Then a blizzard that lasted five days came ripping down over that desolation, and everybody stuck close to shelter, and amused themselves as they could.  The cowboys played cards most of the time—­seven-up, or pitch, or poker; they didn’t ask me to take a hand, though; I fancy they were under the impression that I didn’t know how to play.

I never was much for reading; it’s too slow and tame.  I’d much rather get out and live the story I like best.  And there was nothing to read, anyway.  I went rummaging in my trunks, and in the bottom of one I came across a punching-bag and a set of gloves.  Right there I took off my hat to Rankin, and begged his pardon for the unflattering names he’d been in the habit of hearing from me.  I carried the things down and put up the bag in an empty room at one end of the bunk-house, and got busy.

Frosty Miller came first to see what was up, and I got him to put on the gloves for awhile; he knew something of the manly art, I discovered, and we went at it fast and furious.  I think I broke up a game in the next room.  The boys came to the door, one by one, and stood watching, until we had the full dozen for audience.  Before any one realized what was happening, we were playing together real pretty, with the chilly shoulder barred and the social ice gone the way of a dew-drop in the sun.

We boxed and wrestled, with much scientific discussion of “full Nelsons” and the like, and even fenced with sticks.  I had them going there, and could teach them things; and they were the willingest pupils a man ever had—­docile and filled with a deep respect for their teacher who knew all there was to know—­or, if he didn’t, he never let on.  Before night we had smashed three window-panes, trimmed several faces down considerably, and got pretty well acquainted.  I found out that they weren’t so far behind the old gang at home for wanting all there is in the way of fun, and I believe they discovered that I was harmless.  Before that storm let up they were dealing cards to me, and allowing me to get rid of the rest of the forty dollars Rankin had overlooked.  I got some of it back.

I went down and bunked with them, because they had a stove and I didn’t, and it was more sociable; Perry Potter and the cook were welcome to the house, I told them, except at meal-times.  And, more than all the rest, I could keep out of range of Perry Potter’s eyes.  I never could get used to that watch-Willie-grow way he had, or rid myself of the notion that he was sending dad a daily report of my behavior.

The next thing, when the weather quit sifting snow and turned on the balmy breezes and the sunshine, I was down in the corrals in my chaps and spurs, learning things about horses that I never suspected before.  When I did something unusually foolish, the boys were good enough to remember my boxing and fencing and such little accomplishments, and did not withdraw their favor; so I went on, butting into every new game that came up, and taking all bets regardless, and actually began to wise up a little and to forget a few of my grievances.