“That’saboutit，“saidtheJudge。“Icangetonwithmostpeople。Butelephantsdepressme。“
SowenamedtheDoctor“Jumbo，“andIdepartedtomyquarters。
Atthebunkhouse，thecommentsweresimilarbutmorehighlysalted。Themenweregoingtobed。Inspiteoftheiroutwarddecorumattheservice，theyhadnotlikedtobetoldthattheywere“altogetherbecomefilthy。“Itwaseasytocallnames；theycoulddothatthemselves。Andtheyappealedtome，severalspeakingatonce，likeaconcertedpieceattheopera:“Say，doyoubelievebabiesgotohell？“——“Ah，ofcoursehedon’t。“——“Thereain’tnohereafter，anyway。“——“Ain’tthere？“——“Whotoldyu’？“——“Samemanastoldthepreacherwewereallasiftedsetofsons-of-guns。“——“Well，I’mgoingtostayaMormon。“——“Well，I’mgoingtoquitfleeingfromtemptation。“——“that’sso！Bettergetitintheneckafteragoodtimethanapoorone。“Andsoforth。Theirwitwasnotextreme，yetIshouldlikeDr。MacBridetohaveheardit。Onefellowputhisnaturalsoulprettywellintowords，“IfIhappenedtolearnwhattheyhadpredestinatedmetodo，I’ddotheotherthing，justtoshow’em！“
AndTrampas？AndtheVirginian？Theywereoutofit。TheVirginianhadgonestraighttohisnewabode。Trampaslayinhisbed，notasleep，andsullenasever。
“Heain’tgotreligionthistrip，“saidScipiotome。
“Didhisnewforemangetit？“Iasked。
“Huh！Itwouldspoilhim。Youkeeparoundthat’sall。Keeparound。“
Scipiowasnottobeprobed；andIwent，stillbaffled，tomyrepose。
NolightburnedinthecabinasIapproacheditsdoor。
TheVirginian’sroomwasquietanddark；andthatDr。MacBrideslumberedwasplainlyaudibletome，evenbeforeIentered。Gofishingwithhim！Ithought，asIundressed。AndIselfishlydecidedthattheJudgemighthavethisprivilegeentirelytohimself。Sleepcametomefairlysoon，inspiteoftheDoctor。I
waswakenedfromitbymybed’sbeingjolted——notapleasantthingthatnight。Imusthavestarted。AnditwasthequietvoiceoftheVirginianthattoldmehewassorrytohaveaccidentallydisturbedme。Thisdisturbedmeagooddealmore。Buthisstepsdidnotgotothebunkhouse，asmysensationalmindhadsuggested。Hewasnotwearingmuch，andinthedimnessheseemedtallerthancommon。InextmadeoutthathewasbendingoverDr。
MacBride。Thedivineatlastsprangupright。
“Iamarmed，“hesaid。“Takecare。Whoareyou？“
“Youcanlaydownyourgun，seh。Ifeellikemyspiritwasgoingtobearwitness。IfeellikeImightgetanenlightening。“
Hewasusingsomeofthemissionary’sownlanguage。ThebafflingIhadbeentreatedtobyScipiomeltedtonothinginthis。Didlivingmenpetrify，Ishouldhavechangedtomineralbetweenthesheets。TheDoctorgotoutofbed，lightedhislamp，andfoundabook；andthetworetiredintotheVirginian’sroom，whereI
couldheartheexhortationsasIlayamazed。IntimetheDoctorreturned，blewouthislamp，andsettledhimself。Ihadbeenverymuchawake，butwasnearlygonetosleepagain，whenthedoorcreakedandtheVirginianstoodbytheDoctor’sside。
“Areyouawake，seh？“
“What？What’sthat？Whatisit？“
“Excuseme，seh。Theenemyiswinningonme。I’mfeelinglessinwardoppositiontosin。“
Thelampwaslighted，andIlistenedtosomefurtherexhortations。Theymusthavetakenhalfanhour。WhentheDoctorwasinbedagain，IthoughtthatIheardhimsigh。Thisupsetmycomposureinthedark；butIlayfacedownwardinthepillow，andtheDoctorwassoonagainsnoring。Ienviedhimforawhilehisfacultyofeasysleep。ButImusthavedroppedoffmyself；foritwasthelampinmyeyesthatnowwakedmeashecamebackforthethirdtimefromtheVirginian’sroom。Beforeblowingthelightouthelookedathiswatch，andthereuponIinquiredthehourofhim。
“Three，“saidhe。
Icouldnotsleepanymorenow，andIlaywatchingthedarkness。
