e some of the lost stock then they would probably
have news of the thieves. Maybe even they'd made a capture. He hurried
at once in the direction of the approaching cattle. Nor was he alone
in his desire to learn the news. Every man had left his supper at the
bunk house to greet the newcomers.

The incoming herd was still some distance away, but the bunch was
considerable judging by the cloud of dust. Jim found himself amongst a
group of the boys, and each and all of them were striving to ascertain
the identity of those who were in charge.

"Ther's two o' them, sure," exclaimed Barney Job, after a long
scrutiny. "Leastways I ken make out two. The durned fog's that thick
you couldn't get a glimpse o' Peddick's flamin' hair in it."

"Cut it out, Barney," cried the lantern-faced owner of the fiery red
hair. "Anyways a sight o' my hair 'ud be more encouragin' than your
ugly 'map.' Seems to me, bein' familiar with my hair 'll make the
fires of hell, you'll likely see later, come easier to you when they
git busy fumigatin' your carkis."

"Gee! that's an elegant word," cried Hoosier Pete, a stripling of
youthful elderliness. "Guess you've bin spellin' out Gover'ment
Reg'lations."

"Yep. San'tary ones. Barney's thinkin' o' gettin' scoured in a kettle
o' hot water," said Peddick, with a laugh.

"Needs it," muttered a surly Kentuckian.

"Hey!" interrupted Barney, quite undisturbed by his comrades' remarks
upon his necessity for careful ablutions. "Them's Joe Bloc an' Dutch
Kemp. I'd git Dutch's beard anywher's. You couldn't get thro' it with
a hay rake. Sure," he went on, shading his eyes, "that's them an'
they're drivin' them forty three-year-olds that was pinched up at the
back o' the northern spurs. Say----"

But he broke off, concentrating upon the oncoming cattle even more
closely. Everybody was doing the same. Jim had also recognized the two
cow-punchers. And he, like the rest, was wondering and speculating as
to the news that was to be poured into their curious ears directly.

The cattle were running and it was evident the two boys were in a
hurry for their supper, or to deliver their news. The waiting crowd
cleared the way. And one of the boys, at Jim's order, hurried down to
the corrals to receive them. He stood by, joined by several others, to
head the beasts into their quarters.

They came with a rush of shuffling, plodding feet bellowing protest at
the hurry, or welcome at sight of the piles of hay that on