“I am told,” said Beidler, “that you have come here to kill me.” “I kill you!” said Hynson, in well-affected surprise. “Yes, you,” said Beidler, dropping the hand he held, “and if you wish to try it, you’ll never have a better chance. If that’s what you want, you can’t pull your pistol too quick.” Hynson glared at the little, athletic man who confronted him so boldly, and saw in those burning eyes and that steady muscle not the smallest trace of fear. Seizing Beidler again by the hand, he said in hurried tones, “X., I did make a fool of myself when drunk in camp with the boys, in some remarks relating to you, but I didn’t mean it. I don’t want to hurt you, and never did. Now, let’s be friends.” Beidler, who had no other feeling than contempt for the bragging poltroon, listened in silence. “I want you,” said Hynson, “to aid me in getting the position of night-watchman in this city.” X. replied to this request in general terms, and, turning on his heel, left Hynson, who afterwards, by some means which X. could not fathom, received the appointment he desired. Before leaving Benton, X. received a letter from Silver Bow requesting him to watch for and arrest a person who had stolen a lot of nuggets and jewelry, and gone from that place to Benton. Called suddenly away by more important business, X. instructed Hynson with this service, who caught the thief and recovered the property, which he appropriated to his own use, pawning the jewelry for a sum of money, which was soon squandered. When X. returned, Hynson, with much difficulty, redeemed most of the jewelry, which Beidler returned to the owner.