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during　my　brief　absence。　Parent　had　fully　enlightened　him　as　to　who　he　was；　who　the　outfit　were；　the　destination　of　the　herd；　the　names　of　both　buyer　and　seller；　and；　on　my　riding　in；　was　delivering　a　voluble　dissertation　on　the　tariff　and　the　possible　effect　on　the　state　of　putting　hides　on　the　free　list。　And　although　in　cow…camps　a　soldier's　introduction　is　usually　sufficient；　the　cook　inquired　the　stranger's　name　and　presented　me　to　our　guest　with　due　formality。　Supper　being　waiting；　the　stranger　was　invited　to　take　pot…luck　with　us；　and　before　the　meal　was　over　recognized　me。　He　was　a　deputy　cattle　inspector　for　Dimmit　County；　and　had　issued　the　certificate　for　Flood's　herd　the　year　before。　He　had　an　eye　for　the　main　chance；　and　informed　me　that　fully　one　half　the　cattle　making　up　our　herd　belonged　to　Dimmit；　that　the　county　line　was　only　a　mile　up　the　river；　and　that　if　I　would　allow　the　herd　to　drift　over　into　his　territory；　he　would　shade　the　legal　rate。　The　law　compelling　the　inspection　of　herds　before　they　could　be　moved　out　of　the　county；　　like　the　rain；　fell　upon　the　just　and　the　unjust。　It　was　not　the　　intent　of　the　law　to　impose　a　burden　on　an　honest　drover。　Yet　he　was　classed　with　the　rustler；　and　must　have　in　his　possession　a　certificate　of　inspection　before　he　could　move　out　a　purchased　herd；　or　be　subject　to　arrest。　A　list　of　brands　was　recorded；　at　the　county　seat；　of　every　herd　leaving；　and　if　occasion　required　could　be　referred　to　in　future　years。　No　railroad　would　receive　any　consignment　of　hides　or　live　stock；　unless　accompanied　by　a　certificate　from　the　county　inspector。　The　legal　rate　was　ten　cents　on　the　first　hundred；　and　three　cents　on　all　over　that　number；　frequently　making　the　office　a　lucrative　one。

Once　the　object　of　his　call　was　made　clear；　I　warmed　to　our　guest。　If　the　rate　allowed　by　law　was　enforced；　it　meant　an　expense　of　over　a　hundred　dollars　for　a　certificate　of　inspection　covering　both　herd　and　saddle　stock。　We　did　not　take　out　certificates　in　Medina　on　the　remudas　as　a　matter　of　economy。　By　waiting　until　the　herd　was　ready；　the　two　would　be　inspected　as　one；　and　the　lower　rate　apply。　So　I　urged　the　deputy　to　make　himself　at　home　and　share　my　blankets。　Pretending　that　I　remembered　him　well；　I　made　numerous　inquiries　about　the　ranch　where　we　received　our　herd　the　year　before；　and　by　the　time　to　turn　in；　we　were　on　the　most　friendly　terms。　The　next　morning　I　offered　him　a　horse　from　our　extras；　assuring　him　that　Flood　would　be　delighted　to　renew　his　acquaintance；　and　invited　him　to　go　with　us　for　the　day。　Turning　his　horse　among　ours；　he　accepted　and　rode　away　with　us。　The　cattle　passed　on　the　evening　before　had　camped　out　several　miles　from　the　corrals　and　were　grazing　in　when　we　met　them。　Flood　and　the　Doctor　joined　us　shortly　afterward；　and　I　had　a　quiet　word　with　Jim　before　he　and　the　inspector　met。　After　the　count　was　over；　Flood　made　a　great　ado　over　my　guest　and　gave　him　the　glad　hand　as　if　he　had　been　a　long…lost　brother。　We　were　a　trifle　short…handed　the　second　day；　and　on　my　guest　volunteering　to　help；　I　assigned　him　to　Runt　Pickett's　place　at　the　fire；　where　he　shortly　developed　a　healthy　sweat。　As　we　did　not　have　a　large　bunch　of　beeves　to　brand　that　day；　the　wagon　did　not　come　over　and　we　branded　them　at　a　single　shift。　It　was　nearly　one　o'clock　when　we　finished；　and　instead　of　going　in　to　Los　Lobos；　we　left　the　third　guard；　Wayne　Outcault；　〃Dorg〃　Seay；　and　Owen　Ubery；　to　graze　the　cattle　over　to　our　camp。

