since I know no sort of way to pay it. But if this man's anything
like Joe, it may be just the same if I give it to HIM. Now--"

"He's nothing like Richards," said the other. "He's a taller and
better-looking man."

"If he's nothing like Joe, what do you want to lick him for?" said
the single-minded musician, with a surprise in his manner, which
was mingled with something like rebuke.

"I have expressed no such wish, Ned; you are too hasty; and if
I did wish to whip him, I don't think I should trouble you or any
man to help me. If I could not do it myself, I should give it up
as a bad job, without calling in assistants."

"Oh, you're a spunky follow--a real colt for hard riding," retorted
the other with a good-natured mock in his tones and looks; "but if
you don't want to lick the fellow, how comes it you dislike him?
It seems to me if a chap behaved so as to make me dislike him, it
wouldn't be an easy matter to keep my hands off him. I'd teach him
how to put me into a bad humor, or I'd never touch violin again."

"This man's a parson, I believe."

"A parson--that's a difficulty. It is not altogether right to lick
parsons, because they're not counted fighting people. But there's
a mighty many on 'em that licking would help. No wonder you dislike
the fellow, though if he comes with John Cross, he shouldn't
be altogether so bad. Now, John Cross IS a good man. He's good,
and he's good-humored. He don't try to set people's teeth on edge