, which showed he was on the
+war-path, and Billy felt that it was all over with him.
+
+Speaking to him in Sioux, which the boy understood, he asked:
+
+"What pale-face boy do here?"
+
+"My leg is broken."
+
+"What for come here?"
+
+"To get furs."
+
+"This red-skin country?"
+
+This laconic assertion Billy could not contradict, so he wisely held his
+peace.
+
+"Let see leg," came next.
+
+Billy showed him the bandaged limb, which was broken between the knee
+and ankle.
+
+Just then another Indian entered whom Billy recognized, as having seen
+before, and whom he knew to be the great Sioux Chief, Rain-in-the-Face.
+
+Billy called him by name, and he kept back the warriors, who were about
+to end the boy's life then and there.
+
+"Boy pale-face know chief?" asked Rain-in-the-Face.
+
+"Yes, I saw you at Fort Laramie, and gave you a knife," said Billy with
+hope in his heart.
+
+"Ugh! chief don't forget; have knife here," and he showed a knife which
+he had doubtless often used upon the scalps of pale-faces.
+
+"What pale-face boy do here?"
+
+Billy told him.
+
+"Where friend?"
+
+"Gone after team."
+
+"When come back?"
+
+Billy was afraid to tell him the truth, so said:
+
+"In two moons."
+
+"Long time."
+
+"Yes; but do your young men intend to kill me?"
+
+"Me have talk and see."
+
+The Indians then held a council together, and Billy could see that the
+chances were against him; but old Rain-in-the-Face triumphed in the end,
+and said:
+
+"As pale-face boy is only pappoose, my young men not kill him."
+
+Billy had often longed to be a man; but now he was happy that he was a
+boy, and answered:
+
+"Yes, I am only a little pappoose."
+
+"Him heap bad pappoose, me remember," said Rain-in-the-Face, recalling
+some of the jokes the boy played at Fort Laramie.
+
+The Indians then unsaddled their ponies and camped at the dug-out for
+two days, and when they left they carried with them the sugar and
+coffee, Billy's rifle and one revolver, and most of the ammunition,
+besides what cooking utensils they needed.
+
+Then old Rain-in-the-Face bade the boy good-by, and they rode off
+without poor Billy's blessing following them.
+
+Hardly had they gone before a severe snow-storm sprung up, and it was
+hard indeed for the crippled boy to get wood enough to build a fire, for
+the red-skins had put it out before leaving.
+
+The wolves, seemingly understanding how helpless the boy was, scratched
+at the door, and ran over the roof of the dug-out, at the same time
+howling viciously; but Billy frightened them off with an occasional
+shot, and resigned himself to his lonely fate.
+
+But at last a month passed away, and with its end appeared brave Dave
+Harrington.
+
+He had passed through innumerable dangers, but had at last come back in
+safety, and brought with him an ox-team.
+
+Never in his life had Buffalo Billy felt the joy of that moment, and,
+though not a boy given to showing his feelings, he burst into tears of
+delight.
+
+As it was impossible to at once return, on account of the very great
+depth of the snow, Dave told Billy they would wait until spring, as he
+had plenty of provisions, and that fur animals were plenty.
+
+As soon as the snow began to melt Dave got his traps in, collected his
+pelts, which numbered a thousand, and putting them on the wagon, so as
+to serve as a bed for Billy, started his oxen homeward.
+
+After twelve days they reached the ranch where Dave had purchased the
+oxen, paid in furs for the team, and started on to Junction City.
+Arriving there they sold their team, wagon and furs, the latter bringing
+them about two hundred and fifty dollars, a handsome sum for each when
+divided, and which made Billy's heart glad to take home with him, for it
+paid off a mortgage on his mother's farm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+BUFFALO BILLY STRIKES IT RICH.
+
+
+It was months before Billy obtained perfect use of his broken leg and
+was able to throw his crutches aside; but when he did do so it was with
+a glad heart, for once more he longed to be upon the plains.
+
+Hearing of a rich discovery of gold in Colorado, he joined a party of
+miners that were bound there, and, reaching the mining camps, staked out
+a claim and began work.
+
+He was the youngest person in the mines, in fact the only boy there, and
+with many he was a great favorite; but there were a few men there who
+sought to impose upon him on account of his youth.
+
+This treatment Buffalo Billy was not the person to stand, and the result
+was one of his foes struck him one night without the slightest cause.
+
+The result was a general row, for Billy's friends at once backed him in
+resenting the blow, and, though the fracas lasted but a few minutes,
+there were several burials next day as the result.
+
+Of course this made Billy more disliked by those who, without reason,
+had become his foes, and to add to their dislike, he one day struck a
+rich vein that promised to pan out well in ore.
+
+A few days he toiled in his lead, laying up considerable sums by his
+work, and one morning, as he went to his mine, he found it occupied by
+two rough-looking men whom he did not remember to have ever seen before.
+
+"Well, pards, I guess you're up the wrong tree," he said, pleasantly.
+
+"I guesses not; this are our lead," said one, rudely.
+
+"How do you make that out?"
+
+"We staked it months ago, and was called away, and now we has returned
+to it."
+
+"Well, I believe you both to be lying, and until you prove it's your
+claim you can't have it," was the bold reply.
+
+"Who's goin' ter say no?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"You!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who is you?"
+
+"I am named William Frederick Cody."
+
+"You has handle enough."
+
+"I have more than that."
+
+"Waal."
+
+"I'm called Buffalo Billy."
+
+"We has heer'd o' you as a chap as has too much cheek fer one so young."
+
+"Then if you know me you will understand that though I am but a boy I
+won't let you walk away with my claim."
+
+"Get out, boy."
+
+Billy obeyed; that is he went down to the camps and consulted his
+friends about what was best for him to do.
+
+"We'll go up and call in their chips, Billy," was the universal
+decision.
+
+"No, let us find out if the claim is theirs," said Billy.
+
+"Find out nothin'; they has no right to it and 'tain't justice."
+
+So up to the mine they went, and Billy's friends recognized the two
+claimants of the mine as two worthless fellows who had been in the
+valley months before, but who had no claim upon the boy's property.
+
+"You must git!"
+
+That was the decision; but just then others came up who sided with the
+desperadoes and things looked very scary for awhile, for half the crowd
+swore that the mine had belonged to the two claimants to it and that
+Billy ought to give it up.
+
+But these were the men who disliked Billy and his party, as they were
+the honest miners, and who were willing to side with his foes.
+
+"Ef ther boy wants ther mine he will hev to fight fer it," said one.
+
+"He will fight for it and so will we!" cried one of Billy's friends.
+
+All this time Billy had remained silent; but now he saw that his friends
+were in deadly earnest, and to prevent a general fight and much loss of
+life he said:
+
+"The mine I own legally and I'll fight for it if that will settle it,
+but I don't want to have to fight both of you."
+
+"Oh, but you must though," said one.
+
+"If I must, I'll do it."
+
+"But you shall not, Billy. These two devils only want to murder you so
+they can get the mine, and they sha'n't do it."
+
+This was said by Billy's best pard and the others who liked the boy
+backed him up in his words, and pistols were drawn on both sides and the
+slightest act now all knew would cause trouble.
+
+"If they'll fight me with revolvers and separately I'll be willing,"
+said Billy, hastily, anxious to avert the trouble.
+
+"Waal, we'll do that, so sail in," said one.
+
+"No, not this way, you accursed coward, but go off there, stand with
+your back to the boy, as he will to you, and twenty paces apart, and at
+a word wheel and fire," cried Billy's friend.
+
+This seemed fair and all agreed to it, and the man and the boy were
+placed in position, Billy pale but calm.
+
+The other side won the word to wheel and fire, and though the man tried
+to aid his friend in giving it, Buffalo Billy was too quick for him and
+fired a second in advance of his adversary.
+
+But that second was enough, for the bullet went straight to the heart of
+the one at which it was aimed, while his shot flew wild.
+
+A yell burst from Billy's friends as they rushed forward while his foes
+were bringing up their other man.
+
+But just then a stranger rode up, and leveling a pistol at the second
+claimant for the mine said sternly:
+
+"Dick Malone, my gallows-bird, I arrest you in the name of the law."
+
+The stranger was a United States detective, and the one he arrested an
+escaped convict.
+
+This ended the fight for the mine; but after a few days' longer work
+in it Billy found that the vein panned out badly, and selling out his
+interest in it returned to his home once more, convinced that mining was
+not his forte, though he certainly had dug out enough of the yellow ore
+to prove to his mother that he had not been idle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE YOUNG GUIDE.
+
+
+The next time that Buffalo Billy left home it was in the capacity of
+assistant guide to a train of emigrants that were going to the far West
+to settle.
+
+In Leavenworth one night he met in a common assembling room for all
+classes of men, a man who was Train Boss, or captain, and who was going
+to the West to raise cattle and also to farm.
+
+His train, consisting of some thirty families, was encamped out of town
+resting and fitting up for the renewal of the march, and he had come
+into Leavenworth to secure a competent guide, the one who had been
+acting as such having been taken very ill.
+
+He had just secured the services of a young man who professed to know
+the country well though he was a stranger in Leavenworth, and fearing an
+accident might deprive him of his services too, the captain was looking
+around for an assistant when he came upon Billy.
+
+He liked the boy from the first, but feared, on account of his youth,
+that he might not be competent for the position, until assured by
+several teamsters that he was fully so, and consequently he engaged
+Billy at a fair salary.
+
+The chief guide, who called himself Roy Velvet, Billy had never met,
+until the morning the train rolled out of camp on its way westward, and
+from the very first he did not like him.
+
+He was a handsome, but dissipated looking young man, dressed like a
+dandy, was more than thoroughly armed, and rode a superb bay mare.
+
+He smiled when Captain Luke Denham, the Train Boss, introduced Billy as
+an assistant guide, and said sneeringly:
+
+"I guess he won't be of much use ten miles away from Leavenworth,
+captain."
+
+Billy made no reply, but kept up considerable thinking, and set to work
+at his duties.
+
+For some days the train went on finely, and all felt the new guide knew
+his business; but then there came some stormy days, it was hard
+traveling, several times the train had to make a dry camp, and once they
+were attacked by Indians, until some of the old teamsters felt confident
+that Roy Velvet had lost the way.