“I’mafearedtobealone！“saidtheVirginian’svoicepresentlyinthenextroom。“I’mafeared。“Therewasashortpause，andthenheshoutedveryloud，“I’mlosin’mydesireaftehthesinceremilkoftheWord！“
“What？What’sthat？What？“TheDoctor’scotgaveagreatcrackashestarteduplistening，andIputmyfacedeepinthepillow。
“I’mafeared！I’mafeared！Sinhasquitbeingbitterinmybelly。“
“Courage，mygoodman。“TheDoctorwasoutofbedwithhislampagain，andthedoorshutbehindhim。Betweenthemtheymadeitlongthistime。Isawthewindowbecomegray；thenthecornersofthefurnituregrowvisible；andoutside，thedrychorusoftheblackbirdsbegantofillthedawn。Tothesethesoundsofchickensandimpatienthoofsinthestablewereadded，andsomecowwanderedbyloudlycallingforhercalf。Next，someonewhistlingpassednearandgrewdistant。ButalthoughthecoldhuethatIlaystaringatthroughthewindowwarmedandchanged，theDoctorcontinuedworkinghardoverhispatientinthenextroom。
Onlyawordhereandtherewasdistinct；butitwasplainfromtheVirginian’sfewerremarksthatthesininhisbellywasalarminghimless。Yes，theymadethistimelong。Butitproved，indeed，thelastone。Andthoughsomesortofcatastrophewasboundtofalluponus，itwasmyselfwhoprecipitatedthethingthatdidhappen。
Daywaswhollycome。Ilookedatmyownwatch，anditwassix。I
hadbeenaboutsevenhoursinmybed，andtheDoctorhadbeenaboutsevenhoursoutofhis。Thedooropened，andhecameinwithhisbookandlamp。Heseemedtobeshiveringalittle，andI
sawhimcastalongingeyeathiscouch。ButtheVirginianfollowedhimevenasheblewoutthenowquitesuperfluouslight。
Theymadeanoticeablecoupleintheirunderclothes:theVirginianwithhisleanracehorseshanksrunningtoapointathisankle，andtheDoctorwithhisstomachandhisfatsedentarycalves。
“You’llbegoingtobreakfastandtheladies，seh，prettysoon，“
saidtheVirginian，withachastenedvoice。“ButI’llworrythroughthedaysomehowwithoutyu’。Andto-nightyoucanturnyourwolflooseonmeagain。“
Oncemoreitwasnouse。Myfacewasdeepinthepillow，butI
madesoundsasofahenwhohaslaidanegg。ItbrokeontheDoctorwithatotalinstantaneoussmash，quitelikeanego。
Hetriedtospeakcalmly。“Thisisadisgrace。Aninfamousdisgrace。NeverinmylifehaveI——“Wordsforsookhim，andhisfacegrewredder。“Neverinmylife——“Hestoppedagain，because，atthesightofhimbeingdignifiedinhisreddrawers，Iwasmakingthenoiseofadozenhens。ItwassuddenlytoomuchfortheVirginian。Hehastenedintohisroom，andtheresankonthefloorwithhisheadinhishands。TheDoctorimmediatelyslammedthedooruponhim，andthisrenderedmeeasilyfitforalunaticasylum。Icriedintomypillow，andwonderediftheDoctorwouldcomeandkillme。Buthetooknonoticeofmewhatever。IcouldheartheVirginian’sconvulsionsthroughthedoor，andalsotheDoctorfuriouslymakinghistoiletwithinthreefeetofmyhead；
andIlayquitestillwithmyfacetheotherway，forIwasreallyafraidtolookathim。WhenIheardhimwalktothedoorinhisboots，Iventuredtopeep；andtherehewas，goingoutwithhisbaginhishand。AsIstillcontinuedtolie，weakandsore，andwithamindthathadceasedanoperation，theVirginian’sdooropened。Hewascleananddressedanddecent，butthedevilstillsportedinhiseye。Ihaveneverseenacreaturemoreirresistiblyhandsome。
Thenmymindworkedagain。“You’vegoneanddoneit，“saidI。
“He’spackedhisvalise。He’llnotsleephere。“
TheVirginianlookedquicklyoutofthedoor。“Why，he’sleavin’
