Buffalo Bill's death call : or, On a red trail

Front matter

BUFFALO BILL BORDER STORIES Mo. 4 2 ►

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Chapter I. A Knight Of The Overland

“ Draw rein! Put on your brakes, or I kill you and lariat your leaders !”

■* The words rang out viciously, clear and threatening, from the lips of a horseman who had just darted out of the shadow of a clump of timber and wheeled alongside of an Overland stage as it was going at a brisk pace along the trail running through what is now the State of Nebraska.

The stage was drawn by six handsome, jet-black mules, which, at the cry of their driver, had bounded forward into a run.

It was this that had caused the stem command and threat, and as the coach swung swiftly along the knight of the Overland, who had so suddenly appeared, leveled a revolver in his left hand at the driver, while in his right he whirled a lariat, as though about to throw the noose over the heads of the leaders.

For an instant the driver hesitated, as though not knowing whether to obey or take the chances; but, as though convinced that it was certain death to him, he said :

“I’ll draw ’em in, pard, an’ let yer hev yer leetle pickings, fer I know yer.”

As he spoke he began to draw in his running mules, and gently put his foot on the brake, which rapidly checked the speed of his team, while the horseman rode by the side of the coach, his revolver in hand, ready for use.

Looking out of the coach-window were two faces,

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one that of a woman, the other a man, and round, fat, and very much alarmed was the latter.

The horseman upon whom their eyes fell was mounted upon an animal as white as snow, with long mane and tail, and a gait that was easy and graceful. The rider was dressed in deep black. He wore top-boots, and a slouch-hat, the sable brim being turned up in front and held there by a strange mask that concealed the face from the mouth up, but allowed the

A Knight of the Overland. j

latter feature, shaded by a long, blond mustache and a resolute chin, to be revealed.

The mask consisted of two scarlet wings, so arranged as to cover the face, and with holes in each, through which two fiery eyes were visible. The points of the wings extended as high as the crown of the hat, the whole presenting a most singular and striking appearance.

The saddle, bridle, and trappings of this strangely masked rider were of a most elegant description, while his spurs were gold wings on either side of the heel, with the sharp rowel in the points.

His revolvers and knife were also gold-mounted, and altogether he looked like some masquerader at a bal masque, rather than a bold knight of the road, who had daringly darted out of his covert and ordered the driver of a stage-coach of the Overland trail, bearing Uncle Sam’s mail, to halt.

When the t’ river had brought his mules to a standstill, he said sullenly :

“Now, Pard Red Angel, speak your little speech, and be quick about it, fer I’m late.’’

“.You have a United States Army messenger inside as a passenger,” was the assertion rather than question.

“You is off, thar, pard, fer I hes not,” answered the driver.

As though doubting the assertion, the horseman rode up to the door, turned the latch, and threw it open. A glance showed him that only two persons were inside— the woman and the fat-faced man.

“Don’t harm us, good man,” whined the latter, pale as death.

“It is not my intention to do so, sir ; but you, madam, I must ask to accompany me.”

The woman started, drooped her head, and said in a low tone, hoarse with alarm :

“Oh, sir, spare me, I implore you!”

“My dear madam, you plead to Captain Hyena, the chief of the Red Angels of the Overland, who is merciless to man and woman alike. You must go with me.”

“Waal, I declare, ef you makes war on a leddy passenger I drives, I’ll make it so hot fer you an’ your gang, Cap’n Hyena, as folks calls yer, thet yer’ll hev ter emigrate ter new diggin’s, or I lies like a tinpedler.”

The driver spoke earnestly, but the knight of the road only laughed lightly in response, and repeated his words :

“You must go with me, madam.”

“Here, pard, I hes a leetle bag o’ dust o’ my own; thar’s a bag o’ letters in ther boot, an’ thet old man in ther hearse looks as though he were rich, so take what dust yer kin raise and git !”

“The woman must go!”

“I’m durned ef she shall, ef ”

The bold fellow had dropped his hand to the butt of his revolver, when there came a flash and report, and the driver fell back dead. The crack of the weapon started the mules, and they bounded away at full speed, leaving the road-agent seated upon his horse on the trail, as though momentarily taken aback by the suddenness of what occurred.

But he was not one to be caught off his guard. His hesitancy for the moment had been at catching sight of a party of horsemen far down the trail, and coming at a canter across the prairie.

“By Heaven ! I will not be foiled !” he cried through

IO A Knight of the Overland.

his set teeth, and a word to his horse sent him flying away in pursuit of the mules.

