OUT OF DEVIL’S DEN.
The march from the Devil’s Den, as Buffalo Bill called the sunken
valley, was a long one and slow, with wagons, stock and all on the
move, for chasms had to be bridged. Ten miles a day was a fair rate
of travel at first.
Buffalo Bill led the way by the spot where Don Miller’s gold had been
buried, and this was recovered.
In fairly good time Fort Aspen was reached.
When nearing the fort, Buffalo Bill appointed Don Miller as guide to
the wagon train, and, with his black scouts, he started on a secret
expedition.
The chief of scouts had a certain object in view, and he wished each
one of his men to share the honor with him, if the expedition proved
to be the success he hoped it would.
Of course, Black Bill also went along, for he had become the very
shadow of Buffalo Bill, and was the hero of the whole band of black
scouts.
The object of Buffalo Bill was to capture Ginger Sam, whom he felt
sure he would find at his cabin in winter quarters.
At night the cabin was reached and quietly surrounded, and at
daylight, when the cabin door was opened by Ginger Sam, he looked
squarely into the muzzle of Buffalo Bill’s revolver.
Up went his hands and he said:
“Waal, you wins ther game.”
“I will, when I play my last card, Ginger Sam.”
“What are that?”
“A rope,” was the significant reply.
“You don’t intend ter hang me?”
“Yes, with four more of your kind I found in the Big Horn and whom
Major Armes will make short work of, as he will you, and that will
about clear this country of such cattle as you. I knew you were bad
as they make ’em, but I have a friend who knows you to be a renegade
and the secret instigator of half the Indian deviltry done here. I
refer to Don Miller, whom the Indians captured, and understanding
Sioux well, he asked about you, as he thought you might get them not
to kill him, for once he had saved your life. But get your traps
ready, for after breakfast we start for the fort.”
The next afternoon Buffalo Bill, his black scouts, and his prisoner
reached Fort Aspen, and the welcome the garrison gave them, and also
the rescued settlers, for they had arrived the day before, was enough
to repay the men all the hardships they had endured.
“Another one to hang, Cody?”
“Well, he’s a little late, for the other four were hanged this
morning; but it is never too late to do a good act, and there has
been a price on that man’s head for a long time.
“Yes, the four wretches who proved such traitors to the settlers, I
had tried at once, and they were quickly sentenced, and to-morrow
this man’s life shall end, for white outlaws must expect no mercy
here.
“But, Cody, let me thank you for your splendid services in behalf of
Fort Aspen and its garrison, and believe me, a full report of what
you have done shall go to headquarters without delay.”