第1章

TheGreatWolfvilleStrike。

"No，sir，evenonderspuran\'quirt，mymem\'rycanonlycanterbacktooneuprisin\'oflaborinWolfville；thatwasprinters。"

AtthistheOldCattlemanlookedundulysagacious，refreshedhimselfwithapuffortwoathispipe，andallwiththeairofonewhomight，didheseefit，considerthegravequestionsofcapitalandlaborwithanabilityequaltotheirsolution。Hisremarkwasgrowthofthestrikestoryofsomemillworkmen，toldglaringlyinthenewspaperheheldinhishands。

"Wolfvilleisnotatthattime，"hecontinued，"whatyou-allEastwouldcallaswirlin\'vortexoftrade；stillshehashermarts。

Thar\'sthecoppermines，theBirdCafeOp\'ryHouse，theRedLight，theO。K。Restauraw，theDanceHall，theNewYorkStorean\'sim\'larhivesofcommerce。Whichondoubtedthebarkeepsisthehardestworkedfolksincamp，an\'yetnoneof\'emevergoesonthewarpathforshorterhoursorlongerpay，sofarasIhasnotice。Barkeepsthata-wayisalight-heartedbandan\'cheerfulondertheirburdens。

OncewhenOldMontebringsthestageinlatebecauseofsomeboggin\'

downhedoesoverataquicksandfordinthefoothills，ashorthornwhoarriveswithhimasapassengercomesedgin\'intotheRedLight。

Bein\'it\'sfouro\'clockinthemornin\'，thetenderfootseemsamazedatsechactivitiesasfaro-bank，an\'high-ball，saiddevicesbein\'

infullcareer；tosaynothin\'oftheDanceHall，which\'TempleofMirth，\'asHamiltonwhoisproprietortharofnamesit，iswhoopin\'

itupacrossthestreet。

"\'Ain\'tyouopenratherlate？\'saystheshorthorn。Histonesisapol\'getican\'nooffenceistook。

"That\'soneofthemgratefyin\'thingsabouttheSouthwest。Thattemperateregiondon\'tgopirootin\'\'roundstrivin\'torunitsbrandontothingsasinsultswherenoneain\'tmeant。TheSouthwestropesonlyattheintention。Youmayevengosofarastoshootthewronggentinadarkenedway，an\'aslongasyoupullsofftheplayinasperitofhonesty，an\'thepartypluggeddon\'thappentobeapop\'laridol，abouttheworstyou\'dgetwouldbeacautionfromtheStranglerstobemoreacc\'rateinyourfeuds，sechisthefairmindednessan\'tolerationofSouthwestsentiment。

"AsIsu\'gests，thebarkeep，realizin\'thatthestranger\'sbluffarisesfromcur\'osityratherthananynotionofwhatbooksportscalls\'captiouscriticism，\'feelsnoombrage。

"\'Whatwasyou-allpleasedtoremark？\'retortsthebarkeepasheslamshisnose-paintwheretheshorthorncangetaction。

"\'Nothin\'，\'repliestheshorthorn，imbibin\'ofhisfortydrops，"onlyitsorto\'lookstomyonaccustomedeyelikethisdeadfallisopenratherlate。"

"\'Whichsheissomelate，\'admitsthebarkeep，ashesoftlyswabsthecounter；\'whichitissomelatefornightbeforelast，butit\'sjesttheshankoftheevenin\'forto-night。\'

"But，asIobservesabitbackonthetrail，Ineverdohearofanymurmurofresentmentonthepartofthetoilin\'massesofthetown，saveintheoneinstancewhenthatbunchoflocoedprinterscapersoutan\'defiestheeditoran\'publisheroftheWolfvilleCOYOTE，thesamebein\'thedailypaperoftheoutfit。

"Thisyereimprint，theCOYOTE，isdoneownedan\'runbyColonelWilliamGreeneSterett。An\'I\'llpauserightyereforthedoublepurposeoftakin\'adrinkan\'sympathisin\'withyouawholelotinnotknowin\'theColonel。Younacherallyain\'tasacootelyawareofthefactasIbe，butyoucangambleabloostackthatnotknowin\'

ColonelSterettbordersonadeeprivation。Heisshorewise，theColonelis，an\'whenitcomestobein\'fullyinformedoneveryp\'int，fromthevalyooofqueensupbeforethedrawtothepoliticaleffectoftheDeclarationofIndependence，he\'sanevenbreakwithDocPeets。An\'asI\'veassertedfrequent——an\'Idon\'tpinchdownachip——DocPeet\'sisthefinesteddicatedsharpinArizona。

"We-allwillpassupthetaleatthiscrisis，butI\'lltellyoulaterabouthowColonelSterettcomesa-weavin\'intoWolfvillethattimean\'foundstheCoyote。It\'senoughnowtoknowthatwhentheseyereprinterstakestoghost-dancin\'thattime，theColonelhasbeeninourmidstcrowdin\'hardonthehocksofayear，an\'isheldinhighregyardbyOldAlanEnright，DocPeets，JackMoore，Boggs，Tutt，CherokeeHall，FaroNell，andothermoldersoflocalopinion，an\'sorto\'trailsinnextafterEnrightan\'Peetsinpublicesteem。

TheColonelisshorelistenedtoan\'heededatsechepocksasWolfvillesetsdownserioustothink。

"ThemprintersoftheColonel\'sstampedesthemse\'fsjestfollowin\'

thelatter\'smisonderstandin\'withHuggins，whoconductstheBirdCageOp\'ryHouse，an\'whoasI\'veallersmaintained，incitesthemmechanics，private，torebellion，asaschemeofrevengeontheColonel。Thetroublewhichbearsitsfinalfrooteinthislaboruprisin\'islikethis。Huggins，asnoted，holdsdowntheBirdCageOp\'ryHouseasmanager，an\'whenlie\'sdrunk——which，seein\'thatHugginsisabiggersotthanOldMonte，isrightalongheallowshe\'sa\'Impressario。\'Mebbyyousaveys\'Impressario，\'an\'

experiencesnodifficultywiththesameasaterm，butBoggsan\'

