Thar's a faraway look to Dave at the time, like he's tryin' to settle
whether he's behind or ahead on some deal. While thus wropped in this
fit of abstraction Dan Boggs comes hybernatin' along an' asks Dave to
p'int into the Red Light for a smell of Valley Tan. Dave sort o'
rouses up at this an' fastens on Dan with his eyes, half truculent an'
half amazed, same as if he's shocked at Dan's familiarity. Then he
shakes his head decisive.

"'Don't try to braid this mule's tail none!' says Dave, an' at that he
strides off with his muzzle in the air. Boggs is abashed.

"'Which these insultin' bluffs of Dave's,' says Boggs, as we canvasses
the play a bit later, 'would cut me to the quick, but I knows it ain't
on the level, Dave ain't himse'f when he declines said nosepaint--his
intellects ain't in camp.'

"This ontoward an' onmerited rebuke to Boggs is followed, by further
breaks as hard to savey. Dave ain't no two days alike. One time he's
that haughty he actooally passes Enright himse'f in the street an' no
more heed or recognition than if Wolfville's chief is the last Mexican
to come no'th of the line. Then later Dave is effoosive an' goes about
riotin' in the s'ciety of every gent whereof he cuts the trail. One
day he won't drink; an' the next he's tippin' the canteen from sun-up
till he's claimed by sleep. Which he gets us mighty near distracted;
no one can keep a tab on him. What with them silences an'
volyoobilities, sobrieties an' days of drink, an' all in bewilderin'
alternations, he's shore got us goin' four ways at once.

"'In spite of the fact,' continyooes Dan Boggs when we're turnin'
Dave's conduct over in our minds an' rummagin' about for reasons; 'in