第6章

\"Lifethere，\"Iremarked，\"amidnewandroughconditionsmustbefullofhardshipandtragedy。\" Thisvaguearrowintheairhadtheeffectofsendingtheoldfellowoffatatangent。Hisbentwasevidentlydiscursive，andallthoughtsofhislatereligiouscontroversyseemedtopassfromhismind。 \"Fullofhardshipan\'tragedyisyourremark，\"heretorted，\"an\'I joinsyoutharin。TakethemdisastersthatpouncesonSlimJim。WhathappensinthecaseofthisyereSlimJimtenderfoot，\"theoldfellowcontinuedasadampgleamofsympathyshoneinhiseye，\"isbothhardshipan\'tragedy。Whichofcoursethar\'samightysightofdifference。Ahardshipagentlivesthrough；butit\'satragedywhenhislight\'sputout。An\'asSlimJimdon\'tlivethroughthisnone，it\'snacherallyatragedythata-way。 \"Ifrequentseesbadlucktootherfolks，aswellascomin\'tomepersonal，intheyearsIinhabitsthegrasscountry，butthiswasshorelythetoughest。Itevenoverplaysanythin\'RainbowSameverisag\'inst；an\'thehardluckofRainbowSamisaproverbofArizona。 \"\'WhichIreckonsIwasfoaledwithacopperonme，\'saysthisRainbowSamtoEnrightoneday。\'InallmyborndaysInevermakesakillin\'——nevergetsupwinneronce。Iwasfoaledaloser，an\'I\'llkeepa-losin\'ontilthisyeremalady——whichit\'sconsumption-whichhasmeinchargedeliversmetotheangelsan\'getsitsreceipt。\' \"It\'samockerywhattranspirestouchin\'thisRainbowSam。Jestashestates，theconsumption\'sgothimtreedan\'outonalimb。DocPeetssays，himse\'f，nothin\'canhe\'phim；an\'whenPeetsquitsalittlethinglikeconsumptionan\'shoveshischairback，you-allscangambleagent\'shealth，thata-way，isonadeadkyard。 \"IrecallshowRainbowSamdies；whichheridesoutintoeternityeasyan\'painless。We-allsisintoapoker-gamennenight-thatis，fiveofus——whenDocPeetsiscalledaway。 \"\'Seeyere，Rainbow，\'saysPeetstoRainbowSam，who\'spennilessan\' tharforelookin\'on；\'youneverhasamorselofluckinyourlife。 Now，yere:Youplaymyhandan\'chipsawhile。I\'monvelvetforthreehundredan\'fifty，an\'I\'dassoonyou\'dloseitintothegameasanysportIknows。An\'torouseyourmoralnacherIwantstotellyou，whateveryourakesinyoukeeps。Nowthar\'sluckatthejump； youcan\'tlosean\'youmaywin，sosetinyere。Napoleonneverhashalftheshow。\' \"Peetsgoesawayforanhouraboutsomethin\'，an\'RainbowSamtakeshisseat；an\'，merelytoshowhowonegentoutlucksanother，whilePeetshashadtheluckofdogsit\'sthatprofusean\'good，itlookslikethebestRainbowcangetisanevenbreak。Forhalfanhourhewinsan\'helosesaboutequal；an\'he\'sshoretryin\'hardtowin，too。 \"\'IfItakesinacoupleofhundredorso，\'saysthisRainbowtome，\'IallowsI\'llvisitmyfolksintheStatesonceforluck。\' \"Buthenevervisitsthemfolksheadvertsto。It\'sonBoggs\'sdeal，an\'he\'sthrowin\'thekyards\'roundwhenRainbow\'stookbad。Hisconsumptionsortermutiniesontohimallatonce。He\'sgottheseatontheleftofBoggs，too，——gottheage。 \"\'Playmyhand，\'hesaystoHamilton，who\'ssteppedinfromthedance-hall；\'playmyhand，Jim，tillIfeelsalittlebetter。I\'llbeallrightinamoment。Barkeep，dealmesomewhiskey。\' \"SoRainbowwalksovertothebar，an\'Hamiltonpicksuphiskyards。 InotesthatRainbowstepsoffthattimesometottersome；buthe\'ssoplumbweakthata-way，catsisrobusttohim；an\'soIdeemsnothin\'tharof。I\'mskinnin\'mykyardsabitinterestedanyhow，bein\'intheholemyse\'f。 \"Everybodycomesinthisdeal，an\'whenthechipsisinthecenter—— thisyere\'sbeforethedraw——Hamilton，speakin\'upforRainbow，says: \"\'Theseyere\'sDocPeets\'schipsanyhow？\' \"\'Whichtheyshorelybe，\'saysBoggs，\'soplay\'emmerciless，\'causePeetsisrich。\' \"\'That\'swhatIasksfor，\'saysHamilton，\'forIdon\'taimtomakenomistakeswithporeRainbow\'smoney。\' \"\'That\'sallright，\'saysBoggs，\'dump\'emin。Ifyou-alllose，it\'sPeets\'s；ifyouwin，it\'sRainbow\'s。\' \"\'Play\'emgamean\'liberal，OldMan，\'saysRainbowoverbythebar，——an\'itstrikesmeatthetimehistonesisweakan\'queer；butbein\'asIjestthennotesathirdqueeninmyhand，Idon\'thavenochancetodwellonthefact。\'Play\'emgamean\'free，\'saysRainbowag\'in。\'Freeasthewatersoflife。Winorlose，she\'sallthesameahundredyearfromnow。\' \"Hamiltontakesanotherlookan\'thenraisestheanteahundreddollars。Thisyereistablestakes；thisgamewas；an\'thestakesisfivehundred。 \"\'WhichIplaysthis，\'saysHamilton，ashecomesupwiththehundredraise，\'thesameasIwouldformyse\'f，whichthesamemeansplenteousan\'freeasaking。\' \"Thar\'sthreeofuswhostays，oneofthesamebein\'me。Iallersrecallsiteasy，\'causeitfrost-bitesmythreequeensforoverthreehundreddollarsbeforetheexcitementdiesaway。Boggs，who\'ssovociferousrecentaboutHamiltonplayin\'wideopen，staysout； nothavin\'asgoodasnine-high。 \"OnthedrawHamiltonallowsRainbow\'shandneedsonekyard，an\'hegetsit。Itakesonealso；thesamebein\'futile，sofarashe\'pin\' myhandgoes；an\'theotherstakeskyardsvarious。 \"Thar\'sonlyoneraise，an\'that\'swhenitgetstoHamilton。Hesetsinalittleovertwohundreddollars，bein\'thebalanceofthestake；an\'twoofusisfeeble-mindedenoughtocall。Whatdoeshehave？Well，it\'sampleforourondoin\'thata-way。It\'sastraightflushofdiamonds；jackattheheadoftheclass。Itshorelycarriesoffthepotlikeit\'sawhirlwind。AsnearasIcanmeasure，HamiltonclawsoffwithaboutsixhundreddollarsforRainbowonthatonehand。 \"\'Yereyoube，Rainbow!\'shoutsBoggs。\'Comea-runnin\'!It\'snowyouvisitsthemrelations；youmakesakillin\'atlast。\' \"ItturnsoutsomelateforRainbowthough。