Beadle's Boy's Library of Sport, Story and Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1.

by Prentiss Ingraham

  "Halt! up with your hands!"

  With military promptitude Buffalo Billy obeyed, and putting on theCalifornia brakes, he drew his horses to a stand-still.

  "Well, what have you got to-day that's worthy our picking, my BoyDriver?" said the road-agent leader approaching the coach.

  "Only women, and I beg you not to be brute enough to scare 'em," saidBilly.

  "Oh! they must pay toll; and they generally have good watches; but whatis 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 thestage door, Billy suddenly drew his revolver and with the flash thechief fell dead.

  "Out, boys!" yelled Billy, and the stage doors flew open, dresses andbonnets were cast aside, and nine splendid fellows began a rapid fireupon the amazed road-agents.

  One or two managed to escape; but that was all, for after four of theirnumber 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 ofa 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 ofhis mother, Buffalo Billy, like the dutiful son he was, once moreresigned his position as stage-driver, and returned to Kansas, arrivingthere 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 ofuneasiness, for he was too near Leavenworth, then an important militarypost, not to get the soldier's fever for battles and marches.

  He soon discovered that a company of cavalry was being raised to doservice in Missouri, and he at once enlisted and went as a guard to aGovernment train bound to Springfield, Missouri, and after that he wasmade a dispatch runner to the different forts, and met with manythrilling adventures while in that capacity.

  From this duty Buffalo Billy was sent as guide and scout to the NinthKansas Regiment which was ordered into the Kiowa and Comanche country,and it did good service there, and the young soldier added new laurelsto his name.

  The second year of the war Billy became one of the famous "Red LeggedScouts," formed of the most noted rangers of Kansas.

  While a member of this daring band he was sent to guide a train toDenver, but upon arriving there, learning of the severe illness of hismother, he at once set off for home, going the entire distance alone andmaking wonderful time through a country infested with dangers.

  To his joy, he found his mother still living, yet failing rapidly, andsoon after his arrival she breathed her last and Buffalo Billy had losthis best, truest friend, and the sad event cast a gloom over the life ofthe young soldier.

  As one of his sisters had married some time before, her husband tookcharge of the farm, while Billy returned to the army and was sent intoMississippi and Tennessee with his command.

  But Billy did not relish military duty, for he had become too wellaccustomed to the free life of the plains, and, resigning his positionas scout, started upon his return to the prairies.

  But while on the way he came in sight of a pleasant farm-house, fromwhich 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 runninginto the door when a man came out into the hall and fired at him, butfortunately missed him.

  Bill instantly returned the fire, and his quick, unerring aim sent abullet into the man's brain.

  At the shots a wilder cry came from within for help and two men dashedout into the hall, and, seeing Billy, three pistols flashed together.

  But Billy was unhurt, and one of his foes fell dead, while springingupon the other he gave him a stunning blow with his revolver that puthim out of the fight, and then bounded into the room to discover anelderly lady and a lovely young girl threatened by two huge ruffians,who were holding their pistols to their heads to try and force from themthe 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 youngsoldier, who seemed to bear a charmed life, for he was unhurt, though hehad slain four men in a desperate combat and wounded a fifth.

  Just then into the room dashed three men, and their weapons were leveledat Buffalo Billy, and right then and there his days would have ended hadit not been for the courage and presence of mind of the lovely younggirl, who threw herself forward upon his breast, to the youth's greatsurprise, 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 formersaid:

  "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, hearda cry for help, and found your wife and daughter, as I suppose them tobe, at the mercy of five ruffians, and I was fortunate enough to servethem.

  "But I will not be made prisoner, gentlemen."

  Billy's hands were on his revolvers and he looked squarely in the facesof those in his front, and they could see that he was a man who meantwhat he said.

  "My dear sir, I am a Confederate, I admit, and this is my home; but I amnot the one to do a mean action toward a Union soldier, and especiallyone who has just served me so well in killing these men, whom Irecognize as jay-hawkers, who prey on either side, and own no allegianceto 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, andall thanked him warmly for the service he had done them.

