320 UNPLEASANT QUARTERS. 



and no revenge taken for his death. He then mentioned the 

 man's name, and said that if anyone disobeyed him he would 

 kill that man ; and nothing more was heard of the matter. 



As I did not care to remain a second night in camp I 

 returned to the ranche, and found everyone there drunk as 

 usual and very noisy. The cabin in which we had to sit was 

 not more than sixteen feet by twelve, and four drunken men 

 nearly filled it, so when bed-time came I asked Bowles where 

 I could sleep, and was told to lay my blankets in a corner 

 or take the bed, whichever I preferred. Now there was no sign 

 that the drinking was at an end, and it was more than likely 

 to finish up with a fight, so I declined to occupy either of the 

 places offered me, and said that I should sleep in the trading- 

 store, the door of which opened out of the room we were in ; 

 on which Bowles replied that he allowed no one to sleep there. 

 I saw that unless I was firm I must pass the night where I 

 was, so I told him that of course I was not going to remain 

 with them in their present state, and that I must have the key 

 of the store at once, on which he gave it to me and I went in 

 and locked the door after me, telling them that I hoped they 

 would not try to come in during the night as I always fired 

 through the door in a case of that kind. I knew the whiskey 

 was in there and thought they might come in for a fresh supply, 

 but though there was a great noise in the next room till far into 

 the night, and some quarrelling, I was not disturbed. 



In the store I found a large pile of buffalo-robes which 

 made me a capital bed, though the flavour was a little too 

 pronounced perhaps, as a good many of them were not dressed. 

 In the morning I had a look round the store to see what it 

 was that Bowles guarded so jealously, but found nothing but 



