A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



devil and sharpshooter, tried to make a trade for 

 her; but the captain told them all, "Hands off." 

 They camped for the night some 20 miles away. 

 Shortly after daylight, "Scotty" rode in on the mare. 

 As their eyes met he said, "Well, Cap, I left a 

 damned good hoss for her, and she^s contraband, 

 anyway." "Scotty," the captain said, "my orders arc 

 not contraband; get your breakfast, and ride back. 

 We will wait for you here; and, Bill, you go back 

 with him." 



"Scotty" replied, "I'll be damned if I do." 

 "All right," said the captain. "One of us has got 

 to be boss, and we can't be that with the other around. 

 •Ride to the other edge of this clearing, turn and I 

 will ride towards you ; shoot whenever you get ready. 

 I will do the same. You are at least as good as I 

 am on the trigger." 



"Scotty" sat for a minute in deep thought, and 

 then, with a smile, said, "O hell. Cap, there ain't 

 no doubt about who's boss here. I only traded for 

 this mare to keep you from getting her after the 

 war. So long; catch up with you by noon. I'll get 

 one good ride out of her." Then a bright thought 

 striking him, he added, "Say, Cap, you ride her 

 back; maybe you can make an after-war trade for 

 her." His story ended, the captain was silent for a 

 moment, and then broke out into a hearty laugh. 

 " 'Scotty' was right; you have heard or known of 

 the good ones I bought and sold for twenty years 



[112] 



