“Hello, Slocum!” he called, with a wave of his hand; and then he lifted his hat in the Buffalo Bill manner, with a graceful and gracious bow.
“Does yer ears burn?” asked Slocum.
“Not that I’m knowing to,” said the man.
“Well, ’tain’t true, then, ther sayin’ that if people is talkin’ about ye, yer ears will burn hot like fire; fer yer name has been used most tremendous hard this afternoon, as I’m knowin’ to, havin’ had a hand somewhat in usin’ it myself.”
“My name?”
“Well, not yer real name; and come to think of it, maybe that’s why the thing didn’t make yer ears burn. They was talkin’ about ther things you’ve been doing, but ther name used was Buffalo Bill.”
“I am Buffalo Bill!”
“You’re the man they was talkin’ about, anyway. And I was boostin’ ther thing along.”
He looked hard at the big man, and at the latter’s followers, who now crowded round him.
“What’s the news, Slocum?” the man asked.