"My name is James Tooly. My partners here, are two brothers, named Hawes. And now, if that Englishman, or any one among you, says I was with the Indians who killed his wife, I will shoot him who says it, right here before you all."
This was said with much vehemence, and punctuated with many oaths.
Van Diveer's advantage was slight, but sufficient
Mr. Drennan, of our combined company, replied:
"If you want to talk like that, go where the man is. We don't want that kind of language used here, in the presence of our women and children."
Tooly, standing erect, high in his stirrups, drew a large pistol from its holster and swung it above his head.
"I will say what I please, where I please; and I don't care who likes it," roared Tooly, waving his pistol in air.
W. J. Van Diveer, a young man of the Drennan company, who had been sitting on a wagon-tongue near the speaker, leaped to his feet, with a pistol leveled at the big horseman's head, and with a manner that left no doubt that he meant what he said, shouted:
"I'll be damned if you can do that here. Now, you put down your gun, and go."