Thar\'snoreplytoBoggs\'stalk，an\'whenwe-allsgoesovertohimwherehe\'ssetdownbytheendofthebarthar，withhisarmonamonte-table，an\'hischinonhisshirt，RainbowSamisdead。 \"\'WhichIregrets，\'saysDocPeetswhenhereturns，\'thatRainbowdon\'tstaylongenoughtoonderstandhowlucksetshiswayatlast。 Itmostlikelycomfortshiman\'makeshisgoin\'outmorecheerful。\' \"\'It\'sagoodsign，though，\'saysCherokeeHall，\'thatstraightflushis。WhichitshowsRainbowstrikesastreakofluck；an\'mebbyitlastslongenoughtogethimbythegatesaboveallright。That\'sallIaskswhenmytimecomes；thatIdieswhenI\'mcommencin\'arunofluck。\' \"Oh!aboutthisSlimJimtenderfootan\'histragedy!DoyouknowI plumboverlookshim。Igetstrailedoffthata-wayafterporeoldRainbowSam，an\'SlimJimescapesmymem\'rycomplete。 \"Whichthestoryofthisgent，eventhelittlewe-allsknows，isaheaponusual。Noone，onlesshe\'sthepostmaster，everdoeshearhisname。Hesorterha\'ntsaboutRedDogan\'Wolfvilleindiscriminateformightynighayear；an\'theycallshim\'SlimJim\'withus，an\' \'TheTenderfoot\'inRedDog；but，asIsays，what\'shisrealnameneverdoespokeupitshead。 \"WhateverbringsthisyereSlimJimintothecowcountryistooboggyacrossin\'forme。Tharain\'tathinghecandoorlearnto。 We-allshashimononeround-up，an\'it\'scl\'arfromthejumpheain\'tmeantbyProvidenceforthecattlebusiness。Themeekestbroncointhebunchbuckshimoff；an\'actooallyhe\'sthattimidhe\'splumbafraidofponiesan\'cattleboth。 \"We-allsfixesSlimJim\'ssaddlewithbuckin\'-straps；an\'evenfastensarollofblanketsacrossthesaddle-horn；butitain\'tenough。Nothin\'bartyin\'SlimJimintothesaddle，likethehoss- backInjunsdoestopapooses，couldsavehim。 \"An\'asidefromnacheralawk\'ardnessan\'alightan\'fitfulseatinasaddle，itlookslikethisSlimJimhasbalefuleffectsonabronco。Toshowyou:Onemornin\'weropesupforhimaponywhichhasrenownforitslowsperits。Itacts，thisyereponydoes，likeit\'ssufferedsomedisapp\'intmentwhichblightsitan\'breaksitsheart；an\'noamountoftightenin\'ofthebackcinch；notevenspurrin\'ofitintheshoulderan\'necklikeplayfulpeoplewho\'soutforacircusdoes，iseverknowntoevolveabuck-jumpoutenhim，he\'sthatsad。Whichthisissowellknown，thepony\'snameis\'Remorse。\' \"AsIsays，merelytoshowthemalignantspellthisyereSlimJimcastsoverabronco，we-allsthrowshimontothisRemorseponyonemornin\'。 \"\'Whichifyoucan\'tgetalongwiththatcayouse，\'remarksJackMooreatthetime，\'Ireckonsit\'sforeordainedyou-allhastogoafoot。\' \"An\'that\'showitturnsout。NosoonerisSlimJiminthesaddlethanthatRemorseponyarcheshisbacklikeahoop，stickshisnosebetweenhisknees，an\'giveswaytosechafitofrealoldworm- fencebuckin\'aslandsSlimJimonhissombrero，an\'makesexpertponiessimplystandan\'admire。 \"That\'sthelastround-upSlimJimattempts；workin\'cattlehesayshimse\'fistoodeepagameforhim，an\'heneverdoestrynomore。 SohehangsaboutWolfvillean\'RedDogalternate，turnin\'littlejim-crowtricksfortheexpresscompany，orhe\'pin\'overtothestagecompany\'scorrals，an\'sortermanagestolive。 \"Nowan\'thensomepartywho\'sbusydrinkin\'，an\'tharforehasn\'ttimeforfaro，an\'yetisdesirousthesamebeplayed，stakesSlimJimag\'instthegame；an\'ithappensattimeshemakesasmallpick- upthata-way。Buthismeansoflivelihoodisshorelywhatyou-allswouldcallprecar\'ous。 \"An\'yet，asIsendsmymindbackoverthetrail，Ineverknowsofnothin\'badthisyereSlimJimdoes。Youneedn\'tgoinferrin\'none，fromhishavin\'aterrorofsteersan\'broncosthata-way，thathe\'stimidplumbthrough。Thar\'sreasontodeemhimgamewhenhe\'supag\'instmereman。 \"Once，sotheytellsthestory，CurlyBillroundsupthisSlimJiminaRedDoghurdy-gurdyan\'concloodstohavesomeentertainmentwithhim。 \"\'Dance，youshorthorn!\'saysthisyereCurlyBill，yankin\'outhissix-shooteran\'p\'intin\'itmightysuddenatSlimJim\'sfoot； \'shufflesomethin\'rightpeartnow，oryou-allemergesshyatoe。\' \"DoesthisSlimJimdance？Nevercavortsastep。AtthefirstmoveheswarmsalloverthisCurlyBilllikeawild-cat，makeshimdrophisgun，an\'sendshimoutofthehurdy-gurdyonacanter。That\'sstraight；that\'sthepainfulfactinthecaseofCurlyBill，whomakesovergaywiththewronggent。 \"Later，mebbyanhour，sothepartysayswhorelatesittome，CurlyBillsendsbackwordintothehurdy-gurdy，tellin\'thebarkeep，ifhiscredit\'sgoodaftersechvicissitoodes，totreatthehouse。Heallowsthedrinksisonhim，an\'thatacommitteecanfindhimsettin\'onthepostofficestepssortergoin\'overhimse\'fforfractures，ifit\'sheldnecessaryforhimtobepresentwhenthedrinksistook。 \"Whichofcourseanygent\'screditisgoodatthebarthata-way； an\'soasmalldelegationofthreeropesupthisyereCurlyBillan\' bringshimbacktothehurdy-gurdy，wherehegetshisgunag\'in，an\' SlimJiman\'himmakesup。 \"\'WhichIrenouncesallideeofeverseein\'youdancesome，\'saysCurlyBill，whenhean\'Jimshakes；\'an\'Iyerebymarksyourmoccasinsplumboffmylistoftargets。\' \"Everybody\'spleasedatthis；an\'thebarkeepisdelightedspeshul，asoneofthemreeconciliationsthata-wayismightycondoosivetothesaleofnose-paint。I\'myeretoremark，iftharain\'tnomorereeconciliationsonearth，an\'everybodystandspatonthemhatredsan\'enmitiesofhis，whiskey-drinkin\'fallsoffhalf。 \"Ionlysu\'gestthisturn-upwithCurlyBillto\'lustratethatit\'saboutasIsays，an\'thatwhileSlimJim\'sreluctantan\'hesitatin\' inthepresenceofwildsteers，an\'can\'tadheretoaponymuch，thisyeregirlishnessdon\'textendtomennone；whichlasthefacespromptan\'willin\'asalion。 \"Thar\'stimeswhenIshorelypondersthecaseofthisSlimJimamightysight，\'causehekeepsstrikin\'measagoodgentgonebad，an\'asbein\'therightgentinthewrongplace。 \"\'ThisporemaverickisplumbEastern，that\'sall，\'saysEnrightoneday，whilehe\'sdiscussin\'ofthisSlimJim。\'Heain\'ttoblame，butheain\'tnevergoin\'todo，nonewhatever，outyere。Hecan\'tnomoregetusedtoArizonathanoneoftheDisciples，an\'hemightcamp\'roundforyears。\' \"It\'smebbyhardontoayearwhenalongcomesthebeginnin\'oftheendasfarasthisSlimJim\'sconcerned，onlywe-allsdon\'tknowit。 Thepostmastersaysafterwardhegetsaletter；an\'bywhat\'sfoundontheremainderitlookslikethepostmaster\'sright，an\'thislettersetshimgoin\'wrong。Iallersallows，afterhegetsthismissive，thatheseestheneedofmoneythata-wayan\'plentyofit； an\'thatit\'sgottocomequick。 \"Mostlikelyhe\'sbeenbluffin\'somepartiesintheEastabouthowrichheisan\'howlucrativehe\'sdoin\'，——sechbluffsbein\'commonintheWest，——an\'nowalongcomeseventsan\'folkshe\'sfooled，an\' hisbluffiscalled。 \"Whenitarrives，noneofusknowsofthisyereletterthepostmastermentions，an\'whichislaterreadbyall；butit\'saboutthattimeSlimJimactsqueeran\'locoed。He\'sflusteredan\' stampededaboutsomethin\'，we-allsnotesthat；an\'DaveTuttevenforgetshimse\'fasagentsofarastoaskSlimJimwhat\'sup。 \"`Whichyoulooksoneasytheseautumndays，\'saysTutttoSlimJim。 \'What\'swrong？\' \"\'Nothin\'，\'saysSlimJim，lookin\'abitwoozy，\'nothin\'wrong。A friendofmineislikelytoshowupyere；that\'sall。\' \"\'Whichhehastheairofafugitivefromjesticewhenhesaysit，\' observesTutt，whenhespeaksofitafterall\'sover；\'thoughjedgin\'bythepartywho\'sonhistrailthattimeIdon\'treckonhe\'sdonenothin\'neither。\' \"It\'sshorelytheneedofmoneydrivesthisSlimJimtoturnin\' route-agentan\'goholdin\'upthestage，fortheevenin\'hequitscamphesaystoCherokeeHall:\'S\'poseIasksyou-alltolendmemoney，quiteabundle，say，wouldyoudoit？\' \"\'Iturnsfaroformymoney，\'saysCherokee；\'whichImerelymentionsittoshowIcomeshonestlybymyroll。Astoborrowin\'ofme，you-alloranygentinhardlinescangetmymoneybyshowin\'heneedsitworsethanIdo；an\'toencourageyouImightsayIdon\'tneedmoneymuch。So，goonan\'tellmethenewsaboutyourse\'f，an\' ifit\'sasbadasthewayyoulooks，IreckonsI\'llhavetostakeyou，evenifittakeshalfmypile。\'TharuponCherokeeurgesSlimJimtoonfoldhisstory。 \"ButSlimJimgetsshyan\'won\'ttalkortellCherokeewhat\'spesterin\'him，orhowmuchmoneyheneeds。 \"\'No，\'hesays，afterthinkin\'alittle，\'Ineverbegsastakeyet，an\'Ineverwill。AnyhowIseesanotherwaywhichisbetter。\' \"Countin\'nosesafterwards，it\'sprobablythistalkwithCherokeeisthelastSlimJimhasbeforehebreaksoverintothehillsonthehuntformoney。Hegoesafoot，too；forhedon\'townnopony，an\'hecouldn\'t，asIexplainsprevious，stayonhimifhedoes。 \"Buthefixeshimse\'fwithaWinchesterwhichhegetsfromthestage-companypeoplethemse\'fsonatalkhemakesabouttakin\'somereecreationwiththecoyotes，an\'p\'intsstraightoverintoRawhideCanyon，——mebbyit\'ssixmilesfromcamp。Whenthestagegetsalonganhourlater，thisSlimJim\'smadehimse\'famaskwithahandkerchief，an\'isafull-fledgedhold-upwhichanyexpresscompanycouldbeproudtodown。OldMonterelateswhathappensinthecanyon，\'causefromwherehe\'sstuckupontheboxhegetsabetterview。 \"\'Yere\'showthishappens，\'saysOldMonte，whilerenooin\'hisyoothwithRedLightlickerafterhe\'sgotin。\'It\'salittlehazyinthecanyon，comin\'evenin\'thata-way，an\'myeyesiswaterywiththeshootin\'goin\'on，an\'Itharforedon\'tsayInotesthingsnoneminoote；butasnearasIcan，yougetsthestory。 \"`Thar\'sonlyonepassenger，an\'she\'sawoman。Whichforthatmattershe\'sabeautifulgirl，witheyeslikeabuckantelope\'s；butbein\'she\'slayin\'overtothestagestationdefunctrightnow，alongwiththisyereSlimJim，Idon\'tdwellnoneonhowshelooks。\' \"\'WhenIpullsoutfromTucsonIhasthisyereyoungfemaleinside； an\'thecompanyputstwoWells-Fargogyardsontopofthecoach，thesamebein\'thefirsttimeinmonths。TheseWells-Fargopartiesain\'talongforhold-ups，butjest\'causetheyhasbusinessoveryere，an\' socomesbystagesameasothergents。 \"`ItallgoessmoothontilI\'mrattlin\'alonginRawhideCanyonnothalf-a-dozenmilesfromwherewe-allsisnowdrinkin\'allfreean\' amiable，likelife\'snothin\'butsunshine。 \"\'Thefirstp\'interIhasthatI\'mupag\'instit，bang!goesaWinchester，an\'throwsmyoffleaderdeadag\'instthetrail。Thar\'snogoin\'\'roundthedeadhoss，an\'barthenacheralrarin\'an\' pitchin\'oftheotherfiveonbeholdin\'oftheontimelyendoftheircompanionthata-way，thewholebusinesscomestoadeadstop。 \"\'\"Holdupyourhands!\"saysavoiceuptherocksononeside。 \"\'Myhandsisalreadyup，forI\'manoldstage-driver，gents，an\' you-allscangambleIknowsmytrade。I\'mhiredtodrive。Itain\'tnopartofmygametofighthold-upsan\'standoffroute-agentsthata-way，an\'getshotdeadforitbytheirpardsthenexttrip；so，asIsays，themomentthatWinchestergoesoff，Iclampsmyfingersbackofmyheadan\'setsthar。OfcourseItalksbackatthishold- upaheapprofane，forIdon\'taimtohavethenameofallowin\'anygenttorustlemystagean\'menotcusshimout。\"\'ButtheseyereWells-Fargosharps，theyneverholdsuptheirhands。That\'snacheralenough，forthemgentsishiredtofight，an\'thispartic\'lartripthar\'sfullsixthousanddollarstogotowarover。 \"WiththefirstshottheWells-Fargogents——theywasgameasgoatsbothof\'em——slidesoffenthecoachan\'takestoshootin\'。Thegunsismakin\'ahigholdrattleofit，an\'I\'mhopin\'thehold-upwon\'tgettoover-shootin\'an\'drillme，whenthefirstcasooaltyoccurs。 OneoftheWells-Fargosportsgetsabulletplumbthroughhisframe，an\'isdeadan\'outinthecrackofawhip。 \"\'Itlookslikethehold-upseeshimtumble，forit\'sthenhecutslooseawhoop，jumpsdownontothetrailan\'charges。Hecomesa- shootin\'，too，an\'thewaytheleadan\'firefetchesforthfromthatWinchesterhe\'smanagin\'shoreremindsmeofthemRomancandleslastJuly。 \"\'Allthisyeredon\'ttaketenseconds。An\'itdon\'tlasttensecondsmore。Asmyhold-upcomeschargin\'an\'shootin\'towardsthestage，Ioverhearsascreaminside，an\'thenextmomentthatyoungfemalepassengeropensthedooran\'comesscamperin\'out。 \"\'Ifshetriesshecouldn\'thaveselectednoworseepock。Shehitstheground，an\'thesecondshedoes——forI\'mlookin\'overatheratthetime——shestopsoneofthathold-up\'sbulletsan\'goesdownwithagreatcry。 \"\'It\'sonme，gents，atthisp\'inttotakeallresksan\'godownan\' look-outtheplayforthegirl。ButInevergetsachance，an\'it\'saswellIdon\'t；fortowardsthelasttheshootin\'oftheremainin\' Wells-Fargopersonisrecklessan\'inordinate。It\'splumbreedundant；thatshootin\'is。ButasIremarks，Ineverhasnooccasiontogotothegirl；forasIfeelstheimpulseIhearsthehold-upshout: \"\'\"God!it\'sMary!It\'smysister!\" \"\'Thar\'saletteronhimwefindslater，whichshowsthisstatementaboutmypassengerbein\'hissisteristroo；an\'thatshe\'sp\'intin\' outwhendowned，nowthey\'sorphans——whichtheletterstatestheirfather\'sjestcashedin——tocomean\'keephouseforhim。Asthehold-upmakesthisyereexclamationaboutthegirlbein\'hisrelativethata-way，hisWinchestergoesa-rattlin\'ontothetrailan\'hegathersherinhisarms。However，hedon\'tlastlongerthanadrinkofwhiskeynow。Hedon\'tnomore\'nliftherup，beforeevenhekissesher，theremainin\'Wells-Fargogentdownshim，an\'theriot\'sovercomplete。 \"\'Threekilledan\'nonewoundedishowresultsstacksup；an\'aftermean\'theliveWells-Fargogentcl\'arsthedeadleaderoutenthetrail，we-allslaysouttheremaindersinsideallpeaceful，an\' comesa-curvin\'ontoWolfville。It\'sthen，asweputs\'eminthecoach，Iseesthatmyhold-up\'sthatonfortunatefelon，SlimJim。 WhichIwasshorelyastonished。IsaystotheWells-Fargogent，aswelooksatSlimJim: \"\'\"Pard，thedrinksisduefrommeonthis。IfIhasaweektoguessin，I\'dneversaid\'SlimJim。\'\" CHAPTERXVI。 JAYBIRDBOB\'SJOKE。 \"WhatevermakesthisyerejaybirdBobbelievehe\'sahumorist，\"saidtheOldCattlemanoneafternoonasweslowlyreturnedfromawalk，\"whateveritismisleadshimtosodeemhimselfisshorelytoomanyforme。DocPeetstellshimhimse\'fonedayhe\'splumbwrong。 \"\'You-all\'snacherallyasomber，moroseparty，\'saysDocPeetsthistime，\'an\'nothin\'jocoseorjocundaboutyou。Yourdisp\'sition，Jaybird，don\'tnomoreruntojokesthanaprairie-dog\'s。\" \"\'WhichIwouldadmiretoknowwhynot？\'saysJaybirdBob。 \"\'Well，\'goesonDocPeets，\'youthinkstooslow——toomuchlikeacowinaswamp。Yourmindmovessluggishthata-way，an\'sortersinkstothehockseachstep。Ifyouwasborntobefunnyyourintellectswouldbelimberan\'frivolous。\' \"\'Bein\'allthisispersonaltome，\'saysJaybirdBob，\'Itakesleavetoregardyouaswrong。Myjokesisgood，high-gradejokes； an\'whenyou-alltalksofmebein\'morose，it\'samerecaseofbluff。\'An\'soJaybirdgoesona-holdinofhimse\'ffunnyontilwe- allshashimtobury。 \"No；Jaybirdain\'thisshore-\'noughname；it\'sjestahandletohis\'dentity，sowe-allspicksituphandyandeasy。Jaybird\'srealnameisGraingerford，——PoindexterGraingerford。Butthesameiscumbersoman\'onwieldyawholelot；sowhenhefirsttrailsintoWolfvillewe- allsconsidersamongourse\'fsan\'settlesit\'sashortcuttocallhim\'JaybirdBob，\'thata-way。An\'wedoes。 \"It\'sonthespringround-upthisyereJaybirdfirstdevelopsthatheregardshimse\'fwitty。It\'sinthemorningaswe-allshassaddledupan\'linesouttocombtherangeroundaboutforcattle。Thar\'satenderfootalongwhosenameisTodd，an\'，ashe\'scanterin\'off，Jaybirdcomesa-curvin\'uponhisbroncoan\'reachesoveran\'tailsthisshorthorn\'spony。 \"What\'stailin\'apony？It\'sridin\'upfromther\'aran\'takin\'ahalf-hitchonyoursaddle。hornwiththetailofanothergent\'spony，an\'thenspurrin\'byan\'swappin\'endswiththewholeoutfit，—— gent，hoss，an\'all。 \"It\'sreallytootoomultuousforajoke，an\'mebbybreaksthepony\'sneck，mebbytherider\'s。Butwhetherhesaveshisneckorno，thepartywhoseponyisthustailedallersemergerstharfromdeshevelledan\'wrought-up，an\'hotterthanawolf。Sonooneplaysthisyerejokemuch；nottillhe\'sreadytogetshotat。 \"AsIsays，thisJaybirdwatchesToddasheridesoff。Bein\'newontherangethata-way，Todddon\'trideeasy。Acowsaddleain\'tbuiltliketheseyereEasternhulls，nohow。Thestirrupissettwoinchesfurtherbackforonething，an\'it\'scompiledaheapdifferentotherways。Bein\'onusedtocowsaddles，an\'forthatmattercowponies，thisToddlopsoverfor\'ardan\'beatswithhiselbowslikehe\'sacurleworsomethin\'flyin\'，an\'Ireckonsit\'ssechproceedin\'smakesJaybirdallowhe\'sgoin\'tobefunnyan\'tailTodd\'spony。 \"AsIexplains，hecapersalongafterToddan\'reachesoveran\'getsahandfulofthepony\'stail；an\'then，wroppin\'it\'roundhissaddle-horn，hegoesbyonthejumpan\'spreadsToddan\'hisbroncopermiscusaboutthescene。