An'it'sallerssim'lar；Ineveryetholdsbetterthanace-highwhenthestake'salady。
　　"It'stroo，"hecontinued，reflectivelypuffinghispipe。"Iwasdisp'sitionedforawifethata-waywhenI'macolt。Butthat'salongtimeago；Iain'tinlinefornosechgymnasticsnomore；myyearsis'wayag'init。
　　"You'vegottoketchfolksyoungtomarry'em。Aftertheygetstobethirtyyearstheygoesslowlytothealtar。Ifyouaimstomarryagentafterhe'sthirtyyouhastoblindfoldhiman'backhimin。
　　Females，ofcourse，ain'tsoobdurate。No；Is'posethisyerebein'
　　marriedisaheaphabit，sameastobaccoan'jig-juice。Ifagenttakesahandearly，it'sagoodgame，Imakesnosortofdoubt。Butlethimgettomillin''roundinthethirtiesorlater，an'himnotbegunnoneasyet；youbethedon'tmarrynothin'。
　　"Baranonexplainabledifferencewiththegirl'soldman，"hewentonwithanairofthought，"Is'poseI'dbeallmarriedrightnow。I
　　wastwenty，themtimes。It's'waybackinTennessee。Herfolkslivesabout'levenmilesfrommeoutonthePineKnotPike，an'onceintwoweeksIsaddlesupan'sortersidlesover。Thar'sjestheroldpapan'hermotheran'herinthefam'ly，an'it'sthatfarIallersmadetostayallnight。Thar'sonlytwobeds，an'soI'mputtocampalongoftheoldmanthetimesIstays。
　　"ThemdaysI'm'waybashfulan'behindonallsocialplays，an'amplentyawe-struckabouttheoldfoiks。Ineverfeelshappyaminutewheretheybe。Theoldladydoesherbesttomakemeeasyan'free，too。ComesoutwhenIridesup，an'letsdownthebarsformyhoss，an'asksmetorestmyhatthesecondI'minthedoor。
　　"Whichmattersgoesongoodenoughontilmebbyit'stheeighthtimeI'mthar。Iremembersthenightallperfect。Mean'thegirlsetsupawhile，an'thenIquitsheran'turnsin。Igetstosleepa-layin'
　　alongtheaigeofthebed，aimin'tokeep'wayfromtheoldman，who'ssnorln'an'thrashin''roundan'takin'onoverinthemiddle。
　　"Idon'trecallmuchofnothin'ontilIcomesto，a-holdin'totheoldman'sy'earwithonehandan'a-hammerin'ofhisfeatureswitht'other。Idon'tknowyet，why。Is'poseI'mlocoedan'dreamin'，anallowshe'sab'arorsomethin'inmysleepthata-way，an'triestokillhim。"Son，it's'waybackalongtime，butIshuddersyetwhenIreflectsonthatoldman'slanguage。IjumpsupwhenIrealizesthings，grabsmyraiment，an'，gettin'myhossoutenthecorral，goesp'intin'downthepikemore'namile'foreIevenstopstodress。ThelastIseesoftheoldmanlie'sbuckin'an'pitchin'an'
　　tossin'，an'thefemalesa-holdin'ofhim，an'hereachin'togetaHawkins'srifleashangsoverthedoor。Inevergoesbacknomore，'causehe'smightytindictiveaboutit。Hetriestomakeitagrandjurymatternextco't-time。
　　"Speakin'ofnuptials，however，youcan'ttellmuchaboutwomen。
　　Thar'sagirlwhoshorelys'prisesusonceinawayoutinWolfville。MissisRucker，whorunstheO。K。Restauraw，getsthisfemalefromTucsontofryflap-jacksan'salthoss，an'he'pherdealherlittlegastronomicgame。Thisyeregirl'snameisJennie-
　　TucsonJennie。Shelookslikeshe'sanice，goodgirl，too；oneofthemwhichit'seasytolove，an'inless'ntwoweeksthar'shalfthecampgetssmitten。"Itaffectsbusiness，it'sthatbad。CherokeeHalltellsmetharain'thalfthemoneygetschangedinatfaroasusual，an'theNewYorkStorereportsgentsgoin'brokeag'inbiledshirts，an'sim'lardeadfallsdaily。Ofcoursethisyerefirstfrenzysubsidesawholelotafteramonth。"AllthistimeJennieain'tsayin'aword。Shejestshovesthemfoolishyoothstheirenchiladasan'ckileconcarne，an'ignoresallwinksan'lookscomplete。
　　"Thar'sapartynamedJimBaxterincamp，an'hesetsintowinJenniehard。Jimtriestocrowdthegamean'getaction。Itlookslikehe'sduetomakethetriptoo。MissisRuckerisbackin'hisplay，an'Jennieherse'fsorterletshimset'roundinthekitchenan'watchherwork；whichthisyoreislicensean'riotitse'fcomparedwithhowshetreatsothers。OccasionallysomeofussortertriestostackupforJiman'figgeroutwherehestandswiththethegame。
　　"'How'sitgoin'，Baxter？'Enrightasksoneday。
　　"'It'stoomanyforme，'saysJim。'Some-timesIthinksIcorralsher，an'thenag'initlookslikeIain'tinit。JestnowI'mfeelin'somedejected。'
　　"'Somethin'oughterbeschemedtosettlethisyere，'saysEnright。
　　'Itkeepsthecampinafever，an'mebbygetsseriousan'spreads。'
　　"'Ifsomebodywouldonlyprancein，'saysDocPeets，'an'shootJimupsome，you'dhavehereasy。Femalesislikearabbitinabush-
　　pile；youhastoshakethingsupalottomake'emcomeout。Now，ifJimisdyin'an'shecaresforhim，she'sshorelygoin'toshowherhand。'
　　"IwantstopauserightyeretoobservethatDocPeetsisthebest-
　　eddicatedsharpIeverencountersinmylife。An'whathedon'tknowaboutsquawsisvaluelessasinformation。Buttogoonwiththedeal。
　　"'That'sright，'saysCherokeeHall，'butofcourseitain'tgoin'
　　todotoshootJimupnone。'
　　"'Idon'tknow，'saysJim；'IstandsquitearacketifI'mshoreitfetchesher。'
　　"'Whatforagame，'saysCherokee，'woulditbetoplaylikeJim'sshot？Wouldn'tthatmakehercomea-runnin'sameasifit'sshore'nough？'
　　"'Idon'tseewhynot，'saysEnright。
　　"Well，theideegainsgroundlikeanantelope，an'atlastgetstobequiteaconspir'cy。It'ssettledweplaysit，withDaveTutttodotheshootin'。
　　"'An'wemakesthegamecomplete，'saysJackMoore，'bygrabbin'
　　Daveimmediatean'bringin'ofhimbeforethecommittee，whichconvenesallreg'laran'deecorousintheRedLightforsaidpurpose。We-allsmustlineoutlikewe'regoin'tohangDaveforthekillin'；otherwiseitdon'tlooknacheralnohow，an'theladydetectsit'sabluff。'
　　"Wegetsthingsallready，an'inthemiddleoftheafternoon，whenJennieisdraggin'herlariat'roundloosean'nothin'muchtodo——
　　'causeweain'taimin'todisturbhernoneinherdootiestouchin'
　　themflapjacksan'salthoss——we-allsassemblesoverintheNewYorkStore。AsapreliminarystepwelaysJimonsomeboxes，withawagon-coveroverhim，likehe'sdeceased。
　　"'Cl'arthingsoutofthewayalongbyJim'shead，'saysJackMoore，whoistakin'abiginterest。'WewantstofixthingssoJencanswarminathimeasy。Youhearme!she'sgoin'tocomestampedin'inyerelikewildcattlewhenshegetsthenews。'
　　"Wheneverythin'sready，Tuttan'Jack，whoconcloodsit'swelltohaveagooddealofshootin'，bangsawaywiththeirgunsaboutfourtimesapiece。
