216 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



we have. I've twenty — forty, myself, and mean to have as many 

 more as I can get. But it's to pass unfortunate females into 

 heaven that I has 'em^ — yes, to prevent 'em going to roaring flames 

 and damnation that I does it. 



" Brother Dowdle," he continued, in a hoarse, low voice, " I've 

 * give out,' and think we'd better begin the exercises grettful to 

 the Lord." 



Brother Dowdle rose, and, after saying that " he didn't feel hke 

 saying much, begged to remind all hands, that dancing was solemn 

 like, to be done with proper devotion, and not with laughing and 

 talking, of which he hoped to hear little or none ; that joy was to 

 be in their hearts, and not on their lips ; that they danced for the 

 glory of the Lord, and not their own amusement, as did the Gen- 

 tilesy After saying thus, he called upon brother Ezra to " strike 

 up :" sundry couples stood forth, and the ball commenced. 



Ezra of the violin was a tall, shambUng Missourian, with a 

 pair of " homespun" pantaloons thrust into the legs of his heavy 

 boots. Nodding his head in time with the music, he occasionally 

 gave instructions to such of the dancers as were at fault, singiiig 

 them to the tune he was playing, in a dismal nasal tone — 



" Down the center — bands across," 

 "You, Jake Herring — thump it," 

 " Now, you all go right a-head — 

 Every one of you hump it. 



Eveiy one of you — kximp it." 



The last words being the signal that all should clap the steam on, 

 which they did co7i mnore, and with comical seriousness. 



A mountaineer, Bube Herring, whom we have more than once 

 met in the course of this narrative, became a convert to the Mor- 

 mon creed, and held forth its wonderful doctrines to such of the 

 incredulous trappers as he could induce to listen to him. Old 

 Rube stood nearly six feet six in height, and was spare and bony 

 in make. He had picked up a most extraordinary cloth coat 



