“It’s the varmint,” said one in awed tones, “that flits up and down in the low grounds at night, saying, ‘Willie-wallo!’”

“It’s the venomous Kypootum,” proclaimed another.  “It stings after it’s dead, and hollers after it’s buried.”

“It’s the chief of the hairy tribe,” said Phonograph Davis.  “But it’s stone dead, now, boys.”

“Don’t you believe it,” demurred Dry-Creek.  “It’s only ‘possumin’.’  It’s the dreaded Highgollacum fantod from the forest.  There’s only one way to destroy its life.”

He led forward Old Taller, the 240-pound cow-puncher.  Old Taller placed the hat upright on the ground and solemnly sat upon it, crushing it as flat as a pancake.

Hackett had viewed these proceedings with wide-open eyes.  Sam Holly saw that his anger was rising and said to him: 

“Here’s where you win or lose, Judge.  There are sixty votes on the Diamond Cross.  The boys are trying your mettle.  Take it as a joke, and I don’t think you’ll regret it.”  And Hackett saw the point and rose to the occasion.

Advancing to where the slayers of the wild beast were standing above its remains and declaring it to be at last defunct, he said, with deep earnestness: 

“Boys, I must thank you for this gallant rescue.  While driving through the arroyo that cruel monster that you have so fearlessly and repeatedly slaughtered sprang upon us from the tree tops.  To you I shall consider that I owe my life, and also, I hope, reelection to the office for which I am again a candidate.  Allow me to hand you my card.”

The cow-punchers, always so sober-faced while engaged in their monkey-shines, relaxed into a grin of approval.

But Phonograph Davis, his appetite for fun not yet appeased, had something more up his sleeve.

“Pardner,” he said, addressing Hackett with grave severity, “many a camp would be down on you for turnin’ loose a pernicious varmint like that in it; but, bein’ as we all escaped without loss of life, we’ll overlook it.  You can play square with us if you’ll do it.”

“How’s that?” asked Hackett suspiciously.

“You’re authorized to perform the sacred rights and lefts of mattermony, air you not?”

“Well, yes,” replied Hackett.  “A marriage ceremony conducted by me would be legal.”

“A wrong air to be righted in this here camp,” said Phonography, virtuously.  “A a-ristocrat have slighted a ’umble but beautchoos female wat’s pinin’ for his affections.  It’s the jooty of the camp to drag forth the haughty descendant of a hundred—­or maybe a hundred and twenty-five—­earls, even so at the p’int of a lariat, and jine him to the weepin’ lady.  Fellows! roundup Miss Sally and the Marquis; there’s goin’ to be a weddin’.”

This whim of Phonograph’s was received with whoops of appreciation.  The cow-punchers started to apprehend the principals of the proposed ceremony.

“Kindly prompt me,” said Hackett, wiping his forehead, though the night was cool, “how far this thing is to be carried.  And might I expect any further portions of my raiment to be mistaken for wild animals and killed?”