ed herd,
coming over to where the two outfits were disputing.

"What's the trouble here, gents?" inquired Hames as he rode up.

"Who are you and what might be your business, may I ask?" inquired the
leader of the rustlers.

"Personally I'm nobody, but officially I'm Corporal in Company B,
Texas Rangers--well, if there isn't smiling Ed Winters, the biggest
cattle thief ever born in Medina County. Why, I've got papers for you;
for altering the brands on over fifty head of 'C' cattle into a 'G'
brand. Come here, dear, and give me that gun of yours. Come on, and no
false moves or funny work or I'll shoot the white out of your eye.
Surround this layout, lads, and let's examine them more closely."

At this command, every man in our outfit whipped out his six-shooter,
the Rangers leveled their carbines on the rustlers, and in less than a
minute's time they were disarmed and as crestfallen a group of men as
ever walked into a trap of their own setting. Hames got out a "black
book," and after looking the crowd over concluded to hold the entire
covey, as the descriptions of the "wanted" seemed to include most of
them. Some of the rustlers attempted to explain their presence, but
Hames decided to hold the entire party, "just to learn them to be more
careful of their company the next time," as he put it.

The cut had drifted away into the herd again during the arrest, and
about half our outfit took the cattle on to where the wagon camped for
noon. McCann had anticipated an extra crowd for dinner and was
prepared for the emergency. When dinner was over and the Rangers had
packed and were ready to leave, Hames said to Flood,--

"Well, Flood, I'm powerful glad I met you and your outfit. This has
been one of the biggest round-ups for me in a long time. You don't
know how proud I am over this bunch of beauties. Why, there's liable
to be enough rewards out for this crowd to buy my girl a new pair of
shoes. And say, when your wagon comes into Abilene, if I ain't there,
just drive around to the sheriff's office and leave those captured
guns. I'm sorry to load your wagon down that way, but I'm short on
pack mules and it will be a great favor to me; besides, these fellows
are not liable to need any guns for some little time. I like your
company and your chuck, Flood, but you see how it is; the best of
friends must part; and then I have an invitation to take dinner in
Abilene by to-morrow noon, so I must be a-riding. Adios, everybody."