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〃T' hell； I guess。 It's the only place I know of where everybody's
welcome。〃 Eagle Creek's tone was not pleasant。
〃We just came from there；〃 Pink said simply； thinking of the horrors of that
drive。
〃Where's Wooden Shoes？〃 snapped the old man； and the foreman's hat…crown
appeared at that instant over the ridge。
〃Well； we're up against it；〃 Eagle Creek greeted。 〃That damn' agentor the
fellow he had workin' for himreported his renting us pasture。 Made the
report read about twice as many as we're puttin' on。 He's got orders now t'
turn out every hoof but what b'longs there。〃
〃My Lord！〃 Wooden Shoes gasped at the catastrophe which faced the Cross L。
〃That's Harry Conroy's work；〃 Pink cut in sharply' 〃He'd hurt the Cross L if
he could； t' spite me and Rowdy。 He〃
〃Don't matterseein' it's done。 Yuh might as well turn the herd loose right
here； an' let 'em go t' the devil。 I don't know what else t' do with 'em。〃
〃Anything gone wrong？〃 It was Rowdy； who had left his place and ridden
forward to see what was holding the herd back。
〃Naw。 We're fired off the reservation； is all。 We got orders to take the
herd to hell。 Eagle Creek's leased it。 Mr。 Satan is going to keep house here
in Montana； he says it's better for his trade；〃 Pink informed him； in his
girlish treble。
Eagle Creek turned on him fiercely； then thought better of it and grinned。
〃Them arrangements wouldn't make us any worse off'n what we are；〃 he
commented。 〃Turn 'em loose； boys。〃
〃Man； if yuh turn 'em loose here； the first storm that hits 'em； they all
die；〃 Wooden Shoes interposed excitedly。 〃They ain't nothings for 'em。 We
had t' turn 'em into the Rockin' R field last night； t' git water an' feed。
Red Willow's gone dry outside dat field。 They ain'tnothings。 They'll die！〃
Eagle Creek looked at him dully。 For the first time in his life he faced
utter ruin。 〃Damn 'em； let 'em die； then！〃 he said。
〃That's what they'll sure do；〃 Wooden Shoes reiterated stubbornly。 〃If they
don't git feed and water now； yuh needn't start no round…up next spring。〃
Pink's eyes went down over the close…huddled backs and the thicket of
polished horns； and his eyelids stung。 Would all of them die； he wondered！
Four thousand！ He hoped not。 There must be some way out。 Down the hill； he
knew the cowboys were making cigarettes while they waited and wondered
mightily what it was all about If they only knew； he thought； there would be
more than one rope ready for Harry Conroy。
〃How about the Peck reservation？ Couldn't you get them on there？〃 Rowdy
ventured。
〃Not a hoof！〃 growled Eagle Creek； with his chin sunk against his chest。
〃There's thirty thousand Valley County cattle on there now。〃 He looked down
at the cattle； as Pink had done。 〃God！ It's bad enough t' go broke；〃 he
groaned； 〃but t' think uh them poor brutes dyin' off in bunches； for want uh
grass an' water！ I've run that brand fer over thirty year。〃
CHAPTER 11
Rowdy Promoted。
Rowdy rode closer。 〃If you don't mind paying duty；〃 he began tentatively； 〃I
can put you next to a range over the line； where I'll guarantee feed and
water the year round for every hoof you own。〃
Eagle Creek lifted his head and looked at him 〃Whereabouts？〃 he demanded
skeptically。
〃Up in the Red Deer country。 Pink knows the place。 There's range a…plenty；
and creeks running through that never go dry； and the country isn't stocked
and fenced to death； like this is。〃
〃And would we be ordered off soon as we got there？〃
〃Sure notif you paid duty； which would only be about double what you were
going to pay for one year's pasture。〃
Eagle Creek breathed deeply； like a man who has narrowly escaped
suffocation。 〃Young man； I b'lieve you're a square dealer； and that yuh
savvy the cow business。 I've thought it ever since yuh started t' work。〃 His
keen old eyes twinkled at the memory of Rowdy's arrival； and Rowdy grinned。
〃I take yuh at your word； and yuh can consider yourself in charge uh this
herd as it stands。 Take it t' that cow heaven yuh tell aboutand damn it；
yuh won't be none the worse for it！〃
〃We'll pass that up；〃 said Rowdy quietly。 〃I'll take the herd through；
though； and I'd advise you to get the rest on the road as soon as they can
be gathered。 It's a three…hundred…mile drive。〃
〃All right。 From now on it's up to you；〃 Eagle Creek told him briskly。 〃Take
'em back t' the Rockin' R field； and I'll send the wagons back t' you。 Old
Mullen'll likely make a roarbut that's most all gove'ment land he's got
fenced； so I guess I can calm him down。 Will yuh go near the ranch？〃