With nothing to fear from the driver, whose coach had really turned into the hearse he had called it, in border parlance, the knight of the road dashed on at a speed that soon drew him even with the coach, though at a little distance to one side, as though he feared a shot from the male passenger, who might pluck up courage to fire at him.

With his revolvers in his belt and his lariat whirling about his head, the road-agent showed his plan of action to check the flying mules.

Over the prairie still came the horsemen, five in number, at the same easy canter, as though they had not yet discerned that the team was running away with no driver on the box. They were yet some distance away, and the knight of the Overland was calculating all his chances for success and failure.

Having reached the position he desired, he measured his distance, and was just about to throw the lariat, when a shot came from the stage-coach, and his horse bounded into the air.

“Curse you ! that is your game, is it ? I’ll now play

A Knight of the Overland. SI

mine!” he hissed, as he glanced over his shoulder and saw the face and form of the woman in the stage-coach window, a revolver in her hand, from which she had just sent a bullet after him, and was threatening to send rrfore.

As he spoke, the road-agent sent his lariat whirling forward; the noose whizzed through the air, and the coil caught over the head of one of the leading mules, while the well-trained white steed threw himself back upon his haunches to meet the shock.

Instantly it came — the lariat tightened with a loud twang, and the shock hurling the animal in the snare heavily to the ground, he dragged his mate with him. In one instant mules, stage-coach, passengers, and the corpse of the driver were piled in one grand wreck.

Leaving the struggling animals to extricate themselves as best they could, the horseman cast the end of his lariat loose from his saddle-horn, and, springing to the ground, thrust his revolver into the coach-window, while he cried :

“Come out of that, madam, for you are not hurt.”

No answer came, and tearing open the shattered door, he dragged out a form. It was the fat passenger, who cried piteously :

“Don’t kill me, good man!”

“Coward ! out of the way ! This is my game ! Come, you must go with me.”

His hand rested heavily upon the woman’s shoulder, and in silence she stepped out, her face as white as death. It was a strong face, too, with well-cut features, and a look of fearlessness upon it that seemed out of place with the deadly pallor which betokened fear.

Several of the mules had now struggled to their feet, but were in a tangled mass of harness. This, however, was quickly severed by a few strokes of the bowie-knife of the road-agent, and one of the animals, being freed, was led out of the huddled, struggling mass. Then came the stern order:

“Madam, let me aid you to mount my horse.”

The woman made no reply, but sprang lightly into the saddle, and seized the reins. A determined light glittered in her eyes; and the masked robber said:

“Be careful, for that horse is trained to obey his master’s fall. Now, I will be ready as soon as I get your baggage.”

“I have no baggage,” said the woman quickly and nervously.

"Only' this,” and the masked man drew a satchel out of the wrecked coach.

"That belongs to that gentleman,” the woman cried hoarsely, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Yes, that is mine, sir, and I beg you not to rob me. good man,” cried the fat passenger, his face flushing and paling by turns.

"I am sorry I cannot oblige you, sir, for I shall have to take this satchel ; but I leave you the mules, what is left of the old hearse, and the body of your driver. Good afternoon, sir, and tell those gentlemen, who are now spurring forward at such a furious rate, when they arrive, that this is some of Captain Hyena’s work, and if they wish to find me, my home is upon the prairies.”

Springing astride of the still trembling mule, the road-agent started off at a rapid pace, a word to his white horse causing him to follow, with the captive upon his back.

A Knight of the Overland.

Hardly had he been gone two minutes, when up dashed the five horsemen and drew rein.

An instant they stayed there; then three of their number pressed on in hot pursuit of the daring brigand, who had robbed an Overland stage in full sight of five United States cavalrymen !

Those that remained by the wreck stood gazing after their comrades and the reckless fugitive and his captive, and praying that at last the Red Angel chief, who had long defied his foes, would be run to earth and have to answer for his crimes.

Chapter II. The Life-chase

The scene where the hold-up had occurred was upon the open prairie.

Following the trail on ahead with the eye, it wound over rolling plains, with here and there a divide, a clump of timber, and a fringe of cottonwoods or willows on the bank of some small stream.

Looking in the opposite direction, the thicket which had concealed the knight of the road until the stage-coach dashed by was visible, a mile, perhaps, from the scene of the wreck.

Then there was a rolling plain for a mile or so, and beyond a view of hills and forests. It was toward the latter that the horseman and his captive were tending, for he made no halt at the little bit of timber where he had lain in ambush waiting for the stage.

The woman rode by his side in silence, her face bent downward, as though she was lost in painful reverie. She, however, sat the horse well, in spite'

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The Life-chase.

of riding on a man’s saddle, and, apparently resigned to her fate, allowed the animal to run on at will.

