WINNING A NAME.
When Billy returned home, after his first Indian-killing expedition, he
carried with him the pay of a bullwhacker, and all of it he placed in
his mother's hands, for the death of Mr. Cody had left the family in
indigent circumstances.
Finding that she could not keep Billy at home when he had found out that
by his exertions, boy though he was, he could support the family, Mrs.
Cody gave a reluctant consent for him to make another trip to the far
West under an old and experienced wagon-master named Lew Simpson, and
who had taken a great fancy to the youthful Indian-fighter.
Bill was accordingly enlisted as an "extra," which meant that he was to
receive full pay and be on hand ready to take the place of any one of
the train that was killed, wounded, or got sick.
The wagon train pulled out of Leavenworth, all heavily freighted, each
one carrying about six thousand pounds weight, and each also drawn by
four yoke of oxen under charge of a driver, or "bullwhacker."
The train consisted of twenty-five wagons, under Lew Simpson, then an
assistant wagon-master, next Billy, the "extra," a night herder, a
cavallard driver, whose duty was driving the loose and lame cattle, and
the bullwhacker for each team.
All were armed with _yagers_ and Colt's revolvers, and each man had
a horse along, Billy's being Sable Satan, still as good as the day he
captured him, and a piece of equine property all envied the boy the
possession of; in fact there were several of the men who swore they
would yet have the horse.
"I guess not, pards; the boy caught that horse wild on the prairies, and
the man that lays hands on him settles with me."
The speaker was J.B. Hickok, known to the world as "Wild Bill," and upon
that trail he and William F. Cody for the first time met.
Wild Bill was assistant wagon-master on that trip, and all knew him so
well that the idea of possessing Sable Satan by unfair means was at once
given up and Billy felt secure in his treasure, for such the horse was,
as his equal for speed and bottom had not been found on the plains.
As an "extra hand" Billy had nothing to do while the bullwhackers kept
in good health, and no Indians were met with, so became the hunter of
the train, keeping it well supplied with fresh meats and wild fowl.
It was upon one of these hunts that Billy won the name of Buffalo Billy,
though afterward it was shortened by dropping the _y_ after proving
himself the champion buffalo-killer on the plains.
Dismounting from Sable Satan to cut up an antelope he had shot, he was
suddenly startled by seeing his horse bound away over the prairie.
Springing to his feet he at once discovered the cause, for over a
distant roll of the prairie a herd of thousands of buffaloes were coming
at terrific speed.
One chance of escape alone presented itself and that was a lone
cottonwood tree standing some few hundred yards distant.
In all the prairie around not another tree was visible, and Billy had
noticed this lone sentinel as he was creeping up for a shot at the
antelope.
At full speed he rushed for the tree and hastily climbed it, securing a
safe seat amid its branches, while yet the herd was some distance away.
But glancing back over the huge drove to his horse he beheld a band of
mounted warriors in full chase.
The center of the herd was headed directly for the tree, and the Indians
were so following that they must come directly under it.
If discovered Billy knew well what his fate would be. The Indians would
give up buffalo meat for a human scalp.
These thoughts flashed through the boy's mind, and he at once decided
what he would do.
To remain, was certain death at the hands of the red-skins.
To leave, as he intended, by the means of a buffalo was a fearful risk.
But he would take it; and accordingly strapped his rifle upon his back,
picked out his buffalo, a huge bull, and swinging quickly from a limb,
watched his chance and dropped down upon the back of his choice.
Clutching the long, shaggy mane he clung for dear life, at the same time
holding himself on with his spurs.
Maddened with fright the bull bounded into the air, snorted wildly,
gored those in the advance and soon led the herd.
Billy kept his seat nobly, a grim smile upon his face, and occasionally
glanced backward at the herd and the pursuing Indians.
And straight for camp went the herd, until discovered by the train men,
who started out in force to head them off.
But pell-mell into camp they went, stampeding the oxen and horses and
frightening the men, and Billy began to feel that he must keep on his
racer clear to the hills.
But the animal was tired out now and had dropped to the rear of the
herd, and Wild Bill, seeing his young friend, raised his rifle and
dropped the buffalo bull just as he was running out of camp.
From that day the boy was known as Buffalo Billy.