en you
talk of making an example of me as a warning to others,' said the
pox-marked lad, as he reached over, taking the reins of the foreman's
horse firmly in his hand, 'you're a simpering idiot for entertaining
the idea, and a cowardly bluffer for mentioning it. When you talk of
unhorsing and leaving me here afoot in a country a thousand miles from
nowhere, you don't know what that means, but there's no danger of your
doing it. I feel easy on that point. But I'm sorry to see you make
such a fool of yourself. Now, you may think for a moment that I'm
afraid of that ivory-handled gun you wear, but I'm not. Men wear them
on the range, not so much to emphasize their demands with, as you
might think. If it were me, I'd throw it in the wagon; it may get you
into trouble. One thing certain, if you ever so much as lay your hand
on it, when you are making threats as you have done to-day, I'll build
a fire in your face that you can read the San Francisco "Examiner"
by at midnight. You'll have to revise your ideas a trifle; in fact,
change your tactics. You're off your reservation bigger than a wolf,
when you try to run things by force. There's lots better ways. Don't
try and make talk stick for actions, nor use any prelude to the real
play you wish to make. Unroll your little game with the real thing.
You can't throw alkaline dust in my eyes and tell me it's snowing.
I'm sorry to have to tell you all this, though I have noticed that you
needed it for a long time.'

"As he released his grip on the bridle reins, he continued, 'Now ride
back to the wagon, throw off that gun, tell some of the boys to take
a man and count these cattle, and it will be done better than if you
helped.'

"'Must I continue to listen to these insults on every hand?' hissed
the medicine man, livid with rage.

"'First remove the cause before you apply the remedy; that's in your
line,' answered Californy. 'Besides, what are you going to do about
it? You don't seem to be gifted with enough cow-sense to even use a
modified amount of policy in your every-day affairs,' said he, as he
rode away to avoid hearing his answer.

"Several of us, who were near enough to hear this dressing-down of the
boss at Californy's hands, rode up to offer our congratulations, when
we noticed that old Bad Medicine had gotten a stand on one of the boys
called 'Pink.' After leaving him, he continued his ride towards the
wagon. Pink soon joined us, a broad smile playing over his hom