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indignation when arrested therefor。
The average cowboy is only a fair target…shot with the revolver。 But
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he is chain lightning at getting his gun off in a hurry。 There are
exceptions to this； however； especially among the older men。 Some can
handle the Colts 45 and its heavy recoil with almost uncanny accuracy。
I have seen individuals who could from their saddles nip lizards darting
across the road； and one who was able to perforate twice before it hit
the ground a tomato…can tossed into the air。 The cowboy is prejudiced
against the double…action gun； for some reason or other。 He
manipulates his single…action weapon fast enough； however。
His sense of humor takes the same unexpected slants； not because his
mental processes differ from those of other men； but because he is
unshackled by the subtle and unnoticed nothingnesses of precedent which
deflect our action toward the common uniformity of our neighbors。 It
must be confessed that his sense of humor possesses also a certain
robustness。
The J。 H。 outfit had been engaged for ten days in busting broncos。
This the Chinese cook； Sang； a newcomer in the territory； found vastly
amusing。 He liked to throw the ropes off the prostrate broncos； when all
was ready； to slap them on the flanks； to yell shrill Chinese yells； and to
dance in celestial delight when the terrified animal arose and scattered out
of there。 But one day the range men drove up a little bunch of full…grown
cattle that had been bought from a smaller owner。 It was necessary to
change the brands。 Therefore a little fire was built； the stamp…brand put
in to heat； and two of the men on horseback caught a cow by the horns and
one hind leg； and promptly upset her。 The old brand was obliterated； the
new one burnt in。 This irritated the cow。 Promptly the branding…men；
who were of course afoot； climbed to the top of the corral to be out of the
way。 At this moment； before the horsemen could flip loose their ropes；
Sang appeared。
〃Hol' on！〃 he babbled。 〃I take him off；〃 and he scrambled over the
fence and approached the cow。
Now cattle of any sort rush at the first object they see after getting to
their feet。 But whereas a steer makes a blind run and so can be avoided；
a cow keeps her eyes open。 Sang approached that wild… eyed cow； a
bland smile on his countenance。
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A dead silence fell。 Looking about at my companions' faces I could
not discern even in the depths of their eyes a single faint flicker of human
interest。
Sang loosened the rope from the hind leg； he threw it from the horns；
he slapped the cow with his hat； and uttered the shrill Chinese yell。 So
far all was according to programme。
The cow staggered to her feet； her eyes blazing fire。 She took one
good look； and then started for Sang。
What followed occurred with all the briskness of a tune from a circus
band。 Sang darted for the corral fence。 Now； three sides of the corral
were railed； and so climbable； but the fourth was a solid adobe wall。 Of
course Sang went for the wall。 There； finding his nails would not stick；
he fled down the length of it； his queue streaming； his eyes popping； his
talons curved toward an ideal of safety； gibbering strange monkey talk；
pursued a scant arm's length behind by that infuriated cow。 Did any one
help him？ Not any。 Every man of that crew was hanging weak from
laughter to the horn of his saddle or the top of the fence。 The
preternatural solemnity had broken to little bits。 Men came running from
the bunk…house； only to go into spasms outside； to roll over and over on
the ground； clutching handfuls of herbage in the agony of their delight。
At the end of the corral was a narrow chute。 Into this Sang escaped
as into a burrow。 The cow came too。 Sang； in desperation； seized a
pole； but the cow dashed such a feeble weapon aside。 Sang caught sight
of a little opening； too small for cows； back into the main corral。 He
squeezed through。 The cow crashed through after him； smashing the
boards。 At the crucial moment Sang tripped and fell on his face。 The
cow missed him by so close a margin that for a moment we thought she
had hit。 But she had not； and before she could turn； Sang had topped the
fence and was halfway to the kitchen。 Tom Waters always maintained
that he spread his Chinese sleeves and flew。 Shortly after a tremendous
smoke arose from the kitchen chimney。 Sang had gone back to
cooking。
Now that Mongolian was really in great danger； but no one of the
outfit thought for a moment of any but the humorous aspect of the affair。
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Analogously； in a certain small cow…town I happened to be transient when
the postmaster shot a Mexican。 Nothing was done about it。 The man
went right on being postmaster； but he had to set up the drinks because he
had hit the Mexican in the stomach。 That was considered a poor place to
hit a man。
The entire town of Willcox knocked off work for nearly a day to
while away the tedium of an enforced wait there on my part。 They
wanted me to go fishing。 One man offered a team； the other a saddle…
horse。 All expended much eloquence in directing me accurately； so
that I should be sure to find exactly the spot where I could hang my feet
over a bank beneath which there were 〃a plumb plenty of fish。〃
Somehow or other they raked out miscellaneous tackle。 But they were
a little too eager。 I excused myself and hunted up a map。 Sure
enough the lake was there； but it had been dry since a previous
geological perio