394 Reminiscences of 



holding clothing, with two guns and a brace of revolveis. 

 After a hearty meal of fried bacon, potatoes, bread, 

 and tea we were seated on the boxes and chairs, 

 while Brown was seated on a bear skin on the floor, 

 opposite the fire. He and Slawson were reviewing 

 their experiences in Montana, and the river-bank 

 sluicing they had been engaged in. The open door 

 was darkened by the entrance of Jack Williams, clad 

 in an old blue army overcoat, who came in from the 

 rain and seated himself on a vacant box near the 

 fire. He had given no knock at the door, and un- 

 bidden took his seat without saying a word. Brown 

 and Slawson after a moment's silence continued 

 their conversation about times in Montana. Other- 

 wise the silence would have been more awkward. 

 After a few moments Jack spoke up to Brown, telling 

 him he wanted him to vacate the premises, as they 

 belonged to him. Brown, quietly seated, responded 

 that he hired the house of a Mexican, paying his rent 

 of five dollars a month, and that he proposed to remain, 

 and doubted very much if Jack owned the property. 

 Jack then with much profanity accused Brown of 

 taking away his friends (meaning ourselves) who 

 came out to stop with him. This and some more, 

 when Jack became so abusive that Brown, still seated, 

 ordered him out. Upon this Jack rose in a threatening 

 attitude, addressing Brown with a string of vile names. 

 At this Brown rose from his seat, and seizing Jack 

 by the back of the neck pitched him with much force 

 out of the door into the rain. It was too dark outside 

 to see where Jack fell, but he quickly recovered him- 

 self, and pulling his pistol fired two shots at Brown, 

 who still stood in the open doorway. Both shots 



