of our
filling the outstanding contract, yet Sanders was given to understand
that Don Lovell would rather, if he took a fancy to him, give a man a
horse than sell him one. Not a word was said about any opposition to our
herds; that would come later, and Sanders and his outfit were too good
judges of Texas cattle to be misled by any bluster or boastful talk.
Sponsilier acted the host, and after dinner unearthed a box of cigars,
and we told stories and talked of our homes in the sunny South until
the arrival of the military party. The herds had been well watered
about noon and drifted out on the first uplands, and we intercepted the
cavalcade before it reached Sponsilier's herd. They were mounted on
fine cavalry horses, and the only greeting which passed, aside from a
military salute, was when Lovell said: "Dave, show these officers your
beeves. Answer any question they may ask to the best of your ability.
Gentlemen, excuse me while you look over the cattle."

There were about a dozen military men in the party, some of them
veterans of the civil war, others having spent their lifetime on our
western frontier, while a few were seeing their first year's service
after leaving West Point. In looking over the cattle, the post commander
and quartermaster were taken under the wing of Sanders, who, as only
a man could who was born to the occupation, called their attention to
every fine point about the beeves. After spending fully an hour with
Sponsilier's herd, the cavalcade proceeded on to mine, Lovell rejoining
the party, but never once attempting to draw out an opinion, and again
excusing himself on reaching my cattle. I continued with the military,
answering every one's questions, from the young lieutenant's to
the veteran commandant's, in which I was ably seconded by the
quartermaster's foreman. My cattle had a splendid fill on them and
eloquently spoke their own praises, yet Sanders lost no opportunity to
enter a clincher in their favor. He pointed out beef after beef, and
vouched for the pounds net they would dress, called attention to their
sameness in build, ages, and general thrift, until one would have
supposed that he was a salesman instead of a civilian employee.

My herd was fully ten miles from the post, and it was necessary for the
military to return that evening. Don Lovell and a number of the boys had
halted at a distance, and once the inspection was over, we turned and
rode back to the waiting group of horseme