Tuttgoestothefringeofagunplaydispootin\'aboutitsmeanin\'

thetimeHugginsplaysitonthecampfirstasdeescriptifofhisgame。

"\'AImpressarioisafiddler，\'saysBoggs；`IcutsthetrailofoneintheStatesonce，ropeshimup，an\'wehasashoreenoughtime。\'

"\'Sechobservations，\'observesTutt，towhomBoggsvouchsafesthisinformation，\'sechobservationsmakemetired。Theydisplaystheonlimitedabilityforignoranceofthehoomanmind。Boggs，Idon\'twanttobedeemedinsultin\'，butyou-alloughtergotonight-schoolsome\'ersontilyoulearnstheroodimentsoftheAmericanlanguage。"

"Whenthisyorecolloquyensooes，I\'mawayonthespringround-up，an\'tharfornotpresenttharat；butasgoodajedgeasJackMoore，insiststhattheremainderoftheconversationwouldhavecomeoffinthesmokeifhehadn\'t，inhiscapacityofmarshal，pulledhissix-shooteran\'invokedBoggsan\'Tutttoaca\'mermood。

"Butspeakin\'ofthisHugginsparty，Ineverlikeshim。Asidefromhisbein\'mostlydrunk，which，nomatterwhatsomemaysayorthink，Iholdsimpairsagent\'svalyooasasocialfactor，Hugginsisavariciousan\'dotesonmoneytothep\'intofbein\'sordid。He\'dgloatoveradollarlikeitwasacharlotteroose，Hugginswould。

So，asIsays，Iain\'tfondofHuggins，an\'takesnomorepleasureofhiscompanythanifhe\'sawetdog。Still，thar\'ssechathingasdooty；so，whenHugginscomeswanderin\'wild-eyedintotheRedLightaboutfirstdrinktimeoneevenin\'，an\'confidestomeinawhisperthatthar\'sajackrabbitoutsidewhichhassworntotakehislife，an\'isrightthenbushwhackin\'aboutthedoorwaitin\'toexecootethethreat，IcallsDocPeets，an\'aidsintyin\'Hugginsdownsothathisvisionscanbemetan\'copedwithmedical。

"PeetsridesherdonHugginsforaboutaweek，an\'atlasteffectshisrescoofromthathostilejackrabbitan\'themcrimsonrattlesnakesan\'blue-wingedbatsthathasj\'ineddogswithitinitsattemptsag\'inHuggins。Later，whenPeetssendshischarges，thisyereingrateHuggins——lovin\'moneyasIstates——wantstosquar\'

itwithaquartortwoofwhiskeychecksontheBirdCagebar。

Nacherally，Peetswavesasidesechignobleproffersasinsultstohisprofessionalstandin\'。

"\'An\'youalldon\'towemeasplinter，Huggins，\'saysPeets，asheturnsdowntheprop\'sitiontotakewhiskeychecksashisreward。

\'We\'lljestcallthemservicesofmineinsubdooin\'yourdeliriumtreemorsacontreebution。ItshouldshorelyberemoonerationenoughtoknowthatI\'vepreservedyoutotheWolfvillepublic，an\'thatthecampcanstillboastthepossessionofthemeanestsportan\'

profoundestdrunkardoutsideoftheTexasPanhandle。\'

"Barnone，DocPeetsisthebitterestgent，verbal，thatevermakesamoccasintrackintheSouth-west。An\'whileHugginsain\'tpleasednone，themstrictureshastogo。Totaketopawin\'\'roundforturmoilwithPeetswouldbeencroachin\'ontotheediotic。Evenifheemergesalivefromsechcontroversies——an\'it\'sfourtoonehewouldn\'t；forPeets，who\'sallersframedupwithabraceofderringers，isaboutasvividanenterpriseasWolfvilleaffords——

theStranglerswouldconvenewithOldManEnrightinthecha\'r，an\'

Hugginswouldn\'tlastaslongasadrinkofwhiskey。Asitis，Hugginsgulpshisfeelin\'san\'offersnothin\'inreturntoPeets\'sremarks。

"No；ofcourseDocPeetsain\'tthatdiffusiveinhisconfidencesastogosurgin\'abouttellin\'thisstorytoeverygenthemeets。It\'sag\'inrooleforphysiciansthata-waytogodraggin\'theirlariats\'roundpermiscusan\'impartin\'alltheyknows。You-allcanseeyourse\'fthatifphysiciansisthatingenuous，itwouldprodooceallsortsoftroublesinthemostonlooked-forplacesan\'mostonexpectedforms。No；Peetswouldn\'tgivewaytoconductsoonbecomin\'amedicinemanan\'asport。Butrooleshastheirexceptions；ansoFeets，inoneofthemmomentsofsympathyan\'

confidence，whichtwohighlyeddicatedgentsaftertheeighthdrinkisboundtofeelforeachother，relatestoColonelSterettconcernin\'Hugginsan\'hisperfidywiththemBirdCagechecks。

"Thisyereonbosomin\'ofhimse\'ftotheColonelain\'tnonediscreetofPeets。TheColonelhasmanyexcellencies，butkeepin\'secretsain\'tamong\'em；nonewhatever。TheColonelisdeevoidoftalentsforsecrets，an\'sothenextdayheprintsthisyereoutrageonderaderisiveheadlinetouchin\'Huggins\'froogality。

"Hugginsdon\'tgradeover-highfornervean\'isalongwayfrombein\'cleanstraingame；buthefiggers，soIallersreckons，thattheColonelain\'tnothunderboltofwarhimse\'f，sowhenhereadsastohiman\'Peetsan\'themtreemorsan\'thewhiskeychecks，hestartsintodrinkan\'discussabouthishonor，an\'givesitouthe\'llhaverevenge。

"It\'sthebarkeepattheRedLightpostsColonelSterettastothemperils。AMexicancomestrackin\'alongintotheColonel\'sroominthesecondstory——whathecallshis\'sanctum\'——withanote。It\'sfromthebarkeepan\'readslikethis:

REDLIGHTSALOON。

DEARCOLONEL:——

Hugginsisinheretankin\'upan\'makin\'warmedicine。He\'spackin\'

twoguns。Hesayshe\'sgoingtoplugyouforthatpiece。Icankeephimhereanhour。Meanwhile，heelyourse\'f。I\'llhavehimsodrunkbythetimeheleavesthatheoughttobeeasy。

