"Not all owing to that, chippy," interposed "General" Nix, as he had
immediately been christened by the miners--"not all owing to that.
Thar's them gol danged copper-colored guests uv ther government--they're
kickin' up three pints uv the'r rumpus, more or less--consider'bly less
of more than more o' less. Take a passel uv them barbarities an' shet
'em up inter a prison for three or thirteen yeers, an' ye'd see w'at
an impression et'd make, now. Thar'd be siveral less massycrees a week,
an' ye wouldn't see a rufyan onc't a month. W'y, gentlefellows, thar'd
nevyar been a ruffian, ef et hedn't been fer ther cussed Injun tribe--not
_one!_ Ther infarnal critters ar' ther instignators uv more deviltry
nor a cat wi' nine tails."

"Yes, we will admit that the reds are not of saintly origin," said
Fearless Frank, with a quiet smile. "In fact I know of several who are
far from being angels, myself. There is old Sitting Bull, for
instance, and Lone Lion, Rain-in-the-Face, and Horse-with-the-Red-Eye,
and so forth, and so forth!"

"Exactly. Every one o' 'em's a danged descendant o' ther old Satan,
hisself."

[Illustration: Ha! ha! ha! isn't that rich, now? Ha! ha! ha! arrest
Deadwood Dick if you can!]

"Layin' aside ther Injun subjeck," said Charity Joe, forking into the
roasted venison, "I move thet we take up a silent debate on ther
pecooliarities uv a deer's hind legs; so heer goes!"

He cut out a huge slice with his bowie, sprinkled it over with salt,
and began to devour it by very large mouthfuls. All hands proceeded to