The　remainder　of　the　afternoon　was　spent　in　idleness　and　in　the　entertainment　of　our　guest。　Official…like；　he　pretended　he　could　hardly　spare　the　time　to　remain　another　night；　but　was　finally　prevailed　on　and　did　so。　After　dark；　I　took　him　some　distance　from　camp；　and　the　two　of　us　had　a　confidential　chat。　I　assured　him　if　there　was　any　object　in　doing　so；　we　could　move　camp　right　to　or　over　the　county　line；　and　frankly　asked　him　what　inducement　he　would　offer。　At　first　he　thought　that　throwing　off　everything　over　a　hundred　dollars　would　be　about　right。　But　I　assured　him　that　there　were　whole　families　of　inspectors　in　Lasalle　County　who　would　discount　that　figure；　and　kindly　advised　him；　if　he　really　wanted　the　fee；　to　meet　competition　at　least。　We　discussed　the　matter　at　length；　and　before　returning　to　camp；　he　offered　to　make　out　the　certificate；　covering　everything；　for　fifty　dollars。　As　it　was　certain　to　be　several　days　yet　before　we　would　start；　and　there　was　a　prospect　of　a　falling　market　in　certificates　of　inspection；　I　would　make　no　definite　promises。　The　next　morning　I　insisted　that　he　remain　at　some　near…by　ranch　in　his　own　territory；　and；　if　convenient；　ride　down　every　few　days　and　note　the　progress　of　the　herd。

We　were　promised　a　large　contingent　of　cattle　for　that　day。　The　ranch　outfit　were　to　make　three　rodeos　down　the　river　the　day　before；　where　the　bulk　of　their　beeves　ranged。　Flood　was　anxious　to　overtake　the　other　outfits　before　they　reached　the　lower　country；　and　as　he　assured　me　I　had　no　further　use　for　him；　we　agreed　that　after　receiving　that　morning　he　might　leave　us。　Giving　orders　at　camp　to　graze　the　received　beeves　within　a　mile　of　the　corrals　by　noon；　and　the　wagon　to　follow；　we　made　an　early　start；　Flood　taking　his　own　horses　with　him。　We　met　the　cattle　coming　up　the　river　a　thousand　strong。　It　was　late　when　the　last　round…up　of　the　day　before　had　finished；　and　they　had　camped　for　the　night　fully　five　miles　from　the　corrals。　It　took　less　than　an　hour　to　cull　back　and　count；　excuse　the　ranch　outfit；　and　start　this　contingent　for　the　branding…pens　in　charge　of　my　boys。　Flood　was　in　a　hurry；　and　riding　a　short　distance　with　him；　I　asked　that　he　pass　or　send　word　to　the　county　seat；　informing　the　inspector　of　hides　and　animals　that　a　trail　herd　would　leave　Los　Lobos　within　a　week。　Jim　knew　my　motive　in　getting　competition　on　the　inspection；　and　wishing　me　luck　on　my　trip；　I　wrung　his　hand　in　farewell　until　we　should　meet　again　in　the　upper　country。

The　sun　was　setting　that　night　when　we　finished　road…branding　the　last　of　the　beeves　received　in　the　morning。　After　dinner；　when　the　wagon　returned　to　camp；　I　instructed　Parent　to　move　up　the　river　fully　a　mile。　We　needed　the　change；　anyhow；　and　even　if　it　was　farther；　the　next　morning　we　would　have　the　Los　Lobos　outfit　to　assist　in　the　branding；　as　that　day　would　finish　their　gathering。　The　outside　cattle　were　beginning　to　report　in　small　bunches；　from　three　hundred　upward。　Knowing　that　Dr。　Beaver　was　anxious　to　turn　in　as　many　as　possible　of　his　own；　we　delayed　receiving　from　the　neighboring　ranches　for　another　day。　But　the　next　morning；　as　we　were　ironing…up　the　last　contingent　of　some　four　hundred　Los　Lobos　beeves；　a　deputy　inspector　for　Lasalle　arrived　from　the　county　seat。　He　was　likewise　officious；　and　professed　disappointment　that　the　herd　was　not　ready　to　pass　upon。　On　his　arrival；　I　was　handling　the　irons；　and　paid　no　attention　to　him　until　the　branding　was　over　for　the　morning。　When　he　introduced　himself；　I　cordially　greeted　him；　but　at　the　first　intimation　of　disappointment　from　his　lips；　I　checked　him。

