like a bronze statue of horse and
rider.

"What could it mean?"

"Was he mad?"

And many more were the comments made by the party, while the Indians
were equally as inquisitive upon the subject.

Nearer and nearer came the rushing band, for what had two hundred
mounted warriors to fear from one man?

Nearer and nearer, until presently Buffalo Bill was seen to raise his
rifle, and a perfect stream of fire seemed to flow out of the muzzle,
while the shots came in rapid succession.

It was a Winchester repeating rifle, and Buffalo Bill had been testing
it thoroughly.

And the result was such that the Indians drew rein, for down in the dust
had gone several of their number, while half a dozen ponies had been
killed by the shots; in fact, fired into the crowded mass of men and
horses, nearly every discharge had done harm.

With a wild, defiant war-cry, Buffalo Bill wheeled and rode away,
loading his matchless rifle as he ran.

It did not take long for Brigham to over-take the horses in advance, and
warm congratulations followed, for the officers and ladies had seen the
daring scout check the entire band of red-skins.

But though temporarily stunned by the effects of the shots, for the
Indians had not seen repeating rifles in those days, they soon rallied
and came on once more at full speed.

And again did the scout drop behind and await their coming, to once more
administer upon the amazed warriors a check that made them more
cautious, for they kept out of range.

Yet they kept up the chase all day, and only drew off when the fort came
in view, and the party arrived in safety in its walls.

CHAPTER XXV.

CAPTURING A HERD OF PONIES.

While at the fort the colonel in command complained at the non-arrival
of a drove of Government horses, as he was anxious to make a raid into
the Indian country, and Buffalo Bill volunteered to go and hurry the
cattle on.

He had been gone but a few hours from the fort when he crossed a trail
which he knew to have been made by a large Indian village on the move.

Cautiously he followed it, and just at sunset came in sight of the camp,
pitched at the head of a valley, and saw below a large herd of horses
grazing.

To return to the fort for aid he knew would take too long, so he
determined to make an attempt to capture the herd himself, and, with his
field-glass carefully reconnoitered the surroundings as long as it was
light.

He saw that the nature of the valley