+
+Yet on they plodded until at last the nature of the country was such
+that it was difficult for the train to travel, while, to add to their
+discomfort and fears, a large band of Indians were hovering near them.
+
+"Well, Velvet, where will you find a camping place to-night?" asked
+Captain Denham, riding forward and joining the guide.
+
+"Oh! I'll find a good place, and only a short distance ahead; after that
+the country will be all right for traveling," was the quiet answer.
+
+"I don't believe it, for it has not that look."
+
+"Then ask the assistant guide," was the stern reply.
+
+"I would, but he is not with the train, and has not been seen since last
+night."
+
+"Perhaps he got out of sight of the train and couldn't find his way
+back," sneered the guide.
+
+"Oh no! that boy knows what he is about, and I'll trust him for it."
+
+"Well, yonder is the camp," and Roy Velvet pointed to a little meadow
+not far distant, through which ran a deep stream, and beyond and
+overshadowing it, was a range of bold hills.
+
+"It's a pleasant spot indeed, and I guess we'll halt a day or two," said
+the captain, and he gave orders for the train to encamp.
+
+But suddenly up dashed Billy Cody, mounted upon a large horse no one had
+ever seen him ride before, and it was evident that he had been riding
+hard.
+
+"Captain Denham, don't camp there, sir, for you place yourself at the
+mercy of the renegades and Indians that are dogging your trail," he said
+hastily.
+
+"I am the guide, boy, and have selected the camp," sternly answered Roy
+Velvet.
+
+"And you are my prisoner, Roy Velvet," and quicker than a flash the
+revolver of Buffalo Billy covered his heart.
+
+Roy Velvet turned very pale, but said:
+
+"Are you mad, boy?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Billy, what is the matter?" asked Captain Denham, while the teamsters
+and settlers gathered quickly around.
+
+"Tie that man and I will tell you."
+
+"But, Billy--"
+
+"Tie him, captain, or I shall shoot him, for I know who and what he is,"
+cried Billy, and his manner, his charge against the chief guide, his
+mysterious absence from the train for eighteen hours, and his return
+upon a strange horse, proved to all that he did know something
+detrimental to Roy Velvet.
+
+"Speak, Billy, and if you know aught against this man, tell us," said
+the captain.
+
+"Disarm him then for he is a tricky devil."
+
+"Captain Denham, will you permit that boy to cover me with his revolver
+and hurl insult upon me?" cried the guide.
+
+"As you will not do as I ask I will do it myself," and Billy rode up to
+the guide, still holding his cocked revolver upon him, and deliberately
+took from his belt his revolvers and knife.
+
+"You are so sly, so soft in your cunning, Velvet, that I'll be on the
+safe side," said Billy with a smile, as he felt over the man for another
+weapon.
+
+"Ah! I'll take this Derringer from your breast pocket," and out he drew
+the concealed weapon.
+
+"Now, captain, I'll introduce to you Red Reid, the Renegade Chief."
+
+All were astonished at this charge made by Billy against the guide, for
+Red Reid was one of the vilest road-agents that infested the overland
+trails to the West, and had robbed and murdered many a train of
+emigrants, and of Government supplies.
+
+He was known also to be in league with the red-skins, and had them for
+allies, when his own force of renegades was not large enough to make a
+successful attack.
+
+"He lies! I am not that monster," shouted the guide as white as a
+corpse.
+
+"I do not lie, sir; from the first I did not like you, and knowing that
+you were going off the regular trail west I watched you.
+
+"I have seen you, at night, slip out of camp and meet Indians, and last
+night I followed the one you met.
+
+"I overtook him on the prairies, after a hard chase, and he shot my
+horse; but I shot him and found he was a white man in Indian disguise,
+and more, before he died he recognized me, for he was once my father's
+friend, but went to the bad.
+
+"He told me who and what you were, and when he died to-day I mounted his
+horse and came on after the train, for I knew you were going to lead
+them here to attack this very night with your band that is not far
+away."
+
+The story of Billy made a deep impression upon the train people, and
+the result was that Roy Velvet was seized, bound, and hanged to a tree
+within fifteen minutes, and the boy who had saved them from death was
+made chief guide.
+
+At once he led them out of the dangerous locality where they could be
+ambushed and attacked, and the truth of the charge against Roy Velvet
+was sustained by the attack of the supposed Indians upon their camp;
+for, when driven off and the dead examined, a number of white men were
+found in the red paint and dress of Indian warriors.
+
+Without difficulty Buffalo Billy led the train on to its destination,
+proving himself thereby a perfect guide, and after a short stop in the
+new settlement, he returned with a Government train bound East, and
+again was warmly welcomed "home again."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+THE PONY EXPRESS RIDER.
+
+
+One day when he had ridden into Leavenworth Buffalo Billy met his old
+friend, Wild Bill, who was fitting out a train with supplies for the
+Overland Stage Company, and he was at once persuaded to join him in the
+trip West going as assistant wagon-master.
+
+Putting a man on his mother's farm to take care of it, for as a farmer
+Billy was not a success, he bade his mother and sisters farewell and
+once more was on his way toward the land of the setting sun.
+
+Having been at home for several months, for his mother not being in the
+enjoyment of good health he hated to leave her, Billy had been attending
+school, and had been a hard student, while in the eyes of his fellow
+pupils, girls and boys alike, he was a hero of heroes.
+
+On his trip West with Wild Bill he had carried his books, and often in
+camp he had whiled away the time in studying, until he was asked if he
+was reading for a lawyer or a preacher.
+
+But when well away from civilization his books were cast aside for his
+rifle, and he was constantly in the saddle supplying the train with
+game.
+
+Without any particular adventures the train arrived in due season at
+Atchison, and there so much was said about Pony Riding on the Overland
+that Buffalo Billy decided to volunteer as a rider.
+
+Resigning his position with the train, Mr. Russell gave him a warm
+letter to Alf Slade, a noted personage on the frontier, and to him Billy
+went.
+
+Slade was then stage agent for the Julesberg and Rocky Ridge Division,
+with his head-quarters at Horseshoe, nearly forty miles west of Fort
+Laramie, and there Billy found him and presented his letter.
+
+Slade read the letter, looked Billy carefully over, and said:
+
+"I would like to oblige you, my boy, but you are too young, the work
+kills strong men in a short time."
+
+"Give me a trial, sir, please, for I think I can pull through," said
+Billy.
+
+"But are you used to hard riding and a life of danger?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I've seen hard work, young as I am."
+
+"I see now that Russell says you are Buffalo Billy," and Slade glanced
+again at the letter.
+
+"Yes, sir, that's what my pards call me."
+
+"I have heard of you, and you can become a pony rider; if you break down
+you can give it up."
+
+The very next day Billy was set to work on the trail from Red Buttes on
+the North Platte, to Three Crossings on the Sweet Water, a distance of
+seventy-six miles.
+
+It was a very long piece of road, but Billy did not weaken, and ere long
+became known as the Boss Pony Rider.
+
+One day he arrived at the end of his road to find that the rider who
+should have gone out on the trip with his mail, had been killed in a
+fight, so he at once volunteered for the run to Rocky Ridge, a distance
+of eighty-five miles, and arrived at the station even ahead of time.
+
+Without rest he turned back and reached Red Buttes on time, making the
+extraordinary run of _three hundred and twenty-two_ miles without
+rest, and at an average speed of fifteen miles an hour.
+
+This remarkable feat won for him a presentation of a purse of gold from
+the company, and a fame for pluck and endurance that placed him as the
+chief of the Pony Riders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+A RIDE FOR LIFE.
+
+
+One day, after Buffalo Billy had been a few months Pony Riding, a party
+of Indians ambushed him near Horse Creek.
+
+He however, as did his horse, miraculously escaped their foes, dashed
+through them and went on like the wind.
+
+But the red-skins gave hot chase, firing as they ran, yet still without
+effect.
+
+Billy was well mounted and had not felt fear of them until he saw two of
+the Indians rapidly drawing ahead of the other, and gaining upon him.
+
+He urged his horse on at full speed with lash and spur, but still the
+red-skins gained.
+
+Then he saw that they too were splendidly mounted, not on ponies, but
+large American horses which they had doubtlessly captured from the
+cavalry.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the Indians, and on Billy pressed at full speed.
+
+Throwing a glance over his shoulder he saw that one of the red-skins,
+whose feathers proved him to be a chief, was gaining on his comrade, and
+yet seemed not to be urging the large roan he rode.
+
+"I want that horse, and I want that Injun," muttered Billy, and he
+quietly took his revolver from his belt.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the chief, and Billy felt his own horse wavering,
+and knew he was forced beyond his powers of endurance, and fearing he
+might fall with him, determined to act at once.
+
+Dragging the animal he rode to a sudden halt, and reining him back upon
+his haunches, he suddenly wheeled in his saddle and fired.
+
+The Indian saw his sudden and unexpected movement, and was taken so
+wholly off his guard that he had no time to fire, and ere he could raise
+his pistol, a bullet went crashing through his brain.
+
+He fell back on his horse, that dashed straight on, and was then thrown
+to the ground, while the rein of the animal was seized by Billy with a
+force that checked his mad flight.
+
+It was an easy thing for the Pony Rider to spring upon the back of the
+roan and get away; but he would not give up his own saddle and the mail
+bags which were attached to it, and, dismounting, he was hastily making
+the transfer from his own to the red skin's horse when up dashed the
+second Indian, and firing as he came, sent a bullet through the cap of
+the youth, knocking it from his head.
+
+The two horses he held began to both pull back in alarm, and for an
+instant things looked very dismal for the brave Pony Rider; but a second
+shot from the warrior missed the boy and killed his horse, and this
+relieved him of that trouble, and instantly he drew his revolver and
+fired.
+
+Down from his horse fell the red skin, but only wounded, and as he still
+clutched his pistol, Billy was forced to give him another shot, which
+quieted him forever, just as the band of Indians came in sight.
+
+But the presence of mind for which he was noted did not desert the Pony
+Rider, and he quickly cut loose his saddle from his dead horse, sprung
+with it in his hand upon the back of the roan and dashed away once more
+just as the shots of his foes began to patter around him.
+
+The Indians, however, kept the chase up, and Billy dashed up to the
+station to find that the stock-tender lay dead and scalped in front of
+his cabin and the stock had been driven off.
