Landor was recognized, a big broad-shouldered plainsman with a leathery
face as honest as the sun. He was known and liked by everybody, even by
those opposed to him.
"I'm going to make a speech," he announced with the broad smile that showed
a flash of white teeth. "I reckon it'll be the first I ever made here, and
I promise it will be the last, boys. But I won't keep you long, either. You
all know how things have been going; how men have been moving in and out
and buying men here like as if they were cattle on the hoof. You've seen
it, and I've seen it. But we didn't have the nerve to say it should stop.
One man did. He's the biggest man in this big State to-day, and it ain't
been five minutes since I heard you hollar your lungs out cursing him. You
know who I mean--Sam Yesler."
He waited till the renewed storm of cheers and hisses had died away.
"It don't do him any harm for you to hollar at him, boys--not a mite. I
want to say to you that he's a man. He saw our old friends falling by the
wayside and some of you poor weaklings selling yourselves for dollars.
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