第2章

Andallthistimethedogisonlyashorttwentyfeetbehindthecayote，andtosavethesoulofhimhecannotunderstandwhyitisthathecannotgetperceptiblycloser；andhebeginstogetaggravated，anditmakeshimmadderandmaddertoseehowgentlythecayoteglidesalongandneverpantsorsweatsorceasestosmile；andhegrowsstillmoreandmoreincensedtoseehowshamefullyhehasbeentakeninbyanentirestranger，andwhatanignobleswindlethatlong，calm，soft-footedtrotis；andnexthenoticesthatheisgettingfagged，andthatthecayoteactuallyhastoslackenspeedalittletokeepfromrunningawayfromhim——andthenthattown-dogismadinearnest，andhebeginstostrainandweepandswear，andpawthesandhigherthanever，andreachforthecayotewithconcentratedanddesperateenergy。This“spurt“findshimsixfeetbehindtheglidingenemy，andtwomilesfromhisfriends。Andthen，intheinstantthatawildnewhopeislightinguphisface，thecayoteturnsandsmilesblandlyuponhimoncemore，andwithasomethingaboutitwhichseemstosay:“Well，Ishallhavetotearmyselfawayfromyou，bub——businessisbusiness，anditwillnotdoformetobefoolingalongthiswayallday“——andforthwiththereisarushingsound，andthesuddensplittingofalongcrackthroughtheatmosphere，andbeholdthatdogissolitaryandaloneinthemidstofavastsolitude！

Itmakeshisheadswim。Hestops，andlooksallaround；climbsthenearestsand-mound，andgazesintothedistance；shakeshisheadreflectively，andthen，withoutaword，heturnsandjogsalongbacktohistrain，andtakesupahumblepositionunderthehindmostwagon，andfeelsunspeakablymean，andlooksashamed，andhangshistailathalf-

mastforaweek。Andforasmuchasayearafterthat，wheneverthereisagreathueandcryafteracayote，thatdogwillmerelyglanceinthatdirectionwithoutemotion，andapparentlyobservetohimself，“IbelieveIdonotwishanyofthepie。”

Thecayoteliveschieflyinthemostdesolateandforbiddingdesert，alongwiththelizard，thejackass-rabbitandtheraven，andgetsanuncertainandprecariousliving，andearnsit。Heseemstosubsistalmostwhollyonthecarcasesofoxen，mulesandhorsesthathavedroppedoutofemigranttrainsanddied，anduponwindfallsofcarrion，andoccasionallegaciesofoffalbequeathedtohimbywhitemenwhohavebeenopulentenoughtohavesomethingbettertobutcherthancondemnedarmybacon。

Hewilleatanythingintheworldthathisfirstcousins，thedesert-

frequentingtribesofIndianswill，andtheywilleatanythingtheycanbite。Itisacuriousfactthattheselatteraretheonlycreaturesknowntohistorywhowilleatnitro-glycerineandaskformoreiftheysurvive。

ThecayoteofthedesertsbeyondtheRockyMountainshasapeculiarlyhardtimeofit，owingtothefactthathisrelations，theIndians，arejustasapttobethefirsttodetectaseductivescentonthedesertbreeze，andfollowthefragrancetothelateoxitemanatedfrom，asheishimself；andwhenthisoccurshehastocontenthimselfwithsittingoffatalittledistancewatchingthosepeoplestripoffanddigouteverythingedible，andwalkoffwithit。Thenheandthewaitingravensexploretheskeletonandpolishthebones。Itisconsideredthatthecayote，andtheobscenebird，andtheIndianofthedesert，testifytheirbloodkinshipwitheachotherinthattheylivetogetherinthewasteplacesoftheearthontermsofperfectconfidenceandfriendship，whilehatingallothercreatureandyearningtoassistattheirfunerals。Hedoesnotmindgoingahundredmilestobreakfast，andahundredandfiftytodinner，becauseheissuretohavethreeorfourdaysbetweenmeals，andhecanjustaswellbetravelingandlookingatthesceneryaslyingarounddoingnothingandaddingtotheburdensofhisparents。

Wesoonlearnedtorecognizethesharp，viciousbarkofthecayoteasitcameacrossthemurkyplainatnighttodisturbourdreamsamongthemail-sacks；andrememberinghisforlornaspectandhishardfortune，madeshifttowishhimtheblessednoveltyofalongday"sgoodluckandalimitlesslarderthemorrow。

CHAPTERVI。

Ournewconductor(justshipped)hadbeenwithoutsleepfortwentyhours。

Suchathingwasveryfrequent。FromSt。Joseph，Missouri，toSacramento，California，bystage-coach，wasnearlynineteenhundredmiles，andthetripwasoftenmadeinfifteendays(thecarsdoitinfourandahalf，now)，butthetimespecifiedinthemailcontracts，andrequiredbytheschedule，waseighteenornineteendays，ifIrememberrightly。Thiswastomakefairallowanceforwinterstormsandsnows，andotherunavoidablecausesofdetention。Thestagecompanyhadeverythingunderstrictdisciplineandgoodsystem。Overeachtwohundredandfiftymilesofroadtheyplacedanagentorsuperintendent，andinvestedhimwithgreatauthority。Hisbeatorjurisdictionoftwohundredandfiftymileswascalleda“division。”Hepurchasedhorses，mulesharness，andfoodformenandbeasts，anddistributedthesethingsamonghisstagestations，fromtimetotime，accordingtohisjudgmentofwhateachstationneeded。Heerectedstationbuildingsanddugwells。

Heattendedtothepayingofthestation-keepers，hostlers，driversandblacksmiths，anddischargedthemwheneverhechose。Hewasavery，verygreatmaninhis“division“——akindofGrandMogul，aSultanoftheIndies，inwhosepresencecommonmenweremodestofspeechandmanner，andintheglareofwhosegreatnesseventhedazzlingstage-driverdwindledtoapennydip。Therewereabouteightofthesekings，alltold，ontheoverlandroute。

Nextinrankandimportancetothedivision-agentcamethe“conductor。”

Hisbeatwasthesamelengthastheagent"s——twohundredandfiftymiles。

Hesatwiththedriver，and(whennecessary)rodethatfearfuldistance，nightandday，withoutotherrestorsleepthanwhathecouldgetperchedthusontopoftheflyingvehicle。Thinkofit！Hehadabsolutechargeofthemails，expressmatter，passengersandstage，coach，untilhedeliveredthemtothenextconductor，andgothisreceiptforthem。

Consequentlyhehadtobeamanofintelligence，decisionandconsiderableexecutiveability。Hewasusuallyaquiet，pleasantman，whoattendedcloselytohisduties，andwasagooddealofagentleman。

Itwasnotabsolutelynecessarythatthedivision-agentshouldbeagentleman，andoccasionallyhewasn"t。Buthewasalwaysageneralinadministrativeability，andabull-dogincourageanddetermination——

otherwisethechieftainshipoverthelawlessunderlingsoftheoverlandservicewouldneverinanyinstancehavebeentohimanythingbutanequivalentforamonthofinsolenceanddistressandabulletandacoffinattheendofit。Therewereaboutsixteenoreighteenconductorsontheoverland，fortherewasadailystageeachway，andaconductoroneverystage。

Nextinrealandofficialrankandimportance，aftertheconductor，camemydelight，thedriver——nextinrealbutnotinapparentimportance——forwehaveseenthatintheeyesofthecommonherdthedriverwastotheconductorasanadmiralistothecaptainoftheflag-ship。Thedriver"sbeatwasprettylong，andhissleeping-timeatthestationsprettyshort，sometimes；andso，butforthegrandeurofhispositionhiswouldhavebeenasorrylife，aswellasahardandawearingone。Wetookanewdrivereverydayoreverynight(fortheydrovebackwardandforwardoverthesamepieceofroadallthetime)，andthereforewenevergotaswellacquaintedwiththemaswedidwiththeconductors；andbesides，theywouldhavebeenabovebeingfamiliarwithsuchrubbishaspassengers，anyhow，asageneralthing。Still，wewerealwayseagertogetasightofeachandeverynewdriverassoonasthewatchchanged，foreachandeverydaywewereeitheranxioustogetridofanunpleasantone，orloathtopartwithadriverwehadlearnedtolikeandhadcometobesociableandfriendlywith。Andsothefirstquestionweaskedtheconductorwheneverwegottowhereweweretoexchangedrivers，wasalways，“Whichishim?“Thegrammarwasfaulty，maybe，butwecouldnotknow，then，thatitwouldgointoabooksomeday。Aslongaseverythingwentsmoothly，theoverlanddriverwaswellenoughsituated，butifafellowdrivergotsicksuddenlyitmadetrouble，forthecoachmustgoon，andsothepotentatewhowasabouttoclimbdownandtakealuxuriousrestafterhislongnight"ssiegeinthemidstofwindandrainanddarkness，hadtostaywherehewasanddothesickman"swork。Once，intheRockyMountains，whenIfoundadriversoundasleeponthebox，andthemulesgoingattheusualbreak-neckpace，theconductorsaidnevermindhim，therewasnodanger，andhewasdoingdoubleduty——haddrivenseventy-fivemilesononecoach，andwasnowgoingbackoveritonthiswithoutrestorsleep。Ahundredandfiftymilesofholdingbackofsixvindictivemulesandkeepingthemfromclimbingthetrees！Itsoundsincredible，butIrememberthestatementwellenough。

