212 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



and whose treachery and cruelty have scarcely 

 been surpassed by the savage he so despises, 

 still exists, and that not only in the commonly 

 accepted type of mere barbarian. He comes 

 now in less profusion, certainly, but in greater 

 variety ; his talents cover a wider range. 

 Having said this, it is but fair to add that the 

 number of murders committed in the Territory 

 is relatively small relatively, because the 

 general sense of lawlessness in the air is not 

 to be denied. Where the political element is 

 strong enough to poison justice at its source, 

 to thwart Sheriffs in the execution of duties 

 which are at best perilous and difficult, when 

 the enormous size of the Territory, together 

 with its imperfectly settled condition, is taken 

 into account, the qualifying adjective is not 

 out of place. And there are also other 

 obstacles to the growth of a large and openly 

 criminal class. 



' If there were more rain in this section, 

 there would be more murders,' commented a 

 Sheriff with whom I had been conversing 

 concerning things which pertain to his 

 craft. 



' How so ?' 