+
+But without an instant's delay the Pony Rider urged the splendid roan he
+had captured on once more and arrived in safety at Plontz Station
+_ahead of time_, and made known what had happened back on the
+overland trail, and added new laurels to his name.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+THE BOY STAGE DRIVER OF THE OVERLAND.
+
+
+After six months longer of Pony Riding over the dangerous trail of
+seventy-six miles, ridden by day and night in all kinds of weather,
+Buffalo Billy met with an adventure that was the cause of his again
+finding another occupation.
+
+The Indians had become very troublesome as fall came on and a number of
+pony riders had been killed and stations burned along the route until
+there were few who cared to take the risks.
+
+The stage coaches also were often attacked, and on one occasion the
+driver and two passengers were killed and several others were wounded.
+
+But Billy did not flinch from his long, lonely and desperate rides, and
+seemed to even take pleasure in taking the fearful chances against death
+which he was forced to do on every ride out and in.
+
+One day as he sped along like the wind he saw ahead of him the stage
+coach going at full speed and no one on the box.
+
+At once he knew there was trouble, and as he drew nearer he discovered
+some Indians dash out of a ravine and give chase.
+
+As he heard the clatter of hoofs behind him he looked around and saw a
+dozen red-skins coming in pursuit, and felt confident that he must have
+dashed by an ambush they were preparing for him, by suddenly changing
+his course and riding _around_ instead of _through_ a canyon.
+
+The stage coach was now in the open prairie, and dashing along the trail
+as fast as the horses could go, while the Indians in close pursuit
+numbered but three.
+
+Billy was well mounted upon a sorrel mare, and urging her with the spur
+he soon came in range of the red-skin furthest in the rear and hastily
+fired.
+
+Down went the pony, and the Indian was thrown with such violence that he
+was evidently stunned, as he lay where he had fallen.
+
+Another shot wounded one of the remaining Indians, and they hastily sped
+away to the right oblique in flight, while Billy dashed on to the side
+of the coach.
+
+There were five passengers within, and two of them were women, and all
+were terribly frightened, though evidently not knowing that their driver
+lay dead upon the box, the reins still grasped in his nerveless hands.
+
+Riding near, Billy seized his mail bags and dextrously got from his
+saddle to the stage, and the next instant he held the reins in his firm
+gripe.
+
+He knew well that Ted Remus, the driver, had carried out a box of gold,
+and was determined to save it for the company if in his power.
+
+His horse, relieved of his weight and trained to run the trail, kept
+right on ahead, and he, skillfully handling the reins, for he was a fine
+driver, drove on at the topmost speed of the six animals drawing the
+coach.
+
+Behind him came the Indians, steadily gaining; but Billy plied the silk
+in a style that made his team fairly fly, and they soon reached the
+hills.
+
+Here the red-skins again gained, for the road was not good and in many
+places very dangerous.
+
+But once over the ridge, and just as the Indians were near enough to
+fill the back of the coach with arrows, Billy made his team jump ahead
+once more, and at breakneck speed they rushed down the steep road, the
+vehicle swaying wildly, and the passengers within not knowing whether
+they would be dashed to pieces, or scalped by the Indians, or which
+death would be the most to be desired.
+
+But Billy, in spite of his lightning driving, managed his team well, and
+after a fierce run of half an hour rolled up to the door of the station
+in a style that made the agent and the lookers on stare.
+
+But he saved the box and the lives of the passengers, and several days
+after was transferred from the Pony Rider line to stage driving on the
+Overland, a position he seemed to like.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+A CLEVER DISGUISE.
+
+
+While riding Pony Express the road on Buffalo Billy's run became
+infested with road-agents, who were wont to halt every rider they could
+catch, and also rob the stages.
+
+The chief of these outlaws was noted as a man of gallantry, for he never
+robbed a woman, no matter what the value of her personal effects might
+be.
+
+Ladies with valuable diamonds in their ears, and rings that were worth a
+small fortune, were always spared by this man, who became known by his
+forbearance to the fair sex as the "Cavalier."
+
+Poor men were also exempt from being robbed by the Cavalier; that is if
+he really thought a man was poor and not "playing possum," to get off
+from paying the toll demanded.
+
+In halting a stage the driver was never robbed, but Government and the
+Company's moneys were always taken, and well-to-do travelers had to pay
+liberally.
+
+Pony Express Riders were never robbed of their pocket money, but the
+mail was invariably searched for money.
+
+Once only had Buffalo Billy been halted by the Cavalier, though the
+other riders had frequently been brought to a halt and made to pony up.
+
+That once Billy had shown fight, had tried to run by, and his horse had
+been shot; but he slightly wounded the Cavalier in the arm, and for it
+he was told if he ever attempted resistance again he would be promptly
+killed.
+
+This did not trouble the young Rider in the least, but he made up his
+mind that he would not be caught; and after that the road-agents found
+it impossible to bring him to a halt, and his mails always went through
+in perfect safety.
+
+At last it became rumored that Buffalo Billy had been removed to another
+part of the road, and that as no riders could be found to take his long
+night rides, a daughter of one of the stock-tenders had volunteered for
+it, and the company, knowing her ability as a rider, accepted her
+services until another could be found.
+
+The first night on the run she arrived at the other end on time, though
+she reported that she had been halted by the Cavalier and four of his
+men.
+
+The road-agent seemed greatly surprised that a woman, in fact a young
+and very pretty girl, should be riding the road, but she made known the
+circumstances, and he told her she should always go through unmolested
+by him and his men.
+
+But he made the mails, carried by the other riders, and the stage-coach
+passengers, suffer for his leniency to the Girl Rider, and the
+Government and both the express and stage companies offered a large
+reward for the capture of himself and men alive.
+
+This seemed to do no good, although a number of attempts were made to
+capture him, which signally failed, and the reward was increased and
+added "dead or alive."
+
+All this time the Girl Rider often met the Cavalier in her rides, and
+when the moonlight nights came on, he would often, as she was flying
+along, dash out from some thicket, and ride with her ten or fifteen
+miles.
+
+The more he saw of her the more he seemed to admire her, and his times
+of joining her increased, and he seemed to so enjoy his rides with her,
+that he would, when she went into a station to change horses, make a
+circuit around it, and joining her beyond, continue on for another dozen
+miles, for he rode a fleet steed, and one of great bottom.
+
+One night as they thus sped along he told the Girl Pony Rider that he
+had learned to love her, tho' he had never seen her face in the
+daylight, and that he had accumulated a large sum, for he had a treasure
+hiding-place in the mountains, and, if she only would love him in return
+and fly with him, he would be the happiest of men, and give up his evil
+life.
+
+The maiden promised to think of it, said it was so sudden and
+unexpected, that she had never loved before, and did not even then know
+her own heart, and with this she dashed on her way like the wind.
+
+The next night the Cavalier again met her, and again renewed his vows of
+love, and she told him she had thought of it, and would stand by him
+until death parted them.
+
+The Cavalier went into ecstasies over this, and an evening was appointed
+when they should leave the country together, which was a night on which
+the Girl Rider knew she was to carry quite a sum of money in huge bills
+to the paymaster of the company at the other end of the line.
+
+The night in question came round, and the cavalier road-agent, as he had
+promised, had relays of fresh horses every twenty miles until they
+should have gone two hundred, which would put them beyond pursuit; in
+fact the company would not discover for twenty-four hours just what had
+happened, the outlaw and maiden both believed, so considered themselves
+safe.
+
+At the hour he had agreed to meet the maiden, the Cavalier was on hand
+at the timber, mounted on his finest horse, dressed in his best, and
+carrying a couple of large saddle-bags loaded with treasure, consisting
+of his lion's share of the robberies, and which included watches,
+jewelry, gold, silver and paper money.
+
+The maiden asked him to dismount and arrange her saddle-girths, and as
+he was stooping, she threw down the rein of his horse which she was
+holding, and to which she had attached something, and away he started in
+a run, for the violent motion had frightened him; but he soon came to a
+halt.
+
+Rising to his feet the Cavalier suddenly felt the cold muzzle of a
+revolver pressed against his head, and heard the words:
+
+"You are my prisoner; resist and I will kill you; up with your arms!"
+
+He tried to laugh it off as a joke, but she was in deadly earnest, and
+he soon found it out.
+
+Leaning over she took the weapons of the road-agent from his belt, and
+told him to move on ahead.
+
+He could but obey, for he knew she would kill him if he did not.
+
+A mile up the trail and the stock-tender's station came in sight, and in
+the moonlight they both saw a crowd of men awaiting them there.
+
+Once more the Cavalier begged for his release; but she was determined,
+and marched him straight up to the crowd.
+
+"Well, Billy, you've got him," cried a voice as they approached.
+
+"I most certainly have, and if you'll look after him I'll go and fetch
+his horse, for I've got a hook fastened to his rein and he can't go
+far."
+
+"Billy!" cried the road-agent.
+
+"Yes, I am Buffalo Billy, and I assumed this disguise to catch you and
+I've done it.
+
+"Do you love me now, pard?"
+
+The road-agent foamed and swore; but it was no use; he had been caught,
+was taken to the town, tried, found guilty of murdering and robbing and
+ended his life on the gallows, and Buffalo Billy got the reward for his
+capture, and a medal from the company, and he certainly deserved all
+that he received for his daring exploit in the guise of a young girl,
+and a pretty one too, the boys said he made, for he had no mustache
+then, his complexion was perfect, though bronzed, and his waist was as
+small as a woman's, while in the saddle his height did not show.
+
+As to the Cavalier, Billy said he deserved his name, and certainly
+talked love like an adept at the art, and his lovemaking, like many
+another man's, led him to ruin and death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+THE DESPERADOES' DEN.
+
+
+Shortly after this adventure of the rescue of the stage coach, the
+Indians became so bad along the line that the Pony Express and stages
+had to be stopped for awhile on account of the large number of horses
+run off.
+
+This caused a number of the employees of the Overland to be idle, and
+they at once formed a company to go in search of the missing stock, and
+also to punish the red-skins.
+
+Of this company Wild Bill, who had been driving stage, was elected the
+commander, and, as they were all a brave set of men, it was expected
+they would render a good account of themselves.
