One day in the old days of the American west, a small man suddenly ran into a
hotel. It was full of men, drinking and talking. The small man was very
frightened.#
"Big John's coming," he shouted. "Run for your lives!"#
Immediately every man put down his drink and ran out of the hotel. The
bartender hid under the bar.#
Everyone had heard of Big John and was afraid of him. It was not long before
the door of the hotel opened and a huge man walked in. He was taller and
fatter than two men together and he had two guns on his hips. He had hands the
size of shovels, a thick, black beard and evil-looking eyes.#
He stood by the door and looked around the room, then slowly he walked towards
the bar.#
"Thump! Thump!" went the sound of his feet on the floor. The bartender heard
him coming and began to shake. The man reached the bar. He leaned over it and
looked down at the shaking bartender. He took a deep breath. The bartender was
sure his last hour had come.#
Then the man spoke in a deep, loud voice that made the whole room shake.#
"You'd better get out of here," he said. "Big John's coming."&