Big Jack Small [pp. 446-463]

BIG y7A CK SMALL.
quarter-way down from the top; then in which he had faint hopes of success.
bring the ends together on the side o' He swung the whip round his head,
the box. Sabe?" bringing the heavy lash with a rake like
"I hope I do, Mr. Small." that of a dull rasp across his own neck,
"Then take five yoke o' cattle an' an- and shouted at the cattle. Slowly they
other chain-an extry chain, more'n tightened the chains, and then stood in
what would do to hitch up fer common the pulling attitude, but pulling not one
with-drive the cattle roun' to the other pound more than just enough to stretch
side o' the wagon, an' p'int'em straight the chains.
across from the road; hitch that extry Oxen which will pull true enough in
chain into the chain on the wagons, the beaten track have doubts about pullthen hitch the cattle's chain to that ex- ing across country through the brush.
try chain. Sabe?" "Getup! Gee!" shouted the Reverend
"I think I do, Mr. Small." Mr. Sighal at the top of his voice, and
"When yergit that done, holler to me. trying in vain to jerk an explosion out
Don't hurry. Work right ahead as of the great whip, as he had seen Mr.
though thar wasn't nothin' wrong." Small do. "Get up! Gee! Go'long!"
The parson conscientiously, yet with And then, seeing himself unsuccessful,
much misgiving, went about his task, and becoming heated with the exertion,
and when he had all ready, and the cat- he added, by way of terror to the cattle,
tle strung out at right angles with the "Confound you! Get up!" Still the
road, he stepped up to the prostrate wagon - box lay flat on the top of Mr.
wagon, and, turning as one who listens Small.
down a well, he shouted: Hearing a continued rattling of chains,
"Mr. Small!" and much shouting with no apparent re "Hullo-o!' sult, Mr. Small called:
"I believe I have done as you told "Hullo! Parson!"
me." "Sir."
"Got everything hitched strong?- "What's the matter?"
don't want no slips in this game, yer "The cattle can't draw it, Mr. Small,"
know!-'cause ef this wagon-box slides replied the parson sadly.
much, you'll have a mighty flat corpse "Can't draw it, be d d! Go fer
to preach a funeral on!"'em with the brad, an' cuss'em! They
"0 dear! dear! Mr. Small!" ex- kin pull it easy enough."
claimed the parson, vexed and horrified. "Curse them, Mr. Small!' cried the
"'What next shall I do?" parson, in a voice of impressive solem "Give Gov a strong bar'l, ef yer kin nity.
git one, or git a big stone ef yer can't git "Yes, cuss'em!" shouted Mr. Small.
no bar'l, an' place it to the edge o' the "I wish I was out there, d n'em!"
wagon-box, so'at he kin put it under "Mr. Small, don't swear needlessly.
when the cattle lift it. Sabe?" This is an occasion of life and death,"
"Yes, sir... All done, Mr. Small." said the parson, desisting from his ef "Now then, start up the cattle, an' forts at urging the cattle, whereat he had
keep'em to it when they start. An' grown hot and red, excited and vexed.
Gov, you look out an' heap fix up." "Well, well! never don't fret, Parson!
"Yash, me sabe," said the Indian, Better men than me ha' died in a bettaking his position, while Mr. Sighal ter cause. Write a note an' send it
gathered to himself the terrible whip, down to camp by the Injin-the boys'll
and proceeded to try his powers in a role come up an' git me out, alive or dead."
462
[MAY,