AND OTHER HUNTING ADVENTURES. 311 



man quarrel with, one of them, he forces the war and 

 is himself to blame. Their love of fun often leads 

 to trouble, though generally because the victim of 

 it does not know how, or is not willing, to either 

 "chip in" or excuse himself. They are fond of 

 4 'piping off" anything that is particularly conspic- 

 uous, or vice versa, no matter to whom it belongs, 

 and they dislike to see snobbish airs assumed in 

 their country, though such might pass current in 

 any Eastern city. 



I once saw a dude step out of a hotel in Cheyenne, 

 wearing a silk hat, cut-away coat, lavender pants, 

 high pressure collar, scarlet velvet scarf, patent 

 leather shoes, etc. Several cowboys were riding 

 through the street and spied him. 



"Say, Dick," said one of them, "what de ye 

 s'pose it is?" 



"Let's tackle it and see," said Dick; "it looks 

 alive." 



"Pard, hadn't you better put them togs on ice?" 

 queried another of the party. "They're liable to 

 spile in tins climate." 



The youth was highly offended, gave them a 

 haughty, withering look, and without deigning a 

 reply of any kind turned to walk back into the hotel. 



"Let's brand it," said Dick, and as quick as a 

 flash a lariat fell about the dude, closed round his 

 slender waist, and he was a prisoner. The boys 

 gathered round him, chaffed him good-naturedly, 

 took his hat and rubbed the nap the wrong way, put 

 some alkali mud on his shoes, and then released him, 

 bidding him "go in and put on son^e clothes." A 

 little good-natured repartee on his part, or an invita- 



