Hitching their horses to the stunted willow and cottonwood trees, the
committee approached the tent, and Williams, of Circle Bar, became
spokesman: "We have come," he said, "to make a statement. We are
peaceably disposed, but would like to state our side of the case. The
range into which you are walking your sheep is already overstocked with
cattle and horses, and we are going to suffer, for you know very well
cattle will not follow sheep. The coming of your flock is likely to
bring others, and we can't stand it. We have come to ask you to keep off
our range. We have been to big expense to build sheds and fences, and we
can't afford to have sheep thrown in on us."

To this the sheepman made calm reply. He said: "Gentlemen, all that you
have said is true, but it does not interest me. This land belongs as
much to me as to you. By law you can hold only one quarter section each
by squatters' right. That right I shall respect, but no more. I shall
drive my sheep anywhere on grounds not actually occupied by your feeding
cattle. Neither you nor I have much more time to do this kind of thing.
The small settler is coming westward. Until he comes I propose to have
my share of Government grass."

The meeting grew stormy. Williams, of Circle Bar, counselled moderation.
Others were for beginning war at once. "If this man is looking for
trouble he can easily find it," one of them said.

The sheepman grimly replied: "I have the reputation in my country of
taking care of myself." He drew a revolver and laid it affectionately in
the hollow of his folded left arm. "I have two of these, and in a mix-up
with me, somebody generally gets hurt."

There was deadly serenity in the stranger's utterance, and the cowboys
allowed themselves to be persuaded into peace measures, though some went
so far as to handle guns also. They withdrew for a conference, and Jake
said: "Stranger, we're with you in this fight; we're truck farmers at
the mouth o' the Cannon Ball. My name is Pratt."

The sheepman smiled pleasantly. "Mighty glad to know you, Mr. Pratt. My
name is Delmar."

"This is my brother Dan," said Jake, "and this is his herder."

When Mose took the small, firm hand of the sheepman and looked into his
face he liked him, and the stranger returned his liking. "Your fight is
mine, gentlemen," he said. "These cattlemen are holding back settlement
for their own selfish purposes."

Williams, returning at this point, began speaking, but with eff