ThisyereToddgoesalongthegrassonallfourslikeajack-rabbit。 \"WhichTodd，Ireckons，isthehostilestgentinsouth-eastArizona。 Beforeeverheofferstogetup，helugsouthissix-shooteran\' makessomemightysinceregesturesthata-waytoshootupJaybird。 Buthe\'sslowwithhisweepon，bein\'spraddledoutonthegrass，an\' itgivesDaveTuttan\'Enrightachancetojumpinbetweenan\'stopthedeal。 \"We-allspicksToddup，an\'roundsuphispony，——whichscramblestoitsfeetan\'isnowcavortin\'aboutlikeitsmindisoverturned，—— an\'explainstohimthisyereisajoke。Buthe\'ssurlyan\' relentlessaboutit；an\'itdon\'ttakenohawktoseehedon\'tforgiveJaybirdalittlebit。 \"\'Tailin\'agent\'spony，\'saysTodd，\'isnodoubtthrillin\' amoosementforfolkslookin\'on，butthar\'snothin\'ofaredeemin\' natureinitfromthestandp\'intofthepartywhosepony\'supheavedthata-way。Nottobemisonderstoodatthisyerecrisis，\'goesonthisTodd，\'Iwantstoannouncethatfromnowfor\'ardlifewillhavebutonepurposewithme，which\'llbetodownthenextgentwhoevertailsaponyofmine。Thepresentincidentgoesasawitticism；butyoucangamblethenextwon\'tbesoregarded。\' \"Thatsorterendsthetalk，an\'allofusbutthecookan\'thehoss- hustlersbein\'inthesaddlebynow，wedispersesourse\'fsthroughthescenerytoworkthecattlean\'proceedwiththeround-upwe-allsison。Wenotes，though，thattailin\'Todd\'sponydon\'tgoag\'inwithsafety。 \"It\'swhenwe-allsridesawaythatDocPeets——who\'soutwiththeround-up，thoughheain\'tgotnocattle-brandhimse\'f——tellsJaybirdhe\'snotahumorist，likeIalreadyrepeats。 \"But，asIsu\'gests，thisJaybirdBobcan\'tbelieveitnone。He\'smightyshoreabouthisjokesbein\'excellentgoodjokes；an\'whileit\'splainToddain\'tgotnoconfidenceinhiman\'distrustshimcompletesincehetipsoverhisbroncothatmornin\'，itlookslikeJaybirdcan\'tlethimalone。An\'themmisdeedsofJaybird\'skeepsgoin\'on，ontilbythemerestmistake——forit\'sshoreanaccidentifeveronehappensinthecowcountry——thisyeretenderfootshootsupJaybirdan\'killshimforgood。 \"Itlookstouslikeit\'saspeshulProvidencetowarnfolksnottogoprojectin\'about，engagedinwhatyoumightcallphysicaljestsnone。Still，thisyereremovalofJaybirddon\'ttakeplacetillmightynearthecloseoftheround-up；an\'intervenin\'，he\'spirootin\'\'round，stockin\'thekyardsan\'settin\'uphandsontheporeshorthorncontinuous。 \"OneofJaybird\'sjokes——\'oneofhisbest，\'Jaybirdcallsit—— resultsinstampedin\'theherdofcattlewe-allsisbringin\'alongatthetime——bein\'allcowsan\'theircalves——toabrandin\'-pen。 Whichthar\'stwothousand，bigan\'little，inthebunch；an\' Jaybird\'shumorputs\'emtoflightlikesomanyblackbirds；an\'ittakestwodayshardridin\'forthewholeoutfittobring\'emtogetherag\'in。 \"AmongotherweaknessesthisToddimportsfromtheStatesis，he\'safraidofsnakes。Rattlesnakesishisabhorrence，an\'ifeachisadisembodiedsperithecan\'twant\'emfurtheroff。He\'sallersalarmedthatmebby，somehow，arattlesnakewillcomepokin\'inonderhisblanketsnights，an\'campwithhimwhilehe\'sasleep。An\'thisyerewretchedJaybirdfostersthemdelusions。 \"\'Aboutthemserpents，\'IoverhearsJaybirdsaytohimoneevenin\' whilewe-allsissettin\'\'round；——allbutMoorean\'Tutt，who\'sridin\'herd；\'\'boutthemserpents；agentcan\'tbetoopartic\'lar。 Itlooksliketheyhasbutonehope，whichit\'stocrawlintoagent\'sblanketsan\'sleepsomewithhim。Which，ifhemovesorturnsover，theysimplyemitsabuzzan\'grabshimIknowsoffortyfolkswho\'sbitthata-waybysnakes，an\'naryaonelivestoexplainthegame。\' \"\'BerattlesnakesthickinArizona？\'IhearsToddsaytothisJaybird。 \"\'Betheythick？\'answersJaybird。\'Well，IshorewishesIhadwhiskeyforalltherattlesnakestharisyereabouts。Idon\'twanttogooverstatin\'thecensustoagentwhoisoutplayin\'forinformation，an\'who\'slearnin\'fast，butIs\'posenowtharain\'tnonelessthanabillionsnakesinsoutheastArizonaalone。IfI couldsawoffthelittlepasselofcattleIhasonthisrange，youcangambleI\'dpullmyfreightto-morrow。It\'sallrightforsecholdCimmaronsasEnright，an\'sechpartiesasthatsawbonesPeets，togobluffin\'aboutthar\'bein\'norattlesnakestospeakof，an\' thattheycouldn\'tp\'isonyoutodeathnohow；butyoubetIain\'tseenfortyofmynearestfriendscashinofsnake-bites，an\'notlearnnothin\'。An\'almosteverytimeit\'sarattlesnakeascomesslidin\'intobedwith\'emwhilethey\'slockedindreams，an\'whogetshotan\'goestochewin\'of\'em，becausetheywantstoturnoutbeforethesnakedoes。Rattlesnakesthata-waywantstosleeptillit\'sfourth-drinktimean\'thesun\'s\'wayupyonder。An\'whenagentgoestorollin\'outofhisblanketssayatsun-up，itmakes\'emmonstrousangrytobedisturbed；an\'thefirstheknowsofwheretheybean\'howtheylooksonearlyrisin\'，theirteeth\'sinhimuptothegyard，an\'beforenightthar\'sonelessgenttocookfor，an\' anextrasaddleridesalonginthegrub-wagonwiththeblanketswhentheynextmovescamp。\' \"OfcourseallthisisaheapimpressivetoTodd；an\'whileEnrightan\'PeetsbothtellshimJaybird\'shavin\'funwithhim，youcanseehe\'smortalafraideverynightwhenhespreadshisblankets，an\'hemakesacireleaboutwherehesleepsatwithahorse-ha\'rlariathe\'sgotfromaMexican，an\'whotellshimit\'llticklethesnakes\' neckswhentheygoestocrawlacrossit，an\'make\'emkeepaway。 \"ThewaythisyereJaybirdmanagestostampedethebunchthattimeisthisa-way。Jaybirdcomesridin\'infromthecattleaboutthreehoursbeforesun-up，toturnoutTutt，whoisduetotakehisplaceonherd。