A SYSTEM OF EEJECTIONS. 17 



But the best thing for us to do was to move our camp 

 clown into the " city." A party would soon be in from 

 "down there," and they would be able to "post us up" on 

 the subject ; in the meantime, we could look around 

 maybe we might conclude to settle. "The city" was 

 growing " fine," and town lots would never be so cheap 

 again. How would we swop an "ariimile" or two against 

 a "corner lot?" 



When the different statements were compared, it 

 became a rather difficult question what should be done. 

 Clearly the most sensible, in fact the proper, thing was 

 to go back. I thought so ; I have no doubt that the 

 others thought so ; but none of us said so ; nor, I am 

 certain, would any of us have gone back of his own free 

 will and accord. We tried a system of rejections. We 

 would not move camp to the settlement ; we did not want 

 town lots in that swindling little bilk of a " city ; " we did 

 not believe in the existence of " the party " that was soon 

 to arrive from " down there." The animus of landlord and 

 loafers was too plain. Their bright idea was, evidently, 

 "First catch your hare, then skin it." A few days spent 

 amongst them, gossiping, drinking, and standing drinks at 

 the bar ; a horse trade or two ; a bill run up at the store ; 

 and perhaps a few little games at " draw-poker " or 

 " monte' ; " and then we might be killed by the Indians or 

 not. That was our " circus," not theirs. 



Should we wait where we were until we could get some 

 reliable information ? No ; certainly not ! How could we 

 tell whether or not any information was reliable ? Nobody 

 was responsible for the consequences of what they told us ; 



