“No wonder that poor Lo loves this land so well that he’s willing to fight for it. It is a pity it must ever be settled, and cut up into farms and homesteads—and possibly, town lots! The life of the free savage is the best, after all!”
“Well said, captain! But I’ve got the drop on you!”
The officer started as the voice fell upon his ears, and, dropping his hand upon his sword-hilt, turned to face the speaker. Before him, and not six paces distant, having just stepped from a dense thicket, was an apparition which, at first sight, the officer scarce realized was human!
And yet, no other shape was near, and from the lips of the strange being that confronted him had fallen the threatening words he had heard.
“Who and what are you?” cried the officer sternly, his eyes beholding a being of gigantic size, clad in the skins of beasts, so that at first sight he appeared more like a grizzly bear reared upon its hind legs!
About the waist of the giant was a red fox-skin belt, in which were slung two revolvers and a large knife; upon his head was a panther-skin cap, the tail hanging down the man’s back, and on his feet were moccasins of black bearskin. Hair black as night fell to his waist; beard of the same hue matted and unkempt; and a dark, haggard face, out of which glittered the wildest eyes it had ever been the officer’s fortune to see.
To finish this terrifying picture, the strange being held a rifle at his shoulder, and that rifle was aimed now at the military officer’s heart!
“You ask who and what I am?” repeated the creature, in a deep voice.
“I do,” said the soldier, measuring him with the eye of a hawk.
He had instantly seen that he was in the presence of a maniac—a person utterly irresponsible for his acts. Whether he was to be cajoled out of his present murderous condition of mind, the soldier did not know. But he was watching for some wavering of the rifle which might tell him that the fellow was off his guard, and that there might be a chance to spring under his guard and seize him.