Using　the　best　diplomacy　at　my　command；　I　said；　〃Well；　I'm　sorry　to　cause　you　this　long　ride　when　it　might　have　been　avoided。　You　see；　we　are　receiving　cattle　from　both　this　and　Dimmit　County。　In　fact；　we　are　holding　our　herd　across　the　line　just　at　present。　On　starting；　we　expect　to　go　up　the　river　to　the　first　creek；　and　north　on　it　to　the　Leona　River。　I　have　partially　promised　the　work　to　an　inspector　from　Dimmit。　He　inspected　our　herd　last　year；　and　being　a　personal　friend　that　way；　you　couldn't　meet　his　figures。　Very　sorry　to　disappoint　you；　but　won't　you　come　over　to　the　wagon　and　stay　all　night？〃

But　Dr。　Beaver；　who　understood　my　motive；　claimed　the　privilege　of　entertaining　the　deputy　at　Los　Lobos；　and　I　yielded。　We　now　had　a　few　over　twenty…four　hundred　beeves；　of　which　nineteen　hundred　were　in　the　Los　Lobos　brand；　the　others　being　mixed。　There　was　a　possibility　of　fully　a　hundred　more　coming　in　with　the　neighboring　cattle；　and　Dr。　Beaver　was　delighted　over　the　ranch　delivery。　The　outside　contingents　were　in　four　bunches；　then　encamped　in　different　directions　and　within　from　three　to　five　miles　of　the　ranch。　Taking　Vick　Wolf　with　me　for　the　afternoon；　I　looked　over　the　separate　herds　and　found　them　numbering　more　than　fifteen　hundred。　They　were　the　same　uniform　Nueces　Valley　cattle；　and　as　we　lacked　only　a　few　over　a　thousand；　the　offerings　were　extremely　liberal。　Making　arrangements　with　three　of　the　four　herds　to　receive　the　next　day；　Vick　and　I　reached　our　camp　on　the　county　line　about　sunset。　The　change　was　a　decided　advantage；　wood；　water；　and　grass　were　plentiful；　and　not　over　a　mile　farther　from　the　branding…pens。

The　next　morning　found　us　in　our　saddles　at　the　usual　early　hour。　We　were　anxious　to　receive　and　brand　every　animal　possible　that　day；　so　that　with　a　few　hours'　work　the　next　forenoon　the　herd　would　be　ready　to　start。　After　we　had　passed　on　the　first　contingent　of　the　outside　cattle；　and　as　we　were　nearing　the　corrals；　Dr。　Beaver　overtook　us。　Calling　me　aside；　he　said：　〃Quirk；　if　you　play　your　cards　right；　you'll　get　a　certificate　of　inspection　for　nothing　and　a　chromo　as　a　pelon。　I've　bolstered　up　the　Lasalle　man　that　he's　better　entitled　to　the　work　than　the　Dimmit　inspector；　and　he'll　wait　until　the　herd　is　ready　to　start。　Now；　you　handle　the　one；　and　I'll　keep　the　other　as　my　guest。　We　must　keep　them　apart　and　let　them　buck　each　other　to　their　hearts'　content。　Every　hoof　in　your　herd　will　be　in　a　ranch　brand　of　record；　but　still　the　law　demands　inspection　and　you　must　comply　with　it。　I'll　give　you　a　duplicate　list　of　the　brands；　so　that　neither　inspector　need　see　the　herd；　and　if　we　don't　save　your　employer　a　hundred　dollars；　then　we　are　amateurs。〃

Everything　was　pointing　to　an　auspicious　start。　The　last　cattle　on　the　delivery　were　equal　to　the　first；　if　not　better。　The　sky　clouded　over；　and　before　noon　a　light　shower　fell；　settling　the　dust　in　the　corrals。　Help　increased　as　the　various　bunches　were　accepted；　and　at　the　end　of　the　day　only　a　few　over　two　hundred　remained　to　complete　our　numbers。　The　last　contingent　were　fully　up　to　the　standard；　and　rather　tha