174 ARMS AND MORALS 



thorns, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, rope 

 abrasions, grass fires and other Uttle dis- 

 comforts. Their excellent comfort in the 

 saddle, and in lieu of blankets at night, would be 

 enough to justify their use, but without them 

 one would be hurt or even seriously killed in 

 course of the day's work. As the}'^ make walk- 

 ing difficult they are useless for all the purposes 

 of w^ar. 



Arms. On the great ranges Romance is 

 just as prevalent as sunshine, and Emotion 

 blows as freely as the wind, but in this stud}' 

 we have to do with Reason. In cold blood we 

 are trying to study equipment and methods of 

 men whose lives depend upon sound, practical, 

 unbiassed common sense. 



When a fellow takes to the range what are 

 his motives ? If he goes out to hunt for 

 trouble he will do w^ell to buy a large, well- 

 balanced, accurately-sighted, blued revolver of 

 a simple pattern not readily clogged or dam- 

 aged. He will devote his leisure for man}^ 

 months to practice at all ranges, in all sorts of 

 weather, in light and darkness, afoot and 

 mounted until he can fire a double-roll fusillade. 

 If he gets killed at practice, so much the better 

 Jor the pubhc. If not he has only to take to 

 the range and make himself a general nuisance 



