ry, for I like blows just as
little as anybody else; but it's best, you know, to make ready for the
worst. Nobody knows how things will turn up; and if it comes to the
scratch, why, one mustn't mind knocking a fellow on the head if he
stands in the way."

"No, to be sure not. 'Twould be foolish to stop and think about what's
law, and what's not law, and be knocked down yourself."

"Certainly, you're right, Bunce; that's only reason."

"And yet, mister, I guess you wouldn't want that I should know your raal
name, now, would you? or maybe you're going to tell it to me now?
Well--"

"To the business: what matters it whether I have a name or not? I have a
fist, you see, and--"

"Yes, yes, I see," exclaimed he of the notions, slightly retreating, as
Munro, suiting the action to the word, thrust, rather more closely to
the face of his companion than was altogether encouraging, the ponderous
mass which courtesy alone would consider a fist--

"Well, I don't care, you see, to know the name, mister; but somehow it
raally aint the thing, no how, to be mistering nobody knows who. I see
you aint a woman plain enough from your face, and I pretty much conclude
you must be a man; though you have got on--what's that, now? It's a kind
of calico, I guess; but them's not fast colors, friend. I should say,
now, you had been taken in pretty much by that bit of goods. It aint the
kind of print, now, that's not afeard of washing."

"And if I have been taken in, Bunce, in these calicoes, you're the man
that has done it," said the landlord, laughing. "This piece was sold by
you into my own hands, last March was a year, when you came back from
the Cherokees."

"Now, don't! Well, I guess there must be some mistake; you aint sure,
now, friend: might be some other dealer that you bought from?"

"None other than yourself, Bunce. You are the man, and I can bring a
dozen to prove it on you."

"Well, I 'spose what you say's true, and that jest let's me know how to
mister you now, 'cause, you see, I do recollect now all about who I sold
that bit of goods to that season."

The landlord had been overreached; and, amused with the ingenuity of the
trader, he contented himself with again lifting the huge fist in a
threatening manner, though the smile which accompanied the action fairly
deprived it of its terrors.

"Well, well," said the landlord "we burn daylight in such talk as this.
I come to you as the only man who will or can help me in thi