ted, as usual, at the saloon. It was too early for gambling and
fighting, and the boys chatted peacefully, pausing only a few times to
drink "Here's her," which had become the standard toast of the Gulch.
Conversation turned on Muggy's invention, and a few bets were
exchanged, which showed the boys were not quite sure it was a rocker,
after all. Suddenly Sandytop, who had been leaning against the
door-frame, and, looking in the direction of Buffle's old cabin,
ejaculated:

"'_Tis_ a rocker, boys--it's a rocker, but--but not that kind."

The boys poured out the door, and saw an unusual procession approaching
Mrs. Berryn's cabin; first came Uppercrust, the young ex-doctor, then an
Irishwoman from a neighboring settlement, and then Muggy, bearing a
baby's cradle, neatly made of pine boards. The doctor and woman went in,
and Muggy, dropping the cradle, ran at full speed to the saloon, and up
to the bar, the crowd following.

Muggy looked along the line, saw all the glasses were filled and in
hand, and then, raising his own, exclaimed, "Here's her, boys!" and then
went into a fully developed boo-hoo. And he was not alone; for once the
boys watered their liquor, and purer water God never made.

It was some moments before shirt-sleeves ceased to officiate as
handkerchiefs; but just as the boys commenced to look savagely at each
other, as if threatening cold lead if any one suspected undue
tenderness, Sandytop, who had returned to his post at the door to give
ease to the stream which his sleeve could not staunch, again startled
the crowd by staring earnestly toward the hill over which led the trail,
and exclaiming, "Good God!"

There was another rush to the door, and there, galloping down the trail,
was Buffle and another man. The boys stared at each other, but said
nothing--their gift of swearing was not equal to the occasion.

Steadily they stared at the two men, until Buffle, reining back a
little, pointed his pistol threateningly. They took the hint, and after
they were all inside, Sandytop closed the door and the shutters of the
unglazed windows.

"Thar's my shanty," said Buffle, as they neared it from one side; "that
one with two bar'ls fur a chimley. You jest go right in. I'll be thar ez
soon ez I put up the hosses."

As they reached the front, both men started at the sight of the cradle.

"Why, I didn't know you were a married man, Buffle?" said his companion.

"I--well--I--I--don't tell everything" stammered