A DOUBLE ESCAPE.
Hardly had the splash of the descending form reached Cody’s ears,
when he was on foot and peering over the precipice. He saw that the
water was swift-running and deep, and that the stream wound out of
sight a few rods below by turning a rocky point. Instantly he decided
upon his course, and cast aside his arms and outer clothing. At once
he took the leap.
It was thirty feet down to the water, but he struck feet foremost,
and without injury.
In the meantime, a perfect swimmer, Ginger Sam knew just what was
before him, although his arms were bound behind his back.
Keeping under water until he had rounded the point, which the current
and his own efforts soon enabled him to do, he then rose to the
surface and began to make for the shore.
It was hard work, with only his feet to aid his efforts, and,
retarded as he was by his clothing and the lariat, but he made it
at last, and under the shelter of the overhanging hill had just sat
down to rest, smiling grimly at his escape, when round the point shot
Buffalo Bill, swimming with tremendous strokes.
The hunted man uttered a cry of alarm, and, springing to his feet,
darted away at great speed.
But the scout had always been noted for his fleetness on foot, and he
bounded along at a pace that overhauled the outlaw, who was hampered,
too, by his bound arms and the dragging lariat.
Seeing that Buffalo Bill was gaining upon him, he finally came to a
halt, and sang out lustily:
“Don’t shoot me!”
“I have nothing to shoot you with, but I’ve a notion to drown you,”
answered Bill Cody, as he laid no light hand upon the other’s
shoulder.
“Don’t do it, Bill, for ’twan’t no fault o’ mine. Yer see, my foot
slipped when I turned round ter speak ter you, an’ when I found
myself free, I concluded I’d try an’ stay so.”
“As a scientific liar, Sam, you are ’way up; but, come, no funny
business, but go!”
There was nothing for the outlaw to do but to obey, and he did that
promptly, taking a route that soon brought them to where the faithful
horse was standing guard most patiently in the spot where his master
had left him.
“Now, I am due at the fort, for I have important work on hand and do
not wish to be delayed, so I will tie you to a tree here until my
return, or I’ll take you to your cabin, for I am sure you have a camp
near. Which shall it be?”
“I’d be eaten up by b’ar an’ sich ef yer tied me to a tree.”
“So I fear, and that would keep you from being hanged, so where is
your cabin?”
“I got a den.”
“Then lead to it, and quick.”
The man saw that the scout was in earnest, so said:
“We has got ter climb and leave yer boss here, so untie my han’s, fer
we goes up thet cliff.”
“I’ll do it, and if you attempt to run, look out for a shot.”
“I’m inter it now, so I won’t kick.”
Buffalo Bill then untied the man’s hands, told him to stand on the
cliff until he hitched his horse, and, as he turned to do so, quick
as a flash the man made the leap again.
Buffalo Bill sprang to the cliff, but did not follow him.
“I have not the time to lose, and I won’t shoot him when he comes
into view,” he muttered.
Soon the man appeared, smiling boldly, and apparently believing
Buffalo Bill was in pursuit.
But with his arms free, he felt the chances were that he could get
away, as the scout was not armed.
“I’ll not shoot you this time, though I could do so--we’ll meet
again,” shouted the scout.
But the outlaw had at once dove deep, when he saw the scout on the
cliff, rifle in hand.
Then Buffalo Bill mounted his horse, after hiding Ginger Sam’s
weapons, and rode rapidly away, for already had he lost too much
time. He pushed his horse hard, as he felt he could do so, with the
animal to get rest at the fort, and, making but short halts, he kept
on through the night, to strike at dawn the camp of Captain Keyes,
who had taken up the trail for the fort, going by easy marches with
his wounded soldiers and Indians.