drinking what water they could find among those barren； sun…baked coulees。
The Cross L boys； on this third trip； were become a jaded lot of
hollow…eyed men； whose nerves were rasped raw with long hours and longer
days in the saddle。 Pink's cheeks no longer made his name appropriate； and
he was not the only one who grew fretful over small things。 Rowdy had been
heard； more than once lately； to anathematize viciously the prairie…dogs for
standing on their tails and chipchip…chipping at them as they went by。 And
though the Silent One did not swear； he carried rocks in his pockets；
and threw them with venomous precision at every 〃dog〃 that showed his
impertinent nose out of a burrow within range。 For Pink； he vented his
spleen on the line…backed cow。
So they walked and walked and walked。
The cattle balked at another hill； and all the tincans and slickers in the
crowd could scarcely move them。 The wind dropped with the sun； and the
clouds glowed gorgeously above them； getting scant notice； except that they
told eloquently of the coming night； and there were yet mileslong； rough；
heartbreaking milesto put behind them before they could hope for the
things their tired bodies craved： supper and dreamless sleep。
When the last of the herd had sidled； under protest； down the long hill to
the flat； dusk was pushing the horizon closer upon them； mile by mile。 When
they crawled sinuously out upon the welcome level； the hill loomed ghostly
and black behind them。 A mile out； Wooden Shoes rode out of the gloom and
met the point。 He turned and rode beside Pink。
〃Yuh'll have t' swing 'em north；〃 he greeted。
〃Red Willow's dry as hellall but in the Rockin' R field。 No use askin' ole
Mullen to let us in there； we'll just go。 I sent the wagons through the
fence； an' yuh'll find camp about a mile up from the mouth uh the big
coulee。 You swing 'em round the end uh this bench； an' hit that big coulee
at the head。 When you come t' the fence； tear it down。 They's awful good
grass in that field！〃
〃All right；〃 said Pink cheerfully。 It was in open defiance of range
etiquette； but their need was desperate。 The only thing about it Pink did
not like was the long detour they must make。 He called the news across to
the Silent One； after Wooden Shoes had gone on down the line； and they swung
the point gradually to the left。
Before that drive was over； Pink had vowed many times to leave the range
forever and never to turn another cowbesides a good many other foolish
things which would be forgotten； once he had a good sleep。 And Rowdy；
plodding half…way down the herd； had grown exceedingly pessimistic regarding
Jessie Conroy； and decided that there was no sense in thinking about her all
the time； the way he had been doing。 Also； he told himself savagely that if
Harry ever crossed his trail again； there would be something doing。 This
thing of letting a cur like that run roughshod over a man on account of a
girl that didn't care was plumb idiotic。 And beside him the cattle walked
and walked and walked； a dim； moving mass in the quiet July night。
CHAPTER 10
Harry Conroy at Home。
It was late next morning when they got under way； for they had not reached
camp until long after midnight； and Wooden Shoes was determined the cattle
should have one good feed； and all the water they wanted； to requite them
for the hard drive of the day before。
Pink rode out with Rowdy to the herda heavylidded； gloomy Rowdy he was；
and not amiably inclined toward the small talk of the range。 But Pink had
slept five whole hours and was almost his normal self； which means that
speech was not to be denied him。
〃What yuh mourning over？〃 he bantered。 〃Mad 'cause the reservation's so
close？〃
〃Sure；〃 assented Rowdy； with deep sarcasm。
〃That's what I thought。 Studying up the nicest way uh giving brother…in…law
the glad hand； ain't yuh？〃
〃He's no relation uh mineand never will be；〃 said Rowdy curtly。 〃And I'll
thank you； Pink； to drop that subject for good and all。〃
〃Down she goes；〃 assented Pink； quite unperturbed。 〃But the cards ain't all
turned yet； yuh want to remember； I wouldn't pass on no hand like you've
got。 If I wanted a girl right bad； Rowdy； I'd wait till I got refused before
I'd quit。〃
〃Seems to me you've changed your politics lately；〃 Rowdy retorted。 〃A while
back you was cussing the whole business； and now you're worse than an old
maid aunt。 Pink； you may not be wise to the fact； but you sure are an
inconsistent little devil。〃
〃Are yuh going t' hunt Harry up and〃
〃I thought I told you to drop that。〃
