Seventh Ave., NV. Y. ive Cents is hea SMITH, 79-8 a ice, F Pr and saw above h éy STREET & 1906 fost Office, e t escaped Ing, an immense cougar. ze ’ jus OCTOBER 27 x, Y x ~ BNy 8 x SO S ~ s g 8 r 9 as Second- YORK whose claws he zzly, Td eRe Pree] 2.50 per year. Entered NEW Il looked from the gri ready to spr subscription §. By Buffalo Bi 4ssued Weekly, Bea cD LT rs free ede DEVOTED A WEEKLY PUBLICATION TO BORDER HISTORY | Lssued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Lntered as Second-class Matter at the NV. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-59 Seventh Avente, N.Y. Entered according to dct of Congress in the year 1906, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. [=> Beware of Wild West imitations of the Buffalo Bill Stories. They are about fictitious characters. The Buffalo Bill weekly is the only weekly containing the adventures of Buffalo Bill, (Col. W. F. Cody), who is known all over the vane as the king of scouts. No. 285. NEW YORK, October 27, 1906. Price Five Cents. OR, The Specter of eath By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.” t CHAPTER I. A TICKLISH SITUATION. In a log cabin close to one of the stations of the Over- land Company an old man in the last stages of a fatal illness tossed feverishly on his bunk. By his side an Indian maiden of seventeen summers, with lustrous eyes of black and a lovely face, expressive of the deepest commiseration, ministered to his wants and soothed him with her soft voice. '. “Do you’ think he will come, Lolita?” he asked, as he fixed his burning eyes upon her. “Yes, yes, Capitano, he will come. . Buffalo oe is one man among a thousand. He will not fail you.” She spoke without accent, for her English was well- _ nigh perfect, thanks to several years’ instruction in a school of the whites. “He must come, for my boy must not be defrauded of his rights. And he should be here to-day, should he not?” * Sem te Same IN ee eRe tector tenn nee age at cea net me teh nae rTO i A an et ire errant na oa 39 “It is a long journey,’ was the evasive reply, ‘and he may not be here before to-morrow.” “But I may die before to-morrow,” as he nervously cracked his knuckles. “No, Capitano,” answered the girl, with confidence and firmness, ‘‘you will not die for a long time. You will live, for Buffalo Bill’s coming. You must.” “And I will, Lolita,” he replied, almost fiercely. ‘shall not rob Walter of his inheritance.’ The old man shut his eyes, and for a time there was silence in the little room. Then it was brokeg by the said the old man, “Death - question : “Who was here this morning, Lolita’ ae “The man who came the other day—the hunter who brought us the deer.” “Which I was too weak to enjoy. Yes, the yes, hunter, Black Mart, I think they call him. Do you like him?” The Indian maiden’s face oa contempt and aversion. \ tre sae ane em setae 4 eae tela comme nate i tts ts rete tact nt ne ry paren ens hit hot alent semester meat mht tae teeta ats opt anaemia coe AM nine pean mtn=mnminnneth tein Atha aye enema THE -BUPT ALO He may be a good man. [ do not It is—it is not No, Capitano. know. But I like not his manner. respectiul.”. The old man thought he inden eee) making love to you?’ _ Lolita’s red lips curled, She tossed her small, shapely head. ‘‘Not he, Capitano. He did not dare to do that. “He has been But”—her face grew serious—‘“‘he looked at me in a - way which I did not like.” . “He did, eh? Ah, it is too bad that I am not able to protect you. You are pretty, very pretty, Lolita. are a Cherokee, and I believe there is white blood in -your veins. There are not many white girls who can compare with you in comeliness, none that 1 know of who can equal you in womanly virtues and charms. Take care of yourself, my dear, and remember that there are human wolves as well as the wolves that walk on four Peete: The Indian maiden blushed at the compliment and frowned at the advice, “I need no protection,” she quietly responded. my knife and the pistol which you gave me after we—my father and I—had carried you more dead than alive out of Death Valley.” | : “Brave work, brave work you two did, Lolita. My life I owe to you, for it was you who found me in that hell- hole of the American continent, And that finding cost you your father, for we were close to the Indian village, where I was nursed back to life when your father was killed by a fall while searching for a water-hole.” _ The Indian maiden’s expression was sorrowful, but she gently replied: “The Great Spirit wanted my father, and I must not complain. And Lolita must not forget that after you got back your oe and strength you became a second father to me.’ “And now I am about to leave you just when I hoped to meet my boy and have him take my place. where are you, and why have you not written to me?” “He could not have repay d your letters, Capitano,” soothingly replied Lolita, “or he would have been with you before this. Arizona is a long ee off, and he is not in any.of the towns.” ‘SC You are Tioht, Lolita, and I must not blame Walter. : I must die, I suppose, without seeing him. Well, what is ordained cannot be changed. But he must have what is his by right. Buffalo Bill shall get it for him,” Outside the door a dark-visaged man, with cold, sharp * eyes and a cruel mouth, heavy black brows and long, coal- black hair, was listening intently to the conversation be- tween the girl and the sick man. UTE we had only known,” said Lolita, “ve could have saved you much trouble. We could have taken ee tin box with jis lt is a pity that i was raving in delirium when you BILL STORIES. You “T have Walter, found me, or I might have told you where I had placed the box. But it is well hidden, and no stranger will ever find it. And,’ the old man added, “no one but Buffalo Bill shall be told the secrets of the hiding-place.” The man outside frowned, but presently an evil smile crept into his face. he said to himself, guns, for the old man has never seen Buffalo Bill. I have got all I can get, and now to put a spoke into the wheel of the king of scouts. He'll stop to-night at Lost Man’s Basin, and there we'll get him.” Slinking away he reached the station, spoke a le words to the agent in charge, then mounted his pony and rode toward the rocky hills to the north. The agent was Wild Bill, and he gazed after the departing horseman with a shake of the head. ' “That black-browed son of Satan is up to mischief,” he muttered. “He has been monkeying around here for a week, and I’ll bet it was not sympathy that made him pass the most of the time at Captain Allison’s cabin. If he hadn’t made himself solid with Uncle Sam by betray- ing the gang with whom he had been associated, I would © have turned him out before this. But my instructions were to treat him well. The government, represented in this district by Colonel Armsby, thinks he has reformed. Bah! He’s a bad one, and a bad one he will remain until some,good man puts a bullet into his black heart. I wonder what his ete in Captain a. is? Maybe Lolita will tell me.’ Shortly after this the indent maiden appeared at the. station, She had some questions to ask. “El Capitano is expecting a friend,” she began, “and he thinks the friend ought to reach here to-night. He is to come from Fort Merriman, and he SU lacagae te we sup- pose—day before yesterday morning.” “Then he won’t get here before to-morrow noon,” said Wild Bill decidedly. “I know the trail. He will stop to-night at Lost Man’s Basin. There is water there and a deserted cabin. Who is the friend, if I may ask: rae “Mr, Cody-—-Buffalo Bill.” “Buffalo Bill! My old comrade! You don’t say so.’ 33 The famous border fighter’s face showed the ae “And so you have been writing to him, have pleasure, you! 29? - “El Capitano did. There is a commission which he ) desires that Buffalo Bill shall execute.” Wild Bill pondered the matter for some moments. expression was serious as he asked: “Does this fellow, Black Mart, know what the commission is? ai “But he knows, coe t he, ‘that the captain | has sent for Buffalo Bill? a ee ce “H’m, I'll bet there’s foul play afloat.” “He said this “This is a case for King-Ace Marks,” “and he’ll make ther riffle sure as * | es EY Re A (Se POISE, ARTI ESE AO BCI I IE A EERO OES SOE ES Ra SLO Re EOL DES THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. ve 3 more to himself than to the girl. words. “What do you mean?” che questioned. “I can’t explain, Lolita. All I can say is that F don’t ' go a cent on Black Mart. He has been browsing around -your cabin for a week, and now he has set out for the _ north along the trail that Buffalo Bill must take to reach 1 ae here. Confound it, I wish I were foot-loose. I'd go after that skunk and find out what mischief he is up to.” The Indian girl lowered her head and contracted her brows. When she spoke there was a ring of determina- tion in her voice. Her facé paled at the “You could do what is to be fone within twenty-four Thours, couldn’t you?” “Sure,” regarding her curiously. “What's in that pretty head of yours?” “Then you must go at once. I'll be station-agent while you are gone. And there will be no stage until ‘to-morrow afternoon. Maybe you'll be back before that time. You have taken a day or two off before this and you a “Lolita,” the tall scout interrupted quickly with spark- ling eyes, “you are a brick. I don’t like to leave you here alone, but I'll have to do it. I have extra rifles, and _youw know what to do if any foul-hearted renegade comes sneaking around. I don’t think you will be visited by -any Indians. The Navajos are not friendly, but they are forty miles away, and have never bothered this station. Yes, [ll go, and to-night I will camp at the Lost Man’s Basin, and [’ll make it warm for Mr. Black Mart if he means to work any devil’s game on Buffalo Bill.” The log cabin was in sight of the sation, and it was not necessary that Lolita should leave Captain Allison except for the purpose of feeding and watering the horses in the stable. She saw Wild Bill ride off, and the spectacle-of his lithe, muscular figure and the ease and determination with which he sent his pony forward gave her hope that his mission would turn out well. | She did not mention the agent’s departure to the old man, for she feared that the news would excite and dis- tress him. But she did tell him that Buffalo Bill could not possibly reach the station until noon next day. — Captain Allison was suffering from a general breaking up of the system; and he knew that his days were numbered. He was on his way to Death Valley to recover a box containing valuable papers which he had left behind at the time of his rescue by Lolita and her father when he was stricken down with fatal illness. Luckily, the seizure came just as he and Lolita, whom he had adopted, were near the station of the Overland Company. Wild Bill had given up to him his cabin and made a _bed for himself in the station office. When night came the tall scout was fearing Lost Man’s Basin. Buffalo Bill had already arrived there. The king of the scouts did not know the nature of the commission that Captain Allison wished him to execute, but he was ready to undertake it, whatever it might prove to be, for the captain was a bosom friend of Colonel Armsby, and the colonel and Buffalo Bill were like brothers. The letter, written to the eink contained the request that Buffalo Bill, who was known to be at Fort Merri- man, should be detailed to perform a simple service, but involving ‘a long journey, a service whose performance was made necessary by the serious physical condition of the writer. The morning after the receipt of this letter Buffalo Bill set out for the Overland station. His route, for the most part, lay on the plains, and it was not until near the close of day that he ascended a low mountain, and then rode down to a sandy hollow among the rocks. This place was known as Lost Man’s Basin, and under its soil rested the bones of a Chicago merchant, who, while out hunting, had lost his bearings. Reaching the basin with a broken leg, and without his horse, the animal having been killed in the fall which had caused the merchant’s injury, he had lain without food until death came. At one end of the hollow, in the vicinity of a spring, was a stretch of bunch-grass. Here the pony was picketed. Entering the deserted cabin with his roll of blankets and his cooking-kit, the king of scouts prepared for his evening meal. There was plenty of dry wood about, and, after a fire had been kindled, bacon was fried and. coffee made.. : The meal over, Buffalo Bill lighted his pipe and be- gan to smoke. Ten minutes passed. The sun had set, but it was not yet dark. Soon the low, frightened whinny of the pony brought him to his feet, rifle in hand and every sense alert. Looking out of the back window, he saw the head of an. Indian slowly emerge from behind a large rock. The eyes were directed toward the cabin. Buffalo Bill was not standing in front of the window, and could, therefore, see without being seen. Soon the Indian stood up, turned and beckoned. In- stantly five more Indians and a white man appeared. The latter was a tall, heavily built, ferocious-looking fel- low. His hair, brown and wavy, was worn long. A’ thick brown beard covered his face. Buffalo Bill had never seen him before, and could not imagine who he could be. There were a few words of earnest conversation, car- ried on in whispers and gesticulations. Then the force divided, three of the Indians moving for one side of the log cabin and three for the other, ee eS SS Rope: spree eS Ss 4 THE BUFFALO The whites man remained crouched behind the rock, no portion*of his person being visible. The king of scouts, realizing that he was confronted — by a terrible danger, and believing that his mission to the Overland station had been discovered by some enemy of Captain Allison, resolved to sell his life dearly. The door was open, and, standing to one side of it, he awaited the appearance of the foe. An Indian’s head appeared around the corner of the house, within his line of vision. But he did not fire. He desired to see more than one before he pulled the trigger. ' ( Presently two more came into view. As they stopped and looked toward the open door, the rifle cracked once, twice. Two of’the Indians fell, but the third was at the side of the cabin and out of range before the next discharge could reach him. Leaping to the other side of the door, the king of scouts looked out for the second detachment of Indians. But not one of the three was in sight. At the first shot from the cabin they had retreated. As the scout stood by the door there came a shot through the back window. to Buffalo Bill’s head that the wind of it raised the hair on his temple. Quickly he closed the door, barred it, and, flattening on the floor, crawled out of view. He was near the fireplace, and as he looked at it a. happy thought came to him. The chimney was built of stone, and the hole was large—large enough to admit the body of a man. The fire had died out, and, after scraping the Genbere to one side, he inserted his head and arms, the arms upraised, into the aperture. The chimney-top was not more than three feet above the roof. It could be reached without difficulty, for the stone projections of the hole, short though they were, would afford sufficient hold for his hands and Feet. Once at the top, he could obtain a view of the loca- tion of his enemies. There were only four of them now, and from his elevated position he might be able to so re- duce the number as to make a return to the floor and a dash out of doors an action that would result in a successful wind-up of the fight. Slowly he drew himself up the chimney. When near the top, he rested and listened for aCunde from without. He did not believe that the Indians and their leader, the white man, would attempt to break in the door. There was an easier, a safer way than that to rout out and kill the king of scouts. The cabin could be burned, The minutes passed, and soon Buffalo Bill’s ears caught the sound of crackling twigs and branches. Then The bullet whizzed so close’ BILL STORIES. came smoke, which ascended from the two sides of the cabin. The time to act had come. CHAPTER Th THE FALSE BUFFALO BILL. Savage yells from in front of the house were succeeded by savage yells from behind it. The enemy’s divided position was thus proclaimed. There were but two ways of escape, according to Black Mart’s reckoning, one by the door in front, the other by the window at the back. These Po were now guarded. Buffalo Bill cautiously showed his head above the top of the chimney. To his satisfaction, he observed that the smoke was coming in his direction, and that it ob- scured a view of his whereabouts by the enemy at the rear of the house. | His head rose higher, his arms came out, and with them his trusty rifle. The view toward the front of the structure was clear enough for him to see two Indians standing in the open some twenty feet from the door. Each had a rifle, and it was at the shoulder, with ie muzzle pointed toward the cabin entrance. At the moment the king of scouts made ready to fire’ the Indians saw him. ‘ Instantly the rifles were pointed upward, but too late ‘There were two quick reports, fol- But the third, coming from the rifle The other shots, fired for effective use. lowed by a third. of a falling foe, did no damage. by a man whose marksmanship was then and is now the — wonder of the world, fulfilled their mission, and, instead of four foes to contend with, there were only two. _ The cabin was now ablaze, and the smoke was in- creasing in volume. A daring move was resolved upon. Instead of re- treating to the room of the cabin and making his escape by way of the door, Buffalo Bill determined to slide down the roof and drop to the ground, a distance of only twelve feet. He was out of the flue, when several shots, fired in quick succession, none of them coming in his direction, at first filled him with surprise and then with ungovern- able rage. The shots were succeeded by the almost human cries of a fatally wounded pony. : The two wretches who had been stationed behind the cabin had shot the stanch and faithful animal that had brought the king of scouts to the basin. Down the roof slid the wrath-maddened man. He reached the ground, and then: stole toward the back of the cabin, for the shots had come from toward Ke Ie fee tu i his ears. THE BUBRALO the farther side of the structure which was now the prey - of the flames. by Peering around the corner, he beheld nothing but trees and rocks. These might, however, conceal the enemy, and, there- fore, to go forward might be to invite a bullet. Behind him was a clump of chaparral, and at once he sought its shelter and concealment. There he remained, hearing and seeing nothing of savage Indian or treacherous renegade while the log cabin remained upright. The roof fell, the flames enveloped it, the sides crashed into the mass, and beyond the blazing timbers a dozen redskins, hidden behind rocks, waited for the appearance of the dreaded scout. Unaware that reenforcements had come, Buffalo Bill at last moved from his place of concealment. He believed that the tall white man and the last re- maining Indian of the five he had seen had left the basin, with the intention of selecting an ambush on the trail he must follow to reach the Overland station. - As his tal! form stood out clearly in the firelight, a suggestive “Hugh!” uttered without volition, saluted Quick as a flash he dropped to the ground, and almost at the same instant there came a volley of shots from the rocks. Believing that the dreaded border fighter and scout had been killed, the Indians left their place of hiding, and, with ear-piercing yells of triumph, dashed forward toward the spot where lay the form of