Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 5 (2/4) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3.

George was about to interrupt but Sal caught his arm. 'He gave me this book.' I pulled my most treasured possession from inside my jacket. It was now my only possession: the only thing I had that didn't belong to the Hull Sailor's Children's Orphanage. 'It tells you all about it.'

'Let's have a look.' Sal placed a slice of bread carefully on her apron, which was stretched out on the grass in front of her. She held out her hand for my treasure. I didn't want to let go, but it was Sal asking and she was my friend. She wouldn't laugh at me, even if she thought I was silly. I knew I could trust her. 'Buffalo Bill -King of the Border Men,' she read the title out loud. 'Buffalo Bill,' George repeated. 'What's he then? Half man, half buffalo... like them half men, half horses?' He began to chortle. 'No!' I shouted back indignantly.

'There's a picture of him ... on front.' Sal held up the book to show George the engraved sketch on the front page. Like the rest of the book's yellowing pages the corners were drooping. 'He's very brave! Rode for the Pony Express. Drove a stagecoach. Was an army scout. Shot buffaloes. That's how he got his name. Does all sorts of things ... in the Wild West!' 'Well.' For a second George was dumbfounded by my outburst. 'What's the Pony Express?'

There were lots of things for me to tell my friends. This was a subject where I possessed the knowledge or I believed I did.

Summer days were the easiest in my new home. It was light in the evenings and George and I could play outside in the yard until the darkness forced us back inside. Every evening finished in the same way, with a visit to the kitchen door to say goodnight to Sal. She helped Mrs G with washing up and getting the bread mixture ready for baking the next morning. Hidden beneath her apron would be something pleasant, usually slices of bread and jam. There was a goodnight kiss for George and it soon became her custom to give one to me too. It made me happy and sad at the same time. How I missed Mam's kiss before going to sleep.

Every night Jolly Rodgers would come out into the yard to chase the stragglers back indoors. As soon as we saw him appear we rushed inside. We had no wish to feel the warmth of his persuasion.

Continued Next Page

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