The Flying U Ranch

might arise, unexpectedly or otherwise, and a belief that others felt that same confidence in them, and that enemies were wont to sit a long time counting the cost before venturing to offer too g

ch where somebody could look after him right. They asserted that, if they ever got tired of living and wanted to cash in wi

d Happy Jack's prophecies of disaster as being anything more than a personal deformity of thought-they were positive in their belief that the Dot sheepherders would be very, very careful not to pro

that night's adventure flagged, as their tongues grew sleep-clogged and their eyelids drooped, they slept in peac

e of youth and hope, life adjusts itself to make room for the specter of fear, so that it does not crowd unduly, but stands half-forgotten in the background of one's thoughts. For that

e south side of the coulee, up on the bluff, grazed the band. They fed upon the brow of the hill opposite the ranch buildings; they squeezed under the fence and spilled a ragged fringe of running, gray animals

s was before the dry-land farming craze had swept the country, gathering in all public land as claims. J. G. Whitmore had contented himself with acquiring title to the whole of the Flying U coulee, secure in his belief that the old order of

y through the fence. Morally, however, and by right of custom, their offense would not be much greater

d, once they were released from dumb amazement. I should be compelled to improvise and

e band herded by the bug-killer and the man from Wyoming; and the nerve of those two almost e

urning of the other cheek. He also made that change of heart manifest in hi

oo; I don't believe they had time to cook much breakfast. And it wouldn't be a bad idea to haze our own stuff clear off the range. I'm afraid Dunk's sheep are going to fare kinda slim, if we go on lett

ill have to be omitted.

p just as far south as they can get without taking to the river. Don't get all het up chasing 'em yourself-make

ooth voice of the Native Son, "what sha

him a baleful glance, which was not

and, when that's done, you can pull the weeds out of his radishes. Maybe he'll give you a nickel to buy candy

got mad, a year ago last fall," or something of the sort. He grinned himself, shamefacedly, and told them that they were a bunch of no-account cusses, anyway, and he'd just about as soon herd sheep himself as to have to run wit

o get excited and go to shooting," he warned, while they were still out of hear

told him so, each after h

f sheepherders, without wasting any powder," Pink said lo

his time," promised Irish, and spurred after

from the first; which, in Weary's opinion, was a bit of guile upon the part of Dunk. If trouble came-trouble which it would take a jury to settle-the fact that the sheepmen were unarmed would tell heavi

p, which were scattered over an area half a mile across while they fed, and, when the herder, who w

rim intent, "and don't take to

gure, standing with his back to the mor

," he stated sourl

as in his nature to do, and hoped in his heart that he looked sufficiently terr

al. Now he rode forward until he was abreast of Weary, and he grinned

gether up some dry grass an' sticks. Over there in them rose-bushes you oughta find enough bresh. We'll give him a taste uh what we was talkin' about comm' over, by cripes! I gu

Happy Family was hesitating and eyeing him uncertainly. "Git a fire goin' quick's yuh kin

ture business!" remonstrated Ha

n't runnin' this here show. Honest to grandma, I've saw the time when a little foot-warmin' done a sheepherder a whole lot uh good; and, it looks to me, by cripes, as if this here feller needed a dose to gen

Andy, dismounting eagerly. "Let me take your rop

so on the ground by then, and untying his rope. "

k hysterically, as Big Medicine, rope in hand, advanced implacably, and, with a squawk of horror, turned suddenly and ran. After

ed to Weary, while he watched the chase. "That gazabo's scared

g-killer squirming in his grasp. "Tell him what yuh want him to do, Weary," he panted, with some difficulty holding his limp

rive the sheep-well, what he said was that he would drive them to that plac

somebody tells you to." Weary carefully let down the hammer

Medicine, when they turned away from watching the bug-killer set his dogs to work

y Jack. "Torturing folks is purty darned serious business.

, or said a thing. All I said definite was that I'd take off his shoes. Any jury in the countr

right!" Slim forgot his sore leg until he clapped his hand enthusiastically down upon the place as

ugh any jokes, Slim, till that leg uh yours gets

does to youth and perfect mental and physical health. Their brief hilarity over Slim's misfortune did not swerve them from their purpose, nor soften the mood of them toward

o terror, and afterward to abject obedience. He did not know what they had said to him, or what they had done; but he knew the bug-killer was a hard man to stampede. And he was one man, and they were

nce and up on the level, he stopped only long enough for a good look at

ugh cleaning of that particular bit of range; and, since he did not definitely request any man to turn back, and every fellow there was mind

ngs these were mostly, and there were few to suffer more than hunger and thirst, perhaps. So Weary was merciless, and dr

ed by rough going. Weary, when the band stopped and huddled, blatting incessantly against

e-that's a blind pocket. In the second coulee, up a mile or so, there's a spring creek. You can h

nning of the bad lands which border the Missouri river for long, terrible miles. Down there, it is possible for two men to reach places where they may converse quite easily across a chasm,

ls of the Bear Paw country. When they forced the sheep and their herders out of the coulee Weary had indicated he sent Irish and Pink

a slope and let the trail-weary band spill itself reluctantly down the steep slope beyond, the sun stood high

scordantly, down the bluff, Weary halted th

I'll send some of your bunch down here with grub and beds. This is good enough range for sheep. You keep away from the Flying U and nobody'll bother you. Over there in them trees," he added, poi

scrambled down the bluff in the wake of their sheep, and the Happy Family, rolling cigarettes while they watched them de