Blood Rising

It had finally happened...the death the Apache had waited for since he was a warrior of eighteen. With the first plunge of the mighty golden knife into Cyrus Pinner's evil flesh, Cuchillo Oro had released his pent-up hatred for the horsesoldier, sending the fatally wounded cavalry officer over the cliffs and into the cold waters of the river.Now that it was over-the blood feud between himself and Pinner-he should be filled with a great satisfaction. He had prayed for it, longed to make the last atonement for his wife and child.... Yet, oddly, he felt empty, drained. The expected elation was not there. Cuchillo was suddenly angry. Somehow, he felt cheated. Was this all there was?Avenging his dead wife and child is not enough for the embittered brave. As long as there are "white eyes" left to ravage the land of his ancestors, the warrior must continue his battle. With his proud blood rising, Cuchillo Oro, the grandson of the great Indian chief Mangas Coloradas, renews his promise for revenge. This time there is no turning back-not for the Apache, and not for those who have persecuted his people! William M. James was the pseudonym of John Harvey, Terry Harknett and Laurence James. Most people call him Cuchillo, the Apache word for knife. That's short for Cuchillo Oro, the golden knife.He gave himself the name in 1861-the year he swore vengeance upon the white man, the year an Indian-hating army officer cut off his index finger for "stealing" an ornate golden knife, the year his wife and infant son were murdered by an army lieutenant.He's six feet three inches tall, but he's a big man in more ways than one. He's the grandson of the great chief Mangas Colorado. He's seen his people mistreated, lied to, falsely accused, and cruelly punished-and he can't forget. Not while the white man walks on his land.An expert with the knife, rifle, gun, and bow, Cuchillo rides alone and moves everywhere, everywhere there are white men, unafraid to kill or be killed. There's no turning back now, not for Cuchillo and not for the white men who have persecuted his innocent people.There is only revenge.