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See Beatrice and all the blessed ones My prayers to second clasp their hands to thee! The eyes beloved and revered of God, Fastened upon the speaker, showed to us How grateful unto her are prayers devout; Then unto the Eternal Light they turned, On which it is not credible could be By any creature bent an eye so clear.
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And I, who to the end of all desires Was now approaching, even as I ought The ardour of desire within me ended. Bernard was beckoning unto me, and smiling, That I should upward look; but I already Was of my own accord such as he wished; Because my sight, becoming purified, Was entering more and more into the ray
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Of the High Light which of itself is true. From that time forward what I saw was greater Than our discourse, that to such vision yields, And yields the memory unto such excess. Even as he is who seeth in a dream, And after dreaming the imprinted passion Remains, and to his mind the rest returns not, Even such am
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I, for almost utterly Ceases my vision, and distilleth yet Within my heart the sweetness born of it; Even thus the snow is in the sun unsealed, Even thus upon the wind in the light leaves Were the soothsayings of the Sibyl lost. O Light Supreme, that dost so far uplift thee From the conceits of mortals, to my mind
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Of what thou didst appear re-lend a little, And make my tongue of so great puissance, That but a single sparkle of thy glory It may bequeath unto the future people; For by returning to my memory somewhat, And by a little sounding in these verses, More of thy victory shall be conceived! I think the keenness of the living
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ray Which I endured would have bewildered me, If but mine eyes had been averted from it; And I remember that I was more bold On this account to bear, so that I joined My aspect with the Glory Infinite. O grace abundant, by which I presumed To fix my sight upon the Light Eternal, So that the seeing I
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consumed therein! I saw that in its depth far down is lying Bound up with love together in one volume, What through the universe in leaves is scattered; Substance, and accident, and their operations, All interfused together in such wise That what I speak of is one simple light. The universal fashion of this knot Methinks I saw, since more
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abundantly In saying this I feel that I rejoice. One moment is more lethargy to me, Than five and twenty centuries to the emprise That startled Neptune with the shade of Argo! My mind in this wise wholly in suspense, Steadfast, immovable, attentive gazed, And evermore with gazing grew enkindled. In presence of that light one such becomes, That to
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withdraw therefrom for other prospect It is impossible he eer consent; Because the good, which object is of will, Is gathered all in this, and out of it That is defective which is perfect there. Shorter henceforward will my language fall Of what I yet remember, than an infants Who still his tongue doth moisten at the breast. Not because
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more than one unmingled semblance Was in the living light on which I looked, For it is always what it was before; But through the sight, that fortified itself In me by looking, one appearance only To me was ever changing as I changed. Within the deep and luminous subsistence Of the High Light appeared to me three circles, Of
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threefold colour and of one dimension, And by the second seemed the first reflected As Iris is by Iris, and the third Seemed fire that equally from both is breathed. O how all speech is feeble and falls short Of my conceit, and this to what I saw Is such, tis not enough to call it little! O Light Eterne,
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sole in thyself that dwellest, Sole knowest thyself, and, known unto thyself And knowing, lovest and smilest on thyself! That circulation, which being thus conceived Appeared in thee as a reflected light, When somewhat contemplated by mine eyes, Within itself, of its own very colour Seemed to me painted with our effigy, Wherefore my sight was all absorbed therein. As
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the geometrician, who endeavours To square the circle, and discovers not, By taking thought, the principle he wants, Even such was I at that new apparition; I wished to see how the image to the circle Conformed itself, and how it there finds place; But my own wings were not enough for this, Had it not been that then my
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mind there smote A flash of lightning, wherein came its wish. Here vigour failed the lofty fantasy: But now was turning my desire and will, Even as a wheel that equally is moved, The Love which moves the sun and the other stars. APPENDIX SIX SONNETS ON DANTES DIVINE COMEDY BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW (-) I Oft have I seen
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at some cathedral door A laborer, pausing in the dust and heat, Lay down his burden, and with reverent feet Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor Kneel to repeat his paternoster oer; Far off the noises of the world retreat; The loud vociferations of the street Become an undistinguishable roar. So, as I enter here from day to
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day, And leave my burden at this minster gate, Kneeling in prayer, and not ashamed to pray, The tumult of the time disconsolate To inarticulate murmurs dies away, While the eternal ages watch and wait. II How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers! This crowd of statues, in whose folded sleeves Birds build their nests; while canopied with leaves
