United States or Pitcairn Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Here's how!" observed the latter, and the two old turtlebacks drank the raw whisky down, near a half pint of it, as though it had been so much milk. Bennington fairly gasped with astonishment. "Don't you ever take any water?" he asked. They turned slowly. Old Mizzou looked him in the eye with glimmering reproach. "Not, if th' whisky's good, sonny," said he impressively.
Bennington thought this very high-minded on the part of Old Mizzou. "Very well," he agreed, "I'll write Bishop." "Oh, no," put in the miner hastily, "no need to trouble. I resigns in writin', of course; an' I sees to it myself." "Well, then, if you'll help me with the assessment work, when shall we begin?"
But if Slayton gets them lapsed claims by hisself, Slayton bein' a stranger, they thinks how fortinit that Slayton is t' git onto it, and they puts pore Ole Mizzou down as becomin' fergitful in his old age." The stranger laughed. "It's easy," he remarked. "We get them for nothing, and you can bet your sweet life I'll push 'em through for all there is in it. Why, boys, you're rich!
They distributed the oats and hay, and then stood, sheltered from the direct rain, conversing idly. Suddenly the wind died and the rain ceased. In the place of the gloom succeeded a strange sulphur-yellow glare which lay on the spirit with almost physical oppression. Old Mizzou shouted something, and scrambled excitedly to the house. Bennington looked about him bewildered.
They seemed to be trying to preserve a semblance of dignity in their stately bobbing up and down, but apparently found the attempt difficult. The roar was almost deafening, but even above it a strangely deliberate grinding noise was audible. Old Mizzou said it was the grating of boulders as they were rolled along the bed of the stream.
After supper Bennington and Old Mizzou played cribbage by the light of a kerosene lamp. "While I was hunting claims this afternoon," said the Easterner suddenly, "I ran across a mighty pretty girl." "Yas?" observed Old Mizzou with indifference. "What fer a gal was it?" "She didn't look as if she belonged around here. She was a slender girl, very pretty, with a pink dress on."
At the conclusion of a long harangue they yelled enthusiastically, and immediately began the more informal discussion of what was evidently a popular proposition. When the five who had been paid off returned, everybody had a drink, while the newcomers were made acquainted with the subject. Old Mizzou, who had listened silently but with a twinkle in his eye, went to hunt up Bennington.
The neck supported a small head. The face was wizened and tanned to a dark mahogany colour. It was ornamented with a grizzled goatee. The man smoked a stub pipe. His remarks were emphasized by the gestures of a huge and gnarled pair of hands. "Mr. Lawton is from Old Mizzou, too, afore he moved to Illinoy," commented Davidson.
Bennington's trips to see the effect of his shots proved to him the fiendish propensity of everything he touched, were it never so lightly, to sprinkle him with cold water. Above all, his skill with the weapon was not great enough as yet to make it much fun. He abandoned pistol shooting and yawned extensively, wishing it were time to go to bed. In the evening he played cribbage with Old Mizzou.
She had wonderful eyes, and was, I believe, dressed in a garment whose colour was pink. "Keep yore moccasins greased," Old Mizzou advised at parting; by which he meant that the young man was to step softly. This he found to be difficult. His course lay along the top of the ridge where the obstructions were many.
Word Of The Day