The Life of Hon. William F. Cody Known as Buffalo Bill The Famous Hunter, Scout and Guide

rm, I proceeded to Leavenworth and there met my old wagon-master and friend, Lewis Simpson, who was fitting out a train at Atchison and loading it with supplies for t

said he, "I'll give you a goo

s that again," replied I, "but I do want to ride th

, if that's what you've got your mind set on, you had better come to Atchison w

iculty in obtaining her consent. I finally convinced her that as I was of no use on the farm, it would be better and more profitable f

as then the stage agent for the division extending from Julesburg to Rocky Ridge. Slade had his headquarters at Horse

ed up to him and presented Mr. Russell's letter, which he hastily opened and read. W

or a pony express-rider. It

division, sir, and filled the bill then; and

riding there, and was called t

ied, confident that everyth

I think you can stand it. I'll give you a trial anyhow and if y

ree Crossings of the Sweetwater-a distance of seventy-six miles-and I began riding at once. It was a long piece of road, but I

e night before and had been killed; and that there was no one to fill his place. I did not hesitate for a moment to undertake an extra ride of eighty-five miles to Rock

I IMMEDIATELY

ut to me, "My boy, you're a brick, and no mistake. That was a good run you made when

d many a man-was always kind to me. During the two years that I worked for h

t on for Sweetwater Bridge-eleven miles distant-instead of trying to turn back to Horse Creek. The Indians came on in hot pursuit, but my horse soon got away from them, and ran into the station two miles ahead of them. The stock-tender had been killed there that morning, and all the stock had been driven off by the Ind

n: ATTACK ON

stage, killed the driver and two passengers, and badly wounded Lieut. Flowers, the assistant division agent. The red-skinned thieves also drove off the stock from the di

xpress for at least six weeks, and to run the stages but occasionally during that period; in fact, it

ranchmen-forty of them altogether-and they were well-armed and well-mounted. They were mostly men who had undergone all kinds of hardships and braved every danger, and they were re

d of Powder River and vicinity, and the party, of which I was a

y forward, we followed this trail to Powder River; thence down this stream to within about forty miles of the spot where old Fort Reno now stands. Here the trail took a more westerly course along the foot of the mountains, leading eventually to Crazy Woman's Fork-a t

with more caution than usual, and kept a sharp lookout. As we were approaching Clear Creek, another tributary of Powder river, we discovered Indian

the country. We got the lay of their camp, and then held a council to consider and mature a plan for capturing it. We knew full well that the Indians would outnumber us at least three to one, and perhaps more. Upon the advice and s

rom the clouds. They did not recover from the surprise of this sudden charge until after we had ridden pell-mell through their camp and got away with our own horses as well as theirs. We at once circled the horses around towards the south, and after getting them on the south side of Cl

. The Indian ponies, which had been distributed among the captors, passed from hand to hand at almost every deal of the cards. There seemed to be no limit to the rioting, and carousing; revelry reigned supreme. On the third day of the orgie, S

ALF. SLADE KILL

Dan Smith, was eager to open a war on all the hostile nations, and had the drinking been continued another week he certainly would have undertaken the job, single-handed and alone. The spree finally ca

nothing else to do, I saddled up an extra pony express horse, and arming myself with a good rifle and pair of revolvers, struck out for the foot hills of Laramie Peak for a bear-hunt. Riding carelessly along, and breathing the cool and bracing autumn air which came down from the mountains, I felt as only a man can feel who is roaming over the prairies of the far West, well armed, and mounted on a fleet and gallant steed. The perfect freedom which he enjoys is in itself a refreshing stimulant to the mind as well as to the body. Such

my horse and tied him to a small tree, where he could easily feed on the mountain grass. I then built a little fire, and broiling the chicken and

go back without a bear, which my friends knew I had gone out for. As the days were growing short, night soon came on, and I looked around for a suitable

se to me, and I immediately ran to my animal to keep him from answering, as horses usually do in such cases. I thought that the strange horse might belong to some roaming band of Indians, as I knew of no white men being in that portion of the country at that time. I was certain that the owner of the strange horse could not be far distant, and I was very a

voices, and soon I was able distinguish the words, as they proved to be in my own language. Then I knew that the occupants of the dug-out, whence the voices proceeded, were white men. Thinking that they might be a party of trappers, I boldly walke

d a white ma

ig, ugly-looking fellow

me

never do to weaken at that point, whether they were friends or foes. Upon entering the dug-out my eyes fell upon eight as rough and villainous looking men as I

I gave them no signs of recognition however, deeming it advisable to let them remain in ignorance as to who I was. It was a hard crowd, and I

o's with you?" asked one of the men who

ad determined to camp out for the night and wait till morning," said I; "and just as I was going into camp,

: THE HORSE T

ble to satisfy the cut-throats that I was not spying u

orse?" demanded

own the creek

me without any means of escape, and I accordingly said, in hopes to throw them off the track, "

their true character. I hated to part with my gun, but my suggestion of leaving it was a part of the plan of escape which I had arranged. If they have the g

our horse, and you can leave your gun he

it would be better to trust myself with two men than with the whole party. It was apparent that f

creek, and soon came to the spot where my horse was tied. One

I've got a couple of s

o was leading the horse, while his companion brought up the rear. The nearer we approache

having failed, I now d

Y ESCAPE FROM TH

f my Colt's revolvers and struck him a tremendous blow on the back of the head, knocking him senseless to the ground. I then instantly wheeled around, and saw that the man ahead who was only a few feet distant, had heard the blow and had turned to see what was the matter, hi

eached the man whom I had knocked down, that he had recovered and hurriedly told them of what had happened. They did not stay with the man whom I had shot, but came on in

arge pine tree, and in a few moments they all rushed by me, being led on by the rattling footsteps of my horse, which they heard ahead of them. Soon I heard them firing at random at the horse, as they no doubt supposed I was still seated on his back. As soon as they had passed me I climbed further up the steep mountain, and knowing that I had given the

dug-out. Of course I went along with the party, notwithstanding I was very tired and had had hardly any rest at all. We had a brisk ride, and arrived in the immediate vicinity of the thieves' rendezvous at about ten o'clock in the morning. We approached the dug-out cautiously, but upon getting in close pro

ty, and finally found their trail going southeast in the direction of Denver. As it would have been useless to follow them, we ro

1861 I remained at Horseshoe, occasionally r