"Mineola," he said, "Wood County." The surly herder spoke up.
"These d—d sand-lappers (east-Texans) are getting too thick out here."
McDonald set down his coffee.
"The d—d skunks and prairie dogs are already too thick," he said.
An instant later the puncher had out his pistol, but the sand-lapper was still quicker. The puncher was covered before he could bring his weapon to bear. McDonald said:
"Turn it loose! Drop it!"
INTRODUCING REFORM IN THE WILDERNESS.
"He was disarmed with amazing suddenness."
The herder still clutched the weapon which he was afraid to raise. The sand-lapper stepped nearer to him, and with a sudden movement rapped him smartly on the head with the heavy barrel of his six-shooter. It was a thing that as a deputy he had done often, and it was always effective. The puncher dropped his gun. One of his comrades sprang to his assistance, but was covered and disarmed with amazing suddenness. The foreman interfered, now, and the beginner of the disturbance was led away to a brook to have his head bathed and bandaged; whereupon the sand-lapper quietly finished his dinner, thanked his host, continued the search for his missing stock, and when he had found them, set out for home. Meeting a group of punchers among which was his surly friend with a now bandaged head, he expected further trouble. Nothing happened. The sand-lapper and his missing cows had the right of way.