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。
Ournewconductorjustshippedhadbeenwithoutsleepfortwentyhours。
Suchathingwasveryfrequent。FromSt。Joseph，Missouri，toSacramento，California，bystage-coach，wasnearlynineteenhundredmiles，andthetripwasoftenmadeinfifteendaysthecarsdoitinfourandahalf，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，andwhennecessaryrodethatfearfuldistance，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。Wetookanewdrivereverydayoreverynightfortheydrovebackwardandforwardoverthesamepieceofroadallthetime，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，whotraveledwithoursmallpartyofpilgrimsintheHolyLandandwhohadtraveledtoCaliforniainMr。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。Thereasonwehadanhourtosparewasbecausewehadtochangeourstageforalesssumptuousaffair，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\'stailIsuppose，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。Ifellatthefootoftheonlysolitarytreetherewasinninecountiesadjacentasanycreaturecouldseewiththenakedeye，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-fivemilesadaytwenty-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。Hedraggedhimselfonhishandsandkneeforonelegwasbrokentoastationseveralmilesaway。Hediditduringportionsoftwonights，lyingconcealedonedayandpartofanother，andformorethanfortyhourssufferingunimaginableanguishfromhunger，thirstandbodilypain。TheIndiansrobbedthecoachofeverythingitcontained，includingquiteanamountoftreasure。
CHAPTERIX。
WepassedFortLaramieinthenight，andontheseventhmorningoutwefoundourselvesintheBlackHills，withLaramiePeakatourelbowapparentlyloomingvastandsolitary——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。Themanreachedunderthecounterostensiblytogetabottle——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。
NewscametothePacificcoastthattheVigilanceCommitteeinMontanawhitherSladehadremovedfromRockyRidgehadhangedhim。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，committedinthisTerritorythelattercrimewasneverlaidtohischarge，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，oneofwhomJudgeDavismadeashortaddresstothepeople；butinsuchlowtonesastobeinaudible，savetoafewinhisimmediatevicinity。Oneofhisfriends，afterexhaustinghispowersofentreaty，threwoffhiscoatanddeclaredthattheprisonercouldnotbehangeduntilhehimselfwaskilled。Ahundredgunswereinstantlyleveledathim；whereuponheturnedandfled；but，beingbroughtback，hewascompelledtoresumehiscoat，andtogiveapromiseoffuturepeaceabledemeanor。