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　we　started　out　of　town。　Ordering　the　in　to　ride　on　to　camp；　and　saying　that　I　expected　to　return　by　way　of　Bob　Quirk's　wagon；　Morris　and　myself　stopped　at　the　court…house。　Sheriff　Phillips　was　in　his　office　and　recognized　us　both　at　a　glance。　〃Well；　she's　working；〃　said　he；　〃and　I'll　probably　have　some　word　for　you　late　this　evening。　Yes；　one　of　the　local　attorneys　for　your　friends　came　in　and　we　figured　everything　up。　He　thought　that　if　this　office　would　throw　off　a　certain　per　cent。　of　its　expense；　and　Reed　would　knock　off　the　interest；　his　clients　would　consent　to　a　settlement。　I　told　him　to　go　right　back　and　tell　his　people　that　as　long　as　they　thought　that　way；　it　would　only　cost　them　one　hundred　and　forty　dollars　every　twenty…four　hours。　The　lawyer　was　back　within　twenty　minutes；　bringing　a　draft；　covering　every　item；　and　urged　me　to　have　it　accepted　by　wire。　The　bank　was　closed；　but　I　found　the　cashier　in　a　poker…game　and　played　his　hand　while　he　went　over　to　the　depot　and　sent　the　message。　The　operator　has　orders　to　send　a　duplicate　of　the　answer　to　this　office；　and　the　moment　I　get　it；　if　favorable；　I'll　send　a　deputy　with　the　news　over　to　the　North　Fork。　Tell　Reed　that　I　think　the　check's　all　right　this　time；　but　we'll　stand　pat　until　we　know　for　a　certainty。　We'll　get　an　answer　by　morning　sure。''

The　message　was　hailed　with　delight　at　Bob　Quirk's　wagon。　On　nearing　the　river；　Morris　rode　by　way　of　the　herd　to　ask　the　deputies　in　charge　to　turn　the　cattle　up　the　river　towards　his　camp。　Several　of　the　foreman's　men　were　waiting　at　my　brother's　wagon；　and　on　Morris's　return　he　ordered　his　outfit　to　meet　the　beeves　the　next　morning　and　be　in　readiness　to　receive　them　back。　Our　foremen　were　lying　around　temporary　headquarters；　and　as　we　were　starting　for　our　respective　camps　for　the　night；　Lovell　suggested　that　we　hold　our　outfits　all　ready　to　move　out　with　the　herds　on　an　hour's　notice。　Accordingly　the　next　morning；　I　refused　every　one　leave　of　absence；　and　gave　special　orders　to　the　cook　and　horse…wrangler　to　have　things　in　hand　to　start　on　an　emergency　order。　Jim　Flood　had　agreed　to　wait　for　me；　and　we　would　recross　the　river　together　and　hear　the　report　from　the　sheriff's　office。　Forrest　and　Sponsilier　rode　up　about　the　same　time　we　arrived　at　his　wagon；　and　all　four　of　us　set　out　for　headquarters　across　the　North　Fork。　The　sun　was　several　hours　high　when　we　reached　the　wagon；　and　learned　that　an　officer　had　arrived　during　the　night　with　a　favorable　answer；　that　the　cattle　had　been　turned　over　to　Morris　without　a　count；　and　that　the　deputies　had　started　for　town　at　daybreak。

〃Well；　boys；〃　said　Lovell；　as　we　came　in　after　picketing　our　horses；　〃Reed；　here；　wins　out；　but　we're　just　as　much　at　sea　as　ever。　I've　looked　the　situation　over　from　a　dozen　different　viewpoints；　and　the　only　thing　to　do　is　graze　across　country　and　tender　our　cattle　at　Fort　Buford。　It's　my　nature　to　look　on　the　bright　side　of　things；　and　yet　I'm　old　enough　to　know　that　justice；　in　a　world　so　full　of　injustice；　is　a　rarity。　By　allowing　the　earnest…money　paid　at　Dodge　to　apply；　some　kind　of　a　compromise　might　be　effected；　whereby　I　could　get　rid　of　two　of　these　herds；　with　three　hundred　saddle　horses　thrown　back　on　my　hands　at　the　Yellowstone　River。　I　might　dispose　of　the　third　herd　here　and　give　the　remuda　away；　but　at　a　total　loss　of　at　least　thirty　thousand　dollars　on　the　Buford　cattle。　But　then　there's　my　bond　to　The　Western　Supply　Company；　and　if　this　herd　of　Morris's　fails　to　respond　on　the　day　of　delivery；　I　know　who　will　have　to　make　good。　An　Indian　uprising；　or　the　enforcement　of　quarantine　against　Texas　fever；　or　any　one　of　a　dozen　things　might　tie　up　the　herd；　and　September　the　15th　come　and　go　and　no　beef　offered　on　the　contract。　I've　seen　outfits　start　out　and　never　get　through　with　the　chuck…wagon；　even。　Sutton's　advice　is　good；　we'll　tender　the　cattle。　There　is　a　chance　that　we'll　get　turned　down；　but　if　we　do；　I　have　enough　indemnity　money　in　my　possession　to　temper　the　wind　if　the　day　of　delivery　should　prove　a　chilly　one　to　us。　I　think　you　had　all　better　start　in　the　morning。〃

