of Milk River； where it was still unfenced and unclaimed by small farmers。
The only mitigation of his exile； so far as he could see； lay in
the fact that he had Pink and the Silent One for companions。
It developed that when he would speak to the Silent One； he must say Jim； or
wait long for a reply。 Also； the Silent One was not always silent； and he
was quick to observe the weak points in those around him； and keen at
repartee。 When it pleased him so to do； he could handle the English language
in a way that was perfectly amazingand not always intelligible to the
unschooled。 At such times Pink frankly made no attempt to understand him；
Rowdy； having been hustled through grammar school and two…thirds through
high school before he ran away from a brand new stepmother； rather enjoyed
the outbreaks and Pink's consequent disgust。
Not one of them loved particularly the line camp； and Rowdy least of all；
since it put an extra ten miles between Miss Conroy and himself。 Rowdy had
got to that point where his mind dwelt much upon matters domestic； and he
made many secret calculations on the cost of housekeeping for two。 More than
that； he put himself upon a rigid allowance for pocket…moneyan allowance
barely sufficient to keep him in tobacco and papers。 All this without
consulting Miss Conroy's wisheswhich only goes to show that Rowdy Vaughan
was a born optimist。
The Silent One complained that he could not keep supplied with
reading…matter； and Pink bewailed the monotony of inaction。 For； beyond
watching the river to keep the cattle from miring in the mud lately released
from frost grip； there was nothing to do。
According to the calendar； spring was well upon them； and the prairies would
soon be flaunting new dresses of green。 The calendar； however； had neglected
to record the rainless heat of the summer gone before； or the searing winds
that burned the grass brown as it grew； or the winter which forgot its part
and permitted prairie…dogs to chip…chip…chip above ground in January； when
they should be sleeping decently in their cellar homes。
Apart from the brief storm which Rowdy had brought with him； there had been
no snow worth considering。 Always the chill winds shaved the barren land
from the north； or veered unexpectedly； and blew dry warmth from the
southwest； but never the snow for which the land yearned。 Wind； and bright
sunlight； and more wind； and hypocritical； drifting clouds； and more sun；
lean cattle walking； walking； up…hill and down coulee； nose to the dry
ground； snipping the stray tufts where should be a woolly carpet of sweet；
ripened grasses； eating wildrose bushes level with the sod； and wishing
there was only an abundance even of them； drifting uneasily from hilltop to
farther hilltop； hunger…driven and gaunt； where should be sleek content。
When they sought to continue their quest beyond the river； and the weaker
bogged at its muddy edge； Rowdy and Pink and the Silent One would ride out；
and with their ropes drag them back ignominiously to solid ground and the
very doubtful joy of living。
May Day found the grass…land brown and lifeless； with a chill wind blowing
over it。 The cattle wandered as before except that knock…kneed little calves
trailed beside their lean mothers and clamored for full stomachs。
The Cross L cattle bore the brunt of the range famine； because Eagle Creek
Smith was a stockman of the old school。 His cattle must live on the open
range； because they always had done so。 Other men bought or leased large
tracts of grass…land； and fenced them for just such an emergency； but not
he。 It is true that he had two or three large fields； as Miss Conroy had
told Rowdy； but it was his boast that all the hay he raised was eaten by his
saddlehorses； and that all the fields he owned were used solely for horse
pastures。 The open range was the place for cattle and no Cross L critter
ever fed inside a wire fence。
Through the dry summer before； when other men read the ominous signs and
hurriedly leased pasture…land and cut down their herds to what the fields
would feed； Eagle Creek went calmly on as he had done always。 He shipped
what beef was fit and that； of a truth； was not much！and settled down
for the winter； trusting to winter snows and spring rains to refill the
long…dry lakes and waterholes； and coat the levels anew with grass。
But the winter snows had failed to appear； and with the spring came no rain。
〃April showers〃 became a hideously ironical joke at nature's expense。 Always
the wind blew； and sometimes great flocks of clouds would drift
superciliously up from the far sky…line； play with men's hopes； and sail
disdainfully on to some more favored land。
It is all very well for a man to cling stubbornly to precedent； but if he
clings long enough； there comes a time when to cling becomes akin to crime。
Eagle Creek Smith still stubbornly held that rangecattle should be kept to
the range。 He waited until May was fast merging to June； watching； from
sheer habit； for the spring transformation of brown prairies into green。