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Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers, And the vast minster seems a cross of flowers! But fiends and dragons on the gargoyled eaves Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves, And, underneath, the traitor Judas lowers! Ah! from what agonies of heart and brain, What exultations trampling on despair, What tenderness, what tears, what hate of wrong, What
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passionate outcry of a soul in pain, Uprose this poem of the earth and air, This mediaeval miracle of song! III I enter, and I see thee in the gloom Of the long aisles, O poet saturnine! And strive to make my steps keep pace with thine. The air is filled with some unknown perfume; The congregation of the dead
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make room For thee to pass; the votive tapers shine; Like rooks that haunt Ravennas groves of pine, The hovering echoes fly from tomb to tomb. From the confessionals I hear arise Rehearsals of forgotten tragedies, And lamentations from the crypts below And then a voice celestial that begins With the pathetic words, Although your sins As scarlet be, and
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ends with as the snow. IV With snow-white veil, and garments as of flame, She stands before thee, who so long ago Filled thy young heart with passion and the woe From which thy song in all its splendors came; And while with stern rebuke she speaks thy name, The ice about thy heart melts as the snow On mountain
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heights, and in swift overflow Comes gushing from thy lips in sobs of shame. Thou makest full confession; and a gleam As of the dawn on some dark forest cast, Seems on thy lifted forehead to increase; Lethe and Eunoethe remembered dream And the forgotten sorrowbring at last That perfect pardon which is perfect peace. V I Lift mine eyes,
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and all the windows blaze With forms of saints and holy men who died, Here martyred and hereafter glorified; And the great Rose upon its leaves displays Christs Triumph, and the angelic roundelays, With splendor upon splendor multiplied; And Beatrice again at Dantes side No more rebukes, but smiles her words of praise. And then the organ sounds, and unseen
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choirs Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love And benedictions of the Holy Ghost; And the melodious bells among the spires Oer all the house-tops and through heaven above Proclaim the elevation of the Host! VI O star of morning and of liberty! O bringer of the light, whose splendor shines Above the darkness of the Apennines, Forerunner
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of the day that is to be! The voices of the city and the sea, The voices of the mountains and the pines, Repeat thy song, till the familiar lines Are footpaths for the thought of Italy! Thy fame is blown abroad from all the heights, Through all the nations; and a sound is heard, As of a mighty wind,
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Produced by Papeters, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE LIFE OF HON. WILLIAM F. CODY KNOWN AS BUFFALO BILL THE FAMOUS HUNTER, SCOUT AND GUIDE. _AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY_. To GENERAL PHILIP H. SHERIDAN, THIS S MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. [Illustration: Yours Sincerely, W. F. Cody] INTRODUCTORY. The life and adventures of Hon. William F. Cody--Buffalo Bill--as
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told by himself, make up a narrative which reads more like romance than reality, and which in many respects will prove a valuable contribution to the records of our Western frontier history. While no literary excellence is claimed for the narrative, it has the greater merit of being truthful, and is verified in such a manner that no one can
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doubt its veracity. The frequent reference to such military men as Generals Sheridan, Carr, Merritt, Crook, Terry, Colonel Royal, and other officers under whom Mr. Cody served as scout and guide at different times and in various sections of the frontier, during the numerous Indian campaigns of the last ten or twelve years, affords ample proof of his genuineness as
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a thoroughbred scout. There is no humbug or braggadocio about Buffalo Bill. He is known far and wide, and his reputation has been earned honestly and by hard work. By a combination of circumstances he was educated to the life of a plainsman from his youth up; and not the least interesting portion of his career is that of his
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early life, passed as it was in Kansas during the eventful and troubleous times connected with the settlement of that state. Spending much time in the saddle, while a mere boy he crossed the plains many times in company with bull-trains; on some of these trips he met with thrilling adventures and had several hairbreadth escapes from death at the
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hands of Indians. Then, for a while, he was dashing over the plains as a pony-express rider. Soon afterwards, mounted on the high seat of an overland stagecoach, he was driving a six-in-hand team. We next hear of him cracking the bull-whacker's whip, and commanding a wagon-train through a wild and dangerous country to the far West. During the civil
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war he enlisted as a private, and became a scout with the Union army; since the war he has been employed as hunter, trapper, guide, scout and actor. As a buffalo hunter he has no superior; as a trailer of Indians he has no equal. For many years he has taken an active part in all the principal Indian campaigns
