4 o AMONG THE COWBOYS AND IN THE HUNTING FIELD 
him. The rough, well primed with whisky, faced him with a revolver 
in each hand and with a curse bade him treat, enforcing his demand 
by an exhibition of “gun-play.” Around sat a roomful of men, none 
of them friends of Roosevelt, who was a stranger in the town. 
It was a case in which common sense counseled obedience, and the 
seeming tenderfoot rose as if to obey. The next instant his left hand 
went out with one of his old Harvard hits and the bully crashed against 
the wall and measured his length on the floor, his pistols exploding in 
the air. When he came to his wits he looked up to see what sort of 
an elephant had trodden on him, and found the tenderfoot standing 
over him, with battle in his eyes. 
“Served him right,” was the decision of the crowd and the 
astounded rough incontinently surrended and gave up his guns. This 
was Roosevelt’s only experience of this kind. 
Not unlike it, however, is the story of the sheriff who favored some 
cattle thieves, letting them escape. At least there was reason to 
believe that he sided with the outlaws and a meeting of ranch owners 
was held to consider the case. The sheriff was present, and in the 
midst of the meeting Mr. Roosevelt arose and squarely accused this 
official with aiding the cattle thieves. He told him that he and his 
fellows believed the charges to be true. He was unarmed, while from 
the pockets of the rough westerner peeped the handles of two big 
revolvers. And the reputation of the man was such that few of the 
ranchmen would have dared to face him with such charges. 
But the keen unflinching gaze of the inquisitor cowed the fellow. 
The ranchmen sitting around awaited his reply. None came. By his 
silence he acknowledged the truth of the accusation. 
Then there is the story of the Marquis de Mores, a queer French¬ 
man who had a ranch near Roosevelt’s. Some trouble had arisen 
between their cowboys and the Marquis was offended by something 
Roosevelt was reported to have said. Without waiting to inquire into 
its truth he sent Roosevelt a challenge, writing that “there was a way 
for gentlemen to settle their differences.” 
Roosevelt’s reply was that the story set afloat was a lie, that the 
Marquis had no business to believe it upon such evidence as he had, 
and that he would follow his note in person within the hour. He 
