nts, wild enough to
look at, but shy on cattle sabe. Just so they showed up bad and wore a
six-shooter, that was enough to win a home with Field and Radcliff.
If they reach here on time, I'll gamble there ain't ten horses in the
entire outfit that don't carry a nigger brand. And when it comes to the
big conversation--well, they've simply got the earth faded."

It was nearly sundown when we mounted our horses and separated for the
day. Bob Quirk returned to the post with the civilians, while I hastened
back to my wagon. I had left orders with Splann to water the herd a
second time during the evening and thus insure an easy night in holding
the cattle. On my return, they were just grazing out from the river,
their front a mile wide, making a pretty picture with the Yellowstone
in the background. But as I sat my horse and in retrospect reviewed my
connection with the cattle before me and the prospect of soon severing
it, my remuda came over a near-by hill in a swinging trot for their
second drink. Levering threw them into the river below the herd, and
turning, galloped up to me and breathlessly asked: "Tom, did you see
that dust-cloud up the river? Well, the other cattle are coming. The
timber cuts off your view from here, besides the sun's gone down, but I
watched their signal for half an hour from that second hill yonder.
Oh, it's cattle all right; I know the sign, even if they are ten miles
away."

CHAPTER XXII. A SOLDIER'S HONOR

Delivery day dawned with a heavy fog hanging over the valley of the
Yellowstone. The frosts had ceased, and several showers had fallen
during the night, one of which brought our beeves to their feet, but
they gave no serious trouble and resumed their beds within an hour.
There was an autumn feeling in the atmosphere, and when the sun arose,
dispelling the mists, a glorious September day was ushered in. The
foliage of the timber which skirted either river was coloring from
recent frosts, while in numerous places the fallen leaves of the
cottonwood were littering the ground. Enough rain had fallen to settle
the dust, and the signal of the approaching herds, seen the evening
before, was no longer visible.

The delay in their appearance, however, was only temporary. I rode down
to Sponsilier's camp early that morning and reported the observations
of my wrangler at sundown. No one at the lower wagon had noticed the
dust-clouds, and some one suggested that it might be a freight outfit
retur