1'02 ON THE FRONTIER 



into his rifle-barrel, placed a greased patch on the muzzle, 

 the ball upon it, rammed it down, withdrew the ramrod, and 

 was pouring the powder out of his flask into the gun in a 

 continuous stream, when I took it from him, arid ordered 

 him to sit down and keep quiet until he had my permission 

 to stir. The young man sat down without a word, and I 

 gave him a big dram of brandy, and told him to " get out- 

 side of that." This dose had the desired effect, and he 

 recovered his senses. Fortunately for him, none of the 

 men had perceived what he had done, and I took care not 

 to mention it, for had the performance become known his 

 life would have been rendered unbearable by their jeers and 

 ridicule. 



The effects of fear seem to be strangely various. I have 

 had my experiences of that emotion, but never for long 

 enough at a time to influence my conduct beyond some 

 sudden gesture, while the reaction therefrom has in my case 

 usually increased clearness of pei*ception, intensified determi- 

 nation, and stimulated to action most fortunate results of 

 temperament to which I owe my life on more than one 

 occasion. 



Once, when travelling from Panama to Colon, I was as 

 badly frightened in my way of taking that affection as 

 were the Denverites by the " Indian scare," and with about 

 equal reason. As the trip across the isthmus is, from its 

 scenery and little incidents, always an interesting one, 

 some account of mine on that occasion may prove enter- 

 taining. 



Of my place of arrival, Colon, I shall say nothing ; bad 

 language is not my style, and its use is certainly unavoidable 



