第6部分(第5/7 頁)

etty　perplexed　at　this；　and　sought　explanation。　He　was　told　that　Mad　Martin　was　an　old　mountain　man　who　lived　up　in　the　hills　and　only　came　to　town　once　or　twice　a　year。　However；　Martin　was　the　most　dangerous　guy　they’d　ever　heard　of　and　few　had　ever　encountered　him　and　lived　to　tell　the　tale。　Fred　listened　carefully　and　then　promptly　forgot　all　about　it。

Until；　one　day　a　few　months　later；　a　cowboy　came　tiding　through　town　at　full　speed；　yelling；　“Martin’s　ing。　Head　for　the　hills！”　The　result　was　incredible。　Everybody　in　town　immediately　jumped　on　their　horses　and　took　off　for　the　hills　except　Fred。　He　wanted　to　see　this　guy　because　he　didn’t　believe　he　could　be　all　that　tough。　So；　Fred　just　put　the　bottle　of　Red　Eye　on　the　bar；　hid　behind　the　counter；　and　waited。

He　didn’t　wait　long。　Soon　there　was　a　noise　in　the　street。　As　Fred　looked　out　a　hole　in　the　wall；　he　saw　this　huge；　mean…looking　guy　ride　down　the　center　of　the　street　on　the　biggest　bull　buffalo　that　Fred　had　ever　seen。　The　guy　stopped　the　buffalo　in　front　of　the　bar；　jumped　off　the　beast；　punched　it　in　the　head　and　bellowed；　“Wait　here　till　I　get　back！”

The　fellow　turned　and　walked　up　the　steps。　Fred　saw　that　the　guy　had　a　pair　of　huge　mountain　lions　on　leashes。　He　tied　them　both　to　a　post　and　kicked　them　soundly；　hollefing；“You　pussycats　stay　here　till　I’m　done！”　The　cats　fearfully　sat　down。

Into　the　bar　stormed　the　fellow；　ripping　the　doors　off　the　wall　as　he　passed。　With　two　strides