Thestation-keepers，hostlers，etc。，werelow，roughcharacters，asalreadydescribed；andfromwesternNebraskatoNevadaaconsiderablesprinklingofthemmightbefairlysetdownasoutlaws——fugitivesfromjustice，criminalswhosebestsecuritywasasectionofcountrywhichwaswithoutlawandwithouteventhepretenceofit。Whenthe“division-

agent“issuedanordertooneofthesepartieshediditwiththefullunderstandingthathemighthavetoenforceitwithanavysix-shooter，andsohealwayswent“fixed“tomakethingsgoalongsmoothly。

Nowandthenadivision-agentwasreallyobligedtoshootahostlerthroughtheheadtoteachhimsomesimplematterthathecouldhavetaughthimwithaclubifhiscircumstancesandsurroundingshadbeendifferent。Buttheyweresnappy，ablemen，thosedivision-agents，andwhentheytriedtoteachasubordinateanything，thatsubordinategenerally“gotitthroughhishead。”

Agreatportionofthisvastmachinery——thesehundredsofmenandcoaches，andthousandsofmulesandhorses——wasinthehandsofMr。BenHolliday。Allthewesternhalfofthebusinesswasinhishands。ThisremindsmeofanincidentofPalestinetravelwhichispertinenthere，soIwilltransferitjustinthelanguageinwhichIfinditsetdowninmyHolyLandnote-book:

NodoubteverybodyhasheardofBenHolliday——amanofprodigiousenergy，whousedtosendmailsandpassengersflyingacrossthecontinentinhisoverlandstage-coacheslikeaverywhirlwind——twothousandlongmilesinfifteendaysandahalf，bythewatch！ButthisfragmentofhistoryisnotaboutBenHolliday，butaboutayoungNewYorkboybythenameofJack，whotraveledwithoursmallpartyofpilgrimsintheHolyLand(andwhohadtraveledtoCaliforniainMr。Holliday"soverlandcoachesthreeyearsbefore，andhadbynomeansforgottenitorlosthisgushingadmirationofMr。H。)Agednineteen。Jackwasagoodboy——agood-heartedandalwayswell-meaningboy，whohadbeenrearedinthecityofNewYork，andalthoughhewasbrightandknewagreatmanyusefulthings，hisScripturaleducationhadbeenagooddealneglected——tosuchadegree，indeed，thatallHolyLandhistorywasfreshandnewtohim，andallBiblenamesmysteriesthathadneverdisturbedhisvirginear。

AlsoinourpartywasanelderlypilgrimwhowasthereverseofJack，inthathewaslearnedintheScripturesandanenthusiastconcerningthem。Hewasourencyclopedia，andwewerenevertiredoflisteningtohisspeeches，norheofmakingthem。Heneverpassedacelebratedlocality，fromBashantoBethlehem，withoutilluminatingitwithanoration。Oneday，whencampedneartheruinsofJericho，heburstforthwithsomethinglikethis:

“Jack，doyouseethatrangeofmountainsoveryonderthatboundstheJordanvalley?ThemountainsofMoab，Jack！Thinkofit，myboy——theactualmountainsofMoab——renownedinScripturehistory！

Weareactuallystandingfacetofacewiththoseillustriouscragsandpeaks——andforallweknow“[droppinghisvoiceimpressively]，“oureyesmayberestingatthisverymomentuponthespotWHERE

LIESTHEMYSTERIOUSGRAVEOFMOSES！Thinkofit，Jack！“

“Moseswho?“(fallinginflection)。

“Moseswho！Jack，yououghttobeashamedofyourself——yououghttobeashamedofsuchcriminalignorance。Why，Moses，thegreatguide，soldier，poet，lawgiverofancientIsrael！Jack，fromthisspotwherewestand，toEgypt，stretchesafearfuldesertthreehundredmilesinextent——andacrossthatdesertthatwonderfulmanbroughtthechildrenofIsrael！——guidingthemwithunfailingsagacityforfortyyearsoverthesandydesolationandamongtheobstructingrocksandhills，andlandedthematlast，safeandsound，withinsightofthisveryspot；andwherewenowstandtheyenteredthePromisedLandwithanthemsofrejoicing！Itwasawonderful，wonderfulthingtodo，Jack！Thinkofit！“

“Fortyyears?Onlythreehundredmiles?Humph！BenHollidaywouldhavefetchedthemthroughinthirty-sixhours！“

Theboymeantnoharm。Hedidnotknowthathehadsaidanythingthatwaswrongorirreverent。Andsonoonescoldedhimorfeltoffendedwithhim——andnobodycouldbutsomeungenerousspiritincapableofexcusingtheheedlessblundersofaboy。

Atnoononthefifthdayout，wearrivedatthe“CrossingoftheSouthPlatte，“alias“Julesburg，“alias“OverlandCity，“fourhundredandseventymilesfromSt。Joseph——thestrangest，quaintest，funniestfrontiertownthatouruntraveledeyeshadeverstaredatandbeenastonishedwith。

CHAPTERVII。

Itdidseemstrangeenoughtoseeatownagainafterwhatappearedtoussuchalongacquaintancewithdeep，still，almostlifelessandhouselesssolitude！Wetumbledoutintothebusystreetfeelinglikemeteoricpeoplecrumbledoffthecornerofsomeotherworld，andwakenedupsuddenlyinthis。ForanhourwetookasmuchinterestinOverlandCityasifwehadneverseenatownbefore。Thereasonwehadanhourtosparewasbecausewehadtochangeourstage(foralesssumptuousaffair，calleda“mud-wagon“)andtransferourfreightofmails。

Presentlywegotunderwayagain。Wecametotheshallow，yellow，muddySouthPlatte，withitslowbanksanditsscatteringflatsand-barsandpigmyislands——amelancholystreamstragglingthroughthecentreoftheenormousflatplain，andonlysavedfrombeingimpossibletofindwiththenakedeyebyitssentinelrankofscatteringtreesstandingoneitherbank。ThePlattewas“up，“theysaid——whichmademewishIcouldseeitwhenitwasdown，ifitcouldlookanysickerandsorrier。Theysaiditwasadangerousstreamtocross，now，becauseitsquicksandswereliabletoswallowuphorses，coachandpassengersifanattemptwasmadetofordit。Butthemailshadtogo，andwemadetheattempt。Onceortwiceinmidstreamthewheelssunkintotheyieldingsandssothreateninglythatwehalfbelievedwehaddreadedandavoidedtheseaallourlivestobeshipwreckedina“mud-wagon“inthemiddleofadesertatlast。Butwedraggedthroughandspedawaytowardthesettingsun。

Nextmorning，justbeforedawn，whenaboutfivehundredandfiftymilesfromSt。Joseph，ourmud-wagonbrokedown。Weweretobedelayedfiveorsixhours，andthereforewetookhorses，byinvitation，andjoinedapartywhowerejuststartingonabuffalohunt。Itwasnoblesportgallopingovertheplaininthedewyfreshnessofthemorning，butourpartofthehuntendedindisasteranddisgrace，forawoundedbuffalobullchasedthepassengerBemisnearlytwomiles，andthenheforsookhishorseandtooktoalonetree。Hewasverysullenaboutthematterforsometwenty-fourhours，butatlasthebegantosoftenlittlebylittle，andfinallyhesaid:

“Well，itwasnotfunny，andtherewasnosenseinthosegawksmakingthemselvessofacetiousoverit。ItellyouIwasangryinearnestforawhile。IshouldhaveshotthatlongganglylubbertheycalledHank，ifIcouldhavedoneitwithoutcripplingsixorsevenotherpeople——butofcourseIcouldn"t，theold"Allen"s"soconfoundedcomprehensive。Iwishthoseloafershadbeenupinthetree；theywouldn"thavewantedtolaughso。IfIhadhadahorseworthacent——butno，theminutehesawthatbuffalobullwheelonhimandgiveabellow，heraisedstraightupintheairandstoodonhisheels。Thesaddlebegantoslip，andItookhimroundtheneckandlaidclosetohim，andbegantopray。Thenhecamedownandstoodupontheotherendawhile，andthebullactuallystoppedpawingsandandbellowingtocontemplatetheinhumanspectacle。

Thenthebullmadeapassathimandutteredabellowthatsoundedperfectlyfrightful，itwassoclosetome，andthatseemedtoliterallyprostratemyhorse"sreason，andmakearavingdistractedmaniacofhim，andIwishImaydieifhedidn"tstandonhisheadforaquarterofaminuteandshedtears。Hewasabsolutelyoutofhismind——hewas，assureastruthitself，andhereallydidn"tknowwhathewasdoing。Thenthebullcamechargingatus，andmyhorsedroppeddownonallfoursandtookafreshstart——andthenforthenexttenminuteshewouldactuallythrowonehand-springafteranothersofastthatthebullbegantogetunsettled，too，anddidn"tknowwheretostartin——andsohestoodtheresneezing，andshovellingdustoverhisback，andbellowingeverynowandthen，andthinkinghehadgotafifteen-hundreddollarcircushorseforbreakfast，certain。Well，Iwasfirstoutonhisneck——thehorse"s，notthebull"s——andthenunderneath，andnextonhisrump，andsometimesheadup，andsometimesheels——butItellyouitseemedsolemnandawfultoberippingandtearingandcarryingonsointhepresenceofdeath，asyoumightsay。Prettysoonthebullmadeasnatchforusandbroughtawaysomeofmyhorse"stail(Isuppose，butdonotknow，beingprettybusyatthetime)，butsomethingmadehimhungryforsolitudeandsuggestedtohimtogetupandhuntforit。

