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t　they're　through　with　you；　you　won't　cut　any　more　figure　than　a　last　year's　bird's　nest。　They'll　throw　you　aside　like　an　old　boot；　and　you'll　fall　so　hard　that　you'll　hear　the　clock　tick　in　China。　Now；　Archie；　it　hurts　me　to　see　a　young　fellow　like　you　go　wrong；　and　I'm　willing　to　forgive　the　past　and　stretch　out　a　hand　to　save　you。　If　you'll　quit　those　people；　you　can　have　Flood's　cattle　from　here　to　the　Rosebud　Agency；　or　I'll　buy　you　a　ticket　home　and　you　can　help　with　the　fall　work　at　the　ranch。　You　may　have　a　day　or　two　to　think　this　matter　over；　and　whatever　you　decide　on　will　be　final。　You　have　shown　little　gratitude　for　the　opportunities　that　I've　given　you；　but　we'll　break　the　old　slate　and　start　all　over　with　a　new　one。　Now；　that's　all　I　wanted　to　say　to　you；　except　to　do　your　own　thinking。　If　you're　going　back　to　town；　I'll　ride　a　short　distance　with　you。〃

The　two　rode　away　together；　but　halted　within　sight　for　a　short　conference；　after　which　Lovell　returned。　The　cattle　were　being　drifted　east　by　the　deputies　and　several　of　our　boys；　the　trail　boss　having　called　off　his　men　on　an　agreement　of　the　count。　The　herd　had　tallied　out　thirty…six　hundred　and　ten　head；　but　in　making　out　the　receipt；　the　fact　was　developed　that　there　were　some　six　hundred　beeves　not　in　the　regular　road　brand。　These　had　been　purchased　extra　from　another　source；　and　had　been　paid　for　in　full　by　the　buyers；　the　seller　of　the　main　herd　agreeing　to　deliver　them　along　with　his　own。　This　was　fortunate；　as　it　increased　the　equity　of　the　buyers　in　the　cattle；　and　more　than　established　a　sufficient　interest　to　satisfy　the　judgment　and　all　expenses。

Darkness　was　approaching；　which　hastened　our　actions。　Two　men　from　each　outflt　present　were　detailed　to　hold　the　cattle　that　night；　and　were　sent　on　ahead　to　Priest's　camp　to　secure　their　suppers　and　a　change　of　mounts。　The　deposed　trail　boss　accepted　an　invitation　to　accompany　us　and　spend　the　night　at　one　of　our　wagons；　and　we　rode　away　to　overtake　the　drifting　herd。　The　different　outfits　one　by　one　dropped　out　and　rode　for　their　camps；　but　as　mine　lay　east　and　across　the　river；　the　course　of　the　herd　was　carrying　me　home。　After　passing　The　Rebel's　wagon　fully　a　half　mile；　we　rounded　in　the　herd；　which　soon　lay　down　to　rest　on　the　bedground。　In　the　gathering　twilight；　the　camp…fires　of　nearly　a　dozen　trail　wagons　were　gleaming　up　and　down　the　river；　and　while　we　speculated　with　Sponsilier's　boys　which　one　was　ours；　the　guard　arrived　and　took　the　bedded　herd。　The　two　old　cowmen　and　the　trail　boss　had　dropped　out　opposite　my　brother's　camp；　leaving　something　like　ten　men　with　the　attached　beeves；　but　on　being　relieved　by　the　first　watch；　Flood　invited　Sheriff　Phillips　and　his　deputies　across　the　river　to　spend　the　night　with　him。

〃Like　to；　mighty　well；　but　can't　do　it；〃　replied　Phillips。　〃The　sheriff's　office　is　supposed　to　be　in　town；　and　not　over　on　the　North　Fork；　but　I'll　leave　two　of　these　deputies　with　you。　Some　of　you　had　better　ride　in　to…morrow；　for　there　may　be　overtures　made　looking　towards　a　settlement；　and　treat　those　beeves　well；　so　that　there　can　be　no　charge　of　damage　to　the　cattle。　Good…night；　everybody。〃