Once or twice she cast furtive glances at her kidnaper, as she saw him turn and glance back at their pursuers, and then there was a look of mingled hatred, fear, and anger in the look.

The mule, stripped of his harness, and with only his blind-bridle on, ran with the speed and ease of the handsome white, and seemed both willing and anxious to go.

Mounted upon his bare back, the masked robber appeared as much at home as he had been in the saddle, and kept the pace not too fast, not caring, seemingly, to push the animals to their best speed.

Those who were in chase were an army lieutenant and two soldiers, and they were splendidly mounted, and pushing their horses at a pace which gained on those they pursued. The officer was a young, handsome man, with the air of a dashing cavalryman, and his face was set with a resolve to capture the noted Red Angel chief.

He had seen the stage coming rapidly toward him, and the horseman by its side, but had not at once susi

The I/if e-chase. 17

pected trouble. At last, however, he saw the white puff of smoke coming from the revolver fired by the iwoman, and instantly it dawned upon him that, though the coach was coming directly toward him and his men, the horseman riding by it was a road-agent.

At the same time he observed that the driver lay back motionless upon his box.

“Ho ! men, there is mischief there ! Follow me !”

His rjnging words were responded to with a cheer, and the party dashed forward at full speed.

But they had not more than started when they saw the smash-up, as one of the leaders was thrown by the lariat, and deep into the flanks of their horses they drove their spurs.

But the daring knight of the road was too quick for them* and when they drew rein by the wreck, the robber and his victim had escaped.

“Well, sir, what means this?” cried the lieutenant when he came near.

“We have been robbed, sir, robbed, and a most charming lady kidnaped, while our poor driver was killed, sir, killed, and all by one man, one man, sir!” almost shouted the fleshy gentleman, who was struggling between fright at his danger and delight at his escape.

“And who was this one man, sir ?”

“The driver called him Captain Hyena, the Red Angel, sir; but to me he seemed more like a black devil.”

“Ha ! then we are in the chase of good game, men. [You say he kidnaped a lady?”

“Yes, sir; a most charming lady, who told me her satchel was full of riches, and begged me to claim it as my own. And I, sir, I threatened and ”

“I am glad to see that you are not hurt, sir, so shall leave men to look after you and the stage,” broke in the lieutenant, and turning to two of his men, he continued :

“Bolton, as you and Reid are not as well mounted as the rest of us, remain and repair damages as well as you can, and carry the coach on to the station. Then return to the fort and report what has occurred, and say to Major Benteen that I have gone in chase of this famous knight of the road.”

The soldiers addressed saluted, and the lieutenant, with his other two men, dashed off in hot ch" "

The Life-chase.

After passing the timber and seeing that it was Captain Hyena’s intention to make for the hills, the officer spared not his horses in his endeavor to catch up with the bold robber, for he knew that the Red Angel chief was reported to have a band of half a hundred lawless followers, and why he had alone made the daring attack on the coach he could not understand. He felt assured he must have aid not many miles away.

“We must catch him before he reaches the hills, men!” cried the officer, and the determined manner in which they urged their horses on began to tell, for the outlaw was forced to put his mule at his best.

Yet the troopers gained, for though the mule was fleet, those horses on his trail were fleeter.

“We are gaining rapidly, and he must soon come to bay,” cried the young officer, with glee, as he saw that ten minutes more would bring him alongside of the outlaw.

But Captain Hyena* did not look behind him with any great anxiety, it seemed, nor any more frequently, as his danger increased, for the soldiers watched his every movement closely.

Be*- him, yet some distance off Tay the hills.

Could he reach them, he would be safe, for he could soon find a breastwork to fight behind, if he did not find friends there.

Upon the open prairie, if brought to bay, he must stand and face his foes, three to one, with the woman, also, to look after.

That the young lieutenant would be driven off, the outlaw could hardly believe, for he knew of what material the officers on that far border were made, and that the men would follow his lead was most certain.

So on he urged the black mule, striving to get as near as possible, it seemed to his pursuers, to the hills before he would turn at bay.

But nearer and nearer came the cavalrymen, and a look behind him showed Captain Hyena that the lieutenant had drawn his revolver and would soon use it.

Instantly the bold bandit acted, and with a nerve and promptness that showed him a master of the situation.

“Slide to a seat back of that saddle, and if you slide off, I will kill you !’’ he said.

The words were addressed to the woman, and that he meant what he said she fully realized, so instantly obeyed. Then came the order:

“Throw away that revolver you carry, madam !”