　　"'Jestshootin'onceortwice，'saysJack，'mightarousehers'picions。Itwouldbeaheaptoobrieffortherealthing。'
　　"Theminutetheshootin'isceasedwe-allstakesTuttan'surgesovertotheRedLighttotryhim；a-pendin'ofwhichDanBoggssa'ntersacrosstotheO。K。Restaurawan'remarks，allcasooalan'
　　carelesslike:
　　"'DaveTuttdownsJimBaxteraminuteback；goodcleangun-playaseverIsees，too。Mightybigcredittobothboysthisyereis。Noshootin'upthesceneryan'thebystanders；nosechslobberin'work；
　　buteverythin'carriesstraighttocenters。'
　　"'Whereishe？'saysJennie，lookin'breathlessan'sick。
　　"'Jim'sremainderisintheNewYorkStore，'saysDan。
　　"'Ishehurt？'shegasps。
　　"'Idon'treckonhehurtsnonenow，'saysDan，''causehe'sdonecashedinhisstack。Why!girl，he'sdead；eighteenbullets，caliberforty-five，plumbthroughhim。'
　　"'No，butDave!IsDaveshot？'TucsonJenniesays，a-wringin'ofhersmallpaws。
　　"'Nowdon'tyougotofeelin'discouragednone，'saysDan，beginnin'
　　tofeelsorryforher。'Wefixesthewretchsohismurderin'speritwon'tbeanhourbehindJim'sgettin'in。TheStranglershashimintheRedLight，makin'planstostretchhimrightnow。'
　　"We-allshasconsoomeddrinksall'round，an'Enrightisinthechair，an'we'rebusysettin'upabigfrontabouthearin'thecase，whenTucsonJennie，withascreamasscaresupsurroundin'thingstosechalimitthatfiveponieshopsoutofthecorralan'flies，comeschargin'intotheRedLight，an'thenextinstantshedrifts'roundTutt'snecklikesomuchsnow。
　　"'Whatforagamedoyoucallthis，anyhow？'saysJackMoore，who'saheapscand'lized。'Isthisyeremaidenplayin'anythin'onthiscamp？'
　　"'She'splumblocoedwithgrief，'saysDanBoggs，whofollersherin，'an'she'sdonegot'emmixedinhermind。ShethinksDaveisBaxter。'
　　"'That'sit，'saysCherokee。'Hermind'sstampededwiththeshock。
　　Mean'JacktakesherovertoJim'scorpse，an'that'sshoretoreviveher。'An'withthatCherokeean'Jackgoesuptoleadheraway。
　　"'Savehim，MisterEnright；savehim!'shepleads，stillclingin'toTutt'sneckliketheloopofalariat。'Don'tlet'emhanghim!Savehimformysake!'
　　"'Holdon，Jack，'saysEnright，whobynowislookin'somethoughtful。'JesteverybodystandtheirhandsyeretillIcountsthepotan'noteswho'sshy。Itlookslikewe'recinchin'thehullontothewrongbronco。Letmeaskthisfemaleaquestion。Youngwoman，'
　　hesaystoTucsonJennie，'beyoufullyinformedastowhoseneckyou'rehangin'to？'
　　"'It'sDave's，ain'tit？'shesays，lookin'alltearfulinhisfacetomakeshore。
　　"Enrightan'therestofusdon'tsaynothin'，butgazesateachother。Tuttflushesupan'showspleasedbothatonce。Butallthesameheputshisarms'roundherlikethedead-gamegentheis。
　　"'What'llyou-allshave，gents？"Enrightsaysatlast，quietan'
　　thoughtful。'Thedrinksisonme，barkeep。'
　　"'Excuseme，'saysDocPeets，'butastheauthorofthisyereplot，Itakesitthep'isonisonme。Barkeep，setoutallyourbottles。'
　　"'Gents，'saysJackMoore，'I'maspeacefulapersonaseverjingledaspurorpulledaguninWolfville；butasIreflectsontheactivepartItakesintheseyereceremonies，Iwon'tberesponsibleforresultsifanycitizencomesbetweenmean'payin'forthedrinks。
　　Barkeep，I'mdoin'thismyse'f。'
　　"Well，it'shardenoomeratin'howmanydrinkswedohave。JimBaxterthrowsawaythewagoncoveran'comesoverfromtheNewYorkStorean'standsinwithus。Itgetstobeaorgy。
　　"'Ofcourseit'sallright，'saysEnright，'thecampwinswithTuttinsteadofBaxter；that'sall。It'lustratesoneofthembeautifulcharacteristicsofthegentlersex，too。Yere'sBaxter，tosaynothin'oftwentyothers，asbesiegesan'beleaguersthisyerefemaleforsixweeks，an'shescorns'em。Yere'sTutt，whoain'tmakin'amove，an'shegrabshim。Itissechoncertainties，gents，asmakestheloveofwomanvaluable。'"'You-allsshouldhaveaskedme，'saysFaroNell，whocomesinrightthenan'roundsupclosetoCherokee。
　　'IcouldtellyoutwoweeksagoJennie'sinlovewithTutt。Anybodycouldseeit。Why!she'sbeenfeedin'ofhimtwiceasgoodgrubasshedoesanybodyelse。'"
　　CHAPTERVII。
　　TUCSONJENNIE'SJEALOUSY。
　　"No；Davean'hiswifeprospersalongallright。Thatis，theyprospersallbutonce；that'swhenJenniegetsjealous。"
　　TheOldCattlemanwasrespondingtomyquestion。IwasfullofanidleinterestanddisposedtogofurtherintotheaffairsofTuttandTucsonJennie。
　　"DocPeets，"continuedtheoldgentleman，"allerstellsmeonthesidethar'snothin'inDave'sconductonbecomin'afam'lymanthata-way，an'thatJen'ssimplybarkin'ataknot。But，howeverthatis，Davedon'tseemtogainnocomfortofitatthetime。Icanseemyse'fshegetsDaveplumbtreedan'outonalimbbythemaccusationswhenshemakes'em。Heshorelylooksguilty；an'yet，whileIstandsovertheplayfromthefirst，Ican'tseewhereDavedoeswrong。
　　"However，Idon'tputmyse'ffor'ardasnogoodjedgeindomesticaffairs。Bein'singlemyse'fthata-way，femalesisondoubtedwhatDocPeetscallsa'theery'withme。Butnevertheless，inanonpresoomin'，lowlyway，Igivesitasmymeagerjedgement，an'I
　　givesitcold，ashowajealouswomanisworsethant'rant'lers。
　　She'splumblocoedforonething；an'thar'snosechthingasorganizin'tomeethergame。Formyse'f，Idon'twantnotransactionswith'em；nonewhatever。
　　"Thisyeredomesticuprisin'ofDave'swifebreaksonWolfvilleasonexpectedasafifthaceinapokerdeck；itleavesthecampallspraddledout。TucsonJenniean'Dave'sbeenweddedgoin'onsixmonths。Thecamp，asIrelates，attendsthenuptialsinabody，an'，followin'ofthefestivities，TucsonJenniean'Davetumblesintohousekeepin'peacefulastwopupsinabasket。
　　"Wolfville'sproudof'em，an'everytimesomeign'rantbein'asksaboutWolfvillean'thesocialfeaturesofthecamp，weallersmentionsTuttan'hiswife，an'tellshowtheykeepshouse，sorterupholsterin'ourbluff。
　　"That'showthedealstands，whenonedayupjumpsthisTucsonJennie，putsonhersunbunnit，an'goesstampedin'downtotheU。K。
　　House，an'allowstoMissisRuckerthatshe'sdonelivedwithDaveallsheaimsto，an'hasshorepulledherpicketpinforgood。SheputsitupDaveisabase，deceitfulsharpthata-way，an'informsMissisRucker，allmixedupwithtears，ashowshenowdesirestogobackinthekitchenan'cook，sameaswhenDaveroundsherupforhiswife。
