THE RESULT 263 



this matter and to send you home contented, and, 

 by the jumping Jews ! I'll do it if I have to break 

 the head of every dog's son among you ! They 

 told me to speak gently to you, and by thunder, 

 I've done it ; but now I'm going to say a word 

 for myself ! 



" A lot of your dirty crowd attacked two of 

 the decentest men in the county when they were 

 riding with ladies; one of the gang got killed 

 and the rest got their skulls cracked. Would 

 these boys fight for the girls they had with 

 them ? Hell's blazes! I'll fight for just thinking 

 of it ! Just one of you duffers say < boo ' to me ! 

 I'm going right through you ! " 



Jackson sprang into the crowd, which parted 

 like water before a strong swimmer. He cocked 

 his hat, smacked his fists, and invited any or all 

 to stand up to him. He was crazy for a fight, 

 to get even with Jack and Jarvis ; but no one 

 was willing to favor him. He marched through 

 the gang lengthways, crossways, and diagonally, 

 but to no purpose. In great disgust he returned 

 to the barn and reported that the crowd would 

 not be "conciliated." When we left, however, 

 there were no miners to be seen. 



It was after one o'clock in the morning when 

 I reached home. Going directly to the room oc- 

 cupied by the boys, I met Polly on the stairs. 



" I'm glad you've come," said she, " for I can't 

 do a thing with those boys ; they are too wild 

 for any use." 



