“That’s fine. If they fight among themselves, they won’t have time to start trouble with us. Climb right up the ladder, Ike. I’ll tell you when to come down, but it won’t be until the next act.”
I started to climb up the ladder, when all at once I seen the rear end of an old red steer below me. The lower part of my chimbley is fixed up like a stall, and they’ve got a mean lookin’ old steer, with jist his head showin’. The rear end is in the clear, but his head is locked tight. On the other side of the scene is that danged whisker eatin’ camel, also caught by the head. They’ve got lanterns to light this scene. I’m pretty sore and stiff, but I climbs up my ladder and sets down on the edge of my chimbley. Anyway, I’m too high up for anybody to bother me, which ain’t such a bad position, but I didn’t realize that I stuck up above the top of the curtain.
Out in front, they’re still quarrelin’, but I ain’t interested. I’ve made up my mind to buy Dog Rib a drink for hittin’ Tombstone Todd. That old steer kinda starts weavin’ back and forth, tryin’ to git his head out, and I’m doin’ a balancin’ act on the top of that chimbley.
“You better calm that cow down there,” says I. “I’m no damn’ canary.”
“So-o-o-o, boss,” says Magpie. “Somebody git behind that damn’ steer with a hunk of two-by-four, will you? Go out and explain this part of the show to them ignorant sheepherders, will you, Testament. They won’t know what it’s all about, unless you diagram it for ’em.”
“Go ahead with your prep’rations,” says Dugout Dulin. “I’ll calm this steer. Whoa, you bald-faced hunk of rawhide. Stop weavin’ or I’ll knock your rear end out of line with your ears. How’re you comin’, Ike?”
“Feet first, if I have m’ choice,” says I, hangin’ on tight.
Testament Tilton’s voice comes to my ears, and he’s shore exortin’ somethin’ about somebody bein’ born in a manger, and the wise men bringin’ gifts.
“That part of it’s all right,” says Mrs. Todd, “but that don’t help Tombstone none. He’s done recited all his mul-pi-cation tables, and that damn’ Dog Rib Davidson done stole over half of his tickets. Ain’t there no law in this place? I’ve been a lady all through these proceeding, but I’m shore goin’ to forget m’ bringin’ up. Git up, honey, and poke him in the nose.”