"The McCarthy boys, at the proper moment, gave orders to fire upon the advancing enemy"

Buffalo Bill’s narrative voice carries a deliberate sense of organization and discipline in the midst of turmoil. The phrase “the proper moment” indicates not only command presence but also a strategic understanding of combat dynamics, implying that the McCarthy boys exercised restraint and timing rather than firing indiscriminately. This reflects the frontier mentality of making every shot count, showing their maturity and responsibility under pressure. The timing of their order, waiting until the enemy was within effective range, captures a crucial element of nineteenth-century warfare where patience and judgement often determined the outcome of skirmishes.

The “McCarthy boys” are positioned as decisive actors rather than passive participants. Their ability to issue orders means they held authority or at least asserted themselves during conflict. This distinguishes them from others who might be swept along by events, and it evokes the heroic archetype familiar in Buffalo Bill’s storytelling, the resolute individual who stands firm against encroaching danger. Their coordinated action further hints at camaraderie and a sense of unity among their group, qualities highly valued in both military and pioneer contexts. It also mirrors the underlying structure essential for survival on the American frontier, where self-reliance coexisted with teamwork.

By using the phrase “gave orders to fire,” Buffalo Bill elevates the moment to a formal act of resistance, rather than mere reaction. The structure of the sentence places the McCarthy boys as both morally and tactically justified; their action is framed as necessity rather than violence for its own sake, emphasizing defense against the “advancing enemy.” This depersonalizes the opponent, focusing instead on the righteousness and urgency of the defenders’ position. The passage, rich with implication, serves as a microcosm for the broader themes of courage, quick thinking, and the relentless pressures at play during the historical conflicts of the American West.