Andthenyououghttohaveseenthatspiderleggedoldskeletongo！andyououghttohaveseenthebullcutoutafterhim，too——headdown，tongueout，tailup，bellowinglikeeverything，andactuallymowingdowntheweeds，andtearinguptheearth，andboostingupthesandlikeawhirlwind！ByGeorge，itwasahotrace！Iandthesaddlewerebackontherump，andIhadthebridleinmyteethandholdingontothepommelwithbothhands。Firstweleftthedogsbehind；thenwepassedajackassrabbit；thenweovertookacayote，andweregainingonanantelopewhentherottengirthletgoandthrewmeaboutthirtyyardsofftotheleft，andasthesaddlewentdownoverthehorse"srumphegaveitaliftwithhisheelsthatsentitmorethanfourhundredyardsupintheair，IwishImaydieinaminuteifhedidn"t。Ifellatthefootoftheonlysolitarytreetherewasinninecountiesadjacent(asanycreaturecouldseewiththenakedeye)，andthenextsecondIhadholdofthebarkwithfoursetsofnailsandmyteeth，andthenextsecondafterthatIwasastraddleofthemainlimbandblasphemingmyluckinawaythatmademybreathsmellofbrimstone。Ihadthebull，now，ifhedidnotthinkofonething。ButthatonethingIdreaded。Idreadeditveryseriously。

Therewasapossibilitythatthebullmightnotthinkofit，butthereweregreaterchancesthathewould。ImadeupmymindwhatIwoulddoincasehedid。ItwasalittleoverfortyfeettothegroundfromwhereI

sat。Icautiouslyunwoundthelariatfromthepommelofmysaddle——“

“Yoursaddle?Didyoutakeyoursaddleupinthetreewithyou?“

“Takeitupinthetreewithme?Why，howyoutalk。OfcourseIdidn"t。

Nomancoulddothat。Itfellinthetreewhenitcamedown。”

“Oh——exactly。”

“Certainly。Iunwoundthelariat，andfastenedoneendofittothelimb。Itwastheverybestgreenraw-hide，andcapableofsustainingtons。Imadeaslip-nooseintheotherend，andthenhungitdowntoseethelength。Itreacheddowntwenty-twofeet——halfwaytotheground。

IthenloadedeverybarreloftheAllenwithadoublecharge。Ifeltsatisfied。Isaidtomyself，ifheneverthinksofthatonethingthatI

dread，allright——butifhedoes，allrightanyhow——Iamfixedforhim。

Butdon"tyouknowthattheverythingamandreadsisthethingthatalwayshappens?Indeeditisso。Iwatchedthebull，now，withanxiety——anxietywhichnoonecanconceiveofwhohasnotbeeninsuchasituationandfeltthatatanymomentdeathmightcome。Presentlyathoughtcameintothebull"seye。Iknewit！saidI——ifmynervefailsnow，Iamlost。Sureenough，itwasjustasIhaddreaded，hestartedintoclimbthetree——“

“What，thebull?“

“Ofcourse——whoelse?“

“Butabullcan"tclimbatree。”

“Hecan"t，can"the?Sinceyouknowsomuchaboutit，didyoueverseeabulltry?“

“No！Ineverdreamtofsuchathing。”

“Well，then，whatistheuseofyourtalkingthatway，then?Becauseyouneversawathingdone，isthatanyreasonwhyitcan"tbedone?“

“Well，allright——goon。Whatdidyoudo?“

“Thebullstartedup，andgotalongwellforabouttenfeet，thenslippedandslidback。Ibreathedeasier。Hetrieditagain——gotupalittlehigher——slippedagain。Buthecameatitoncemore，andthistimehewascareful。Hegotgraduallyhigherandhigher，andmyspiritswentdownmoreandmore。Uphecame——aninchatatime——withhiseyeshot，andhistonguehangingout。Higherandhigher——hitchedhisfootoverthestumpofalimb，andlookedup，asmuchastosay，"Youaremymeat，friend。"

Upagain——higherandhigher，andgettingmoreexcitedthecloserhegot。

Hewaswithintenfeetofme！Itookalongbreath，——andthensaidI，"Itisnowornever。"Ihadthecoilofthelariatallready；Ipaiditoutslowly，tillithungrightoverhishead；allofasuddenIletgooftheslack，andtheslipnoosefellfairlyroundhisneck！QuickerthanlightningIoutwiththeAllenandlethimhaveitintheface。Itwasanawfulroar，andmusthavescaredthebulloutofhissenses。Whenthesmokeclearedaway，therehewas，danglingintheair，twentyfootfromtheground，andgoingoutofoneconvulsionintoanotherfasterthanyoucouldcount！Ididn"tstoptocount，anyhow——Ishinneddownthetreeandshotforhome。”

“Bemis，isallthattrue，justasyouhavestatedit?“

“IwishImayrotinmytracksanddiethedeathofadogifitisn"t。”

“Well，wecan"trefusetobelieveit，andwedon"t。Butifthereweresomeproofs——“

“Proofs！DidIbringbackmylariat?“

“No。”

“DidIbringbackmyhorse?“

“No。”

“Didyoueverseethebullagain?“

“No。”

“Well，then，whatmoredoyouwant?Ineversawanybodyasparticularasyouareaboutalittlethinglikethat。”

Imadeupmymindthatifthismanwasnotaliarheonlymisseditbytheskinofhisteeth。ThisepisoderemindsmeofanincidentofmybriefsojourninSiam，yearsafterward。TheEuropeancitizensofatownintheneighborhoodofBangkokhadaprodigyamongthembythenameofEckert，anEnglishman——apersonfamousforthenumber，ingenuityandimposingmagnitudeofhislies。Theywerealwaysrepeatinghismostcelebratedfalsehoods，andalwaystryingto“drawhimout“beforestrangers；buttheyseldomsucceeded。TwicehewasinvitedtothehousewhereIwasvisiting，butnothingcouldseducehimintoaspecimenlie。

OnedayaplanternamedBascom，aninfluentialman，andaproudandsometimesirascibleone，invitedmetorideoverwithhimandcallonEckert。Aswejoggedalong，saidhe:

“Now，doyouknowwherethefaultlies?ItliesinputtingEckertonhisguard。TheminutetheboysgotopumpingatEckertheknowsperfectlywellwhattheyareafter，andofcourseheshutsuphisshell。Anybodymightknowhewould。Butwhenwegetthere，wemustplayhimfinerthanthat。Lethimshapetheconversationtosuithimself——lethimdropitorchangeitwheneverhewantsto。Lethimseethatnobodyistryingtodrawhimout。Justlethimhavehisownway。Hewillsoonforgethimselfandbegintogrindoutlieslikeamill。Don"tgetimpatient——

justkeepquiet，andletmeplayhim。Iwillmakehimlie。Itdoesseemtomethattheboysmustbeblindtooverlooksuchanobviousandsimpletrickasthat。”

Eckertreceivedusheartily——apleasant-spoken，gentle-manneredcreature。

Wesatintheverandaanhour，sippingEnglishale，andtalkingabouttheking，andthesacredwhiteelephant，theSleepingIdol，andallmannerofthings；andInoticedthatmycomradeneverledtheconversationhimselforshapedit，butsimplyfollowedEckert"slead，andbetrayednosolicitudeandnoanxietyaboutanything。Theeffectwasshortlyperceptible。Eckertbegantogrowcommunicative；hegrewmoreandmoreathisease，andmoreandmoretalkativeandsociable。Anotherhourpassedinthesameway，andthenallofasuddenEckertsaid:

“Oh，bytheway！Icamenearforgetting。Ihavegotathingheretoastonishyou。Suchathingasneitheryounoranyothermaneverheardof——I"vegotacatthatwilleatcocoanut！Commongreencocoanut——andnotonlyeatthemeat，butdrinkthemilk。Itisso——I"llsweartoit。”

AquickglancefromBascom——aglancethatIunderstood——then:

“Why，blessmysoul，Ineverheardofsuchathing。Man，itisimpossible。”

“Iknewyouwouldsayit。I"llfetchthecat。”

Hewentinthehouse。Bascomsaid:

“There——whatdidItellyou?Now，thatisthewaytohandleEckert。Yousee，Ihavepettedhimalongpatiently，andputhissuspicionstosleep。

Iamgladwecame。Youtelltheboysaboutitwhenyougoback。Cateatacocoanut——oh，my！Now，thatisjusthisway，exactly——hewilltelltheabsurdestlie，andtrusttolucktogetoutofitagain。

