“‘Which I claims that this Bowlaigs b’ar,’ says Peets, combatin’ a suggestion of Dan Boggs who’s sympathisin’ with an’ urges that Bowlaigs is ‘ignorant of law an’ tharfore innocent of offence,’ ’which I claims that this Bowlaig b’ar is guilty of rustlin’ the mails an’ must an’ should be hanged.  His ignorance is no defences, for don’t each gent present know of that aphorism of the law, Ignoratis legia non excusat!’

“Dan, nacherally, is enable to combat sech profound bluffs as this, an’ I’m free to confess if it ain’t for Colonel Sterett buttin’ in with more Latin, the same bein’ of equal cogency with that of Peet’s, the footure would have turned plenty dark an’ doobious for Bowlaigs.  As Dan sinks back speechless an’ played from Peet’s shot, the Colonel, who bein’ eddicated like Peets to a feather aige is ondismayed an’ cool, comes to the rescoo.

“‘That law proverb you quotes, Doc,’ says the Colonel, ’is dead c’rrect, an’ if argyment was to pitch its last camp thar, your deductions that this benighted Bowlaigs must swing, would be ondeniable.  But thar’s a element lackin’ in this affair without which no offence is feasible.  The question is,—­an’ I slams it at you, Doc, as a thoughtful eddicated sharp—­does this yere Bowlaigs open them letters an’ bust into that mail bag causa lucrae?  I puts this query up to you-all, Doc, for answer.  It’s obv’ous that Bowlaigs ain’t got no notion of money bein’ in them missives an’ tharfore he couldn’t have been moved by no thoughts of gain.  Wherefore I asserts that the deed is not done causa lucrae, an’ that the case ag’in this he’pless Bowlaigs falls to the ground.’

“Followin’ this yere collision of the classics between two sech scientists as Peets an’ the Colonel, we-all can be considered as hangin’ mighty anxious on what reply Doc Peets is goin’ to make.  But after some thought, Peets agrees with the Colonel.  He admits that this causa lucrae is a bet he overlooks, an’ that now the Colonel draws his attention to it, he’s bound to say he believes the Colonel to be right, an’ that Bowlaigs should be made a free onfettered b’ar ag’in.  We breathes easier at this, for the tension has been great, an’ Dan himse’f is that relieved he comes a heap clost to sheddin’ tears.  The trial closes with the customary drinks; Bowlaigs gettin’ his forty drops with the rest, on the hocks of which he signalises his reestoration to his rights an’ freedom as a citizen by quilin’ up in his corner an’ goin’ to sleep.

“But the end is on its lowerin’ way for Bowlaigs.  Thar’s a senile party who’s packed his blankets into camp an’ who’s called ‘Major Ben.’  The Major, so the whisper goes, used to be quartermaster over to Fort Craig or Fort Apache, or mebby now it’s Fort Cummings or some’ers; an’ he gets himse’f dismissed for makin’ away with the bank-roll.  Be that as it may, the Major’s plenty drunk an’ military while he lasts among us; an’ he likewise has dinero for whatever nosepaint an’ food an’ farobank he sees fit to go ag’inst.  From the jump the Major makes up to Bowlaigs an’ the two become pards.  The Major allows he likes Bowlaigs because he can’t talk.