Yourssincerely，BLACKJACK。

P。S。BettersendovertotheExpressCompanyforoneofthemshot-

guns。Buckshot，thata-way，isacinch；an\'ifyou\'realeetlenervousitdon\'tmakenodifference。B。J。

"Aboutthetimethe10-gaugecomesovertotheColonel，withthecomplimentsoftheWells-FargoExpress，an\'twentyshellsholdin\'

twenty-onebuck-shottotheshell，DocPeetshimse\'fcomessa\'nterin\'intothesanctum。

"\'You-alloughtnevertohaveprintedit，Colonel，\'saysPeets；\'I\'mplumbchagrinedoverthatexposureofHuggins。\'

"\'Don\'tyoureckon，Doc，\'saystheColonel，sorto\'coaxin\'theplay，\'ifyouwastogodowntotheRedLightan\'saytothisinebriatedmiscreantthatyoumakesgood，itwouldsteadyhimdownawholelot？\'

"\'IfIwastotakesechstepsasyouurges，Colonel，\'saysPeets，\'itwouldcomeouthowIgivesawaythesecretsofmypatients；itwouldhurtmyp\'sition。Onthelevel!Colonel，I\'damightysightsooneryou\'dbeefHuggins。\'

"\'Butseeyere，Doc，\'remonstratestheColonel，wipin\'offthewateronhisfore\'ead，\'murderisnewtome，an\'Ishrinksfromit。

Anotherthing——Idon\'tthirsttodonofiveortenyearsatLeavenworthfordownin\'Huggins，an\'allonaccountofyoudeclinin\'

whiskeychipsasahonorariumforthemservices。\'

"\'Itain\'tnoquestionofLeavenworth，\'arguesPeets；\'sechthoughtsisfigments。Yere\'showit\'llbe。Hugginscomeschargin\'up，hungerin\'forblood。You-allisr\'aredbackyerewiththat10-gauge，allorganized，an\'youcoldlydownshim。Tharain\'tnojury，an\'

tharain\'tnoVigilanceCommittee，inArizona，who\'sgoin\'tocarpatthatalittlebit。Besides，he\'sthatornery，thegamelawisoutonHugginsan\'hasbeenforsometime。Asforanyresktoyourse\'f，personal，fromHuggins；why!Colonel，yousnapsyourfingerstharat。

YouhearsHugginsonthestairs；an\'yougiveshimbothbarrelsthesecondheshowsinthedoor。It\'sasplainasmonte。BeforeHugginscandeclar\'himse\'f，Colonel，he\'syours，toodeadtoskin。It\'ssechashorething，\'concloodesPeets，\'that，afterall，sinceyou\'remerelyoutforsafety，I\'dgethiminthewing，an\'letitgoatthat。Oncehisarmisgone，itwon\'tbenotroubletoreasonwithHuggins。\'

"\'Don\'ttalktomeaboutnoarms，\'retortstheColonel，stillmoppin\'hisfeachersplentydesperate。\'Iain\'tgoin\'todonofancyshootin\'。IfHugginsshowsupyere，youcanputdownayellowstackonit，I\'llbusthimwherehelooksbiggest。Hugginsisgoin\'totakeallthechancesofthisembroglio。\'

"ButHugginsneverarrives。It\'sDanBoggswhoabateshiman\'

assoomesthepressurefortheColonel。BoggsisgratefuloversomecomplimentstheColonelpayshimintheCoyotetheweekprevious。

It\'srightinthemidstofHuggins\'prep\'rationsforbloodthatBoggshappensuponhimintheRedLight。

"\'Seeyere，Huggins，\'saysBoggs，assoonaseverhegetstheImpressario\'sgrievancestraightinhismind，\'you-allisfollowin\'

offthewrongwagontrack。TheColonelain\'tyourproperpreyatall；it\'sme。IcontreebutesthatpieceintheCoyoteaboutyouplayin\'itlowonPeetsmyse\'f。\'

"HugginsgazesatBoggsan\'neveruttersaword；Boggsistoomanyforhim。

"\'WhichI\'mthelastsport，\'observesBoggsafterapause，`toputalimitonthereccreationsormeddlewiththepicnicsofanygent，butthisyerevoylenceofyours，Huggins，hasgonetoofar。I\'mobleegedtosay，tharfore，thatonlessyouaimstofurnishthepainfulspectacleofmebendin\'agunoveryourhead，youhadbettersinkintosilencean\'pullyourfreight。I\'maslow，hardteamtostart，Huggins，\'saysBoggs，\'butonceIgoesintothecollar，I\'mirresist\'ble。\'

"Hugginsdon\'tknowmuch，butheknowsBoggs；an\'so，followin\'

Boggs\'remarks，Hugginsupsan\'ceasestoclamorfortheColonelrightthar。Lambsisbellig\'rentcomparedwithHuggins。Thebarkeep，intheinterestsofpeace，cutsinontheplaywiththenewsthatthedrinksisonthehouse，an\'withthattheeepisodecomestoaclose。

"Nowyou-allhasmostlikelybeguntomarvelwherethemlaborstrugglescomesbuttin\'in。We\'rewithinropin\'distancenow。It\'snotmadecl\'ar，but，asIremarksprior，IallersfeltlikeHugginsisthebugonderthechipwhenthemprintersgetshostilethattimean\'leavestheagency。Hugginsain\'tfeebleenoughmentaltobelieveforamomentBoggswritesthatpiece。ThefactthatBoggscan\'tevenwritehisownname——bein\'onfortunatelywantin\'utterlyineddication——isofitse\'fenoughtobreeddoubts。Still，Idon\'tondervalueHugginsnoneinlayin\'downtoBoggs，thattimeBoggsallowshe\'stheauthor。Withnothin\'atstakemorethanafact，an\'

nomoneyupnornothin\'，heshorelywouldn\'tbejestifiedincontendin\'withagentofBoggs\'extravagantimpulses，an\'whoisbornwiththetheerythatsix-shootersisargyments。

