nd he extorted from us a reluctant promise not to mingle in the
affair.

"He's just _looking_ for trouble," muttered Johnny, "and there's no
doubt he'll find it. The gamblers aren't going to stand for a man's
cussing 'em outright on their own doorsteps--and I don't know as I blame
them. Gambling isn't such a terrible, black, unforgivable sin as I see
it."

"That's because you're ahead of the game, Johnny," drawled Yank.

"Just the same the old fool is wrong," persisted Johnny, "and he's as
obstinate as a mule, and he makes me mad clean through. Nevertheless
he's a good old sort, and I'd hate to see him hurt."

The news spread abroad, and there was much speculation as to what would
happen. In general the sentiment was hostile to the preacher. It was
considered an unwarrantable interference with freedom for any man to
attempt to dictate the conduct of another. Everybody agreed that
religion was all right; but by religion they meant some vague utterance
of platitudes. On the appointed Sunday a very large crowd gathered in
the Plaza. Nobody knew just what the gamblers intended to do about it.
Those competent citizens were as close mouthed as ever. But it was
understood that no nonsense was to be permitted, and that this annoying
question must be settled at once and fully. As one man expressed it:

"We'll have these fellows caterwauling all over the place if we don't
shut down on them right sharp off quick."

Taylor arrived about ten o'clock and proceeded briskly to the pork
barrel that had been rolled out to serve as a pulpit. He faced a
lowering, hostile mob.

"Gentlemen," said he, "if some means of communication existed by which
the United States could this morning know that street preaching was to
be attempted in the streets of San Francisco, the morning papers, badly
informed as to the temper and disposition of the people of this new
country, would feel themselves fully justified in predicting riot, if
not actual bloodshed. Furthermore, I do not doubt that the greater
dailies would hold their forms open to report the tragedy when news of
it should come in. But we of the West know better than that. We know
ourselves rough and ready, but we know ourselves also to be lovers of
fair play. We know that, even though we may not agree with a man, we are
willing to afford him a fair hearing. And as for rioting or bloodshed,
we can afford to smile rather than become angry at such wide
misconception of our decency and sens