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on the Western frontier, and as a scout and guide he has rendered inestimable services to the various expeditions which he accompanied. During his life on the plains he not only had many exciting adventures himself, but he became associated with many of the other noted plainsmen, and in his narrative he frequently refers to them and relates many interesting
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incidents and thrilling events connected with them. He has had a fertile field from which to produce this volume, and has frequently found it necessary to condense the facts in order to embody the most interesting events of his life. The following from a letter written by General E. A. Carr, of the Fifth Cavalry, now commanding Fort McPherson, speaks
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for itself: * * * * * "I first met Mr. Cody, October 22d, , at Buffalo Station, on the Kansas Pacific railroad, in Kansas. He was scout and guide for the seven companies of the Fifth Cavalry, then under Colonel Royal, and of which I was ordered to take the command. "From his services with my command, steadily in
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the field for nine months, from October, , to July, , and at subsequent times, I am qualified to bear testimony to his qualities and character. "He was very modest and unassuming. I did not know for a long time how good a title he had to the appellation, 'Buffalo Bill.' I am apt to discount the claims of scouts,
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as they will occasionally exaggerate; and when I found one who said nothing about himself, I did not think much of him, till I had proved him. He is a natural gentleman in his manners as well as in character, and has none of the roughness of the typical frontiersman. He can take his own part when required, but I
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have never heard of his using a knife or a pistol, or engaging in a quarrel where it could be avoided. His personal strength and activity are such that he can hardly meet a man whom he cannot handle, and his temper and disposition are so good that no one has reason to quarrel with him. "His eye-sight is better
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than a good field glass; he is the best trailer I ever heard of; and also the best judge of the 'lay of country,'--that is, he is able to tell what kind of country is ahead, so as to know how to act. He is a perfect judge of distance, and always ready to tell correctly how many miles it
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is to water, or to any place, or how many miles have been marched. "Mr. Cody seemed never to tire and was always ready to go, in the darkest night or the worst weather, and usually volunteered, knowing what the emergency required. His trailing, when following Indians or looking for stray animals or game, is simply wonderful. He is a
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most extraordinary hunter. I could not believe that a man could be certain to shoot antelope running till I had seen him do it so often. "In a fight Mr. Cody is never noisy, obstreperous or excited. In fact, I never hardly noticed him in a fight, unless I happened to want him, or he had something to report, when
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he was always in the right place, and his information was always valuable and reliable. "During the winter of , we encountered hardships and exposure in terrific snow storms, sleet, etc., etc. On one occasion, that winter, Mr. Cody showed his quality by quietly offering to go with some dispatches to General Sheridan, across a dangerous region, where another principal
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scout was reluctant to risk himself. "On the 13th of May, , he was in the fight at Elephant Rock, Kansas, and trailed the Indians till the 16th, when we got another fight out of them on Spring Creek, in Nebraska, and scattered them after following them one hundred and fifty miles in three days. It was at Spring Creek
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where Cody was ahead of the command about three miles, with the advance guard of forty men, when two hundred Indians suddenly surrounded them. Our men, dismounted and formed in a circle, holding their horses, firing and slowly retreating. They all, to this day, speak of Cody's coolness and bravery. This was the Dog Soldier band which captured Mrs. Alderdice
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and Mrs. Weichel in Kansas. They strangled Mrs. Alderdice's baby, killed Mrs. Weichel's husband, and took a great deal of property and stock from different persons. We got on their trail again, June 28th, and followed it nearly two hundred miles, till we struck the Indians on Sunday, July 11th, , at Summit Spring. The Indians, as soon as they
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saw us coming, killed Mrs. Alderdice with a hatchet, and shot Mrs. Weichel, but fortunately not fatally, and she was saved. "Mr. Cody has since served with me as post guide and scout at Fort McPherson, where he frequently distinguished himself. "In the summer of , Cody went with me to the Black Hills region where he killed Yellow-Hand. Afterwards
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he was with the Big Horn and Yellowstone expedition. I consider that his services to the country and the army by trailing, finding and fighting Indians, and thus protecting the frontier settlers, and by guiding commands over the best and most practicable routes, have been far beyond the compensation he has received. His friends of the Fifth Cavalry are all
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glad that he is in a lucrative business, and hope that he may live long and prosper. Personally, I feel under obligations to him for assistance in my campaigns which no other man could, or would, have rendered. Of course I wish him, and his, every success." E. A. CARR, Lt. Col. 5th Cav., Brev. Maj. Gen'l U. S. Army.