  But Billy was surprised to find he was within the Confederate lines, andfound by inquiring that he had taken the wrong road a few miles back.

  The farmer was the captain of a neighborhood military company, and itwas 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 lyingdead in the hall, and beholding Billy in the blue, had an idea that theNorthern soldiers were on a raid, had been met by some of his men, andhe certainly would have killed the young scout but for the timely act ofhis 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 toremain in the army, and not to return to the plains, for when stationedin or near St. Louis, he could often see the pretty dark-eyed girl whohad stolen his heart away.

  Before the war ended Buffalo Billy returned to Kansas, but he carriedwith him the heart of Louise Frederici, and the promise that she wouldone day be his wife.

  After a short visit to his sisters he again became a stage-driver, andit was by making a desperate drive down a mountain side to escape a bandof road-agents that he won the well-deserved title of the Prince of theReins.

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  IN FETTERS.

  All the time that Buffalo Bill was driving stage his thoughts wereturning to dark-eyed pretty Louise Frederici in her pleasant Missourihome, and at last he became so love-sick that he determined to pay her avisit and ask her to marry him at once.

  He was no longer a boy in size, but a tall, elegantly-formed man, thoughhis years had not yet reached twenty-one.

  He had saved up some money, and off to Missouri he started, and hisstrangely-handsome face, superb form and comely manners were admiredwherever he went, and people wondered who he was, little dreaming theywere 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 wouldsettle down, and they were married at farmer Fre
derici's home andstarted on their way, by a Missouri steamer, to Kansas.

  Arriving at Leavenworth, Buffalo Bill and his bride received a royalwelcome 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 thatbeing to his liking, he left his wife with his sisters and once morestarted for the far West, this time as a Government scout at FortEllsworth.

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  SEEING SERVICE.

  It was while in the capacity of scout at Fort Barker and Fort Hayes thatBuffalo Bill added to his fame as an Indian-fighter, scout and guide,for almost daily he met with thrilling adventures, while his knowledgeof the country enabled him to guide commands from post to post with thegreatest of ease and without following a trail, but by taking a straightcourse across prairie or hill-land.

  While in the vicinity of Hayes City Buffalo Bill had a narrow escapefrom capture, with a party that was under his guidance; in fact deathwould very suddenly have followed the capture of all.

  A party of officers and their wives, well mounted and armed, weredetermined not to go with the slow wagon-train from one fort to theother, and accordingly Buffalo Bill was engaged to guide them.

  He made known to them the great dangers of the trip, but they beingdetermined, the party started, some dozen in all.

  For awhile all went well, but then Buffalo Bill discovered signs ofIndians, and hardly had the discovery been made when a large force, overtwo hundred in number, came in sight and gave chase.

  Of course the party were terribly alarmed, and regretted their comingwithout 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 atfull speed, with wild yells and whoops, confident of making a splendidcapture.

  Directing the officers what course to take, Buffalo Bill saw them startoff at full speed while he remained quietly seated upon his splendidhorse Brigham, a steed that equaled Sable Satan for speed and endurance.

  It was evident that the red-skins were surprised at beholding a singlehorseman standing so calmly in their path, and awaiting their coming,and the party in flight looked back in great alarm as they saw thatBuffalo Bill did not move, appearing like a bronze statue of horse andrider.

  "What could it mean?"

  "Was he mad?"

  And many more were the comments made by the party, while the Indianswere equally as inquisitive upon the subject.

  Nearer and nearer came the rushing band, for what had two hundredmounted warriors to fear from one man?

  Nearer and nearer, until presently Buffalo Bill was seen to raise hisrifle, 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 testingit thoroughly.

  And the result was such that the Indians drew rein, for down in the dusthad gone several of their number, while half a dozen ponies had beenkilled by the shots; in fact, fired into the crowded mass of men andhorses, 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, andwarm congratulations followed, for the officers and ladies had seen thedaring scout check the entire band of red-skins.

  But though temporarily stunned by the effects of the shots, for theIndians had not seen repeating rifles in those days, they soon ralliedand came on once more at full speed.

