everybody but him, and they was sure buffaloed!"

"Yes," I said, "I know they were."

"You! How did you know anything about it?"

"Oh, I was there that night. I passed through on the train, and Separ
and Deming were the worst scared towns I ever saw."

Texas Bill chuckled, pleased at this verification of his story, and
went on:

"Then you know what I 'm tellin' you is sure true! I thought mebbe
you-all mightn't believe it, a-tall, for it sure don't look reasonable
that folks could get so buffaloed over a durn fool tenderfoot's yarn.
They looked at me with mighty big eyes when I rode into Separ.

"'Why,' says they, 'how did you-all get out alive? We sure thought you
was dead!'

"'Well,' says I, 'as far as I know, I 'm sure alive; and I don't know
as I 've been into anything to get out of a-tall.'

"'Why,' says they, 'Pard Huff--'

"'Oh,' says I, 'damn Pard Huff! He 's a tenderfoot and afraid of his
shadder! He dreamed about Apaches and jumped up with a yell and lit
out for God's sake. We tried to call him back, and he thought it was
the Apaches after him. I reckon he 's scared you-all half to death
with his yarn. You 're as bad as tenderfeet yourselves!'