　　"Yere'sthewholestory，an'whileInursescertainviewstharon，I
　　leavesittoyouentiretosayhowmuchTucsonJennieisjestified。
　　Iknowsallaboutit，forI'mobleegedtobeinonthedealfromsodatohock。
　　"It'smightylikelyamonthbeforethetimeTucsonJenniebreaksthroughDave'slinesthisa-way。Davean'me'sduetogoovertowardstheTresHermanasaboutsomecattle。Likewisethar'sanEnglishoutfitallowin'they'llgoalongsome，toseewherethey'vebeenstackin'inheavyonsomeranchlands。TheywaseagerforDavean'metotrailalongwith'em，an'sorterrideherdon'em，an'
　　keep'emfromgettin'mixedupwiththescenery——whichthesameisshorelycomplicatedinthefoot-hillsoftheTresHermanas——an'
　　losin'themse'fsaheap。
　　"'Whichyou'dbetterdoit，boys，'saysEnright。'S'posethemfolksbesometrouble。It'samightysightbetterthanhavin''emgop'intin'offalonethata-way。Theywouldshoremissthewayiftheydoes；an'thefirstwe-allsknows，theseyereBritonswouldberunnin'cimmaroninthehills，scarin'upthingsalot，an'a-
　　stampedin'thecattleplumbofftherange。It'seasiertogoalongcarefulwith'eman'bring'emback。'
　　"Itcomes，then，thatonemornin'Davean'mean'theseyerealienslinesoutforthehills。They'vegotponies，an'wagons，an'camp-
　　outfittothatextentacasooalonlookermightthinktheyaimstobeawayforyears。
　　"Aswep'intsoutfromtheO。K。House，wherethemBritonshasbeenwrastlin'theirchuckpendin'thestart，TucsonJennieistharsayin''goodby'toDave。Inotesthensheain'ttickledtodeathnoneaboutsomethin'，butdon'tdeemnothin'speshulofit。
　　"TheBritonsismadeupoftwogents，mebbyasoldasEnright——
　　brothersiswhattheybe——an'afemalewho'sthedaughterofoneof'em。Whichthar'snothin'recentaboutthisyerelady，though；an'I
　　reckonsshe'smightylikelyfortyyearsold。Ilearnslater，however，it'sthisfemalewhichTucsonJennieresentswhenshesays"adios"toDave。
　　"Itshorestrikesmenow，whenyearsispassed，assomemarv'loushowahan'some，corn-fedfemalelikeTucsonJenniemanagestofoundafightwithDaveoverthisyeretoweristwoman。I'mnacherallyslowtogodecidin'betsag'inalady'slooks，butwhateverTucsonJennieseesintheappearanceofthispersonwhichislikelytoinviggleDaveistoomanyforme。IsoftensthestatementaheapwhenIsaysshe'suglierthanaMexicansheep。
　　"However，thatdon'tseemtooccurtoTucsonJennie；an'DocPeets——
　　who'sthewisestsharpinArizona——allowstomeafterwardsashowTucsonJennieiscuttin'thekyardswithherse'fdesp'ratetoseewhethershedeclar'swarattheverytimewemakesourstart。Ifshedoes，sheturnsthelowkyard，forshedon'tsaynothin'，an'wegetsaway，an'allisprofoundpeace。
　　"Fourdayslaterwe'reincampbyawater-holeinthefrillofthefoot-hills。TheBritonshasgotupawalltentan'isshorelyhavin'
　　ahighan'lavishtime。Davean'meain'tpayin'noattentionto'emspeshul，aswedon'tseehownoneisneeded。Besides，wehassomehardridin'todolookin'upplacesforalineofsigncamps。
　　"It'stheseconddaywhenwenoticesanoutfitofInjunscampeddownthevalleyfromus。They'sallserenean'peacefulenough；withsquaws，papooses，an'dogs；an'ain'tthinkin'nomoreofbein'
　　hostilethanwebe。
　　"Ofcourse，nosoonerdoestheseyereBritonsofoursbeholdthisbandofsavagesthantheyhastogoprojectin'round'em。That'stheworstthingaboutatowerist；he'sthatloadedwithcur'osity，an'
　　thatgregar'ousan'amiable，hehastogofoolin''roundeverystrangerlietracksupwith。Intheirign'rancetheyevengetsthatroodean'insultin'attimes，thatIknows'emwho'sthatregardlessan'imp'liteastoupan'askarankstrangerthata-waytopass'emhisguntolookat。
　　"An'so，asIsays，nosoonerdoesthemInjunsgetnearus，thanthemthreeblessedforeignersisoverafter'em；ropin'atem'withquestionsan'invadin'of'em，an'examinin'of'emlikethewholetribe'sforsalean'theyaimstoacquire'emiffiggersisreasonable。
　　"Ineverdoesknowwhatthefemaletoweristsaysordoestothatpartic'laraborigine-nothin'mostlikely；butitain'tadaywhenoneofthemInjunssettlesitwithhimse'fhewantstowedher。Thetoweristsisinign'ranceoftheviewsofthissavage，whogoesaboutdealin'hisgameInjunfashion。
　　"It'sthisa-way:Davean'metrailsinoneevenin'somewearyan'
　　played；it'sbeenahardridethatday。Whichthefirstthingwelayseyesonatthecampshorelylivensusupalot。Thar，tiedtothewagon-wheels，isnineponies，whichthesamebelongstotheInjuns。
　　"'Whateverbetheseyerebroncosdoin'yere？'saysDave，forweallows，thefirstdashoutenthebox，mebbytheBritonsmakesapurchase。
　　"Oneofthetoweriststellsalongan'delightedstoryaboutthegen'rosityoftheInjuns。
　　"'Actooally，'saysthistowerist，"themgen'roussavagesleadsuptheseyerenineponiesan'donates'em。'
　　"Davean'measksquestions；andalltharistothedeal——whichit'sshoreenoughtobustDave'sfam'lybeforeit'sover——themInjunsbringsupthenineponiesallrespectful，an'leaves'emhobbledout，mebbyit'sahundredyardsfromtheBritons，an'ridesaway。
　　TheBritons，deemin'thisbluffasinthelineofgifts，capersoveran'possessesthemse'fsoftheponiesan'leads'emin。That'stheoutsideofthestore。
　　"'Well，stranger，'saysDaveinreply，takin'ofthetoweristoneside，'Iain'taimin'todiscourageyounone，butyou-allshasgonean'gotalltangledupinyourlariat。'
　　"'Whatforanontanglementisit？'asksthetowerist。
　　"'Nothin'，'saysDave，sorterbreakin'ittohimeasy，'nothin'，onlyyou'vedonemarriedyourdaughtertooneofthemInjuns。'
　　"WhenDaveannouncesthisyeretroothitshorelooksliketheBriton'sgoin'toneedwhiskeytoupholdhimse'f。Buthereorganizes，an'DaveexplainsthattheInjuns，whentheytrailsinwiththeponies，issimplyshufflin'foraweddin'；they'sofferin'
　　whatthey-allscallsa'price'forthewoman。
　　"'An'whenyou-allsleadsintheponies，'saysDave，'thatsettlesit。Youagreestodealrightthar。To-morrow，now，thisyerebuck，whoeverheis，willcomesurgin'inwithhisrelationsplumbdowntothirdcousins；an'heexpectsyou'llbedeadreadytofeed'em，an'
