40 



AMONG THE COWBOYS AND IN THE HUNTING FIELD 



him. The rough, well primed with whisky, faced him with a revolver 

 in each hand and with a curse bade him treat, enforcing his demand 

 by an exhibition of "gun-play." Around sat a roomful of men, none 

 of them friends of Roosevelt, who was a stranger in the town. 



It was a case in which common sense counseled obedience, and the 

 seeming tenderfoot rose as if to obey. The next instant his left hand 

 went out with one of his old Harvard hits and the bully crashed against 

 the wall and measured his length on the floor, his pistols exploding in 

 the air. When he came to his wits he looked up to see what sort of 

 an elephant had trodden on him, and found the tenderfoot standing 

 over him, with battle in his eyes. 



''Served him right," was the decision of the crowd and the 

 astounded rough incontinently surrcnded and gave up his guns. This 

 was Roosevelt's only experience of this kind. 



Not unlike it, however, is the story of the sheriff who favored some 

 cattle thieves, letting them escape. At least there was reason to 

 believe that he sided with the outlaws and a meeting of ranch owners 

 was held to consider the case. The sheriff was present, and in the 

 midst of the meeting Mr. Roosevelt arose and squarely accused this 

 official with aiding the cattle thieves. He told him that he and his 

 fellows believed the charges to be true. He was unarmed, while from 

 the pockets of the rough westerner peeped the handles of two big- 

 revolvers. And the reputation of the man was such that few of the 

 ranchmen would have dared to face him with such charges. 



But the keen unflinching gaze of the inquisitor cowed the fellow. 

 The ranchmen sitting around awaited his reply. None came. By his 

 silence he acknowledged the truth of the accusation. 



Then there is the story of the Marquis de Mores, a.queer French- 

 man who had a ranch near Roosevelt's. Some trouble had arisen 

 between their cowboys and the Marquis was ofifended by something 

 Roosevelt was reported to have said. Without waiting to inquire into 

 its truth he sent Roosevelt a challenge, writing that "there was a way 

 for gentlemen to settle their differences." 



Roosevelt's reply was that the story set afloat was a lie, that the 

 Marquis had no business to believe it upon such evidence as he had. 

 and that he would follow his note in person within the hour. He 