"But，asIwasobservin\'，HugginsisnomoremisledbythembluffsofBoggsthanheislikelytogiveuphisthoughtsofrevengeontheColonel。Bein\'headedofffromlayin\'fortheColoneldirect——forBoggsremindshimatclosin\'that，havin\'assertedhispersonalrespons\'bilityforthatpiece，he\'lltakeitasaffrontsifHugginspersistsingoin\'projectin\'\'roundforColonelSterett——thar\'snodoubtinmymindthatHugginsgoestoslyin\'about，an\'jumpin\'

sidewaysatthemprintersonthequiet，anfillin\'\'emupwithnose-

paintan\'notionsthatthey\'rewrongedinequalquantities。An\'

Hugginsgetsresults。

"WhichtheColonelpaysoffhisfiveprinterseveryweek。It\'smebbythesecondSaturdayaftertheHugginstrouble，an\'theColonelisjestfinishedmeasurin\'upthe\'strings，\'ashecalls\'em，an\'

disbursin\'thedinero。Atthefinish，thehead-printerstiffensup，an\'thefourothersfallsbackapacean\'looksplentyhard。

"\'Colonel，\'saysthehead-printer，\'we-allsendsontothenationalcouncil，winsoutacharter，an\'organizesourse\'fsintoaunion。

You\'reyerebynotifiedweclaimsunionwages，thesamebein\'forty-

fivecentouseathousandemsfromnowontilfurtherorders。\'

"\'Jim，\'retortstheColonel，\'whatyouan\'yournobleassistantsdemandsatmyhands，goes。FromnowIpaystheunionschedoole，thesamebein\'fivecentsathousandemsmorethanformer。TheCoyoteasyetisnotself-supportin\'，butthatshallnotaffectthisplay。I

havesofarmadeupdeeficienciesbydraw-poker，whichIfindstobefairlysoftan\'certaininthiscamp，an\'yoursu\'gestionsofaraisemerelymeansthatI\'vegottosetupaleetlelaterinagame，an\'beatriflemoreremorselessonashorehand。WharforeIyieldstoyourrequestswithpleasure，asIsaysprior。\'

"It\'smightylikelyColonelSterettacquiescesinthemdemandstooquick；theprintersisledtothethoughtthathe\'sassimpletoworkasaWinchester。It\'shoomannaturetobrandasmanycalvesasyoucan，an\'sonoone\'ssurprisedwhen，twoweekslater，themvoraciousprinterscomesfrontin\'upformore。Thehead-printerstiffensup，an\'thefourothersassoomeseyesofiron，sameasbefore，an\'thepowwowre-opensasfollows:

"\'Colonel，\'saystherangebossfortheprinters，whiletheothersstandslookin\'an\'listenin\'likecattlewiththeiry\'earsallfor\'ard，\'Colonel，thechapel\'shadameetin\'，an\'we-allhasdecidedthatyou\'vegottomakebackpaymentsatunionratesforthelastsixmonths，whichiswhenwesendsbacktotheStatesforthatcharter。Thewholethrowistwelvehundreddollars，ortwohundredandfortyagent。Noonewantstocrowdyourhand，Colonel，an\'ifyoudon\'tjesthappentohavesaidtwelvehundredinyourwar-bags，weallowsyouoneweektojump\'roundan\'rustleit。\'

"ButtheColonelturnsoutbad，an\'showshecanprotecthimse\'fatprintin\'sameashecanatpoker。Hewhirlsonthemsharpslikeamountainlion。

"\'Gents，\'saystheColonel，\'you-allisupag\'instit。Idon\'tcarenoneifthecathedral\'shadameetin\'，Ideclinestobowtoyourclaims。AsIstatesbefore，Iobtainsthemoneytoconductthisyerejournalbyplayin\'poker。NowIcan\'tplaynoexpostfactopoker，norgetinonanyrectroactivehands，whichofitse\'fdisplaysyourattitoodeonthiso\'casionasonjust。Whatyou-allasksisrefoosed。\'

"\'Seeyere，Colonel，\'saysthehead-printer，beginnin\'toarchhisbacklikehe\'sgoin\'tobucksome，\'don\'tputonnospurstoconversewithus；an\'don\'tthinktostampedeusnonewiththemLatinbluffsyoumakes。YoueitherpaysunionratessinceFebruary，orwegoesp\'intin\'outforastrike。\'

"\'Strike!\'saystheColonel，an\'histonesisdecisive，\'strike，saysyou!Whichifyou-allwillwaittillIgetsmycoat，I\'llstrikewithyou。\'

"Tharupontheentirepassel，theColonelan\'themfiveprinters，comesovertotheRedLight，takesadrinkontheColonel，an\'

dispersesthemse\'fsonthestrike。OfcourseWolfvillelooksonsomeamazedatthisyerelabormovement，butdeclar\'sitse\'fnootral。

"\'Leteverygentskinhisowneel，\'saysEnright；\'thesamebein\'afav\'riteproverbbackinTennesseewhenI\'mayooth。ThiscollisionbetweenColonelSterettan\'themfreean\'independentprintershehasinhisherdisshorelywhatmaybecalledaprivategame。Thar\'snoreasonan\'nocallforthecamptobeheard。What\'syouridea，Doc？\'

"\'Iyooniteswithyouinthemstatements，\'saysPeets。\'Whilemypersonalsymp\'thiesiswithColonelSterettinthisinvolvement，asyetthesityooationoffersnoreasonforthepublictosaddleupan\'

gotoridin\'\'roundtharin。\'

"\'Don\'tyou-allthink，\'saysBoggs，appealin\'toEnright，\'don\'tyoureckonnowifmean\'Tuttan\'JackMoore，allcasooallike，wastotakeourgunsan\'gocuttin\'upthedustaboutthemoccasinsofthemmalcontentprinters——merelyinourprivatecapacity，Imeans——itwouldhe\'psolvethisyeredeadlockawholelot？\'Boggsisaheapheadlongthata-way，an\'likin\'theColonel，nacherallyhe\'seagertotakehisend。