CHAPTER　XV。　TOLLESTON　BUTTS　IN

Morning　dawned　on　a　scene　of　pastoral　grandeur。　The　valley　of　the　North　Platte　was　dotted　with　cattle　from　hill　and　plain。　The　river；　well　confined　within　its　low　banks；　divided　an　unsurveyed　domain　of　green…swarded　meadows　like　a　boundary　line　between　vast　pastures。　The　exodus　of　cattle　from　Texas　to　the　new　Northwest　was　nearing　flood…tide；　and　from　every　swell　and　knoll　the　solitary　figure　of　the　herdsman　greeted　the　rising　sun。

Sponsilier　and　I　had　agreed　to　rejoin　our　own　outfits　at　the　first　opportunity。　We　might　have　exchanged　places　the　evening　before；　but　I　had　a　horse　and　some　ammunition　at　Dave's　camp　and　was　just　contentious　enough　not　to　give　up　a　single　animal　from　my　own　mount。　On　the　other　hand；　Mr。　Dave　Sponsilier　would　have　traded　whole　remudas　with　me；　but　my　love　for　a　good　horse　was　strong；　and　Fort　Buford　was　many　a　weary　mile　distant。　Hence　there　was　no　surprise　shown　as　Sponsilier　rode　up　to　his　own　wagon　that　morning　in　time　for　breakfast。　We　were　good　friends　when　personal　advantages　did　not　conflict；　and　where　our　employer's　interests　were　at　stake　we　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder　like　comrades。　Yet　Dave　gave　me　a　big　jolly　about　being　daffy　over　my　horses；　well　knowing　that　there　is　an　indescribable　nearness　between　one　of　our　craft　and　his　own　mount。　But　warding　off　his　raillery；　just　the　same　and　in　due　time；　I　cantered　away　on　my　own　horse。

As　I　rode　up　the　North　Fork　towards　my　outfit；　the　attached　herd　was　in　plain　view　across　the　river。　Arriving　at　my　own　wagon；　I　saw　a　mute　appeal　in　every　face　for　permission　to　go　to　town；　and　consent　was　readily　granted　to　all　who　had　not　been　excused　on　a　similar　errand　the　day　before。　The　cook　and　horse…wrangler　were　included；　and　the　activities　of　the　outfit　in　saddling　and　getting　away　were　suggestive　of　a　prairie　fire　or　a　stampede。　I　accompanied　them　across　the　river；　and　then　turned　upstream　to　my　brother's　camp；　promising　to　join　them　later　and　make　a　full　day　of　it。　At　Bob's　wagon　they　had　stretched　a　fly；　and　in　its　shade　lounged　half　a　dozen　men；　while　an　air　of　languid　indolence　pervaded　the　camp。　Without　dismounting；　I　announced　myself　as　on　the　way　to　town；　and　invited　any　one　who　wished　to　accompany　me。　Lovell　and　Reed　both　declined；　half　of　Bob's　men　had　been　excused　and　started　an　hour　before；　but　my　brother　assured　me　that　if　I　would　wait　until　the　deposed　foreman　returned；　the　latter's　company　could　be　counted　on。　I　waited；　and　in　the　course　of　half　an　hour　the　trail　boss　came　back　from　his　cattle。　During　the　interim；　the　two　old　cowmen　reviewed　Grant's　siege　of　Vicksburg；　both　having　been　participants；　but　on　opposite　sides。　While　the　guest　was　shifting　his　saddle　to　a　loaned　horse；　I　inquired　if　there　was　anything　that　I　could　attend　to　for　any　one　at　Ogalalla。　Lovell　could　think　of　nothing；　but　as　we　mounted　to　start；　Reed　aroused　himself；　and　coming　over；　rested　the　stub　of　his　armless　sleeve　on　my　horse's　neck；　saying：

〃You　boys　might　drop　into　the　sheriff's　office　as　you　go　in　and　also　again　as　you　are　starting　back。　Report　the　cattle　as　having　spent　a　quiet　night　and　ask　Phillips　if　he　has　any　word　for　me。〃

Turning　to　the　trail　boss　he　continued：　〃Young　man；　I　would　suggest　that　you　hunt　up　your　employer　and　have　him　stir　things　up。　The　cattle　will　be　well　taken　care　of；　but　we're　just　as　anxious　to　turn　them　back　to　you　as　you　are　to　receive　them。　Tell　the　seller　that　it　would　be　well　worth　his　while　to　see　Lovell　and　myself　before　going　any　farther。　We　can　put　him　in　possession　of　a　few　facts　that　may　save　him　time　and　trouble。　I　reckon　that's　about　all。　Oh；　yes；　I'll　be　at　this　wagon　all　evening。