Buffalo Bill, With them came Black Mart, his heart beating with savage joy. The foremost Indian was an a few feet of the prostrate scout, who lay on his stomach with his rifle in his hand, when crack! went the weapon, and down went the Indian. Without moving from his position Buffalo Bill had - fired the fatal shot. In spite of the fact that they were as ten to one, the Indians fired but a few shots, none of them effective, and then turned tail and sought the shelter of the rocks. In this exhibition of cowardice they had the support of Black Mart. He was the. first to beat a retreat. After the savages leaped the king of scouts, blood in his eye and rage in his heart. He had not forgotten the slaughter of his pony, A few bounds, and he was making ready to fire at Black Mart, who was making long leaps toward an in- viting boulder, when his foot caught in a tough root, which had lifted itself above the sandy soil, and he pitched forward, and fell, full-length, upon the ground. An Indian saw the fall and at once let out a yell of fiendish triumph. He was not more than twenty feet from the scout, and with ner acquired bravery recklessly threw aside. his Raa Seba tip mer SN SN RYIME reat oo nga enna ote ee ae ee Ree es Re Pe oe eer Oe Bt STORIES oe rifle, and, with tomahawk upraised, tookeone leap for- ward, and swung his arm back to throw, when something happened that he had not counted upon. Buffalo Bill’s rifle did not intervene, for in the fall it had left the owner’s hand and lay several feet away from him, But there was a report, and with a bullet-hole in the middle of his forehead the Indian swayed, and then sank down in a heap, the tomahawk dropping from his lifeless fingers almost within reach of the head of the man it was meant to kill. arr tare ree RCT Quickly following the shot came others, and as the - Indians ran, panic-stricken, from the basin, Wild Bill came running past the fire, his ordinarily quiet gray eyes lit up in fierce excitement. He smiled at Buffalo Bill, who had arisen to his feet, and said, “I reckon there’s a little work for us yet, ” and went on, But the darkness, which soon enveloped the earth, favored the escape of the savage foe. After an hour’s pursuit the two Scouts returned to the basin. Near the place Wild Bill found his pony, and on the way Buffalo Bill came upon a pony that had been ridden by one of the Indians who had been slain. The animal was, to all appearances, as good as the one the king of scouts had lost, and it was with a feeling of satis- faction that he appropriated it, Before leaving the basin the comrades talked over the situation, "You had a right to suspect Black Mart,” said Buffalo Bill. “I have known him for years, and he’s a black- hearted scoundrel. He is an Englishman, and after com- mitting some crime in the old country he fled to America,” : “An Englishman? I never knew that, Cody. And that reminds me. Captain Allison is an Englishman, Any connection between the two facts, I wonder?” “There may be. Black Mart’s interest in Captain Alli- son seems to point that way...The captain needs me— and the need is urgent—for a secret mission. I would not be surprised to discover that Black Mart knows what the old man’s secret is, and has plotted to take advantage Qt it.” Wild Bill pondered this matter for a few minutes. “I don’t see,” he said, “how putting you out of the way is going to help him any. The captain, it is plain to be seen, wants you to go somewhere to get something or to see somebody. If you are killed, you can’t go. So where does Black Mart profit? The old man wouldn’t trust him, for he dislikes the wretch. Besides, Captain Allison won't live but a few days. He may be dead to- morrow. There is something in this plot to do you up that puzzles me. If Black Mart aims to get what Captain Allison wants you to secure, the way to win would be to follow you and waylay and murder you after the com- \ Sie _ stepped forward. 6 | THE BUFFALO mission of the captain had been executed. Doesn't it strike you that way?’ The king of scouts did not reply for some time. He was trying to get at the root of the mystery. “There was another white man with the first batch of redskins,” he said, ‘a big, tall heavily bearded fellow. He escaped, and did not appear when Black Mart and the other Indians butted into the game. Of course, he is in cahoots with Mart, and it is safe to bet that they met before Mart and his gang showed up. Why did the big fellow go away? Why wasn’t he here to see the wind- up? You have asked me a question. Here are a few fer you, Hickok.” “They are too many for me to tackle, Cody,” replied Wild Bill, with a shake of the head. “The game that is on is a deep one, and we must hustle if you expect to take a proper part in it.” “Ves,” said’ Buffalo Bill, “the sooner we get to the station, the better. We'll have a night ride, but we ought _to reach the station before daylight.” The ponies were Watered, the scouts mounted, and the ride was begun. Anticipating an ambush, they went on warily, scouting every point that suggested the concealment of an enemy, but they met with no adventure. The Indians and the two white renegades had aban- ~ doned the plan of an ambush if it had ever been enter- tained. The comrades rode up to the alee just as day was breaking, and dismounted. The door was closed and all was still within. “Of course, they are asleep,’ whispered Wild Bill, but ” the sentence was not finished, for a faint voice was heard calling “Lolita!” There.was a long pause. The scouts looked at each other, but did not speak. Then the voice—it came from the cabin—called again and again. “Lolita! where are you?” “That’s strange,’ said Wild Bill. ways with him. Something is wrong.” Buffalo Bill walked to the door. The knob yielded to his touch, and he opened the door to see Captain Allison, half-raised on his bunk and looking anxiously around the room. Lolita was not there. “I am Mr. Cody,” said the king of scouts, as he “You sent for me, did you not?” The old man stared hard at the speaker, then passed a ‘trembling hand over his forehead. “You—Buffalo Bill?’ he said in a cracked voice, dis- may and terror in his expression. . othe girl was al- “Yes, and I am come from Fort Merriman. The colonel read to me your letter, which said you had work of a secret nature which you wished me to perform.” The sick man heard the frankly spoken words, took in the handsome features and the manly, honest bearing of BILE STORIES. the speaker, and in the anguish of despair sank back and buried his face in the pilldw. Buffalo Bill’s quick brain instantly grasped aie truth. He stepped to the side of the bunk and placed his hand quietly upon the old man’s shoulder. = “You have been deceived, captain,” he said gravely, “but the deception may not be successfully carried out. There is time in which to forestall the design of your enemy. Tell me what has occurred since last night.” Captain Allison, catching hope from the speech, again raised himself on an elbow. “Yes,” he said, “you are Buffalo Bill. The other man was a fraud.” “Was he a tall, stout fellow, with a Heavy beard and long hair?” “Ves and he said his name was Cody, and that he had come from Colonel Armsby.” The king of scouts was beginning to understand much that had been a mystery to him. The absence of the tall renegade from the closing scene of the contest in Lost Man’s Basin was now explained. The scoundrel, prompted by Black Mart, had ridden swiftly to the sta- tion in order to receive Captain Allison’s commission. He had taken the shortest cut to the depot, and had therefore missed Wild Bill, who had come to the basin by the main trail. It was not till long afterward that Bufialo Bill learned that the tall man, whose name was Philo Marks, and who was known in Nevada, frorh which State he had recently come, as King Ace Marks, had met Black Mart and the second detachment of Indians as he was making a flying rétreat from the basin, and from his rascally employer had received the instructions to ride by the quickest road to the station, carry out the deception upon Captain Alh- son, and then kill Wild Bill while the latter slept. “That double scheme would have fizzled,” said the © border king to himself, after the full knowledge of Black Mart’s plot had come to him, “for it is one thing to plan the death of Wild Bill and another to work it to a finish. If Hickok had been at the station when King-Ace arrived there ,would have been a circus, and Wild Bill would have been running it. Catch a weasel asleep as well as catch Hickok asleep when there is danger about. He'd smell it a mile off.” He was a most attentive listener to Captain Allison’s story. Gathering all his strength for the recital, the old man said: “Lolita maintained that you woudl not be here until noon to-day, and I was, therefore, greatly surprised, though far from displeased, when about two hours ago this man, this damnable villain, rode up to the door and. knocked quietly. Lolita, who was sitting by my bunk, went to the door and opened it, after the announcement had been made that the caller was Buffalo Bill. When he came in I gave one look at the tall, musctilar form, and in perfect confidence gave the man my hand. He 3 2 Bi f peice Spee Br a ees EE re BEIGE HE IP spoke in a deep bass voice, and his face was not unpre- possessing. “T might have deferred my Toulaion until daylight, but the thought of my boy, and the possibility that death might come within an hour, caused me to speak at once. I told the double-dyed villain, who sat quietly by my side with an expression of sympathy upen his face, that my boy, Walter, was in Arizona, and that at my death he would be possessor of one of the finest landed estates in Warwickshire, England. My father was a rich county squire, and I was a younger son. In early life | came to the United States to better my fortunes. I kept up a correspondence with my parents and brothers for many years, but during the Civil War, in which I participated, the letters ceased. After the war I drifted to California, did indifferently well at mining and stock-raising, and finally removed to New Mexico. I had married before the war. My wife lived but a year. She died in giving birth to my son, Walter. He was educated in England, and remained there in the family of a close friend until I took up a residence in Las Vegas. Walter was with me for a few years, then went to Arizona. Last year | received the news that my father, mother, and all of my brothers were dead, and that I was the heir to the fortune and estate in Warwickshire. Through an-attorney recom: mended by my friend I received the title-deeds of the estate, together with other papers establishing my iden- _ tity and claim. Shortly after the documents came the town records were destroyed by fire. The title-deeds I possessed, therefore, became indispensable, if I wished to go back and enter into possession of my property. “T wrote to Walter, and in reply he stated that as soon as he could complete a mining deal, then pending, he would be ready to go with me to England. The deal took up so much time that finally I resolved to go to Walter and stay with him until he should be ready to start. On the journey I came to Death Valley. There I was stricken with illness. While yet able to crawl about T secreted the tin box containing my papers and val- uables, and then wrote a description of the spot and placed the description in my pocketbook. I might die of disease or I might be killed by the Indians, but with the box hidden I hoped that some day the paper of de- scription might fall into kind, honest hands, and that Walter would receive what was his by right. “But I did not die, While I was raving in delirium I was found by Lolita and her father, carried from Death Valley, and nursed back to health.” CHAPTER Ht. BUFFALO BILL AVOIDS A TRAP. Captain Allison’s voice had been growing fainter as his story progressed. Buffalo Bill gave him a drink of wine from a bottle THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. on a little table at the head of the bunk, and this had a revivifying effect. For some time he lay with his eyes closed and breathing softly. The king of scouts broke the silence. “Have you not seen your son since your escape from Death Valley?” he asked, gee Now* Ele was unfortunate as ell as myself. When ready to start for Las Vegas—he knew nothing of my attempt to join him, for I meant to surprise him—he was taken with typhoid fever and for nearly two months was confined to his room. When he was able to write I was in Las Vegas preparing to make a second attempt to reach him. His letter made me hasten my preparations. When I did set out Lolita accompanied me, This time I wrote to Walter, and I hoped that he would meet me on the journey. . 1 mentioned the various stations at which I intended to stop so that he would know where to direct his letters. I reached this station desperately ill, without having received a line from him. I am afraid he has‘had a relapse.’ “And I think,” said Buffalo. Bill. confidently, ‘chat he is on the way here, that before your first letter came he was on the road. That would:account for his silence.” Captain Allison’s sunken eyes sparkled. ‘“Why had I not thought of that?” he responded. ‘That does ex- plain why I have not heard from him. He will have to pass this station on the way to Las Vegas, where he supposes I am residing, and—and I may see him be- fore I die.” Hope shone in his shrunken face, and he clasped his thin hands as if in prayer. “When Lolita comes back, I'll send her down the trail to meet him and hurry his coming.” Suddenly the truth burst upon him. “When ‘Lolita comes back, did I say,” he wailed. -“She will never come back. That villain will murder her.” “Did she go with him: a quetied the ae of scouts quickly. - “Ves. There was a part of the route with which he was unfamiliar, so he said, and he asked that Lolita might be permitted to point it out to him. She did not want to leave me, but I insisted, and as the journey would not take more than a few hours—it is a matter of a narrow, almost hidden, pass about ten miles from here—she at last consented. When she left me I was ‘feeling better than I had felt for twenty-four hours. The false conviction that I had at last taken steps to give my boy his inheritance, had given me new life. But now—now——-” “Captain Allison,” interrupted Buffalo Bill almost sharply, “if [ am to help you I must act quickly. I may not be able to overtake Kinge-Ace Marks before he reaches Death Valley, but if I start at once there is a ¢hance that, may overhaul him in Death Valley. Tell me where you have hidden the tin box, and then I will take the trail. .Wild Bill will look out for you while I am away. As. for Lolita, if she is alive, 1 will get her the old man, hurriedly and eagerly. 8 out of the clutches of her enemy or leave my bones in she desert.” The king of scouts was no boaster. what he said. “Good, Mr. Cody. He meant just I like the way you talk,” replied “The: box 1$ in. a ravine buried in the sand. In this ravine, which opens into Death Valley, I found water, a hidden spring. The ground was moist in a certain spot, and I dug down until I found a flow of water. Close by the spring, under a stunted pine, I buried the box.” More complete direc- tions were given, after which Buffalo Bill stepped to the door and called Wild Bill. The tall scout. was at the station office and quickly came to the house. He heard what his comrade had to say, and then. remarked: “You ought not to go alone, Cody. You'll likely meet this blasted Englishman and his mob of Navajos.” “Who is an Englishman?’ came in a faint voice from the bunk. “Black Mart, the anne who soft-soaped you for days,” replied Wild Bill. to the mission you wished Cody here to execute.” Captain Allison gave a gasp. His pale face grew paler. The king of scouts hurried to his side and gave him a drink of wine. | | : “IT see, I see it all now;’ the old man said when he was able to speak. “Black Mart is Walter’s cousin. There is a resemblance in features now I come to. think of it. He knew of the inheritance, knew that I possessed the title-deeds of the Warwickshire property before he came to the station. I know what the plot is. He will find the tin-box; hunt up and murder Walter, then go to England, pass himself off as my son, and enter into possession of the estate) tluiry, tary cM. Cody. Walter must not be murdered, the estate must not go to this villain. Save—save my son—ah!” the voice ceased suddenly, a spasm shook the emaciated frame of the speaker, and when Buffalo Bill bent over the bunk Captain Allison was struggling in the agonies of death. In a few moments all was over. The two scouts were standing over the dead body when a voice came from the station. . “Vere you vass, achent? Coom ouid here, vonce. You god dwo bassengers by dot sdage, alretty.” Wild Bill, with a grin, hurried to the station and there found two horsemen. One was-a fat, flaxen- haired, blue-eyed German of twenty-one, the other an American a few years older. He was a well-built, hand- some fellow, and his face expressed fearlessness and honesty. Addressing Wild Bill, he said: ‘‘We have come from Arizona, and are on our way to Las Vegas. My friend here is tired of horseback- Bs and wants to stage it for the rest of the journey.” knows “He’s the snoozer who got on THE BUPFALO BILL SrORIES. “That’s all right,” was the response. “The stage will be along this afternoon. Light and rest yourselves.” Buffalo, Bill, who had heard the colloquy, now came forward. “What is your name?” he asked the young American. “William F. Cody.” i “Buffalo Bill! I am pleased to meet you. 93 ey one “Something, but not everything. Are you pened for bad news?” The yoting man’s countenance grew serious in an in- stant. “My father—he is——’” he hesitated, and his lip trem- bled. “Your father is dead,’ said the scout gravely. “He died a few minutes ago.” Half an hour later Buffalo Bill, accompanied by Peter Schmitz, the young German, rode toward Death Valley. “Walter Allison,’ was the reply. “And yours?” Walter Allison was to follow as soon as he had, with the assistance of Wild Bill, performed the last sad offices for his dead. parent. The German had had little experience in the moun- » tains, but he was both sympathetic and brave, and he insisted on taking a “hand in the game. As a hotel waiter in Prescott he had sonia Walter Allison, and a strong friendship had sprung up between the two. When Allison was making ready to start for Las Vegas Schmitz offered to go with him. The offer was gladly accepted. Shortly before noon Buffalo Bill and his companion reached the narrow pass to which Lolita had ce to guide the false king of scouts. The entrance was masked by a dense growth of spruce and box elder, and before attempting to enter the grove Buffalo Bill said to the young German: “There’s a fine spot for an ambush among those trees, Black Mart has probably joined King-Ace Marks be- fore this, and as he knows that Wild Bill and I are very much alive, he will, if he is the cunning villain I take him for, try to prevent any interference with his Death Valley scheme. We ae therefore, exercise great cau- tion from this time on.’ “Do you s’pose, Misder Gody, dot dose Inchuns vas with him?” | “T think he will stay with his Navajos so long as he has me to deal with,” was the reply. Schmitz laughed nervously. He looked about him, — saw a pile of rocks, and, pointing to them, said, with a shaky giggle: Aeod a leedle aun pack in Heidelberg, und maype she don’d ee it dot I maig some vools py mine- selluf.” “Meaning that you have a ae amount of sense; that it is no part of wisdom to unnecessarily expose your- tHE BUBRPALO self,” returned the scout, with a smile. “Those rocks will give us shelter. Let us get behind them and wait awhile.” Back of the rocks the two men rested. After some moments of serious thought Buffalo Bill said: “If there are enemies among those.trees they are probably at the farther end of them. There the trail is very nar- row, it is lined with boulders, and we could be picked off easily.” “I traws der line at dot bidane, said the Gérman, with many shakes of the head and deepening of the pallor on his face. ‘I coomed here mit you nod oxpect- ing dot I vould pe bicked off lige I vos a cooseperry. Maig dose Inchuns coom ouid py der oben und I don’d mind all dere cuns und timmihawks. Maype I vos reaty to shoot some, mineselluf. You nefer see me ven I vos shooting alretty, vot?” “No, but from the way you handle your rifle I am sure you know how to use it.” “T vos der chimpion shooter oof der Eintracht Verein, und I could hit der pull’s-eye den dimes ouid oof nine,” replied Schmitz proudly. ‘““Dere vos no mosgeeters on mine eyeprows, I bade you a tozen frankfurters, vos? Maig dose retsgins coom ouid oof der pushes, und I ‘shows you vot gind oof a glothes-bin Peter Schmitz 39 Vos. As the king of scouts did not answer he continued, as if struck by a brilliant idea: “I dell you vot to do, Piffalo Pull—I vos going to gall you dot now we vos bardners, ain’d id?—und den der Inchuns vill coom ouid. Ve vill drow some sdones in dose pushes. Dot's der vay I peen used® vonce to sdart der Tappits 1 in der Plack Vorest.” “T know of a better plan than that, Schmitz,” ‘said Buffalo Bill, in mock’seriousness. “We can shout at the top of our voices, the Indians will hear us, and then they'll come ois out to fall before the ee fire of our rifles.” The young German opened his mouth wide eae prise, but something in the scout’s expression, which had _changed as soon as he had finished speaking, caused Schmitz to grin sheepishly. “Dot is von on me,” he remarked. “I tink I petter say nodings und go avay und saw some oof dot vood, ain’d id?” “You may saw it here while I ain gone,” returned Buffalo Bill. “T am going into the grove on a scout. I can creep along that line of rocks at our right, enter the _ grove at the side, and find out if there are enemies wait- ing for us. I shall not be gone long. If you should hear any shooting, act as you think best.” 4 The indifference with which the last words were spoken nettled the young German. He was intelligent enough to understand that the king of scouts placed a poor estimate on his abilities as an assistant. “1 vill BILL STORIES: show him dot I vos no vool efen oof I loogs lige von,” he said to himself, and in an endeavor to prove that he was worthy of all confidence and respect he waited until the scout had disappeared ee the rocks and then stole after him. Once in the grove he looked about ‘him, but could see nothing of Buffalo, Bill. Beyond him could be heard the noise ue a waterfall. “Maype dot is vere der Inchuns vos heading und maype Piffalo Pull don’d Bie dot. I vind me ouid apout id, pooty quick, alretty.” He stole forward until he reached the farther limits of the grove and stood within a few yards of the water- fall. The water coming from numerous sources met in a natural bowl of rock, and, overflowing, tumbled over into the rocky bed of the hidden pass. ( He was stumbling through the brush to get a ‘view of the pass when a bullet whizzed past his head. With a scream of terror he dropped to his knees, losing hold of his rifle as he did so. The muzzle of the weapon stuck in a crevice of the rock by the bowl of bubbling water, and in striving to withdraw it Schmitz slipped and fell downward into the pool, ma- king a great splash and exciting a series of yells from the Indians in ambush. These Indians were led by Black Mart, and were the same who had gone with him to Lost Man’s Basin. While the young German was struggling to get to dry land again, the banks of the pool swarmed with Nava- jos.. Tomahawks would have been thrown at the des- perately situated Teuton if the voice of Black Mart had not counseled a different procedure. ; In the Navajo language he said: ‘“‘Don’t kill him yet. He must tell us where Buffalo Bill is. as fellow is not dangerous, but he may be of use to us.’ Schmitz was allowed to crawl up the bank, and, with chattering teeth and eyes rolling in affright, stood and looked at the grinning savages and their evil-faced leader, the white renegade. Not all of the Navajos were there. Some had gone into the grove. “Well,? said Black Mart, pide a sneer, “what have you got to say for yourself?’ Not having been assaulted, the young ee re- covered a portion of his wits. -“T vould say der tob oof der morning, els oof I vos knowing vere’I vos ad, alretty.” : “Come here,” commanded the renegade sternly. Schmitz came over to where Black Mart was sitting. ~“T will turn you loose, Dutchy, if you will tell me where Buffalo Bill went.” ‘Schmitz was shrewd, and, though he had no more idea than the man in the moon where the king of scouts — was, he answered after some hesitation: ee “Oof gourse I will dell you. Piffalo Pull vos no frient curse him!’ said Black Mart, oo THE BUFFALO oof mine. I yust met him avile ago, und he said dot he vould gif me foofty tollars oof I go mit him to der blace dey gall Teath Valley, alretty.” “That is not answering my question,” said the villain sharply. “Where is he now? He left you outside the stove. What was his plan? Which way did he go?” “He vent on der nort’ side oof der drees’—the south side was the route Buffalo Bill had really taken—‘‘und he said dot he vould get.pelow der vaterfall und haf some funs mit a pandy-legged stig-in-der-mut dot dey gall Plack Mart.’ The renegade scowled darkly. “He said that, did he? And what were you to do while he was trying to a below the waterfall?” “I vos cooming here to traw attentions to mineselluf from Plack Mart und der Inchuns. 1 tid not expection dot I vould vall-in dot powl. Nein, mine frient, 1 got id in mine headbiece dot I vould sneag oop undil I vould see an Inchun, und ven I fired dot vos to pe der signal for Piffalo Pull to do dot vunny a I vos tolding you apoud.” At this juncture one of the Navajos sent out to scout returned with the information that the king of scouts was not anywhere in the grove. “Then he has outwitted us and got below the falls, in a rage, 7 What are you Indians goad for, I’d like to know. We had this grove guarded, and here you have let him play you for a set of fools.” Some of the Navajos gritted their teeth at this out- burst, and their hands fiercely gripped their tomahawks. But the storm of passion was soon over. Black Mart was no fool. He knew that he must not go too far in his denunciation of his savage confréres. He laughed and then continued: “I take it all back. If he fooled you he fooled me. We are all in the same boat. But he hasn’t escaped us yet. He’s By one man, and we'll get him yet.” As these words were spoken, Buffalo Bill, not thirty feet from the speaker, gave an amused chuckle. Behind Black Mart was a large cottenwood, and high up.in-that tree, screened from view by the leafy branches G8 bending willow growing close to the cena was the king of scouts. CHAPTER IV. -HOT WORK BY THE -POOL. The route which the king of scouts had taken to reach the waterfall was marked’ by many natural difficulties. But he had overcome them by strength and agility, and, : while the Navajos and their white leader were watching other sections of the grove, he was quietly and success- fully executing a flank movement. BILE STORIES. “Arrived at a point near the waterfall’ and Fe ae that the nearest Indian was not more than thirty feet away, he ascended the cottonwood, trusting to the wil- low branches which intertwined with those of the cot- tonwood, to screen him from view. He had an eye on Peter Schmitz from the moment of the young German’s arrival at the pool, and had any attempt been made by the Indians to tomahawk or shoot. the luckless Teuton, Buffalo Bill would have used his rifle to good purpose. But, as no hostile demonstration was made, he re- solved to wait awhile before making startling demonstra- tion of his presence. He wanted to learn whether King-Ace Marks had gone on toward Death Valley, or whether he was some- where in the vicinity of the waterfall, and he hoped that the information would come from the lips of Black Mart. “Tf Schmitz is half the fellow I take him to be, he will bait Black Mart and get the villain to tell me what I want to know. If I could only let Schmitz know where I.am, I believe he would take the hint.” His communing ceased, for the prisoner was speaking. “71 ton’t pelieve dot Piffalo Pull vill go avay from here vile I am in dis pickle. Mapye oof you vait avile he vill coom aroundt to pass der time oof tay, alretty.” The German grinned as he said this. Black Mart _ regarded the speaker fixedly for a moment. “My young friend,” said the villain slowly, “you have mistaken your vocation. You're a bad actor. If you think you can work any flip conversation off on me you are plumb off your cabesa. We're here in a bunch. . And you want us to stay here and become targets for Buffalo Bill’s rifle, do you?” : Just then a piece of bark from the cottonwood struck the young German’s sombrero. The bark had not fallen from the tree, the force with which it had encountered the hat was proof that it had been thrown by some one, and Schmitz quickly grasped the truth. A glance at the faces of the foes about him gave assurance that no significance had been placed upon the fall of the bark. Therefore, Schmitz replied to Black Mart’s question without showing in his face that any gratifying knowledge had come to him. ‘T dink,” said he, “dot Piffalo Pull can tage care mit himselluf. Maype he haf leaf me here vile h€ goes on py dot Teath Valley, vot?’ “He'll never get there,” almost shouted the villain. “Below the falls King-Ace is stationed, and he’ll fix this big bolivar of a butt-in of yours, if the fellow tries to ~ go on to the valley.” “Ish dot so?” exclaimed the young German in simu- lated concern. “By-chiminy, I oxposes dot you vos pad beobles to vool vith, vot? I vand to go heim,” Another Indian scout put in an appearance. He had come from the edge of the grove and had seen the ponies. of the king of scouts and his companion, a THE BUEEALO “You are sure Buffalo Bill is not with the ponies?” said Black Mart, who was beginning to be troubled with a vague uneasiness. ‘Lam sure.’ “Then he is near us. Scatter every one of you. Go below the falls. He has gone that way, for he isn’t in the grove.” As the Navajos started off Black Mart said to the German: “Tam going to bind you and then take you to where the ponies are. If you behave yourself, Tl let you off after awhile. If you don’t——” the sentence was not finished, but the look was enough. Schmitz was about to make reply when several shots from a rifle stayed the words upon his lips. The shots were followed by screams and yells, and presently a number of Indianscrushed back to the pool.. Three of their band had been killed by an unseen marksman, and before the foremost of the runners reached Black Mart’s side, two more shots rang out and two more Navajos dropped lifeless to the ground. There were but four Indians to huddle about their leader. . “Where—where?” gasped Black Mart, as with rifle in hand he glanced about him. “Where did the shots come from?” The answer was given instantly, but not by an In- dian. A bullet struck the arm which held the rifle, and the villain dropped the oo as if it had been a hot potato. Then, with the uninjured arm he pointed upward. “Shoot, you cowards!” he yelled, in a voice charged with wrath and fear. “He’s up in that tree.” To prove that he himself was not a coward, he ran for the thickest part of the grove, leaving the Indians and the young German to shift for themselves! One of the Navajos was quick to act upon the words of the renegade. His rifle was raised, and, kneeling by the trunk of the cottonwood, he looked up for a sight - of the dreaded scout. But the action came too late. He had scarcely got into a position for a serviceable use of his eyes when a heavy body descended upon his back and flattened him _on the ground. 4 : Buffalo Bill was on his feet before the three remain- ing Indians could turn their rifles in his direction. Throwing aside his rifle, he whipped out two revolvers and blazed away. As he did so, Peter Schmitz sprang to the side of the prostrate Navajo, snatched a revolver from the Indian’s belt, fired as the Indian reached for his tomahawk, and then, wheeling, fired again just as one of the three foes who had been opposing Buffalo Bill was about to hurl a tomahawk at the scout’s head. Down went the red- _ skin, falling over the bodies of the other two who but a BILL STORIES. | a moment before had succumbed to the fatal fire of the white man. The king of scouts, with a grim dpile on his hand- some face, extended his hand to the brave young Ger- man. “Schmitz,” said he, ‘you are not a mountain man, but you are a thoroughbred, for all that. You have got sense, and you have got nerve. Put it there, my friend.” With countenance beaming with joy the German grasped the outstretched hand of the renowned Indian- fighter. “Oof I sday mit you a veek or so maype I ged some senses kernocked into mine granium,”’ he said. “I vos vinding ouid some dings, uddervise I don’d maig such goot blays mit dot timmyhawk, vot?” “Tt was a fine throw,” was the enthusiastic comment. “T could not have done better, myself. And now for the white scoundrels. We've settled with the Indians, all of them, I hope, though one or two may have gone down the pass. [ll soon find out whether or not there are more Navajos.” “Tt vill pe tangerous to go py dot vatervall,” said Schmitz. - “You haf heard vot dot Plack Mart vos say- ing. Der veller he gall Ging-Ace vos town dere vaiting to gif you a pullet for tinner.”’ ‘How does he know that I like chicken?’ questioned Buffalo Bill, with a twinkle of the eye. “Yaw, yaw, I see,’ respondéd the German, his face all a-grin. “I said pullet ven I meant pullet, no ven I meant—der ding vot you shoots ouid oof your Vin- chester, vot?” “A leaden pill, that is, Schmitz.” ‘Yaw, a leaden bill. Py chiminy,’ in disgust, “I can’d sbeak vot I haf got in mine het, alretty.” was the soothing +9 “You speak well enough, my boy, reply. Then the scout spoke to the point. “I must find out what we have got to contend with. I'll scout the falls region, and if there is an ambush, I will try to Arm yourself from the collection of weapons Tl be locate tt: on the ground here and go back to the ponies. with you in a short time.” “T vish I could go vith you,” said Schmitz, with an earnestness that further commended him to the favor of the famous Indian-fighter. “But you can’t, my friend. This is work that you are not accustomed to. You woe be in the way. Do as I have said and trust to me.’ ‘Det | do, Piffalo Pull. You ves a tdisy, all riehd.” The young German returned to the open country be- yond the grove, and there waited for the return of ‘Buffalo Bill. In half an hour the king of scouts presented himself, “it is-as- i expeeted,. he announced, ‘Black Mart, King-Ace, and two Indians have fled down the pass,. They have given up the idea of stopping us this side of 12 THE BUFFALO Death Valley. It is in the valley that we are likely to meet with trouble. They'll lay for us there.” *Vat did you vind, alretty?’ “I found where King-Ace had hidden, and I followed the tracks of four ponies for somie distance below the falls. The pass is short, and a short distance beyond it are sandy plains covering a day’s journey. No chance there for an ambush. ‘They'll try to cover a good part of the plains before we are able to get out of the pass.” The ponies were watered at the pool, and then Buffalo Bill and his companion rode past the waterfall and down the cafion, - CHAPTER V. BUFFALO BILL AND THE. SPECTER. By hard riding Buffalo Bill and the young German succeeded in crossing the stretch of sandy plain before midnight. It was afternoon when they left the point by the falls. If the plain had not been crossed, the king of scouts would have been forced to make camp where the pass debouched upon the plain, as the plain itself, almost destitute of trees and utterly destitute of water, offered no facilities for camping purposes. ‘This delay would have given his enemies such a start that it might have been impossible to overtake them. If closely pressed Buffalo Bill believed they would make a stand in Death Valley. But if Black Mart and his tools should find that they were hours ahead of the king of scouts they might give up the idea of a fight or an ambush and seek to | escape out of Death Valley by way of California. Buffalo Bill knew that Black Mart would have all the cards in his hand once he became possessed of the title-deeds of the Warwickshire property and the other documents of. identification, etc., which the tin box con- tained. The scout might follow the villain to England and might make it unpleasant for him, but even a week’s time might be sufficient for Black Mart to turn the estate into money and flee the country. “T think,” said Buffalo Bill to himself, as he pondered the matter, “that Black Mart would much prefer to get me out of the way, and, perhaps, he will not take it hard when he finds that I am close upon his heels. But where is Lolita? Have the Indians killed her, or was she with King-Ace Marks while I was having my ie entertainment by the pool?” The problem was difficult of solution. It might be, he thought, that one of the ponies had been ridden by the girl and not by a Navajo brave. In that case there were only three foes to consider, the two white men and one Indian. Watch was kept until daylight, and Buffalo Bill was preparing breakfast when Lolita rode up from the di- rection which the scout had been pursuing. She cried out in delight when she saw the handsome border king. BILL STORIES. “I know you are Buffalo Bill, but I didn’t expect to: find you so near,” she said, as she dismounted from her pony, which gave evidence of having been ridden long and hard. iH “Did you come from the camp of Black Marti ?”” was the scout’s quick question. “Ves and it is not more than ten miles from here. I escaped last night.” . “How many are in the camp?” “Three; Black Mart, the man who personated you at the log cabin, and one Navajo. The Navajo assisted in my escape. I knew him when a child, and I used to play with his daughter who died last year. He was hired to kill you, to do, in fact, whatever Black Mart wanted him to do, but he helped me in spite of his position. ‘Once a friend always a friend,’ is a Navajo motto. I hope that you will spare his life if you can,” she added. The king of scouts nodded his head. “He is safe unless it is a case of his life or mine. But, tell me, Miss Lolita, why | Black Mart or King-Ace Marks toes you along?” “King-Ace, as you call him, did not know the way to Death Valley. He asked me to accompany him as guide. Believing him to be Buffalo Bill, I consented. I think if he had known the way he would have killed both me and Capitano Allison. But, as he needed me, he spared the old man. I wanted to delay the start, for it seemed cruel to leave El Capitano dying alone in the cabin, but I was overruled. El Capitano insisted that the journey should be at once undertaken. he said, ‘for I shall not last many hours. It is my boy, Walter, who must be considered, and I shall die happy / in the thought that you and the man I have selected are on the way to secure Walter’s inheritance.’ “We met Black Mart and his Indians at the grove, and then it was that I learned that El Capitano had been grossly imposed upon. I.would have leit the villainous crew, but before I could turn my pony my hands were seized and I was made a prisoner. Marks led my pony to a hiding-place below the falls, and there we waited until after the fight in the grove. I was told what had occurred there by Black Mart, who rushed down upon us with a face distorted with rage. He said that you, Mr. Cody, ‘and another man had come upon them and had turned the tables on their ambush scheme. “T can’t tell you how pleased I was at this news, and when we went on I was comforted by the thought that you were behind us and that the vile plot of Black Mart might not succeed.” “Do you know what the intentions of Mart and King- Ace are?” asked Buffalo Bill, “First, they will try to scare you.” “Scare me?” regarding the Indian girl in blank as- tonishment. “How do they propose doing it?” “You can do me no good,’ print of the hoof would not show. ite Ur ALO The young German spoke up before Lolita could re- ply: “Seare Piffalo Pull,” he snorted. “Vat gind oof nin- goomboops vos dose sgillyvags? Sgare him? Oof dere iss anydings in de vorld dot vill sgare Piffalo Pull I liges to dake a squind at dem vonce.” | “Black Mart says you are afraid of ghosts, Mr. Cody,” said the Indian girl. Buffalo Bill smiled. “I am glad he holds that opin- on,” he said. “I think I know why he does so. Some years ago a fool soldier started the yarn that I had run from a specter in the Bad Lands and that I had said I would rather face a whole army of redskins than a white-robed ghost. There was no foundation whatever for this yarn. It was so absurd that I never took the trouble to deny it when the boys joked me about it. I have had experiences with alleged ghosts, and if Wild Bill were here he could convince you that I am not afraid of any representative of the spook fraternity.’ Lolita had not breakfasted, and, after doing ample jus- tice to the meal which Buffalo Bill had prepared, the three mounted their ponies and galloped swiftly toward the camping-place of the enemy. They arrived there, and the condition of the fire over which bacon had been fried and coffee boiled showed that the two renegades and the Indians had been gone for some time. | The camp was at the mouth of a cafion which half a mile inward was intersected like a V by two smaller ones. There was a trail in mh of the small cafions, and by either Death Valley could be'reached. One of the routes was shorter by several miles than the other, and Buffalo Bill believed that Black Mart and his compan- ions had prepared evidences to show that he and his companions had taken the longer route. _ Arrived at the point where the two cafions met, the king of scouts said to the young German and Lolita: “We will go on by way of the short route, of course, . but before doing so I want to see if my reading of Blacl< Mart’s mind is correct. He may imagine that he can fool me into thinking that ‘he does“not know which is the long and which the short way, and he may be hug- ging the delusion that when I find on the long trail the hoof-prints of the ponies, I will take that route and thus increase the distance between us. Here we are at the mouth of the cafion with the short trail. Let. us see if the tracks of those ponies are going up it.” Dismounting, Buffalo Bill made a close inspection of the ground. Marks were found, but none of them could be identified as having been made by the feet of horses. “The trick is plain,’ he said to Lolita. “Before en- tering this cafion the horses’ feet were wrapped in pieces of blanket taken from under the saddles, so that the Probably the trick Bas nosh oN tA re aN RTT sterwniirn nt pun ie Gs BE SRN OEE MAR Eek Tela ANAL SIN AR Ba SA NN Mins BILL STORIES: ie was kept up for a mile or more. Now to try the other cafion.”” The Indian girl and the young German waited while the king of scouts, on foot, was away. They followed him with their eyes until his tall form Ben peaE up the cafion. Fifteen minutes passed, and they were beginning to get uneasy, when they heard a faint call from the direc- tion whence he had gone. Quickly they rode across the space dividing the two lesser cafions, and when they reached the mouth of the one from which the call had come ve heard it repeated, this time in a louder voice. Around the bend they galloped, and, looking upward along the trail, saw a sight that filled vials with amaze- ment and fear. Grasping the lower limb of a large sycamore with his legs curled about the trunk was Buffalo Bill, while stand- ing on his hind feet just below the scout, his huge paws reaching upward, was an immense grizzly bear. The situation was more desperate than it appeared to the eyes of Lolita and the young German. The king of scouts was confronted with a double dan- ger, He had turned from looking at the grizzly, whose claws he had just escaped, to see above his head, making ready to spring, one of the largest cougars that ever infested the Rocky Mountains. Lolita was the first to see the cougar. A woman not of the mountains would have screamed and been powerless to att. But, the Indian girl was made of sterner stuff. She had been in peril many times, and her coolness in this moment of danger was the means . of saving Buffalo Bill’s life. _ The cougar was in the very act of ieaping upon the ing of scouts, and that most unfortunately placed in- dividual was seriously considering the question whether or not it would not be the better policy to drop down upon the bear, when Lolita reached over, seized the Young German’s rifle, then took quick aim, fired, and the fierce beast in the tree with a scream of agony dropped from the limb to the ground. The dead body of the animal fell at the feet of the grizzly bear, whose astonishment was so great that he dropped to all fours and stood stupidly regarding the victim of the Indian girl’s superb marksmanship. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Buffalo Bill climbed up and got astride of the limb he had been. clinging to. — His rifle was on the eround, and he was without his revolvers. Without dismounting, Lolita and Schmitz approached the tree, The grizzly saw them and uttered a ferocious growl. irae abies ac tase tt TMA NI Rh ta is ed sant ota hs oieaacANARLSi ANEs MRSA SK Ma ilane eect Ty THE BUFFALO _ Two bullets: struck him, but neither reached a vital. spot. With savage snarls the big brute rushed toward the ponies. ae Lolita, who had control of her pony, was able to guide the animal sidewise so as to avoid the clutch of the grizzly, but the young German, who was an indifferent rider and mortally afraid of the most savage animal on the American continent, was not so lucky. His pony shied, whirled suddenly, and sent poor Schmitz sprawling upon the ground within a yard of the grizzly bear. Bruin stopped in his rush when the young German fell, and at the same instant Buffalo Bill lowered him- self from the tree, and, knife in hand, advanced upon the ferocious monster. Lolita did not see the mishap. In trying to control her pony she had passed behind a large boulder. But once out of sight of the bear, the pony stood still and allowed its rider to spring to the ground. Now she could use her revolver and with ease, also with almost certainty of making it do fatal execution, But she stopped in suspense when she came in view of the scene just beyond the sycamore. The king of scouts had given the grizzly a knife-thrust uder the shoulder, and the bear with a howl of pain had turned to do battle with his unexpected adversary. The brute had made one lunge forward, and Buffalo Bill was preparing to meet him when Lolita and Schmitz took simultaneous action. Both shots inflicted wounds that stopped the bear in his course and caused him to roll over and over on the ground, and utter piercing cries. Buffalo Bill, with his knife, soon despatched the brute “That's about the narrowest squeeze I ever had,’ said he, as he sat down under the sycamore and wiped the perspiration from his face. “If you two had not come up when you did, I am afraid it would have been all over with me. With my knife I might have managed to hold my own with the bear, but bear assisted by cougar would have been a little too much for me. Miss Lolita, you have saved my life. I shall never forget your quick, skilful, courageous action. As for my friend ‘Schmitz, he was where I expected him to be. That shot of his did the business for the grizzly. It was. a neck shot with the slant downward,” The king of scouts sighed. “I am thinking,” he con- tinued, “of the loss of my rifle and revolvers. You see that except for my knife I am weaponless. That is why I tried to climb that tree.” “How you vos coom to ged shud oof dose shooters, Piffalo Pull?” asked Schmitz. “Dit you vall town ven you coom by dot grizzly?” “I fell onto the bear. It was funny as well as seri- ous. I had found the tracks of three ponies and was Biv SORES. following them, when I heard a suspicious crackling in the brush on one side of the trail. There was a deep hole, the mouth concealed by bushes, and I stumbled into it before-I became aware of its existence. In that hole was the grizzly, and I landed on his back and my weapons went a-flying. Bruin gave a frightened snort, humped himself, and shot out of that hole as if Old Nick were after him. I stayed on his back until the hole was cleared. Then I slid off and made for the trail, expecting that the bear in his surprise and fright would make himself scarce. But here 1 was mistaken. The brute went on a few rods, then turned, and, seeing me, started to chew me up. I saw the sycamore and made for it, and had just got out of reach of the bear’s claws when I saw the cougar. I believe I shouted, while the bear was chasing me. Good thing I did, for the shouts must have sent you two to the scene.” “Vaw,” said Schmitz, “we heared dot foice oof yours und sispoocioned dot, you haf got your hands full oof somedings dot you haf no use for, alretty. Now I goes und vinds dot hole und ged you dose veabons: dot you lost.” a The place was pointed out, and Buffalo Bill was soon in possession of his rifle and revolvers. . Leaving the cafion of the adventure with the bear and the cougar, the scout and his friends took the trail of the other cafion, and, by fast riding, tried to-make up for lost time. They could not. hope to reach the approach to Death Valley before afternoon of the next day, but Buffalo ~ +. Bill wished, if possible, to overhaul Black Mart and his tools before they arrived at the valley. Late in the afternoon they ascended steep mountains, whose summits were covered with snow. The closing of day found them in a little valley partly covered with walter. - _ This water covered half a mile of the trail, and for the purpose of ascertaining its depth and the character of the bottom, Buffalo Bill went to a sand-hill and cut a mesquit stick about four feet long. Then he waded into the water and made soundings for holes. It was dark before he finished his work: After mapping out the course to be taken in the morning, he. built a fire and all had supper. In the morning the last drop’ of water in the canteens was used, but after crossing the lake a spring was found, and the ponies were refreshed and the canteens replen- ished. This spring came from the base of a.snow peak over their heads. . Toward noon they reached the mouth of a rough, rocky cafion. On the other side of this cafion was Death Valley. / The bed of this cafion was thinly scattered with sage- brush and greasewood, the latter growing in little bunches like currant-bushes. oo a ‘ Se eee Tee THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES ie As the trail was covered with sharp broken rocks, the progress was therefore necessarily slow, Buffalo Bill having sympathetic consideration for the feet of the ponies. Part of the time the three friends walked and led their. animals.’ About four o’clock in the afternoon they ascended a ‘point where the cafion spread out into a basin enclosed on all sides, but the entrance, with a wall of steep rock. It was with the utmost difficulty that the wall was sur- mounted. .The sun was sinking when Buffalo Bill, riding ahead, waved his hand and reined up his pony. He was in a gap, through which came a cold, salty breeze, and, be- yond it, Death Valley lay in a depression that seemed to extend for one hundred miles. “We will camp here,” said the king of scouts. “The villains have got to the valley, and we must wait until morning before moving on them.” ‘ Luckily the gap was provided with heeal water- holes, and also with a sufficient supply of bunch-grass to satisfy the needs of the ponies. While on watch that night the king of scouts was in- formed, in a practical way, that the. first move in the Death Valley program of Black Mart had been made. It was half an hour after midnight when a sepulchral groan greeted his ears. i: He looked down the gap but could see nothing. Presently the groan was repeated. The moon was in its first quarter, and, as he looked and waited, rifle in hand, there stepped into the trail, not a hundred feet from where he lay, a tall white-robed figure. It waved a torch over its head, and the groans it ut- tered would have evoked the shudders in a less stout- hearted, less intelligent, man than Buffalo Bill. The scout, with an amused smile, watched the per- formance for a few moments, and then, as the _ ghostly -figure declined to approach any nearer, he ues the trigger of his rifle. With a frightful scream the specter let. fall the torch, and, staggering forward, dropped in a heap upon the ground. CHAPTER VI. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. As there might be an ambush Buffalo Bill did not move from his position. The white-robed body on the ground writhed, and piteous eries came from it. Soon, to the scout’s utter astonishment, the wounded apology for a specter began to crawl on hands and knees toward the camp. Lolita andthe ‘young German were now awake, but, cautioned by Buffalo Bill, they kept silent. - o When within a few rods of the king of scouts the thing said in the voice of a severely stricken man: “Help me! Your shot caught. me. in. the lungs. willing to cry quits.” After ‘a few words to Lolita and-Schmitz, Buffalo Bill went up to the crawling man, who was, -as: he had-con- jectured, King-Ace Marks. ae After relieving the villain of his: weapons, he made a superficial examination of the wound and bandaged it. The operation performed, he eee Marks a drink of whisky. “You are done ne I thinle? ” he remarked coldly, “byt death may not come for an hour. What have you to say for yourself?” : “Just this,” gasped the wounded wretch: ‘Black Mart wanted me/out of the way. I had done his dirty work, and he had no further use for me. He sent me up here in the hope that the specter act might not co and that you would give me a leaden dose.” “Where is he now ?” “Down in the valley with the Indian. him to- ee with you.” poe “Are you waitne to talk, to tell me meee you know?” asked the scout. “Yes, yes. I have been tricked: by that miniedite hound, and I am ready to squeal on him, curse him!’ The words came savagely, and a choked oe coughed as he finished. “Don’t excite yourself,” said Buffalo Bill. another drink and speak slowly and quietly.” “All right. What is it vey want to know for a Starter? : “Why you were sent up here to ‘make a 501 of your- self?” “Because I believed what Black Mart’ told me, that you were plumb leary of ghosts and that the specter act would scare you out of your boots. Now I know that Mart wasn’t sure of the game. But sure or not, he was willing to have me do the trick.’ Tm You won't see He’s too big a coward to take any chanees “Take “Did he tell you that the specter would keep me from coming into Death Valley?” “Sure. All he wanted, he said, was a start of twenty- four hours. He’s playing to get to England, and he said that dead or alive you couldn’t oe ‘him once he pur foot on the shores of the old country.” -‘“How does he expect to reach New York: 3 “By way of San Francisco.” “Wouldn't he prefer to: kill me before sone on to . England?’ “Of course he would, but He has been troubled with cold feet ever since you played smash with his Indians. His force is too small, in his opinion, to make it safe for-an attack on you, though if you jump into the valley early in the morning he will be forced to put up a fight.” 16 : | THE BUFFALO “Probably he will have an ambush ready.’ “T don’t know about that. He did not tell me what his plans were. And that convinces me that he hoped to get rid of me. We found the tin box just before dark last night, and, after that, he hardly spoke to me.” “Tas he paid you for your services?” “No. He said he would take me to England and pay mie there. “You were a fool to trust him, Marks.” “T know it,’ with a groan, “but fools are born every minute. I was broke when he hired me.” ‘Does he know that the Indian assisted Lolita to es- cape?” “No. Did he? I am glad of it, for 1 would have kicked good and hard if he had tried to kill her.” “That was his program, was it?’ : “Yes. He intended to take her to the valley and there murder her.” Peter Schmitz clenched his hands as he stole a glance al the Indian girls face. . “Vaid dill ve ged to der valley,” a whisper, “and oof I don’d oxpress some obinion to dat plack-faced Leas den you could dake my heat for a vootpalls.”’ King-Ace Marks was growing weaker, saw that the end was near. “If I were you,’ he said faintly, “y would try to get to the valley before daybreak.. I would not take the ‘pain trail, but I- would try to skirt the mountain and come down the ravine where I found the tin box. . Black Mart’s camp is at the mouth of this ravine.” Lolita thought of the Indian who had befriended her, and a daring project entered her mind. “The advice is good, Mr. Cody,” she said quickly. “T know a way to get to the ravine without first. entering “the valley.” : _ Buffalo Bill ye at fe with a smile of respectful appreciation. “Theniwe'll take the advice,” he said. Death came shortly to:the tool of the master villain, and immediately after this occurrence the king of scouts and his two companions started for the ravine. There were difficult climbs to make, but Lolita knew the country like a book, and she guided the party so well - that no accidents ‘occurred. | Just before daylight they reached a rocky pinnacle standing at the head of the ravine. The camp of Black Mart was less. than half a mile away, for the ravine was short. ‘Behind the pinnacle the trio held a consultation. Lo-— lita had a plan, and after some discussion it was adopted. _. She was light of body and foot, and quick in her movements. Knowing the Navajo, Black Mart’s sole companion, as a friend, she purposed stealing down to. \ he said to her in . Buffalo Bill” cia Ibi a STORIES. him and enlisting his cooperation in a scheme to. oo the white villain. ; “Tf I can make him understand that he is now at Lae mercy of Buffalo Bill,” she said, “I think he will have the sense to perceive that his only chance of -salvation lies in taking my advice. I am speaking on the assump- tion that the Indians are on watch. If I shall find that the contrary is the case, I will—I will act as I. as best.” She was moving away when Schmitz whispered to Buffalo Bill. “Dot means dot she vill shood Black Mard. Maype ‘she don’d ged a goot chance, vot? Den vere vill she ged oof, ain’d id? I don’d lige to see dot young voomans ged indo no troubles, ven der vasn’d no reason dot she should be doing dot, alretty. Vat you say, Piffalo Pull “T say that I am going to follow her without letting her kuow or the fact.’ “Und I vill follow you, dat’s vot, und bn! d you forget aboud id.” The king ‘of scouts did not object. But he made this ~proviso—that the young German should keep far in the rear so as not to interfere with the movements of his superior in mountain wisdom and trailing tactics. Lolifa had half an hour of darkness in which to scout the camp of the enemy. She made quick time down the ravine, and so noiseless were her movements that Black Mart, who was on the watch, did not hear her approach. From behind a rock she watched the villain as he paced to and fro. Under a mesquit bush lay the Navajo, lightly sleeping. The Indian girl drew her revolver, and with a ects light in her eyes was taking aim at the man who had deceived her benefactor, the old captain, when a blanket ‘was thrown over her head and she was dragged swiftly away. — Five minutes later Buffalo Bill stood by the rock which had sheltered the girl. He looked at the camp; saw the Navajo, who still slept, but there was no sign of Black Mart. _ Day broke as he watched and waited. There had been no shots, and he attributed the absence of the white vil- lain to the coming of Lolita, who must have found him in the act of leaving camp. As soon as the light permitted him to-see the valley, he moved toward the slumbering redskin. But, light as were his steps, the Indian heard him. With a bound he was on his feet, tomahawk in hand. He looked into the muzzle of the scout’s Winchester, heard the words: utrender and your life shall be spared. ‘Lolitas friend must not be my Soe and the tomahawk was ‘lowered. “Good man, Buffalo Bill,” he es “Good girl, ‘Lolita, where she gone?” nig ae SS a “self. -have been in concealment when she reached his camp. THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. “I don’t know,” said the scout. “She came down here ahead of me, and when I got here there was no sign > of her. And now I will ask you a question: Black Mart?” The Navajo showed first surprise, then anger. “Black Mart? -I not know. - He 7 watch, me sleep. Why he ’go away?” “Hanged if I know, White Lightning. He has de- serted you, I reckon,” The Indian, with a murderous look on his face, reached for his rifle, which was lying on the ground. “Me kill him. Come.” He was about to run down into the valley when there came the report of a rifle and he fell dead with a bul- Where is . let. in his brain. The king of scouts ee behind a rock just in time to escape a second bullet. “Der spegter’s brudder,” behind him, “und see, he iss running avay like he losed somedings und vas going to vind id.” Buffalo Bill raised his head and saw a white- uo) form running toward the valley. Quickly pursuing it, he fired twice, but this second specter seemed bullet-proof, for it kept on its course and soon disappeared among the rocks near the mouth of the ravine. An hour’s hunt failed to bring any trace of the fugi- tive. The ravine was not far from the upper end>of the valley. As Black Mart’s pony was gone the king of scouts was forced to the conclusion that the villain had escaped over the route which he had followed to reach the valley. This was the safest course to pursue after Black Mart had learned that his enemies’ were not in his rear, but had already reached the ravine by a roundabout course. But the strange disappearance of Lolita puzzled him greatly. The Indian’s pony was in the ravine, and Lo- lita, if she had followed Black Mart, must have done so on foot. But would she do so? It was not the act of a sensible ' person, for she could not, handicapped as she was, hope to overtake or get within shooting distance of her en- emy. “There is another way to fk at it,” he said to him- “She was surfprised by Black Mart, who must She is again a prisoner, and his pony now carries double, unless—unless he has killed her.” He turned to the young German, who was staring stupidly about him. “Go back and get the ponies,” he said, me cre.” In complying nih this request the Cons did not . shouted Peter Schmitz from | Polk Vand wait. for. 7 go by the precise route he had taken while traveling from the head to the mouth of the ravine. | _ A shorter way led him through the bushes a few rods from the rock which had hidden both Lolita and Buf- falo Bill. While pushing his way through the bushes, he saw a hunting-knife on the ground. Picking it up, he recognized it as the property of Lolita. He returned with the ponies to the mouth of the ravine and found Buffalo Bill awaiting him. During Schmitz’ absence the scout had gone a short distance up the trail leading out of the valley. He had found pony tracks going upward, but did not come upon the dead body of the Indian girl. When Schmitz showed the knife and stated where it had been found Buffalo Bill saw that he would have to — reconstruct’ his ideas. If Lolita had gone off in the direction indicated by the spot where the knife was found then Black Mart could have had no hand in her departure. “Der spegter haf got her,’ said Schmitz, with posi- tiveness. “Dot oxblains eferytings. Der spegter toog her avay, tied her oop und den coomed pack, gilled der Inchun und dried » gill you. Dot vas as blain as my nose on your vace.’ “T believe you are right, Schmitz,” returned Buffalo Bill. “This second specter is responsible for the girl’s disappearance as well as the quick departure of Black Mart. Everything points to the one conclusion that Black Mart and the specter are neither partners nor friends. Who is the specter? it doing in Death Valley? “He vass blaying a-lonesome hand, I oxposes, Piffalo Bud vot vos his leedle gaine, alretty ?” “We must find out if possible.. I can't leave oe exposed to danger. Until I find her, the pursuit of Black Mart must be deferred. If the specter carried her Gif te lett a oat and by it I may come upon the girl. Come, let us go.’ The king of scouts, an expert in wooderaft, easily fol- lowed the trail taken by the strange being, who, garbed to represent a denizen of the other world, had surprised cand carried off Lolita. It led through brush, over rocks, and down into a deep hollow that proved to be the out- ° let of a cave. And what is he, she, or Into this cave Buffalo Bill went boldly. Sette fol- lowed timidly. Just beyond the entrance, the scout, hearing nothing, struck a match. He saw a large chamber with no outlet save that by which he had entered. Upon a couch of skins at one side lay the Indian girl, bound hand and. foot, Her eyes were closed, but the rise and fall ‘of her bosom showed that she was alive. With his knife Buffalo Bill eat her Bonds then shook her gently. She opened her eyes just.as the young Ger- man. was lighting another match, ‘18 “Are you hurt?’ asked the scout solicitously. “No,” she answered, “I was just dozing.” The match went out, but the scout’s eyes were now accustomed to the dim light of the cavern, so no more were lighted. “Stay at the entrance,” he said to Schmitz, “so as .to; warn us of the approach of the occupant of this hole.” “He is not far away, and he must have seen you when you dropped into the hollow,” said Lolita. “I should like to meet him,’ responded the scout grimly. a “He is out of his head,’ she replied. “He claims to own Death Valley, and says he will kill every person who attempts to go through it.” “Why did he not kill your” “Because I am protected by the power “which ouides his actions. He told me that the gods had promised him a bride and that she would come to him as I came.’ “What is he? A white man?” _» “Yes, and from. what he says I believe he is the last of a party of gold-seekers. In attempting to cross Death Valley, all died except this man. He, too, would have perished if he had not accidentally found water.” “How long has he lived here? Did he say?” “Hive. years.’ : “Five years,’ repeated the king of scouts. “It was five years ago that a party of Missourians, following the course taken by the Jayhawkers, entered Death Valley. None were ever seen alive after that.” “Did you know a of them?” asked the girl. “T knew them all. Jake Fallen, Frank Benny, Al Las- com, Peter Brent, nd man Sangster, and Henry Gilbert. Gilbert was the youngest member of the party. He was about my own age, and we were together in Kansas during the border troubles. I was very sorry to learn of his death.” “There are some letters in a box over in that corner,” said Lolita. “I saw him handling them. Perhaps they may disclose his name.” The scout went to the box, took out a letter, and, going to the entrance, looked it over. | “Great guns!” he exclaimed. ten to Henry Gilbert. my old friend?” Oot he oos,”’ Can it be that this mad hermit is “vou can now He vos goming.” The scout looked out and’ saw the anaes crouching at the top of the hollow. — . His wild eyes rested upon the face of Buffalo Bill, and then he snatched up his rifle. - “Don’t shoot, Henry Gilbert!” shouted the La of scouts. “I am your old comrade, William F. Cody. a _ The rifle dropped, and the insane man pee a trem- bunk hand over his brow. + Cody, Bill et knew. Bill Coane was my, said the: young German, resume der acquaintanzeshipness. “This letter was writ-- THE BUFFALO BILL. STORIES. Where is he?’ “Have you hidden him down friend—as true as steel, as good as gold. he demanded querulously. there? He wore a long matted beard sprinkled with gray, and this he stroked nervously as he spoke. “I am William Cody,” observed the scout earnestly. “Come down here and shake hands with the man whose life you saved in Compton Bottoms. Don’t you remem- ber that day, Henry, the day the black deer got me in a corner and would have driven his horns into me if you hadn’t come up with your trusty Springfield?” “Ves, yes,’ the maniac gleefully replied. ber, I remember. “T remem- And I don’t forget the good turn you did me when the State Rights men were about to swing me from a hickory limb. You were one Hate against fifteen, but the one man won the day, eh, Billy ?” “Sure, Henry. Come down, I say, and let us talk. about the old times.” Assured by the voice which he evidently remembered, Henry Gilbert, the once stalwart Westerner and Indian- fighter, now a mental wreck, descended to the hollow and joined hands with the friend of his early manhood. _ His belligerency, his vindictiveness, seemed to have gone utterly. He laughed and cried by turns, and the wild light no longer shone in his eyes. took hope from the man’s change of spirits. “His mind will come back,” he thought, be surrounded with right conditions.” — Gilbert saw the Indian girl and asked Buffalo Bill who she was and how she came there. “Don’t you remember?” replied the king of scouts. “You brought her here because she is my friend. You must have heard of my coming, but have probably for- gotten all about it.” “Yes. Ihad forgotten. Then was a girl—I saw her somewhere—but | have no remembrance of the place. So she is your friend. Then she is welcome.” “Vy do you vear dot vite rope, Misther Kilpert?” questioned the young German. “Gf he can The hermit uttered+a hysterical laugh. ‘To scare people. I found it in a camp on the trail out of the valley. It belonged to a preacher who was with a party of emigrants. The Navajos murdered them all. That is why I kill a Navajo whenever I see one. I killed one this morning.” & Lolita lowered her eyes, and an ae of pain crept into her countenance. “I have an appointment a of the valley,” said Buk falo Bill after some more talk, ‘and my friends will go with me. But Iam coming back to you. Ina few days, if good fortune attends me, I will return here. You will wait for me, won’t your” “Oh, yes, Pll wait. But don’t forget, Billy,” speaking with childish entreaty. “I have never been lonesome before, but I shall be lonesome until you come back.” aie Oe minty poe laren, si = as Buffalo Bill ~ THE BUFFALO In a short time Buffalo Bill and his companions were riding up the trail out of the valley. “Tl bring a doctor when & come back,” he said. “Good nursing’ and the presence of friends will make a new man out of Henry Gilbert.” At the gap where they had breakfast they stopped for the noon lunch. As they remounted to resume their journey Schmitz asked Buffalo Bill this question: “Vere vill Plack Mard leaf der drail to gatch der railroat ?” . “Just beyond the grove of trees where we had the fight with the Indians.” “Den ve got to go by dot vatervall, alretty ?” Ces “T don’d dink Plack Mard geds apove dot vatervall.’ “You think, then, that we will come upon him before he gets there?” “Nein, bud I vas dinking dot Valder Allison gooms along pefore Plack Mard rides py dot vall.” “Schmitz, you have a great mind. I had forgotten all about the old captain’s son. He was to follow us after he had buried his father. Of course, he did so, and "Black Mart will meet him,” “And he may be killed by Black Mart,’ said Lolita, with an expression of alarm on her lovely countenance. “The villain will recognize him by the likeness to El Capitano and shoot him down in cold blood.” “You forget, Lolita, that Walter -Allison is just as likely to recognize Black Mart. The young man has the villain’s description, and he can’t make a mistake. But I will try to prevent a meeting between the two men. My pony is the fastest of the three, and I will ride.on akead,: That night the scout stopped not for sleep. At day- break next morning he halted a couple of hours in order. to give his pony the rest the animal was so much in need of, Se In the afternoon he was within a mile of the hidden pass and was ascending a steep. section of the trail when a lasso, thrown by an expert hand, caught him about the neck and he was thrown roughly to the ground. The noose was tightened as he lay on the rocks, and he expected to be choked to death. But, while he strug- _gled for breath, the pressure was loosened and he looked up to see Black Mart and two Navajos regarding him with baleful eyes. One of the Navajos sprang upon him, while the white renegade beat him over the head with a. club. When the king of scouts regained consciousness he was in a grove at some distance from the trail. His head ached from the savage blows he had received, but his mind was clear. Tacit tian ke Sebibcd sac cas gabe RIA SRLS AN RDS Te Rita pal cre ae Rd nt Rin ra aa SA He sada calico Bill SvORIES, IC Black Mart was sitting on a stump a few feet away. The scout spoke to him. “What are you going to do with me?” he asked. The villain. laughed softly. “Do with you? Can you ask? You are to be given over to the tender mercies of the Navajos, whose brothers you killed. We are now waiting for the Dutchman and Lolita. When they show up the performance will be- Sin’ CHAPTER VIL. THE YOUNG GERMAN SCORES. Darkness came and Lolita and the young German did not appear. Black Mart was savagely impatient over the delay in the arrival of the prisoner’s friends. The Indians said nothing, but there was murder in their dark faces. That evening, while the Navajos were away watching the trail, the villain said: “With you and Lolita out of the way, I can go to England with not a care upon my mind. The tin box is here with me, and I know just what to do to get hold of that: property. It is worth half a million.” “You forget Walter Allison,” said Buffalo Bill coldly. _ “What can he do?” sneered Black Mart. “He can say that I am a fraud and that he is the real simon-pure article, but who will believe him? There will be his bare word against my word and the proofs. I am not — afraid of him.” The king of scouts was pleased to hear this statement, not for what-it meant in words and intention, but from what it suggested. And that suggestion was that the dead captain’s son had not yet met Black Mart. What had become of him? If he had left the Over- land station according to promise, he should have arrived at the large cafion long before this. There was the pos- sibility that he had passed Black Mart in the night, with- out knowing of the villain’s proximity, and this seemed the only reasonable explanation of the matter. “Are we near the waterfall?’ he asked. “Tt’s about half a mile away.” The conversation languished. Buffalo Bill tried to sleep, but made a failure of it. Toward midnight an announcement was made that filled his cup of misery to the brim. One of the Navajos appeared and informed Black Mart that the Indian girl and her white companion were coming along the trail. Black Mart found two riatas, and with the Indian swiitly left the camp and disappeared in the darkness. No fire had been built, otherwise the king of scouts might have hoped to free himself from his bonds. Neither were there any rocks or sharp stones about. 20 THE. BUFFALO There was plenty of sand, but sand was of no use to him. He resolved, however, to make the best possible use of the absence of his enemies. Rolling over and over, he aimed for a spot where the ground sloped. At the bottom of that slope there might be rocks sharp enough for use as saws. - He had reached the top of the slope after much ex- ertion when Black Mart and the Indians returned. Their plan had succeeded. They carried with them two prisoners, one the Indian girl, the other the Ger- man. They had been surprised and overcome by the same means that had brought about the capture of Buf- falo Bill. “Tried to escape, did you?” said the white villain as he dropped Lolita beside the king of scouts. “Well, this is not your lucky day. On the other hand, luck is with me. I have bagged the whole shooting-match.” “Py a tirdy drick,’ exclaimed Schmitz, in wrath min- _giled with disgust. “You vos avraid to meed us in der oben, you pig gowart. Vor two cends I vould ring - your noses, alretty. Cud me loose und I gan lig you mit vun hant tied before mine pack und standing on my het. I spid ubon you, you—you poneless elligator.” _ Black Mart took no offense at this speech. He could afford to let the exhibition pass. Besides, the German amused him. “Not feeling very good, eh, Dutchy?” he said, with a malicious chuckle. ‘Fell up to your neck in the soup, and you don’t like the taste. Too bad, too bad.” “You mage me tired, you plack-vaced son-mit a-cun,”’ retorted the enraged Teuton, his face as red as a beet. “Vere I coomed vrom you vasn’t so goot as a tog. Dey vould maig sissage meat oud of a tog, bud oof dey had you vonce, dey vould gif you to der puzzards.” “How you carry on,’ laughed the villain, Schmitz saw the point and scowled. _ “You ought to choke on dot choke,” ‘he said, “I ped oof I gif you a bush you valls to bieces, you vos so rodden, alretty. Don’d dalk to me any more. I god a bain in mine erysupalis,”’ The prisoners were not molested during the iy Next morning Black Mart and the two Navajos put their heads together, after which the white villain came to Buffalo Bill’s side and said: “The Dutchman will be given his liberty, but you and Lolita are to die. There is a string, however, attached to the Dutch proposition. He must fire a bullet into your heart before he will be entitled to freedom.’ “Vot’s dot you peen saying?” asked Schmitz. ‘Dot I shoots Piffalo Pull?” “Yes. You must do that or we will shoot you. Are you prepared to give up your life for a principle? ‘Think twice before you answer. By refusing to shoot Buffalo Bill you do not save his life, for he will be BLL STORIES. killed in any event. You save your own life, and that ought to be worth something to you.” | Peter Schmitz—he was propped against a tree—hung his head. When he looked up his face was turned away from the king of scouts. “Der vay dot you but id,” he said, in a shaky voice, “haf der sound oof goot sense, ain’d id? Piffalo Pull vill pe gilled vether I shoots or vether I don’d shoots, and I vill pe gilled oof I don’d shoots, Den I dink I shoots. I god a leedle fraiilein pack in Heidelberg, und she don’d lige id dot I maig dwo ginds oof vools ouid oof mineselluf. I god no righd to ged encaged to pe matried mit her alretty, und den go’und ged shooted. ven I could hellup mineselluf.” : “I am glad you have the sense to see your position,” returned Black Mart, with a satisfied expression. “In this age it is ‘every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.’ Are you ready to act now?” | “Yaw, I vants to ged id over vid,” replied the young German promptly. Lolita looked her contempt. Buffalo Bill’s face wore — an inscrutable expression. When he was raised to his feet and placed against a tree he said to Schmitz, in a grave voice: . “My friend, I think I understand your position. All I ask is that you shoot to kill, Aim for the heart, and see that your hand does not tremble,” “No, no,’ cried Lolita, “this must not be. turning her blazing eyes on Black Mart, do this? What is your motive?” You fiend,” “why do you “My motiver I don’t know. I like entertainment, variety, and this suits me down to the ground. It will be ducks to look from the face of Dutchy to the face of Buffalo Bill just before the shot is fired. So shut your lips, Miss Lolita. You can’t stop the show.” “But I can close my eyes, you horrible wretch,’ she _ replied, with a look of utter loathing, Schmitz’ bonds were quickly removed. He was taken to another tree some thirty feet distant from the one against which Buffalo Bill leaned, and then Black Mart put in his hands a loaded Winchester rifle. On each side of the young German, and about ten feet from him, an armed Navajo was stationed. Then, with two revolvers pointed at his head, the word ‘was given to aim and fire. Sehmitz glanced from one Indian to the other, noted the pointed pistols, and a smile stole over his face. The king of scouts saw that smile and thought he understood © what it signified. The rifle was raised and pointed at the breast of Buf- falo Bill. When Black Mart, with his eyes on the king | of scouts, expected the fatal report to ring out, the young German turned quick as a flash and shot the . Navajo who was then facing him. As he pulled the a ENA N a THE BUFFALO BILE STORIES Lo. trigger he jumped behind the tree just in time to escape. a bullet fired by the Navajo behind him, : Lolita screamed and made violent efforts to break ~ her bonds. ‘For a short time there was a cessation of hostilities. Black Mart, who had sought cover when he saw the Indian fall, watched for a chance to make a safe shot, but so great was his fear of exposing himself that the opportunity he so much desired did not come. The remaining Navajo hunted a tree when he saw the German seek shelter, and there waited for orders. The orders soon came. “Shoot Buffalo Bill and then put a bullet through the head of that half-breed girl,” shouted Black Mart. “Coom ouid und do id yourselluf, you sneaging bussy gat,” jeered the German. ‘You made von peeg mistoog abouid me, I don’d dink, vot? You vos dinking dot I shoots Piffalo Pull, ain’d id? Go pag your het, you plack-vaced ningumpoop. I nefer see such a gowards.” While Schmitz was thus airing his opinion of the tenegade the Navajo was on his stomach in the grass, wriggling along like a snake in order to gain a position from which he could attack the German from the rear. Schmitz, having partially relieved himself of the .venom and contempt that had filled his breast ever since his capture, now fixed his eyes on the pale, sobey coun- tenance of the king of scouts. After peering around the tree at the risk of meeting a bullet and seeing and hear- ring nothing to alarm him, he straightened up and made a lightning dash for Buffalo Bill. The Navajo, now behind a tree close to the one that the young German had left, fired a shot from his re- ‘volver, but the bullet missed its mark. But Schmitz’s action seemed to prove the contrary. With a cry of pain he dropped to the ground, and this was the signal for the Navajo to come leaping forward. He was within a few yards of the prostrate German, and was about to fire at Buffalo Bill, when Schmitz, with surprising quickness, turned his rifle on the Navajo and pulled the trigger. The Indian toppled over, and on the instant Lolita cried sharply: “Look out for Black Mart!” The young German, on his knees, cast his aves toward the trail, saw the renegade with rifle raised, and fired without taking proper aim. The weapon of the villain cracked at the same instant, and Schmitz uttered a yell of derision as the wind of the bullet raised the hair on the top of his head. The yell caused the villain’s forced courage to ooze, and without attempting to shoot again he ran like a deer for the covert he had emerged from when he thought the German had been killed. He was still in sight when Schmitz discovered to his chagrin that all the cartridges in the magazine of his ca AA An ih tc cl ea i ake follow as fast as you can. rifle had been exhausted... There had not been a full supply when the weapon had been given into his hands. But there were the rifles of the dead Navajos. Se- curing one of them, he took a station behind a tree and fired shot after shot into the bushes which he supposed were protecting Black Mart. As no groans, no sound of falling body or retreating footsteps followed, he first frowned and then laughed. “Py chiminy,’ he said, “der goward have sgipped vor goot, und dot’s no vairy-sdory, neider. All righd. I cuds loose Piffalo Pull and Lolida und’ den ve goes afder him lige a house avire.” A knife taken from the body of one of the Navajos was used to cut the bonds of both the scout and the girl. “T did not say anything, venture’any advice while you were operating, Schmitz,” said Buffalo Bill, as he patted the young German on the shoulder, “for advice was not necessary. You are a wonder. You did the right thing every time.” Lolita, her luminous eyes glowing with enthusiastic appreciation, then said to the scout: “I owe you an abject apology, Mr. Schmitz. I thought—I thought that you intended to save your life by accepting that villain’s horrible proposal. I am glad, how glad I cannot tell you, to know that [ misunderstood you,’ “Dot’s all righd,” returned the young German, with a blush that made him handsome in the eyes of the maiden. “Ven I peen blaying bossom vonce, you don'd always gan dell vat’s der madder mit me, ain’'d id? Bud oof you vos mistook a leetle bit vy vorgot id, alretty, und led us dalk aboud someding else—Plack Mart, vot?’ “He has levanted, I think,” said Buffalo Bill, as he looked about for his pony. Having found the animal, and having armed himself, he investigated the covert. In a few minutes he returned. Speaking rapidly, he said: “My pony, as you know, is the fastest in the bunch. I am going to pursue that scoundrel, and you two can lf you don’t come upon me before you reach the grove, yeu had better wait for me there.’ When he had gone Schmitz took Lolita’s hands and said earnestly : “T know vat I dinks. I dinks I vas a liar,” “You a liar!’ she ejyactlated “[odon't believe’ you ever told a lie in your life—that is to say, a ee lies a lie told to an honest man for a selfish purpose,” “Tl haf dold Piffalo Pull a lie, und dot same lie J sbieled oud to Plack Mart ven 1 vooled him indo dinking dot I vos going to shood Piffalo Pull.” “T don’t know what you are referring to,’ she said, regarding him in mild surprise. ‘“T said dot I haf a leedle fratilein pack in, feadeiees You heered dot, ain’d it?” # “Yes, I heard you say that. Isn't it the truth?” Her Seine mee fea Dito ieetancpmine enamine a Be a ise Sa ANia Nig casei AG MOL tel ssa cai tora bench tA sie Pe De nance ns ha Abita ca rlihted otc When tna se ALA cheeks began to burn, and her heart beat faster than usual. . “Nein. I haf got no fraiilein pack in Chermany. Dot vas a leedle sdory dot 1 made oop oud oof my het to maig der dime bass avay mit bleasantness.” é “Oh!” She withdrew her hands from the young Ger- man’s warm clasp and walked away a few paces and looked at the ground. Schmitz stepped a and once ‘more took her hands in hisown. os » You (vas anat mit) me, oun You don’d lige a liar, ain dit £7 ve : “No—that is ” she hesitated, lifted her eyes, smiled, and continued: “I like you very much indeed.” “Do you lige me goot enough so you mighd ged retty some time und go mit me to der churches?’ “Do you mean——” “Sure poppity-pop. Ve a married tighd avay. He drew-her unresisting form to his breast and kissed her on the lips. A few minutes later she walked demurely to her pony, the while the young German ‘“‘yodeled,” caring not if there were a thousand Indians within hearing of his song. But when they were riding along the trail which led to the waterfall and the grove Lolita advised silence. “There may be Navajos ahead of us,” she said. “The two you killed may have been members of a large party.” “Oof dot vas so, den Piffalo Pull may haf his hands vull. I don’d lige dot. Let’s get a mofe on ka-vick.” Sent forward by quirt and spur the ponies made good time, and the lovers were at the entrance of the hidden pass after less than half an hour’s ride. They had seen’ no sign of Indians on the way, and Schmitz was beginning to feel easy in mind when Lolita turned to him and put a finger on her lips. “Vot—vot?” he whispered. She made no reply, but quickly dismounted. Schmitz followed suit, and when the ponies had been led behind a boulder a few rods away from the trail the girl said in a whisper: “There are Indians in the pass. I saw something ahead of me on the trail that proves the fact.” “Vot vas id, Lolida “A feather from the head-dress A (ne vchier 7 lhe feather is red and white, and is worn only by Matourka, the chief of the Salt Basin Navajos. The Indians who served Black Mart belonged to the same tribe. There must be a large body of them, for Matourka never ven- tures out with a small force.” The intelligence put a damper on the spirits of the listener. But his courage remained unshaken. “Vot musd ve do?” he asked. “T must go ahead and find out where ne are, and if they have nft Buffalo Bill or Black Mart.” “Oof you go, I go,” replied Schmitz resolutely. “You 22 : THE BUPFALO BILL STORIES. asked gravely. vas mine, und I don’d haf you ouid oof my sighd. You can pud dat in your pibe und go avay for a smoge, Lolida.” ‘Do you want to help your friend “Mr. Cody's she eure | docs. dime.” “Then you must allow me to have my own way in this matter. I know the woods and I know the Navajos. You would run into danger. I would avoid it. Trust me, and I promise to return here within an hour. 1 shall go no farther than the falls.” The young German could not help but perceive the wisdom of her remarks, and he therefore grumblingly consented to remain behind, But I vand to helb you ad der same An hour passed and Lolita had not returned. Sehirite waited fifteen minutes longer, and then, leaving the ponies, hurried to the trail and went forward to the waterfall. He was behind a rock and within sight of the fall when, above it and near the pool which he had fallen into some days before, appeared the head of the chief of the Navajos. ; CHAPTER VIL. a) eter FIGHT IN THE PASS. Matourka had come to the hidden pass with a hunting- party. The discovery of the dead Navajos in the grove ~~ 1 had filled him with murderous wrath, for he well knew that they had fallen beneath the fire of the hated whites. He sent forward two of his party to follow the trail left by Black Mart and his pursuers, and then made tem- porary camp in the grove. The two Indians met Black Mart, heard what had happened in Death Valley, and then placed themselves under his orders, it being under- stood that all prisoners should be killed and their scalps taken to Matourka. The young German did not relish his position. He knew not what had become of Lolita or Buffalo Bill, and he believed that to attempt to go forward and surmount either of the two rocky banks which enclosed the falls would be to make himself a target for two score or more of Indian rifles. So he waited. And while he waited an Indian slid down the bank on one side of the waterfall, gained the easier: trail below it, and began to steal in the young German’s direction. Could his hiding-place have been eed? Tt seemed so, and yet the Indian was “proceeding boldly in Schmitz’s direction. “Nein, he don’d know dot I am here,” cluded the young German. at last_con- “He vos cooming town to _vind oud vy dose dwo udder praves don’d coom pack any more. Nein, dot iss nod id,’ he added as another paca DEE der ghief vot habbened down der drail avile ago. | iss der madder, den, I vonder? Maype he vos looging vor me, und he dinks I vos nod so near, alretty. I can shoot him righd in der mittle oof der vorehet just so easy lige daking a ghew oof tobiggo, but oof I do dot der whole gapoodle oof Inchuns vill be town on me guicker dan I could maig mine het zwin. I ie I led hist go py, ain’d id?” The Navajo passed the hidden white man, but at some distance from the rock. He never glanced at the place, but hurried on, without looking to right or left. - Buffalo Bill, in Peter Schmitz’s place, would have thought’ the Indian’s action peculiar and open to suspi- cion, but the German, a novice in Indian ways, saw no reason to suspect that the Navajo was playing fox. But Schmitz, being in a good position and having nothing to do, watched the Indian as he went down trail. There was a clump of ae about hali-way down the pass, and when the Navajo passed behind it and did not reappear in the open space beyond it, the young Ger- man scratched his head, and a glimmer of the truth came into his head. Five minutes went by, the Indian did not reappear on the trail, and Schmitz became satisfied that the brave was in hiding, Now he turned his eyes toward the waterfall to see two more Navajos "coming down the bank. ~ “Py chiminy,’ he muttered, “dis is gedding varmer. Dot olt ghief: knows vere I vos, und he is drying to gatch me py der vront und der rear. I petter pe gedding, a quick mofe on, I don’d dink.” . Within ten feet of him was the water. The stream was narrow, but deep. There was a slight depression in the ground between Schmitz’s rock and the stream, and the young German thought he ought to be able to crawl to the water without being seen, He made the attempt, and it was a success. The waterwas swift, but he let himself into it, was swept down a few rods, and then clutched the submerged limb of a tree where the bank had caved under half of the tree’s roots, The force of the current swept his body into the cavity, which was obscured from view by other and. shorter limbs and branches, “Dere,” he said to himself in oe satisfaction, “oof dis vosn’t a pully blace der hide, I din’d vant a cend.” “Best place in the pass,” said a voice within a few feet | of him. The young German repressed a shout of astonishment, for the voice was that of Buffalo Bill. | Looking beyond him, he saw the king of scouts sitting | on a tree root with his feet in the water. BUBFALO BILL STORIES. thought entered his head§ “for dot Plack Mart haf told, Vot’ - warmly: POLO EIR Re ae OE OLE TE 23 “Vell, vell, Piffalo Pull, if dis don’d dake der punion. How you peen gedding here, alretty ?” “By the way you came, or something near it, I reckon. I found the Navajos in the pass, and there were so many of them, and my situation was so dangerous, that I was forced to take to the water. I have been here over an hour. Where is Lolita?’ oe ae The young German groaned. ‘She vent oop here ahet oof me and I don’d know vere she vos. Maype dose In- dians haf gaught her.” a “IT don’t think so. Lolita is cunning. She is all right, make up your mind to that. We shall hear from her before long,” le Peter Schmitz’s face cleared. “I vos clad to hear you say dot,” he said al ‘vor—vor oe and me vos all righd, I oxposes.” Buffalo Bill, with a smile of understanding, said “Allow me to congratulate you. Lolita is a fine girl. She is half-whité and all good.’ | “She vos doo goot vor me, and dot’s no lie. I vish I could see her.” He was half-out of the water now, having found a seat by the side of his friend. lash ed Buffalo Bill: any mor ey I ay “We mustn’t even whisper He did not announce his conclusion to Bole but he believed that their hiding-place would soon be dis- covered. ‘The retreat of the young German from the rock that had sheltered him would bring out a score of Indians, and the fact that the white man had taken to. the water would be quickly discovered. Buffalo Bill looked above his head. The roots were too thick and too close together to allow a passage’ through them. And yet he must get out of the water. as soon as possible. After announcing his design to Coie he took out his knife and began to cut at the roots. The young German gave his assistance, and in a short time a hole large enough to crawl through was made. Schmitz’s rifle had been lost in the’ water, but Buffalo Bill had his, and it was in good condition. He had taken to the stream near the cavity under the tree, and held his rifle so that it did not touch the water. Out of the cavity, and on the bank behind the tree, the thick leafy branches of which screened them from view, they awaited developments. A yell from the rock which Schmitz had quitted to crawl to the water gave notice that the battle would soon be on in earnest. “They may not discover where we are for some time,” the king of scouts whispered. “But we can’t leave here, at least while there are Indians in the grove.” Looking through the branches, the two white men saw ' Navajos running along the banks of the stream, and saw v Tk BU ALO. Blaine STORIES. also the chief, Matourka, and the rest of his followers descend the rocks by the waterfall. In all, nineteen Indians appeared before the eyes of Buffalo Bill and the young German. - Half an hour passed, and all but one of the entire band gathered near the stream opposite the tree which con- cealed the white men. : This exception was the medicine-man of the tribe. He had gone farther down the trail than any of the others, and being mounted went as far as the end of the pass. Here he paused awhile and then with a cunning look in his eyes crossed to the other side of the stream and proceeded along the bank until he was within a hundred yards of the tree that sheltered the border ane and the young German. He was in plain view from the ara side of the stream, and Matourka, observing him, called out in Navajo: “Has the Prowling Wolf seen the enemies of his tribe ?’’ ; The medicine-man pointed to ihe tree: Buffalo Bill shot him dead. The fall of Prowling Wolf brought a chorus of savage yells from the Navajos and a fusillade of shots at both sides of the tree. But no bullet reached either the king of. scouts or Peter Schmitz. As he did so Protected by. the wide trunk they were as safe for the moment ‘as if they were behind stone walls. Soon the rifle-play ceased and Matourka issued orders. which sent half a dozen of the Indians up the rocks to- ward the grove and half a dozen down the stream. “They'll get us unless something unlooked for hap- pens,” said Buffalo. Bill to his companion. “We are in must fight as we have never fought before.” Five Navajos and the chief remained where the band had assembled a short time before. \ ‘But they were protected from the bullets of the white men. Lying behind rocks they watched the movements of the Navajos sent out to double-flank the white men. -These Indians took such a course that it was not until one of them got above the falls that an opportunity to - shoot was offered Buffalo Bill. _ -He fired, and the Indian dropped into the falls and his dead body was nu down- strea ve 2 the rushing current. . His companions hesitated to go on, and while they re-. mained in a state of indecision the young German, catch- ing sight of a Navajo creeping along the bank from the down-stream direction, fired two shots from his revolver. Neither shot took effect, owing to the distance, and the Indian, believing that his enemy was armed only with a pistol, leaped to his feet, and, rifle in hand, sprang for the tree. He dropped in his tracks before he had taken three steps, and a second Indian, not far behind % him, also bit the dust a second later. Buffalo Bill’s Win- chester was once more in active service. The four Navajos behind the fallen ones fired several times to no effect. Then they halted, and for ten minutes nothing occurred. “Tf the old chief had the sense to order his three de- tachments to make a rush at the same time, he’d stand a good chance of winning out,’ the king of scouts re- marked, as he looked first on one side of the tree and then on the other. “But I reckon the old cuss is par- alyzed at the way the game is being played. I hope he keeps his mouth shut.” The hope was vain. Matourka now did the very thing that his enemy had suggested. There was a place not far above the tree nie a lithe, active man could easily jump from one bank to the other. Matourka had his eyes on the spot when he shouted at the top of his lungs the command for each wing of the advance force to rush for the tree the moment he should Tise Up. “Tf he rises, I will pop him,” said Buffalo Bill. “The old man talked before he thought, I reckon, or else he’s shrewder than I take him to be.” Soon Matourka arose, but he dropped an instant after he was on his feet. The bullet of the king of scouts missed him by a hand’s breadth, Then the rush from the two sides of the bank on ahick grew the tree was made. And as the Navajos with wild yells approached from opposite diregtions toward the hiding-place of the whites, Matourka and his body-guard rushed for the stream. Matourka, in the lead, was about to. i. across the . nag@jow chasm through which flowed the water, when tight quarters, and to come out of the battle alive we © a rifle cracked behind him and he staggered back into the arms of the Navajo nearest to him. There had been firing from the tree and the opposite bank before this, but when the chief was shot his braves were thrown into confusion. Some ran this way and some that, and as they ran the rifles of Buffalo Bill and the unseen marksman cracked again and again. Of the six Indians who had tried to réach the tree from down-stream, but one remained alive, and three out of the six who had started from the falls had fallen to rise no more. Matourka’s personal force had been reduced to four, ‘and these four were fleeing down the pass when Lolita stepped in view. The Indians who had escaped from the:fire that had met them after they crossed above the falls were now in the grove, but Lolita did not fear them. *Advancing to the stream until she stood beside the dead body of Matourka, she called out oe “Are you unhurt, Peter?” : “Ped. you vife I vos,’ shouted the ee oe Germans “Und so is Pittalo Pull.” IE BUFFALO The king of scouts showed his tall form beside the tree. Schmitz was in the water. Letting himself down through the hole, he plunged into the stream, crossed it, and scrambled, dripping and happy upon the bank. - _ Lolita met him with’eyes of love and joy. _ The king of scouts did not cross the stream. It was much éasier from where he was to reach the grove where he sttpposed Black Mart and the three Indians to be. The fact that the renegade had not appeared with the Indians did not strike him as evidence that Black Mart was not with Matourka’s band.. He knew the man to be coward as well as villain, and it would be in line with his disposition for him to remain in the grove while the Navajos were waging war in the pass below him. Half-way to the grove, he saw, lying in a crevice me ~ tween the rocks, the dead body of an Indian. Lifting the body in his strong arms, and holding it so that it shielded his head and breast, he strode boldly up- ward. J CHAPTER IX, BUFFALO BILL'S MASTER- -STROKE, Vea nwhile Lolita and Schmitz were hurrying to reach the grove by the other bank. The climb which they undertook was more difficult than that which was made by Buffalo Bill, and when they reached the shade of the trees, near the beginning of the waterfall, the king of “@ scouts was nowhere to be seen. But he was not far away. He had scouted the grove, found neither Indian nor white man in it, and was now Sous outside-of it. _ When Lolita and Schmitz reached him they saw that he was in a bad humor. “Did they go down the road?” asked the Indian girl. “No. They have fooled me. They have returned to the hidden pass, and are now with the other Indians who escaped. While I was going up one side of the cafion they were all ready to go cone the other.” “But we came up the other way.” “The way by the stream, yes; but there is another, though a harder, way to get down into the pass. It is on the farther side of the grove, a hundred yards from the waterfall, and it is supplied with plenty of bushes and plenty of boulders. And Black Mart is | with them, I have seen his tracks.” “They'll find and stampede our ponies,” “Tt is too bad, too ae s “It might be worse,” returned Buffalo Bill, whe a sour smile. “It was worse an houg or so ago. Then we had 'twenty Indians to oppose us. Now there are not more than eight, and they have no chief. As for the ponies, © let them go. There are plenty here in the grove.” said Lolita. “Black Mart must go this way to escape, mustn't he?” jasked Lolita. Neal AAV AMADA AOE AAR te AEN Nn SRDS searched piare. he comes up him say dot? i RON AAI EAR OT AE BIEL SORES. 25 “It is the shortest way, and he’ll hate to go back on the trail for fifty miles. My idea is, that he will wait below long enough to satisfy himself as to the course I have taken. If I do not descend into the pass; that is, if he does not see me descend, he will conclude that I have gone along the trail with the conviction that I am in pursuit of him. I am going to make him think that I have taken just, thatcourse.” “How? By remaining here?” “No, that? ‘would not’ ‘be t esproper thing to do. Black. - Mart is cunning in a way, ; he will have the grove ie. I am going outside, behind the rocks, where Schmitz and : lay ides: for some time before we entered the grove.” “We will go with you,of course.” said Lolita. Buffalo Bill looked at her gravely for a moment.’ Then he said: “If you will take my advice, which I am sure Schmitz will second, you will ride on to the Over- land station—the distance is short ~and tell Wild Bill of the situation here. At the same time you can ascertain what has become of Walter Allison.” “You do dot, Lolida,” said the young German eich. “Dot's gout adwice. Ve vand.Vild Pill): Dots der - dicket.” “I shall stay here,” replied the Indian girl firmly. “Oh, dear! oh, dear! I nefer see’such a vomans!” cried Schmitz, in pained disappointment... “You nefer knows vot is too goot for you. Piffalo Pull knows vot. he vos talging abouid. He vands Vild Pill, you hear Vell, vy. can’d he have Vild Pill? Yust pecause you god der itea dot you knows more as he does. | Py chiminy, I vos ashamed mit myselluf.” Lolita smiled. So did Buffalo Bill, She’ 11 have to stay, I reckon?” he said to Schmitz. “All righd,” said the young German resignedly, “Dud oof she does, I bud town my voots town acainst her run- ning avay all der times. I ped you a peeg valnut I don’d take no more chinces. She vos going to pe mine vife, und I don’d vand a vomans mit von eye, a proken nose, und a vooden le-li-lookity pookity, und dots vot.” They took their stations. behind the rocks, a short dis- tance from the grove, and passed an 8 of Papanes : waiting. a When the head of an Indian eyed at the Le of the grove Buffalo Bill began to breathe freely. The Indian looked down the trail for a few: moments, - then dropped to his hands and knees. Presently he arose and stepped behind a tree. coe eo. The king of scouts and Lolita knew what ‘the move: _ ment meant. He wanted to escape a possible bullet. While on tke ground his keen eyes had detected. the ruse which Buffalo Bill had practised. He had:seen that. the tracks of three persons led not up thestra;! but to one side of it, and toward a pile of rocks.’ aes “I forgot to give the ee credit for having ordix: - SS (SOL ARS REM AEE LONI NT SN I Pat A et RR A A TRE TICS TE I TR ap THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. ~ mary Indian-sense,”’ said the scout to himself. He was not in a pleasant frame of mind. But, suddenly, his eye brightened. He had observed the Indian closely and had noticed two things. First, that he was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscularly built. - Second, that his face was covered by a black cloth of some kind. Only-his eyes could be seen, and they were large, black, and bright. So were, G» Buffalo Bill's. _ The Navajo had evident! yfbeen wouridled in: the face, He remained behind the tree a a ne. then turned and strode silently away.‘ as : After him, with the spel “and noiselessness of a pan- ther, went the king of scouts. ” Before the Navajo could clear the erove Buffalo Bill was upon him, The struggle was short and decisive. The Indian was strong, but he was no match for his cool, powerful, and determined adversary. Beside the dead body the king of scouts rested until Lolita and Schmitz came up. To them he rapidly un- folded his plan, and with Lolita’s assistance he made him- self the counterfeit presentment of the Navajo. The cloth, cut from the lining of some. white man’s coat, served to conceal his features. The Indian’s long hair was cut off and affixed under the head:dress of feathers which Buffalo Bill put on. When colored powders had done their part, the scout:started on his daring venture, which he hoped would prove to be the master- stroke of the campaign. ie -He left the grove and went down the rocky bank over- looking the tumbling water, imitating the movements of a supple, active, sure-footed son of the forest, and was some rods below the falls before he saw a human being. . Then, from behind a boulder near the point where Matourka had been slain, Black Mart oe forth to meet, him. No- Indians followed the renegade, and ie circum: stance was most gratifying to the king of. scouts. One of the Navajos might possibly discover the deception that was being practised, but it was reasonable to assume that Black Mart would take the scout for what he seemed: : ‘The renegade had not been with Matourka’s. Indians but a short time, and it was hardly probable that he had paid particular attention to any one of them. - Of course, he had noticed the cloth over the face of the Navajo he had sent out to scout the grove, but that fact would. operate in Buffalo Bill’s favor. The renegade met the false Indian with the eager question. in the Navajo language: : “Have they gone?” __ “They have gone,” was the muffled answer The cloth, Juckily, prevented clear speech. - “Which way did they go? You found out, course.’ «lwo; the Cherokee maiden and the young io went. toward the station of the Overland Company. Other man, Buffalo Bill, went that way,” pointing north-— east, “He has gone on the trail which he heltege. I have taken to reach the railroad,” thought the delighted villain. There was silence for a few moments, and then Black Mart spoke again, He had been considering his course of action. The Nayajos who had escaped the bullets of the two white men and the Indian girl had gone to the end of the pass at the urgent request of the renegade, who had told them that Buffalo Bill had friends who were coming from the south, and had suggested that they be ambushed. He had made this false statement in the expectation that the Navajo he had detailed to investigate the grove would report that Buffalo Bill and his friends had gone on. The Indians out of the way, and the trail clear beyond the grove, it was his intention to follow the route taken by the king of scouts, always keeping at a discreet dis- tance, and take train for the East whenever a good oppor- tunity should present itself. Now, with one Indian to dispose of, the idea occurred to him that the redskin’s services on the trail to civiliza- tion would be worth something. He could be: used to shadow Buffalo Bill, going far in advance of his em- ployer, and thus make it possible for that employer to take passage on a ‘tailway- -train without incurring any, risks, “Come with me to the grove,” he said to the disguised scout. “I have a proposition to make to you.” Buffalo Bill chuckled inwardly. his way with a vengeance. Things were coming Black Mart found his pony, which’ was hobbled near- by, and, leading it, he followed his guide up the embank- ment. The king of scouts glanced at the pony and saw ‘to his unqualified satisfaction that the tin box was roped to the saddle. Above them, in the grove, Lolits and Peter Schmitz were smiling in fierce delight. a mass of underbrush when the false Navajo and his gullible victim reached level ground. | 29 Leas sit down here,” said Black Mart, inde toa fallen log not ten feet from the place of concealment of the two lovers, “‘and see if we can’t make a deal.” “What you want i ?” asked the disguised scout, in tones more muffled than ever. “I want to hire you to go with mea few hundred puilee? e “Can’t go,” was the quick answer, _ “Why not? I will pay you well. are afraid’). Nes, me iraid;. ‘fraid of Buffalo Bill ? _ Black Mart snorted his contempt.. It can’t be that you They were hidden behind : THE BUPEALO Bilt “A Navajo brave afraid of one white man. What is Buffalo Bill? A big husky, who can’t shoot and can’t fight any better than you can. I’m not afraid of him. If he were here before me at this minute I’d take him over my knees and spank him. And [ll bet he’d cry ae a baby 7. “Black Mart, big man, heap shoot off his mouth. Some time he put his foot in his mouth. Then what?’ The villain looked at the false Indian in amazement. “What is eating your’ he asked. “Contempt for you is eating me!” was the startling reply, given in the rich, clear voice of Buffalo Bill, and, springing to his feet, with his face exposed, the king of scouts sternly confronted the sitting renegade. Black Mart’s evil countenance took on a ghastly hue. Dumfounded, terror-stricken, every nerve temporarily paralyzed, he stared at the scout and said no word. - When a reaction did come, and he reached with sha- king hand for his revolver, a sharp, insistent “Don’t!” stopped the demonstration. Looking up, he saw three pistols pointed at his head. Lolita and the young German had appeared and were standing by the side of Buffalo Bill. “It’s a case ,of surrender,” quietly. secure his weapons.” _ After this command had been executed, the villain was bound hand and foot. He submitted passively, for he knew that resistance would be useless. Buffalo Bill went. over to the renegade’s pony, cut the tin box from its fastenings, and then sat down beside the prisoner. “Mart,” said he, “‘you will never go to England. You have played a bold game and lost. But’—with a queer expression on his face—‘‘you will not be prosecuted for the fraud you attempted to carry out.” The villain, in black dejection, had been sitting with his head on his breast, but at the words of the king of scouts he looked up, his eyes shining with hope. “I am to go free, then? Is that what you mean?’ “No, you infernal scoundrel, that is not what I mean. You will escape punishment for the crime you com- mitted against the estate of the late Captain Allison, but you will have to answer for the crimes you have com- mitted against the United States Government. You have incited an Indian outbreak, you have taken up arms ) against your countrymen, you have violated the pledge ) you made to Colonel Armsby, and on your head rests | the responsibility for all the deaths that have occurred ) since you set out on your mission of crime.” Black Mart collapsed. As he lay groaning and-wri- ©) thing on the ground, Buffalo Bill, with a countenance ex- m pressive of contempt and loathing, turned to his friends. “It is time to move,” he said. “I have no interest in sna tit Ahn SOD nomen tinct AeA Att att neh se eS ht BOSSE SY AES AR RET OER BEE BE ATT said the king of scouts’ “You are up against it good and hard. Schmitz, ite Nat ear Ege Ree COT a MO a NIST LORD SHNG ANI nN eM Se OT eM r aI Y eR ENS STORIES. | 27 those Indians down the pass. We will leave them to discover that they have been bamboozled. ‘They won’t follow us, for we are going to Wild Bill’s station.” From the Indian ponies in the grove Buffalo Bill selected the finest—that which belonged to the chief, Matourka. The pony he had ridden from Death Valley, it will be remembered, was a pick-up from Lost Man’s Basin. It was NOWwesemeyy here below the falls, and it was not worth while to make a, search for it. The exchange was to the Scout’s liking, Lolita and Schmitz each ecured a new mount, and Black Mart‘was bound upon he back of his own animal. Just before’ dark the little party reached the Overland station. Wild Bill bad Walter ‘Alen met le king. of scouts and his friends, and when the tall scout ahd station agent saw the tin ioe he threw up his sombrero and gave a shout of delight. “Didn't I tell you, Allison, that Cody would win out? You can’t lose him. It was a-hard game, but my bets were on William, and my judgment was. right.” Buffalo Bill smiled, and then fixed his eyes'on Allison. “You are looking pale,” he said. “Have you been ill?” “He sure has,” said Wild Bill, “and if he hadn’t been laid up he would have been after you like a streak’ of . greased-lightning. After the funeral he went out on the © plain for a ramble and got intimately acquainted with a rattlesnake. The rattler bit him on the hand, and Alli- son came within an ace of mounting the flume. Whisky ° and soda and some little attention of my own SA him through.” After Black Mart had been locked up in the ion hin: the story of the trip to and from Death Valley was told to two intensely interested listeners. Walter Allison could not find words sufficient to ex- press his appreciation of the gallant service that had been performed in his behalf, Buffalo Bill refused to accept any compensation for his work. “Tam in the employ of the government,” he ae “and though this tin-box business was in the nature of a side- issue, it was transacted at the request of Colonel Armsby.” : Looking at Lolita and the young Geraen who sat hand in hand before him, Walter Allison smiled. The smile meant something, for a fortnight later, when the marriage took place at the fort, the bride, among her other gifts, received a diamond necklace and a check for a handsome amount. - Three weeks after the capture of Black Mart and the recovery of the tin box Buffalo Bill and an army doctor appeared at the cave in Death Valley. Henry Gilbert, clearer in mind than when he parted with his old friend, met them with expressions of delight. ape te tesco ong opment cireenyesveeatn tte THE BUFFALO BILE STORIES. He was taken to a hospital in New Mexico, and after -several months was fully restored to reason. During the journey from Death Valley the story of his life as a hermit was gathered both from his sane ex- planations and his rambling utterances. After the supply of food left by his dead companions on the emigrant trip had been exhausted, he rode out of the abode of desolation on t embackmof the only mule that had survived the journ y to the valley, and at the nearest settlement had obtained a load of provisions sufficient to last him for half a Veat. Fie seemed to have had quite a sum of money, - for he was always able to pay for his necessaries. xX Asked why he had persisted in see in that lone- some, sterile spot, he had no satisfactory answer to give. “T. wanted to be alone, and after awhile I resented in- trusion on my privacy. I thought I owned Death Valley, _ and with my rifle I determined to hold forcible possession Of it.” : Walter Allison went to England and had no difficulty in entering into possession of the valuable estate in _ Warwickshire. has he visited the United States, and on each occasion © Twice since his residence over the water he has been the guest of Buffalo Bill, whom he counts as his best friend on earth. Whenever the king of scouts crosses the Avaaiic. either for business or pleasure, he knows that he will not start on his return to America until after he has put in two or three delightful weeks in Warwickshire. Black Mart was tried, convicted, and suffered death. To-day one of the most prosperous stock-raisers in southwestern Nebraska is the Honorable Peter Schmitz, former member of the State legislature and the leading citizen of his county. He is proud of his possessions, and his wife, the sedate, beautiful Lolita, is still the apple of his eye. Their eldest son, William Cody Schmitz, is a cadet nt West Point. THE END. Next week’s issue, No. 286, is entitled “Buffalo Bill and the Masked Mystery; or, Teton cee the Half- blood.” ABOUT THE EARLY NUMBERS OF THE LG —) containing Frank’s adventures. print. MEDAL, LIBRARY No. 150—Frank Merriwell’s Schooldays. aI receive hundreds of letters every week from readers asking if we can supply the early numbers of Tip Top In every case we are obliged to reply that numbers 1 to 300 are entirely out of wv We would like to call the attention of our readers to the fact that the Frank Merriwell Stories now bean published in book form in the Medal Library are inclusive of these early numbers. was No. 150 entitled ‘‘Frank Merriwell’s Schooldays.’’ We give herewith a complete list of all stories that have been published in book form up to the time of writing. We will “be glad to send a fine colored catalogue of the Medal Library which is just filled with Brod things for boys, upon receipt of a one-cent stamp to cover postage. The first book to appear % . MEDAL LIBRARY MO. 271—Frank Merriwell’s Chase. _276—Frank Merriwell in Maine. 167—-Frank Merriwell’s Chums. 178—Frank Merriwell’s Foes, 184—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West. 189—Frank Merriwell Down South. to3—Hrank Merriwell’s Bravery. to7—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour, 201—Frank’ Merriwell in Europe. 205—Frank Merriwell at Yale. 2090—F rank Merriwell’s Sports Afield. -213—Frank Merriwell’s Races. a17—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour. | 225—Frank Merriwell’s Courage, 229—Frank Metriwell’s Daring. 233-—-Frank Merriwell’s Athletes. 237—Frank Merriwell’s Skill. 240—Frank Merriwell’s Champions. 244—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale. 247—-Frank Merriwell’s Secret. 251—Frank Merriwell’s Danger. 280—Frank Merriwell’s Struggle. 284—Frank Merriwell’s First Job. 288—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity. 292—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck. 206—-Frank Merriwell’s Protégé. 300—Frank Mertriwell on the Road. 304—Frank Merriwell’s Own Company. 308-——Frank Merriwell’s Fame. 312—Frank Merriwell’s College Chums, 316—Frank Merriwell’s Problem. 320—Frank Merriwell’s Fortune, 324—-Frank Merriwell’s New Comedian, 328—Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity. 332—Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit. 336—Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme. 340—Frank Merriwell in England. 344—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards. 348—Frank Merriwell’s Duel. 352—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot. 350—Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories. 254—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty. 258—Frank Merriwell in Camp. 262—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation. 267—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise. The Price of the Merriwetl Books is Ten Cents per Copy. 359—F rank Merriwell’s Confidence. 302—Frank Merriwell’s Auto. 365—Frank Merriwell’s Fun. At all Newsdealers ISSUED EVERY TUESDAY. SEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS Buffalo Bill wins his way into,the heart of every one who reads these strong stories of stirring adventure on the wide prairies of the West. s Boys, if you want tales of the West that are | drawn true to life, do not pass these by. PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, by the Alay to any address upon receipt of price in money or postage stamps / HERE ARE THE 250-—Buftalo Bill’s Daring Rescue; OF Hunted by Wolves. 260—Buffalo Bill at the Torture Stake; oF, A Close Call Among the Utes. 261—Buffalo Bill’s Treasure Train; or, The Doom of the False Guide. m 262—Buffalo Bill Among the Blackfeet; or, The Wizard of the Wind River Mountains. 263—Buffalo Bill’s Border Beagles; or, The Trail of Gold and Death. 264—Buffalo Bill and the Bandits in Black; or, The Wild Riders of the Wilderness, 265—-Buffalo. Bill and the Indian Tiger; or, The Leap for Life. 266—Buffalo Bill-on the Deadwood. Trail: - or, Cat-Eye, the Sioux Renegade. » 267—Buffalo Bill in the Cafion of Death; or, Ringed In by Navajos. 268—Buffalo Bill and Billy the Kid; or, The Desperadoes of Apache Land. 2690—Buffalo Bill and the Robber Ranch King; or, The White Tarantula of Texas. _ 270—Buffalo Bill in the Land of Wonders: or, The Mad Chief of the Madocs. 271—Buftalo Bill and the Traitor Soldier; or, Fair Inez, the Pearl of the Post. : 272—Buffalo Bill’s Dey Trailers; or, The Bandits at Bay. LATEST TITLES: 273—-Buffalo Bill’s Diamond Mine; or, The Bedouins of the Plains. 274—Buffalo Bill and the Pawnee Serpent; or, The Ven- detta of Death. 275-—Buffalo Bill’s Scarlet Hand; or, The Accusing Blood Stain. 276—Buffalo Bill Running the Gantlet; or, The Wolves of the Emigrant Trail, 277—Buffalo Bill’s Leap in the Dark; or, The Outcast of Santibell, 278—Buffalo Bill’s Daring Plunge; or, The Grisly Ghost of Mahoe. 279—Buffalo Bill’s Desperate Missions or, The Round- up in Hidden Valley. 280—Buffalo Bill’s Ghost Raid; or, Hot Times at Bubble Pricking. 281—Buffalo Bill’s Traitor Guide: ot, The Vengeance of Alkali Pete. 282—Buffalo Bill’s Camp-fires ; Snake River Crossing. or, The Bad Man of 283—Buffalo Bill Up a Stump; or, The Pawnee Faker of the Bitter Root. 284—Buffalo Bill’s Secret Foe; or, The Wizard of Windy Gulch. 285—Buffalo Bills Master-stroke ; “Death Valley. 286—Buffalo Bill and the Masked Mystery; or, Teton John, the Half-breed. or, The Specter of IF You WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they ¢an be obtained from this office direct. 1 - Out out and fill in the following order blank and se d. mii it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them to you by return mail, ) POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONBY. : ' ae \ STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. eat ee 190 Gentlemen :—Enclosed find......2..... cents for which please send me: eeernse copies of TIP TOP NOS Ne eae a gs .-o+----copies of BUFFALO BILL NOR ed cccew eve lanueentaenr erwin cca os sos-aes “ “NICK CARTER NOS ie case nS ec ee AU) as See BRAVE AND BOLD “NOS. co wawessatecsaeaeccesececeocguccceee es DIAMOND DICK NOR ea a yikes “ 4 ROUGH RIDER MOG ous lela uacuivashnge oenen becc acs Name ater Serre tsttecseessecstateereenseeseee eS MEOOH and INO eerce oc eeeies cess eeveecxvyevouvess a eee ae co Te ee ISSUED EVERY WEDNESDAY. BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS There are a largemumber of boys to whom stories about the same characters, week after peck ‘become monotonous. It was to suit these fellows that we published BRAVE AND. Bot. Each story is full 30,000 words in length and is complete i in itself, having no connection with any that went before or will come after. Don't miss these, PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, by the publishers to any address upon receipt of price in money or postage stamps HERE ARE THE LATEST TVELES: 169—The Border Scouts; or, California Joe’s War Trail. By Captain Frederick Whittaker. 170—Secret Service Sam; or, A Detective in the Gold Mines. a » By Herbert Bellwood. 171—Double-Bar Ranch; or, The Man from Kansas, By Lieu- tenant A. K. Sims. 172—Under Many Suns; or, Gordon Keith’s Longest Chase. By Lawrence White, Jr. 173—Moonlight Morgan; or, The Hunt for the “Hold-Up” Man. By J.C, Cowdrick. 174—The ‘Gil Rancher; or, Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot of Lone Star. By Herbert Bellwood. 175—The Panther Tamer; or, Mystery of Dead Man’s Trace. By Scout Jack Ford. 476—On Terror Island; or, The Plot to Hold Up the World. By Maurice Douglas. 177—At the Double X Ranch; or, A Mix-Up with the Gowbove By Captain Hal Hazleton. 178—The Lone Range Rider; or, Among the Rustlers of the Bad Lands. By Herbert Bellwood. x79—Warbling William; or, The Singing Detective of Rocket Range. By Lieutenant A. K. Sims. 180—Engine No. 13; or, The Youngest Driver on the Line. By ‘Engineer James Fisk. 181—The Lost Chief; or, Gordon Keith’s Adventures Among the Redskins. By Lawrence White, Jr. 182—South-Paw Steve; or, The Medford Boys and Their Rivals. By Richard Field. 183—The Man of Fire; or, Iron Fern, of Rocket Gulch. By Herbert Bellwood. 184—On Sampan and Junk; or, Gordon Keith Adrift in China. By Lawrence White, Jr. 189—Cool Colorado; 185—Dick Hardy’s School Scrapes; or, The Rivals of No. ai. By Robert Reid. 186—Cowboy Steve; or, The Bond of Blood. By Herbert Bell- ood, se his be ways White Clue; or, Trailing the Diamond Lifters. By Inspector Robert Barnes. 188—Tracked Across Europe; or, Pictures. By Lawrence White, ite or, A Cowboy’s ee for Fortune. By Albert W. Aiken. 190—Captain Mystery; or, The Brave Girl of Boulder Bate ay Herbert Bellwood. 191—Silver Sallie; or, The Three Queer Pards of Poker Pocket. Biya G) Cowdrick. 192—The Ranch Raiders; or, Secret of the Golden Dagger. By Capt. Hal Hazelton. 193—A Baptism of Fire; or, At the Front With the Japs. By ° Mark Darran. 194—The Border Nomad; or, Sharper Stokes’ Double Deal. i - Herbert Bellwood. 195—Mark Mallory’s Struggle; or, Friends and Foes At West _ Point. By Lieut. Fred Garrison, US ne ‘196—A Strange Clue; or, The Sharks and Sharps of New York. By James Fisk. 197—Ranch Bob; or, The Boy Sleuth of Kansas. By Richard Traill. 198—The Electric Wizard; or, Through Air and AVaier to the Pole. By Emerson Bell. 199—Bob, the Shadow; or, Solving a Double Mystery. . Richard Hackstoff. 200—Young Giants of the Gridiron; or, Fighting For the Foot- ball Pennant, By Frank Merriwell. , POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. weaue ie : Gentlemen :—Enclosed find........-... cents for which please send me: eess«-..copies of TIP TOP INGS eee ee croersalacecce lea ane lin a copies of BUFFALO BILL INOS eee he a ene secures. “* “NICK CARTER NOGeeesseteeees sh ee | * BRAVE AND, BOLD Nos. o.0-.0....000..00 ae wekiedes tha DIAMOND DICK (3 “Noses eae ea Ue ee « “ROUGH RIDER NOs ccs eae Meme esue soteeasaeronnconsnae--Dtr eet PUL NOs oie eeneti cia: ue eeensenaenasnneuscsteucars Town. ccs. IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our oration and cannot procure them from newsdealera, they ean be obtained from this office diroet, Cut out and fill in the following order blank and ue it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them to you by return mail. peepaansuessc em UaUOe eee scenes Pigcijveres ae The Clue of the Moving» ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY. BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS - Diamond Dick and is son, Bettie are true men of the Western ae ' They are noble-hearted fellows who don’t’impose on the weaker man and who dont let anyone else do it if they can help it You ought to read how they clean up a mining camp of the dis- honest gamblers and other toughs who usually prey on the uneducated ' miners. ‘PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY. For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, by the publishers to any address upon receipt of price in money or Sastone stamps HERE ARE THE | 498—Diamond Dick On the Dead Line; or, A Close Call _ Among the Utes. | 499—Diamond Dick’s Lost Trail; or, A tc Hunt in Oregon. 500-——-Diamond Dick’s Midnight Duel; or, The Girl Bans ; dit of Powder River. ae oo Dick On His Nerve; or, The Oath of the a? owinner Circle: | 502—Diamond Dick At the Aiea: a Death on the Mississippi. | 503—Diamond Dick's Show- Down; or, Calling a Bad Man’s Bluff, } 504—Diamond Dick’s ee Guest; or, The Outlaw Marksman of Arkansas. B 505—Diamond Dick’s Hit and, Miss; or, The Man With Six Notches On ‘His Gun, } 506—Diamond Dick’s Fight For a Girl; or, The Tender- foot of Bellair Gulch. f 507—Diamond Dick’s Underground Trail; or, The Yel- ...-. low Demon of the Sierras. j 508—Diamond: Dick’s Cross-Counter ; or, A Big Battle for the Belt. es ‘Dick's Good Right Hand; or, A Dark. Plot in Chinatown. Sa Dick’s Bravery; or, The Three Amazons of the Mojave. | ~§14—Diamond. Dick’s Outlaw Duel; or, A Race With -§18—Diamond Dick’s Big Drive; LATEST TITLES: s11—Diamond Dick’s Double Trail ; or, The Apparition of the Big Tree, 512—Diamond Dick in the Saddle ; or, The Secret of the Steel Glove. 2 $13-—Diamond Dick’s Greatest Peril; or, Phe Bienes Hobo of Death Valley. Ooty : or, oS Bronco=: buster of the Pecos. 51 5—Diamond Dick’s Mystic Mark: or, ‘The Handker- chief Man’s Vendetta. 516—Diamond Dick’s Race Riot; or, A Hot Brush 3 | Mexico. 517—Diamond Dick’s Chesy Rode “Ups OL, The Phan- tom Steer of K-Bar-6.. | or, Holding Them Down in a Blizzard. a s19—Diamond Dick’s Trail of. Vengeance or, iced) to the Rio Grande. 520—Diamond Dick Holds the Fort; Along the Big River. , 521—Diamond Dick’s Steel Glove or, ‘The Smiling Man From Santa: fe 7 522—Diamond Dick’s No-name Mystery; or, The Smi- ling Man’s Bad Mistake. 523—-Diamond Dick’s Midnight » Stampede; or, _ Horse-thieves of - Cimarron. ; of, Hot Work The Ir You WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries and cannot procure them from ea odenices: they can be ‘obtained tom this omica direct. t Tae and fill in the following order blank and. aad it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them. to you By nee, mail. AGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY TREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. we Rese besenetceedewe sua eenvawveseewawoenanw am ws _ Gentlemen :—Enclosed find.........--- cents for which please send me: a perl ns ieee, ane eae Nic Cares SGN Bh AU ota eanicg of TIP TOP “ “NICK CARTER ss. € DIAMOND DICK NOB iui ame ae aire ett LEM Secu ou } NOR ceo a ee Ps WUC. 5 consrenennuannnnsertceiaceuas-ledeucguee Sirah amd NO. e ees o vile. copies of BUPFALO BILL: ee “BRAVE AND BOLD Nos...... EON eS a og oa “ ROUGH RIDER QIN OB) ieee a TL cue ~TOWR.wecte se ccetencens en nnns SURO. cat innnnnnchen essen secsecesosesesseas STREET 6? SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City. DNR aria Sa ts a ae are CMON Le Nps 190 - Gentlemen :—Enclosed find............ cents for which please send me: : : Cee ee copies of TIP TOP NOs: 2 ee ee Uae ee eh wus NOEs copies of BUFFALO BILL -Nos..00 202.2 ak ecereee “NICK CARTER NOR Stee ee ea eke “(BRAVE AND BOLD “Nos. 2.000.000... eee | ace vee ie n “ DIAMOND DICK INOGds Coie oe eC eas meres « & ROUGH RIDER SOS eae a Ee dA a2 Ge ec Guba te ' ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY . HANDSOME COLORED COVERS Never has Burt L. Standish written such interesting tales of the adventures of the Mertiwell brothers, Frank and Dick, as are now appear-— ing in this weekly. . Mr. Standish has a world-wide circle of friends and he is putting forth his best efforts to amuse and entertain them. Boys, | | you have no idea of what a grand feast he is preparing for you, Tip | | Top’s stories are going to astonish you. Do not fail to get it. i PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY | For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of price in money or postage stamps HERE ARE THE LATEST TITLES: §24—Frank Merriwell’s Young Crew; or, The Mystery . §37-- Hrank Merriwell’s Proposal; or, Starting the Sport ¥ of the Boat-house. in the League. a ; 525—Frank Merriwell’s Fast Nine; or, Champions of 4 538—Frank Merriwell’s Spook- hunters; on, The Mys- a the County. terious Island of Mad Lake. 7 | 526—Frank Merriwell’s Athletic-field; or, The Great | 539—Dick Merriwell’s Check; or, The Hot Bunch From @ Meet at Bloomfield. © Happy Camp. ae 527—Dick Merriwell’s Reprisal; or, The Clash of the | 540—Dick Merriwell’s Sacrifice; or, Team Work That y Champions. Told. : i: 528—Dick Merriwell Dared; or, The Grapple at Wells- 541—Dick Merriwell’s Heart; or, Breaking the Hard hm burg. Luck Streak. @ 529—Dick Merriwell’s Dismay ; or, The Departure of 542—Frank Merriwell’s New Auto; Or, The, Eure to June. Destruction. 543—Frank Merriwell’s Pride; or, The Double-Header 7 530—Frank Merriwell’s Son; or, The Mark Of the Star. Topi nce j ot tens Merriwell’s Old Flock; or, The Reunion at | s44—Frank Merriwell’s Young Winners; or, The Stars Merry House. in the Blue Hills. @ 532—Frank Merriwell’s House-Party; or, The Rustle 545—Dick Merriwell’s Lead; or, Bound to Hold First with the Rovers. Place. , a 533—Dick Merriwell’s Summer Team; or, Baseball in | 546—Dick Merriwell’s Influence ; or, On the Ren Road ‘| the Blue Hills. At Last. 534—Dick Merriwell’s Demand; or, The Draw at Mad- 547—Dick Merriwell’s Top Notch; or, Bonnet Odds, | awaska. Fate, and Scheming. 535—Dick Merriwell’s Slabmate; or, The Boy from | 548—Frank Merriwell’s Kids; or, The World Beaters In Bloomfield. New York. 536—Frank Merriwell’s Summer Camp; or, The Athletic- 549—Frank Merriwell’s Kodakers; or, Hunting Big, school in the Woods. Game Without Guns, : IF you WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our libraries and cannot procure them from newsdealers, they ean be obtained from this office dirsot. Cut out and fill in the following order blank and send it to us with the price of the books you want and we will send them to you by return He POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY. WUBI cr oe doce nc cec eockcnc a beOb BUG NOL eer a eg oe ee MO Wiss: caylee State... s2d.-ccyses sauese FAVORITE LIST OF FIVE-CENT LIBRARIES the Redskins. BILL STORIES. BUFFALO BILL STORIES Buffalo Bill is the hero of a thousand exciting adventures among These are given to our boys only in the BUFFALO They are bound to interest and please you. MIGHT AND MAIN These are stories of the adven- tures of boys who succeeded in climbing the ladder of fame by honest effort. No more inter- esting tales can be imagined. Each number is at least one-third longer than the ordinary five- cent library. NICK CARTER Es We know, boys, that there is | no need of introducing to. you | Nicholas Carter, the greatest sleuth that ever lived. Every number containing the adven- tures of Nick Carter has a peculiar, but delightful power of fascina- tion. co ey AND BOLD = || Every boy: who prefers variety .|in his reading matter, ought to be a reader of Brave and Bold. All these were written by authors who are past masters in the art of telling boys’ stories. Every tale is complete in itself. ROUGH RIDER WEEKLY Ted Strong was appointed dep- | uty marshal by accident, but he resolvés’ to use his authority and rid his ranch of some very tough bullies. He does it in such a slick way that everyone calls him “King of the Wild West” and he certainly deserves his title. ining a town The ed for stirring stories of Western adventure is admir- ably filled by this library. Every up-to-date boy ought to read just how law and order are estab- lished and maintained on our Western plains by Diamond Dick, Bertie, and Handsome Harry. BOWERY BOY LIBRARY The adventures of a poor waif F whose only name is ‘Bowery | Billy is the true product Billy.” of the streets of New York. No boy can read the tales o1 his trials without imbibing some. of that resource and courage that makes the character of this homeless boy | stand out so prominently. THE TIP TOP WEEKLY Boys, Frank Merriwell has opened a school of physical devel- opment. He has gathered all of his old-time comrades about him and their adventures are wonderfully interesting. These are cer- tainly the best tales of athletic adventure. he bil ets hen rte ic i enol ea letcth dae ttn tan ispalin tote _ » — Pee ern ete Iola ST a oe roa casera aaa tia a a a