Beadles Boys Library of Sport, Story and Adventure, Vol. I, No. 1. | Page 9

had been a most exemplary youth,
never having had a single whipping, and this cut him to the heart so
deeply that he did not seem to feel the pain of the rod.
And it made him treasure up revenge against Steve Gobel, who was
laughing at him during the castigation.
The next day Billy built for Mollie a pretty little arbor on the bank of
the creek, and all admired it greatly excepting Steve Gobel, who, as
soon as it was finished pulled it down.
Poor Mollie began to cry over her loss, and infuriated at beholding her
sorrow, Billy rushed upon his rival and a fierce fight at once began
between them.
Finding that he was no match for the bully in brute strength, and
suffering under his severe blows, Billy drew from his pocket his knife,
opened the blade with his teeth, and drove it into the side of his foe,
who cried out in wild alarm.

Springing to his feet, amid the frightened cries of the children, Billy
rushed to his pony, drew up the lariat pin, and springing upon his back,
rode away across the prairie like the wind.
Coming in sight of a wagon-train bound for the West, he rode up to it
and recognizing the wagon-master as an old friend of his father, he told
him what had occurred, and that he feared he had killed Steve Gobel.
"Served him right, Billy, and we'll just go into camp, take the boys
along, and go over and clean out the house o' l'arnin'," was the blunt
reply of the wagon-master.
But this Billy would not bear to, and the wagon-master said:
"Well, my boy, I'm bound with the train to Fort Kearney, so come
along with me, and I'll make a man of you."
"But what will my mother think of me?"
"Oh! I'll send a man back with word to her, while you stay, for I won't
give you up to that boy's friends."
And thus it was settled; a man rode back to the Cody farm, and the
following day he overtook the train again, and Billy's heart was made
glad by a letter from his mother telling him that Steve Gobel was not
badly wounded, but that under the circumstances he had better go on
with the wagon-master and remain away until the anger of the Gobel
family cooled down.
Thus, as a Boy Bullwhacker, Billy made his first trip across the plains,
and months after, upon his return home, found that the Gobels had
forgiven the past, and that Mary Hyatt had, little coquette that she was,
found another beau.
But shortly after his return his father died, and having to aid in the
support of his mother and sisters, Billy accepted a position as herder for
a drove of Government cattle to be driven to the Army of General
Albert Sydney Johnson, that was marching against the Mormons at Salt

Lake.
CHAPTER VIII.
KILLING HIS FIRST INDIAN.
When the train and beef-herd, with which Billy Cody had gone, arrived
in the vicinity of old Fort Kearney their first serious adventure occurred,
and for a while the boy thought of his mother's prediction, that he
"would be killed or captured by Indians."
Not expecting an attack from red-skins in that vicinity, the party had
camped for dinner, and most of them were enjoying a siesta under the
wagons, Billy being among the latter number, while but three men were
on duty as herders.
But suddenly they were aroused by shots, wild yells, and rapid
hoof-falls, and down upon them dashed a band of mounted warriors,
while others had killed the three guards and the cattle were stampeding
in every direction. But the train hands quickly sprung to their feet,
rallied promptly for the fight, and met the advancing red-skins with a
volley from their Mississippi yagers, which were loaded with ball and
buck-shot, and checked their advance.
Knowing that they could not hold out there the train-master called out:
"Boys, make a run for the river, and the banks will protect us."
All started, when Billy called out:
"Don't let us leave these wounded boys."
They turned at his word, to find that two of their number had been
wounded, one seriously in the side and the other in the leg.
Raising them in their arms they started at a run for the bank, ere the
Indians had rallied from the fire that met them, and reached it in safety,
though the man who had been shot in the side was dead ere they got

there.
A short consultation was then held, and it was decided to make their
way back to Fort Kearney, by wading in the river and keeping the bank
as a breast work.
A raft of poles was constructed