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The Game and the Nation--Act Second That is the only step I have had to take this whole trip, said the Virginian. He holstered his pistol with a jerk. I have been fearing he would force it on me. And he looked at empty, receding Dakota with disgust. So nyeh back home! he muttered. Known your friend long? whispered Scipio to me. Fairly, I answered. Scipios bleached eyes brightened with admiration as he considered the Southerners back. Well, he stated judicially, start awful early when yu go to fool with him, or hell make you feel unpunctual. I expaict Ive had them almost all of three thousand miles, said the Virginian, tilting his head toward the noise in the caboose. And Ive strove to deliver them back as I received them. The whole lot. And I would have. But he has spoiled my hopes. The deputy foreman looked again at Dakota. Its a disappointment, he added. You may know what I mean. I had known a little, but not to the very deep, of the mans pride and purpose in this trust. Scipio gave him sympathy. There must be quite a balance of em left with yu yet, said Scipio, cheeringly. I had the boys plumb contented, pursued the deputy foreman, hurt into open talk of himself. Away along as far as Saynt Paul I had them reconciled to my authority. Then this news about gold had to strike us. And theyre a-dreamin nuggets and Parisian bowleyvards, suggested Scipio. The Virginian smiled gratefully at him. Fortune is shinin bright and blindin to their delicate young eyes, he said, regaining his usual self. We all listened a moment to the rejoicings within. Energetic, aint they? said the Southerner. But none of em was whelped savage enough to sing himself bloodthirsty. And though theyre strainin mighty earnest not to be tame, theyre goin back to Sunk Creek with me accordin to the Judges awders. Never a calf of them will desert to Rawhide, for all their dangerousness; nor I aint goin to have any fuss over it. Only one is left now that dont sing. Maybe I will have to make some arrangements about him. The man I have parted with, he said, with another glance at Dakota, was our cook, and I will ask yu to replace him, Colonel. Scipio gaped wide. Colonel! Say! He stared at the Virginian. Did I meet yu at the palace? Not exackly meet, replied the Southerner. I was present one mawnin las month when this gentleman awdehed frawgs laigs. Sakes and saints, but that was a mean position! burst out Scipio. I had to tell all comers anything all day. Stand up and jump language hot off my brain at em. And the pay dont near compensate for the drain on the system. I dont care how good a man is, you let him keep a-tappin his presence of mind right along, without takin a lay- off, and youll have him sick. Yes, sir. Youll hit his nerves. So I told them they could hire some fresh man, for I was goin back to punch cattle or fight Indians, or take a rest somehow, for I didnt propose to get jaded, and me only twenty-five years old. There aint no regular Colonel Cyrus Jones any more, yu know. He met a Cheyenne telegraph pole in seventy-four, and was buried. But his palace was doin big business, and he had been a kind of attraction, and so they always keep a live bear outside, and some poor fello, fixed up like the Colonel used to be, inside. And its a turruble mean position. Course Ill cook for yu. Yuve a dandy memory for faces! I wasnt right convinced till I kicked him off and you gave that shut to your eyes again, said the Virginian. Once more the door opened. A man with slim black eyebrows, slim black mustache, and a black shirt tied with a white handkerchief was looking steadily from one to the other of us. Good day! he remarked generally and without enthusiasm; and to the Virginian, Wheres Schoffner? I expaict hell have got his bottle by now, Trampas. Trampas looked from one to the other of us again. Didnt he say he was coming back? He reminded me he was going for a bottle, and afteh that he didnt wait to say a thing. Trampas looked at the platform and the railing and the steps. He told me he was coming back, he insisted. |
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