e next morning. The lowing of Gentle Annie as she
mildly endeavored to make it known that milking-time was past, the
muffled grunting of the two pigs as they rooted in the mud or poked
flat flexible noses through the bars, the restless padding of Chance to
and from the bedroom, merely harmonized in chorus with audible slumbers
until one of the hens cackled. Then Jimmy, from his box near the
stove, lifted his clarion shrill in reply to the hen. Sundown sat up,
scratched his ear, and arose.

He was returning from a practice of five-finger exercise on Gentle
Annie, busy with his thoughts and the balance of the pail, when a shout
brought his gaze to the road. John Corliss and Bud Shoop waved him
greeting, and dismounting led their horses to the yard.

"Saves me a ride," muttered Sundown. Then, "How, folks! Come right
in!"

He noticed that the ponies seemed tired--that the cinchas were
mud-spattered and that the riders seemed weary. He invited his guests
to breakfast. After the meal the three foregathered outside the house.

"That was right good beef you fed us," remarked Shoop, slightly raising
one eyebrow as Corliss glanced at him.

"The best in the country," cheerfully assented Sundown.

"How you making it, Sun?"

"Me? Oh, I'm wigglin' along. Come home last night and found Jimmy
with his leg bruk. Everything else was all right."

"Jimmy?"

"Uhuh. Me rooster."

"Coyote grab him?"

"Uhuh. And Chance fixed Mr. Coyote. I was to Loring's yesterday on
business."

Shoop glanced at Corliss who had thus far remained silent.

"We had a little business to talk over," said the rancher. "You're
located now. I'm going to run some cattle down this way next week.
Some of mine and some of the Two-Bar-O." Corliss, who had been
standing, stepped to the doorway and sat down. Shoop and Sundown
followed him and lay outstretched on the warm earth. "Funny thing,
Bud, about that Two-Bar-O steer we found cut up."

"Sure was," said Shoop.

"Did he get in a fence?" queried Sundown.

"No. He was killed for beef. We ran across him yesterday and did some
looking around last night. Trailed over this way to have a talk."

"I'm right glad to see you. I wanted to speak a little piece meself
after you get through."

"All right. Here's the story." And Corliss gazed across the mesa for
a moment. "The South Spring's gone dry. The fork is so low that only
a dozen head can drink at once. It's been a mighty dry