+
+Of course Buffalo Billy went along, by years the youngest of the party,
+but second to none for courage and skill in prairie craft.
+
+They first struck the Indians in force on the Overland trail, and
+defeating them with heavy loss, pursued them to the Powder River, and
+then down that stream to the vicinity of where old Fort Reno now stands.
+
+Pushing them hard the whites had several engagements with them, and each
+one of the company performed some deed of valor, but none were more
+conspicuous for daring deeds than was Buffalo Billy.
+
+Permitting them no rest the whites drove the Indians into their village,
+and although they were outnumbered four to one, captured all of the
+company's stock as well as the ponies of the red-skins.
+
+Having been so successful Wild Bill gave the order to return, and the
+Indians had been too badly worsted to follow, and they reached
+Sweetwater Bridge in safety, and without the loss of an animal they had
+retaken or captured.
+
+The stages and Pony Express at once began to run again on time, and
+Buffalo Billy was transferred to another part of the line, to drive
+through a mountainous district.
+
+But anxious to return home, after his long absence, he resigned his
+position, determined to take advantage of a train going east, and in
+which he could get a position as assistant baggage-master on the
+homeward-bound trip, which would pay him for a couple of months'
+service, thereby giving him a larger sum to carry to his family.
+
+As it would be several days before the train started, Buffalo Billy
+determined to enjoy a bear-hunt, and mounting his favorite horse, the
+roan he had captured from the Indian chief, he set out for the
+foot-hills of Laramie Peak.
+
+After a day of pleasure, in which he had shot considerable game, such as
+deer, antelope and sage hens, but not a bear, he camped for the night in
+a pretty nook upon one of the mountain streams.
+
+Hardly had he fastened his roan and begun to build a fire, by which to
+cook his supper, when he was startled by the neigh of a horse up in the
+mountains.
+
+Instantly he sprung to his horse, and, by his hand over his nostrils,
+prevented him from giving an answering whinny, while he stood in silence
+listening, for he knew that he might rather expect to see a foe there
+than a friend.
+
+As the neigh was once more repeated, Buffalo Billy resaddled his horse,
+hitched him so that he could be easily unfastened, and, with his rifle
+started cautiously on foot up the stream.
+
+He had not gone far when in a little glen he beheld nearly half a
+hundred horses grazing and lariated out.
+
+This was a surprise to him, and he was most cautious indeed, for he was
+convinced that they belonged to some prowling band of Indians.
+
+Presently, up the mountain further, he caught sight of a sudden light,
+and his keen eye detected that a man's form had momentarily appeared and
+then all was darkness once more.
+
+On he went in the direction of the light, going as noiselessly as a
+panther creeping upon its prey, until presently he dimly discovered the
+outline of a small cabin, built back against the precipitous side of an
+overhanging hill.
+
+Hearing voices, and recognizing that they were white men, he stepped
+boldly forward and knocked at the door.
+
+Instantly there followed a dead silence within, and again he knocked.
+
+"Who is there?" asked a gruff voice.
+
+"A pard."
+
+"Come in, pard."
+
+Billy obeyed.
+
+But instantly he regretted it, for his eyes fell upon a dozen
+villainous-looking fellows, several of whom he recognized as having seen
+loafing at the Overland stations, and who were considered all that was
+bad.
+
+"Who are you?" asked one who appeared to be the leader.
+
+"I am Bill Cody, a stage driver on the Overland, and I came up here on a
+bear-hunt."
+
+"You're a healthy looking stage driver, you are, when you are nothing
+more than a boy."
+
+"Yes, Bob, he tells ther truth, fer I hes seen him handle ther ribbons,
+and he does it prime too; he are the Pony Rider who they calls Buff'ler
+Billy," said another of the gang.
+
+"Ther devil yer say: waal, I has heerd o' him as a greased terror, an'
+he looks it; but who's with yer, young pard?"
+
+"I am alone."
+
+"It hain't likely."
+
+"But I am."
+
+"Yer must be durned fond o' b'ar-meat ter come up here alone."
+
+"I am."
+
+"Waal, did yer get yer b'ar?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Whar's yer critter?"
+
+"My horse is down the mountain."
+
+"I'll go arter him," said one suspiciously; but Billy answered quickly:
+
+"Oh, no, I'll not trouble you; but if I can leave my rifle here, I'll go
+after him."
+
+"All right, pard; but I guesses two of us better go with yer fer
+comp'ny, as we loves ter be sociable."
+
+Buffalo Billy well knew now that he was in a nest of horse-thieves and
+desperadoes; but he dared not show his suspicions, as he felt assured
+they would kill him without the slightest compunction.
+
+So he said pleasantly:
+
+"Well, come along, for it is pleasanter to have company, and I'll stay
+with you to-night if you'll let me."
+
+"Oh, yes, we'll let yer stay, fer we is awful social in our notions.
+Here Ben, you and Tabor go with my young pard and bring his horse up to
+the corral."
+
+The two assigned for this duty were the very worst looking of the band,
+as far as villainous faces went; but Buffalo Billy's quick brain had
+already formed a plan of escape, and he was determined to carry it out.
+
+Down the hill they went until they came to the horse, and both eyed his
+fine points, as dimly seen in the darkness, with considerable pleasure,
+while one muttered:
+
+"The Cap will be sure to fancy him."
+
+"There is a string of game that might come in well for supper," said
+Billy, as he pointed to a dark object on the ground.
+
+"They will, fer sure," was the eager answer, and the man stooped to pick
+up the game when Billy suddenly dealt him a blow that felled him to the
+earth.
+
+At the same time he wheeled upon the other, who already had his hand
+upon his revolver, and before he could fire, his own finger touched the
+trigger, and the desperado fell.
+
+Bounding into his saddle he turned his horse down the mountain side,
+just as the door of the cabin was thrown open and he saw the band
+streaming out from their den, alarmed by the shot.
+
+In hot pursuit they rushed down the mountain side, and for a short while
+gained upon Billy, for he dared not urge his horse rapidly down the
+steep hillside.
+
+But once in the valley and the roan bounded forward at a swift pace, and
+not a moment too soon, for the revolver shots began to rattle, and the
+bullets to fly uncomfortably near.
+
+On, at a swift gait the roan went, and though Billy heard the clatter of
+hoofs in chase, he had no fear, as he well knew the speed of the animal
+he rode.
+
+After a few miles' pursuit the desperadoes gave up the chase and
+returned toward the mountains, while Buffalo Billy urged the roan on,
+and a couple of hours before dawn he reached the station, roused the
+men, and in fifteen minutes two score horsemen were on the way to the
+mountains, led by the boy, though Alf Slade himself went in command of
+the company.
+
+But though they found the dug-out, and the grave of the man Billy had
+killed, the birds had flown, leaving one of their number in his last
+resting place to mark the visit of the youth to the desperadoes' den.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+A MAD RIDE.
+
+
+Back to his home in Kansas went Buffalo Billy, to cheer the heart of his
+mother and sisters by his presence, and win their admiration by his
+rapid growth into a handsome manly youth.
+
+To please those who so dearly loved him he again attended school for a
+couple of months; but with the first wagon-train bound west he went as
+hunter, and arriving in the vicinity of the Overland again sought
+service as a stage-driver, and was gladly accepted and welcomed back.
+
+He had been driving but a short time after his return, when he carried
+east on one trip a coach load of English tourists, whose baggage loaded
+down the stage.
+
+Although he was driving at the average regulation speed, to make time at
+each station, the Englishmen were growling all the time at the slow pace
+they were going and urging Billy to push ahead.
+
+Billy said nothing, other than that he was driving according to orders,
+and which was, by the way, by no means a slow gait, and then listened to
+their growling in silence, while they were anathematizing everything in
+America, as is often the case with foreigners who come to this country.
+
+Billy heard their remarks about the "bloody 'eathen in Hamerica," "the
+greatness of hall things hin Hingland," "slow horses," "bad drivers,"
+and all such talk, and drove calmly on into Horsehoe.
+
+There the horses were changed, and the six hitched to the coach were
+wild Pony Express animals that had been only partially broken in as a
+stage team, which Billy delighted in driving.
+
+As they were being hitched up Buffalo Billy smiled grimly, and said:
+
+"I'll show those gents that we know how to drive in this country," and
+those who knew him could see the twinkle of deviltry in his eyes.
+
+At last, the Englishmen, having dined, took their seats, Billy gave the
+order to let the animals go, and they started off at a rapid pace.
+
+But Billy reined them down until they reached the top of the hill, and
+then, with a wild yell, that suddenly silenced the grumbling of the
+Englishmen, he let the six horses bound forward, while with utter
+recklessness he threw the reins upon their backs.
+
+Frightened, maddened by the lash he laid upon them, they went down the
+mountain at a terrific speed, the coach swaying wildly to and fro, and
+the Englishmen nearly frightened out of their wits.
+
+Glancing out of the windows and up at Billy they called to him to stop
+for the sake of Heaven.
+
+But he only laughed, and tearing the large lamps from the coach threw
+them at the leaders, the blows, and the jingling of glass frightening
+them fearfully.
+
+"For God's sake stop, driver!"
+
+"He is mad!"
+
+"We'll all be killed!"
+
+"Stop! stop!"
+
+Such was the chorus of cries that came from the coach, and in reply was
+heard the calm response:
+
+"Don't get excited, gents; but sit still and see how we stage it in the
+Rocky Mountains."
+
+Then, to add still greater terror to the flying team and the frightened
+passengers, Billy drew his revolver from his belt and began to fire it
+in the air.
+
+As the station came in sight, the man on duty saw the mad speed of the
+horses and threw open the stable doors, and in they dashed dragging the
+stage after them, and tearing off the top, but not hurting Billy, who
+had crouched down low in the boot.
+
+The passengers were not so lucky, however, for the sudden shook of halt
+sent them forward, in a heap and the arm of one of them was broken,
+while the others were more or less bruised.
+
+A canvas top was tacked on, the coach was run out, and a fresh team
+hitched up, and Billy sung out:
+
+"All aboard, gents!"
+
+But he went on with an empty coach, for the Englishmen preferred to wait
+over for another driver, and one of them was heard to remark that he
+would rather go in a hearse than in a stage with such a madman holding
+the reins.
