at once. Some little time was consumed
in engaging Archie in a game of pool, but when Dorg presented himself
I lost no time in explaining the situation. He declared that it was no
longer possible to interest Tolleston at Dutch Jake's crib during the
day, and that other means of amusement must be resorted to, as Archie
was getting clamorous to find his employers. To my suggestion to get
a livery rig and take him for a ride, Dorg agreed. "Take him down the
river to Spearville," I urged, "and try and break into the calaboose if
you can. Paint the town red while you're about it, and if you both land
in the lock-up, all the better. If the rascal insists on coming back to
Dodge, start after night, get lost, and land somewhere farther down the
river. Keep him away from this town for a week, and I'll gamble that you
boss a herd for old man Don next year."

The afternoon was waning. The buyers might return at any moment, as
Forrest's herd had no doubt crossed the river but a few miles above
town.

I was impatiently watching the boys, as Dorg and Wayne cautiously herded
Tolleston around to a livery stable, when my brother Bob rode up. He
informed me that he had moved his camp that day across to the Saw Log;
that he had done so to accommodate Jim Flood and The Rebel with a camp;
their herds were due on the Mulberry that evening. The former had stayed
all night at Bob's wagon, and reported his cattle, considering the dry
season, in good condition. As my brother expected to remain in town
overnight, I proposed starting for my camp as soon as Seay and his
ward drove out of sight. They parleyed enough before going to unnerve
a saint, but finally, with the little toy wagon on Tolleston's knee and
the other driving, they started. Hurrahing my lads to saddle up, we rode
past the stable where Seay had secured the conveyance; and while I was
posting the stable-keeper not to be uneasy if the rig was gone a week,
Siringo and the buyers drove past the barn with a flourish. Taking a
back street, we avoided meeting them, and just as darkness was falling,
rode into our camp some twelve miles distant.

My brother Bob's camp was just above us on the creek, and a few miles
nearer town. As his wagon expected to go in after supplies the next
morning, a cavalcade of fifteen men from the two outfits preceded it.
My horse-wrangler had made arrangements with the cook to look after
his charges, and in anticipation of the day before him, had our mounts