　　winduptheorgybypassin'overthebride。'
　　"YoucanbetthemreecitalsofDave'sisplentyhorribletothetowerist。Heallowswemustkeepitfromhisdaughter；an'thenheputshipwholeoutfitinDave'shands，toget'emsafeontohighgrounds。
　　"'Can'twepullourfreightinthenight？'saysthetowerist，an'
　　he'sshorelyanxious。
　　"'Toomuchmoon，'saysDave；'an'then，ag'in，thewholeInjunoutfit'sbelowusinthedraw，an'wenevergetsbyonceinathousandtimes。No，'goesonDave，'oneshorethingwecan'tbackoutnorcrawloff。We-allshastoplaythehandplumbthrough:
　　"ThenDavetellsthetoweristhiman'metalksoverthisyereweddin'whichhedonegoesintosoinadvertent；an'ifthar'sachancetosavehimfrombecomin'afather-in-lawabrupt，we'llplayittowin。
　　"'Thisyereistheonlywagon-trackout；saysDavetome，afterwepow-wowsanhour。'YougodowntothemInjuns，an'findtherightbuckthata-way，an'tellhimthesquaw'sgotabucknow。Tellhimhe'sbarred。Whichatthisp'intinyourrevelationshe'sduetoofferafight，an'ofcourseyoutakeshim。Tellhimatfirst-drinktimeto-morrowmornin'hefindsmereadytofightforthesquaw。'
　　"'Thiswholebusinessmakesmetired，though，'saysDave，aheapdisgustad。'IftheseeediotshadletthemInjunsalone-，oreveniftheydisdainstheponieswhentheywasbroughtup，thisyerecouldbefixedeasy。Butnowit'sfightorgiveupthewoman，soyougodown，asIsays，an'arrangeforthedance。'
　　"Ofcoursethar'snoexplainin'nothin'toInjuns。Youmightaswellwastetimeexpoundin'tocoyotesan'jack-rabbits。Allthat'sleftformetodoistrailoutaftermysavage，asDavesays，an'notifyhimthatthisweddin'hepro。posesispostponedan'allbetsisoff。
　　"Ifindshimeasyenough，an'sawsitoffonhiminSpanishhowthegamestacksup。Butheain'tcheerfulaboutit，an'displaysamightybalefulsperit。JestasTuttallowshe'souttoshootforthesquawinaminute，an'asthar'snogettin'awayfromit，Itellshimtopainthimse'fforwaran'comea-runnin'。
　　"Ihastocarryahardface；forwe'reshorelyinforit。YerewebefourdaysfromWolfville，an'theInjuns——an'Ireckonsthar'stwentybucksintheoutfit-iscampedinbetweenusan'he'p。
　　"ThisInjunwho'safterthewomanisnamedBlackDog。Thenextmornin'Tuttsaddlesupan'ridesofftoonesideofourcamp，mebbyit'saquarterofamile，an'thengetsoffenhisponyan'standsthar。We-allsdon'tonfoldtothetoweriststhedetailsofthedeal，noteventotheInjun'sfather-in-law。Thetoweristfemaleisthatign'rantofwhat'sgoing'on，she'spesterin''roundallonconscious，makin'bakin'-powderbiscuitatthetime。Ilooksatherclose，an'IwondersevenyetwhatthatBlackDog'sthinkin'of。
　　ButIdon'tgetmuchtimetobedisgustedoverthisBlackDog'stastebeforehecomesp'intin'outfromamonghispeople。
　　"Thesun'sjestgettin'overthehillstotheeast，an'，asitstrikeshim，he'sshoreafash'nablelookin'Injun。Heain'tgotnothin'onbutawar-bunnitan'acoatofpaint。TherestofhistrousseauheconfinestohisWinchesteran'belt。He'sonhiswar-
　　pony，an'thebronco'sstrippedasbareasthisBlackDogis；notastrapfrommuzzletotail。ThisbridegroomInjun'stieditsmanefullofribbons，an'throwsaredblanketacrosshispony'swithersforgeneraleffects。Takeitallover，he'sanifty-lookin'savage。
　　"Sofarasthedooelgoes，Daveain'trunnin'noresk。Hestandstharonthegroundan'keepshishossbetweenhiman'thisyereBlackDog。It'saplaywhichforcesthebridegroom'shand，too。He'sdue，bein'Injun，togocirelin'Davean'dohisshootin'onthecanter。
　　"An'that'swhatthisweak-mindedsavagedoes。Hebreaksintoalopean'goessailin''roundDavelikeahawk。Durin'themexerciseshelaysoverontheshoulderofhishossan'bangsawayfromonderitsneckwithonehand，permiscus。
　　"Thisismerefrivolity。Tharain'tnowhitegentwhocouldshootnoneondersechconditions；an'Injunscan'tshootnohow。Theydon'tsaveyahindsight。An'，asIremarks，ifDave'shitany，it'sgoin'
　　toshorelybeanaccident，an'accidentsdon'thappennoneinArizona；leastwisenotwithguns。
　　'MebbythisBlackDog'sbangedawaythreetimes，whenDave，who'sbeenfollowin'ofhim，throughthesightsforthirtyseconds，onhookshisrifle，an'thedealcomestoafullstop。Dave'sshootin'aSharp's，withahundredan'twentygrainsofpowder，an'
　　thewayhesendsabulletplumbthroughthatwar-ponyan'thisyereBlackDog，who'shangin'onitsoffside，don'tbotherhimabit。
　　Theponyan'theBlackDoggoesoverontheirheads。
　　"Daveridesin，an'bringstheblanketan'war-bunnit。Eventhen，thefemaletowerist，whichistheobjectofthemeetin'，don'tseeminformednoneofthecourseofevents。Thefactis，sheneverdoesacquiretherightsofittillwe-allsistwodaysbackonthereturntrail。
　　"Thar'snomorebother。Injunsispartic'larpeople，thata-way，aboutetiquetteastheysaveysit，an'followin'Dave'sdownin'thisBlackDogtheyain'tmakin'amoanoramove。Theytakesitplentysolemnan'mute，an'goestolayin'outtheBlackDog'sobsequieswithoutnomorenoticeofus。It'sasquardeal；theyseesthat；an'
　　theyain'tfilin'noobjections。Asforourendofthegame，wemovesoutforWolfville，makin'noidledelayswhatever。
　　"Goin'in，Dave，afterthinkin'some，su'geststomethatit'slikelytobeaheapgoodstorynottotellTucsonJennie。
　　"'Femalesisillogical，thata-way，'saysDave，'an'Iain'tgoin'
　　tohavetimetoeddicateJennietoaproperviewofthisyere。SoI
　　reckonsit'sgoin'tobeacraftyplaynottotellher。'
　　"TheBritonshasbeengonetwoweekswhenTucsonJennielearnsthestory。ThemtoweristsisplumbwearyofArizonawhenwetrailsintoWolfville，an'don'tseemtotarryasecondbeforetheylinesoutforTucson。
　　"'Theyjesthitsahighplaceortwo，'saysJackMoore，afterhehearsofthemdesignsoftheBlackDog，'an'they'llbe'wayyonderoutofthecountry。Idon'treckonnoneof'em'llevercomebacksoon，neither。'
　　"Butit'sthetoweristwomanmakesthetroublefromstarttofinish。
　　It'saletterfromherwhichshewritesbacktoDave，allowin'
　　she'llthankhimsomemoreasherpreserver，thatbringsthenewstoJennie。TucsonJenniegetsthismissive，an'upsan'riflesan'
　　readsittoherse'fawholelot。It'sthenTucsonJenniegivesitoutcold，Daveisbreakin'herheart，an'tharuponprances'roundforhershakeran'goesovertoMissisRucker's。
