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One of these cases was that of a Frenchman who had offended Slade。
To the surprise of everybody Slade did not kill him on the spot； but let
him alone for a considerable time。 Finally； however； he went to the
Frenchman's house very late one night； knocked； and when his enemy opened
the door； shot him deadpushed the corpse inside the door with his foot；
set the house on fire and burned up the dead man； his widow and three
children！ I heard this story from several different people； and they
evidently believed what they were saying。 It may be true； and it may
not。 〃Give a dog a bad name；〃 etc。
Slade was captured； once； by a party of men who intended to lynch him。
They disarmed him； and shut him up in a strong log…house； and placed a
guard over him。 He prevailed on his captors to send for his wife； so
that he might have a last interview with her。 She was a brave； loving；
spirited woman。 She jumped on a horse and rode for life and death。
When she arrived they let her in without searching her； and before the
door could be closed she whipped out a couple of revolvers； and she and
her lord marched forth defying the party。 And then； under a brisk fire；
they mounted double and galloped away unharmed！
In the fulness of time Slade's myrmidons captured his ancient enemy
Jules； whom they found in a well…chosen hiding…place in the remote
fastnesses of the mountains； gaining a precarious livelihood with his
rifle。 They brought him to Rocky Ridge； bound hand and foot； and
deposited him in the middle of the cattle…yard with his back against a
post。 It is said that the pleasure that lit Slade's face when he heard
of it was something fearful to contemplate。 He examined his enemy to see
that he was securely tied； and then went to bed； content to wait till
morning before enjoying the luxury of killing him。 Jules spent the night
in the cattle…yard； and it is a region where warm nights are never known。
In the morning Slade practised on him with his revolver； nipping the
flesh here and there； and occasionally clipping off a finger； while Jules
begged him to kill him outright and put him out of his misery。 Finally
Slade reloaded； and walking up close to his victim； made some
characteristic remarks and then dispatched him。 The body lay there half
a day； nobody venturing to touch it without orders； and then Slade
detailed a party and assisted at the burial himself。 But he first cut
off the dead man's ears and put them in his vest pocket； where he carried
them for some time with great satisfaction。 That is the story as I have
frequently heard it told and seen it in print in California newspapers。
It is doubtless correct in all essential particulars。
In due time we rattled up to a stage…station； and sat down to breakfast
with a half…savage； half…civilized company of armed and bearded
mountaineers； ranchmen and station employees。 The most gentlemanly…
appearing； quiet and affable officer we had yet found along the road in
the Overland Company's service was the person who sat at the head of the
table； at my elbow。 Never youth stared and shivered as I did when I
heard them call him SLADE！
Here was romance； and I sitting face to face with it！looking upon it
touching ithobnobbing with it； as it were！ Here； right by my side； was
the actual ogre who； in fights and brawls and various ways； had taken the
lives of twenty…six human beings； or all men lied about him！ I suppose I
was the proudest stripling that ever traveled to see strange lands and
wonderful people。
He was so friendly and so gentle…spoken that I warmed to him in spite of
his awful history。 It was hardly possible to realize that this pleasant
person was the pitiless scourge of the outlaws； the raw…head…and…bloody…
bones the nursing mothers of the mountains terrified their children with。
And to this day I can remember nothing remarkable about Slade except that
his face was rather broad across the cheek bones； and that the cheek
bones were low and the lips peculiarly thin and straight。 But that was
enough to leave something of an effect upon me； for since then I seldom
see a face possessing those characteristics without fancying that the
owner of it is a dangerous man。
The coffee ran out。 At least it was reduced to one tin…cupful； and Slade
was about to take it when he saw that my cup was empty。
He politely offered to fill it； but although I wanted it； I politely
declined。 I was afraid he had not killed anybody that morning； and might
be needing diversion。 But still with firm politeness he insisted on
filling my cup； and said I had traveled all night and better deserved it
than heand while he talked he placidly poured the fluid； to the last
drop。 I thanked him and drank it； but it gave me no comfort； for I could
not feel sure that he would not be sorry； presently； that he had given it
away； and proceed to kill me to distract his thoughts from the loss。
But nothing of the kind occurred。 We left him with only twenty…six dead
people to account for； and I felt a tranquil satisfaction in the thought
that in so judiciously taking care of No。 1 at that breakfast…table I had
pleasantly escaped being No。 27。 Slade came out to the coach and saw us
off； first ordering certain rearrangements of the mail…bags for our
comfort； and then we took leave of him； satisfied that we should hear of
him again； some day； and wondering in what connection。
CHAPTER XI。
And sure enough； two or three years afterward； we did hear him again。
News came to the Pacific coast that the Vigilance Committee in Montana
（whither Slade had removed from Rocky Ridge） had hanged him。 I find an
account of the affair in the thrilling little book I quoted a paragraph
from in the last chapter〃The Vigilantes of Montana； being a Reliable
Account of the Capture； Trial and Execution of Henry Plummer's Notorious
Road Agent Band： By Prof。 Thos。 J。 Dimsdale； Virginia City； M。T。〃
Mr。 Dimsdale's chapter is well worth reading； as a specimen of how the
people of the frontier deal with criminals when the courts of law prove
inefficient。 Mr。 Dimsdale makes two remarks about Slade； both of which
are accurately descriptive； and one of which is exceedingly picturesque：
〃Those who saw him in his natural state only； would pronounce him to be a
kind husband； a most hospitable host and a courteous gentleman； on the
contrary； those who met him when maddened with liquor and surrounded by a
gang of armed roughs； would pronounce him a fiend incarnate。〃 And this：
〃From Fort Kearney； west； he was feared a great deal more than the
almighty。〃 For compactness； simplicity and vigor of expression； I will
〃back〃 that sentence against anything in literature。 Mr。 Dimsdale's
narrative is as follows。 In all places where italics occur； they are
mine：
After the execution of the five men on the 14th of January； the
Vigilantes considered that their work was nearly ended。 They had
freed the country of highwaymen and murderers to a great extent； and
they determined that in the absence of the regular civil authority
they would establish a People's Court where all offenders should be
tried by judge and jury。 This was the nearest approach to social
order that the circumstances permitted； and； though strict legal
authority was wanting； yet the people were firmly determined to
maintain its efficiency； and to enforce its decrees。 It may here be
mentioned that the overt act which was the last round on the fatal
ladder leading to the scaffold on which Slade perished； was the
tearing in pieces and stamping upon a writ of this court； followed
by his arrest of the Judge Alex。 Davis； by authority of a presented
Derringer； and with his own hands。
J。 A。 Slade was himself； we have been informed； a Vigilante； he
openly boasted of it； and said he knew all that they knew。 He was
never accused； or even suspected； of either murder or robbery；
committed in this Territory （the latter crime was never laid to his
charge； in any place）； but that he had killed several men in other
localities was notorious； and his bad reputation in this respect was
a most powerful argument in determining his fate； when he was
finally arrested for the offence above mentioned。 On returning from
Milk River he became more and more addicted to drinking； until at
last it was a common feat for him and his friends to 〃take the
town。〃 He and a couple of his dependents might often be seen on one
horse； galloping through the streets； shouting and yelling； firing
revolvers； etc。 On many occasions he would ride his horse into
stores； break up bars； toss the scales out of doors and use most
insulting language to parties present。 Just previous to the day of
his arrest； he had given a fearful beating to one of his followers；
but such was his influence over them that the man wept bitterly at
the gallows； and begged for his life with all his power。 It had
become quite common； when Slade was on a spree； for the shop…keepers
and citizens to close the stores and put ou