“I ordered the men to seize him, but he hurled them aside, drew his revolvers and strode right through their line. I then ordered them to fire upon him, but Captain la Clyde, half a dozen of the settlers, and Miss Conrad threw themselves in front of him, and the troopers could not obey. Then he mounted his horse and rode away. He is a coward!”
“Not a coward, major; he is certainly not that, bad as he may be,” said the general.
“Yes, sir, he is a coward——”
“And you are a liar, Major Belden!”
The sudden reply, breaking into the conversation in a stern, deep voice, caused both General Canton and his officer to spring to their feet and glance toward the door.
There, just inside the portal, stood none other than Buffalo Bill, his eyes blazing and fixed upon Major Belden with a menacing light.
“What, ho, the guard, orderly!” yelled the startled officer.
Again the deep voice of the scout was heard.
“There stands one outside that door who will give up his life at my word, so you call in vain. One cry more from your lips and you are a dead man.”
Then, turning to the commander, the scout continued: