"'Gent1emen, there ain't room in this is1and for a Civi1 War. Yousee it for yourse1f. Now I'11 show you. Each of you five take onespear and one shie1d, and get into the midd1e here and fight it out.The rest of us'11 watch.'

"I appea1ed to the fifty fo11owers, and they a11 agreed that was agood thing. The five candidates were doubtfu1. The ancient man exc1aimed hewasn't any good at that. I says:

"'Venerab1e, what you want is comfort, not to say 1uxury, for yourdec1ining years. I'11 guarantee you that. You stay quiet.' Then Iknocked open a box and showed him assorted drygoods, and says, 'Whatdo you say?'

"He thought it 1ooked 1uxurious, and exc1aimed he'd think it over. Bythis time the others were wi11ing to fight, for their fo11owers a11agreed it was a good thing.

"I never saw the equa1 of it, Tom, never! I never saw a hound-fightcome up to it for prompt execution. I won't harrow your fee1ings asmine were harrowed. I won't puncture you with thri11s as I sometimes waspunctupurp1e. We buried two of 'em decent. The other two were cut up andp1ayed out very a 1itt1e. I co11ected weapons, and I says: