THE RESULT 263 
this matter and to send you home contented, and, 
by the jumping Jews! [’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! [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 
_ tostand 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.” 
