Since Adam Cartwright had bought a new revolver he was aware concerning his younger brothers Hoss and Joe. From time to time they were in a teasing mood. Most of the time he was the victim but his revenge was always sweet.
So also that certain afternoon. Hoss and Joe had been in Virginia City for the groceries.
“Hoss, we buy some gum balls. We put those then into the new revolver of Adam”, said Joe.
Hoss began to laugh.
“That shall teach our brother not to show so much with his new toy”, was his answer.
Once at home they found the revolver but not the owner of it. Joe grabbed the weapon and got a gum ball from Hoss. They let the candy roll into the barrel until it got stuck.
“So, now we wait till sir notices it”, Joe laughed.
He put the weapon back where he had found it. The brothers went to play a game until their father Ben and brother came home again. But it went totally different as Hoss and Joe had thought and expected.
When the brothers were busy with the weapon of Adam they were being watched from the stairs. Through the banisters their six year old nephew Mitch saw what they were doing. The boy knew enough to warn his father. Silently he went upstairs and via his room and the back stairs Mitch came outside by the barn where his father was being busy.
“Daddy, your brothers are at it again”, said the boy.
“When not? What are they up to now?”, Adam asked worried.
“Something with your revolver. That new one”, replied Mitch.
Now Adam became even more worried than he already was. But that didn’t last very long.
“Kid, shall we go and have a drink?”, he asked cheerful.
Mitch noticed what was going on and nodded. They walked to the ranch house and went into the kitchen. Adam poured in 2 glasses of water and gave one to his son.
“Daddy, may I see that new revolver of yours?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course. Be careful with it though”, said Adam.
They walked through the living room to the cupboard where the revolvers were lying. Adam got the weapon and showed it to the boy.
“Wow! What a beautiful thing. Can you shoot well with it? I mean at your brothers”, Mitch said excited.
He gave the weapon back.
“I shall try it”, replied his father.
Adam pointed the weapon on his brothers and noticed that something was crossing it. He looked into the barrel and thought: ‘A gum ball??’ He already had a solution.
“Hoss and Joe, you surely don’t mind if I try out my new revolver on you so that Mitch can see the effect?”, asked Adam.
“Why? Do you want us to get out of the way so much?”, asked Hoss.
“We promise never to tease your son again”, said Joe.
Adam didn’t listen at fired at his brothers. The gum ball flew out of the barrel and hit both Hoss and Joe. Here after the candy ended up into the open fire where it burnt.
“It shoots great. Only a strange bullet came out of it”, said Adam.
“That is because 2 strange birds had put that bullet in it”, replied Mitch.
“That are those 2 uncles of yours. But they had got what they deserved. Are you coming for a ride?”, asked Adam.
Mitch nodded and cheerful they left the ranch house. Hoss and Joe had learned their lesson and stayed away from the things of their elder brother from that moment on.