Jaybird\'sgotarawhideropethathe\'sdruggedaboutinthegrass，whichmakesitdampan\'cold。AsJaybirdridesuptocampheseesthisToddrolledinhisblankets，snorin\'tobeatfourofakind。 \"NacherallyJaybird\'souttobejoyousinasecond。Heridesupclosetothishe\'plessshorthornashelaysasleep，an\'tossesaloopofhiswetrawhideacrosshiscountenancewhereit\'sturnedupinthemoonlight。Asitsettlesdowncoldan\'startlin\'onTodd\'sskin，Jaybirdyells: \"Snake，Todd!Thar\'sarattlesnakeonyoubigger\'nadog。\' \"JaybirdsayslaterashowthisToddbehavestremendous。Heb\'ilesupintotheatmospherewithahowllikeawolf；an\'，grabbin\'ablanketineachhand，hestartsoutovertheplainsinastateoffrenzy。Whichtheworstishechargesheadlongtowardtheherd；an\' whatwiththemshriekshevolunteers，an\'theblanketsflappin\'an\' wavin\'，tharain\'tacowinthebunchwhostaysinherrightmindamoment。Whichshespringstoherfeet，antakin\'heroffspringalong，goessurgin\'offintothehillsforgood。Youcouldn\'theadorstop\'emthen。It\'sthecompletestcaseofstampedeIeverturnsouttobehold。 \"No；thisyereToddnevergatherstherightsoftheeepisode。He\'sthatpeevishan\'voylentbynachernoonetellshimit\'sJaybird； an\'onless，inthelightofknowin\'more，hehassincefiggeredoutthetrooth，heallowstothisdayarattlesnakeasbigasarollofblanketstriestoreclineonhisfacethattime。 \"Tokeeppeaceincampan\'notlethimgotopawin\'\'roundforrealtroublewiththefestiveJaybird，Enrightstandsintocapthegamehimse\'f；an\'putsitupinconfabwiththisToddthenextdayashowheseestherattlesnake，an\'thatit\'smightynearbein\'awhopper。 \"\'It\'sshore，\'saysEnright，whenhean\'Toddisconversin\'tharon，\'themostgiantserpentIeverseeswithouttheaidoflicker。An\' whenhegoesstreakin\'offintothegloom，bein\'amazedan\'rattledbyyourcries，heleaves，sofarasI\'mconcerned，atrailofreliefbehind。You-allcangamble，Iwasn\'tinterruptin\'ofnosechsnake，normakin\'ofnopretextsforhisdetainment。 \"\'Whatforwashisrattleslike？\'saysTodd；an\'hegetspaleatthemeresoundofEnright\'stalk。 \"\'Astothemrattles，\'saysEnright，likehe\'smightythoughtfultryin\'torecall\'emtomind，\'astothisreptile\'srattles，it\'sthatdarkthatwhileIsees\'emIcouldn\'tbutjest。SofarasI notesanythin\'theylookslikeabeltfullofcar-tridges，sortercorrugatedan\'noomerous。 \"NowthisyerewhichIrelates，whilenodoubtburnin\'experiencestoTodd，isafterallharmlessenough。An\'topeoplenotcarefulaboutthebasisoftheirgleeitmightdosometolaughat。Butitallclosesuponaplaywithnothin\'gaynormerryinit；leastwisenotforJaybirdBob。 \"Thisyerefinishjokeofjaybird\'stranspiresoneevenin\'asthecook\'sstartin\'intorustlesomechuck。Thegrub-wagon\'sbeenstoppedinthemouthofPeeledPineCanyon。Everygent\'sincampbutthisyeretenderfootTodd。Enright，who\'sactin\'asround-upbossfortheoutfit——foreverybody\'scattle\'sbein\'workedtogetherthata-way，likeweallersdoes——hassentToddpeerin\'\'roundforcattle，\'wayoffupthevalleyintowhichthePeeledPineCanyonopens。Thisyereshorthorn\'sduetobebackanytimenow，\'causeit\'sonlyaquestionofhowfarupthevalleydoeshego。Hedon\'trunnoshowtobelost，fornothin\'lessaerialthangoatscouldclimboutofthecanyonhe\'sin，an\'tharforehe\'sboundtofindcamp。 \"Ofcourse，knowin\'everygent\'sstationintheday\'sridin\'，we- allsisplentyawarethatthistenderfootToddissome\'ersaboveusinthevalley。Noneoftherestofusisturnin\'ourmindstohimprobably，exceptJaybirdBob。Itallofabumplikeabuckin\'ponystrikesJaybirdthathe\'smissin\'aonusualchancetobebuoyant。 \"\'Whatforaplaywoulditbe，\'saysJaybird，rousin\'upfromwherehelayswatchin\'ofthecookslicesalthossforthefryin\'-pan，\'whatforagamewoulditbe，Isays，forapasselofustolayoutupthedraw，an\'bush-whackthisyereontaughtpersonToddashecomesridin\'downtocamp？We-allscouldhopoutathim，a-whoopin\' an\'shoutin\'，an\'bein\'wroppedupinblankets，heallowsit\'sshoreInjunsan\'goesplumblocoed。\' \"`You-allwillkeepharrowin\'awayatthisToddparty，Jaybird，\' saysEnright，\'ontilyouarisesfromthegameloser。NowIdon\'treckonnoneI\'dplayApacheifI\'myou。Thar\'stoomucheffortinbein\'anApachethata-way。I\'dlayyerean\'thinkupsomejokewhichdon\'tdemandsomuchindustry，an\'ain\'tcalc\'latedtoscareaninnocentgenttodeath。\' \"ButJaybirdwon\'tlisten。Hefallsintoadmirationofhisscheme； an\'atlastTuttan\'JackMooreallowsthey\'llgoalongan\'playthey\'saborigineswithJaybirdan\'notehowthetenderfootstandstheracket。 \"\'AslongasthisyereJaybird\'sboundtomaketheplay，\'saysJackMooretoEnright，talkin\'oneside，\'it\'saheapbettertohavetheconserv\'tiveelementrepresentedinthedeal。SoIputsitup，it\'sagoodsagemoveformean\'Tuttstostandin。We-allswillcomehandytopullJaybirdan\'thisshorthornapartiftheygetstheirhornslockedinthecourseofthemgaities。\' \"Enrighttakesthesameview；soJaybirdan\'Moorean\'Tuttwandersoffupthecanyonamile，an\'laysinwaitsurreptitioustoheadoffTodd。Jacktellsmethestorywhenhiman\'Tuttcomesridin\'backwiththecorpse。 \"\'Thisishowwedoes，\'saysJack。\'Mean\'Tuttan\'deceased——whichlastisJaybirdallrightenough——isensconcedbehindap\'intofrocks。Jaybird\'sgothisblanketwropped，\'roundhimsohelookslikeasavage。Itain\'tlongwhenwe-allshearsthetenderfootcomin\'downthecanyon；it\'slikelyhe\'shalf-mileaway。