and, having been
connected with the post for several years, knew the ropes. He had come
to Buford with Texas cattle, and after their delivery had accepted
a situation under the acting quartermaster, easily rising to the
foremanship through his superior abilities as a cowman. It was like a
meeting of long-lost brothers to mingle again with a cow outfit, and
the sutler's bar did a flourishing business during our stay in the post.
There were ten men in Sanders's outfit, several of whom besides himself
were Texans, and before we parted, every rascal had promised to visit us
the next day and look over all the cattle.

The next morning Bob Quirk put in an early appearance at my wagon. He
had passed the other outfits, and notified us all to have the cattle
under convenient herd, properly watered in advance, as the post
commandant, quartermaster, and a party of minor officers were going to
ride out that afternoon and inspect our beeves. Lovell, of course, would
accompany them, and Bob reported him as having made a ten-strike with
the officers' mess, not being afraid to spend his money. Fortunately the
present quartermaster at Buford was a former acquaintance of Lovell,
the two having had business transactions. The quartermaster had been
connected with frontier posts from Fort Clark, Texas, to his present
position. According to report, the opposition were active and waging an
aggressive campaign, but not being Western men, were at a disadvantage.
Champagne had flowed freely at a dinner given the night before by our
employer, during which Senator Aspgrain, in responding to a toast, had
paid the army a high tribute for the part it had played in reclaiming
the last of our western frontier. The quartermaster, in replying, had
felicitously remarked, as a matter of his own observation, that the
Californian's love for a horse was only excelled by the Texan's love for
a cow, to which, amid uproarious laughter, old man Don arose and bowed
his acknowledgment.

My brother changed horses and returned to Sponsilier's wagon. Dave had
planned to entertain the post beef outfit for dinner, and had insisted
on Bob's presence. They arrived at my herd near the middle of the
forenoon, and after showing the cattle and remuda, we all returned to
Sponsilier's camp. These civilian employees furnished their own mounts,
and were anxious to buy a number of our best horses after the delivery
was over. Not even a whisper was breathed about any uncertainty