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FORT McPHERSON, NEBRASKA, July 3d, * * * * * Buffalo Bill is now an actor, and is meeting with success. He owns a large and valuable farm adjoining the town of North Platte, Nebraska, and there his family live in ease and comfort. He has also an extensive cattle ranch on the Dismal river, sixty-five miles north of North
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Platte, his partner being Major Frank North, the old commander of the celebrated Pawnee scouts. While many events of his career are known to the public, yet the reader will find in this narrative much that will be entirely new and intensely interesting to both young and old. THE PUBLISHER. Illustrations. THE AUTHOR, PORTRAIT, ON STEEL YOUTHFUL ADVENTURES SAMUEL'S FATAL
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ACCIDENT BILLINGS AS A BOCARRO BILLINGS RIDING LITTLE GRAY EXCITING SPORT STAKING OUT LOTS MY FATHER STABBED MY FATHER'S ESCAPE LIFE OR DEATH BOYISH SPORT TWO TO ONE KILLING MY FIRST INDIAN A PRAIRIE SCHOONER WILD BILL (PORTRAIT) HOLDING THE FORT CAMPING IN A SEPULCHRE RAFTING OS THE PLATTE RIDING PONY EXPRESS SAVED BY CHIEF RAIN IN-THE-FACE CHANGING HORSES ATTACK
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ON STAGE COACH ALF. SLADE KILLING THE DRIVER THE HORSE THIEVES DEN MY ESCAPE FROM THE HORSE THIEVES BOB SCOTT'S FAMOUS COACH HIDE "NEARLY EVERY MAN HAD TWO HORSES" WILD BILL AND THE OUTLAWS WILD BILL'S DUEL GENERAL GEO. A. CUSTER (Portrait) DEPARTING RICHES TONGUES AND TENDERLOINS THE INDIAN HORSE THIEVES THE MAN WHO FIRED THE GUN BUFFALO BILL "DOWN
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WENT HIS HORSE" THE FIRE SIGNAL KIT CARSON (Portrait) A GOOD HORSE A BIG JOKE AMBUSHING THE INDIANS WHOA THERE! DELIVERING DISPATCHES TO GENERAL SHERIDAN THE TWO TRAMPS CARRYING DISPATCHES GEN'L PHIL. SHERIDAN (PORTRAIT) BATTLE ON THE ARICKAREE BRINGING MEAT INTO CAMP "INDIANS!" GENERAL E. A. CARR (PORTRAIT) A CRACK SHOT A HARD CROWD CAMPING IN THE SNOW A WELCOME
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VISITOR ANTELOPES THE RECAPTURE OF BEVINS ROBBING A STAGE COACH INDIAN VILLAGE THE KILLING OF TALL BULL AN OLD BONE A WEDDING CEREMONY A RIDE FOR LIFE PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE McCARTHY'S FRIGHT FINDING THE REMAINS OF THE BUCK PARTY SPOTTED TAIL (PORTRAIT) GRAND DUKE ALEXIS (PORTRAIT) INDIAN EXERCISES TWO-LANCE KILLING A BUFFALO AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION? TEXAS JACK (PORTRAIT) RIFLES STUDYING
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THE PARTS BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS LEARNING THE GAME GETTING SATISFACTION A DUEL WITH CHIEF YELLOW HAND SCOUTING ON A STEAMBOAT CLOSE QUARTERS ONE OF THE TROUPE Contents . CHILDHOOD. Early Days in Iowa--A Brother's Death--The Family Move to a New Country--Incidents on the Road--The Horse Race--Our "Little Gray" Victorious--A Pleasant Acquaintance--Uncle Elijah Cody--Our New Home--My Ponies. . EARLY INFLUENCES. Dress
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Parade at Fort Leavenworth--The Beautiful Salt Creek Valley--The Mormon Emigrants--The Wagon Trains--The Cholera--A Lively Scene--My First Sight of Indians--"Dolly" and "Prince"--A Long-Lost Relative Turns up--Adventurous Career of Horace Billings--His Splendid Horsemanship--Catching Wild Horses. . BOY DAYS IN KANSAS. My Indian Acquaintances--An Indian Barbecue--Beginning of the Kansas Troubles--An Indiscreet Speech by my Father, who is Stabbed for his Boldness--Persecutions at the
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Hands of the Missourians--A Strategic Escape--A Battle at Hickory Point--A Plan to Kill Father is Defeated by Myself--He is Elected to the Lecompton Legislature--I Enter the Employ of William Russell--Herding Cattle--A Plot to Blow Up our House--A Drunken Missourian on the War-Path. . YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES. At School--My First Love Scrape--I Punish my Rival, and then Run Away--My First Trip Across
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the Plains--Steve Gobel and I are Friends once more--Death of my Father--I Start for Salt Lake--Our Wagon Train Surprised by Indians, who Drive us off, and Capture our Outfit--I Kill my First Indian--Our Return to Leavenworth--I am Interviewed by a Newspaper Reporter, who gives me a Good "Send-Off." . IN BUSINESS. My Second Trip Across the Plains--The Salt Lake Trail--Wild
