Prentiss Ingraham

“ The outlaw was astounded at the cool nerve displayed by Buffalo Bill in his danger, and could not understand his light, bantering tone. He meant to kill Cody, there was no doubt; but as a cat will play with a mouse to torture it, he wished to make Buffalo Bill suffer terror and despair, so he delayed firing the fatal shot, feeling that he had the scout wholly at his mercy. ”

“ When within a short distance of the end, Buffalo Bill halted suddenly and cried:
“See there, Ben!”
“This end of the pass has been blasted out with powder.”
“That is just what it was, Ben, and—we have found it—see? The Lost Valley lies before us!”
The chief of scouts, since his meeting with the black giant, almost used up by starvation and wounds, had had his mind set on the penned-up settlers in the Lost Valley. He had given his pledge to the negro to answer the call upon him for aid, to go with him on what to other men would have seemed an aimless trail. ”

“ That any other demonstration would be made in the hacienda than the weird sounds already heard, Buffalo Bill did not believe, so he decided that he would keep his stand at the gate and let Rawlings guard the cattle, singing to them to quiet them.
The moment the others had walked away, Buffalo Bill had quickly crouched down in the shadow of the wall, just at the entrance. He heard no sound save the impatient tramping of the horses, the singing of Broncho Rawlings, and an anxious lowing of a frightened steer. ”

“ Then the swollen limbs of the rescued prisoner were bathed, arnica put on them, and a good meal cooked for all to enjoy, for Buffalo Bill saw that a bend in the range would completely hide the smoke from the Indians up the valley.
It was a good place, too, where the gold could be hidden, for Don Miller proudly said there was not a man in the party but whom he would trust with the secret. ”

“ As Buffalo Bill rode along he was not forgetful of being in great danger, and he was surprised when he did not see the ranch cowboys he had seen when he was on his way to visit the fair hermit. He was riding quietly along when he saw a horseman approaching, a splendid-looking man, well mounted, and with silver-mounted Mexican saddle and bridle. ”

“ You men, and others like you, are aware that the Big Horn is rich with gold finds, care nothing for the government’s pledges to the Indians, and invade the mountains and valleys as gold boomers.
“This keeps the Indians restless, revengeful, and hostile, causing them to kill bands of whites where found, raid settlements away from their lands, and thus force the military to punish them severely for what you gold boomers have driven them to do.
“You are, therefore, lawbreakers, and become murderers, for you kill the Indians, and they in turn kill the gold boomers and many innocent whites as well. ”

“ I have been four days coming from the river to this cabin, which I saw from the ridge above, as I did you also, and this young man, who I thought must be some renegade.
“I crept up behind the cabin, having seen you seated on the piazza, and, dashing around, covered him; but you say he is your friend.”
“You are safe here, Buffalo Bill, for I cannot but call you so, and you shall know the whole story. So sit down, for it is a long one, and there are secrets in it which you must not breathe to any one.” ”

“ Feeling that he was on a trail of rescue, Black Bill rallied so fast that he began to scout on ahead, and one day as Buffalo Bill came near to where the negro lay full length upon the ground, he had reached the summit of a range and was gazing over at something he had discovered on the other side. ”

“ One afternoon, a week after Lucille’s coming to the Indian village as a captive, and while Lucille and the chief, Death Face, who had proved to be half white, were seated upon the little piazza looking at the sunset, the young man on the chair, the maiden in the hammock, there suddenly dashed around the corner of the cabin a tall form, brandishing a revolver in each hand. ”

“ For a long time Buffalo Bill gazed through his field glass at the strange sight, and then without a word handed it to Scout Ben.
He, too, looked long and attentively, and when he removed the glasses from his eyes Buffalo Bill said:
“How to get down there is the question.”
“There must be some way, sah.”
“I can discover no break anywhere in the walls. We must start those people out pretty soon, for it will be slow traveling with a wagon train, and we must not be caught on the way. Come, we will go after Black Bill.” ”

“ Buffalo Bill grasped the hand of the brave negro, who replied:
“We’ll die game, sir, if we have to; but we depend on you, Massa Bill, for you’re the only man who can save us, and you will, sir, I know you will.” ”

“ Both saluted and halted, the cowboy king saying:
“Off your trail, señor?”
“No, for I have been to the hacienda.”
“And why?”
“That I consider none of your business.”
“I shall make it my affair, Señor Cody, and you are covered by my men,” responded the cowboy king.
It was true, for four men were peering over a rock with rifles leveled at the scout, who said:
“So it seems; but do you not respect this badge?” and he pointed to the pin Suelo had given him.
“Not this time, for you are too dangerous a man to be at large. I know you, Buffalo Bill.” ”

