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〃You lie！〃 returned Kerg； cheerfully。
Tryan sprang to his feet； seizing the chair； flourishing it around
his head and gazing furiously in the hard young faces which
fearlessly met his own。 But it was only for a moment； his arm soon
dropped by his side； and a look of hopeless fatality crossed his
face。 He allowed me to take the chair from his hand； and I was
trying to pacify him by the assurance that I required no guide when
the irrepressible Wise again lifted his voice：
〃Theer's George comin'！ why don't ye ask him？ He'll go and
introduce you to Don Fernandy's darter； too； ef you ain't
pertickler。〃
The laugh which followed this joke； which evidently had some
domestic allusion （the general tendency of rural pleasantry）； was
followed by a light step on the platform； and the young man
entered。 Seeing a stranger present； he stopped and colored； made a
shy salute and colored again； and then； drawing a box from the
corner； sat down； his hands clasped lightly together and his very
handsome bright blue eyes turned frankly on mine。
Perhaps I was in a condition to receive the romantic impression he
made upon me； and I took it upon myself to ask his company as
guide； and he cheerfully assented。 But some domestic duty called
him presently away。
The fire gleamed brightly on the hearth； and； no longer resisting
the prevailing influence； I silently watched the spurting flame；
listening to the wind which continually shook the tenement。
Besides the one chair which had acquired a new importance in my
eyes； I presently discovered a crazy table in one corner； with an
ink bottle and pen； the latter in that greasy state of
decomposition peculiar to country taverns and farmhouses。 A goodly
array of rifles and double…barreled guns stocked the corner； half a
dozen saddles and blankets lay near； with a mild flavor of the
horse about them。 Some deer and bear skins completed the
inventory。 As I sat there； with the silent group around me； the
shadowy gloom within and the dominant wind without； I found it
difficult to believe I had ever known a different existence。 My
profession had often led me to wilder scenes； but rarely among
those whose unrestrained habits and easy unconsciousness made me
feel so lonely and uncomfortable I shrank closer to myself； not
without grave doubtswhich I think occur naturally to people in
like situationsthat this was the general rule of humanity and I
was a solitary and somewhat gratuitous exception。 It was a relief
when a laconic announcement of supper by a weak…eyed girl caused a
general movement in the family。 We walked across the dark
platform； which led to another low…ceiled room。 Its entire length
was occupied by a table； at the farther end of which a weak…eyed
woman was already taking her repast as she at the same time gave
nourishment to a weak…eyed baby。 As the formalities of
introduction had been dispensed with； and as she took no notice of
me； I was enabled to slip into a seat without discomposing or
interrupting her。 Tryan extemporized a grace； and the attention of
the family became absorbed in bacon； potatoes； and dried apples。
The meal was a sincere one。 Gentle gurglings at the upper end of
the table often betrayed the presence of the 〃wellspring of
pleasure。〃 The conversation generally referred to the labors of
the day； and comparing notes as to the whereabouts of missing
stock。 Yet the supper was such a vast improvement upon the
previous intellectual feast that when a chance allusion of mine to
the business of my visit brought out the elder Tryan； the interest
grew quite exciting。 I remember he inveighed bitterly against the
system of ranch…holding by the 〃greasers；〃 as he was pleased to
term the native Californians。 As the same ideas have been
sometimes advanced under more pretentious circumstances they may be
worthy of record。
〃Look at 'em holdin' the finest grazin' land that ever lay outer
doors。 Whar's the papers for it？ Was it grants？ Mighty fine
grantsmost of 'em made arter the 'Merrikans got possession。 More
fools the 'Merrikans for lettin' 'em hold 'em。 Wat paid for 'em？
'Merrikan and blood money。
〃Didn't they oughter have suthin' out of their native country？ Wot
for？ Did they ever improve？ Got a lot of yaller…skinned diggers；
not so sensible as niggers to look arter stock； and they a sittin'
home and smokin'。 With their gold and silver candlesticks； and
missions； and crucifixens； priests and graven idols； and sich？
Them sort things wurent allowed in Mizzoori。〃
At the mention of improvements； I involuntarily lifted my eyes； and
met the half laughing； half embarrassed look of George。 The act
did not escape detection； and I had at once the satisfaction of
seeing that the rest of the family had formed an offensive alliance
against us。
〃It was agin Nater； and agin God；〃 added Tryan。 〃God never
intended gold in the rocks to be made into heathen candlesticks and
crucifixens。 That's why he sent 'Merrikans here。 Nater never
intended such a climate for lazy lopers。 She never gin six months'
sunshine to be slept and smoked away。〃
How long he continued and with what further illustration I could
not say； for I took an early opportunity to escape to the sitting…
room。 I was soon followed by George； who called me to an open door
leading to a smaller room； and pointed to a bed。
〃You'd better sleep there tonight；〃 he said； 〃you'll be more
comfortable； and I'll call you early。〃
I thanked him； and would have asked him several questions which
were then troubling me； but he shyly slipped to the door and
vanished。
A shadow seemed to fall on the room when he had gone。 The 〃boys〃
returned； one by one； and shuffled to their old places。 A larger
log was thrown on the fire； and the huge chimney glowed like a
furnace； but it did not seem to melt or subdue a single line of the
hard faces that it lit。 In half an hour later； the furs which had
served as chairs by day undertook the nightly office of mattresses；
and each received its owner's full…length figure。 Mr。 Tryan had
not returned； and I missed George。 I sat there until； wakeful and
nervous； I saw the fire fall and shadows mount the wall。 There was
no sound but the rushing of the wind and the snoring of the
sleepers。 At last； feeling the place insupportable； I seized my
hat and opening the door； ran out briskly into the night。
The acceleration of my torpid pulse in the keen fight with the
wind； whose violence was almost equal to that of a tornado； and the
familiar faces of the bright stars above me； I felt as a blessed
relief。 I ran not knowing whither； and when I halted； the square
outline of the house was lost in the alder bushes。 An
uninterrupted plain stretched before me； like a vast sea beaten
flat by the force of the gale。 As I kept on I noticed a slight
elevation toward the horizon； and presently my progress was impeded
by the ascent o