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Bill--He Protects me from the Assault of a Bully--A Buffalo Hunt--Our Wagon Train Stampeded by Buffaloes--We are Taken Prisoners by the Mormons--We Proceed to Fort Bridger. . HARD TIMES. A Dreary Winter At Fort Bridger--Short Rations--Mule Steaks--Homeward Bound in the Spring--A Square Meal--Corraled by Indians--A Mule Barricade--We Hold the Fort--Home Again--Off for the West--Trapping on the Chugwater And Laramie Rivers--We
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go to Sleep In a Human Grave--A Horrifying Discovery--A Jollification at Oak Grove Ranch--Home Once More--I go to School--The Pike's Peak Gold Excitement--Down the Platte River on a Raft--I Become a Pony Express Rider. . ACCIDENTS AND ESCAPES. Trapping on Prairie Dog Creek--An Accident whereby we Lose one of our Oxen--I Fall and Break my Leg--Left Alone in Camp--Unwelcome Visitors--A
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Party of Hostile Sioux Call upon me and Make Themselves at Home--Old Rain-in-the-Face Saves my Life--Snow-Bound-A Dreary Imprisonment--Return of my Partner--A Joyful Meeting--We Pull Out for Home--Harrington Dies. . ADVENTURES ON THE OVERLAND ROAD. Introduction to Alf. Slade--He Employs me as a Pony Express Rider--I Make a Long Ride--Indians Attack an Overland Stage Coach--Wild Bill Leads a Successful Expedition against
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the Indians--A Grand Jollification at Sweetwater Bridge--Slade Kills a Stage Driver--The End of the Spree--A Bear Hunt--I fall among Horse Thieves--My Escape--I Guide a Party to Capture the Gang. . FAST DRIVING. Bob Scott, the Stage Driver--The Story of the Most Reckless Piece of Stage Driving that ever Occurred on the Overland Road. . QUESTIONABLE PROCEEDINGS. The Civil War--Jayhawking--Wild Bill's
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Fight with the McCandless Gang of Desperadoes--I become Wild Bill's Assistant Wagon-Master--We Lose our Last Dollar on a Horse Race--He becomes a Government Scout--He has a Duel at Springfield. . A SOLDIER. Scouting against the Indians in the Kiowa and Comanche country--The Red-Legged Scouts--A Trip to Denver--Death of my Mother--I Awake one Morning to Find myself a Soldier--I am put
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on Detached Service as a Scout--The Chase after Price--An Unexpected Meeting with Wild Bill--An Unpleasant Situation--Wild Bill's Escape from the Southern Lines--The Charge upon Price's Army--We return to Springfield. . A WEDDING. I Fall in Love--A Successful Courting Expedition--I am Married--The Happiest Event of my Life--Our Trip up the Missouri River--The Bushwhackers Come after me--I become Landlord of a Hotel--Off
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for the Plains once more--Scouting on the Frontier for the Government--A Ride with General Custer--An Expedition from Fort Hays has a Lively Chase after Indians--Cholera in Camp. . A MILLIONAIRE. A Town Lot Speculation--"A Big Thing"--I become Half-Owner of a City--Corner Lots Reserved--Rome's Rapid Rise--We consider ourselves Millionaires--Dr. Webb--Hays City--We Regard ourselves as Paupers--A Race with Indians--Captain Graham's Scout after
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the Indians. . EARNING A TITLE. Hunting for the Kansas Pacific--How I got my Name of "Buffalo Bill"--The Indians give me a Lively Chase--They get a Dose of their own Medicine--Another Adventure--Scotty and myself Corraled by Indians--A Fire Signal brings Assistance--Kit Carson. . CHAMPION BUFFALO KILLER. A Buffalo Killing Match with Billy Comstock--An Excursion party from St. Louis come out
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to Witness the Sport--I win the Match, and am declared the Champion Buffalo Killer of the Plains. . A COURIER. Scouting--Captured by Indians--A Strategic Escape--A Hot Pursuit--The Indians led into an Ambush--Old Satanta's Tricks and Threats--Excitement at Fort Larned--Herders and Wood-Choppers Killed by the Indians--A Perilous Ride--I get into the wrong Pew--Safe, arrival at Fort Hays--Interview with General Sheridan--My ride
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to Fort Dodge--I return to Fort Larned--My Mule gets away from me--A long Walk--The Mule Passes In his Chips. . AN APPOINTMENT. General Sheridan appoints me Guide and Chief of Scouts of the Fifth Cavalry--The Dog Soldiers--General Forsyth's Fight on the Arickaree Fork. . SCOUTING. Arrival of the Fifth Cavalry at Fort Hays--Out on a Scout--A little Skirmish with Indians--A