〃Did yuh？ All right； thenonly I hope yuh didn't leave your gun packed away
in your bed；〃 he insinuated。
〃You can take a look to…night； if you want to。〃
Pink laughed in a particularly infectious way he had； and； before he quite
knew it； Rowdy was laughing； also。 After that the world did not look quite
so forlorn as it had； nor the day's work so distasteful。 So Pink； having
accomplished his purpose； was content to turn the subject。
〃There's old Liney〃he pointed her out to Rowdy〃fresh as a meadow…lark。 I
had a big grouch against her yesterday； just because she batted her eyes and
kept putting one foot ahead uh the other。 I could 'a' killed her。 But she's
all right； that old girl。 The way she led out down that black coulee last
night wasn't slow！ Say； she's an ambitious old party。 I wish you was riding
point with me； Rowdy。 The Silent One talks just about as much as
that old cow。 He sure loves to live up to his rep。〃
〃Oh； go on to work；〃 Rowdy admonished。 〃You make me think of a magpie。〃 All
the same； he looked after him with smiling lips； and eyes that forgot their
gloom。 He even whistled while he helped round up the scattered herd； ready
for that last day's drive。
Every man in the outfit comforted himself with the thought that it was the
last day's drive。 After long weeks of trailing lean herds over barren；
windbrushed hills； the last day meant much to them。 Even the Silent One sang
something they had never heard before； about 〃If Only I Knew You Were True。〃
They crossed the Rocking R field； took down four panels of fence； passed
out； and carefully put them up again behind them。 Before them stretched
level plain for two miles； beyond that a high； rocky ridge that promised
some trouble with the herd； and after that more plain and a couleee or two；
and then； on a far slopethe reservation。
The cattle were rested and fed； and walked out briskly； the ridge neared
perceptibly。 Pink's shrill whistle carried far back down the line and
mingled pleasantly with voices calling to one another across the herd。 Not a
man was humped listlessly in his saddle； instead； they rode with shoulders
back and hats at divers jaunty angles to keep the sun from shining in eyes
that faced the future cheerfully。
The herd steadily climbed the ridge； choosing the smoothest path and the
easiest slope。 Pink assured the line…backed cow that she was a peach； and
told her to 〃go to it； old girl。〃 The Silent One's pockets were quite empty
of rocks； and the prairiedogs chipped and flirted their funny little tails
unassailed。 And Rowdy； from wondering what had made Pink change his attitude
so abruptly； began to plan industriously the next meeting with
Jessie Conroy； and to build a new castle that was higher and airier than any
he had ever before attemptedand perhaps had a more flimsy foundation； for
it rested precariously on Pink's idle remarks。
The point gained the top of the ridge； and Pink turned and swung his hat
jubilantly at the others。 The reservation was in sight； though it lay
several miles distant。 But in that clear air one could distinguish the line
fenceif one had the eye of faith and knew just where to look。 Presently he
observed a familiar horseman climbing the ridge to meet them。
〃Eagle Creek's coming；〃 he shouted to the man behind。 〃Come alive； there；
and don't let 'em roam all over the map。 Git some style on yuh！〃
Those who heard laughed； no one ever dreamed of being offended at what Pink
said。 Those who had not heard had the news passed on to them； in various
forms。 Wooden Shoes； who had been loitering in the rear gossiping with the
men； rode on to meet Smith。
Eagle Creek urged his horse up the last steep place； right in the face of
the leaders； which halted and tried to turn back。 Pink； swearing in a
whisper； began to force them forward。
〃Let 'em alone；〃 Eagle Creek bellowed harshly。 〃They ain't goin' no
farther。〃
〃W…what？〃 Pink stopped short and eyed him critically。 Eagle Creek could not
justly be called a teetotaler； but Pink had never known him to get worse
than a bit wobbly in his legs； his mind had never fogged perceptibly。 Still；
something was wrong with him； that was certain。 Pink glanced dubiously
across at the Silent One and saw him shrug his shoulders expressively。
Eagle Creek rode up and stopped within ten feet of the line…backed cow； she
seemed hurt at being held up in this manner； Pink thought。
〃Yuh'll have t' turn this herd back；〃 Eagle Creek announced bluntly。
〃Where to？〃 Pink asked； too stunned to take in the meaning of it。
〃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 re