ry and pickle him until he
forgets them."

The next morning Siringo and the buyers started south on the trail, and
I rode for my camp on the Saw Log. Before riding many miles I sighted my
outfit coming in a long lope for town. They reported everything serene
at camp, and as many of the boys were moneyless, I turned back with
them. An enjoyable day was before us; some drank to their hearts'
content, while all gambled with more or less success. I was anxious that
the outfit should have a good carouse, and showed the lights and shadows
of the town with a pride worthy of one of its founders. Acting the host,
I paid for our dinners; and as we sauntered into the street, puffing
vile cigars, we nearly ran amuck of Dorg Seay and Archie Tolleston,
trundling a child's wagon between them up the street. We watched them,
keeping a judicious distance, as they visited saloon after saloon, the
toy wagon always in possession of one or the other.

While we were amusing ourselves at the antics of these two, my attention
was attracted by a four-mule wagon pulling across the bridge from the
south. On reaching the railroad tracks, I recognized the team, and
also the driver, as Quince Forrest's. Here was news, and accordingly I
accosted him. Fortunately he was looking for me or my brother, as his
foreman could not come in with the wagon, and some one was wanted to
vouch for him in getting the needed supplies. They had reached the
Mulberry the evening before, but several herds had mixed in a run during
the night, though their cattle had escaped. Forrest was determined not
to risk a second night on that stream, and had started his herd with the
dawn, expecting to camp with his cattle that night west on Duck Creek.
The herd was then somewhere between the latter and the main Arkansaw,
and the cook was anxious to secure the supplies and reach the outfit
before darkness overtook him. Sponsilier was reported as two days behind
Forrest when the latter crossed the Cimarron, since when there had been
no word from his cattle. They had met the buyers near the middle of the
forenoon, and when Forrest admitted having the widow Timberlake's beef
herd, they turned back and were spending the day with the cattle.

The situation demanded instant action. Taking Forrest's cook around to
our outfitting store, I introduced and vouched for him. Hurrying back, I
sent Wayne Outcault, as he was a stranger to Tolleston, to mix with the
two rascals and send Seay to me