The　old　man's　review　of　the　situation　was　a　rational　one；　in　which　Jim　Reed　and　the　rest　of　us　concurred。　Several　of　the　foremen；　among　them　myself；　were　anxious　to　start　at　once；　but　Lovell　urged　that　we　kill　a　beef　before　starting　and　divide　it　up　among　the　six　outfits。　He　also　proposed　to　Flood　that　they　go　into　town　during　the　afternoon　and　freely　announce　our　departure　in　the　morning；　hoping　to　force　any　issue　that　might　be　smouldering　in　the　enemy's　camp。　The　outlook　for　an　early　departure　was　hailed　with　delight　by　the　older　foremen；　and　we　younger　and　more　impulsive　ones　yielded。　The　cook　had　orders　to　get　up　something　extra　for　dinner；　and　we　played　cards　and　otherwise　lounged　around　until　the　midday　meal　was　announced　as　ready。　A　horse　had　been　gotten　up　for　Lovdll　to　ride　and　was　on　picket；　all　the　relieved　men　from　the　attached　herd　were　at　Bob's　wagon　for　dinner；　and　jokes　and　jollity　graced　the　occasion。　But　near　the　middle　of　the　noon　repast；　some　one　sighted　a　mounted　man　coming　at　a　furious　pace　for　the　camp；　and　shortly　the　horseman　dashed　up　and　inquired　for　Lovell。　We　all　arose；　when　the　messenger　dismounted　and　handed　my　employer　a　letter。　Tearing　open　the　missive；　the　old　man　read　it　and　turned　ashy　pale。　The　message　was　from　Mike　Sutton；　stating　that　a　fourth　member　of　the　ring　had　arrived　during　the　forenoon；　accompanied　by　a　United　States　marshal　from　the　federal　court　at　Omaha；　that　the　officer　was　armed　with　an　order　of　injunctive　relief；　that　he　had　deputized　thirty　men　whom　Tolleston　had　gathered；　and　proposed　taking　possession　of　the　two　herds　in　question　that　afternoon。

〃Like　hell　they　will；〃　said　Don　Lovell；　as　he　started　for　his　horse。　His　action　was　followed　by　every　man　present；　including　the　one…armed　guest；　and　within　a　few　minutes　thirty　men　swung　into　saddles；　subject　to　orders。　The　camps　of　the　two　herds　at　issue　were　about　four　and　five　miles　down　and　across　the　river；　and　no　doubt　Tolleston　knew　of　their　location；　as　they　were　only　a　little　more　than　an　hour's　ride　from　Ogalalla。　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　and　as　we　hastily　gathered　around　the　old　man；　he　said：　〃Ride　for　your　outfits；　boys；　and　bring　along　every　man　you　can　spare。　We'll　meet　north　of　the　river　about　midway　between　Quince's　and　Tom's　camps。　Bring　all　the　cartridges　you　have；　and　don't　spare　your　horses　going　or　coming。〃