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Buffalo Hunt--A False Alarm in camp--A Scout on the Beaver--The Supply Camp is Surprised--Arrival of General Carr--The new Lieutenant and his Reception--Another Indian Hunt--An Engagement--A Crack Shot--I have a little Indian fight of my own--Return to Fort Wallace--While hunting Buffaloes with a small Party, we are Attacked by Fifty Indians. . A TOUGH TIME. A Winter's Campaign in the Canadian
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River Country--Searching for Penrose's Command--A Heavy Snow-Storm--Taking the Wagon Train down a Mountain Side--Camp Turkey--Darkey Deserters from Penrose's Command--Starvation in Penrose's Camp--We reach the Command with Timely Relief--Wild Bill--A Beer Jollification--Hunting Antelopes--Return to Fort Lyon. . AN EXCITING CHASE. A Difficulty with a Quartermaster's Agent--I give him a Severe Pounding--Stormy Interview with General Bankhead and Captain Laufer--I put another "Head"
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on the Quartermaster's Agent--I am Arrested--In the Guard-House--General Bankhead Releases me--A Hunt after Horse Thieves--Their Capture--Escape of Bevins--His Recapture--Escape of Williams--Bevins Breaks Out of Jail--His Subsequent Career. . A MILITARY EXPEDITION. The Fifth Cavalry is Ordered to the Department of the Platte--Liquids _vs._ Solids--A Skirmish with the Indians--Arrival at Fort McPherson--Appointed Chief of Scouts--Major Frank North and the Pawnee Scouts--Belden
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the White Chief--The Shooting Match--Review of the Pawnee Scouts--An Expedition against the Indians--"Buckskin Joe." . A DESPERATE FIGHT. Pawnees _vs_. Siouxs--We strike a Large Trail--The Print of a Woman's Shoe--The Summit Springs Fight--A Successful Charge--Capture of the Indian Village--Rescue of a White Woman--One hundred and forty Indians Killed--I kill Tall Bull and Capture his Swift Steed--The Command proceeds to Fort
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Sedgwick--Powder Face--A Scout after Indian Horse-Thieves--"Ned Buntline"--"Tall Bull" as a Racer--Powder Face wins a Race without a Rider--An Expedition to the Niobrara--An Indian Tradition. . ADMINISTERING JUSTICE. I make my Home at Fort McPherson--Arrival of my Family--Hunting and Horse Racing--An Indian Raid--Powder Face Stolen--A Lively Chase--An Expedition to the Republican River Country--General Duncan--A Skirmish with the Indians--A Stern Chase--An Addition
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to my Family--Kit Carson Cody--I am made a Justice of the Peace--A Case of Replevin--I perform a Marriage Ceremony--Professor Marsh's Fossil-Hunting Expedition. . HUNTING EXPEDITIONS. The Grand Hunt of General Sheridan, James Gordon Bennett, and other Distinguished Gentlemen--From Fort McPherson to Fort Hays--Incidents of the Trip--"Ten Days on the Plains"--General Carr's Hunting Expedition--A Joke on McCarthy--A Search for the Remains
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of Buck's Surveying Party, who had been Murdered by the Indians. . HUNTING WITH A GRAND DUKE. The Grand Duke Alexis Hunt--Selection of a Camp--I Visit Spotted Tail's Camp--The Grand Duke and Party arrive at Camp Alexis--Spotted Tail's Indians give a Dance--The Hunt--Alexis Kills his First Buffalo--Champagne--The Duke Kills another Buffalo--More Champagne--End of the Hunt--Departure of the Duke and his
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Party. . SIGHT-SEEING. My Visit in the East--Reception in Chicago--Arrival in New York--I am well Entertained by my old Hunting Friends--I View the Sights of the Metropolis--Ned Buntline--The Play of "Buffalo Bill"--I am Called Upon to make a Speech--A Visit to my Relatives--Return to the West. . HONORS. Arrival of the Third Cavalry at Fort McPherson--A Scout after Indians--A Desperate
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Fight with Thirteen Indians--A Hunt with the Earl of Dunraven--A Hunt with a Chicago Party--Milligan's Bravery--Neville--I am Elected to the Nebraska Legislature. . AN ACTOR. I resolve to go upon the Stage--I resign my Seat in the Legislature--Texas Jack--"The Scouts of the Plains"--A Crowded House--A Happy Thought--A Brilliant _Dbut_--A Tour of the Country. . STARRING. The Theatrical Season of ---Wild
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Bill and his Tricks--He Leaves us at Rochester--He becomes a "Star"--A Bogus "Wild Bill "--A Hunt with Thomas P. Medley, an English gentleman--A Scout on the Powder River and in the Big Horn Country--California Joe--Theatrical Tour of and --Death of my son, Kit Carson Cody. . A RETURN TO THE PLAINS. The Sioux Campaign of --I am appointed Guide and