"\'Boggs，\'repliesEnright，an\'histonesissterntothevergeofbeingferocious；\'Boggs，onlessyouwantsthelaw-abidin\'elementtohangyouinhobbles，youhadbetterholdyourse\'finmoresubjection。Moreover，whatyouproposesischildish。Ifyouwastoappearinthemidstofthisindustr\'alexcitement，an\'taketoromancin\'\'roundasyousu\'gests，you\'dchaseeveryoneoftheseyereprintersplumbofftherange。Whichthey\'dhitafewhighplacesinthelandscapean\'begoneforgood。ThentheColonelnevercouldgetoutthatCoyotepapernomore。LettheColonelfillhishandan\'playithisownway。I\'llbet，an\'goasfarasyoulike，thatifwe-allturnsourbacksonthis，an\'don\'ttaketopesterin\'

eitherside，theColonelhasthempartiesallbackinthecorralag\'ininsideofaweek。\'

"OldManEnrightisright，sameasheeveris。It\'saboutfourthdrinktimeintheevenin\'ofthesecondday。ColonelSterett，who\'sbeenconsoomin\'hislickeratintervalsnottoolongapart，isseatedintheRedLightinareelaxedmood。He\'ssayin\'toBoggs，whohasbeenfaithfulathiselbowfromthefirst，soastokeepuphissperits，thathelooksonthisstrikeasaffordin\'himamuch-

neededrest。

"\'An\'fromthestandp\'intofrest，Dan，\'observestheColoneltoBoggsasthebarkeepbringsthemfreshglasses，\'Ireallywelcomesthisdifferencewiththemblacksmithsofmine。Ishorelyneedsthislay-off；literatoorthata-way，Dan，an\'partic\'lardailypaperliteratooroftheelevatedcharacterI\'vebeensawin\'offonthiscampintheCoyote，isfa-tiguin\'tothelimit。Whenthemmisguidedpartiessurrenderstheirabsurddemands——an\'betweenus，Dan，I

smellsHugginsinthisan\'expectstolayforhimlatertharfor——I

say，whentheseobtooseprintersgivesup，an\'returnstotheir\'llegiance，I\'llassoomethetripodlikeagiantrefreshed。\'

"\'That\'swhatever!\'saysBoggs，coincidin\'withtheColonel，thoughheain\'tnoneshoreastohisdrift。

"\'I\'llberecooperated，\'continuestheColonel，sloppin\'outanotherdrink；\'I\'llbeanewmanwhenItakesholdag\'in，an\'willmaketheCoyote，evertheleadin\'mediumoftheSouthwest，asstrongan\'

invincibleasfourkingsan\'aace。\'

"It\'satthisp\'intthefivewho\'sonthewarpathcomesintotheRedLight。Thehead-printer，lookin\'apol\'getican\'dejected，j\'insBoggsan\'theColonelwheretheysits。

"\'Colonel，\'observesthehead-printer，\'thechapel\'shadanothermeetin\'；an\'theshortan\'thelongis，theboyskindo\'figgerthey\'reonjustinthemdemandsforbackpay——sorto\'overplaystheirhands，They\'vedecided，Colonel，thatyou\'redeadright；an\'I\'myerenowtosaywe\'resorry，an\'we\'llallgobackan\'openupan\'

gettheCoyoteoutag\'ininold-timeform。\'

"\'Haveadrink，Jim，\'saystheColonel，an\'hisfacehasacloudofregretsontoit；\'takefourfingersofthisred-eyean\'cheerup。

You-allassoomestoosombreaviewofthiscontention。\'

"\'I\'mobleegedtoyou，Colonel，\'repliesthehead-printer；\'butI

don\'tmuchcaretodrinknonebeforetheboys。Theyain\'tgotnobank-rollan\'nocreditlikeyouhas，Colonel——that\'swhatmakesthemseetheirerrors——an\'theplaintroothistheyain\'thadnothin\'todrinkfortwenty-fourhours。That\'swhyIdon\'ttakenothin\'。Itwouldshoreseeminvidiousformetobesettin\'yereh\'istin\'inmynose-paint，an\'myporecomradeslookin\'he\'plesslyon；that\'swhatever!I\'mtoomuchafriendoflabortodoit，Colonel。\'

"\'What!\'saysBoggs，quitewroughtup；\'doyou-allmeantotellmethemonhappysportsain\'thadadrinksinceyesterday？It\'sastainonthecamp!Whoopee，barkeep!seewhatthemgentswillhave；an\'

keepseein\'whatthey\'llhaveendoorin\'thisconference。\'

"\'Jim，\'saystheColonel，mightyreluctant，\'ain\'tyou-allabandonin\'yourp\'sitionprematoor？Thar\'ssomethin\'dootoaprinciple，Jim。I\'dratherlookedforacontinyooationofthisestrangementforawhileatleast。I\'dshoretaketimetoconsideritbeforeeverI\'dletthisstrikec\'llapse。\'

"\'That\'sallright，Colonel，\'saysthehead-printer，\'aboutc\'llapsin\'；an\'Ionderstandsyourfeelin\'san\'symp\'thisestharwith。ButI\'veexplainedtoyouthefinancialconditionofthismovement。Tharstandstheboys，pourin\'inthefirstfire-waterthathaspassedtheirlipsforaday。An\'youknows，Colonel，nogent，norsetofgents，canconductstrikestoasuccessfulissuewithoutwhiskey。\'

"\'But，Jim，\'pleadstheColonel，whohatestocomeoffhisvacation，\'ifIfixestheRedLightsayforfifteendrinksall\'roundeachday，don\'tyoureckonyoucanprevailonthemrecalcitrantprinterstoputthisreeconciliationoffaweek？\'

"However，Enright，whoatthisp\'intcomestrailin\'in，takesupthehead-printer\'sside，an\'showstheColonelit\'shisdooty。

"\'YouowesittotheWolfvillepublic，Colonel，\'saysEnright。\'TheCoyotehasnowbeensuppressedtwodays。We-allhasbeendeprivedofourdailyenlightenmentan\'ourintellectsisboggin\'down。FortwoentiredaysWolfvillehasbeenindarknessastoworldlyevents，an\'

isrightnowknockin\'\'roundintheproblemofexistencelikeablinddoginameatshop。Yourattitoodeofdelay，Colonel，isimpossible；thepublicrequestsyourreturn。Ifyouain\'tbackattheCoyoteofficeto-morrymornin\'byseconddrinktime，dealin\'

yourwontedgame，Iwouldn\'tondertaketostatewhatshapeajestpop\'larresentmentwillassoome。\'

"\'An\'，ofcourse，\'observestheColonelwithasigh，\'whenyou-allputsitinthatloocidan\'convincin\'way，Enright，thar\'snomoretobesaid。Thestrikeisnowoveran\'thelastkyarddealt。Jim，youan\'mean\'themprinterswillreturntothevineyardofourefforts。Thisover-workmaybeonderminin\'me，butWolfvilleshallnotcalltomeinvain。\'"

CHAPTERII

TheGrindingofDaveTutt。

"Yes，"saidtheOldCattleman，ashetookoffhissombreroandcontemplatedtherattlesnakebandwhichenvironedthecrown，"cow-

punchersisqueerpeople。Theyneedsaheapofwatchin\'an\'herdin\'。

IknowedonebythenameofStevensondownontheTurkeyTrack，asmeritsplentyoflookin\'after。ThisyereStevensonain\'texactlyornery；butbein\'restless，an\'withadisp\'sitiontobeemphaticwheneverhe\'sfillin\'himse\'fup，keepin\'youreyeonhimisgood，safejedgment。Heispublic-sperited，too，an\'sometimestakeslotsofpainstopleasefolksan\'bepop\'lar。

"Irecallsoncewhenwe\'rebringin\'upabeefherdfromthePanhandlecountry。We\'reag\'inthesouthbankoftheArkansaw，tryin\'tothrowtheherdacross。Thar\'sabridge，butthenatifsallowsit\'splentyweak，sowe\'remakin\'theherdswim。Steveispostedatthemouthofthebridge，toturnbackanyloosecattlethattakesanotiontotryan\'crossthata-way。Thar\'snothin\'muchtoengageSteve\'sfaculties，an\'he\'sa-settin\'onhisbronco，an\'

bothismightynearasleep。Somewomenpeople——fromthefarEast，I

reckons——asiscampedintown，comesoveronthebridgetoseeuscrosstheherd。They\'velinedoutclostuptoSteve，a-leanin\'oftheiryoungEasternchinsonthetoprail。

"\'WhichIdon\'tregyardthismuch，\'saysoneyoungwoman；\'thar\'snothrillintoit。Whyeverdon\'ttheydosomethin\'excitin\'？\'

"Steveobserveswithchagrinthatthisyereladyisdispleased；an\'，ashecan\'tfiggernothin\'elseoutquicktoentertainher，hegivesawhoop，slamshissix-shooteroffintothescenery，sockshisspursintothepony，an\'hopshimse\'foverthesideofthebridgeawholelotintotheshallowwaterbelow。Thejumpissometwentyfeetan\'

buststhepony\'slaigsliketoothpicks；alsoitbreaksSteve\'scollarbonean\'disperseshisfeachers\'roundsomefreean\'frightfulonaccountofhissorto\'lightin\'onhisface。

"Well，weshootsthepony；an\'Steveridesinthegrubwagonfourorfivedaysrecooperatin\'。It\'sjestthemercyofhellhedon\'tbreakhisneck。

"\'Whateverdoyoujumpofffor？\'IasksStevewhenhe\'scomin\'

\'round。

"\'WhichIperformssaidequestrianismstoamoosethatshe-shorthornwhoiscussin\'usout。\'saysSteve\'Iain\'tpermittin\'forhertogobacktotheStates，malignin\'ofuscow-men。\'

"Stevegetshimse\'fdownedayearafter，an\'strikesoutfornewrangesintheskies。He\'soverontheupperRedRiverwhenhegetscreased。He\'ssettin\'intoapokergame。

"Steveneveroughtergamblednone。Heisagoodcow-boy——splendidround-uphand——an\'candohisday\'sworkwithropeorironinabrandin\'penwithanybody；butcomin\'righttocases，hedon\'tknownomoreaboutplayin\'pokerthanhedoesaboutpreachin\'。Actooally，he\'dbacktwopa\'rlikethar\'snorecordoftheirbein\'beat。Thisyere，ofcourse，leadstofrequentpoverty，butitdon\'tconfernowisdomonSteve。

"Onthiso\'casion，whentheyshipsStevefortherealmsoflight，oneoftheboysgetsatrey-full；Stevebeingpossessedofaheartflush，nineatthehead。Intwominuteshedon\'thaveevenhisblanketsleft。

"Afterhe\'sbroke，Steveh\'istsinadrinkortwoan\'sours\'roundawholelot；an\'jestasthetrey-fullboygetsintohissaddle，Stevecomesroamin\'alongupan\'hailshim。

"\'Pard，\'saysSteve，aheapgloomy，\'I\'vebeentryin\'toschoolmyse\'ftob\'arit，butitdon\'tgo。Tharfore，I\'myeretosayyoustealsthatpa\'rofkingsascompletedmyrooin。Comin\'tothemdecisions，I\'mgoin\'tocallonyouforthatbric-a-bracIlose，an\'

Ilookstogainsomefav\'rablereplies。\'

"\'Oh，youdo，doyou!\'saysthetrey-fullboy。\'Whichyou-allisaheaptoosanguine。DoyoureckonIgivesupthefrootesofatrey-

full——ashardahandtoholdasthatis？YoucangotentooneI

won\'t:notthisround-up!Sechrequestsispreepost\'rous!\'

"\'Don\'twaxflippantaboutthisyererobbery，saysSteve。\'It\'senoughtobeplunderedwithoutbein\'insultedbygayeties。Now，whatIsaysisthis:EitherIgetsmystuff，orIseversourrelationswithagun。\'An\'tharuponStevepullshispistolan\'takesholdofthetrey-fullboy\'sbridle。"\'Ifthar\'sonethingmakesmemorewearythananother，\'saysthetrey-fullboy，\'it\'sagunplay；an\'

toavoidsechexhibitionsIfreelyreturnsyourplunder。Butyouan\'

medon\'tplaykyardsnomore。\'

