第43章

"'This yere Wolfville,' explains Dave, 'is too small for all that name.Archibald Willingham De Graffenreid Butt! It shorely sounds like a hoss in a dance hall.But it's too long for Wolfville, an'

Wolfville even do her best.One end of that name is bound to protrood.Or else it gets all brunkled up like along nigger in a short bed.However,' goes on Dave, as he notes the shorthorn lookin'

a little dizzy, 'don't lose heart.We does the best we can.I likes your looks, an' shall come somewhat to your rescoo myse'f in your present troubles.Gents,' an' Dave turns to where Boggs an' Cherokee an' Texas Thompson is listenin', 'I moves you we suspends the rooles, an' re-names this excellent an' well-meanin' maverick, "Butcherknife Bill."'

"'I seconds the motion,' says Boggs.'Butcherknife Bill is a neat an' compact name.I congratulates our visitin' friend from the East on the case wherewith he wins it out.I would only make one su'gestion, the same bein' in the nacher of amendments to the orig'nal resolootion, an' which is, that in all games of short kyards, or at sech times as we-all issues invitations to drink, or at any other epock when time should be saved an' quick action is desir'ble, said cognomen may legally be redooced, to "Butch."'

"'Thar bein' no objections,' says Tutt, 'it is regyarded as the sense of the meetin' that this yere visitin' sharp from the States, yeretofore clogged in his flight by the name of Archibald Willingham De Graffenreid Butt, be yereafter known as "Butcherknife Bill"; or failin' leesure for the full name, as "Butch," or both at the discretion of the co't, with the drinks on Butch as the gent now profitin' by this play.Barkeep, set up all your bottles an' c'llect from Butch.'

"But to go back to my long ago camp on the Caliente.Prince Hal is a polished an' p'lite sort o' anamile.The second day after I pitches camp, Prince Hal shows up.He paws the grass, an' declar's himse'f, an' gives notice that while I'm plumb welcome, he wants it onderstood that he's party of the first part in that valley, an'

aims to so continyoo.As I at once agrees to his claims, he is pacified; then he counts up the camp like he's sizin' up the plunder.It's at this point I signs Prince Hal as my friend for life by givin' him about a foot of bacon-skin.He stands an' chews on that bacon-skin for two hours; an' thar's heaven in his looks."It gets so Prince Hal puts in all his spar' time at my camp.An' Idonates flapjacks, bacon-skins an' food comforts yeretofore onknown to Prince Hal.He regyards that camp of mine as openin' a new era on the Caliente.

"When not otherwise engaged, Prince Hal stands in to curry my ponies with his tongue.The one he'd be workin' on would plant himse'f rigid, with y'ears drooped, eyes shet, an' tail a-quiverin'; an'

you-all could see that Prince Hal, with his rough tongue, is jest burnin' up that bronco from foretop to fetlocks with the joy of them attentions.When Prince Hal has been speshul friendly, I'd pass him out a plug of Climax tobacco.Sick? Never once! It merely elevates Prince Hal's sperits in a mellow way, that tobacco does; makes him feel vivid an' gala a whole lot.

"Which we're all gettin' on as pleasant an' oneventful as a litter of pups over on the Caliente, when one mornin' across the divide from Red River comes this yere pugnacious person, Hotspur.He makes his advent r'arin' an' slidin' down the hillside into our valley, promulgatin' insults, an' stampin' for war.You can see it in Hotspur's eye; he's out to own the Caliente.

"Prince Hal is curryin' a pony when this yere invader comes crashin'

down the sides of the divide.His eyes burn red, he evolves his warcry in a deep bass voice, an' goes curvin' out onto the level of the valley-bottom to meet the enemy.Gin'ral Jackson, couldn't have displayed more promptitood.

"Thar ain't much action in one of them cattle battles.First, Hotspur an' Prince Hal stalks 'round, pawin' up a sod now an' then, an' sw'arin' a gale of oaths to themse'fs.It looks like Prince Hal could say the most bitter things, for at last Hotspur leaves off his pawin' ail' profanity an' b'ars down on him.The two puts their fore'ards together an' goes in for a pushin' match.

"But this don't last.Hotspur is two years older, an' over-weighs Prince Hal about three hundred pounds.Prince Hal feels Hotspur out, an' sees that by the time the deal goes to the turn, he'll be shore loser.A plan comes into his mind.Prince Hal suddenly backs away, an' keeps on backin' ontil he's cl'ared himse'f from his foe by eighty feet.Hotspur stands watchin'; it's a new wrinkle in bull fights to him.He call tell that this yere Prince Hal ain't conquered none, both by the voylent remarks he makes as well as the plumb defiant way he wears his tail.So Hotspur stands an' ponders the play, guessin' at what's likely to break loose next.