us！“heexclaimed。“Drivin’awayrightnowinhislittleoldbuggy！“Heturnedtome，andoureyesmetsolemnlyoverthislargefact。IthoughtthatIperceivedthefaintesttinctureofdismayinthefeaturesofJudgeHenry’snew，responsible，trustyforeman。Thiswasthefirstactofhisadministration。Onceagainhelookedoutatthedepartingmissionary。“Well，“hevindictivelystated，“Icert’nlyain’tgoin’torunaftehhim。“
Andhelookedatmeagain。
“DoyousupposetheJudgeknows？“Iinquired。
Heshookhishead。“Thewindo’shadesisalldownstillovehyondeh。“Hepaused。“Idon’tcare，“hestated，quiteasifhehadbeentenyearsold。Thenhegrinnedguiltily。“Iwasmightyrespectfultohimallnight。“
“Oh，yes，respectful！Especiallywhenyouinvitedhimtoturnhiswolfloose。“
TheVirginiangaveajoyousgulp。Henowcameandsatdownontheedgeofmybed。“IspokeawfulgoodEnglishtohimmostofthetime，“saidhe。“Ican，yu’know，whenIcinchmyattentiontightontoit。Yes，Icert’nlyspokealoto’goodEnglish。Ididn’tunderstandsomeofitmyself！“
Hewasnowgrowingfranklypleasedwithhisexploit。Hehadbuildedsomuchbetterthanheknew。Hegotupandlookedoutacrossthecrystalworldoflight。“TheDoctorisatone-milecrossing，“hesaid。“He’llgetbreakfastattheN-lazy-Y。“Thenhereturnedandsatagainonmybed，andbegantogivemehisrealheart。“Ineversetupforbeingbetterthanothers。Noteventomyself。Mythoughtsain’tapttotravelaroundmakingcomparisons。AndIshouldn’twonderifmymemorytookasmuchnoticeofthemeannessesIhavedoneasof——asoftheotheractions。Buttohavetositlikeadumblambandletastrangertellyu’foranhourthatyu’reahawgandaswine，justafteryouhaveactedinawaywhichthemthatknowthefactswouldcallprettynearwhite——“
“Trampas！“Icouldnothelpexclaiming。
Fortherearemomentsofinsightwhenaguessamountstoknowledge。
“HasScipiotold——“
“No。Notaword。Hewouldn’ttellme。“
“Well，yu’see，Iarrivedhomehyehthisevenin’withseveralthoughtsworkin’andstirrin’insideme。Andnotoneo’themthoughtswaswhatyu’dcallChristian。Iain’ttheleastlittlebitashamedof’em。I’mahuman。ButaftertheJudge——well，yu’
heardhim。AndsowhenIwentawayfromthattalkandsawhowpositionswaschanged——“
Astepoutsidestoppedhimshort。Nothingmorecouldbereadinhisface，fortherewasTrampashimselfintheopendoor。
“Goodmorning，“saidTrampas，notlookingatus。Hespokewiththesamecoolsullennessofyesterday。
Wereturnedhisgreeting。
“IbelieveI’mlateincongratulatingyouonyourpromotion，“
saidhe。
TheVirginianconsultedhiswatch。“It’sonlyhalfaftehsix，“hereturned。
Trampas’ssullennessdeepened。“Anymanistobecongratulatedongettingarise，Iexpect。“
ThistimetheVirginianlethimhaveit。“Cert’nly。AndIain’tforgettinghowmuchIoweminetoyou。“
Trampaswouldhavelikedtolethimselfgo。“I’venotcomehereforanyforgiveness，“hesneered。
“Whendidyu’feelyu’neededany？“TheVirginianwasimpregnable。
Trampasseemedtofeelhowlittlehewasgoingthisway。Hecameoutstraightnow。“Oh，Ihaven’tanyJudgebehindme，Iknow。I
heardyou’dbepayingtheboysthismorning，andI’vecomeformytime。“
“You’rethinkingofleavingus？“askedthenewforeman。“What’syourdissatisfaction？“
“Oh，I’mnotneedinganybodybackofme。I’llgetalongbymyself。“Itwasthusherevealedhisexpectationofbeingdismissedbyhisenemy。
Thiswouldhaveknockedanymeditatedgenerosityoutofmyheart。
ButIwasnottheVirginian。Heshiftedhislegs，leanedbackalittle，andlaughed。“Gobacktoyourjob，Trampas，ifthat’sallyourcomplaint。You’rerightaboutmebeinginluck。Butmaybethere’stwoofusinluck。“
ItwasthisthatScipiohadpreferredmetoseewithmyowneyes。
Thefightwasbetweenmanandmannolonger。Thecasecouldnotbeoneofforgiveness；buttheVirginianwouldnotusehisofficialpositiontocrushhissubordinate。