He saw the gleam in her eyes, and detected her purpose, for he quickly drew his pistol and covered her.

The woman dropped the revolver in silence, and, riding closer, the outlaw threw himself from the mule’s back to his saddle on the white horse, with a skill that would have done credit to a circus-rider.

But, just as he made the spring, there came the crack of a revolver, and the black mule plunged forward with a wild snort, and fell heavily, the bullet having buried itself in his brain.

“That officer is a dead-shot, for his bullet would have killed me had it been fired an instant sooner ; but with you as a shield, I have no fear now, madam,” and the outlaw actually laughed.

The woman made no reply, and the white horse, with his double load, at the urging of his master, nowi bounded forward with an increased speed which began to drop the pursuers, who were almost upon him when the change was made.

“If I only dared,” muttered the officer, a9 he held

The Life-chase.

his revolver ready, as though about to fire. “No, I must not risk it, for I might hit the woman, and if I dropped the horse, the fall would doubtless break her neck.”

He returned his pistol to his belt, and once more urged his tired horse in pursuit, with the words :

“Spur deep, men, for that noble horse cannot stand that double weight long, and will soon break his heart under it.”

Contrary to the expectations of the lieutenant, however, the splendid white horse of the Red Angel chief did not break his heart under the terrible strain put upon him, but continued to gain steadily upon his pursuers, until he dashed into a ravine in the foot-hills, quite a long distance ahead of them.

The outlaw had headed for this particular point, seemingly well acquainted with the locality, and, once in the mouth of the ravine, he had come to a .halt and quickly dismounted, as though determined there to stand at bay, rather than push his horse up the hill under double weight.

On each side of the ravine, for a long distance, ran a cliff, which was unbroken, and the nature of the

The Life-chase.

ground in the rear was such that the man at bay could not be easily flanked, while, as darkness would come within an hour, and knowing the country, he could readily extricate himself from the trap in which he found himself.

“Now, madam, I expect you to aid me in the little difficulty I have gotten into on your account,” said the outlaw, as he led his horse back out of danger. “Stand there, please!”

The woman obeyed, taking a stand against a bank that arose to her waist.

“Now, I will take my place just behind you, and I hope it won’t make you nervous to have me fire over your shoulders, for I shall do so if attacked, and that foolhardy young officer seems determined to run to his death.”

“You would not kill him said the woman, in a low voice.

“As readily as I would you if my life depended upon it,” was the response, and then, with a revolver in each hand, the bandit stood at bay, the woman directly in front of him.

Seeing the position of affairs, the lieutenant made up his mind to dash into the ravine and have it out iis a hand-to-hand fight.

“Come, men, we must settle this thing right here!”1 cried the gallant officer, and he rode at a headlong pace directly for the mouth of the ravine.

“Back, sir, back! for he will kill you!” cried the woman, her voice vibrating with emotion.

But the soldier made no reply, and then came the crack of the outlaw’s revolver.

Down, headlong, went the horse ridden by the lieutenant, who tried to save himself from a heavy fall, but was unable to do so. He was hurled to the ground with stunning force, and pinned there by the weight of his dead steed.

As though knowing the result of his shot, the outlaw fired again, this time at the nearest soldier, and the man threw up his arms and fell backward from his saddle, dropping in a limp heap, while his horse dashed on into the ravine.

Seeing that his officer and soldier comrade were both down, the remaining cavalryman wheeled as though on a pivot, and darted away from the fatal spot at full speed, to save himself from a like fate, a shot or two from the outlaw following him.

“They will trouble us no more, madam,” the road-agent said quietly, and taking the arm of the woman, he led her back into the canon to where the white horse was standing, and by his side — for he had sped right on into the ravine — was the animal of the slain soldier.

“We are both mounted again, you see, madam. Please take my horse,” said the outlaw, with sarcasm, as he caught the rein of the other steed.

“Will you ride off and leave that officer to die?” she asked.

“I will; so be good enough to mount, and lose no time,” was the warning rejoinder.

The woman leaped lightly to her seat in the saddle, for the outlaw offered her no aid, and springing upon the back of the horse he held, he said:

“You lead the way.”

“Where?”

“Out of the canon, and up into the hills.”

She seized the reins and obeyed, glancing earnestly

The Life-chase.

down upon the dead soldier and at the officer, who was moving- his hand across his brow, as though striving to recall his senses.

He lay upon one side, his left leg pinned down under the body of the horse, and evidently had fallen heavily.

“He can do you no harm now, so at least release him from his painful position,” urged the woman.

“I shall do nothing of the kind, madam. He is my foe; he sought my life, and he may die there, or become food for the wolves, for all I care. That is our way, up that trail.”

