Several men invited attention to their respective animals, tied near the
door. Promptly selecting one, paying for it, and settling with the
barkeeper, and mounting his own horse while Berryn mounted the new one,
the two men galloped away, leaving the bystanders lost in astonishment,
from which they only recovered after almost superhuman industry on the
part of the barkeeper.

* * * * *

One evening, when the daily labors and household cares of the Pat Pocket
Gulchites had ended, the residents of that quiet village were
congregated, as usual, at the saloon. It was too early for gambling and
fighting, and the boys chatted peacefully, pausing only a few times to
drink "Here's her," which had become the standard toast of the Gulch.
Conversation turned on Muggy's invention, and a few bets were
exchanged, which showed the boys were not quite sure it was a rocker,
after all. Suddenly Sandytop, who had been leaning against the
door-frame, and, looking in the direction of Buffle's old cabin,
ejaculated:

"'_Tis_ a rocker, boys--it's a rocker, but--but not that kind."

The boys poured out the door, and saw an unusual procession approaching
Mrs. Berryn's cabin; first came Uppercrust, the young ex-doctor, then an
Irishwoman from a neighboring settlement, and then Muggy, bearing a
baby's cradle, neatly made of pine boards. The doctor and woman went in,
and Muggy, dropping the cradle, ran at full speed to the saloon, and up
to the bar, the crowd following.