“Perfectly conscious, sir, but he will utter no word.”
“His pallid face shows that death is not far off.”
“Yes, sir; I have told him that he must die, that he can live but an hour or more, and that I could do nothing for him, though I have tried. But the wound is mortal.” Stevens showed where the bullet had torn its way.
Buffalo Bill knelt by the side of the dying man, who was beyond doubt an American, for his hair was light in hue, and his eyes dark blue. He was dressed in buckskin leggings, a blue woolen shirt, moccasins, and a slouch hat, but, in strange contrast, about him was wrapped a large white robe, intended to be white, though much soiled. He had had on a belt of arms, but it had been removed by Texas Jack to make him more comfortable.
The man’s blue eyes rested upon Buffalo Bill with a strange expression in them.
“My poor fellow, I am sorry I can do nothing for you,” said Buffalo Bill kindly.
“Will you not tell me if I can serve you in some way?”
“Why were you playing ghost, for you thus brought your death upon yourself?”
“Have you no kindred, no friends to whom you wish to send a last word?”
“If you wish your friends to know of your death, upon my word I will not tell them what you are.”
“Doc, can you not give him something to relieve his sufferings?”
“He refused it--he will soon be beyond suffering.”
Just then Texas Jack approached, and as he did so Buffalo Bill said:
“Texas Jack, the poor fellow is dying, but will utter no word to commit himself or betray his comrades.”
The blue eyes of the dying man rested upon the face of Texas Jack in an earnest way:
“Jack Omohundro, I know you. We were boys together in far-away Virginia. And your hand has ended my career. So be it, for I might have met a worse death---- Ah! I see that you know me now, but do not betray me here, nor to the people at home, who believe me dead years ago. Give me your hand, Jack.”
Into the bright eyes of the Texan, who had witnessed many a death scene, came tears that rolled down his bronzed cheeks, as he grasped the hand, while he said softly:
“Yes, Ned, I know you, my boyhood friend. We never dreamed of this in those old days. I will not betray you.”
The Texan’s form quivered with emotion, and a smile swept over the face of the dying man.