io6 



RECREATION. 



there was something up, and being wise 

 in his own generation, forebore questions. 

 With quiet demeanor most unaccountable 

 to the watchful dispenser of liquid en- 

 couragement the men came up to the bar 

 and enveloped their particular brand of 

 tanglefoot. 



"Boys," said El Paso, when the exhila- 

 rating effect of the liquor had begun to 

 show itself in symptoms of a return of his 

 usual volatile spirits, "this 'ere day has 

 been some lonesome to all of us, I reckon; 

 and I don't wonder none whatever that 

 sportsmen likes to see a few game run- 

 nin' round when they goes out shootin'. 

 A day's hunt without no game inserted 

 into the deal ain't such an excitin' circum- 

 stance after all." 



None of the others had cared to break 

 the ice regarding their change of senti- 

 ment, but now that El Paso had set the 

 pace he found plenty of backers. The 

 lonesome day and the memories of other 

 times had done the business, and the 

 miners were fair enough to acknowledge 

 they had blundered. 



Just then the Coyote came in, and with- 

 out a word laid on the table a lone, little 

 chapparal cock, or, rather, what was left 

 of him after an encounter with a .44 bul- 

 let. The hunter looked from one to 

 another of the group for signs of envy, 

 for since he had seen the scarcity of game 

 he well knew that few of the boys could 

 have done much better than he, if, indeed, 

 they had fared as well. He was greeted 

 with a cold stare of disapproval. Sam was 

 first to break the silence. He said, 



"Wal, I am beat that any man as totes 

 a gun would go and destroy a little bird 

 like that! Yes, I am beat!" 



"What's the matter with you all?" asked 

 the Coyote in some anger. "Don't that 

 'ere bird count all right? If any of you 

 has done so much better than me, trot 

 out your game! I don't see no great lot 

 layin' 'round! Let's see how you've been 

 backin' up them there principles o' yourn." 



"Principles be blowed," said El Paso. 

 "We ain't no hogs that wants to push off 

 the earth every little bird as flops a wing, 

 and special when there ain't none to speak 

 of in this region." 



El Paso had experienced a complete 

 change of heart in regard to game protec- 

 tion, and had the courage of his convic- 

 tions. 



The Coyote's face was a picture of anger 

 and amazement; but dropping his hand to 

 his 6-shooter while he fixed the speaker 

 with his eyes, he said, 



"The man as insinuates that I am a hog 

 has got to back up his reason for such 

 opinion with a gun." 



"Which I am prepared to do instan- 

 taneous," replied El Paso, rising. 



The crowd filed out into the open air. 



where, in the "discussion" which followed, 

 the Coyote received a bullet in his right 

 arm and had his left ear slightly grazed. 

 That the casualties were no greater was 

 due probably to the semi-darkness of the 

 hour. 



That evening there was a great deal of 

 quiet drinking at the Glory, and the com- 

 mittee seated again round the faro table 

 labored earnestly, assisted as before by 

 the views of the assembled miners. Baldy 

 Pelton, though not so efficient a scribe 

 as the wounded Coyote, who, with his arm 

 in a sling, sat silently in a corner of the 

 room, drinking heavily, and thinking, re- 

 duced their deliberations to writing, and 

 the next stage carried out the following 

 letter: 



Editor of Recreation: 



Dear Sir — We write to ask you to turn 

 down the letter we sent you on the 12th. 

 Our idees has changed total since the 

 Christmas hunt, and we now have a regu- 

 lation here makin' it some risky for any 

 man to shoot up birds or beasts (exceptin' 

 rattlesnakes and hoss thieves) around these 

 diggin's. 



You will find enclosed express order for 

 dust to pay for 27 yearly subscriptions to 

 that 'ere Recreation o' yourn, which 

 send same in a bunch each month to Henry 

 Blake, Eagle Bar, Arizona, 40 miles North 

 of Tucson. 



If there's any way to increase game more 

 plenty where they ain't none at present, 

 please let us know and we'll do it. We 

 have this evenin' app'inted 3 game wardens 

 for the camp, and the whole season is 

 now closed for 3 years. 



Yours respectfully, 



Baldy Pelton, 

 Sam Sweetwater, 



Committee. 

 P. S. Coyote Bill can't sign, on account 

 of engagin' into an unfortunate argyment, 

 during which he was shot up some by a 

 party that believes in game protection. 



Bill thinks just as we do now, and in- 

 sists on payin' for 6 subscriptions to the 

 magazine. 



The miners of Eagle Bar are to-day 

 numbered among the staunchest game 

 protectionists of the country. The chappa- 

 ral is now inhabited by a fair quantity of 

 game, which is jealously protected, and 

 hunted only during the open season. Most 

 of the miners use shot guns of the latest 

 pattern, but a few, who care more for lots 

 of fun and noise than for bagging game, 

 look with disfavor on that weapon and still 

 pin their faith to the 6-shooter. Recrea- 

 tion is regarded as authority, absolute and 

 conclusive, on all subjects of which it 

 treats; and through its influence the camp 

 has, in truth, been regenerated. 