〃I think so；〃 said Rowdy。 〃It will be the shortest way。〃
〃Well； I'll give yuh some blank checks； an' you can load up with grub and
anything else yuh need。 I'll be over there by the time you are； and fix up
that duty business。 Wooden Shoes'll have t' get another outfit together； and
get another bunch on the trail。 One good thingI got thirty days t' get off
what cattle is on there； and thirty days uh grass and water'll put 'em in
good shape for the trip。 Wish this bunch was as well fixed。〃
〃That's what；〃 Rowdy assented。 〃But I think they'll make it； all right。〃
〃I'll likely want yuh to stay up there and keep cases on 'em。 Any
objections？〃
〃Sure not！〃 laughed Rowdy。 〃Only I'll want Pink and the Silent One to stay
with me。〃
〃Keep what men yuh want。 Anything else？〃
〃I don't think of anything；〃 said Rowdy。 〃Only I'd like to have
atalkwith Conroy。〃 Creek eyed him sharply。 〃Yuh won't be apt t' meet
him。 Old Bill Brown； up home； would like to see him； too。 Bill's a
perseverin' old cuss； and wants to see Conroy so bad he's got the sheriff
out lookin' for him。 It's about a bunch uh horses that was run off； three
years ago。 Yuh brought one of 'em back into the country last spring； yuh
mind。〃
Rowdy and Pink looked at one another； but said nothing。
〃Old Bill； he follered your back trail and found out some things he wanted
t' know。 Conroy got wind of it； though； and he left the agency kind…a
suddint。 No use yuh lookin' for him。〃
〃Then we're ready to hit the grit； I guess。〃 Rowdy glanced again at Pink who
nodded。
〃Well； I ain't stoppin' yuh；〃 Eagle Creek drawled laconically。 〃S'…long； and
good luck t' yuh。〃
He waited while Pink and the Silent One swung the point back down the hill；
with Rowdy helping them； quite unmoved by his sudden promotion。 When the
herd was fairly started on the backward march； Eagle Creek nodded
satisfaction the while he pried off a corner of plug…tobacco。
〃He's all right；〃 he asserted emphatically。 〃That boy suits me； from the
ground up。 If he don't put that deal through in good shape； it'll be becaus'
it can't be did。〃
Wooden Shoes； with whom Rowdy had always been a prime favorite； agreed with
Dutch heartiness。 Then； leaving the herd to its new guardian they rode
swiftly to overtake and turn back the wagons。
〃Three hundred miles！ And part of it across howling desert！〃 Rowdy drew his
brows together。 〃It's a big thing for me； all right； Pink； but it's sure a
big contract to take this herd through； if anybody should happen to ask
yuh。〃
〃Oh； buck up！ You'll make good； all rightif only these creeks wasn't so
bone dry！〃
〃Well； there's water enough in the Rocking R field for to…day； we'll throw
'em in there till tomorrow。 And I've a notion I can find a better trail
across to North Fork than the way we came。 I'm going to strike out this
afternoon and see； anyway； if Quitter Creek hasn't got water farther up。
Once we get up north uh the home ranch； I can see my way clear。〃
〃Go to it； boss；〃 Pink cried heartily。 〃I don't see how I'm goin t' keep
from sassing yuh； once in a while； though。 That's what bothers me。 What'll
happen if I turn loose on yuh； some time？〃
〃You'll get fired； I expect；〃 laughed Rowdy； and rode off to announce the
news to the rest of the outfit； who were very unhappy in their
mystification。
If their reception of the change of plans and foreman was a bit profane； and
their manner toward him a bit familiar； Rowdy didn't mind。 He knew that they
did not grudge him his good luck； even while they hated the long drive。 He
also knew that they watched him furtively； for nothingnot even
misfortuneis as sure a test of a man's character as success。 They liked
Rowdy； and they did not believe this would spoil him； still； every man of
them was secretly a bit anxious。
On the trail； he rode in his accustomed place； and； so far as appearances
went； the party had no foreman。 He went forward and helped Pink take down
the fence that had been so carefully put up a few hours before； and he
whistled while he put it in place again； just as if he had no responsibility
in the world。 Then the cattle were left to themselves； and the men rode down
to their old campground； marked by empty tin…cans and a trodden place where
had been the horse corral。
Rowdy swung down and faced the men gravely。 Instinctively they stood at
attention； waiting for what he had to say； they felt that the situation was
so far out of the ordinary that a few remarks pertaining to their new
relations would not be out of place。
He looked them over appraisingly； and met glances as grave as his own。
Straight； capable fellows t