　　"Thewholecampknowsthestoryinanhour，an'whilewe-ailssympathizeswithDaveofcourse，noone'sblamin'TucsonJennie。
　　She'safemale，an'onresponsible，foronething；an'then，ag'inDave'saheaponlikelytostandanycondemnationsofhiswife。
　　"'She'sasgoodawomanaseverwearsamoccasin，'saysDave，whilehe'srecoverin'ofhissperitsattheRedLightbar。
　　"An'we-allsallowssheshorelyis；an'theneverybodylookspensivean'sincerethata-way，so'snottoharrowDavenonean'makehisburdensmore。
　　"'ButwhatevercanIdotofetchherbacktocamp？'asksDave，appealin'toEnrightmightywretched。'Igoesplumblocoedifthisyerekeepson。'
　　"'Mynotionis，we-allsbetterputMissisRuckerintoplaythehand，'saysEnright。'MissisRucker'safemale，an'isshorelyduetoknowwhatkyardstodraw。Butthisoughterbealessontoyou，Dave，nottogoromancin''roundwithstrangewomennomore。'
　　"'It'saforcedplay，Itellsyou，'saysDave。'ThemInjunshasustreed。It'sacaseoffightorgiveupthatshe-towerist，sowhatwasItodo？'
　　"`Well，'saysEnright，somesevere，'youmightatleasthaveconsultedwiththisyeretoweristwomansome。Butyoudon't。Yousimplygetsagunan'goestrackin''roundinherdestinies，an'
　　shootin'upherprospectslikeyouhasapersonalinterest。Youdon'tknowbutshedeploresthedealcomplete。Peets，an'me，an'
　　Boggs，an'alltherestofusisyourfriends，an'nacherallypartialonyourside。We-allsfiggersyoumeanswell。ButwhatI
　　saysisthis:Itain'tnos'prisin'thingwhenTucsonJennie，a-
　　hearin'ofthempronouncedattentionswhichyoupaysthistoweristlady，isfilledwithgrief。Thisshootin'upanInjun，causehe'splannin'towedthisfemalesome，iswhatIshorelycallspronouncedattentions。Whatdoyouthinkyourse'f，Peets？'
　　"'Why!IreadilyconcedeswhatDavesays，'remarksPeets。
　　'Ondoubtedlyheactsforthebestasheseesit。Butjestasyouputsit:s'poseDaveain'thungerin'noneforthistoweristwomanhimse'f，theheadlongwayhegoesafterthisyereBlackDog，settin'
　　ofthewar-jigthenextsun-up，an'allwithoutevensayin'"Letmelookatyourhand，"tothisfemale，jestifiestheminferencesofyours。OfcourseIdon'tsay——an'Idon'treckonnone——Davethinksofthisold-maidmaverickonce；but，heseeshimse'f，htshoregoestowaraheapprecipitatean'onconsiderate，an'TucsonJenniehasondoubtedgroundstobuck。
　　"'Which，whenyou-allsputsitsocl'ar，Ithinkssotoo，'saysDave，who'slistenin'toEnrightan'Peetsamightysightdejected。
　　IButIain'tbeenweddedlong——ain'tmore'nwhatyoumightcallanamaturehusband。Whatyou-allsoughterdonowishe'pmetoroundherup。IfTucsonJennie'sabunchofcattle，orabandofponiesashasstampeded，you'dbeinthesaddletooquick。'
　　"MissisRuckershoredoesallsheknowstosoftenTucsonJennie。Sheremindsherhowintheoldtimes，whenDavegetshischileconcarneattheO。K。House，andthepartyfromtheStatestakestoreprovin'
　　ofMissisRuckerabouttharbein'nothin'butcoffeean'beanstoeat，Daveonlimbershissix-shooteran'goestothefront。
　　"'Thegrub'sdealtdown，'saysDave，explainin'tothisobnoxioustenderfoot，'tillthar'snothin'leftintheboxbutbeans，coffee，an'beans。It'sacat-hop，butitcan'tbehe'pednone。'
　　"'Cat-hopornocat-hop，'saysthistenderfoot，'I'mdeadag'inbeans；an'youcangambleIain'touttodevournosechlowveg'tables；nonewhatever。'
　　"'Youjestthinksyoudon'tlikebeans，'saysDave，an'withthathesorterdictatesatthetenderfootwithhisgun，an'thetenderfootthar-uponlaysforhisfrijoleslikehe'sactooallyhonin'tharfor。
　　"'WhichitallshowsDave'sgotagoodheart，'saysMissisRuckertoTucsonJennie。
　　"'That'snothin'todowithhismakin'lovetotheBritishwoman，'
　　saysTucsonJennie，grittin'herteethlikeshecouldeatthesightsoffenasix-shooter。
　　"'Henevermakesnolovetothisyerewoman，'saysMissisRucker。
　　"'Whenheketchesherflirtin'withthatInjun，'demandsTucsonJennie，'don'tDaveshoothimupalot？Whatdoyou-allcallmakin'
　　love？HeneverdownsnoInjunsforme，an'I'mhislawfulwife。'An'
　　yereMissisRuckerallows，whenshereportstoEnrightan'Davean'
　　therestoftheoutfitintheRedLight，TucsonJennieweepslikeherheartisshorelybroke。
　　"'Whichtheporegirl'stobepitied，'saysEnright。'Dave，'hegoeson，turnin'toTuttsomefierce，'youdon'tdeservenosechdevotionasthis。'
　　"'That'swhatever，'saysDanBoggs，lookin'redan'truculent，'thisyereTucsonJennie'saangel。'
　　"Buttharwebe，upag'instit，an'notamanknowsathingtodotosquar'thedealwithDave'swife。We-alls，callsfordrinksall'round，an'setsaboutan'delib'rates。AtlastDavespeaksupinalow-speritedway。
　　"'Ireckonsshedonejumpsthegameforgood，'hesays。'Butifshe'sgoin'，Iwantshertohavealayout。Ifyou-allscarestogoovertotheNewYorkStore，IallowsI'llplayinabluestackortwoan'winheroutsomeduds。Iwantshertoquitthedealahead。'
　　"SoDavesetsoutfortheNewYorkStore，an'therestofussorterstragglesalong。Thar'snothin'gayaboutus。Davegetsashawlan'
　　adress；nothin'gaudy；it'saplainredan'yaller。MissisRuckerpacks'emovertoTucsonJenniean'getsthatwrappedupinthedealsheforgetsuttertorustleusourgrub。
　　"Which，it'stheonexpeetedashappensinWolfvillesameaseverywhereelse。TheminuteTucsonJennieseestheraiment，an'
　　realizeshowDavelovesher，thatsettlesit。Herheartmeltsrightthar。Sheain'tsayin'nothin'；jestropesontothedry-goodsan'
　　startssobbin'outforthe'dobywhereshean'Davelivesat。
　　"Dave，whenheobservesthisyerefrom'crossthestreet，shakeshandsall'round，butdon'ttrusthimse'fwithnoremarks。Hegivesourpawsasqueezelikeheknowshecanrelyonourfriendshipan'
　　huntshiswayacrosstoTucsonJenniewithoutaword。
　　"'It'sallrightaboutbein'yoothfulan'light，thata-way，'saysEnright，afterDavepullshisfreight，'butTuttoughterrememberyereafter，beforehegoesmixin'himse'fupwithsechvainthingsastoweristsan'Injunsan'British，thathe'samarriedman。'"
　　CHAPTERVIII。
　　THEMANFROMREDDOG。
　　"Letmetryoneofthemtharseegyars。"
　　Itwasthepleasantafter-dinnerhour，andIwasontheverandaforaquietsmoke。TheOldCattlemanhadjustthrowndownhispaper；thehalf-lightofthewaningsunwasabittoodimforhiseyesofseventyyears。