He\'srunnin\'ontousataroad-gait；an\'whenhe\'sabouttwohundredyardsoffJaybirdturnsoutayelltomakeyoushiver，shakesaloadortwooutenhisgun，goessurgin\'outfrom\'roundthep\'intofrocks，an\'chargesstraightatthisonthinkin\'tenderfoot。Itisduetotroothtosay，mean\'TuttfollowsthisJaybird\'ssuit，onlynotsovoylentastowhoops。 \"\'Doesitscareupthetenderfoot？Well，itshorelyalarmshimaheap。HetakesJaybirdforanInjunan\'makesnoquestion；whichthesameisnowisestrange；I\'dtookhimforasavagemyse\'f，only，bein\'inthedealthata-wayIknowsit\'sJaybird。So，asIremarks，ithorrifiesthetenderfootonend，an\'atthefirstsightofJaybirdhewhirlshisponyan\'lightsoutupthatvalleylikeantelope。 \"\'Nacherallywe-allsfollows；Jaybirdleadin\'，a-whoopin\'，an\'a- shootin\'，an\'throwin\'noendofsperitintoit。It\'sasuccess，thispieceofwitis，uptothisjuncture，an\'Jaybirdputsaheapofzestintoit。 \"\'Theweakspotinallthisyerehumorgrowsoutoftheideesthistenderfoot\'sbeengainin\'，an\'theimprovementshe\'sbeenmakin\'，whilestragglin\'aboutinours\'ciety。Ionhesitatin\'lystatesthatifthisyerejokeispulledoffbyJaybirdwhenToddfirstentersourmidst，itmighthavebeenthevict\'ryofhislife。ButJaybirddefersittoolong。ThistenderfoothasacquiredafewWesternways； enoughtospoilthefunan\'sendporeJaybirda-curvin\'tohishomeonhigh。 \"\'Thisiswhatthatshorthorndoeswhichteachesmehe\'slearnin\'。 Whilehe\'shumpin\'offupthecanyon，an\'mean\'Jaybirdan\'Tuttisstampedin\'alonginpursoot，thefugitivethrowsloosehissix- shooter，an\'withouteventurnin\'hisheadorlookin\'backatus，heonhookstheentirebundleofleadourway。 \"Whichtheworstfeatureofitis，thisbackhanded，blindshootin\' isawinner。TheveryfirstshotsmitesJaybirdplumbthroughthehat，an\'hegoesoffhisponywithoutevenmentionin\'aboutittoeitherTuttorme。 \"`That\'salltharistothereport。Davean\'mepullsupourbroncos，abandonsthejoke，laysJaybirdacrosshissaddlelikeasackofcorn，an\'returnstostatethecase。\' \"\'Whateverdidyou-allsdowiththisfrightenedstranger？\'asksEnright。 \"\'Whichweneverdoesnothin\'，\'saysJack。\'ThelastIbeholds，he\'sflyin\'upthevalley，hittin\'nothin\'butthehighplaces。An\' assoomin\'hisprojectistogetaway，he\'ssucceedin\'admirable。Ashevanishes，Ishouldjedgefromhismotionshe\'sreloadin\'hisgun； an\'fromtheluckhehaswithJaybird，Tuttan\'meisledtobelievethar\'snorealobjectinfollowin\'himnofurther。Idon\'tpressmys\'cietyonnogent；shorelynotonsomelocoedtenderfootthata-waywho\'spulledhisgunan\'isdoneblazin\'awayerratic，withoutpurposeoraim。\' \"\'Don\'tyouan\'Tuttknowwhereheisat？\'demandsEnright。 \"\'Whichweshorelydon\'t，\'saysJack。\'Ifhishossholds，an\'hedon\'tswervenonefromthedirectionhe\'sp\'intingoutinwhenhefadesfromview，he\'sgoin\'tobeoverintheSanSimoncountrybyto-morrowmornin\'whenweeatsourgrub；an\'that\'shalfwaytotheBoraxdesert。Ifyouyearnsformyimpressions，\'concloodsJack，\'drawnfroma-seein\'ofhimdepart，I\'mfreetosayIdon\'treckonyou-allsisgoin\'tomeetthisyeretenderfootnonesoon。\' \"An\'that\'saboutthesizeofit。Jackcallstheturn。Jaybird\'slastjokealarmsthistenderfootToddplumboutenArizona，an\'tharain\'tnoneofuseverseesha\'r，horn，norhoofmarkofhimnomore。 An\'hetakeswithhim，thisTodddoes，thebossponyinourbunch。\" CHAPTERXVX。 BOGGS\'SEXPERIENCE。 \"No；thar\'snothin\'prolixaboutBoggs。Whichonthecontrary，hisnacherisshorelyarduousthata-way。Ifit\'sameetin\'ofthecommittee，forinstance，withintentthenan\'thartodwellawholelotonthedoin\'sofsomemalefactor，Boggsallersgetstoamentalshow-downaheadoftheothergentsinvolved。Eitherhe\'souttothrowthispartyloose，orstretchhisneck，orrunhimoutencamp，orwhatever\'sdeemedexactjestice，longbeforesechslow-an\'-shorepeopleasOldManEnrightevenlooksattheirhands。Thetroothis，Boggsain\'tsostrongonjedgement；hislongsuitisinstinct。An\' moreoverIknowsfromhisdrawin\'fourkyardssomuchinpoker，Boggsisplumbemotional。\" AtthispointinhisdiscoursetheOldCattlemanpausedandputinseveralprofoundminutesinapparentcontemplationofBoggs。Thenhewenton。 \"That\'sit；Boggsisemotional；an\'Ishorelyreckonswhichhe\'devenbeenaheapreligious，onlythar\'snochurchesmuchonBoggs\'srange。Boggstellsmehimse\'fhecomesmightynearbein\'caughtinsomesperitualround-uponetime，an\'Iallersallows，afterhearin\' Boggsrelatethetale，thatifhe\'donlybeensubmergedinwhatyou- allscallsbenignerinflooencesthata-way，he\'dmostlikelymadethefoldallrightan\'gotgarneredinwiththesheep。 \"It\'sjustafterShortCreekDavegetstobeoneofthem\'vangelists。Davehasbeenexhortin\'ofWolfvilletoleaveoffitsways，overinthewarehouseoftheNewYorkStore，an\'thatsameevenin\'Boggs，bein\'somemoved，confidesinmehowoncehemebbyhalf-waymakesuphismindhe\'llbesaved。 \"\'Leastwise，\'saysBoggs，whenhetakesmeintohispastthata-way，\'IallowsI\'llbereligiousinthespringaftertheround-upisover。ButIdon\'t；soyoucan\'t，afterall，callitareligiousexper\'encenone；nothin\'more\'naeepisode。 \"\'It\'swinterwhenImakesthemgrace-of-heavendeterminations，\' goesonthisBoggs，\'an\'thespringround-upismonthsaway。ButI allersputsitupI\'dshorelyfilledmyhandan\'gotplumbintotheplay，onlyit\'sabadwinter；an\'inthespringthecattle，weakan\' starved，isgettin\'downan\'chillin\'todeathaboutthewater- holes；an\'asresultstharofI\'mridin\'thehills，a-cussin\'an\'a- swearin\'；an\'all\'roundit\'sthatrough，an\'I\'mthatprofanean\' voylent，IreckonstowardsAprilprobablymysoul\'sburiedondertenfootofcuss-words，an\'thatj\'inin\'thechurchinmycaseismightylikelytobeabluff。