CHAPTER VIII.
INJUN TALKS That night, in the bunk house, Bill Jordan was holding forth to a select few--Jim Walker, Charlie Bassett, Buck Higgins, and Shorty Palmer; all old friends and true, who could dispute and quarrel with one another without the serious results that would have attended such action on the part of strangers.
"Talkin' 'bout Injuns," said Bill, "all I don't know 'bout 'em you c'd write on a hummin'-bird's finger-nail." "Hummin'-birds don't have no finger-nails," corrected Shorty Palmer.
"Sure they don't," allowed Bill.

"But you c'd write it on one if they did." "They has claws," persisted Shorty.

"B'sides, no hummin'-bird ain't goin' t' stay still long enough for you to write on his claw." "I know that, too," said Bill.

"That thing I was sayin' is what's called a figger o' speech.

Same as 'independent as a hog on ice,' or 'dead as a door nail.' Ev'body knows them things ain't independent or dead.