An Encounter

           ItwasJoeDillonwhointroducedtheWildWesttous.HehadalittlelibrarymadeupofoldnumbersofTheUnionJack,PluckandTheHalfpennyMarvel.EveryeveningafterschoolwemetinhisbackgardenandarrangedIndianbattles.HeandhisfatyoungbrotherLeo,theidler,heldtheloftofthestablewhilewetriedtocarryitbystorm;orwefoughtapitchedbattleonthegrass.But,howeverwellwefought,weneverwonsiegeorbattleandallourboutsendedwithJoeDillon’swardanceofvictory.Hisparentswenttoeight-o’clockmasseverymorninginGardinerStreetandthepeacefulodourofMrs.Dillonwasprevalentinthehallofthehouse.Butheplayedtoofiercelyforuswhowereyoungerandmoretimid.HelookedlikesomekindofanIndianwhenhecaperedroundthegarden,anoldtea-cosyonhishead,beatingatinwithhisfistandyelling:

           “Ya!yaka,yaka,yaka!”

           Everyonewasincredulouswhenitwasreportedthathehadavocationforthepriesthood.Neverthelessitwastrue.

           Aspiritofunrulinessdiffuseditselfamongusand,underitsinfluence,differencesofcultureandconstitutionwerewaived.Webandedourselvestogether,someboldly,someinjestandsomealmostinfear:andofthenumberoftheselatter,thereluctantIndianswhowereafraidtoseemstudiousorlackinginrobustness,Iwasone.TheadventuresrelatedintheliteratureoftheWildWestwereremotefrommynaturebut,atleast,theyopeneddoorsofescape.