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Chief of Scouts of the Fifth Cavalry--An Engagement with eight hundred Cheyennes--A Duel with Yellow Hand--Generals Terry and Crook meet, and cooperate Together. . DANGEROUS WORK. Scouting on a Steamboat--Captain Grant Marsh--A Trip down the Yellowstone River--Acting as Dispatch Carrier--I Return East and open my Theatrical Season with a New Play--Immense Audiences--I go into the Cattle Business in company with
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Major Prank North--My Home at North Platte. . CONCLUSION. A Cattle "Round-up"--A Visit to My Family in our New Home--A Visit from my Sisters--I go to Denver--Buying more Cattle--Pawnee and Nez-Perces Indians Engaged for a Theatrical Tour--The Season of ---An experience in Washington--Home Once More. THE LIFE OF HON. WILLIAM F. CODY . CHILDHOOD. My _dbut_ upon the world's stage
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occurred on February 26th, . The scene of this first important event in my adventurous career, being in Scott county, in the State of Iowa. My parents, Isaac and Mary Ann Cody, who were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, gave to me the name of William Frederick. I was the fourth child in the family. Martha and Julia, my
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sisters, and Samuel my brother, had preceded me, and the children who came after me were Eliza, Nellie, Mary, and Charles, born in the order named. At the time of my birth the family resided on a farm which they called "Napsinekee Place,"--an Indian name--and here the first six or seven years of my childhood were spent. When I was
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about seven years old my father moved the family to the little town of LeClair, located on the bank of the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the city of Davenport. Even at that early age my adventurous spirit led me into all sorts of mischief and danger, and when I look back upon my childhood's days I often wonder that I
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did not get drowned while swimming or sailing, or my neck broken while I was stealing apples in the neighboring orchards. I well remember one day that I went sailing with two other boys; in a few minutes we found ourselves in the middle of the Mississippi; becoming frightened at the situation we lost our presence of mind, as well
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as our oars. We at once set up a chorus of pitiful yells, when a man, who fortunately heard us, came to our rescue with a canoe and towed us ashore. We had stolen the boat, and our trouble did not end until we had each received a merited whipping, which impressed the incident vividly upon my mind. I recollect
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several occasions when I was nearly eaten up by a large and savage dog, which acted as custodian of an orchard and also of a melon patch, which I frequently visited. Once, as I was climbing over the fence with a hatful of apples, this dog, which had started for me, caught me by the seat of the pantaloons, and
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while I clung to the top of the fence he literally tore them from my legs, but fortunately did not touch my flesh. I got away with the apples, however, by tumbling over to the opposite side of the fence with them. It was at LeClair that I acquired my first experience as an equestrian. Somehow or other I had
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managed to corner a horse near a fence, and had climbed upon his back. The next moment the horse got his back up and hoisted me into the air, I fell violently to the ground, striking upon my side in such a way as to severely wrench and strain my arm, from the effects of which I did not recover
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for some time. I abandoned the art of horsemanship for a while, and was induced after considerable persuasion to turn my attention to letters--my A, B, C's--which were taught me at the village school. My father at this time was running a stage line, between Chicago and Davenport, no railroads then having been built west of Chicago. In he got
