It happened to be a thieving one on
the Zavala ranche, so I let Zavala know, and then rode on to tell
Granger he'd better send a few boys to keep them red-handed Comanche
from picking and stealing and murdering."
"It was just like you. You probably saved many lives."
"Saving life is often saving souls, John. Next time I go that way
every man at Zavala's ranche and every man in Granger's camp will
listen to me. I shall then have a greater danger than red men to tell
them of. But they know both my rifle and my words are true, and when
I say to them, 'Boys, there's hell and heaven right in your path, and
your next step may plunge you into the fiery gulf, or open to you the
golden gates,' they'll listen to me, and they'll believe me. John,
it takes a soldier to preach to soldiers, and a saved sinner to know
how to save other sinners."
"And if report is not unjust," said Richard, "you will find plenty
of great sinners in such circuits as you take."
"Sir, you'll find sinners, great sinners, everywhere. I acknowledge
that Texas has been made a kind of receptacle for men too wicked to
live among their fellows. I often come upon these wild, carrion
jail-birds. I know them a hundred yards off. It is a great thing,
every way, that they come here. God be thanked! Texas has nothing to
fear from them.
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