Each
man would purchase his own Winchester, pistol, billy, badge and a
whistle--to call for help--and they would begin drilling and
target-shooting at once. The Hon. Sam shook his head dubiously:
"The natives won't understand."
"We can't help that," said Hale.
"I know--I'm with you."
Hale was made captain, Logan first lieutenant, Macfarlan second,
and the Hon. Sam third. Two rules, Logan, who, too, knew the
mountaineer well, suggested as inflexible. One was never to draw a
pistol at all unless necessary, never to pretend to draw as a
threat or to intimidate, and never to draw unless one meant to
shoot, if need be.
"And the other," added Logan, "always go in force to make an
arrest--never alone unless necessary." The Hon. Sam moved his head
up and down in hearty approval.
"Why is that?" asked Hale.
"To save bloodshed," he said. "These fellows we will have to deal
with have a pride that is morbid. A mountaineer doesn't like to go
home and have to say that one man put him in the calaboose--but he
doesn't mind telling that it took several to arrest him. Moreover,
he will give in to two or three men, when he would look on the
coming of one man as a personal issue and to be met as such.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109