  And again did the scout drop behind and await their coming, to once moreadminister upon the amazed warriors a check that made them morecautious, for they kept out of range.

  Yet they kept up the chase all day, and only drew off when the fort camein 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-arrivalof a drove of Government horses, as he was anxious to make a raid intothe Indian country, and Buffalo Bill volunteered to go and hurry thecattle on.

  He had been gone but a few hours from the fort when he crossed a trailwhich 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 horsesgrazing.

  To return to the fort for aid he knew would take too long, so hedetermined to make an attempt to capture the herd himself, and, with hisfield-glass carefully reconnoitered the surroundings as long as it waslight.

  He saw that the nature of the valley was such that the herd could onlyescape by two ways, one through the Indian village and the other at thelower end, where he had observed four warriors placed as a guard andherders.

  "That is my quartette," he said to himself, and mounting Brigham hebegan 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 towork.

  Carrying with him in case of need a complete Indian costume, he was notlong in rigging himself up in it and painting his face.

  Then he left Brigham in a canyon near by and cautiously approached theentrance to the valley, which was not more than two hundred yards wideat this point.

  Peering through the darkness he saw the four dark objects, about equaldistances apart, which he knew were the ponies of the four warriors onguard, and that they were lying down near in the grass he feltconfident.

  Getting past the line of herders he boldly advanced toward the onenearest the hill on the left, and knew he would be taken for some chiefcoming from the village and accordingly not dreaded.

  It was just as he had expected: the Indian herder saw him comingdirectly from the village, as he believed and did not even rise from thegrass as Buffalo Bill drew near.

  With a word in Sioux Buffalo Bill advanced and suddenly threw himselfupon the prostrate warrior.

  There was a short struggle, but no cry, as the scout's hand grasped thered-skin's throat, and then all was still, the Indian pony lariatednear, not even stopping his grazing.

  Throwing the red-skin's blanket over his body, Buffalo Bill moved away afew paces to where the pony stood, and called to the next herder in theSioux tongue to come to him.

  The unsuspecting warrior obeyed, and the next instant found himself in agripe 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 bandwould make a strike upon the settlements," muttered the scout, as hemoved 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 andboldly walked up to him, when again the same short, fierce, silent fightfollowed and Buffalo Bill arose from the ground a victor.

  The fourth, and only remaining guard he knew was over under the shadowof the hill, and thither he went.

  Arriving near he did not see him, and looking around suddenly discoveredhim asleep at the foot of a tree.

  "I'd like to let you sleep, Mr. Red-skin, but you'd wake up at the wrongtime, so you must follow your comrades to the happy hunting-grounds," hemuttered, as he bent over and seized the throat of the Indian in hispowerful gripe.

  The warrior was almost a giant in size, and he made a fierce fight forhis life.

  But the iron hold on his throat did not relax, and at last his effortsceased and his grasp upon the scout, which had been so great he couldnot use his knife, weakened and there was no more show of resistance.

  Then not an instant did Buffalo Bill tarry, but went up the vall
ey,rounded up the herd of horses and quickly drove them away from thevillage, in which he knew slept half a thousand warriors.

  Slowly he moved the large brute mass, and they went toward the mouth ofthe 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; butat last the herd was driven to a good grazing place a few miles from thefort and Buffalo Bill left them and rode rapidly on, and just at dawnreported his valuable capture and that the same horses could be used inan attack upon the Indian camp.

  The colonel at once acted upon his suggestion; the cavalrymen who had nohorses, loaded with their saddles, bridles and arms, went at a quickmarch to the grazing place of the horses, and ere the day was threehours old three hundred men were mounted and on the trail for thered-skin village, while the remainder of the ponies were driven to thefort.

  Deprived of the greater part of their horses, the red-skins could marchbut slowly; but they were in full retreat when Buffalo Bill led thecommand in sight of them, and though the dismounted warriors foughtbravely, they were severely whipped and all their village equipagecaptured or destroyed, while instead of attacking the white settlementsas 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 (LongHair), as they called him, known to every Indian on the north-westborder, and they regarded him with the greatest terror, while it madehim an idol among the soldiers.