　　"WheneverIbeholdsaseegyar，"saidtheoldfellow，ashepuffedvoluminouslyattheprincipeIpassedover，"IthinksofwhatthatwitnesssaysinthemurdertrialatSocorro。
　　"'Whatwasyou-alldoin'incampyourse'f，'asksthejedgeofthisyerewitness，'thedayofthekillin'？'
　　"'Which，'saysthewitness，oncrossin'hislaigsan'lettin'onheain'tmadebashfulan'oneasybysomuchattentionsbein'shownhire，'whichIwasa-eatin'ofafewsardines，a-drinkin'ofafewdrinksofwhiskey，a-smokin'ofafewseegyars，an'a-romancin'
　　'round。'"
　　Afterthisabrupt，nottosayambiguousreminiscence，theOldCattlemanpuffedcontentedlyamoment。
　　"Whatmurdertrialwasthisyouspeakof？"Iasked。"Whohadbeenkilled？"
　　"NowIdon'treckonIeverdoesknowwhoitisgetsdowned，"hereplied。"Thisyeremurdertrialitse'fisnewstomecomplete。Theywaswaggin'alongwithitwhenItrailsintoSocorrothattime，an'
　　Imerelysa'ntersovertotheco'tthata-waytohearwhat'sgoin'
　　on。Thejedgeissortergettin'inontheplaywhileI'mlistenin'。
　　"'Whatwasthelastwordsofthisyeregentwho'skilled？'asksthejedgeofthiswitness。
　　"'AsnearlyasIkeepstabs，jedge，'saysthewitness，`thedyin'
　　statementofthispersonis:"Fouracestobeat。"'
　　"'WhichifdeceasedhadknowedSocorrolikeIdoes，'saysthejedge，likehe'scommentin'tohimse'f，'he'dshorelyrealizedthatsechremarksissimplysooicidal。'"
　　AgaintheOldCattlemanrelapsedintosilenceandthesmokeoftheprincipe。
　　"Howdidthetrialcomeout？"Iqueried。"Wastheaccusedfoundguilty？"
　　"Whichthetrialitse'f，"hereplied，"don'tcomeout。Thar'sapasseloftheboyswho'scomeintotowntoseethatjesticeisdone，an'bein'theround-upisgoin'for'ardatthetime，theynacherallyfeelshurriedan'pressedforleesure。Theyallsoughterbebackontherangewiththeircattle。Sothefifthday，whenthingsisloiterin'alongatthetrialtillitlookslikethelawhashobbleson，an'thewordgoesroundit'sgoin'tobeaweekyetbeforethejurygetsactiononthismiscreantwho'sbein'tried，theboysbecomesplumbaggravatedan'weariedoutthata-way；an'，kickin'inthedoorofthecalaboose，theysearchesoutthefelon，swingshimtoacottonwoodnototherwiseengaged，an'therightprevails。
　　Nacherallythetrialbogsdownrightthar。"
　　Afteranotherseasonofsilenceandsmoke，theOldCattlemanstruckinagain。
　　"Speakn'ofkillin's，whileI'mthelastgenttogofosterin'ideesofbloodshed，I'msomediscouragedjestnowbywhatI'vebeenreadin'inthatpaperaboutadooelbetweensomeEytalians，an'itshorelytriesmethewaythemaliensplayshoss。It'sobviousasstarsonacl'arnight，theynevermeansfightalittlebit。I
　　abhorsdooels，an'cowersfromthemereidee。But，afterall，businessisbusiness，an'whenfolksfights'emtheobjectsofthemeetin'oughterbeblood。ButthewaytheseyereEuropeanshorthornsfixesit，agentshorelyrunsaheapmorereskofbecomin'aangelabrupt，attendin'ofaTexascake-walkinapurelysocialway。
　　"DotheyeverfightdooelsintheWest？Why，yes——some。Mymem'rycomesa-canterin'uprightnowwiththedetailsofanencounterI
　　oncebeholdsinWolfville。Tharain'tnotimemuchthrowedawaywithadooelintheSouthwest。Thepeople'smightyextemporaneous，an'
　　don'tgobrowsin''roundnonesendin'challengesinwritin'，an'
　　thatsortofflapdoodle。Whenagentnoticesthesignsa-gettin'
　　aboutrightforhimtogoonthewar-path，hepicksouthismeat，surgesup，an'declar'shimse'f。Thevictim，whoismostlikelyamightyseriousan'experiencedperson，don'tcoppertheplaybymakin'vainremarks，butbringshisgatlin'intoplaysurprisin'。
　　Nextit'sbang!bang!bang!mixedupwithflashesan'whitesmoke，an'thedooelisovercomplete。Thegentwhostilladornsourmidsttakesadrinkonthehouse，whileSt。Peteronbarsthingsalotan'
　　arrangesgatean'seatcheckswiththeotherintherealmsoflight。
　　That'salltharistoit。Thetideoflifeag'inflowsonwardtotheeternalsea，an'naryripple。
　　"Oh，thisyereWolfvilledooel!`Well，it'sthisa-way。Thedayisblazin'hot，an'businesslayin'pronean'dead——jestblisteredtodeath。Apasselofusissorterpervadin''roundthedance-hall，itbein'thebiggestan'cooleststoreincamp。Amontegameisstrugglin'forbreathinafeeble，fitfulwayinthecorner，an'
　　someofusisa-watchin'；an'somea-settin''roundloosea-
　　thinkin'；butallkeepin'muman'still，'causeit'ssohot。
　　"Jestthensomegentonahossgoeswhoopin'upthestreeta-yellin'
　　an'a-whirlin'theloopofhisrope，an'allowin'generallyhe'shavin'amightygoodtime。
　　"'Who'sthisyeretoomultuousmanonthehoss？'saysEnright，a-
　　regardin'ofhiminadispleasedwayfromthedoor。
　　"'Imeetshimupthestreetaminuteback，'saysDanBoggs，'an'heallowshe'scalled"TheManfromRedDog。"Hesayshe'stookadayofftovisitus，an'aimstolaywastethecampsomebeforehegoesback。'
　　"AboutthentheRedDogmannotesoldSantaRosa，whokeepstheMexicanbailehall，an'hisoldwoman，Marie，a-fussin'witheachotherinfrontoftheNewYorkStore。They'slockedhornsoveradrinkorsomethin'，an'ispow-wowin'mightyonamiable。
　　"'WhateverdoesthisyereMexicanfam'lymean，'saystheRedDogman，a-surveyin'of'emplentyscornful，'a-draggin'oftheirdomesticbrawlsoutyeretooffendasufferin'publicfor？Whyeverdon'ttheystayintheirwickeyupan'fight，an'nottaketoputtin'
　　itallovertheAmericanracewhichain'tintheplaynonean'don'tthirsttharfor？However，Iunitesan'reeconcilesthisdividedhouseholdeasy。'
　　"WiththistheRedDogmandropstheloopofhislariat'roundthetwocontestantsan'jumpshisbroncoupthestreetlikeit'scomeoutenagun。OfcourseSantaRosaan'Mariegoesalongontheirheadspermiscus。
　　"Theygoescoastin'alongontiltheygetspulledintoamesquite-
　　bush，an'theropeslipsoffenthesaddle，an'thartheybe。We-allsgoesoverfromthedance-hall，extricatin'of'em，an'finaltheyroundsupmightyhaplessan'weak，an'canonlywalk。Theyshorelyloseenoughhidetomakeapairofleggin's。
　　"'WhichIbrings'emtogetherliketwins，'saystheRedDogman，ridin'backforhisrope。'Iofferstwotoone，nolimit，theydon'tfightnonewhateverforamonth。'
　　"Which，asitshorelylookslikehe'sright，noonetakeshim。SotheRedDogmanleaveshisbluffa-hangin'an'goesintothedance-