+
+But far and wide Billy's mad ride was laughed at, and he received no
+reprimand from the company, though he richly deserved it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+WINNING A REWARD.
+
+
+Driving over the trail through the Rocky Mountains, the drivers were
+constantly annoyed by road-agents, whose daring robberies made it most
+dangerous for a coach to pass over the line.
+
+If the driver did not obey their stern command: "Halt! up with your
+hands!" he was certain to be killed, and the passenger within who
+offered the slightest resistance to being robbed, was sure to have his
+life end just there.
+
+So dangerous had it become to drive the mountain passes, as several
+drivers had been shot, the company found it difficult to get men to
+carry the stages through, and offered double wages to any one who had
+the courage to drive over the road-agents dominions.
+
+Buffalo Billy at once volunteered for the perilous work, and his first
+trip through he met with no resistance.
+
+The next he was halted, and promptly obeying the order to throw up his
+hands, he was not molested, though the gold-box was taken from the
+coach, and all the passengers were robbed.
+
+After this it was almost a daily occurrence for the road-agents to rob a
+stage-coach, and the Overland Company offered a reward of five thousand
+dollars for the capture of their chief and the band.
+
+One day Billy drove away from the station with a coach full of women,
+not a single man having the pluck to go, and promptly, at their favorite
+place, the road-agents appeared.
+
+"Halt! up with your hands!"
+
+With military promptitude Buffalo Billy obeyed, and putting on the
+California brakes, he drew his horses to a stand-still.
+
+"Well, what have you got to-day that's worthy our picking, my Boy
+Driver?" said the road-agent leader approaching the coach.
+
+"Only women, and I beg you not to be brute enough to scare 'em," said
+Billy.
+
+"Oh! they must pay toll; and they generally have good watches; but what
+is it, a woman's rights meeting, or a Seminary broke loose?'
+
+"Ask 'em," was the quiet reply, and as the leader of the road-agents,
+closely followed by his half-dozen men, all in masks, rode up to the
+stage door, Billy suddenly drew his revolver and with the flash the
+chief fell dead.
+
+"Out, boys!" yelled Billy, and the stage doors flew open, dresses and
+bonnets were cast aside, and nine splendid fellows began a rapid fire
+upon the amazed road-agents.
+
+One or two managed to escape; but that was all, for after four of their
+number had fallen, the balance were glad enough to cry for quarter,
+which was shown them only until a rope could be thrown over the limb of
+a tree and they drawn up to expiate their crimes by hanging.
+
+It was Billy's little plot, and he got the larger part of the reward,
+and the credit of ridding the country of a daring band of desperate men.
+
+Shortly after this bold act, hearing of the continued failing health of
+his mother, Buffalo Billy, like the dutiful son he was, once more
+resigned his position as stage-driver, and returned to Kansas, arriving
+there a few months after the breaking out of the civil war in 1861.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+THE BOY SOLDIER.
+
+
+After a very short stay at home Buffalo Billy began to show signs of
+uneasiness, for he was too near Leavenworth, then an important military
+post, not to get the soldier's fever for battles and marches.
+
+He soon discovered that a company of cavalry was being raised to do
+service in Missouri, and he at once enlisted and went as a guard to a
+Government train bound to Springfield, Missouri, and after that he was
+made a dispatch runner to the different forts, and met with many
+thrilling adventures while in that capacity.
+
+From this duty Buffalo Billy was sent as guide and scout to the Ninth
+Kansas Regiment which was ordered into the Kiowa and Comanche country,
+and it did good service there, and the young soldier added new laurels
+to his name.
+
+The second year of the war Billy became one of the famous "Red Legged
+Scouts," formed of the most noted rangers of Kansas.
+
+While a member of this daring band he was sent to guide a train to
+Denver, but upon arriving there, learning of the severe illness of his
+mother, he at once set off for home, going the entire distance alone and
+making wonderful time through a country infested with dangers.
+
+To his joy, he found his mother still living, yet failing rapidly, and
+soon after his arrival she breathed her last and Buffalo Billy had lost
+his best, truest friend, and the sad event cast a gloom over the life of
+the young soldier.
+
+As one of his sisters had married some time before, her husband took
+charge of the farm, while Billy returned to the army and was sent into
+Mississippi and Tennessee with his command.
+
+But Billy did not relish military duty, for he had become too well
+accustomed to the free life of the plains, and, resigning his position
+as scout, started upon his return to the prairies.
+
+But while on the way he came in sight of a pleasant farm-house, from
+which came a cry of help in the voice of a woman.
+
+Billy saw five horses hitched to a fence on the other side of the house;
+but this array of numbers did not deter him when a woman called for aid,
+and dismounting quickly he bounded upon the piazza, and was just running
+into the door when a man came out into the hall and fired at him, but
+fortunately missed him.
+
+Bill instantly returned the fire, and his quick, unerring aim sent a
+bullet into the man's brain.
+
+At the shots a wilder cry came from within for help and two men dashed
+out into the hall, and, seeing Billy, three pistols flashed together.
+
+But Billy was unhurt, and one of his foes fell dead, while springing
+upon the other he gave him a stunning blow with his revolver that put
+him out of the fight, and then bounded into the room to discover an
+elderly lady and a lovely young girl threatened by two huge ruffians,
+who were holding their pistols to their heads to try and force from them
+the hiding-place of their money and valuables.
+
+Seeing Billy, they both turned upon him, and a fierce fight ensued,
+which quickly ended in the killing of both ruffians by the brave young
+soldier, who seemed to bear a charmed life, for he was unhurt, though he
+had slain four men in a desperate combat and wounded a fifth.
+
+Just then into the room dashed three men, and their weapons were leveled
+at Buffalo Billy, and right then and there his days would have ended had
+it not been for the courage and presence of mind of the lovely young
+girl, who threw herself forward upon his breast, to the youth's great
+surprise, and cried out:
+
+"Father! Brothers! don't fire, for this man is our friend."
+
+The old man and his sons quickly lowered their rifles, while the former
+said:
+
+"A friend in blue uniform, while we wear the gray?'
+
+"I am a Union soldier, sir, I admit, and I was going by your home, heard
+a cry for help, and found your wife and daughter, as I suppose them to
+be, at the mercy of five ruffians, and I was fortunate enough to serve
+them.
+
+"But I will not be made prisoner, gentlemen."
+
+Billy's hands were on his revolvers and he looked squarely in the faces
+of those in his front, and they could see that he was a man who meant
+what he said.
+
+"My dear sir, I am a Confederate, I admit, and this is my home; but I am
+not the one to do a mean action toward a Union soldier, and especially
+one who has just served me so well in killing these men, whom I
+recognize as jay-hawkers, who prey on either side, and own no allegiance
+to North or South.
+
+"Here is my hand, sir, and I will protect you while in our lines."
+
+Billy grasped the hand of the farmer, and then those of his sons, and
+all thanked him warmly for the service he had done them.
+
+But Billy was surprised to find he was within the Confederate lines, and
+found by inquiring that he had taken the wrong road a few miles back.
+
+The farmer was the captain of a neighborhood military company, and it
+was his custom to come home with his sons whenever he had opportunity,
+and arriving just as the fight ended he saw a man in gray uniform lying
+dead in the hall, and beholding Billy in the blue, had an idea that the
+Northern soldiers were on a raid, had been met by some of his men, and
+he certainly would have killed the young scout but for the timely act of
+his lovely daughter, Louise.
+
+And it was this very circumstance, the meeting with Louise Frederici,
+the Missouri farmer's daughter, that caused Buffalo Billy to decide to
+remain in the army, and not to return to the plains, for when stationed
+in or near St. Louis, he could often see the pretty dark-eyed girl who
+had stolen his heart away.
+
+Before the war ended Buffalo Billy returned to Kansas, but he carried
+with him the heart of Louise Frederici, and the promise that she would
+one day be his wife.
+
+After a short visit to his sisters he again became a stage-driver, and
+it was by making a desperate drive down a mountain side to escape a band
+of road-agents that he won the well-deserved title of the Prince of the
+Reins.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+IN FETTERS.
+
+
+All the time that Buffalo Bill was driving stage his thoughts were
+turning to dark-eyed pretty Louise Frederici in her pleasant Missouri
+home, and at last he became so love-sick that he determined to pay her a
+visit and ask her to marry him at once.
+
+He was no longer a boy in size, but a tall, elegantly-formed man, though
+his years had not yet reached twenty-one.
+
+He had saved up some money, and off to Missouri he started, and his
+strangely-handsome face, superb form and comely manners were admired
+wherever he went, and people wondered who he was, little dreaming they
+were gazing upon a man who had been a hero since his eighth year.
+
+He soon won Louise over to his way of thinking, by promising he would
+settle down, and they were married at farmer Frederici's home and
+started on their way, by a Missouri steamer, to Kansas.
+
+Arriving at Leavenworth, Buffalo Bill and his bride received a royal
+welcome from his old friends, and they were escorted to their new home,
+where for awhile the young husband did "settle down."
+
+But at last, finding he could make more money on the plains, and that
+being to his liking, he left his wife with his sisters and once more
+started for the far West, this time as a Government scout at Fort
+Ellsworth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+SEEING SERVICE.
+
+
+It was while in the capacity of scout at Fort Barker and Fort Hayes that
+Buffalo Bill added to his fame as an Indian-fighter, scout and guide,
+for almost daily he met with thrilling adventures, while his knowledge
+of the country enabled him to guide commands from post to post with the
+greatest of ease and without following a trail, but by taking a straight
+course across prairie or hill-land.
+
+While in the vicinity of Hayes City Buffalo Bill had a narrow escape
+from capture, with a party that was under his guidance; in fact death
+would very suddenly have followed the capture of all.
+
+A party of officers and their wives, well mounted and armed, were
+determined not to go with the slow wagon-train from one fort to the
+other, and accordingly Buffalo Bill was engaged to guide them.
+
+He made known to them the great dangers of the trip, but they being
+determined, the party started, some dozen in all.
+
+For awhile all went well, but then Buffalo Bill discovered signs of
+Indians, and hardly had the discovery been made when a large force, over
+two hundred in number, came in sight and gave chase.
+
+Of course the party were terribly alarmed, and regretted their coming
+without on escort of soldiers.