"Whereupon，thetrey-fullboygetsoffhishoss，an\'Steve，allowin\'

thedebateisclosed，putsuphisgun。Steveispreematoor。Thenextsecond，\'bang!\'goesthetrey-fullboy\'ssix-shooter，thebulletgetsSteveintheneck，withthemheavenlyresultsIyeretoforeonfolds，an\'atfirstdrinktimethatevenin\'wehasahastybutsuccessfulfooneral。

"\'Idon\'treckon，\'saysWatPeacock，whoisrangeboss，\'thar\'sneedofhavin\'anylaw-suitsaboutthisyerekillin\'。IknowsSteveforlongan\'likeshim。ButI\'myeretoannouncethatthemideeshefostersconcerinin\'thevalyooofpokerhands，onreasonablean\'

plumbextrav\'gantastheyshorelyis，absolootelypreecloodedSteve\'sreachin\'tooldage。An\'Stevehaswarnin\'s。OncewhenhetriestogethislifeinsureddowninAustin，he\'srefoosed。

"\'"Inafive-handgame，tablestakes，whatisapairofacesworthbeforethedraw？"isoneofthemquestionsthatcompanyasks。

"\'"Tablestakes？"saysSteve。"Everychipyou\'vegot。"

"\'"Thatsettlesit，saysthecompany；"wedon\'twantnosechresk。

Tharneverissechrecklessness!Youwon\'tliveayear；you\'reluckytobealiverightnow。"An\'theydeclinestoinsureSteve。\'

"However，"continuedmyfriendmusingly，"I\'vebeenputtin\'ituptomyself，thatmightylikelyIdoeswrongtotellyoutheseyeretales。Whichyou\'reignorantofcowfolks，an\'formetogoonloadin\'ofsechrevelationsmebbygivesyouimpressionsthat\'saloterroneous。NowIreckonsfromthatoneeepisodeyouhalffiggerscowpeopleismorosean\'ferociousasabunch？"

Astheoldgentlemangavehistonestheinflectionofinquiry，I

hastenedtointerposediversflatteringdenials。Hisrecitalshadinspiredanadmirationforcowmenratherthanthereverse。

Thissettingforthofmyapprovalpleasedhim。HegavemehiswordthatIinnosortassumedtoomuchinthematter。Cowmen，heasserted，werealight-heartedbrood；over-cheerful，perhaps，attimes，andseekingamusementinwaysbeyondtheunderstandingoftheEast；butsafe，upright，andofsplendidgenerosity。Eagertocorrectwithinmeanymal-effectsofthetragedyjusttold，herecalledthestoryofaTucsondayofmerryrelaxationwithDaveTutt。Heopinedthatitfurnishedapictureofthepeopleofcowsinlighter，brightercolors，andsogavemedetailswithasketchygladness。

"Whichyou\'reacc\'rateinthemthoughts，"hesaid，referringtomywordthatIheldcowfolktobeengagingcharacters。Afterelevatinghisspiritwithaclove，Hewentforward。"Tharain\'tmuchpawan\'

bellowtoacowboy。Speakin\'gen\'ral，an\'notallowin\'fortheminflooenceswhichdisturbsnone——Iadvertstomescalan\'monte，an\'

sechabnormalities——he\'spassivean\'easy；nomoreharmintohimthanajackrabbit。

"Ofcoursehehashismoodstobemerry，an\'mebbythar\'shourswhenhe\'sgaytothep\'intofover-play。Buthisheart\'sasstraightasariflebar\'leverytime。

"It\'sadayIputsinwithDaveTuttwhichmakeswhattheseyerelaw-sharpscalls\'acaseinp\'int，\'an\'whichIrelateswithoutreserve。Itgivesyousomenotionofhowacowboy，havin\'aleesurehour，onbucklesan\'ishappynacheral。

"ThisyereispriortoDaveweddin\'TucsonJennie。I\'mpirootin\'

\'roundTucsonwithDaveatthetime，Dave\'sworkin\'asmallbunchofcattle，\'wayoverneartheCowSprings，an\'isinTucsonforarest。

We\'vebeensloshin\'\'roundtheOrientalallday，findin\'newvirchoosinthewhiskey，an\'amoosin\'ourse\'fsatourownexpense，whenaboutfifthdrinktimeintheevenin\'Daveallowshe\'ssomesickofsechrevels，an\'concloodshe\'llp\'intoutamongthe\'dobys，sorto\'explorin\'thingsupalot。Whichwetharupongoesinconcert。

"Iain\'tfrothin\'atthemouthnonetogomyse\'f，notseein\'

reelaxationinpokin\'aboutpermiscusamongapasselofMexicans，an\'meloathin\'of\'emfrombirth；butIgoes，aimin\'torideherdonDave。Whichhisdisp\'sitionissomefreean\'various；an\'bein\'

amongMexicans，thata-way，he\'sliabletomixhimse\'fintotrouble。

NotthatDaveisbad，nonewhatever；butbein\'sevenoreightdrinkswinner，an\'ofthatOrientalwhiskey，too，itbroadenshiman\'makeshimfeelfriendly，an\'deloodeshimintoclaimin\'acquaintancewithpeopleheneverdoesknow，an\'refoosin\'toonderstandhowtheyshowssymptomsofdoubt。Sowecapersalong；Davewarblin\'\'TheDeathofSamBass\'inthecoyotekey。

"Thesenorasan\'senoritas，hearin\'therow，wouldlookoutan\'

smile，an\'Davewouldwavehisbighatan\'whoopfromglee。Ifhestartstoward\'em，aimin\'forapowwow——whichhedoesfrequent，bein\'amightyamiablegentthata-way——theycarolsforthasquawkimmediatean\'shetsthedoor。Davegoeson。Mebbyhegivesthedoorakickortwo，a-proclaimin\'ofhisdiscontent。

"Allatonce，whilewe\'reprowlin\'uponeofthemspaciousalleysaMexicanthinksisastreet，wecomesuponaEytalianwithamusicoutfitwhichhe\'sgrindin\'。Thisyeremusicain\'tsobad，an\'I

hearsaheapworsestrains。AssoonasDaveseeshimhetriestofiggeronadance，butthe\'localtalent\'declinestodancewithhim。

