reason why.

"I replied that one reason was that I did not very often drink, and
another was that I never drank on compulsion.

"He was frantic in a moment, and suddenly drew his revolver. I caught the
barrel and turned it up just as he fired, then took it from him, handed
it to one of the boys, and told him to keep it until Turner had time to
reflect on what a fool he was making of himself.

"He was only the more furious at that. He sprang backward two or three
feet, then drawing a huge knife made with it a savage lunge at me. I
seized his wrist, and after a brief struggle wrenched the knife from his
hand, but still holding his wrist told him that unless he grew quiet I
should have to box his ears.

"The boys laughed and jeered at this, which only further incensed the
ungovernable brute, and he declared that he would give $100 for the
chance to whip me in a fair fist fight.

"At this I released his wrist and told him he should be accommodated. The
boys gathered in a ring around us. Turner came at me like a wild beast,
but he had no scientific use of his hands and I had had a little
practice.

"I knocked aside his blow with my left, and with the open palm of my
right hand gave him a sounding box on his left ear.

"The cowboys yelled with delight at this, crying, 'Turner, did you hear
that?'