[210] 



CHAPTER X. 



' LAW-ABIDINGNESS ' IN THE SOUTH-WEST. 



ON first settling in this section, and receiving 

 the assurance, inevitable in all American rural 

 communities namely, that this particular 

 community was * remarkable for its law- 

 abidingness ' it was something of a shock 

 to be told, in addition, ' But you must get 

 yourself a fierce guard-dog. And, of course, 

 you can fire a gun ? No ? Why, then, you 

 must learn !' This to a woman of the old- 

 timey kind, who can be reckoned on (always 

 provided the act be unseen of men) to clap 

 her hands to her ears at the first symptom 

 of demonstrativeness on the part of the gun, 

 and who, when personally conducting a loaded 

 weapon, can with equal certainty be relied 

 on to carry it at arm's length, muzzle pointed 

 to the ground, and who But enough. 