She turned her horse into the trail he pointed to> and) he followed her on up the hill.

After riding a mile, the nature of the ground became wild and rough in the extreme, and they had to pick their way.

Suddenly the outlaw, whose eyes were constantly watching on all sides, spurred to the side of the woman, and, seizing the rein, said hoarsely:

“Quick ! Come with me !”

She wondered at his excited manner, and glanced r~ '

Tlie Life-chase.

about her for a cause for it ; but he urged both horses into a fissure in the hillside which -was partly concealed by a few stunted trees. A curse escaped his lips as he saw that the ravine abruptly terminated within a few feet, and did not extend into a canon, penetrating far into the hill, as he had hoped.

“By Heaven! I must take the chances, for to go out again would be to have them see me, if they have not already done so,” said the man aloud.

“Who?” asked the woman, her face flushing with hope.

“Wait and see,” was the curt answer, and then a moment after came the almost joyous cry from the road-agent :

“Saved ! for now my trail will be destroyed !”

Then there came a hurried, tramping sound, and a band of elk sped by the mouth of the ravine, and within a few paces of where the outlaw and his victim sat side by side upon their horses, illy concealed by a few stunted trees that grew at the ravine’s entrance.

The hoofs of the elks did indeed destroy any trace left by the horses, for there was a large b ”- of them.

The Life-chase.

and a cloud of dust floated into the hiding-place of the outlaw, temporarily concealing it from view.

The woman had held high hope when she heard those trampling hoofs that aid was near ; but when she saw what made the sound, her face again paled, and she wondered at the excitement shown by her captor.

But he still remained in hiding, a revolver in each hand, and she felt that he knew other cause for danger was near, and had not been frightened by a band of elk.

Several moments went by in breathless suspense to the woman, and to the road-agent, as well, it seemed, for he appeared ill at ease, and then the sound of hoofs was heard, followed by a man’s laugh.

Then the outlaw said in a low, savage tone:

“Oh, how I would like to turn that laugh into a wail of woe! But I’ll bide my time!”

Turning to the woman, he continued in the same suppressed voice :

“Woman, one word, one act from you now will seal your doom, whatever my fate may be, for those coming are Buffalo Bill and two friends, and they are my bitterest foes!”

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As he spoke he pressed his revolver hard against the head of his prisoner, who sat white and motionless upon her horse. The next instant there appeared in sight a horseman of striking appearance.

He was mounted upon what is known as a buckskin, or “clay-bank,” horse, with snowy mane and tail; he was oven a.more beautiful animal than the white horse of the border bandit. His rider was easy and graceful, and he rode with the air of one born in the saddle. He was Buffalo Bill, the King of Scouts.

Just behind was a horseman, also splendidly mounted and thoroughly armed. He was dressed in buckskin hunting-shirt and leggings, wore a sombrero of gray felt, and cavalry boots.

His form was slender, but tall and.full of power, and his face was stamped with strength of character. His hair was jet-black, without the shadow of a wave in it, and hung down his back almost to his belt, and he rode with the bold freedom and ease of a Comanche.

Close upon the heels of the second horseman came the third — a younger man than the other two, possessing smaller stature, but one that combined strength

The Life-chase.

and activity, while his movements were as graceful as a woman’s.

His face was also, dark-hued, but a sunny expression rested thereon that never deserted it even in danger, and yet which could turn to a shadow of deepest sympathy for one in sorrow. His hair was the same sable hue as was his comrades, but his eyes were as blue as a turquoise — large, full of expression, in which lurked a glimmer of mischief and a trace of recklessness.

He was dressed also in buckskin, top-boots, and a sombrero, and “armed to the teeth,” while he bestrode a restive, wiry roan stallion, that had every indication of speed and great endurance.

It was a most critical moment for the knight of the road and his victim, for those three horsemen were “men to the border born,” and might cast their eyes at any instant into the ravine. In fact, nothing would be more natural than for them to do so, ever watchful as they were for danger in their path.

The game behind their saddles proved that they had been off on a hunt, and, although the band of elk, startled by their coming, had run near them in their flight down the hill, they had not fired upo-- them in

The Life-chase.

sheer wantonness to kill, for they had an ample supply of meat with them.

Most fortunate was it for the outlaw that the elk had dashed over his trail, or assuredly the eyes, of that hunter trio would have detected them. But now they seemed unsuspicious of danger or mischief brewing, and were chatting pleasantly, for when in front of the outlaw’s hiding-place the laughter of the rearmost horseman again broke forth at some remark of the one next to him.