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the California fever and made up his mind to cross the great plains--which were then and for years afterwards called the American Desert--to the Pacific coast. He got ready a complete outfit and started with quite a party. After proceeding a few miles, all but my father, and greatly to his disappointment, changed their minds for some reason and abandoned
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the enterprise. They all returned home, and soon afterwards father moved his family out to Walnut Grove Farm, in Scott county. [Illustration: YOUTHFUL ADVENTURES.] While living there I was sent to school, more for the purpose of being kept out of mischief than to learn anything. Much of my time was spent in trapping quails, which were very plentiful. I
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greatly enjoyed studying the habits of the little birds, and in devising traps to take them in. I was most successful with the common figure "" trap which I could build myself. Thus I think it was that I acquired my love for hunting. I visited the quail traps twice a day, morning and evening, and as I had now
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become quite a good rider I was allowed to have one of the farm horses to carry me over my route. Many a jolly ride I had and many a boyish prank was perpetrated after getting well away from and out of the sight of home with the horse. There was one event which occurred in my childhood, which I
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cannot recall without a feeling of sadness. It was the death of my brother Samuel, who was accidentally killed in his twelfth year. My father at the time, being considerable of a politician as well as a farmer, was attending a political convention; for he was well known in those days as an old line Whig. He had been a
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member of the Iowa legislature, was a Justice of the Peace, and had held other offices. He was an excellent stump speaker and was often called upon to canvass the country round about for different candidates. The convention which he was attending at the time of the accident was being held at a cross-road tavern called "Sherman's," about a mile
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away. Samuel and I had gone out together on horseback for the cows. He rode a vicious mare, which mother had told him time and again not to ride, as it had an ugly disposition. We were passing the school house just as the children were being dismissed, when Samuel undertook to give an exhibition of his horsemanship, he being
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a good rider for a boy. The mare, Betsy, became unmanageable, reared and fell backward upon him, injuring him internally. He was picked up and carried amid great excitement to the house of a neighbor. I at once set out with my horse at the top of his speed for my father, and informed him of Samuel's mishap. He took
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the horse and returned immediately. When I arrived at Mr. Burns' house, where my brother was, I found my father, mother and sisters there, all weeping bitterly at Samuel's bedside. A physician, after examining him, pronounced his injuries to be of a fatal character. He died the next morning. My brother was a great favorite with everybody, and his death
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cast a gloom upon the whole neighborhood. It was a great blow to all of the family, and especially to father who seemed to be almost heart broken over it. Father had been greatly disappointed at the failure of his California expedition, and still desired to move to some new country. The death of Samuel no doubt increased this desire,
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and he determined to emigrate. Accordingly, early in the spring of , he disposed of his farm, and late in March we took our departure for Kansas, which was then an unsettled territory. Our outfit consisted of one carriage, three wagons and some fine blooded horses. The carriage was occupied by my mother and sisters. Thus we left our Iowa
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home. [Illustration: SAMUEL'S FATAL ACCIDENT.] Father had a brother, Elijah Cody, living at Weston, Platte county, Missouri. He was the leading merchant of the place. As the town was located near the Kansas line father determined to visit him, and thither our journey was directed. Our route lay across Iowa and Missouri, and the trip proved of interest to all
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