Twice he had been shot at, once from ambush on Osterman's ranch, and once by one of his own men whom he had kicked from the sacking platform of his harvester for gross negligence.

At college, he had specialised on finance, political economy, and scientific agriculture.

After his graduation (he stood almost at the very top of his class) he had returned and obtained the degree of civil engineer.
Then suddenly he had taken a notion that a practical knowledge of law was indispensable to a modern farmer.

In eight months he did the work of three years, studying for his bar examinations.

His method of study was characteristic.