“I say it are a lie, fer Buffalo Bill hev done more fer this town than any other man, an’ thar ain’t no one in trouble as he don’t help out, while he sometimes are on hand ter clean out them as come heur fer a fight. I wants ter be friendly with yer, stranger pard, but don’t yer say nothin’ agin’ Buffalo Bill, fer he are my friend.” “Well, I don’t wish trouble with you, or any other man in Border City, for we came here to have a good time, and are not quarrelsome. We’ll spend our money free, and do the square thing all around; but I have met Buffalo Bill, and I owe him a grudge I hope one day to settle.” “Pard, yer talks squar’; but onless yer keeps yer tongue atween yer teeth, ther fust thing yer know, up will go yer toes to ther moonlight, an’ Buffalo Bill will be payin’ ther expenses o’ buryin’ yer.” “I do not fear him!” It was evident that the potations he had indulged in were making Captain Corduroy very reckless of consequences. “I don’t say yer is skeert; but onless yer wants deadly trouble, don’t say nothin’ as will bring yer ter drawin’ agin’ Buffalo Bill.” Having given this advice to Captain Corduroy, Old Negotiate called for drinks, and when they had been disposed of, he slipped out of the crowd. Going to Buffalo Bill’s room he failed to find him, and then he strolled down to the store where the scout always traded. There he found him laying in a supply of provisions for a trip, and also filling his cartridge boxes with ammunition. “Waal, Bill, yer is fixin’ fer ther trail, it seems?” he said. “Yes, for I start soon.” “Bill, I’d oughter let yer go without tellin’ yer suthin’; but somehow I cannot.” “What is it, Negotiate?” “Waal, fust and foremost, there are five galoots in ther hotel who says that they have come down from Calamity City ter hev a good time.” “Well, can’t they be accommodated here?” “Yas, fer as fer thet, their graveyard are not full, an’ there are room fer more.” “Ah! They want a row?” “Thet seems ter be thar way o’ thinkin’, Bill.” “Well, you keep out of it, Negotiate. There are five of them, you say, and you are too good a man to be killed.” “Bill, I is jist a leetle afeared thet it are a better man than I be they is lookin’ fer.” “Who?” “You!” “No!” “I means it.” “Who are they?” “Ther cap’n calls hisself Cap’n Corduroy, an’ ther handles o’ ther others I didn’t fasten ter.” “I know no such man, at least by that name.” “Names is slip’ry out heur, Bill.” “Yes, but what makes you think they want a row with me?” “I was interdooced to ther cap’n, who interducted me to his pards, and he told me he had a grudge agin’ you, an’ calt you a desperado.” “Well, I am often called pet names, Negotiate.” “Yas, and thar are many who holds ill feelin’ agin’ yer, too; but I thinks these fellers mean biz.” “We can soon find out,” said the scout calmly.