But it
all closes up on a play with nothin' gay nor merry in it; leastwise
not for Jaybird Bob.
"This yere finish joke of jaybird's transpires one evenin' as the
cook's startin' in to rustle some chuck. The grub-wagon's been
stopped in the mouth of Peeled Pine Canyon. Every gent's in camp but
this yere tenderfoot Todd. Enright, who's actin' as round-up boss
for the outfit--for everybody's cattle's bein' worked together that
a-way, like we allers does--has sent Todd peerin' 'round for cattle,
'way off up the valley into which the Peeled Pine Canyon opens. This
yere shorthorn's due to be back any time now, 'cause it's only a
question of how far up the valley does he go. He don't run no show
to be lost, for nothin' less aerial than goats could climb out of
the canyon he's in, an' tharfore he's bound to find camp.
"Of course, knowin' every gent's station in the day's ridin', we-
alls is plenty aware that this tenderfoot Todd is some'ers above us
in the valley. None of the rest of us is turnin' our minds to him
probably, except Jaybird Bob. It all of a bump like a buckin' pony
strikes Jaybird that he's missin' a onusual chance to be buoyant.
"'What for a play would it be,' says Jaybird, rousin' up from where
he lays watchin' of the cook slice salt hoss for the fryin'-pan,
'what for a game would it be, I says, for a passel of us to lay out
up the draw, an' bush-whack this yere ontaught person Todd as he
comes ridin' down to camp? We-alls could hop out at him, a-whoopin'
an' shoutin', an' bein' wropped up in blankets, he allows it's shore
Injuns an' goes plumb locoed.
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238