Having been especially warned never to go there, Johnny as a matter of course was perfectly familiar with it.

But what was the incomprehensible stranger doing there?
Was he brought by Uncle Ben with a view of paralyzing both of the combatants with the spectacle of his perfections?
Was he a youthful sheriff, a young judge, or maybe the son of the Governor of California?
Or was it that Uncle Ben was "silly" and didn't know the locality?
Here was an opportunity for him, Johnny, to introduce himself, and explain and even magnify the danger, with perhaps a slight allusion to his own fearless familiarity with it.

Unfortunately, as he was making up his small mind behind a tree, the paragon turned and with the easy disdain that so well became him, said: "Well, I wouldn't offer a dollar an acre for the whole ranch.

But if YOU choose to give a fancy price--that's your lookout." To Johnny's already prejudiced mind, Uncle Ben received this just contempt submissively, as he ought, but nevertheless he muttered something "silly" in reply, which Johnny was really too disgusted to listen to.

Ought he not to step forward and inform the paragon that he was wasting his time on a man who couldn't even spell "ba-ker," and who was taught his letters by his, Johnny's, brother?
The paragon continued: "And of course you know that merely your buying the title to the land don't give you possession.