ning unloaded, when one of the men on herd was seen signaling the
camp's notice. The attention of the day-herders, several miles distant,
was centered on some object up the river; and mounting our horses, we
rode for the nearest elevation, from which two herds were to be seen on
the opposite side, traveling in trail formation. There was no doubting
their identity; and wondering what the day would bring forth, we rode
for a better point of observation, when from behind a timbered bend of
the river the lead of the last herd appeared. At last the Yellowstone
Valley held over twenty thousand beef cattle, in plain sight of each
other, both factions equally determined on making the delivery on an
award that required only half that number. Dismounting, we kept the
herds in view for over an hour, or until the last one had crossed the
river above O'Brien's road-house, the lead one having disappeared out of
sight over on the main Missouri.

This was the situation on the morning of September 15. As we returned
to Sponsilier's wagon, all the idle men about the camp joined our
cavalcade, and we rode down and paid Forrest's outfit a social visit.
The latter were all absent, except the cook, but shortly returned from
down the river and reported the opposition herds to be crossing the
Missouri, evidently going to camp at Alkali Lake.

"Well, I've been present at a good many deliveries," said Quince
Forrest, as he reined in his horse, "but this one is in a class by
itself. We always aimed to get within five or ten miles of a post
or agency, but our friends made a worthy effort to get on the
parade-ground. They did the next best thing and occupied the grazing
where the cavalry horses have been herded all summer. Oh, their cattle
will be hog-fat in a few days. Possibly they expect to show their cattle
in town, and not trouble the quartermaster and comandante to even saddle
up--they're the very kind of people who wouldn't give anybody trouble if
they could help it. It wouldn't make so much difference about those
old frontier officers or a common cowman, but if one of those young
lieutenants was to get his feet wet, the chances are that those
Washington City contractors would fret and worry for weeks. Of course,
any little inconvenience that any one incurred on their account, they'd
gladly come all the way back from Europe to make it right--I don't
think."

While we were discussing the situation, Bob Quirk arrived at camp. He
reported th