Cateatacocoanut——theinnocentfool！“

Eckertapproachedwithhiscat，sureenough。

Bascomsmiled。Saidhe:

“I"llholdthecat——youbringacocoanut。”

Eckertsplitoneopen，andchoppedupsomepieces。Bascomsmuggledawinktome，andprofferedasliceofthefruittopuss。Shesnatchedit，swalloweditravenously，andaskedformore！

Werodeourtwomilesinsilence，andwideapart。AtleastIwassilent，thoughBascomcuffedhishorseandcursedhimagooddeal，notwithstandingthehorsewasbehavingwellenough。WhenIbranchedoffhomeward，Bascomsaid:

“Keepthehorsetillmorning。And——youneednotspeakofthis——

foolishnesstotheboys。”

CHAPTERVIII。

Inalittlewhileallinterestwastakenupinstretchingournecksandwatchingforthe“pony-rider“——thefleetmessengerwhospedacrossthecontinentfromSt。JoetoSacramento，carryinglettersnineteenhundredmilesineightdays！Thinkofthatforperishablehorseandhumanfleshandbloodtodo！Thepony-riderwasusuallyalittlebitofaman，brimfulofspiritandendurance。Nomatterwhattimeofthedayornighthiswatchcameon，andnomatterwhetheritwaswinterorsummer，raining，snowing，hailing，orsleeting，orwhetherhis“beat“wasalevelstraightroadoracrazytrailovermountaincragsandprecipices，orwhetheritledthroughpeacefulregionsorregionsthatswarmedwithhostileIndians，hemustbealwaysreadytoleapintothesaddleandbeofflikethewind！Therewasnoidling-timeforapony-rideronduty。

Herodefiftymileswithoutstopping，bydaylight，moonlight，starlight，orthroughtheblacknessofdarkness——justasithappened。Herodeasplendidhorsethatwasbornforaracerandfedandlodgedlikeagentleman；kepthimathisutmostspeedfortenmiles，andthen，ashecamecrashinguptothestationwherestoodtwomenholdingfastafresh，impatientsteed，thetransferofriderandmail-bagwasmadeinthetwinklingofaneye，andawayflewtheeagerpairandwereoutofsightbeforethespectatorcouldgethardlytheghostofalook。Bothriderandhorsewent“flyinglight。”Therider"sdresswasthin，andfittedclose；heworea“round-about，“andaskull-cap，andtuckedhispantaloonsintohisboot-topslikearace-rider。Hecarriednoarms——hecarriednothingthatwasnotabsolutelynecessary，foreventhepostageonhisliteraryfreightwasworthfivedollarsaletter。

Hegotbutlittlefrivolouscorrespondencetocarry——hisbaghadbusinesslettersinit，mostly。Hishorsewasstrippedofallunnecessaryweight，too。Heworealittlewaferofaracing-saddle，andnovisibleblanket。

Heworelightshoes，ornoneatall。Thelittleflatmail-pocketsstrappedundertherider"sthighswouldeachholdaboutthebulkofachild"sprimer。Theyheldmanyandmanyanimportantbusinesschapterandnewspaperletter，butthesewerewrittenonpaperasairyandthinasgold-leaf，nearly，andthusbulkandweightwereeconomized。Thestage-

coachtraveledaboutahundredtoahundredandtwenty-fivemilesaday(twenty-fourhours)，thepony-riderabouttwohundredandfifty。Therewereabouteightypony-ridersinthesaddleallthetime，nightandday，stretchinginalong，scatteringprocessionfromMissouritoCalifornia，fortyflyingeastward，andfortytowardthewest，andamongthemmakingfourhundredgallanthorsesearnastirringlivelihoodandseeadealofsceneryeverysingledayintheyear。

Wehadhadaconsumingdesire，fromthebeginning，toseeapony-rider，butsomehoworotherallthatpassedusandallthatmetusmanagedtostreakbyinthenight，andsoweheardonlyawhizandahail，andtheswiftphantomofthedesertwasgonebeforewecouldgetourheadsoutofthewindows。Butnowwewereexpectingonealongeverymoment，andwouldseehiminbroaddaylight。Presentlythedriverexclaims:

“HEREHECOMES！“

Everyneckisstretchedfurther，andeveryeyestrainedwider。Awayacrosstheendlessdeadleveloftheprairieablackspeckappearsagainstthesky，anditisplainthatitmoves。Well，Ishouldthinkso！

Inasecondortwoitbecomesahorseandrider，risingandfalling，risingandfalling——sweepingtowardusnearerandnearer——growingmoreandmoredistinct，moreandmoresharplydefined——nearerandstillnearer，andtheflutterofthehoofscomesfaintlytotheear——anotherinstantawhoopandahurrahfromourupperdeck，awaveoftherider"shand，butnoreply，andmanandhorseburstpastourexcitedfaces，andgowingingawaylikeabelatedfragmentofastorm！

Sosuddenisitall，andsolikeaflashofunrealfancy，thatbutfortheflakeofwhitefoamleftquiveringandperishingonamail-sackafterthevisionhadflashedbyanddisappeared，wemighthavedoubtedwhetherwehadseenanyactualhorseandmanatall，maybe。

WerattledthroughScott"sBluffsPass，byandby。Itwasalongheresomewherethatwefirstcameacrossgenuineandunmistakablealkaliwaterintheroad，andwecordiallyhaileditasafirst-classcuriosity，andathingtobementionedwitheclatinletterstotheignorantathome。

Thiswatergavetheroadasoapyappearance，andinmanyplacesthegroundlookedasifithadbeenwhitewashed。Ithinkthestrangealkaliwaterexcitedusasmuchasanywonderwehadcomeuponyet，andIknowwefeltverycomplacentandconceited，andbettersatisfiedwithlifeafterwehadaddedittoourlistofthingswhichwehadseenandsomeotherpeoplehadnot。InasmallwaywewerethesamesortofsimpletonsasthosewhoclimbunnecessarilytheperilouspeaksofMontBlancandtheMatterhorn，andderivenopleasurefromitexceptthereflectionthatitisn"tacommonexperience。Butonceinawhileoneofthosepartiestripsandcomesdartingdownthelongmountain-cragsinasittingposture，makingthecrustedsnowsmokebehindhim，flittingfrombenchtobench，andfromterracetoterrace，jarringtheearthwherehestrikes，andstillglancingandflittingonagain，stickinganicebergintohimselfeverynowandthen，andtearinghisclothes，snatchingatthingstosavehimself，takingholdoftreesandfetchingthemalongwithhim，rootsandall，startinglittlerocksnowandthen，thenbigboulders，thenacresoficeandsnowandpatchesofforest，gatheringandstillgatheringashegoes，addingandstilladdingtohismassedandsweepinggrandeurashenearsathreethousand-footprecipice，tillatlasthewaveshishatmagnificentlyandridesintoeternityonthebackofaragingandtossingavalanche！

Thisisallveryfine，butletusnotbecarriedawaybyexcitement，butaskcalmly，howdoesthispersonfeelaboutitinhiscoolermomentsnextday，withsixorseventhousandfeetofsnowandstuffontopofhim?

WecrossedthesandhillsnearthesceneoftheIndianmailrobberyandmassacreof1856，whereinthedriverandconductorperished，andalsoallthepassengersbutone，itwassupposed；butthismusthavebeenamistake，foratdifferenttimesafterwardonthePacificcoastIwaspersonallyacquaintedwithahundredandthirty-threeorfourpeoplewhowerewoundedduringthatmassacre，andbarelyescapedwiththeirlives。

Therewasnodoubtofthetruthofit——Ihaditfromtheirownlips。Oneofthesepartiestoldmethathekeptcomingacrossarrow-headsinhissystemfornearlysevenyearsafterthemassacre；andanotherofthemtoldmethathewasstrucksoliterallyfullofarrowsthataftertheIndiansweregoneandhecouldraiseupandexaminehimself，hecouldnotrestrainhistears，forhisclotheswerecompletelyruined。

Themosttrustworthytraditionavers，however，thatonlyoneman，apersonnamedBabbitt，survivedthemassacre，andhewasdesperatelywounded。Hedraggedhimselfonhishandsandknee(foronelegwasbroken)toastationseveralmilesaway。Hediditduringportionsoftwonights，lyingconcealedonedayandpartofanother，andformorethanfortyhourssufferingunimaginableanguishfromhunger，thirstandbodilypain。TheIndiansrobbedthecoachofeverythingitcontained，includingquiteanamountoftreasure。

CHAPTERIX。

WepassedFortLaramieinthenight，andontheseventhmorningoutwefoundourselvesintheBlackHills，withLaramiePeakatourelbow(apparently)loomingvastandsolitary——adeep，dark，richindigoblueinhue，soportentouslydidtheoldcolossusfrownunderhisbeetlingbrowsofstorm-cloud。Hewasthirtyorfortymilesaway，inreality，butheonlyseemedremovedalittlebeyondthelowridgeatourright。WebreakfastedatHorse-ShoeStation，sixhundredandseventy-sixmilesoutfromSt。Joseph。WehadnowreachedahostileIndiancountry，andduringtheafternoonwepassedLaparelleStation，andenjoyedgreatdiscomfortallthetimewewereintheneighborhood，beingawarethatmanyofthetreeswedashedbyatarm"slengthconcealedalurkingIndianortwo。