An\'soIpassesitup。 \"\'Yousees，\'saysBoggs，\'thar\'snogoodtryin\'toholdoutkyardsonyourRedeemer。Ifyourheartain\'trightit\'snousetosetintothegame。Nocolddeckgoes。Heseesplumbthrougheverykyardyouholds，an\'nothin\'butastraightdealdoeswithHim。Nacherally，then，Ithinks——bein\'ashowyoucan\'tbluffyourwayintoheaven，an\'recallin\'thebadlanguageIusesworkin\'themcattle——Iwon\'teventry。An\'that\'swhy，whenresolvin\'onewintertogetreligionmebbynextJune，Ipersistsinmysinfullife。 \"\'It\'sovertoTaosIacquiresthisreligiousidee。I\'mcomenewtothecampfromsome\'ersdown\'roundSevenRiversinthePecoscountry，an\'Idon\'tknowagent。WhichI\'mbynachergregar\'ous；sonotknowin\'folksthata-wayweighsonme；an\'thefirstnightI\'mthar，Ihastenstoremedythisyereevil。I\'mthepossessorofwealthtoalimit，——forIshoredespisesbein\'brokecomplete，an\' generallykeepsasgoodasabluestackinmywar-bags，——an\'Igoesprojectin\'\'roundfromdance-halltobaile，an\'deciminatesmydineroan\'drawstomenose-paintan\'friends。Astharain\'tbutthreegin-mills，incloosiveofthehurdy-gurdy，I\'mgoin\'curvin\'inthemgrandroundswhichIinstitoots，onasortoftriangle。 \"\'Whichitcan\'tbesaidIdon\'tmakerunnin\'ofit，however；I don\'treckonnowit\'smor\'nanhourbeforeIknowsallTaos，barMexicansan\'whatsomefolkscalls\"thebetterelements。\"Italsofollows，likeitslariatdoesaloosepony，thatI\'msomeorganizedbywhiskey，nottosayconfused。 \"\'It\'sbecauseI\'mconfusedI\'mmisledintothisyerepra\'r-meetin。\' Notthatthemexercisesisduetodimmyeternalgamenone，nownoryereafter；butasIain\'tliabletoadorntheplaynortakeproperparttharin，I\'dshorelypassedoutan\'keptontothehurdy-gurdyifI\'dknowed。Asitstands，Iblundersintothemorisonsinadvertent；but，havin\'pickedupthehand，Inacherallycontinuesan\'playsit。 \"\'It\'sthisa-wayaboutthemreligiousexercises:I\'memergedfromtheTubofBlood，an\'amp\'intin\'outforthedance-hall，whenI strikesawickeyupalllighted，an\'singin\'ontheinside。ItakesitforajointIain\'tseennoneasyet，an\'tharuponheadsupan\' enters。Fromthenoise，Iallowsmebbyit\'sMexican；whichGreasersusualputsupaheapofsingin\'an\'scufflin\'an\'talkin\'ineverythin\'frommontetoabull-fight。 \"\'OnceI\'min，Inotesitain\'tMexicansan\'itain\'tmonte。Goodfolksthough，Iseesthat；an\'asapasselof\'emnearthedoorlooksshockedatthesightofme，I\'mtoobashfultobreakoutag\'in，butsorteraigesintothenearestseatan\'standspat。 \"\'Icantelltheoutfitfiggersonmeraisin\'thelongyellan\' stampedin\'roundtomaketrouble；soIthinkstomyse\'fI\'llfool\'emupalot。Ijestwon\'tsayaword。SoIsetssilentasacoyoteatnoon；an\'afterawhilethesharpwho\'sdealin\'for\'emgoesonwiththempetitionsIinterruptsasIcomesbulgin\'in。 \"\'Theirrange-bosssaysonethingIremembers。It\'saboutcastin\' yourbreaduponthewaters。Heallowsyou\'llgetitag\'inan\'abandofmaverickswithit。It\'splayin\'whitechipstowinblues；that\'swhatthissharpsays。 \"\'Itshorelystrikesmeaseasy。Everytimeyoudoesgood，saysthisparty，Fateisouttoplayareturngamewithyou；an\'it\'swrittenyouquitswinneronallthegoodyoupromulgatesthata-way。 \"\'Isetsthedealoutan\'getssomesleepyatit，too。ButIwon\'tleavean\'scand\'lizethecongregation；an\'asIgivesupstrongwhentheplategoesby，Iain\'tregardedasnosetback。 \"\'Whenthecontreebution-box——whichshe\'satinplate——comeschargin\'by，I\'msorternoddin，\'I\'mthatweary。Inotesthejingleofmoney，an\'rousesup，allowin\'mebbyit\'sajack-pot，Ireckons。 \"\'\"Howhardbeyou-allin？\"Isaystothegentnexttome，who\'sgonetothecenterforapeso。 \"\'\"Dollar，\"saysthegent。 \"\'\"Well，\"Isays，\"Iain\'tseenmyhandsincethedraw，butI\'llraiseyounineblind。\"An\'Iboardsaten-dollarbill。 \"\'Whentherestgoes，Isortersidlesforthan\'linesoutforthedance-hall。ThefactisI\'mneedin\'whatyou-allscallsstimulants。 Butallthesameitsticksinmyheadaboutcastin\'gooddeedsonthewaterthata-way。Itstickstharyet，forthatmatter。 \"Bein\'releasedfromthemdevotions，Istartstodrinkin\'ag\'inwithzealan\'earnestness。An\'tharcomesatimewhenallmymoney\'sinmyboots。Yere\'show:IonlytakestwostacksofredswhenIembarksonthisyeredebauch。Bein\'deepan\'crafty，an\'anewInjunatthatagencythata-way，an\'notknowin\'whatgameImaygoag\'inst，I putstherestofmybank-rolloverinHoward\'sstore。Itturnsout，too，thateverytimeIacquiressilverinchange，Icommitsittomyleftboot，whichishighan\'ampletoholdsaidspecie。WhyIputsthisyeresilvermoneyinmyboot-laigisshoretoomanyforme。ButIfeelsmightycunnin\'overitatthetime，an\'regardsitasa\'way-upplay。 \"\'AsItellsyou，thararrivesanhourwhileI\'mintheTubofBloodwhenmymoney\'sallinmyboot，an\'thar\'sstilllickertodrink。 Factis，IjestmeetsagentnamedFrosty，asgoodacitizenaseverrifflesadeckorpullsatrigger，an\'p\'litenessdemandswe-allsputsthenose-paintinplay。That\'swhyIhastohavemoney。 \"\'Idon\'tcaretogopullin\'offmymoccasinsintheTubofBlood，an\'makin\'avulgardisplayofmywealthbypourin\'thesilverontothefloor。Thar\'sapeckofit，ifthar\'sdosreals；an\'sechanexhibitionasspillin\'itoutintheTubofBloodisboundtomortifyme，an\'thebarkeep，an\'Frosty，an\'mostlikelyleadtomakin\'remarks。SoIconcloodsI\'llroundupmysilveroutsidean\' thenreturn。