Priest's　wagon　was　almost　on　a　line　with　mine；　though　south　of　the　river。　Fortunately　I　was　mounted　on　one　of　the　best　horses　in　my　string；　and　having　the　farthest　to　go；　shook　the　kinks　out　of　him　as　old　Paul　and　myself　tore　down　the　mesa。　After　passing　The　Rebel's　camp；　I　held　my　course　as　long　as　the　footing　was　solid；　but　on　encountering　the　first　sand；　crossed　the　river　nearly　opposite　the　appointed　rendezvous。　The　North　Platte　was　fordable　at　any　point；　flowing　but　a　midsummer　stage　of　water；　with　numerous　wagon　crossings；　its　shallow　channel　being　about　one　hundred　yards　wide。　I　reined　in　my　horse　for　the　first　time　near　the　middle　of　the　stream；　as　the　water　reached　my　saddle…skirts；　when　I　came　out　on　the　other　side；　Priest　and　his　boys　were　not　a　mile　behind　me。　As　I　turned　down　the　river；　casting　a　backward　glance；　squads　of　horsemen　were　galloping　in　from　several　quarters　and　joining　a　larger　one　which　was　throwing　up　clouds　of　dust　like　a　column　of　cavalry。　In　making　a　cut…off　to　reach　my　camp；　I　crossed　a　sand　dune　from　which　I　sighted　the　marshal's　posse　less　than　two　miles　distant。　My　boys　were　gambling　among　themselves；　not　a　horse　under　saddle；　and　did　not　notice　my　approach　until　I　dashed　up。　Three　lads　were　on　herd；　but　the　rest；　including　the　wrangler；　ran　for　their　mounts　on　picket；　while　Parent　and　myself　ransacked　the　wagon　for　ammunition。　Fortunately　the　supply　of　the　latter　was　abundant；　and　while　saddles　were　being　cinched　on　horses；　the　cook　and　I　divided　the　ammunition　and　distributed　it　among　the　men。　The　few　minutes'　rest　refreshed　my　horse；　but　as　we　dashed　away；　the　boys　yelling　like　Comanches；　the　five…mile　ride　had　bested　him　and　he　fell　slightly　behind。　As　we　turned　into　the　open　valley；　it　was　a　question　if　we　or　the　marshal　would　reach　the　stream　first；　he　had　followed　an　old　wood　road　and　would　strike　the　river　nearly　opposite　Forrest's　camp。　The　horses　were　excited　and　straining　every　nerve；　and　as　we　neared　our　crowd　the　posse　halted　on　the　south　side　and　I　noticed　a　conveyance　among　them　in　which　were　seated　four　men。　There　was　a　moment's　consultation　held；　when　the　posse　entered　the　water　and　began　fording　the　stream；　the　vehicle　and　its　occupants　remaining　on　the　other　side。　We　had　halted　in　a　circle　about　fifty　yards　back　from　the　river…bank；　and　as　the　first　two　men　came　out　of　the　water；　Dou　Lovell　rode　forward　several　lengths　of　his　horse；　and　with　his　hand　motioned　to　them　to　halt。　The　leaders　stopped　within　easy　speaking　distance；　the　remainder　of　the　posse　halting　in　groups　at　their　rear；　when　Lovell　demanded　the　meaning　of　this　demonstration。

An　inquiry　and　answer　followed　identifying　the　speakers。　〃In　pursuance　of　an　order　from　the　federal　court　of　this　jurisdiction；〃　continued　the　marshal；　〃I　am　vested　with　authority　to　take　into　my　custody　two　herds；　numbering　nearly　seven　thousand　beeves；　now　in　your　possession；　and　recently　sold　to　Field；　Radcliff　&　Co。　for　government　purposes。　I　propose　to　execute　my　orders　peaceably；　and　any　interference　on　your　part　will　put　you　and　your　men　in　contempt　of　government　authority。　If　resistance　is　offered；　I　can；　if　necessary；　have　a　company　of　United　States　cavalry　here　from　Fort　Logan　within　forty…eight　hours　to　enforce　the　mandates　of　the　federal　court。　Now　my　advice　to　you　would　be　to　turn　these　cattle　over　without　further　controversy。〃

〃And　my　advice　to　you；〃　replied　Lovell；　〃is　to　go　back　to　your　federal　court　and　tell　that　judge　that　as　a　citizen　of　these　United　States；　and　one　who　has　borne　arms　in　her　defense；　I　object　to　having　snap　judgment　rendered　against　me。　If　the　honorable　court　which　you　have　the　pleasure　to　represent　is　willing　to　dispossess　me　of　my　property　in　favor　of　a　ring　of　government　thieves；　and　on　only　hearing