When a collision was impending, and must have come the next second, the singular looking man, grasping his revolver, raised his hand above his head and called:
His commanding voice and manner hushed every one. From his place at the rear, he spurred his mule straight toward the three men standing on the ground.
"Keep off!" commanded the parson; "if you come any nearer I'll shoot!"
The extraordinary looking individual gave him no heed, but forced his mule in front of Captain Dawson, upon whom he kept his eyes riveted.
"Don't fire till I give the word," commanded the captain, who had become suddenly interested in the tall, slim man.
Halting his mule directly before Dawson, and with no more than a couple of yards separating them, the stranger craned his head forward until his chin was almost between the long ears of his animal. He seemed to be trying to look the officer through, while every other man watched the curious proceeding.
Suddenly the fellow resumed his upright posture in the saddle, his manner showing that he had solved the problem that perplexed him. Through his thin, scattered beard, he was seen to be smiling.
"Formerly captain of the Iowa ---- cavalry?"
The officer thus appealed to took a single step forward, and looked searchingly in the face of the man that had thus addressed him.
"There is something familiar in your looks and voice, but I am unable to place you."
"Did you ever hear of Corporal Bob Parker of the ---- Missouri?"
"Yes; you are he! I recognize you now! I am glad to greet you."
And shoving his Winchester under the stump of his arm, Captain Dawson extended his hand to his old comrade and shook it warmly, the two seeming to forget the presence of every one else.
"Something in your face struck me," said the corporal, "but I wasn't sure. The last time I saw you, you had both arms."
"Yes; I got rid of this one at the very close of the war."
"Things were pretty well mixed up around Petersburg; I tried to get on your track, but failed; I knew you meant to come to California, and when we drifted here, I was hopeful of finding you, but I didn't think it would be in this style."
While speaking the corporal had retained the hand of the captain, shaking it occasionally as he spoke. He now gave it a final pressure and dropped it.