Page:Life Amongst the Modocs.djvu/146



camp, and it is likewise true that the Howlin Wil derness called out, " Oh, what a hat! Set em up! Chuck em in the gutter! Saw my leg off!" and so on, as the Judge passed that way the morning after his arrival. But shrewd men at once took his measure ; saw that he was a harmless little egotist, and in their hearts took his part in the hat question, and set him up as a sort of wooden idol of the camp.

It is not best to always seem too strong in the presence of strong, good men. Man likes to pet and patronize his fellow when he is weak. A strong man will throw his arms around a helpless man and protect him. Strength challenges strength. The combat of bulls on the plain ! Possibly man inclines to uphold the weak because there is no suggestion of rivalry, but I do not think that. Here is room for thought.

u It s all right, boys," said six-foot Sandy, as he stood at the bar of the Howlin Wilderness, and held out his glass for a little peppermint : "It s all right, I tell you ! He shall run a hat as tall as Shasta if he likes, and let me set eyes on the shyster that interferes. It s a poor camp that can t afford one gentleman, anyhow." And here he hitched up his duck breeches, threw the gin and peppermint down his throat, and wiping his hairy mouth on his red sleeve, turned to the crowd, ready to " chaw up and spit out," as he called it, the first man who raised a voice against the Judge and his beaver hat in all The