on he needn't stand behind the door. Dave
informed him that Bob and Quince and three of the other boys would meet
us at the cattle, and that he need feel no hesitancy in going if it was
his wish. It was quite evident that Mr. Lovell was despondent, but he
took courage and announced his willingness to go along.

"It was my intention not to go," said he, "though Mr. Aspgrain and
Sutton both urged that I should. But now since you boys all feel the
same way, I believe I'll go. Heaven and earth are being moved to have
the other cattle accepted, but there are a couple of old war-horses at
the head of this post that will fight them to the last ditch, and then
some. I'm satisfied that my beeves, in any market in the West, are worth
ten dollars a head more than the other ones, yet there is an effort
being made to turn us down. Our claims rest on two points,--superiority
of the beef tendered, and the legal impossibility of a transfer from
themselves, a corporation, to themselves as individuals. If there is
no outside interference, I think we will make the delivery before
noon to-morrow. Now, I'll get horses for both Mr. Sutton and Senator
Aspgrain, and you see that none of the boys drink too much. Sanders and
his outfit are all right, and I want you lads to remind me to remember
him before we leave this post. Now, we'll all go in a little party by
ourselves, and I don't want a word out of a man, unless we are asked for
an opinion from the officers, as our cattle must argue our cause."

A second drink, a cigar all round, and we were ready to start. As
we returned to our mounts, a bustle of activity pervaded the post.
Orderlies were leading forth the best horses, officers were appearing in
riding-boots and gauntlets, while two conveyances from a livery in town
stood waiting to convey the contractors and their legal representatives.
Our employer and his counsel were on hand, awaiting the start, when the
quartermaster and his outfit led off. There was some delay among the
officers over the change of a horse, which had shown lameness, while the
ringsters were all seated and waiting in their vehicles. Since none of
us knew the trail to Alkali Lake, some one suggested that we follow up
the quartermaster and allow the military and conveyances to go by the
wagon-road. But Lovell objected, and ordered me forward to notice the
trail and course, as the latter was a cut-off and much nearer than by
road. I rode leisurely past the two vehicles