"\'Inwhichevent，\'saysDave，\'Iplaysalonehand。"

"SoDaveputsupasmalldance，likeaNavajo，accompanyin\'ofhimse\'fwithoutcriessameasaInjun。ButtheEytaliandon\'tplayDave\'skindofmusic，an\'thebaileecomestoahalt。

"\'Whateveristhematterwiththisyeretune-box，anyhow？\'saysDave。\'Gimmethemusicforagreen-corndance，an\'don\'tmakenodelay。\'"\'Thisyeregentcan\'tplaynogreen-corndance，\'Isays。

"\'Hecan\'t，can\'the？\'saysDave；\'waittillheropesatitonce。I

knowsthisgentofyore。ImeetshimtwoyearsagoinElPaso；whichmean\'himshorelyshakesupthatvillage。\'

"\'Whateverishisname，then？\'Iasks。

"\'AntonioMarino，\'saystheEytalian。

"\'Merino？\'saysDave；\'that\'sright。Irecallsit，\'causeitmakesmethinkatthejumphe\'sasheepman，an\'Igetsplumbhostile。\'

"\'Ineverseesyou，\'saystheEytalian。

"\'Yesyoudo，\'saysDave；\'youjestthinkyoudidn\'tseeme。Wedrinkstogether，an\'goesoutan\'shootsupthecamp，arman\'arm。\'

"ButtheEytalianinsistshenevermeetsDave。ThismakesDaveuglyalot，an\'beforeIgetstobuttinan\'stopit，heoutswithhissix-shooter，an\'putsaholeintothemusic-box。\'

"\'TheseyeretunesIhearssofar，\'saysDave，\'istoofrivolous；I

figgersthatoughtersober\'emdownawholelot。\'

"WhenDaveshoots，theEytalianpartyheavesthestrapofhishewgagoverhishead，an\'flies。Davegrabsthemusic-box，keepin\'itfromfallin\'，an\'thenbeginsturnin\'thecranktotryit。Itplaysallright，onlyeverynowan\'thenthar\'saholeintothemelodylikeit\'slostatooth。

"\'Thisyere\'sgoodenoughforadog!\'saysDave，a-twistin\'awayonthehandle。\'Where\'sthisyereMerino？Whateveristhematterwiththatshorthorn？Whydon\'thestandhishand？\'

"ButMerinoain\'tnoomerousnomore；soDaveallowsit\'sashametoletitgothata-way，an\'Mexicanssufferin\'formelody。Withthathestrapsonthetune-box，an\'roams\'roundfromone\'dobytoanother，turnin\'itloose。

"\'HowlongdoesMerinodealhistunes，\'saysDave，\'beforehec\'llects？However，Imakesnewroolesforthegame，rightyere。I

playsthesecadencesfiveminutes；an\'thenIgetsactionon\'emforfive。IsplitsevenwiththeseMexicans，whichisshorelyfair。\'

"SoDavetwistsawayforfiveminutes，an\'mea-timin\'ofhim，an\'

thenleansthehewgagupag\'ina\'doby，an\'startsintomakearound-up。He\'lltackleahousehold，sorto\'terrorisin\'at\'emwithhisgun；an\'tharuponthemembersgetsthatgeneroustheyevennegotiatesloansan\'thruststhemproceedsonDave。That\'sright；

they\'rethatambitioustodonate。

"Onetimeherunsuponabandoftenderfeet，who\'sskallyhootin\'

\'round；an\'theycomesupan\'bendstheiry\'earsa-while。They\'returnin\'togojestbeforec\'llectin\'time。

"\'Holdon，\'saysDave，pickin\'uphisColt\'soffenthetopofthehewgag；\'don\'tgetcoldfeet。WhichI\'veseenpeopleturnthatkyardinchurch，butyoubetyoudon\'tjumpnogameofminethata-way。

You-alllineupag\'inthewalltharontilItuckstheblanketsinonthisyereoutbreakinFflat，an\'I\'llbewithyou。\'

"WhenDavewindsup，hegoesalongthelineofthemtremblin\'

towerists，an\'theycontreebutes\'levendollars。

"\'Theyaimstogostampedin\'offwiththemnocturnes，an\'\'peggios，an\'arias，an\'neversaynothin\'，\'saysDave；\'buttheycan\'tworknotwistlikethat，an\'mea-ridin\'herd；nonewhatever。\'

"Davecarriesonsim\'larforthreehours；an\'whatonsplits，an\'

whatonbetshewins，he\'soverahundreddollarsahead。Butatlasthe\'splumbfatigued，an\'allowshe\'llquitan\'callitaday。Sohepacksthetom-tomdowntoFranklin\'soffice。FranklinismarshalofTucson，an\'Daveturnsoverthelayoutan\'themoney，an\'tellsFranklintoroundupMerinoan\'enrichhimtharwith。

"\'WhereisthisyereDago？\'saysFranklin。

"\'HoweverdoIknow？\'saysDave。\'LastInotesofhim，he\'scanterin\'offamongthescenerylikeantelopes。\'

"It\'satthisp\'intMerinocomestoview。Hestartsintobeaheapdejectedaboutthatbullet；butwhenhegetsDave\'sdonationthata-

way，hishopesrevives。Hebeginstoregyarditasaheapgoodscheme。

"\'Butyou\'llhavetocirkleuptothealcalde，Tutt，\'saysFranklin。

\'Iain\'tshorenoneyouain\'tbeenbreakin\'somelaw。\'

"Davegrumbles，an\'allowsTucsonisgettin\'aheaptoostaidforhim。

"\'It\'sgettin\'so，\'saysDave，\'afreeAmericancitizendon\'tobtainnoencouragements。YereIputsinhalfaday，amassin\'wealthforaforeigngentwhoissettin\'inbadluck；an\'elevatin\'Mexicans，whoshorelyneedsit，an\'forafinishI\'mlaidforbythemarshallikeafelon。\'

"Well，we-allgoessurgin\'overtothealcalde\'s。Franklin，Davean\'

thealcaldedoesaheapofpokin\'abouttoseewhatevercrimes，ifany，Dave\'sdone。Whichtheygetsbythecaptureofthehewgag，an\'