Mr. Bull just yanked out a gun as long as your arm, and drew her
down on me, saying, "See here; I want that money d----d quick, for
I won it fair." He then turned the big gun on Bill, and said,
"Tell him to hand it over, or I be d----d if I don't blow h--l out
of you d----d quick."
Poor old Bill was shaking all over, but he managed to say, "Give
her up, George." He forgot himself when he called my name; but
the old fellow was excited, and did not know that he was giving us
both away.
I handed the fellow the money, and he walked away, saying, "I don't
want any more to do with you d----d fellows, for you are in with
each other."
Bill and I stood looking after the fellow until he got on the wharf-
boat, then he turned to me and said, "George, I've been thinking,
and I be darned if I can make out how it was he turned the baby.
And, George, another thing I can't understand. I've seen more than
ten guns cocked up against your head, and that's the first time I
ever saw you weaken."
"Well, Bill, I tell you there was blood in that fellow's eyes, and
I could see he meant business; besides, Bill, he won the money
fair, and you know a fellow will fight like thunder for his own."
"All right, George; but I've always said no man living could make
you give up. But I guess you was right this time, for I be darned
if I didn't think he was going to let her go at me before you could
hand over."
We took a drink, and then Bill went to his room to take off his
make-up. While he was thus engaged, I walked down on the wharf-
boat, and there was the bull-driver, waiting for a boat that was
just coming in to the landing. I waited for Bill to come down;
but I guess he was feeling bad; so I went up to the stable, and
there he sat, on the same box where he saw the bull-driver counting
his money. I went up to him and said, "Bill, I won $500 and lost
$100 while we were playing that fellow, so I owe you $400."