ANIMAL LIFE ABOUT DUNFORD'S FARM 293 



a tramp, and a very dilapidated tramp, but his air of 

 cool self-possession would have graced a king. It was 

 afternoon, and Mr. Dunford and I happened to be alone 

 in the house, Mrs. D. and the girls having gone to 

 visit the recently-married daughter, and all the males 

 being still at their work. My host and I were having 

 a quiet chat and smoke together, the last we thought to 

 enjoy previously to my departure. Had the lady of the 

 house been at home, I fancy Major Cornelius K. Shadley 

 would have had a different reception from that he received 

 from the quiet and amiable Mr. Dunford. 



Cornelius had probably reconnoitred the house and 

 thought that there were no men about ; for he impudently 

 entered without knocking. Seeing us he was somewhat 

 taken aback, but only for an instant. " How do, boss ? 

 How do, younker ? " he said, nodding to us with the 

 familiarity of an old acquaintance, and without more ado 

 he drew a chair near the fire and sat down. As he had 

 all the appearance of a professional tramp, I expected 

 that Dunford would order him out, but after glancing at 

 the two formidable six-shooters in the intruder's belt and 

 at his own gun hanging over the fireplace not within 

 immediate reach, he simply asked what he wanted. 



It is to be noted that all the tramps and tender-feet, 

 at this period at least, carried valuable six-shooters that 

 could not have cost less than twenty-five or thirty dollars 

 apiece. This fellow had two splendid weapons, bright 

 and in good order, in addition to a bowie-knife. 



In answer to Dunford's inquiry he said that he was 

 " prospecting for land," an assertion that caused me to 

 laugh ; though, by-the-bye, it is not safe in the States 

 to judge of a man's means by his personal appearance. 

 I have met men who looked as if they had been pulled 

 out of a chimney who, nevertheless, possessed a very 

 respectable banking account, and it did not escape our 

 notice that as yet the major had made no appeal for 

 charity. As to his abrupt manner and free conduct, 

 it is very usual in the States. Our host gravely asked 



