Year: 1872

The request was issued in an insulting
tone OF volce-more command than mere
request, and even had | cared to accede to
1t under other circumstances, was deter
mined not to be bullied into anything by
the fellow, knowing well that if l did it
would only be the excuse for a future
quarrel, and the loss of the prestige had
alread gained; so l replied, with my finger
on the trigger of my concealed pistol, my
hand being still careessly in my pocket
and no one suspectiug anything-enunci-
ating each word slowly


"No, sir--I thank you. You must ex-
cuse me. I have already drunk with sew
eral Of your citizens, and the liquor in this
section don't agree with me- l have got a
bad headache, therefore you must excuse
me drinking again now. Thank you all
the same" While I said these words l
kept my eye stll ou my waiting for
the first movement, but still he kept bis
rifle over his shoulder. Instant his man
ner changed from the bullying to the rate


"Hev ye got anything agin' me, cap ?"
replied that that would be impossible,
considering that had never seen or heard
OF him in my life before, and that I had
already given the reason for my declining
his kindness.


Then you'll either have to fight or
drink !'


can well rem omber at the time that,
quick as thought, l felt my life hanging
on thread, as tn crowd cleared out from
behind me-out of the way of the expected
shit. But l was prepared at the first
movement to pull the trigger if a life was
going to be sacrificed, 1 was determined
that it should be his, not mine, if quickness
were to be the decisive question in the
matter.


"Then-you-had- -better-6ght-for
L Observation-Disclosures drink p


Had the fellow moved hand, an eight
to- the-pound ball would have been through
him. But he hesitated, and, think half
suspected that all was not right with him).
And so, for about minute, we stood staring
at each other-I with ny hands in my
pocket, he with his long rifle over his
shoulder. dare say the tabeau was very
fiue, but l was too intensely occupied with
the all-importaut question of shoot or be
shot, to al appreciate it. At one time he
seemed inclined to fire, aud it was difficult
to restrain my trigger finger and after all
it was as well for both of US that he changed
his mind, and turned away growing some
thing which did not catch and was heed
less of. | watched him until he was out
of sight, and the crowd had again closed
around me. Loud were the praises which
my grit received, and louder even still
my "smartness' when, in order to show
that no great credit was due to my courage,
| drew out my little cooked "Derringer."


drank very much more whiskey that
afternoon than was good for me, and the
generally expressed regret was that hadn't
shot my opponent, who l found was called
Jedediah 7. SluDkins, and noted rowdy
In that section of country. | heard after
wards that he had rooted antipathy to all
Europeans" but particularly to English
men, and had sworn to pick quarrel with
the first he could come across. lie got his
desire-tor two years afterwards he was
nearly hammered to death with first his
fist, and then the but-end of his pistol, by
burly Yorkshireman whom he had insult
ed on board Sacramento River steamboat
was never SO popular man 10 my life,
e ther before or since, Except on that ever
memorable occasion twelve years before,
when licked the great school bully, Smith
Major,) and was pretty well cock the
walk while | lived in Orleans Bar | was
advised to look out for Jedediah T., as that
gentleman was Of slightly vindictive turn
VI uihu, aDu was rumoreu u harpor no
very fond feelings of affection towards me
for so efectually cutting his comb. How
ever never saw him again, nor, indeed,
ever heard of him until accidentally learn.
ed. n six months ago, from his Yorkshire
opponent )who was once my servant) of
the uutoward accident which befcll him on
che Sacran ento steamer.