Duringtheprecedingnightanambushedsavagehadsentabulletthroughthepony-rider"sjacket，buthehadriddenon，justthesame，becausepony-riderswerenotallowedtostopandinquireintosuchthingsexceptwhenkilled。Aslongastheyhadlifeenoughleftinthemtheyhadtosticktothehorseandride，eveniftheIndianshadbeenwaitingforthemaweek，andwereentirelyoutofpatience。AbouttwohoursandahalfbeforewearrivedatLaparelleStation，thekeeperinchargeofithadfiredfourtimesatanIndian，buthesaidwithaninjuredairthattheIndianhad“skippedaroundso"stospileeverything——andammunition"sblamedskurse，too。”Themostnaturalinferenceconveyedbyhismannerofspeakingwas，thatin“skippingaround，“theIndianhadtakenanunfairadvantage。

Thecoachwewereinhadaneatholethroughitsfront——areminiscenceofitslasttripthroughthisregion。Thebulletthatmadeitwoundedthedriverslightly，buthedidnotminditmuch。Hesaidtheplacetokeepaman“huffy“wasdownontheSouthernOverland，amongtheApaches，beforethecompanymovedthestagelineuponthenorthernroute。HesaidtheApachesusedtoannoyhimallthetimedownthere，andthathecameasnearasanythingtostarvingtodeathinthemidstofabundance，becausetheykepthimsoleakywithbulletholesthathe“couldn"tholdhisvittles。”

Thisperson"sstatementwerenotgenerallybelieved。

WeshuttheblindsdownverytightlythatfirstnightinthehostileIndiancountry，andlayonourarms。Wesleptonthemsome，butmostofthetimeweonlylayonthem。Wedidnottalkmuch，butkeptquietandlistened。Itwasaninky-blacknight，andoccasionallyrainy。Wewereamongwoodsandrocks，hillsandgorges——soshutin，infact，thatwhenwepeepedthroughachinkinacurtain，wecoulddiscernnothing。Thedriverandconductorontopwerestill，too，oronlyspokeatlongintervals，inlowtones，asisthewayofmeninthemidstofinvisibledangers。Welistenedtorain-dropspatteringontheroof；andthegrindingofthewheelsthroughthemuddygravel；andthelowwailingofthewind；andallthetimewehadthatabsurdsenseuponus，inseparablefromtravelatnightinaclose-curtainedvehicle，thesenseofremainingperfectlystillinoneplace，notwithstandingthejoltingandswayingofthevehicle，thetramplingofthehorses，andthegrindingofthewheels。

Welistenedalongtime，withintentfacultiesandbatedbreath；everytimeoneofuswouldrelax，anddrawalongsighofreliefandstarttosaysomething，acomradewouldbesuretoutterasudden“Hark！“andinstantlytheexperimenterwasrigidandlisteningagain。Sothetiresomeminutesanddecadesofminutesdraggedaway，untilatlastourtenseformsfilmedoverwithadulledconsciousness，andweslept，ifonemightcallsuchaconditionbysostronganame——foritwasasleepsetwithahair-trigger。Itwasasleepseethingandteemingwithaweirdanddistressfulconfusionofshredsandfag-endsofdreams——asleepthatwasachaos。Presently，dreamsandsleepandthesullenhushofthenightwerestartledbyaringingreport，andclovenbysuchalong，wild，agonizingshriek！Thenweheard——tenstepsfromthestage——

“Help！help！help！“[Itwasourdriver"svoice。]

“Killhim！Killhimlikeadog！“

“I"mbeingmurdered！Willnomanlendmeapistol?“

“Lookout！headhimoff！headhimoff！“

[Twopistolshots；aconfusionofvoicesandthetramplingofmanyfeet，asifacrowdwereclosingandsurgingtogetheraroundsomeobject；

severalheavy，dullblows，aswithaclub；avoicethatsaidappealingly，“Don"t，gentlemen，pleasedon"t——I"madeadman！“Thenafaintergroan，andanotherblow，andawayspedthestageintothedarkness，andleftthegrislymysterybehindus。]

Whatastartleitwas！Eightsecondswouldamplycoverthetimeitoccupied——maybeevenfivewoulddoit。Weonlyhadtimetoplungeatacurtainandunbuckleandunbuttonpartofitinanawkwardandhinderingflurry，whenourwhipcrackedsharplyoverhead，andwewentrumblingandthunderingaway，downamountain“grade。”

Wefedonthatmysterytherestofthenight——whatwasleftofit，foritwaswaningfast。Ithadtoremainapresentmystery，forallwecouldgetfromtheconductorinanswertoourhailswassomethingthatsounded，throughtheclatterofthewheels，like“Tellyouinthemorning！“

Sowelitourpipesandopenedthecornerofacurtainforachimney，andlaythereinthedark，listeningtoeachother"sstoryofhowhefirstfeltandhowmanythousandIndianshefirstthoughthadhurledthemselvesuponus，andwhathisremembranceofthesubsequentsoundswas，andtheorderoftheiroccurrence。Andwetheorized，too，buttherewasneveratheorythatwouldaccountforourdriver"svoicebeingoutthere，noryetaccountforhisIndianmurdererstalkingsuchgoodEnglish，iftheywereIndians。

Sowechattedandsmokedtherestofthenightcomfortablyaway，ourbodinganxietybeingsomehowmarvelouslydissipatedbytherealpresenceofsomethingtobeanxiousabout。

Weneverdidgetmuchsatisfactionaboutthatdarkoccurrence。Allthatwecouldmakeoutoftheoddsandendsoftheinformationwegatheredinthemorning，wasthatthedisturbanceoccurredatastation；thatwechangeddriversthere，andthatthedriverthatgotofftherehadbeentalkingroughlyaboutsomeoftheoutlawsthatinfestedtheregion(“fortherewasn"tamanaroundtherebuthadapriceonhisheadanddidn"tdareshowhimselfinthesettlements，“theconductorsaid)；hehadtalkedroughlyaboutthesecharacters，andoughttohave“droveuptherewithhispistolcockedandreadyontheseatalongsideofhim，andbegunbusinesshimself，becauseanysoftywouldknowtheywouldbelayingforhim。”

Thatwasallwecouldgather，andwecouldseethatneithertheconductornorthenewdriverweremuchconcernedaboutthematter。Theyplainlyhadlittlerespectforamanwhowoulddeliveroffensiveopinionsofpeopleandthenbesosimpleastocomeintotheirpresenceunpreparedto“backhisjudgment，“astheypleasantlyphrasedthekillingofanyfellow-beingwhodidnotlikesaidopinions。Andlikewisetheyplainlyhadacontemptfortheman"spoordiscretioninventuringtorousethewrathofsuchutterlyrecklesswildbeastsasthoseoutlaws——andtheconductoradded:

“Itellyouit"sasmuchasSladehimselfwanttodo！“

Thisremarkcreatedanentirerevolutioninmycuriosity。IcarednothingnowabouttheIndians，andevenlostinterestinthemurdereddriver。Therewassuchmagicinthatname，SLADE！Dayornight，now，I

stoodalwaysreadytodropanysubjectinhand，tolistentosomethingnewaboutSladeandhisghastlyexploits。EvenbeforewegottoOverlandCity，wehadbeguntohearaboutSladeandhis“division“(forhewasa“division-agent“)ontheOverland；andfromthehourwehadleftOverlandCitywehadhearddriversandconductorstalkaboutonlythreethings——

“Californy，“theNevadasilvermines，andthisdesperadoSlade。AndadealthemostofthetalkwasaboutSlade。WehadgraduallycometohavearealizingsenseofthefactthatSladewasamanwhoseheartandhandsandsoulweresteepedinthebloodofoffendersagainsthisdignity；amanwhoawfullyavengedallinjuries，affront，insultsorslights，ofwhateverkind——onthespotifhecould，yearsafterwardiflackofearlieropportunitycompelledit；amanwhosehatetorturedhimdayandnighttillvengeanceappeasedit——andnotanordinaryvengeanceeither，buthisenemy"sabsolutedeath——nothingless；amanwhosefacewouldlightupwithaterriblejoywhenhesurprisedafoeandhadhimatadisadvantage。AhighandefficientservantoftheOverland，anoutlawamongoutlawsandyettheirrelentlessscourge，Sladewasatoncethemostbloody，themostdangerousandthemostvaluablecitizenthatinhabitedthesavagefastnessesofthemountains。

CHAPTERX。

Reallyandtruly，twothirdsofthetalkofdriversandconductorshadbeenaboutthismanSlade，eversincethedaybeforewereachedJulesburg。InorderthattheeasternreadermayhaveaclearconceptionofwhataRockyMountaindesperadois，inhishigheststateofdevelopment，Iwillreduceallthismassofoverlandgossiptoonestraightforwardnarrative，andpresentitinthefollowingshape:

SladewasborninIllinois，ofgoodparentage。Atabouttwenty-sixyearsofagehekilledamaninaquarrelandfledthecountry。AtSt。Joseph，Missouri，hejoinedoneoftheearlyCalifornia-boundemigranttrains，andwasgiventhepostoftrain-master。Onedayontheplainshehadanangrydisputewithoneofhiswagon-drivers，andbothdrewtheirrevolvers。Butthedriverwasthequickerartist，andhadhisweaponcockedfirst。SoSladesaiditwasapitytowastelifeonsosmallamatter，andproposedthatthepistolsbethrownonthegroundandthequarrelsettledbyafist-fight。Theunsuspectingdriveragreed，andthrewdownhispistol——whereuponSladelaughedathissimplicity，andshothimdead！

Hemadehisescape，andlivedawildlifeforawhile，dividinghistimebetweenfightingIndiansandavoidinganIllinoissheriff，whohadbeensenttoarresthimforhisfirstmurder。ItissaidthatinoneIndianbattlehekilledthreesavageswithhisownhand，andafterwardcuttheirearsoffandsentthem，withhiscompliments，tothechiefofthetribe。

Sladesoongainedanameforfearlessresolution，andthiswassufficientmerittoprocureforhimtheimportantpostofoverlanddivision-agentatJulesburg，inplaceofMr。Jules，removed。Forsometimepreviously，thecompany"shorseshadbeenfrequentlystolen，andthecoachesdelayed，bygangsofoutlaws，whowerewonttolaughattheideaofanyman"shavingthetemeritytoresentsuchoutrages。Sladeresentedthempromptly。

Theoutlawssoonfoundthatthenewagentwasamanwhodidnotfearanythingthatbreathedthebreathoflife。Hemadeshortworkofalloffenders。Theresultwasthatdelaysceased，thecompany"spropertywasletalone，andnomatterwhathappenedorwhosuffered，Slade"scoacheswentthrough，everytime！True，inordertobringaboutthiswholesomechange，Sladehadtokillseveralmen——somesaythree，otherssayfour，andotherssix——buttheworldwasthericherfortheirloss。Thefirstprominentdifficultyhehadwaswiththeex-agentJules，whoborethereputationofbeingarecklessanddesperatemanhimself。JuleshatedSladeforsupplantinghim，andagoodfairoccasionforafightwasallhewaswaitingfor。ByandbySladedaredtoemployamanwhomJuleshadoncedischarged。Next，Sladeseizedateamofstage-horseswhichheaccusedJulesofhavingdrivenoffandhiddensomewhereforhisownuse。

Warwasdeclared，andforadayortwothetwomenwalkedwarilyaboutthestreets，seekingeachother，Julesarmedwithadouble-barreledshotgun，andSladewithhishistory-creatingrevolver。Finally，asSladesteppedintoastoreJulespouredthecontentsofhisgunintohimfrombehindthedoor。Sladewasplucky，andJulesgotseveralbadpistolwoundsinreturn。

Thenbothmenfell，andwerecarriedtotheirrespectivelodgings，bothswearingthatbetteraimshoulddodeadlierworknexttime。Bothwerebedriddenalongtime，butJulesgottohisfeetfirst，andgatheringhispossessionstogether，packedthemonacoupleofmules，andfledtotheRockyMountainstogatherstrengthinsafetyagainstthedayofreckoning。Formanymonthshewasnotseenorheardof，andwasgraduallydroppedoutoftheremembranceofallsaveSladehimself。ButSladewasnotthemantoforgethim。Onthecontrary，commonreportsaidthatSladekeptarewardstandingforhiscapture，deadoralive！

Afterawhile，seeingthatSlade"senergeticadministrationhadrestoredpeaceandordertooneoftheworstdivisionsoftheroad，theoverlandstagecompanytransferredhimtotheRockyRidgedivisionintheRockyMountains，toseeifhecouldperformalikemiraclethere。Itwastheveryparadiseofoutlawsanddesperadoes。Therewasabsolutelynosemblanceoflawthere。Violencewastherule。Forcewastheonlyrecognizedauthority。Thecommonestmisunderstandingsweresettledonthespotwiththerevolverortheknife。Murdersweredoneinopenday，andwithsparklingfrequency，andnobodythoughtofinquiringintothem。

Itwasconsideredthatthepartieswhodidthekillinghadtheirprivatereasonsforit；forotherpeopletomeddlewouldhavebeenlookeduponasindelicate。Afteramurder，allthatRockyMountainetiquetterequiredofaspectatorwas，thatheshouldhelpthegentlemanburyhisgame——

otherwisehischurlishnesswouldsurelyberememberedagainsthimthefirsttimehekilledamanhimselfandneededaneighborlyturnininterringhim。

Sladetookuphisresidencesweetlyandpeacefullyinthemidstofthishiveofhorse-thievesandassassins，andtheveryfirsttimeoneofthemairedhisinsolentswaggeringsinhispresenceheshothimdead！Hebeganaraidontheoutlaws，andinasingularlyshortspaceoftimehehadcompletelystoppedtheirdepredationsonthestagestock，recoveredalargenumberofstolenhorses，killedseveraloftheworstdesperadoesofthedistrict，andgainedsuchadreadascendancyovertherestthattheyrespectedhim，admiredhim，fearedhim，obeyedhim！HewroughtthesamemarvelouschangeinthewaysofthecommunitythathadmarkedhisadministrationatOverlandCity。Hecapturedtwomenwhohadstolenoverlandstock，andwithhisownhandshehangedthem。Hewassupremejudgeinhisdistrict，andhewasjuryandexecutionerlikewise——andnotonlyinthecaseofoffencesagainsthisemployers，butagainstpassingemigrantsaswell。Ononeoccasionsomeemigrantshadtheirstocklostorstolen，andtoldSlade，whochancedtovisittheircamp。Withasinglecompanionherodetoaranch，theownersofwhichhesuspected，andopeningthedoor，commencedfiring，killingthree，andwoundingthefourth。

FromabloodthirstilyinterestinglittleMontanabook——“TheVigilantesofMontana，“byProf。Thos。J。Dimsdale。]——Itakethisparagraph:

“Whileontheroad，Sladeheldabsolutesway。Hewouldridedowntoastation，getintoaquarrel，turnthehouseoutofwindows，andmaltreattheoccupantsmostcruelly。Theunfortunateshadnomeansofredress，andwerecompelledtorecuperateasbesttheycould。

Ononeoftheseoccasions，itissaidhekilledthefatherofthefinelittlehalf-breedboyJemmy，whomheadopted，andwholivedwithhiswidowafterhisexecution。StoriesofSlade"shangingmen，andofinnumerableassaults，shootings，stabbingsandbeatings，inwhichhewasaprincipalactor，formpartofthelegendsofthestageline。Asforminorquarrelsandshootings，itisabsolutelycertainthataminutehistoryofSlade"slifewouldbeonelongrecordofsuchpractices。

Sladewasamatchlessmarksmanwithanavyrevolver。ThelegendssaythatonemorningatRockyRidge，whenhewasfeelingcomfortable，hesawamanapproachingwhohadoffendedhimsomedaysbefore——observethefinememoryhehadformatterslikethat——and，“Gentlemen，“saidSlade，drawing，“itisagoodtwenty-yardshot——I"llclipthethirdbuttononhiscoat！“Whichhedid。Thebystandersalladmiredit。Andtheyallattendedthefuneral，too。

Ononeoccasionamanwhokeptalittlewhisky-shelfatthestationdidsomethingwhichangeredSlade——andwentandmadehiswill。AdayortwoafterwardSladecameinandcalledforsomebrandy。Themanreachedunderthecounter(ostensiblytogetabottle——possiblytogetsomethingelse)，butSladesmileduponhimthatpeculiarlyblandandsatisfiedsmileofhiswhichtheneighborshadlongagolearnedtorecognizeasadeath-warrantindisguise，andtoldhimto“noneofthat！——passoutthehigh-pricedarticle。”Sothepoorbar-keeperhadtoturnhisbackandgetthehigh-pricedbrandyfromtheshelf；andwhenhefacedaroundagainhewaslookingintothemuzzleofSlade"spistol。“Andthenextinstant，“addedmyinformant，impressively，“hewasoneofthedeadestmenthateverlived。”

Thestage-driversandconductorstoldusthatsometimesSladewouldleaveahatedenemywhollyunmolested，unnoticedandunmentioned，forweekstogether——haddoneitonceortwiceatanyrate。Andsomesaidtheybelievedhediditinordertolullthevictimsintounwatchfulness，sothathecouldgettheadvantageofthem，andotherssaidtheybelievedhesavedupanenemythatway，justasaschoolboysavesupacake，andmadethepleasuregoasfarasitwouldbygloatingovertheanticipation。

OneofthesecaseswasthatofaFrenchmanwhohadoffendedSlade。

TothesurpriseofeverybodySladedidnotkillhimonthespot，butlethimaloneforaconsiderabletime。Finally，however，hewenttotheFrenchman"shouseverylateonenight，knocked，andwhenhisenemyopenedthedoor，shothimdead——pushedthecorpseinsidethedoorwithhisfoot，setthehouseonfireandburnedupthedeadman，hiswidowandthreechildren！Iheardthisstoryfromseveraldifferentpeople，andtheyevidentlybelievedwhattheyweresaying。Itmaybetrue，anditmaynot。“Giveadogabadname，“etc。

