that when the man at the window at last continued his conversation
meditatively, with his face towards it, he seemed to be taking all
Nature into his confidence.

"The worst thing about it is, that the only way we can keep her out of
the settlement is by the same illegal methods which we deplore in other
camps. We have always boasted that Buckeye could get along without
Vigilance Committees or Regulators."

"Yes, and that was because we started it on the principle of original
selection, which we are only proposing to continue," replied one of
the men on the counter. "So there's nothing wrong about our sending a
deputation to wait upon her, to protest against her settling here, and
give her our reasons."

"Yes, only it has all the impudence without the pluck of the Regulators.
You demand what you are afraid to enforce. Come, Parks, you know she has
all the rights on her side. Look at it squarely. She proposes to open
a store and sell liquor and cigars, which she serves herself, in the
broken-down tienda which was regularly given to her people by the
Spanish grantee of the land we're squatting on. It's not her fault but
ours if we've adopted a line of rules, which don't agree with hers, to
govern the settlers on HER land, nor should she be compelled to follow
them. Nor because we justify OUR squatting here, on the ground that the
Spanish grant isn't confirmed yet, can we forbid her squatting under the
same right."

"But look at the moral question, Brace. Consider the example; the
influence of such a shop, kept by such a woman, on the community! We
have the right to protect ourselves--the majority."