HAPPY STATE OF AFFAIRS. 219 



" Cut it ! What 's to make us cut, as you call it yes, 

 sir ! " 



" Why, the decree of the Government." 



" The Government ! guess that won't do it ! " 



" Why, don't you mean to obey your own laws ? '' 



" Guess we do, so shall stay, and hold on considerable 

 tight ! " 



" How do you mean? The Indians will come and 

 turn you out, as they have a right to do ? " 



" Wish they'd only just about try it, that's what we 

 wants it to come to. Shoot them beggars down to a 

 man then ; wants to get rid on 'em, but no such luck ; 

 wish the Government would only give us the difficulty ; 

 'twould be as good as dollars ! " 



" Well, I always knew you chaps went pretty strong 

 ahead all masters and no men. Suppose I came out on 

 lands where the Government had decreed their sale at a 

 dollar and half an acre cheapish fixing that for some of 

 the soil I have seen, and wished to buy ? " 



" Well, you'd find us in no wise freendly." 



How so?" 



" Only jest as this ; if any soul alive came out to buy 

 the land from under us, it's just the right of a free man 

 to shoot the interloper down, and to keep what Heaven 

 has given him. Reckon you'd find us each with his 

 revolver, knife, and rifle, and riled for mischief right 

 away." 



" I don't doubt it, my good fellow, and I don't mean 

 to buy property nor share in the blessings and jus 

 tice of your happy land ; shall we have a hunt toge 

 ther for a deer up the creek before I march to-morrow 

 morning ? " 



