“Do you think so?” said Franklin calmly, pulling up his shoulders and feeling no alarm.

“Shorely I do,” said the other; “I reckon I kin lick you, er beat you shootin’, er throw you down.”

“Friend,” said Franklin judicially, “I have a good many doubts about your being able to do all that.  But before we take it up any further I would like to ask you something.”

“Well, whut?”

“I’d just like to ask you what makes you tell me that, when I’m a perfect stranger to you, and when perhaps you may never see me again?”

“Well, now,” said the cowboy, pushing back his hat and scratching his head thoughtfully, “blame if I know why, but I just ’lowed I could, sorter.  An’ I kin!”

“But why?”

“Say, you’re the d——­dest feller I ever did see.  You got to have a reason fer everything on earth?” His tone became more truculent.  “First place, ’f I didn’t have no other reason, I kin lick ary man on earth that walks.”

“Friend,” said Franklin, “get down off that horse, and I’ll give you a little wrestle to see who rides.  What’s your name, anyhow?”

“Whoa!” said the other.  “Name’s Curly.”  He was on the ground as he said this last, and throwing the bridle over the horse’s head.  The animal stood as though anchored.  Curly cast his hat upon the ground and trod upon it in a sort of ecstasy of combat.  He rushed at Franklin without argument or premeditation.

The latter had not attended country school for nothing.  Stepping lightly aside, he caught his ready opponent as he passed, and, with one arm about his neck, gave him a specimen of the “hip-lock” which sent him in the air over his own shoulder.  The cowboy came down much in a heap, but presently sat up, his hair somewhat rumpled and sandy.  He rubbed his head and made sundry exclamations of surprise.  “Huh!” said he.  “Well, I’m d——­d!  Now, how you s’pose that happened?  You kain’t do that again,” he said to Franklin, finally.

“Shouldn’t wonder if I could,” said Franklin, laughing.

“Look out fer me—­I’m a-comin’!” cried Curly.

They met more fairly this time, and Franklin found that he had an antagonist of little skill in the game of wrestling, but of a surprising wiry, bodily strength.  Time and again the cowboy writhed away from the hold, and came back again with the light of battle in his eye.  It was only after several moments that he succumbed, this time to the insidious “grapevine.”  He fell so sharply that Franklin had difficulty in breaking free in order not to fall upon him.  The cowboy lay prone for a moment, then got up and dusted off his hat.

“Mount, friend,” said he, throwing the bridle back over the horse’s neck without other word.  “You done it fair!”

“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said Franklin, extending his hand.  “We’ll just both walk along together a way, if you don’t mind.  I’ll get me a horse pretty soon.  You see, I’m a new man here—­just got in this morning, and I haven’t had time to look around much yet.  I thought I’d go out and meet my friend, and perhaps then we could talk over such things together.”