+
+But Buffalo Bill said quietly:
+
+"You are all well mounted, so ride straight on, and don't push too fast,
+or get separated."
+
+"And you, Cody?" asked an officer.
+
+"Oh, I'll be along somewhere; but I've got a new gun, a sixteen-shooter,
+and I want to try just what it will do."
+
+The Indians were now not more than half a mile away and coming on at
+full speed, with wild yells and whoops, confident of making a splendid
+capture.
+
+Directing the officers what course to take, Buffalo Bill saw them start
+off at full speed while he remained quietly seated upon his splendid
+horse Brigham, a steed that equaled Sable Satan for speed and endurance.
+
+It was evident that the red-skins were surprised at beholding a single
+horseman standing so calmly in their path, and awaiting their coming,
+and the party in flight looked back in great alarm as they saw that
+Buffalo Bill did not move, appearing like a bronze statue of horse and
+rider.
+
+"What could it mean?"
+
+"Was he mad?"
+
+And many more were the comments made by the party, while the Indians
+were equally as inquisitive upon the subject.
+
+Nearer and nearer came the rushing band, for what had two hundred
+mounted warriors to fear from one man?
+
+Nearer and nearer, until presently Buffalo Bill was seen to raise his
+rifle, and a perfect stream of fire seemed to flow out of the muzzle,
+while the shots came in rapid succession.
+
+It was a Winchester repeating rifle, and Buffalo Bill had been testing
+it thoroughly.
+
+And the result was such that the Indians drew rein, for down in the dust
+had gone several of their number, while half a dozen ponies had been
+killed by the shots; in fact, fired into the crowded mass of men and
+horses, nearly every discharge had done harm.
+
+With a wild, defiant war-cry, Buffalo Bill wheeled and rode away,
+loading his matchless rifle as he ran.
+
+It did not take long for Brigham to over-take the horses in advance, and
+warm congratulations followed, for the officers and ladies had seen the
+daring scout check the entire band of red-skins.
+
+But though temporarily stunned by the effects of the shots, for the
+Indians had not seen repeating rifles in those days, they soon rallied
+and came on once more at full speed.
+
+And again did the scout drop behind and await their coming, to once more
+administer upon the amazed warriors a check that made them more
+cautious, for they kept out of range.
+
+Yet they kept up the chase all day, and only drew off when the fort came
+in view, and the party arrived in safety in its walls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+CAPTURING A HERD OF PONIES.
+
+
+While at the fort the colonel in command complained at the non-arrival
+of a drove of Government horses, as he was anxious to make a raid into
+the Indian country, and Buffalo Bill volunteered to go and hurry the
+cattle on.
+
+He had been gone but a few hours from the fort when he crossed a trail
+which he knew to have been made by a large Indian village on the move.
+
+Cautiously he followed it, and just at sunset came in sight of the camp,
+pitched at the head of a valley, and saw below a large herd of horses
+grazing.
+
+To return to the fort for aid he knew would take too long, so he
+determined to make an attempt to capture the herd himself, and, with his
+field-glass carefully reconnoitered the surroundings as long as it was
+light.
+
+He saw that the nature of the valley was such that the herd could only
+escape by two ways, one through the Indian village and the other at the
+lower end, where he had observed four warriors placed as a guard and
+herders.
+
+"That is my quartette," he said to himself, and mounting Brigham he
+began to make his way around to the lower end of the valley.
+
+After an hour's ride he gained the desired point, and then set down to
+work.
+
+Carrying with him in case of need a complete Indian costume, he was not
+long in rigging himself up in it and painting his face.
+
+Then he left Brigham in a canyon near by and cautiously approached the
+entrance to the valley, which was not more than two hundred yards wide
+at this point.
+
+Peering through the darkness he saw the four dark objects, about equal
+distances apart, which he knew were the ponies of the four warriors on
+guard, and that they were lying down near in the grass he felt
+confident.
+
+Getting past the line of herders he boldly advanced toward the one
+nearest the hill on the left, and knew he would be taken for some chief
+coming from the village and accordingly not dreaded.
+
+It was just as he had expected: the Indian herder saw him coming
+directly from the village, as he believed and did not even rise from the
+grass as Buffalo Bill drew near.
+
+With a word in Sioux Buffalo Bill advanced and suddenly threw himself
+upon the prostrate warrior.
+
+There was a short struggle, but no cry, as the scout's hand grasped the
+red-skin's throat, and then all was still, the Indian pony lariated
+near, not even stopping his grazing.
+
+Throwing the red-skin's blanket over his body, Buffalo Bill moved away a
+few paces to where the pony stood, and called to the next herder in the
+Sioux tongue to come to him.
+
+The unsuspecting warrior obeyed, and the next instant found himself in a
+gripe of iron and a knife blade piercing his heart.
+
+"This is red work, but it is man to man and in a few days the whole band
+would make a strike upon the settlements," muttered the scout, as he
+moved slowly toward the position his enemy had left at his call.
+
+As he reached the spot he saw the third warrior standing on his post and
+boldly walked up to him, when again the same short, fierce, silent fight
+followed and Buffalo Bill arose from the ground a victor.
+
+The fourth, and only remaining guard he knew was over under the shadow
+of the hill, and thither he went.
+
+Arriving near he did not see him, and looking around suddenly discovered
+him asleep at the foot of a tree.
+
+"I'd like to let you sleep, Mr. Red-skin, but you'd wake up at the wrong
+time, so you must follow your comrades to the happy hunting-grounds," he
+muttered, as he bent over and seized the throat of the Indian in his
+powerful gripe.
+
+The warrior was almost a giant in size, and he made a fierce fight for
+his life.
+
+But the iron hold on his throat did not relax, and at last his efforts
+ceased and his grasp upon the scout, which had been so great he could
+not use his knife, weakened and there was no more show of resistance.
+
+Then not an instant did Buffalo Bill tarry, but went up the valley,
+rounded up the herd of horses and quickly drove them away from the
+village, in which he knew slept half a thousand warriors.
+
+Slowly he moved the large brute mass, and they went toward the mouth of
+the valley and were soon out upon the prairie.
+
+Then mounting Brigham he urged them on until out of hearing of the camp,
+when he headed them for the fort.
+
+It was a hard drive and taxed both Brigham and his rider fearfully; but
+at last the herd was driven to a good grazing place a few miles from the
+fort and Buffalo Bill left them and rode rapidly on, and just at dawn
+reported his valuable capture and that the same horses could be used in
+an attack upon the Indian camp.
+
+The colonel at once acted upon his suggestion; the cavalrymen who had no
+horses, loaded with their saddles, bridles and arms, went at a quick
+march to the grazing place of the horses, and ere the day was three
+hours old three hundred men were mounted and on the trail for the
+red-skin village, while the remainder of the ponies were driven to the
+fort.
+
+Deprived of the greater part of their horses, the red-skins could march
+but slowly; but they were in full retreat when Buffalo Bill led the
+command in sight of them, and though the dismounted warriors fought
+bravely, they were severely whipped and all their village equipage
+captured or destroyed, while instead of attacking the white settlements
+as they had intended, they were glad enough to beg for relief.
+
+This gallant act made the name of Buffalo Bill, or Pa-e-has-ka (Long
+Hair), as they called him, known to every Indian on the north-west
+border, and they regarded him with the greatest terror, while it made
+him an idol among the soldiers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+THE CHAMPION OF THE PLAINS.
+
+
+As Buffalo Bill was known to be the most successful hunter on the
+prairies, shortly after his capture of the herd of Indian ponies he
+received an offer from the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company to keep their
+workmen supplied with meat, and the terms allowed him were so generous
+that he felt he owed it to his family, for he had become the father of a
+lovely little daughter, Arta, born in Leavenworth, to accept the
+proposition, and did so.
+
+The employees of the road numbered some twelve hundred, and Buffalo
+Bill's duty was to supply them with fresh meat, a most arduous task, and
+a dangerous one, for the Indians were constantly upon the war-path.
+
+But he undertook the work, and it was but a very short while before his
+fame as a buffalo-killer equaled his reputation as an Indian-fighter,
+and often on a hunt for the shaggy brutes, he had to fight the red
+savages who constantly sought his life.
+
+It was during his service for the Kansas Pacific that he was
+rechristened Buffalo Bill, and he certainly deserved the renewal of his
+name, as in one season he killed the enormous number of _four thousand
+eight hundred and twenty buffaloes_, a feat never before, or since
+equaled.
+
+And during this time, in the perils he met with, and his numerous
+hair-breadth escapes, in conflict with red-skins, horse-thieves and
+desperadoes, it is estimated that over a score of human beings fell
+before his unerring rifle and revolvers, while, he still bearing a
+charmed life, received only a few slight wounds.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE CHAMPION.
+
+
+Some time after his great feat of killing buffalo for the Kansas
+Pacific, Buffalo Bill was challenged by Billy Comstock, another famous
+buffalo-hunter, and a scout and Indian interpreter, to a match at
+killing the shaggy wild animals.
+
+Those who knew Comstock and had seen him among a herd of buffalo, and
+had heard of Buffalo Bill's exploits, were most desirous of making a
+match between the two to discover which was the best "killer."
+
+On the other side, those who knew Buffalo Bill and had seen him at work
+at the buffaloes, were willing to bet high that he would prove the
+champion.
+
+As the men were not only willing, but anxious to meet, it was not
+difficult for them to do so, and all preliminaries were satisfactorily
+arranged to all parties concerned.
+
+The men were to, of course, hunt on horse-back, and to begin at a
+certain hour in the morning and keep it up for eight hours, a large herd
+having just been found and its locality marked for the day of the sport.
+
+The stakes were made five hundred dollars a side, and there were
+numbers, both ladies and gentlemen, out on horseback to see the sport.
+
+The herd having been located early the next morning, the two hunters
+left for the field, and the large crowd followed at a distance.
+
+The counters, those chosen to follow each hunter and count his killed,
+followed close behind Bill and Comstock, who rode side by side, chatting
+in a most friendly way until the herd was sighted.
+
+Buffalo Bill was mounted upon Brigham, a noted buffalo horse, and he was
+armed with a breech-loading Springfield rifle, and a weapon which had
+sent many a red-skin to the happy hunting-grounds.
+
+Comstock was also splendidly mounted, and carried his favorite buffalo
+repeating rifle, and both men felt confident of victory.