　　hall，a-givin'ofitoutcoldan'clammyhemeditateslibatin'。
　　"'Allpromenadetothebar，'yellstheRedDogmanashegoesin。
　　'I'mawolf，an'it'smynighttohowl。Don't'rouseme，barkeep，withthesightofmerelyonebottle；set'emallup。I'msomefastidiousaboutmyfire-wateran'likesachancetoselect。'
　　"Well，we-allstakesourinspiration，an'theRedDogmantuckshisonderhisbeltan'thenturnsroundtoEnright。
　　"'Itakesityou'retheoldhe-coonofthisyereoutfit？'saystheRedDogman，soopercillious-like。
　　"'Which，ifIain't，'saysEnright，'it'splentysafeasaplaytoletyourwisdomflowthisa-waytillthehe-coongetsyere。'
　　"'Ifthar'sanythin'，'saystheRedDogman，'Iturnsfromsick，it'svoylencean'deevastation。ButIhearssechcomplaintsconstantofthisyerecampofWolfville，Itakesmyfirstidledaytorideoveran'linethingsup。NowyereIbe，an'whileIregretsit，I
　　findsyou-allsisalawless，onregenerateset，aheapsightworsethanroomer。Inowtakesthenotion——forIseesnoothertrail——thatbynextdrinktimeIclimbsintothesaddle，throwsmyrope'roundthisdenofsin，an'removesitfromthemap。'
　　"'Nacherally，'saysEnright，somesarcastic，'inmakin'themschemesyouain'tlookin'fornotroublewhateverwithabandoftarrapinslikeus。'
　　"'Nonewhatever，'saystheRedDogman，mightyconfident。'InthirtyminutesIdistributesthisyerehamlet'roundinthelandscapesameasthemGreasers；whichfeatbecomin'hist'ry，IthencantersbacktoRedDog。'
　　"'Well，'saysEnright，'it'splentyp'litetoletusknowwhat'scomin'thisa-way。'
　　"'Oh!Iain'ttellin'younone，'saystheRedDogman，'Isimplyletsflythishint，soanyofyou-allsashasgotbric-a-brachevaluesspeshul，hetakeswarnin'somean'packsitoffallsafe。'
　　"It'saboutthenwhenCherokeeHall，who'slookin'on，shouldersinbetweenEnrightan'theRedDogman，mightypositive。Cherokeeisaheapsotinhisidees，an'Iseesrightoffhe'stookanotionag'intheRedDogman。
　　"'Asyou'vegotalotofworkcutout，'saysCherokee，eyein'theRedDogmanmalignant，'s'posewetipsthecanteenag'in。'
　　"'Ishorelygoesyou，'saystheRedDogman。'Idrinkswithfriend，an'Idrinkswithfoe；withthepardofmybosoman'theshudderin'
　　victimofmywrathallsim'lar。'
　　"Cherokeeturnsoutabigdrinkan'standsa-holdin'ofitinhishand。Iwantstosayrightyere，thisCherokee'splentyguileful。
　　"'Youwasnamin'，'saysCherokee，'somepublicimprovementsyouaimstomake；sechasmovin'thisyerecamp'roundsome，Ibelieves？'
　　"'That'swhatever，'saystheRedDogman，'an'theholycaustI
　　'nitiatesisduetostartinfifteenminutes。'
　　"'I'vebeenfiggerin'onyou，'saysCherokee，'an'Igivesyoutheresultinstrictconfidencewithoutholdin'outakyard。Whenyou-
　　alltalksoftearin'upWolfville，you'realiaran'ahoss-thief，an'youain'tgoin'totearupnothin'。'
　　"'What'sthisIhears!'yellsthefrenziedRedDogman，reachin'forhisgun。
　　"Buthenevergetsit，forthesamesecondCherokeespillstheglassofwhiskeystraightinhiseyes，an'thenexthe'sanguishedan'
　　blindasamole。
　　"'I'llfoolthisyerehumansimoonupalot，'saysCherokee，a-
　　hurlin'oftheRedDogmantothefloor，facedown，whilehisnine-
　　inchbowieshinesinhishandlikethestingofawasp。'Ishorefixeshimsohecan'tgetajobclerkin'inastore，'an'grabbin'
　　theRedDogman'sha'r，whichislongasthemaneofapony，heslashesitoffcloseinonemotion。
　　"'Thar'safringeforyourleggin's，Nell，'remarksCherokee，a-
　　turnin'ofthecropovertoFaroNell。'Now，Doc，'CherokeegoesontoDocPeets，'takethisyereRedDogstrangerovertotheRedLight，fixhiseyesallright，an'thentellhim，ifhethinksheneedsbloodinthis，totakehisWinchesteran'gonorthinthemiddleofthestreet。IntwentyminutesbythewatchIstepsoutenthedance-halldoora-lookin'forhim。P'inthimtothedoorallfairan'squar'。Idon'taimtoplaynothin'lowonthisyeregent。
　　Hegetsachanceforhisante。'
　　"DocPeetssorteraccoomilatestheRedDogman，whoiscussin'an'
　　carryin'onscand'lous，an'leadshimovertotheRedLight。InaminutewordcomestoCherokeeashiseyesisroundin'upallproper，an'thathe'smakin'war-medicinean'isgrowin'morehostileconstant，an'toheelhimse'f。AtthatCherokee，mightyca'm，sendsoutforJackMoore'sWinchester，whichisan'eight-squar'，'latestmodel。
　　"'Oh，Cherokee!'saysFaroNell，beginnin'tocry，an'curlin'herarms'roundhisneck。'I'm'fraidhe'sgoin'todownyou。Ain'ttharnowaytofixit？Can'tDanyeresettlewiththisRedDogman？'
　　"'Cert，'saysDanBoggs，'an'Imakesthetriptoogleeful。Jesttospar'Nell'sfeelin's，Cherokee，an'nottointerferewithnogent'slittlegame，Itakesyourhandan'playsit。'
　　"'Notnone，'saysCherokee；'thisismydeal。Don'tcry，Nellie，'headds，smoothin'downheryallerha'r。'Folksinmybusinesshastoholdthemse'fsreadytofaceanygameontheword，an'theyneverweakensorlaysdown。An'anotherthing，littlegirl；IgetsthisRedDogsharp，shore。I'minthemiddleofarunofluck；Iholdsfourstwicelastnight，withaflushan'afullhandoutag'in'em。'
　　"NellatlastletsgoofCherokee'sneck，an'，bein'afemalean'
　　timidthata-way，allowsshe'llgo，an'won'tstoptoseetheshootin'none。Weapplaudstheidee，thinkin'shemightshakeCherokeesomeifshestays；an'ofcourseagentoutshootin'forhislifeneedshisnerve。
　　"Well，thetwentyminutesisup；theRedDogmangetshisrifleoffenhissaddlean'goesdownthemiddleofthestreet。Turnin'uphisbigsombrero，hesquar's'round，cockshisgun，an'waits。ThenEnrightgoesoutwithCherokeean'standshiminthestreetaboutahundredyardsfromtheRedDogman。AfterCherokee'splacedheholdsuphishandforattentionan'says:
　　"'WhenallisreadyIstandstoonesidean'dropsmyhat。You-allsfiresatwill。'
　　"Enrightgoesovertothesideofthestreet，counts'one，''two，'
　　'three，'an'dropshishat。Bangety!Bang!Bang!goestheriflesliketherollofadrum。CherokeecanworkaWinchesterlikeoneoftheseyereYankee'larm-clocks，an'thatRedDoghold-updon'tseemnonebehind。
　　"AboutthefifthfiretheRedDogmansorterstepsfor'ardan'dropshisgun；an'afterstandin'onsteadyforasecond，hestartstocripplin'downathisknees。Atlasthecomesaheadonhisfacelikealandslide。Thar'stwobulletsplumbthroughhislungs，an'whenwegetstohimtheredfrothiscomin'outenhismouthsomeplenteous。
