herd and
saddle stock. We did not take out certificates in Medina on the remudas
as a matter of economy. By waiting until the herd was ready, the two
would be inspected as one, and the lower rate apply. So I urged the
deputy to make himself at home and share my blankets. Pretending that I
remembered him well, I made numerous inquiries about the ranch where we
received our herd the year before, and by the time to turn in, we were
on the most friendly terms. The next morning I offered him a horse from
our extras, assuring him that Flood would be delighted to renew his
acquaintance, and invited him to go with us for the day. Turning his
horse among ours, he accepted and rode away with us. The cattle passed
on the evening before had camped out several miles from the corrals and
were grazing in when we met them. Flood and the Doctor joined us shortly
afterward, and I had a quiet word with Jim before he and the inspector
met. After the count was over, Flood made a great ado over my guest and
gave him the glad hand as if he had been a long-lost brother. We were
a trifle short-handed the second day, and on my guest volunteering
to help, I assigned him to Runt Pickett's place at the fire, where he
shortly developed a healthy sweat. As we did not have a large bunch of
beeves to brand that day, the wagon did not come over and we branded
them at a single shift. It was nearly one o'clock when we finished,
and instead of going in to Los Lobos, we left the third guard, Wayne
Outcault, "Dorg" Seay, and Owen Ubery, to graze the cattle over to our
camp.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in idleness and in the
entertainment of our guest. Official-like, he pretended he could hardly
spare the time to remain another night, but was finally prevailed on and
did so. After dark, I took him some distance from camp, and the two of
us had a confidential chat. I assured him if there was any object in
doing so, we could move camp right to or over the county line, and
frankly asked him what inducement he would offer. At first he thought
that throwing off everything over a hundred dollars would be about
right. But I assured him that there were whole families of inspectors in
Lasalle County who would discount that figure, and kindly advised him,
if he really wanted the fee, to meet competition at least. We discussed
the matter at length, and before returning to camp, he offered to make
out the certificate, covering everything, for fifty dollars.