+
+Reaching the herd, the two hunters, followed by their counters, well
+mounted also, dashed into a herd, and it quickly divided, giving each
+one an opportunity to show his skill, as though the buffaloes themselves
+sympathized with the match and were willing to do all in their power to
+forward it.
+
+In his first run Buffalo Bill killed thirty-eight, while in the same
+length of time Billy Comstock dropped twenty-three, which gave the
+former the advantage thus far.
+
+A rest was then called for both horses and men, and once more they
+started out for the second run, a small herd appearing opportunely in
+sight.
+
+In this run Buffalo Bill's tally was eighteen to Comstock's fourteen,
+and another halt was made for rest and refreshments.
+
+When called to the scratch for the third run, Buffalo Bill, knowing he
+had the best buffalo horse in the country, stripped him of saddle and
+bridle and sprung upon his bare back.
+
+A third herd was looked up, and the two killers began their work with a
+will, and Buffalo Bill sailed to the front with thirteen, which gave him
+a list of sixty-nine to Comstock's forty-six.
+
+The third run closed the match, and Buffalo Bill was proclaimed the
+winner and the champion buffalo-killer of the prairies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+A GAME FOR LIFE AND DEATH.
+
+
+Having concluded his engagement with the Kansas Pacific Railroad,
+Buffalo Bill once more became a Government scout, and it was while
+serving on the far border that he won the hatred of a notorious band of
+desperadoes whom he had several times thwarted in their intended crimes.
+
+Hearing that they had said they would kill him at sight, he boldly rode
+into the town where they had their haunts, and, true to their word, two
+of them came out and attacked him.
+
+At the first shot Bill was wounded in the right arm, which destroyed his
+aim, and, ere he could draw a revolver with his left hand, his horse
+fell dead beneath him, pinning him to the ground.
+
+Instantly his foes rushed upon him to complete their work, when, rising
+on his wounded arm, he leveled his revolver with his left hand and shot
+them down as they were almost upon him.
+
+An army officer who witnessed the affray was so much pleased with the
+nerve of Buffalo Bill that he presented him with a splendid horse, one
+of a pair he had just received from the East, and having had his wound
+dressed the scout rode back to camp delighted with his present.
+
+But the leader of the desperado band still swore to kill Buffalo Bill,
+and to pick a quarrel with him one night in a saloon, boldly dared him
+to play him a game of cards.
+
+"Yes, you accursed thief and murderer, I'll play you a game of cards if
+you will let me name the stakes," said Buffalo Bill.
+
+"All right, name what you please, so you play," was the answer, and the
+crowd gathered eagerly around, confident that there would be trouble.
+
+"I'll name life and death as the stakes," said Buffalo Bill.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean that if you win the game I'll stand ten paces away and give you
+a shot at me; if I win, you are to give me a shot at you."
+
+The desperado did not like this arrangement, but having challenged
+Buffalo Bill to play, and given him the choice of the stakes, he dared
+not back down, and said:
+
+"All right, let us begin."
+
+"Mind you, no cheating, for I shall shoot you the moment I catch you at
+it."
+
+"Two can play at that game, Buffalo Bill," said the desperado, and
+seating themselves at the table the game was begun, each man having his
+revolver lying by his side.
+
+Buffalo Bill was calm and smiling, for he had confidence in his
+universal good luck to win.
+
+The desperado was pale and stern, and played warily, for he saw the eye
+of his foe watching him like a hawk.
+
+Once Bill dropped his hand upon his revolver and his adversary attempted
+to do the same; but the scout was too quick for him and merely said:
+
+"Beware, for if I catch you cheating, I will kill you."
+
+"Who's cheating, Buffalo Bill?"
+
+"You were about to make an attempt to do so; but I warn you," was the
+calm reply.
+
+Then, in breathless silence the game went on, and Buffalo Bill won.
+
+Instantly the desperado seized his revolver, but he felt against his
+head the cold muzzle of a weapon, and heard the stern tones:
+
+"Bent, I guess I'll save Buffalo Bill from killing you, by hanging you
+to the nearest tree."
+
+The speaker was Wild Bill, who had stood behind the chair of the
+desperado.
+
+All knew him, and that he was an officer of the law, and would keep his
+word.
+
+Buffalo Bill said nothing, and the crime-stained wretch was dragged out
+of the saloon, a rope put around his neck, and he was hanged for his
+many red deeds, thereby escaping death at the hands of the scout.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+BILL'S STORY OF HIS BECOMING AN ACTOR.
+
+
+As Buffalo Bill in the past few years has become known as an actor, and
+appears as such with his Dramatic Combination, during the winter months,
+when he is not on the plains, it will not be by any means uninteresting
+to my readers to learn how he came to go upon the stage, and the story I
+give in his own words, in relating his experience to a reporter who had
+called upon him for some jottings regarding his life.
+
+He said:
+
+"It was in the fall of '71, that General Sheridan came to the plains
+with a party of gentlemen for the purpose of engaging in a buffalo-hunt,
+to extend from Fort McPherson, Nebraska, to Fort Hayes, Kansas, on the
+Kansas Pacific Railroad, a distance of 228 miles, through the finest
+hunting country in the world. In the party were James Gordon Bennett of
+the New York _Herald_, Lawrence and Leonard Jerome, Carl Livingstone,
+S.G. Heckshire, General Fitzhugh of Pittsburg, General Anson Stager of
+the Western Union Telegraph Company, and other noted gentlemen. I guided
+the party, and when the hunt was finished, I received an invitation from
+them to go to New York and make them a visit, as they wanted to show me
+the East, as I had shown them the West. I was then Chief of Scouts in
+the Department of the Platte. And in January, 1872, just after the Grand
+Duke Alexis's hunt, which, by the way, I organized, I got a leave of
+absence, and for the first time in my life found myself east of the
+Mississippi river.
+
+"Stopping at Chicago two days, where I was the guest of General
+Sheridan, I proceeded to New York, where I was shown the 'elephant.'
+During my visit I attended the performance at the Bowery Theater, in
+company with Colonel E.Z.C. Judson (Ned Buntline), and witnessed a
+dramatization of Judson's story, entitled 'Buffalo Bill, King of Border
+Men.' The part of 'Buffalo Bill' was impersonated by J.B. Studley, an
+excellent actor, and I must say the fellow looked like me, as his
+make-up was a perfect picture of myself. I had not watched myself very
+long before the audience discovered that the original Buffalo Bill was
+in the private box, and they commenced cheering, which stopped the
+performance, and they would not cease until I had shown myself and
+spoken a few words.
+
+"At that time I had no idea of going on the stage, such a thought having
+never entered my head. But some enterprising managers, believing there
+was money in me, offered me as high as $1,000 per week to go on the
+stage. I told them I would rather face 1,000 Indians than attempt to
+open my mouth before all those people. I returned to my duties as a
+scout, and during the summer of 1872 Ned Buntline was constantly writing
+to me to come East and go on the stage, offering large inducements. As
+scouting business was a little dull, I concluded to try it for awhile,
+and started East in company with Texas Jack. Met Buntline in Chicago
+with a company ready to support me.
+
+"We were to open in Chicago in Nixon's Amphitheater on December 16th,
+1872. I arrived in Chicago December 12th, 1872. We were driven to the
+theater, where I was introduced to Jim Nixon, who said, 'Mr. Buntline,
+give me your drama, as I am ready to cast your piece, and we have no
+time to lose, if you are to open Monday, and these men who have never
+been on the stage will require several rehearsals.' Buntline surprised
+us all by saying that he had not written the drama yet, but would do so
+at once. Mr. Nixon said, 'No drama! and this is Thursday. Well, I will
+cancel your date.' But Buntline was not to be balked in this way, and
+asked Nixon what he would rent the theater one week for. 'One thousand
+dollars,' said Nixon. 'It's my theater,' said Buntline, making out a
+check for the amount. He rushed to the hotel, secured the services of
+several clerks to copy the parts, and in four hours had written 'The
+Scouts of the Prairie.' He handed Texas Jack and I our parts, told us to
+commit them to memory and report next morning for rehearsal. I looked at
+Jack's and then at my part. Jack looked at me and said, 'Bill, how long
+will it take you to commit your part?' 'About seven years, if I have
+good luck.' Buntline said, 'Go to work.' I studied hard, and next
+morning recited the lines, cues and all, to Buntline. Buntline said,
+'You must not recite cues; they are for you to speak from--the last
+words of the persons who speak before you.' I said, 'Cues be d--d; I
+never heard of anything but a billiard cue.'
+
+"Well, night came. The house was packed. Up went the curtain. Buntline
+appeared as Cale Durg, an old Trapper, and at a certain time Jack
+and I were to come on. But we were a little late, and when I made my
+appearance, facing 3,000 people, among them General Sheridan and a
+number of army officers, it broke me all up and I could not remember
+a word. All that saved me was my answer to a question put by Buntline.
+He asked, 'What detained you?' I told him I had been on a hunt with
+Milligan. You see Milligan was a prominent Chicago gentleman who had
+been hunting with me a short time before on the plains, and had been
+chased by the Indians, and the papers had been full of his hunt for some
+time; Buntline saw that I was 'up a stump,' for I had forgotten my
+lines, and he told me to tell him about the hunt. I told the story in
+a very funny way, and it took like wild-fire with the audience.
+
+"While I was telling the story, Buntline had whispered to the stage
+manager that when I got through with my story to send on the Indians.
+Presently Buntline sung out: 'The Indians are upon us.' Now this was
+'pie' for Jack and I, and we went at those bogus Indians red hot until
+we had killed the last one and the curtain went down amid a most
+tremendous applause, while the audience went wild. The other actors
+never got a chance to appear in the first act. Buntline said, 'Go ahead
+with the second act, it's going splendid.' I think that during the
+entire performance, neither Jack nor myself spoke a line of our original
+parts. But the next morning the press said it was the best show ever
+given in Chicago, as it was so bad it was good, and they could not see
+what Buntline was doing all the time if it took him four hours to write
+that drama.
