Hollister was a saturnine chap, who wore a heavy Colt with seven notches in the handle, each notch meant for some beggar he had been forced to perforate in the course of his strenuous career. He was accounted one of the most fearless and able marshals in Texas. One morning he visited the Flying Star, apparently looking for a man he wanted for a certain episode in horses. He swaggered about the decks with his Colt in full view, and caused so much interest that he impeded the work.
Johnny spoke softly to him—he always had a soft way of speaking—and told him he must get ashore. The marshal turned and gazed at the little "squarehead" in disdain; but Captain Johnny, who was sitting on his hatch-combing, looked up with gentle gray eyes and pointed to the jetty.
"You get avay—get oudt wid you, my friend. I don't got no time fer wastin' wid circus-actor mens wid funny fringes and artillery dragging mid dere waist belts—git!"
And as the marshal didn't move, Johnny shied a coiled line at him, hitting him somewhat violently in the body.
Instantly Hollister drew his Colt.
"You blamed little shrimp! if you do that again I'll plug you," he said quietly, wiping the fish scales and salt water from his clothes. "Don't make any mistake; I'm not your friend."
Captain Johnny was especially blue and sad that morning, so he gazed at the marshal, while his hand reached for a heavy sinker.
"If you ain't my friend, fire away not; if you are mine friend, you shoot me, for I'm tired enough wid dis business, an' I don't vant do be livin' always, forever, yet. Shoot, mein dear friend, shoot—or if not mine friend, den take dis!"
And he tossed the pound lead with such precision that it stretched Hollister flat upon the deck before he could take good aim to do more than rip the collar off Johnny's coat with his fire. When he came to, Johnny was bathing his head where the sinker had cut him, and pouring good whisky down his throat.
"You are mine friend—but a poor shot—take another drink with me, and den go. Here's your blunderbust—you interrupts de vork on de deck—git oudt!"