When it did not come； and only the coulee sides and bottoms showed green
among the brown； he accepted ruefully the unusual conditions which nature
had thrust upon him； and started 〃Wooden Shoes〃 out with the wagons on the
horse round…up； which is a preliminary to the roundup proper； as every one
knows。
CHAPTER 6
A Shot From the Dark。
〃I call that a bad job well done；〃 Pink remarked； after a long silence； as
he gave over trying to catch a fish in the muddy Milk River。
〃What？〃 Rowdy； still prone to day…dreams of matters domestic； came back
reluctantly to reality； and inspected his bait。
〃Oh； come alive！ I mean the horse round…up。 How we're going to keep that
bunch uh skeletons under us all summer is a guessing contest for fair。
Wooden Shoes has got t' give me about forty； instead of a dozen； if he wants
me t' hit 'er up on circle the way I'm used to。 I bet their back…bones'll
wear clean up through our saddles。〃
〃Oh； I guess not；〃 said Rowdy calmly。 〃They ain't so thinand they'll pick
up flesh。 There's some mighty good ones in the bunch； too。 I hope Wooden
Shoes don't forget to give me the first pick。 There's one I got my eye
onthat blue roan。 Anyway； I guess you can wiggle along with less than
forty。〃
Pink shook his head thoughtfully and sighed。 Pink loved good mounts； and the
outlook did not please him。 The round…up had camped； for the last time； on
the river within easy riding distance of Camas。 The next day's drive would
bring them to the home ranch； where Eagle Creek was fuming over the
lateness of the season； the condition of the range； and the June rains；
which had thus far failed even to moisten decently the grass…roots。
〃Let's ride over to Camas； all the other fellows have gone；〃 Pink proposed
listlessly； drawing in his line。
Rowdy as listlessly consented。 Camas as a town was neither interesting nor
important； but when one has spent three long weeks communing with nature in
her sulkiest and most unamiable mood； even a town without a railroad to its
name may serve to relieve the monotony of living。
The sun was piling gorgeous masses of purple and crimson clouds high about
him； cuddling his fat cheeks against their soft folds till； a Midas； he
turned them to gold at the touch。 Those farther away gloomed jealously at
the favoritism of their lord； and huddled closer togetherthe purple for
rage； perhaps； and the crimson for shame！
Pink's face was tinged daintily with the glow。 and even Rowdy's lean； brown
features were for the moment glorified。 They rode knee to knee silently；
thinking each his own thoughts the while they watched the sunset with eyes
grown familiar with its barbaric splendor； but never indifferent。
Soon the west held none but the deeper tints； and the shadows climbed； with
the stealthy tread of trailing Indians； from the valley； chasing the
after…glow to the very hilltops； where it stood a moment at bay and then
surrendered meekly to the dusk。 A meadow…lark near…by cut the silence into
haunting ripples of melody； stopped affrighted at their coming； and flew off
into the dull glow of the west； his little body showed black against a
crimson cloud。 Out across the river a lone coyote yapped sharply； then
trailed off into the weird plaint of his kind。
〃Brother…in…law's in town to…day； Bob Nevin saw him；〃 Pink remarked； when
the coyote ceased wailing and held his peace。
〃Who？〃 Rowdy only half…heard。
〃Bob Nevin；〃 repeated Pink naively。
〃Don't get funny。 Who did Bob see？〃
〃Brother…in…law。 Yours； not mine。 Jessie's tin god。 If he's there yet； I bid
for an invite to the 'swatfest。' Or maybe〃a horrible possibility forced
itself upon Pink〃maybe you'll kill the fattest maverick and fall on his
neck〃
〃The maverick's？〃 Rowdy's brows were rather pinched together； but his tone
told nothing。
〃Naw； Harry Conroy's a fellow's liable to do most any fool thing when he's
got schoolma'amitis。〃
〃That so？〃
Pink snorted。 The possibility had grown to black certainty in his mind。 He
became suddenly furious。
〃Lord！ I hope some kind friend'll lead me out an' knock me in the head； if
ever I get locoed over any darned girl！〃
〃Same here；〃 agreed Rowdy； unmoved。
〃Then your days are sure numbered in words uh one syllable； old…timer；〃
snapped Pink。
Rowdy leaned and patted him caressingly upon the shouldera form of irony
which Pink detested。 〃Don't get excited； sonny；〃 he soothed。 〃Did you fetch
your gun？〃
〃I sure did！〃 Pink drew a long breath of relief。 〃Yuh needn't think I'm
going t' take chances on being no human colander。 I've packed a gun for
Harry Conroy ever since that rough…riding contest uh yourn。 Yuh mind the way
I took him under the ear with a rock？ He's been makin' war…talk behind m'
back ever since。 Did I bring m' gun！ Well； I guess yes！〃 He dimpled
distractingly。
〃All the same； it'll suit me not to run up against him；〃 said Rowdy quite
frankly。 He knew Pink would understand。 Then he lifted his coat
suggestively； to show the weapon concealed beneath； and smiled。
〃Different here。 Yuh did have sense enough t' be readyand if yuh see him；
and don't forget he's got a sister with a number two foot