emptied it into the hat.

Bags came out of pockets all around, and were either entirely emptied,
or had their contents largely diminished by knife-blades, which scooped
out the precious dust, and dropped it into the hat.

"There," said Buffle, looking into the hat, "I reckon that'll kerry 'em
back to their folks."

For a fortnight the saloon was as quiet as a well-ordered
prayer-meeting, and it was solemnly decided that no fight with pistols
should take place nearer than The Bend, which was, at least, a mile from
where the new resident's cradle was located.

One pleasant, quiet evening, Buffle, who frequently passed an hour with
Berryn on the latter's woodpile, was seen approaching the saloon with a
very small bundle, which, nevertheless, occupied both his arms and all
his attention.

"It, by thunder," said one. So it was; a wee, pink-faced, blue-eyed,
fuzzy-topped little thing, with one hand frantically clutching three
hairs of Buflle's beard.

"See the little thing pull," said one.

"Is that all the nose they hev at fust?" asked another, seriously.

"Can't yer take them pipes out uv yer mouths when the baby's aroun'?"
indignantly demanded another.