　　"WepackshimbackintotheRedLightan'layshimontoamonte-
　　table。Bimebyhecomestoalittlean'Peetsaskshimwhateverhethinkshewants。
　　"'Iwantsyou-allstotakeoffmymoccasinsan'packmeintothestreet，'saystheRedDogman。'Iain'tallowin'formyoldmotherinMissourytobetoldashowIdiesinnogin-mill，whichsheshorely'bominatesof'em。An'Idon'tdiewithnobootson，neither。'
　　"We-allspackshimbackintothestreetag'in，an'pullsawayathisboots。Aboutthetimewegets'emoffhesagsbackconvulsive，an'
　　tharheisasdeadasSantaAnna。
　　"'Whatsortofagameisthis，anyhow？'saysDanBoggs，who，whilewestandsthar，hasbeenpawin'overtheRedDogman'srifle。'Lookslikethisvivaciousparty'splumblocoed。Yere'shishind-sightswedgedupforathousandyards，an'he'sbeena-shootin'ofcartridgeswithahundredan'twentygrainsofpowderinto'em。
　　Betweenthesightsan'thejumpofthepowder，he'sshootin'plumboverCherokeean'aimin'straightathim。'
　　"'Nellie，'saysEnright，lookin'remorsefulatthegirl，whocolorsupan'beginstocryag'in，'didyoucold-deckthisyereRedDogsportthisa-way？'
　　"'I'm'fraid，'sobsNell，'hegetsCherokee；soIslidesoverwhenyou-allsiswaitin'an'fixeshisgunsome。'
　　"'WhichIshouldshorelyconcedeyoudid，'saysEnright。'ThewaythatRedDoggentmanip'lateshisweeponshowsheknowshisgame；
　　an'exceptforyoua-settin'thingsuponhim，I'mpowerfulafraidhe'dspoiledCherokeeawholelot。'
　　"'Well，gents，'goesonEnright，afterthinkin'awhile，'Ireckonswe-allsmightaswelldrinkonit。Hist'rynevershowsagameyet，an'awomaninit，whichisonthesquar'，an'wemeeklyb'arsourburdenswiththerest。'"
　　CHAPTERIX。
　　CHEROKEEHALL。
　　"An'youcan'tschedooletoomuchgoodabouthim，"remarkedtheOldCattleman。Herehethrewawaytheremnantoftheprincipe，and，securinghispipe，beattheashesthere-outandcarefullyreloadedwithcutplug。Inevitablytheoldgentlemanmustsmoke。Histoneandairashemadetheremarkquotedwerethoseofamanwhoseconvictionstouchingtheonediscussedwerenottobeshaken。"No，sir，"hecontinued；"whenIlooksback'arddownthetrailoflife，ifthar'sonegentwhoaforetimeholdsforthinWolfvilleonwhomI
　　reflectswithsatisfaction，it'sthisyereCherokeeHall。"
　　"Tojudgefromhisconduct，"Isaid，"inthehardcaseoftheWilkinsgirl，aswellashisremarkassheleftonthestage，I
　　shouldholdhimtobeapersonofsensibilitiesaswellasbenevolentimpulse。"
　　Itwasmypurposetocoaxtheoldgentlemantofurtherreminiscence。
　　"Benev'lent!"retortedtheoldman。"WhichIshouldshoreadmitit!
　　WhathedoesforthisyereyoungWilkinsfemaleain'tamarker。
　　Thar'stheRedDogmanheletsout。Thar'stheStingin'Lizard'snephy；hestakessaidyoothfrominfancy。'Benev'lent!'saysyou。
　　ThispartyCherokeeisthatbenev'lenthe'dgiveawayapokerhand。
　　I'vedonesetan'seehimgiveawayhishandinajack-potfortwohundreddollarstosomegent'crossthetablewho'sorganizin'togoag'inhiman'can'taffordtolose。An'youcanonderscoreit；awinnin'pokerhand，an'himholdin'it，isthelastthingathoroughbredkyard-sharp'llgiveaway。ButasIsays，IseesthisCherokeedoitwhentheopp'sitionissettin'inhardluckan'
　　couldn'tstandtolose。
　　"Howwouldhegivehishandaway？Throwitinthediskyardan'notplayitnone；jestnacherallyletthegentwho'sneedythata-wayrakeinthechipsonthelowhand。Cherokeemebbydoesitthisfashionso'shedon'twoundthefeelin'softhisyerevictimofhisgen'rosity。Thar'sfolkswhoturnssens'tivean'ain'touttotakealmsnone，who'sfeelin'shespar'sthata-waybylosin'to'ematpokerwhattheydeclineswithscorndirect。"'Benev'lent，'isthewayyouputsit!Son，'benev'lent'ain'ttheword。ThissportCherokeeHallain'tnothin'shortofchar'table。
　　"Speakin'wideflungan'onrestrained，Cherokee，asImentionstoyoubefore，isthemodestest，decentestlonghornasevershakeshisantlersinArizona。Heissliman'light，an'aondoubtedkyard-
　　sharpfromhismoccasinsup。An'Ineverknowshimtohaveapesohedon'tgamblefor。Nothin'common，though；Iseeshimonenightwhenhesetsca'mlyintosomefour-handedpoker，fivethousanddollarstablestake，an'he'ssanguinean'hopefulaboutlandin'onhisfeetasaCimmaronsheep。Ofcoursetimesisplentyflushinthemdays，an'fivethousanddon'tseemnosechmammothsum。Tradeiseageran'
　　valueshigh；aces-upfrequentcallin'forfivehundreddollarsbeforethedraw。Stillweain'tnoneofusmakin'cigarettesofnosechrollasfivethousand。Thedaysain'tquitesohalcyonasallthatneither。
　　"ButwhatIlikesspeshulinCherokeeHallishisjedgement。He'severytimeright。Heain'ttalkin'much，an'heain'tneedin'adviceneither，more'nasteerneedsasaddle-blanket。Butwhenheconcloodestodothings，youcangamblehe'sgotitplentyright。
　　"OnetimethisCherokeean'TexasThompsoniscomin'infromTucsononthestage。BesidesCherokeean'Texas，alongcomesafemale，close-herdin'oftwoyoung-ones；whichtheminfantsmighthavebeent'rant'lersan'everyoneaheaphappier。Sorterasrange-bossofthewholeout。fitisaleangentinablackcoat。Well，theyhopsin，an'Cherokeegives'emthetwobackseatsonaccountofthefemalean'theyearlin's。
　　"'MynameisJones，'saysthegentintheblackcoat，whenhegetssettledbackan'thestageisgoin'，Ian'I'manexhortin'
　　evangelist。Iplucksbrandsfromtheburnin'。'
　　"'I'mpowerfulgladtoknowit，'saysTexas，wholikestalk。'Themgamesofchancewhichhasvogueinthisyereclimeissomevarious，an'IdidthinkIshorelytests'emall；butifeverthedeviceyounamesisopeninWolfvilleIoverlooksthesamecomplete。'
　　"'Pore，sinkin'soul!'saystheblack-coatgenttothefemale；'he'sa-flounderin'inthemireofsin。Don'tyouknow，'hegoesontoTexas，'myperishin'friend，youarebein'sweptdownwardintheriverofyourownsinfullifetillyoursoulwillbedrownedintheabyss？"
　　"'Well，no，'saysTexas，'Idon't。IallowsI'mmakin'amightydryfordofit。'
　　"'Lost!lost!lost!'saystheblack-coatgent，a-leanin'backlikehe'splumbdejectedthata-wayan'hopeless。'Itisastiff-neckedgen'rationan'sorelyperversealot。'