Heart of the West [Annotated] by O. Henry
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page 1 of 195 (00%)
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"I'm on there," drawled the Kid; "I mind that bridge gang in the
reader. Me, I go instructed for the other chap--Spurious Somebody [51]--the one that fought and pulled his freight, to fight 'em on some other day." [FOOTNOTE 51: Spurius Lartius was one of Horatius' two companions defending the Sublician Bridge. O. Henry exaggerates the time devoted to study of the classics in the curriculum for Ranger training.] "Anyway," summed up Broncho, "Bob's about the gamest man I ever see along the Rio Bravo [52]. Great Sam Houston! If she gets any hotter she'll sizzle!" Broncho whacked at a scorpion with his four-pound Stetson felt, and the three watchers relapsed into comfortless silence. [FOOTNOTE 52: Rio Bravo--Rio Grande. In Mexico the Rio Grande is often called the Rio Bravo or the Rio Bravo del Norte.] How well Bob Buckley had kept his secret, since these men, for two years his side comrades in countless border raids and dangers, thus spake of him, not knowing that he was the most arrant physical coward in all that Rio Bravo country! Neither his friends nor his enemies had suspected him of aught else than the finest courage. It was purely a physical cowardice, and only by an extreme, grim effort of will had he forced his craven body to do the bravest deeds. Scourging himself always, as a monk whips his besetting sin, Buckley threw himself with apparent recklessness into every danger, with the hope of some day ridding himself of the despised affliction. But each successive test brought no relief, and the ranger's face, by nature adapted |
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