Sladewascaptured，once，byapartyofmenwhointendedtolynchhim。

Theydisarmedhim，andshuthimupinastronglog-house，andplacedaguardoverhim。Heprevailedonhiscaptorstosendforhiswife，sothathemighthavealastinterviewwithher。Shewasabrave，loving，spiritedwoman。Shejumpedonahorseandrodeforlifeanddeath。

Whenshearrivedtheyletherinwithoutsearchingher，andbeforethedoorcouldbeclosedshewhippedoutacoupleofrevolvers，andsheandherlordmarchedforthdefyingtheparty。Andthen，underabriskfire，theymounteddoubleandgallopedawayunharmed！

InthefulnessoftimeSlade"smyrmidonscapturedhisancientenemyJules，whomtheyfoundinawell-chosenhiding-placeintheremotefastnessesofthemountains，gainingaprecariouslivelihoodwithhisrifle。TheybroughthimtoRockyRidge，boundhandandfoot，anddepositedhiminthemiddleofthecattle-yardwithhisbackagainstapost。ItissaidthatthepleasurethatlitSlade"sfacewhenheheardofitwassomethingfearfultocontemplate。Heexaminedhisenemytoseethathewassecurelytied，andthenwenttobed，contenttowaittillmorningbeforeenjoyingtheluxuryofkillinghim。Julesspentthenightinthecattle-yard，anditisaregionwherewarmnightsareneverknown。

InthemorningSladepractisedonhimwithhisrevolver，nippingthefleshhereandthere，andoccasionallyclippingoffafinger，whileJulesbeggedhimtokillhimoutrightandputhimoutofhismisery。FinallySladereloaded，andwalkingupclosetohisvictim，madesomecharacteristicremarksandthendispatchedhim。Thebodylaytherehalfaday，nobodyventuringtotouchitwithoutorders，andthenSladedetailedapartyandassistedattheburialhimself。Buthefirstcutoffthedeadman"searsandputtheminhisvestpocket，wherehecarriedthemforsometimewithgreatsatisfaction。ThatisthestoryasIhavefrequentlyheardittoldandseenitinprintinCalifornianewspapers。

Itisdoubtlesscorrectinallessentialparticulars。

Induetimewerattleduptoastage-station，andsatdowntobreakfastwithahalf-savage，half-civilizedcompanyofarmedandbeardedmountaineers，ranchmenandstationemployees。Themostgentlemanly-

appearing，quietandaffableofficerwehadyetfoundalongtheroadintheOverlandCompany"sservicewasthepersonwhosatattheheadofthetable，atmyelbow。NeveryouthstaredandshiveredasIdidwhenI

heardthemcallhimSLADE！

Herewasromance，andIsittingfacetofacewithit！——lookinguponit——

touchingit——hobnobbingwithit，asitwere！Here，rightbymyside，wastheactualogrewho，infightsandbrawlsandvariousways，hadtakenthelivesoftwenty-sixhumanbeings，orallmenliedabouthim！IsupposeI

wastheproudeststriplingthatevertraveledtoseestrangelandsandwonderfulpeople。

Hewassofriendlyandsogentle-spokenthatIwarmedtohiminspiteofhisawfulhistory。Itwashardlypossibletorealizethatthispleasantpersonwasthepitilessscourgeoftheoutlaws，theraw-head-and-bloody-

bonesthenursingmothersofthemountainsterrifiedtheirchildrenwith。

AndtothisdayIcanremembernothingremarkableaboutSladeexceptthathisfacewasratherbroadacrossthecheekbones，andthatthecheekboneswerelowandthelipspeculiarlythinandstraight。Butthatwasenoughtoleavesomethingofaneffectuponme，forsincethenIseldomseeafacepossessingthosecharacteristicswithoutfancyingthattheownerofitisadangerousman。

Thecoffeeranout。Atleastitwasreducedtoonetin-cupful，andSladewasabouttotakeitwhenhesawthatmycupwasempty。

Hepolitelyofferedtofillit，butalthoughIwantedit，Ipolitelydeclined。Iwasafraidhehadnotkilledanybodythatmorning，andmightbeneedingdiversion。Butstillwithfirmpolitenessheinsistedonfillingmycup，andsaidIhadtraveledallnightandbetterdeserveditthanhe——andwhilehetalkedheplacidlypouredthefluid，tothelastdrop。Ithankedhimanddrankit，butitgavemenocomfort，forIcouldnotfeelsurethathewouldnotbesorry，presently，thathehadgivenitaway，andproceedtokillmetodistracthisthoughtsfromtheloss。

Butnothingofthekindoccurred。Welefthimwithonlytwenty-sixdeadpeopletoaccountfor，andIfeltatranquilsatisfactioninthethoughtthatinsojudiciouslytakingcareofNo。1atthatbreakfast-tableIhadpleasantlyescapedbeingNo。27。Sladecameouttothecoachandsawusoff，firstorderingcertainrearrangementsofthemail-bagsforourcomfort，andthenwetookleaveofhim，satisfiedthatweshouldhearofhimagain，someday，andwonderinginwhatconnection。

CHAPTERXI。

Andsureenough，twoorthreeyearsafterward，wedidhearhimagain。

NewscametothePacificcoastthattheVigilanceCommitteeinMontana(whitherSladehadremovedfromRockyRidge)hadhangedhim。IfindanaccountoftheaffairinthethrillinglittlebookIquotedaparagraphfrominthelastchapter——“TheVigilantesofMontana；beingaReliableAccountoftheCapture，TrialandExecutionofHenryPlummer"sNotoriousRoadAgentBand:ByProf。Thos。J。Dimsdale，VirginiaCity，M。T。”

Mr。Dimsdale"schapteriswellworthreading，asaspecimenofhowthepeopleofthefrontierdealwithcriminalswhenthecourtsoflawproveinefficient。Mr。DimsdalemakestworemarksaboutSlade，bothofwhichareaccuratelydescriptive，andoneofwhichisexceedinglypicturesque:

“Thosewhosawhiminhisnaturalstateonly，wouldpronouncehimtobeakindhusband，amosthospitablehostandacourteousgentleman；onthecontrary，thosewhomethimwhenmaddenedwithliquorandsurroundedbyagangofarmedroughs，wouldpronouncehimafiendincarnate。”Andthis:

“FromFortKearney，west，hewasfearedagreatdealmorethanthealmighty。”Forcompactness，simplicityandvigorofexpression，Iwill“back“thatsentenceagainstanythinginliterature。Mr。Dimsdale"snarrativeisasfollows。Inallplaceswhereitalicsoccur，theyaremine:

Aftertheexecutionofthefivemenonthe14thofJanuary，theVigilantesconsideredthattheirworkwasnearlyended。Theyhadfreedthecountryofhighwaymenandmurdererstoagreatextent，andtheydeterminedthatintheabsenceoftheregularcivilauthoritytheywouldestablishaPeople"sCourtwherealloffendersshouldbetriedbyjudgeandjury。Thiswasthenearestapproachtosocialorderthatthecircumstancespermitted，and，thoughstrictlegalauthoritywaswanting，yetthepeoplewerefirmlydeterminedtomaintainitsefficiency，andtoenforceitsdecrees。ItmayherebementionedthattheovertactwhichwasthelastroundonthefatalladderleadingtothescaffoldonwhichSladeperished，wasthetearinginpiecesandstampinguponawritofthiscourt，followedbyhisarrestoftheJudgeAlex。Davis，byauthorityofapresentedDerringer，andwithhisownhands。

J。A。Sladewashimself，wehavebeeninformed，aVigilante；heopenlyboastedofit，andsaidheknewallthattheyknew。Hewasneveraccused，orevensuspected，ofeithermurderorrobbery，committedinthisTerritory(thelattercrimewasneverlaidtohischarge，inanyplace)；butthathehadkilledseveralmeninotherlocalitieswasnotorious，andhisbadreputationinthisrespectwasamostpowerfulargumentindetermininghisfate，whenhewasfinallyarrestedfortheoffenceabovementioned。OnreturningfromMilkRiverhebecamemoreandmoreaddictedtodrinking，untilatlastitwasacommonfeatforhimandhisfriendsto“takethetown。”Heandacoupleofhisdependentsmightoftenbeseenononehorse，gallopingthroughthestreets，shoutingandyelling，firingrevolvers，etc。Onmanyoccasionshewouldridehishorseintostores，breakupbars，tossthescalesoutofdoorsandusemostinsultinglanguagetopartiespresent。Justprevioustothedayofhisarrest，hehadgivenafearfulbeatingtooneofhisfollowers；

butsuchwashisinfluenceoverthemthatthemanweptbitterlyatthegallows，andbeggedforhislifewithallhispower。Ithadbecomequitecommon，whenSladewasonaspree，fortheshop-keepersandcitizenstoclosethestoresandputoutallthelights；beingfearfulofsomeoutrageathishands。Forhiswantondestructionofgoodsandfurniture，hewasalwaysreadytopay，whensober，ifhehadmoney；buttherewerenotafewwhoregardedpaymentassmallsatisfactionfortheoutrage，andthesemenwerehispersonalenemies。

FromtimetotimeSladereceivedwarningsfrommenthathewellknewwouldnotdeceivehim，ofthecertainendofhisconduct。Therewasnotamoment，forweeksprevioustohisarrest，inwhichthepublicdidnotexpecttohearofsomebloodyoutrage。Thedreadofhisveryname，andthepresenceofthearmedbandofhangers-onwhofollowedhimalonepreventedaresistancewhichmustcertainlyhaveendedintheinstantmurderormutilationoftheopposingparty。

Sladewasfrequentlyarrestedbyorderofthecourtwhoseorganizationwehavedescribed，andhadtreateditwithrespectbypayingoneortwofinesandpromisingtopaytherestwhenhehadmoney；butinthetransactionthatoccurredatthiscrisis，heforgoteventhiscaution，andgoadedbypassionandthehatredofrestraint，hesprangintotheembraceofdeath。

Sladehadbeendrunkand“cuttingup“allnight。Heandhiscompanionshadmadethetownaperfecthell。Inthemorning，J。M。

Fox，thesheriff，methim，arrestedhim，tookhimintocourtandcommencedreadingawarrantthathehadforhisarrest，bywayofarraignment。Hebecameuncontrollablyfurious，andseizingthewrit，hetoreitup，threwitonthegroundandstampeduponit。

Theclickingofthelocksofhiscompanions"revolverswasinstantlyheard，andacrisiswasexpected。Thesheriffdidnotattempthisretention；butbeingatleastasprudentashewasvaliant，hesuccumbed，leavingSladethemasterofthesituationandtheconquerorandrulerofthecourts，lawandlaw-makers。Thiswasadeclarationofwar，andwassoaccepted。TheVigilanceCommitteenowfeltthatthequestionofsocialorderandthepreponderanceofthelaw-abidingcitizenshadthenandtheretobedecided。TheyknewthecharacterofSlade，andtheywerewellawarethattheymustsubmittohisrulewithoutmurmur，orelsethathemustbedealtwithinsuchfashionaswouldpreventhisbeingabletowreakhisvengeanceonthecommittee，whocouldneverhavehopedtoliveintheTerritorysecurefromoutrageordeath，andwhocouldneverleaveitwithoutencounteringhisfriend，whomhisvictorywouldhaveemboldenedandstimulatedtoapitchthatwouldhaverenderedthemrecklessofconsequences。ThedayprevioushehadriddenintoDorris"sstore，andonbeingrequestedtoleave，hedrewhisrevolverandthreatenedtokillthegentlemanwhospoketohim。

Anothersaloonhehadledhishorseinto，andbuyingabottleofwine，hetriedtomaketheanimaldrinkit。Thiswasnotconsideredanuncommonperformance，ashehadoftenenteredsaloonsandcommencedfiringatthelamps，causingawildstampede。

AleadingmemberofthecommitteemetSlade，andinformedhiminthequiet，earnestmannerofonewhofeelstheimportanceofwhatheissaying:“Slade，getyourhorseatonce，andgohome，ortherewillbe——topay。”Sladestartedandtookalonglook，withhisdarkandpiercingeyes，atthegentleman。“Whatdoyoumean?“saidhe。

“YouhavenorighttoaskmewhatImean，“wasthequietreply，“getyourhorseatonce，andrememberwhatItellyou。”Afterashortpausehepromisedtodoso，andactuallygotintothesaddle；but，beingstillintoxicated，hebegancallingaloudtooneafteranotherofhisfriends，andatlastseemedtohaveforgottenthewarninghehadreceivedandbecameagainuproarious，shoutingthenameofawell-knowncourtezanincompanywiththoseoftwomenwhomheconsideredheadsofthecommittee，asasortofchallenge；perhaps，however，asasimpleactofbravado。Itseemsprobablethattheintimationofpersonaldangerhehadreceivedhadnotbeenforgottenentirely；thoughfatallyforhim，hetookafoolishwayofshowinghisremembranceofit。HesoughtoutAlexanderDavis，theJudgeoftheCourt，anddrawingacockedDerringer，hepresenteditathishead，andtoldhimthatheshouldholdhimasahostageforhisownsafety。Asthejudgestoodperfectlyquiet，andofferednoresistancetohiscaptor，nofurtheroutragefollowedonthisscore。

Previoustothis，onaccountofthecriticalstateofaffairs，thecommitteehadmet，andatlastresolvedtoarresthim。Hisexecutionhadnotbeenagreedupon，and，atthattime，wouldhavebeennegatived，mostassuredly。AmessengerrodedowntoNevadatoinformtheleadingmenofwhatwasonhand，asitwasdesirabletoshowthattherewasafeelingofunanimityonthesubject，allalongthegulch。

Theminersturnedoutalmostenmasse，leavingtheirworkandforminginsolidcolumnaboutsixhundredstrong，armedtotheteeth，theymarcheduptoVirginia。Theleaderofthebodywellknewthetemperofhismenonthesubject。Hespurredonaheadofthem，andhastilycallingameetingoftheexecutive，hetoldthemplainlythattheminersmeant“business，“andthat，iftheycameup，theywouldnotstandinthestreettobeshotdownbySlade"sfriends；butthattheywouldtakehimandhanghim。Themeetingwassmall，astheVirginiamenwereloathtoactatall。ThismomentousannouncementofthefeelingoftheLowerTownwasmadetoaclusterofmen，whoweredeliberationbehindawagon，attherearofastoreonMainstreet。

Thecommitteeweremostunwillingtoproceedtoextremities。Allthedutytheyhadeverperformedseemedasnothingtothetaskbeforethem；buttheyhadtodecide，andthatquickly。Itwasfinallyagreedthatifthewholebodyoftheminerswereoftheopinionthatheshouldbehanged，thatthecommitteeleftitintheirhandstodealwithhim。Off，athotspeed，rodetheleaderoftheNevadamentojoinhiscommand。

Sladehadfoundoutwhatwasintended，andthenewssoberedhiminstantly。HewentintoP。S。Pfouts"store，whereDaviswas，andapologizedforhisconduct，sayingthathewouldtakeitallback。

TheheadofthecolumnnowwheeledintoWallacestreetandmarchedupatquicktime。Haltinginfrontofthestore，theexecutiveofficerofthecommitteesteppedforwardandarrestedSlade，whowasatonceinformedofhisdoom，andinquirywasmadeastowhetherhehadanybusinesstosettle。Severalpartiesspoketohimonthesubject；buttoallsuchinquiriesheturnedadeafear，beingentirelyabsorbedintheterrifyingreflectionsonhisownawfulposition。Heneverceasedhisentreatiesforlife，andtoseehisdearwife。Theunfortunateladyreferredto，betweenwhomandSladethereexistedawarmaffection，wasatthistimelivingattheirranchontheMadison。Shewaspossessedofconsiderablepersonalattractions；tall，well-formed，ofgracefulcarriage，pleasingmanners，andwas，withal，anaccomplishedhorsewoman。

AmessengerfromSladerodeatfullspeedtoinformherofherhusband"sarrest。Inaninstantshewasinthesaddle，andwithalltheenergythatloveanddespaircouldlendtoanardenttemperamentandastrongphysique，sheurgedherfleetchargeroverthetwelvemilesofroughandrockygroundthatintervenedbetweenherandtheobjectofherpassionatedevotion。

Meanwhileapartyofvolunteershadmadethenecessarypreparationsfortheexecution，inthevalleytraversedbythebranch。BeneaththesiteofPfoutsandRussell"sstonebuildingtherewasacorral，thegate-postsofwhichwerestrongandhigh。Acrossthetopwaslaidabeam，towhichtheropewasfastened，andadry-goodsboxservedfortheplatform。TothisplaceSladewasmarched，surroundedbyaguard，composingthebestarmedandmostnumerousforcethathaseverappearedinMontanaTerritory。

Thedoomedmanhadsoexhaustedhimselfbytears，prayersandlamentations，thathehadscarcelystrengthlefttostandunderthefatalbeam。Herepeatedlyexclaimed，“MyGod！myGod！mustIdie?

Oh，mydearwife！“

Onthereturnofthefatigueparty，theyencounteredsomefriendsofSlade，staunchandreliablecitizensandmembersofthecommittee，butwhowerepersonallyattachedtothecondemned。Onhearingofhissentence，oneofthem，astout-heartedman，pulledouthishandkerchiefandwalkedaway，weepinglikeachild。Sladestillbeggedtoseehiswife，mostpiteously，anditseemedhardtodenyhisrequest；butthebloodyconsequencesthatweresuretofollowtheinevitableattemptatarescue，thatherpresenceandentreatieswouldhavecertainlyincited，forbadethegrantingofhisrequest。

Severalgentlemenweresentfortoseehim，inhislastmoments，oneofwhom(JudgeDavis)madeashortaddresstothepeople；butinsuchlowtonesastobeinaudible，savetoafewinhisimmediatevicinity。Oneofhisfriends，afterexhaustinghispowersofentreaty，threwoffhiscoatanddeclaredthattheprisonercouldnotbehangeduntilhehimselfwaskilled。Ahundredgunswereinstantlyleveledathim；whereuponheturnedandfled；but，beingbroughtback，hewascompelledtoresumehiscoat，andtogiveapromiseoffuturepeaceabledemeanor。