to show cause. To show cause
it is necessary to go into the character of the accused. This we
intend to do. We intend to show his adulterous and lustful nature,
which has culminated in a dastardly deed and jeopardized his neck. We
intend to show that the truth is not in him; that he is a liar beyond
price; that no word he may speak upon the stand need be accepted by a
jury of his peers. We intend to show all this, and to weave it
together, thread by thread, till we have a rope long enough and strong
enough to hang him with before the day is done. So I respectfully
submit, Mr. Chairman, that the witness be allowed to proceed."

The chairman decided against Frona, and her appeal to the meeting was
voted down. Bill Brown nodded to Del to resume.

"As I was saying, he got us into no end of trouble. Now, I've been
mixed up with water all my life,--never can get away from it, it
seems,--and the more I'm mixed the less I know about it. St. Vincent
knew this, too, and him a clever hand at the paddle; yet he left me to
run the Box Canyon alone while he walked around. Result: I was turned
over, lost half the outfit and all the tobacco, and then he put the
blame on me besides. Right after that he got tangled up with the Lake
Le Barge Sticks, and both of us came near croaking."

"And why was that?" Bill Brown interjected.

"All along of a pretty squaw that looked too kindly at him. After we
got clear, I lectured him on women in general and squaws in particular,
and he promised to behave. Then we had a hot time with the Little
Salmons. He was cuter this time, and I didn't know for keeps, but I
guessed. He said it was the medicine man who got horstile; but
nothing'll stir up a medicine man quicker'n women, and the facts
pointed that way. When I talked it over with him in a fatherly way he
got wrathy, and I had to take him out on the bank and give him a
threshing. Then he got sulky, and didn't brighten up till we ran into
the mouth of the Reindeer River, where a camp of Siwashes were fishing
salmon. But he had it in for me all the time, only I didn't know
it,--was ready any time to give me the double cross.

"Now, there's no denying he's got a taking way with women. All he has
to do is to whistle 'em up like dogs. Most remarkable faculty, that.
There was the wickedest, prettiest squaw among the Reindeers. Never
saw her beat, excepting Bella. Well, I guess he whistled her up, for
he delayed in the camp longe