n'
look at yer saddle."

"You go on, and let me alone, Wash Gibbs. I've never hurt you."
Ollie's naturally high pitched voice was shrill with fear.

Wash paused, looked back at his companion in the wagon; then to
Young Matt, and then to the girl on the horse. "That's right," he
said, shaking his head with ponderous gravity. "You all hear him.
He ain't never hurted me, nary a bit. Nary a bit, ladies an'
gentlemen. But, good Lord! look at him! Hain't hit awful!"
Suddenly he reached out one great arm, and jerked the young man
from his horse, catching him with the other hand as he fell, and
setting him on his feet in the middle of the road.

Ollie was like a child in the grasp of his huge tormentor, and, in
spite of her indignation, a look of admiration flashed over
Sammy's face at the exhibition of the bully's wonderful physical
strength; an admiration, that only heightened the feeling of shame
for her lover's weakness.

Gibbs addressed his victim, "Now, dolly, you an' me's goin' t'
play a little. Come on, let's see you dance." The other struggled
feebly a moment and attempted to draw a pistol, whereupon Wash
promptly captured the weapon, remarking in a sad tone as he did
so, "You hadn't ought t' tote such a gun as that, sonny; hit might
go off. Hit's a right pretty little thing, ain't hit?" he
continued, holding his victim with one hand, and examining the
pearl handled, nickel plated weapon with great interest. "Hit sure
is. But say, dolly, if you was ever t' shoot me with that there,
an' I found hit out, I'd sure be powerful mad. You hear me, now,
an' don't you pack that gun no more; not in these mountains. Hit
ain't safe."

The fellow in the wagon roared with delight at these witticisms,
and looked from Young Matt to Sammy to see if they also
appreciated the joke.

"Got any more pretties!" asked Gibbs of his victim. "No? Let's
see." Catching the young man by the waist, he lifted him bodily,
and, holding him head downward, shook him roughly. Again Sammy
felt her blood tingle at the feat of strength.

Next holding Ollie with one huge hand at the back of his neck,
Wash said, "See that feller in th' wagon there? He's a mighty fine
gentleman; friend o' mine. Make a bow t' him." As he finished,
with his free hand he struck the young man a sharp blow in the
stomach, with the result that Stewart did make a bow, very low,
but rather too suddenly to be graceful.

The fellow in the wagon jumped up and bowed again and