“See here, Pistols, I recall that ugly face of yours, now that I get a better look at it, and I remember you as one of Powder Face Pete’s gang who ambushed me some time ago, under pretense that I was Silk Lasso Sam. You wished to get rid of me then, because I make this country too hot for just such men as you and your ilk.
“Now, what are you going to do about it, Mister Pistols, for if I am facing death, you are just as close as I am to it, so begin business when you please, and you’ll find that I’ll never hang, and dying, will take company along, so as not to get too lonesome on the trail across the Dark River.”
The splendid pluck of Buffalo Bill, at bay against a crowd, delighted many present. But those who surrounded him were his foes, and the better element hung back, feeling that a terrible scene must follow the first shot fired.
Pistols felt his situation keenly. The danger had sobered him. His desire was to see Buffalo Bill hanged by the crowd, and it began to look as though he would not be there to witness it. He felt how certain death was for him if his comrades pushed the scout to extremes.
Such was the situation, and the suspense to all was fearful, especially to Pistols and the scout, though the latter was, as a miner expressed it to a pard:
“Beautifully serene.”
The crowd was becoming restless, and there were those who did not love Pistols and would push matters to a climax to get him killed that they might then hang the scout.
But, just as it seemed that in another instant must come a crash, a loud, stern voice rang out with:
“What does this mean, holding a government officer under your guns? Room here, men!” and, hurling men right and left by his giant strength as though they were children, the Surgeon Scout strode to the side of Buffalo Bill, who still sat at the table, covering the miner with his revolver.
A perfect yell of joy burst from many in the crowd, who thus gave vent to their pent-up feelings as they saw the splendid form of Frank Powell, the Surgeon Scout, in uniform, stride into the midst of the scene.