and willin',
captain."

"Well, slip off an' eat. I'll take care o' the cayuses."

On the ground, scattered among the tents, and in the shade of the cook
wagon, were some twenty or thirty herders. For the most part they were
slender, bronzed, and active, of twenty-five or thirty, with broad white
hats (faded and flapping in the brim), gray or blue woolen shirts (once
gay with red lacing), and dark pantaloons, tucked into tall boots with
long heels. Spurs jingled at the heels of their tall boots, and most of
them wore bandannas of silk or cotton looped gracefully about their
necks. A few of the younger ones wore a sort of rude outside trouser of
leather called "chaps," and each of them carried a revolver slung at the
hip. They were superb examples of adaptation to environment, alert,
bold, and graceful of movement.

A relay of them were already at dinner, with a tin plate full of "grub"
and a big tin cup steaming with coffee before each man. They sat almost
anywhere to eat, on saddles, wagon tongues--any convenient place. Some
of them, more orderly, were squatted along a sort of table made of
folded blankets piled through the center of a tent. Here Reynolds took a
seat, and Mose followed, shrinking a little from the keen scrutiny of
the men. The fact that Reynolds vouched for him, however, was
introduction, and the cook made a place for him readily enough, and
brought him a plate and a cup.

"Boys," said Reynolds, "this young feller is just come to town. His name
is Mose Harding, and he can ride a hoss all right, all right. He's
a-goin' to make a hand here in my place; treat him fair."

There was a moment's awkward pause, and then Mose said: "I'm going to
try to do my share."

As he had time to look around he began to individualize the men. One of
the first to catch his eye was an Indian who sat near the door of the
tent. He was dressed like the other men, but was evidently a full-blood.
His skin was very dark, not at all red or copper colored, and Mose
inferred that he was a Ute. His eyes were fixed on Mose with intent
scrutiny, and when the boy smiled the Indian's teeth gleamed white in
ready good nature, and they were friends at once. The talk was all about
the work on hand, the tussles with steers, the number of unbranded
calves, the queries concerning shipment, etc.

Dinner was soon over, and "Charley," as the cow boss was called by his
men, walked out with Mose toward the corral. "Kin ye rope?" he asked.