The giant, drew the back of his hand across his mouth as though it was watering for the whiskey, but after a slight urging, the second time he suffered Charley to conduct him to the corner of the saloon, where Fred, Smith, and myself were standing, receiving congratulations from all who wanted a drink of liquor free of cost.
"This is the chap, Ben," Charley said, nodding towards Fred, and that was all the introduction which was deemed necessary.
"I am happy to know you," said "Fred, grasping n hand that was about the size of a shoulder of mutton, and twice as hard and nubby.
"You did putty well with Burley, and I am glad of it," Ben replied, shutting his fist and compressing Fred's bind for what he intended as a gentle squeeze—but I could see by my friend's face that he would be very glad when it was relinquished.
"A fine shot you made of it, sir," Ben said, not noticing that he had inflicted a large amount of pain.
"Is the poor fellow badly hurt?" asked Fred.
"Well, he's got an ugly hole in him, and it's hard hunting—the sawbones will have to find the lead."
"I hope that, he will live," repeated Fred. "I did not seek his life, and I should be sorry to think that an act of mine sent him from the world with all his sins unrepented of."
"Never you mind about that," replied Ben. "If a feller wants to take your heart out, you've got the right to say to that feller, you don't come it; and if the feller still persists, you is bound to act on the defensive, and either lick him or kill him, I don't care which. I jinerally lick 'em."
As I glanced at the sturdy limbs of the giant miner I thought that he would be apt to meet but few men who would not prefer the shooting to the licking.