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 His own country was Alabama.

"If I wahn't married and cussed with a family I would put the saddle on that wuthless pinto and ride Home to die, suh," was Bill's remark when he was "thataway." "Give me Alabama's flowery meads and niggers, or give me death, as the Constitution of the United States says."

His family was one daughter, and if he was "cussed" with her, there were many young men who would have thought themselves blessed if Amanda Higginson had so much as smiled on them. She was plump and fair, and very engaging, and called her mother "Maw" and her father "Paw," as they do in the Southern States. And girls were scarce around Double Mountain, while at that time cowboys were plentiful; for Texas was not yet fenced in, and sheep were not ousting cattle.

When Old Bill was happy he said "Amandy" was the apple of his eye. He said she was the finest girl between the 49th Parallel and the Mexican border. She was going to marry a rich man, said Bill. When any cowboy