My　brother　rode　a　short　distance　with　us　and　introduced　the　stranger　as　Hugh　Morris。　He　proved　a　sociable　fellow；　had　made　three　trips　up　the　trail　as　foreman；　his　first　two　herds　having　gone　to　the　Cherokee　Strip　under　contract。　By　the　time　we　reached　Ogalalla；　as　strong　a　fraternal　level　existed　between　us　as　though　we　had　known　each　other　for　years。　Halting　for　a　moment　at　the　sheriff's　office；　we　delivered　our　messages；　after　which　we　left　our　horses　at　the　same　corral　with　the　understanding　that　we　would　ride　back　together。　A　few　drinks　were　indulged　in　before　parting；　then　each　went　to　attend　to　his　own　errands；　but　we　met　frequently　during　the　day。　Once　my　boys　were　provided　with　funds；　they　fell　to　gambling　so　eagerly　that　they　required　no　further　thought　on　my　part　until　evening。　Several　times　during　the　day　I　caught　glimpses　of　Tolleston；　always　on　horseback；　and　once　surrounded　by　quite　a　cavalcade　of　horsemen。　Morris　and　I　took　dinner　at　the　hotel　where　the　trio　of　government　jobbers　were　stopping。　They　were　in　evidence；　and　amongst　the　jolliest　of　the　guests；　commanding　and　receiving　the　best　that　the　hostelry　afforded。　Sutton　was　likewise　present；　but　quiet　and　unpretentious；　and　I　thought　there　was　a　false；　affected　note　in　the　hilarity　of　the　ringsters；　and　for　effect。　I　was　known　to　two　of　the　trio；　but　managed　to　overhear　any　conversation　which　was　adrift。　After　dinner　and　over　fragrant　cigars；　they　reared　their　feet　high　on　an　outer　gallery；　and　the　inference　could　be　easily　drawn　that　a　contract；　unless　it　involved　millions；　was　beneath　their　notice。

Morris　informed　me　that　his　employer's　suspicions　were　aroused；　and　that　he　had　that　morning　demanded　a　settlement　in　full　or　the　immediate　release　of　the　herd。　They　had　laughed　the　matter　off　as　a　mere　incident　that　would　right　itself　at　the　proper　time；　and　flashed　as　references　a　list　of　congressmen；　senators；　and　bankers　galore。　But　Morris's　employer　had　stood　firm　in　his　contentions；　refusing　to　be　overawed　by　flattery　or　empty　promises。　What　would　be　the　result　remained　to　be　seen；　and　the　foreman　and　myself　wandered　aimlessly　around　town　during　the　afternoon；　meeting　other　trail　bosses；　nearly　all　of　whom　had　heard　more　or　less　about　the　existing　trouble。　That　we　had　the　sympathy　of　the　cattle　interests　on　our　side　goes　without　saying；　and　one　of　them；　known　as　〃the　kidgloved　foreman；〃　a　man　in　the　employ　of　Shanghai　Pierce；　invoked　the　powers　above　to　witness　what　would　happen　if　he　were　in　Lovell's　boots。　This　was　my　first　meeting　with　the　picturesque　trail　boss；　though　I　had　heard　of　him　often　and　found　him　a　trifle　boastful　but　not　a　bad　fellow。　He　distinguished　himself　from　others　of　his　station　on　the　trail　by　always　wearing　white　shirts；　kid　gloves；　riding…boots；　inlaid　spurs；　while　a　heavy　silver　chain　was　wound　several　times　round　a　costly　sombrero　in　lieu　of　a　hatband。　We　spent　an　hour　or　more　together；　drinking　sparingly；　and　at　parting　he　begged　that　I　would　assure　my　employer　that　he　sympathized　with　him　and　was　at　his　command。

The　afternoon　was　waning　when　I　hunted　up　my　outfit　and　started　them　for　camp。　With　one　or　two　exceptions；　the　boys　were　broke　and　perfectly　willing　to　go。　Morris　and　I　joined　them　at　the　livery　where　they　had　left　their　horses；　and　together　we　started　out　of　town。　Ordering　the　in　to　ride　on　to　camp；　and　saying　that　I　expected　to　return　by