“ Sending a white scout on his trail of the night before to bring his pack horse, saddle and bridle from where he had left them on the river bank, Buffalo Bill hastily had breakfast with a half a hundred troopers, and led them by a flank movement to get in the rear of the Indians on the ridge. He had long before sent a courier to tell the reserve force, the troopers with their gun, to branch off at a trail, which would head him off at a point where they could reach the rear of the redskins. ”

“ The cattle also became quieted under the weird chanting of the Texan, and then the horses once more became restive.
“Say, Pinto Paul, you stay about the horses while I soothe the split-hoofs with the melody of my voice, which can lull them to rest,” said the Texan, in a light vein.
“Jack, give me an order to tackle the mate of that mountain lion the chief killed, or to brace up against a couple of outlaws, and I’ll do it, but don’t expect me to play a lone hand, for I don’t intend to do it.” ”

“ The scout was touched by the señora’s kindness, and as he rode away with her husband, he said:
“You told your wife, then, that I was here to help you?”
“Not a word, señor; but I told her when you left a month ago that you were Buffalo Bill, the great military scout, and had promised to be our friend; and, with a woman’s quick intuition where her love is interested, she feels sure that you have come to save our poor daughter.” ”

“ Having united their two bands, a hundred in number, all came with a rush upon the intrenched troopers, yelling like madmen, their ponies at full speed, and sending showers of arrows before them with an occasional shot from a rifle, where a brave was so unfortunate as to have firearms, then not common among the redskins.
“We’ve got ter do ’em, men, or they’ll down us,” shouted the sergeant, and a moment after he cried:
“Aim to kill—fire!” ”

“ To the utter amazement of Lucille, the young chief replied, in perfect English:
“I do not believe in the theory of my people, chief, of making war upon women and children, and I am surprised that you, as a white man, should do so; but that is your affair, not mine. Only treat her well.”
“That she will tell you I have done. I wish to place her in the renegade’s cabin in your camp.”
“You can do so.”
[68]
The outlaw and his captive were then riding on, when he halted and said:
“Chief Death Face, those braves of yours whom I took with me I shall arm with repeating rifles and revolvers. ”

“ The landlord—Riel is his name—I do not trust, so beware of him; yes, and every one else, even the Padre Juan in Silver Lake, as he, too, may be a wolf in the garb of a sheep, though I think not. Trust no one, but keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared at any time to fight for your lives.
“I am, remember, an American ranchero, and you are my cattlemen. We are here to stay, you can tell the inquisitive, and secretly we are here to ferret out the mysteries of this valley. ”

“ Buffalo Rill glanced at a bullet wound in the negro’s side.
Hastily the scout set to work, pitched his camp in a secluded spot on the bank of a little stream, and, taking from his pack saddle a pair of extra blankets, he spread them on the ground and told the negro to lie down.
He quickly gathered some wood, built a fire among some rocks, and, after staking out the horses, started to prepare a venison steak, bacon, hoecake, and coffee for supper.
The negro would have eaten ravenously, so nearly starved was he, only the scout made him go slow, and did not give him half what he craved. ”

“ Up through the village they rode, the girl’s fears gradually giving place to interest, until at the upper end of the valley, under the shelter of a heavily-wooded ridge, the mountaintop, there were visible a number of tepees apart from the others.
“There is your camp, Miss Fallon. It is a deserted village—the supply tepees, as I told you. Yonder you see your cabin, apart from them, and there you will be safe. I shall have a half-breed squaw, who once lived at the fort as an officer’s servant, remain there with you and do your cooking.” ”

“ When Buffalo Bill had gone into the corridor he had intended to relieve Lone Star and Mustang Frank. But when he visited the spot where Texas Jack was on guard he thought that the entrance to the ranch was the best place for him, after he had heard the Texan’s report. He knew if the cattle and horses were restless some one was causing them to be so by prowling about among them, and in some way exciting them.
If that “some one” could only stampede the whole lot, causing them to break through the gateway, then he and his scouts would be in a bad way indeed. ”

“ As she watched the squaw preparing supper, she asked her about Death Face, the young chief.
“He heap good young chief—heap like paleface. He be great chief some day, and maybe have peace with palefaces, for he don’t like to kill Little Paleface’s people, but big fighter in battle. Red people all love Death Face. Iron Eyes heap cruel man, kill and scalp paleface, hate them bad. Iron Eyes kill many.”
Lucille glanced out of the open window and said half aloud:
“Speak of the devil, and his imp appears. There comes Death Face now.”
He rode up to the front of the cabin and was alone. ”

“ Black Bill was asleep; but woke at the scout’s call, saying that he felt much better, save for a headache.
“It is well it is no worse. Now, see what a good dinner we have; or, I may say, supper, for it is getting late. I guess we’ll camp here to-night and return to our camp to-morrow; or I will go and bring the boys here, for you must keep quiet for a few days.”
“What is you doing here in the Big Horn country, anyhow?” said Rocks, as Buffalo Bill untied the hands of the prisoners for them to eat their dinner. ”

