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boardinghouse trade！〃 says Tusky。 So far things wasn't so bad。 We
had a good grubstake。 Tusky and me used to feed them chickens twict a
day； and then used to set around watchin' the playful critters chase
grasshoppers up an' down the wire corrals； while Tusky figgered out
what'd happen if somebody was dumfool enough to gather up somethin'
and fix it in baskets or wagons or such。 That was where we showed our
ignorance of chickens。 One day in the spring I hitched up； rustled a
dozen of the youngsters into coops； and druv over to the railroad to make
our first sale。 I couldn't fold them chickens up into them coops at first；
but then I stuck the coops up on aidge and they worked all right； though I
will admit they was a comical sight。 At the railroad one of them towerist
trains had just slowed down to a halt as I come up； and the towerist was
paradin' up and down allowin' they was particular enjoyin' of the warm
Californy sunshine。 One old terrapin； with grey chin whiskers； projected
over； with his wife； and took a peek through the slats of my coop。 He
straightened up like someone had touched him off with a red…hot poker。
〃Stranger；〃 said he； in a scared kind of whisper； 〃what's them？〃
〃Them's chickens；〃 says I。 He took another long look。
〃Marthy；〃 says he to the old woman； 〃this will be about all！ We come out
from Ioway to see the Wonders of Californy； but I can't go nothin' stronger
than this。 If these is chickens； I don't want to see no Big Trees。〃
Well； I sold them chickens all right for a dollar and two bits； which was
better than I expected； and got an order for more。 About ten days later I
got a letter from the commission house。 〃We are returnin' a sample of
your Arts and Crafts chickens with the lovin' marks of the teeth still onto
him；〃 says they。 〃Don't send any more till they stops pursuin' of the
nimble grasshopper。 Dentist bill will foller。〃
With the letter came the remains of one of the chickens。 Tusky and I；
very indignant； cooked her for supper。 She was tough； all right。 We
thought she might do better biled； so we put her in the pot over night。
Nary bit。 Well； then we got interested。 Tusky kep' the fire goin' and I
rustled greasewood。 We cooked her three days and three nights。 At the
end of that time she was sort of pale and frazzled； but still givin' points to
three…year…old jerky on cohesion and other uncompromisin' forces of
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Nature。 We buried her then； and went out back to recuperate。 There
we could gaze on the smilin' landscape； dotted by about four hundred
long…laigged chickens swoopin' here and there after grasshoppers。
〃We got to stop that；〃 says I。 〃We can't；〃 murmured Tusky； inspired。
〃We can't。 It's born in 'em； it's a primal instinct； like the love of a mother
for her young； and it can't be eradicated！ Them chickens is constructed
by a divine providence for the express purpose of chasin' grasshoppers；
jest as the beaver is made for buildin' dams； and the cow…puncher is made
for whisky and faro…games。 We can't keep 'em from it。 If we was to
shut 'em in a dark cellar； they'd flop after imaginary grasshoppers in their
dreams； and die emaciated in the midst of plenty。 Jimmy； we're up agin
the Cosmos； the oversoul〃 Oh； he had the medicine tongue； Tusky had；
and risin' on the wings of eloquence that way； he had me faded in ten
minutes。 In fifteen I was wedded solid to the notion that the bottom had
dropped out of the chicken business。 I think now that if we'd shut them
hens up； we might havestill； I don't know； they was a good deal in what
Tusky said。
〃Tuscarora Maxillary；〃 says I； 〃did you ever stop to entertain that
beautiful thought that if all the dumfoolishness possessed now by the
human race could be gathered together； and lined up alongside of us； the
first feller to come along would say to it 'Why； hello； Solomon！'〃 We
quit the notion of chickens for profit right then and there； but we couldn't
quit the place。 We hadn't much money； for one thing； and then we； kind
of liked loafin' around and raisin' a little garden truck； andoh； well； I
might as well say so； we had a notion about placers in the dry wash back
of the house you know how it is。 So we stayed on； and kept a…raisin'
these long…laigs for the fun of it。 I used to like to watch 'em projectin'
around； and I fed 'em twict a day about as usual。 So Tusky and I
lived alone there together； happy as ducks in Arizona。 About onc't in a
month somebody'd pike along the road。 She wasn't much of a road；
generally more chuckholes than bumps； though sometimes it was the other
way around。 Unless it happened to be a man horseback or maybe a
freighter without the fear of God in his soul； we didn't have no words with
them； they was too busy cussin' the highways and generally too mad for
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social discourses。 One day early in the year； when the 'dobe mud
made ruts to add to the bumps； one of these automobeels went past。 It
was the first Tusky and me had seen in them parts； so we run out to view
her。 Owin' to the high spots on the road； she looked like one of these
movin' picters； as to blur and wobble； sounded like a cyclone mingled with
cuss…words； and smelt like hell on housecleanin' day。 〃Which them
folks don't seem to be enjoyin' of the scenery；〃 says I to Tusky。 〃Do you
reckon that there blue trail is smoke from the machine or remarks from the
inhabitants thereof？〃
Tusky raised his head and sniffed long and inquirin'。
〃It's langwidge；〃 says he。 〃Did you ever stop to think that all the words
in the dictionary stretched end to end would reach〃
But at that minute I catched sight of somethin' brass lyin'