CHAPTER XV.

BUFFALO BILL’S TRUMP CARD.

After the scout and Hickok had been released by Little Cayuse and had bound the interior guard, they had set about the capture of the men posted at the entrances to the slope. They first crept out to the upper level, and surprised Bloody Ike. He was treated as the first had been, and carried back into the mine to rest on the hay where the scout and Hickok had lain.

The next work was to go down to the lower entrance to take in the other guard. As they approached the light they heard the voice of the guard in conversation with some one on the outside.

Creeping nearer until they could command a view of the rocks beyond, the scout was surprised to see Red Dick and his men lined up and held at bay by the sentry, who was warning them not to come any nearer. He told them that he had ten well-armed men behind him, and if they attempted to enter he would blow them into mince meat.

After long parley Red Dick attempted to retreat, but found himself confronted by Fighting Dan and his crowd.

Red Dick was between two fires, but preferred to take the chances that the guard had lied about having men behind him. Dick in an undertone directed his men, and all suddenly dashed into the slope. There they were met by the leveled rifles, not only of Buffalo Bill, the Laramie man, and Little Cayuse, but of the surprised guard himself.

“Fight it out where you are,” commanded the scout, “or we’ll take a hand from this side.”

Red Dick and his men made the best of a bad situation, and dropped among the rocks to send a volley at Fighting Dan’s crowd, now beginning to advance.

It was at this time that the sheriff and his posse appeared. Then the battle had become triangular.

The scout first relieved the mine guard of his weapons, and secured his hands and feet to guard against treachery, and then hit upon a scheme to catch a thief with a thief.

Most of all, Buffalo Bill wanted Price, and the sheriff, and Dave Green. He had Bloody Ike and two minor villains, but the ringleaders still stood a good chance of escape if they once understood that the round-up had begun.

The scout called to Red Dick:

“Davids, I’ve a proposition to make.”

“Name it.”

“You are no particular friend of Price and the sheriff?”

“I’d like to see ’em hung.”

“Well, I want to catch them both, and if you and Dan Grey will join me we can do it without bloodshed.”

“Who are you?”

“I am William F. Cody, sent here by the government to put the kibosh on some of your rascals.”

“Boiling rattlesnakes!”

“What do you say?”

“I’m with you, head and heels.”

“Very well; make a rush in here, and then I’ll talk to Grey.”

As we have seen, Red Dick and his men disappeared, much to the surprise of the others.

Then Buffalo Bill opened negotiations with Fighting Dan.

“Dan Grey!” he shouted.

“Say it,” came the answer.

“Do you know me?”

“No, ’n’ I dunno’s I want to.”

“Well, I’m Cody.”

“The devil!”

“No, Buffalo Bill.”

“What ye want?”

“I want you and your men to come in here out of the sun; you might tan.”

“What’s ther game?”

The scout briefly outlined the situation as he had to Red Dick.

“Come out fur ’nough so’s I can see ye, an’ if it’s you I’ll jine in.”

Buffalo Bill advanced until he was in full view of Fighting Dan and his men, yet beyond sight of the sheriff’s party.

“I guess it’s Buffler all right,” said Dan. “Waal, clear ther track, an’ we’ll come in under full steam.”

They came and the rest we know--how the entire party, under Buffalo Bill’s direction, went around to the upper entrance and sprung the trap that nabbed the sheriff, Price, and their band.

But how Bloody Ike attempted to defeat the plans has not been explained.

Back in the mine the scout had offered those who had guarded the place the choice of joining his party in the capture of Price. Two had accepted, but Bloody Ike refused, so he was left securely bound, it was supposed. But in some manner he had escaped and tried to warn Price of the trap.

Failing in that and apparently thinking that the game was played out, it was believed that he had set off a storehouse of explosives and had died where his bones would never be disturbed.

The procession back to town was quite a remarkable one. Buffalo Bill had made sure that the principal prisoners were safely guarded, and among his most zealous supporters were Dan, the fighting man, and Red Dick, the wild and woolly knight of the bad men’s resorts.

Skibo was given charge of the sheriff, and Wild Bill had Price under his watchful eye. Old Nomad, the scout, and Cayuse herded the rest of the prisoners, while the former enemies, Dick, and Dan, and their followers, acted as outriders.

The crowd of curious trooped along in the rear.

But the incident was not to close without one more adventure for the scout and his pards.

The day had passed rapidly with the exciting incidents, and darkness overtook the small army before it had covered half the distance to town.

Buffalo Bill had foreseen this and also the possibilities of escape that might come to some of his prisoners. He had instructed Skibo and Hickok, whatever happened, to give their whole attention to the sheriff and Price. Those two must be safely landed to answer for their betrayal of public trust.

Suddenly from all quarters at once--in front, rear, and along both sides of them, came wild yells and a rain of bullets.

Instantly there was panic, and had the Indians followed up the first volley with a charge a slaughter must have followed.

But like a whirlwind Buffalo Bill dashed along the outside, giving orders in a stern, business-like way, until he had completely encircled his party.

A circle was formed with the horses on the outside, and then wherever the flash of a gun was seen a bullet was immediately sent.

Several men had been wounded at the first onset, and one horse was killed. Other horses were suffering from wounds.

It looked as if the entire party would have to remain as they were until morning unless some one could pass the Indian line and bring aid from the town.

The scout felt sure it was some war party bound south who had discovered this strange caravan of palefaces, and hoped to reap a fine collection of scalps, and then go on before the soldiers could strike back.

The Indians had completely surrounded their intended victims before their presence was known.

Little Cayuse volunteered to attempt to crawl through the Indian lines. If any living being could do it Cayuse was the one, but Buffalo Bill consented reluctantly. There might be a chance, but a hundred to one it meant sure death for him who attempted it.

The war party was evidently a strong one, as the long line indicated. That they were Sioux and thirsting for blood there could be no doubt.

Little Cayuse shook hands with the scout and all his pards, then threw his arms for a moment around Navi’s neck, and slipped away under the bellies of the horses and out into the grass toward the zone of spitting fire and lead.

The scout had almost decided to call to Cayuse to come back when another surprising thing distracted the attention of all for the moment.

To the northward was heard the well-known yell of the Crow warriors and the roar of many fiercely galloping hoofs.

The moon just appearing over distant hills sent its rays over a wildly troubled half mile square.

The second band of Indians came sweeping down upon the Sioux, who swung to their saddles to meet the foe. But when they did so they became the targets of Buffalo Bill’s party, who did not hesitate to turn in a withering fire.

Attacked from two sides at once and scattered as they were, the Sioux wheeled their ponies and dashed away to the southward.

Buffalo Bill’s party made all possible speed toward town with their injured, but before a half hour had passed the Crow warriors rode up and one chief came near.

“Pa-e-has-ka!” he called.

“Ai,” answered the scout.

“White-man-runs-him remember the knife. It is well.”

The Crows rode away, and the party of whites entered the town.

The people of Bozeman gave a banquet in honor of Buffalo Bill and his pards, and rejoiced that the influence of Price and those who followed his lead would be no longer felt.