“ Buffalo Bill just then came out into the corridor.
“Well, pards, we are having a serenade, I hear. But it is time for you to turn in, just twelve, and I’ll watch here, while Haskell stands by the outer door; but remain on duty until I return from seeing Texas Jack.”
“Do you mean any one can sleep, chief, with this going on?”
“Yes, Frank. We were not born in the woods to be scared by an owl,” was the answer, and Buffalo Bill left the corridor and met Winfield, and the other two men who were to go on guard. ”

“ Stevens, the surgeon, had been called to the wounded man, and as Buffalo Bill went to where he lay, just as day broke, he found the scout doctor seated by his side, Texas Jack having left the unfortunate fellow to his care.
“Well, doc, how is he?”
“Perfectly conscious, sir, but he will utter no word.”
“His pallid face shows that death is not far off.”
“Yes, sir; I have told him that he must die, that he can live but an hour or more, and that I could do nothing for him, though I have tried. ”

“ After a hearty breakfast, Buffalo Bill confided to Captain Keyes his experience, for he wished to keep the story of finding the negro, Black Bill, a secret from all save the commanding officer.
“Now, captain, I wish to pick my men and go at once on the trail, for, from what that negro tells me, I fear those people are in a bad way.
“I know they have no right in the Big Horn country, but they are there, in great danger, and there are women and children to be rescued.
“Now, I have every confidence in Sergeant Mobile Buck, and I wish a corporal who is an equally good man for the work ahead. ”

“ It was hard for an Indian to do, to leave his pony, but it was a question of life and death, and they fled on foot, thus making it a glorious victory for the palefaces.
Sending a courier to have his pack animal and a fresh horse brought him, Buffalo Bill went on the trail of the redskins, to see if they continued their flight, or halted to try and make an effort to regain their horses when night came, and Captain Keyes came up with his men to go into camp with the entire force. ”

“ Then Texas Jack went to the aid of Buffalo Bill, calling out as he advanced:
“Winfield stands guard with several men in the hacienda, and I came to see who fired that shot, chief.”
“I did. There is a dead ghost lying yonder, and I hope it will end this fool dread of spooks,” was Buffalo Bill’s reply. ”

“ I rode on up the valley to the settlement of Silver Lake City without meeting a soul.
“That city, as they call it, is beautifully situated, and is composed of adobe houses, the people seeming to have very little to do. Some mine in the mountains, others of the men are cowboys on the ranches down the valley, there are several stores, saloons, and a blacksmith shop or two, with an old mission chapel and a priest. There is a halfway inn there, and if the landlord is not a villain, then his looks belie him. ”

“ Under the guidance of the young chief, the trail to the river was made in perfect safety, Buffalo Bill being taken for the outlaw, and Lucille and Yellow Bird for braves by the bands of Indians they passed.
No one questioned Death Face, and on he rode with his escaping party, Lucille and Yellow Bird having their faces painted, and in their leggings, riding in masculine fashion, while the pack horses they had along were well loaded with things taken from the Manly cabin and the young chief’s tepee. ”

“ Bill drew him a few steps away from his rifle and belt, and then, with a sudden violent wrench of the wrist, tore the revolver from the outlaw’s hand, and pitched it over with the other weapons.
“Now, Bad Man of the Big Horn, I was born tired, and don’t like work, so take your knife and set to work to build a house under this tree,” said Buffalo Bill.
“A house?” asked the surprised man.
“Yes.”
“What kind of a house?”
“One that will fit a dead man.” ”

“ It is needless to say that quick punishment was visited upon all the prisoners, and Buffalo Bill and [320] his sleuths of the saddle gained great praise for their splendid services rendered, and Colonel Carr sent a special report to headquarters about the great chief of scouts’ brilliant achievement.
As to the beautiful valley, it is as peaceful to-day as a Quaker village, and the fair hermit of the hacienda is forgotten, for she was never heard of again by those who dwelt in the Silver Lake settlement, while the haunted ranch remains but a ruin, surrounded by its graves. ”

“ We see no one, and it is merely a trick to frighten us, for the chief is right; this is an outlaws’ haunt.”
When there joined in with the moaning the sound of a woman weeping, Mustang Frank began to show real fright, but Lone Star Sam calmed him, and the two listened to the strange sounds. As though a man’s moaning and woman’s weeping were not enough, there joined as a treble the sound of a child crying like one in pain. ”

“ Buffalo Bill laughed at the fears of the two Mexicans who had come with the wagon, and Texas Jack went on to say:
“And, chief, those two fellows vowed that there was not a man in the valley you could get to come to this hacienda, day or night.”
“All right. We don’t want any to come. But we are men, and here we remain until I accomplish what I came for.” ”