+
+"Our business was immense all that season, and if we had been managed
+properly we would have each made a small fortune. As it was I came out
+$10,000 ahead. In June, 1873, I returned to the plains, came East again
+in the fall, this time my own manager. I got a company, took the noted
+'Wild Bill' with me, but could not do much with him as he was not an
+easy man to handle, and would insist on shooting the supers in the legs
+with powder, just to see them jump. He left a few months later and
+returned to the plains. He was killed in August, 1876, in Deadwood.
+
+"In the summer of 1876 I was Chief of Scouts under General Carr,
+afterward with General Crook and General Terry.
+
+"On the 17th of July I killed Yellow Hand, a noted Cheyenne chief, and
+took the first scalp for Custer. I returned to the stage in October,
+1876, and during the season of 1876 and 1879 I cleared $38,000. I have
+generally been successful financially on the stage. I am now in the
+cattle business in Nebraska, to which place I will return as soon as the
+season is over, providing nothing serious occurs to call me home
+earlier."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+THE YELLOW HAND DUEL.
+
+
+As Buffalo Bill, in the foregoing chapter speaks of his killing Yellow
+Hand, the celebrated Cheyenne chief, who was greatly feared by his own
+people, and a terror to the whites, I will give an account of that
+tragic duel between a white man and two Indians, for another chief also
+rode down and attacked the noted scout, after his red comrade had
+fallen.
+
+When the Indian war of 1876 broke out Buffalo Bill at 01:00 closed his
+dramatic season, and started post haste for the West, having received a
+telegram from General E.A. Carr asking for his services as scout in the
+coming campaign.
+
+He joined the command at Fort D.A. Russell, where the famous Fifth
+Cavalry Regiment was then in camp, and arriving received a boisterous
+welcome from his old comrades, who felt that, with Buffalo Bill as Chief
+of Scouts, they would surely have warm work with the Indians.
+
+The Fifth Cavalry was at once ordered to operate in scouting the country
+on the South Fork of the Cheyenne and to the foot of the Black Hills,
+and it was while driving the Indians before them that the news came of
+Custer's fatal fight with Sitting Bull on the Little Big Horn.
+
+General Merritt, who had superseded Carr in command marched at once to
+the Big Horn country, and while _en route_ there came news of a
+large force of warriors moving down to join Sitting Bull.
+
+Instantly five hundred picked men of the Fifth started back by forced
+marches, and Buffalo Bill, splendidly mounted, kept on ahead of the
+command a couple of miles.
+
+Discovering the Indians, he at the same time beheld two horsemen whom he
+saw to be whites, riding along unconscious of the presence of foes.
+
+He knew that they must be scouts bearing dispatches, and at once
+determined to save them for they were riding in a direction down one
+valley that would bring them directly upon the red-skins, who had
+already seen them, and had sent a force of thirty warriors out to
+intercept them.
+
+Instantly Buffalo Bill dashed over the ridge of the hill that concealed
+him from the view of the Cheyennes, and rode directly toward the band
+going to attack the two white horsemen.
+
+They halted suddenly at sight of him, but, seeing that he was alone,
+they started for him with wild yells.
+
+But still he kept on directly toward them, until within range, when he
+opened upon them with his matchless Evans rifle, a thirty-four-shot
+repeater, and a hot fight began, for they returned the fire.
+
+This was just what Buffalo Bill wanted, for the firing alarmed the
+horsemen and placed them on their guard, and he knew that the Indian
+volleys would be heard at the command and hasten them forward.
+
+Having dropped a couple of red-skins and several ponies, Buffalo Bill
+wheeled to the rightabout, dashed up to the top of a hill, and,
+signaling to the two whites to follow him, headed for the command at
+full speed.
+
+As he had anticipated, the two men were scouts with important dispatches
+for General Merritt, and Bill's bold act had not only saved their lives,
+but also the dispatches, and the result of it was that the Fifth Cavalry
+went at once into line of battle, while the Cheyennes also formed for
+battle, though evidently surprised at being headed off at that point.
+
+But they saw that they were double the force of the whites, and were
+determined upon a fight, and their chiefs reconnoitered carefully their
+foes' strength and position.
+
+Buffalo Bill also volunteered to go out and get a closer look at them,
+to see what they were up to, and General Merritt told him to do so, but
+not to venture too near and expose himself.
+
+As he left the line two Indian horsemen also rode out from among their
+comrades, and one was some lengths in front of the other.
+
+At a glance Buffalo Bill saw that the two were full chiefs, and they had
+not advanced far toward each other when he discovered that he was the
+especial object of their attention.
+
+But though one halted, the other came on, and the scout and the chief
+came within a hundred yards of each other.
+
+Then the Indian cried out in his own tongue:
+
+"I know Pa-e-has-ka the Great White Hunter and want to fight him."
+
+"Then come on, you red devil, and have it out," shouted back Buffalo
+Bill, and forgetting General Merritt's orders not to expose himself, and
+to the horror of the regiment, every man of whom saw him, as well as did
+the Indians, he dashed at full speed toward the chief, who likewise,
+with a wild yell rode toward him.
+
+Together both fired, the chief with his rifle, and Buffalo Bill with his
+revolver, and down dropped both horses.
+
+Buffalo Bill nimbly caught on his feet, while the Indian was pinned by
+one leg under his horse, and with his war-cry the scout rushed upon him.
+
+As he advanced the chief succeeded in releasing his leg from beneath his
+horse and again fired, as did Buffalo Bill, and both of them with
+revolvers.
+
+The Indian's bullet cut a slight gash in Bill's arm, while he struck the
+red-skin in the leg, and the next instant sprung upon him with his
+knife, which both had drawn.
+
+The hand-to-hand fight was hardly five seconds in duration, and Buffalo
+Bill had driven his knife into the broad red breast, and then tore from
+his head the scalp and feather war-bonnet, and waving it over his head,
+shouted in ringing tones:
+
+"_Bravo! the first scalp to avenge Custer!_"
+
+A shout of warning from the cavalry caused him to turn quickly and he
+beheld the second chief riding down upon him at full speed.
+
+But Bill turned upon him, and a shot from his revolver got him another
+scalp.
+
+But hardly had he stooped to tear it from the skull, when the Indians,
+with wildest yells, charged upon him.
+
+They were nearer to him than was the regiment, and it looked bad for
+Buffalo Bill; but the gallant Fifth charged in splendid style, met the
+Indians in a savage fight, and then began to drive them in wild
+confusion, and pushed them back into the Agency a sorely whipped body of
+Cheyennes, and grieving over heavy losses.
+
+Upon reaching the Agency Buffalo Bill learned that the two Indians he
+had killed in the duel were Yellow Hand and Red Knife, and Cut Nose, the
+father of the former swore some day to have the scout's scalp.
+
+But Buffalo Bill laughed lightly at this threat, evidently believing the
+old adage that "A threatened man is long lived."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+Having gone over many of the thrilling scenes in the life of W.F. Cody,
+Buffalo Bill, from boyhood to manhood, and shown what indomitable pluck
+he possesses, and the pinnacle of fame he has reached unaided, and by
+his own exertions and will, I can only now say that much remains to be
+told of his riper years, from the time he stepped across the threshold
+from youth to man's estate, for since then his life has been one long
+series of perilous adventures which, though tinged with romance, and
+seeming fiction, will go down to posterity as true border history of
+this most remarkable man, the truly called King of Prairiemen.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Half-Dime Singer's Library
+
+   1 WHOA, EMMA! and 59 other Songs.
+   2 CAPTAIN CUFF and 57 other Songs.
+   3 THE GAINSBORO' HAT and 62 other Songs.
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+   5 I'LL STRIKE YOU WITH A FEATHER and 62 others,
+   6 GEORGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs.
+   7 THE BELLE OF ROCKAWAY and 52 other Songs.
+   8 YOUNG FELLAH, YOU'RE TOO FRESH and 60 others.
+   9 SHY YOUNG GIRL and 65 other Songs.
+  10 I'M THE GOVERNOR'S ONLY SON and 58 other Songs.
+  11 MY FAN and 65 other Songs.
+  12 COMIN' THRO' THE RYE and 55 other Songs.
+  13 THE ROLLICKING IRISHMAN and 59 other Songs.
+  14 OLD DOG TRAY and 62 other Songs.
+  15 WHOA, CHARLIE and 59 other Songs.
+  16 IN THIS WHEAT BY AND BY and 62 other Songs.
+  17 NANCY LEE and 58 other Songs.
+  18 I'M THE BOY THAT'S BOUND TO BLAZE and 57 others.
+  19 THE TWO ORPHANS and 59 other Songs.
+  20 WHAT ARE THE WILD WAVES SAYING, SISTER? and 59 other Songs.
+  21 INDIGNANT POLLY WOG and 59 other Songs.
+  22 THE OLD ARM-CHAIR and 58 other Songs.
+  23 ON CONEY ISLAND BEACH and 58 other Songs.
+  24 OLD SIMON, THE HOT-CORN MAN and 60 others.
+  25 I'M IN LOVE and 56 other Songs.
+  26 PARADE OF THE GUARDS and 56 other Songs.
+  27 YO, HEAVE, HO! and 60 other Songs.
+  28 'TWILL NEVER DO TO GIB IT UP SO and 60 others.
+  29 BLUE BONNETS OVER THE BORDER and 54 others,
+  30 THE MERRY LAUGHING MAN and 56 other Songs.
+  31 SWEET FORGET-ME-NOT and 55 other Songs.
+  32 LEETLE BABY MINE and 53 other Songs.
+  33 DE BANJO AM DE INSTRUMENT FOR ME and 53 others.
+  34 TAFFY and 50 other Songs.
+  35 JUST TO PLEASE THE BOYS and 52 other Songs.
+  36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GUTTER and 52 others.
+  37 KOLORED KRANKS and 59 other Songs.
+  38 NIL DESPERANDUM and 53 other Songs.
+  39 THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME and 50 other Songs.
+  40 'TIS BUT A LITTLE FADED FLOWER and 50 others.
+  41 PRETTY WHILHELMINA and 60 other Songs.
+  42 DANCING IN THE BARN and 68 other Songs.
+  43 H.M.S. PINAFORE. COMPLETE, and 17 other Songs.
+
+
+Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent
+_post-paid_, to any address, on receipt of _Six cents_ per number.
+
+  BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
+    96 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Beadle's Boy's Library of Sport, Story
+and Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1., by Prentiss Ingraham
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUFFALO BILL ***
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