VI
It is sometimes taught that men do the furious and desperate thing from an emotion that is as even and placid as the thoughts of a village clergyman on Sunday afternoon. Usually, however, it is to be believed that a panther is at the time born in the heart, and that the subject does not resemble a man picking mulberries.
"B' G——!" said Bill, speaking as from a throat filled with dust, "I'll go after 'em in a minute."
"Don't you budge an inch!" cried the stranger, sternly. "Don't you budge!"
"Well," said Bill, glaring at the bushes—"well—"
"Put your head down!" suddenly screamed the stranger, in white alarm. As the guns roared, Bill uttered a loud grunt, and for a moment leaned panting on his elbow, while his arm shook like a twig. Then he upreared like a great and bloody spirit of
