Reminding us how careful he is of his feet, he shows
them ensconced in a pair of Indian moccasins ornamented with
bead-work; and, as if we had not become fully conscious of his
power, he draws aside his roundabout, and there, beneath the waist
of his pantaloons, is a girdle, to which a large hunting-knife is
attached, some five inches of the handle protruding above the belt.
"Now, fellers, I tell ye what's what, ye'r point-up at bragin'; but
ye don't come square up to the line when there's anything to put
through what wants pluck. 'Tain't what a knowin' 'un like I can do;
it's just what he can larn to be with a little training in things
requiring spunk. I'm a going to have a square horse, or no horse; if
I don't, by the great Davy, I'll back out and do business on my own
account,--Anthony Romescos always makes his mark and then masters it.
If ye don't give Anthony a fair showin', he'll set up business on
his own account, and pocket the comins in. Now! thar's Dan Bengal
and his dogs; they can do a thing or two in the way of trade now and
then; but it requires the cunnin as well as the plucky part of a
feller. It makes a great go when they're combined, though,--they
ala's makes sure game and slap-up profit."
"Hold a stave, Anthony," interrupted a grim-visaged individual who
had just filled his glass with whiskey, which he declared was only
to counteract the effect of what he had already taken. He begs they
will not think him half so stupid as he seems, says he is always
well behaved in genteel society, and is fully convinced from the
appearance of things that they are all gentlemen.
Pages:
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101