country to the Belknap reservation。 Eagle Creek went t' town and
telegraphed； and got the refusal of it for pasturage； he ain't so slow；
oncet he gets started。 But if you've ever rode over them dried…up benches；
you savvy the merry party we'll be when we git there。 I've saw jack…rabbits
packing their lunch along over there。〃
〃Belknap〃Rowdy dropped his saddle spitefully to the ground〃is where our
friend Conroy has just gone to fill a splendid position。〃
Pink thoughtfully blew the ashes from his cigarette。 〃Harry Conroy would
fill one position fine。 So one uh these days I'll offer it to him。 I don't
know anybody that'd look nicer in a coffin than that jasperand if he's
gone t' Belknap； that's likely the position he'll fill； all right。〃
Rowdy said nothing； but his very silence told Pink much。
〃How'd yuh make out with Jessie？〃 Pink asked frankly； though he was not
supposed to know where Rowdy had been。
Rowdy knew from experience that it was useless trying to keep anything from
Pink that Pink wanted to know； besides； there was a certain comfort in
telling his troubles to so stanch a friend。 〃Harry got his work in there；
too；〃 he said bitterly。 〃He beat me to her and queered me for good； by the
looks。〃
〃Huh！〃 said Pink。 〃I wouldn't waste much time worrying over her； if she's
that easy turned。〃
〃She's all right；〃 defended Rowdy quickly。 〃I don't know as I blame her； she
takes the stand any sister would take。 She wants to know all about the
troublehear both sides； she said； so she could judge which was to blame。 I
guess she's got her heart set on being peacemaker。 I know one thing：
shelikes me； all right。〃
〃I don't see how he queered yuh any； then；〃 puzzled Pink。 〃She sure couldn't
take his part after you'd told her all he done。〃
Rowdy turned on him savagely。 〃You little fool； do you think I told her？
Right there's the trouble。 He told his story； and when she asked for mine； I
couldn't say anything。 She's his sister。〃
〃Youdidn'ttell！〃 Pink leaned against the stable and stared。 〃Rowdy
Vaughan； there's times when even your friend can't disguise the fact that
yuh act plumb batty。 Yuh let Harry do yuh dirt that any other man'd 'a'
killed him on bare suspicion uh doing； and yuh never told her when she asked
yuh to！ How yuh lent him money； and let him steal some right out uh your
pocket〃
〃I couldn't prove that；〃 Rowdy objected。
〃And yuh never told her about his cutting your latigo〃
〃Oh； cut it out！〃 Rowdy glowered down at him。 〃I guess I don't need to be
reminded of all those things。 But are they the things a man can tell a girl
about her brother？ Pink； you're about as unfeeling a little devil as I ever
run across。 Maybe you'd have told her； but I couldn't。 So it's all off。〃
He turned away and stared unseeingly at the rim of hills that hid the place
where she lived。 She seemed very far away from him just thenand very； very
desirable。 He thought then that he had never before realized just how much
he cared。
〃You can jest bet I'd 'a' told her！〃 gritted Pink； watching furtively
Rowdy's averted face。 〃She ain't goin' t' be bowed down by no load of
ignorance much longer； either。 If she don't get Harry Conroy's pedigree
straight out； without the varnish； it'll be because I ain't next to all his
past。〃
But Rowdy； glooming among the debris of certain pet air…castles； neither
heard nor wanted to hear Pink's wrathful mutterings。As a matter of fact； it
was not till Pink clattered out of the yard on Mascot that he remembered
where he was。 Even then it did not occur to him to wonder where Pink was
going。
CHAPTER 9
Moving the Herd。
Four thousand weary cattle crawled up the long ridge which divides Chin
Coulee from Quitter Creek。 Pink； riding point； opposite the Silent One；
twisted round in his saddle and looked back at the slow…moving river of
horns and backs veiled in a gray dust…cloud。 Down the line at intervals rode
the others； humped listlessly in their saddles； their hat brims pulled low
over tired eyes that smarted with dust and wind and burning heat。
Pink sighed； and wished lonesomely that it was Rowdy riding point with him；
instead of the Silent One； who grew even more silent as the day dragged
leadenly to mid…afternoon； Pink could endure anything better than being left
to his thoughts and to the complaining herd for company。
He took off his hat； pushed back his curlsdripping wet they were and
flattened unbecomingly in pasty； yellow rings on his foreheadand eyed with
disfavor a line…backed； dry cow； with one horn tipped rakishly toward her
speckled nose； she blinked silently at wind and heat； and forged steadily
ahead； up…hill and down coulee；always in the lead； always walking； walking；
like an automaton。 Her energy； in the face of all the dry； dreary days；
rasped Pink's nerves unbearably。 For nearly a week he had
ridden left point； and always that line…backed cow with the down…crumpled
horn walked and walked and walked； a length ahead of her most intrepid
followers。
He leaned from his saddle； picked up a rock from the barren； yellow
hillside； and threw it at the cow spitefully。 The rock bounced off her lean
rump； she blinked and broke into a shuffling trot； her dragging hoofs
kicking up an extra amount of dust； which blew straight into Pink's face。
〃Aw； cut it out！〃 he shouted petulantly。 〃You're sure the limit； without
doing any stunts at sprinting up…hill。 Ain't yuh got any nerves； yuh blamed
old skate？ Yuh act like it was milkin'…time； and yuh was headed straight for
the bars and a bran mash。 Can't yuh realize the kind uh deal you're up
against？ Here's cattle that's got you skinned for looks； old girl； and they
know it's coming blamed tough； and you just bat your eyes and peg along
like yuh enjoyed it。 Bawl； or something； can't yuh？ Drop back a foot and act
human！〃
The Silent One looked across at him with a tired smile。 〃Let her go； Pink；
and pray for more like her；〃 he called amusedly。 〃There'll be enough of them
dropping back presently。〃
Pink threw one leg over the horn and rode sidewise； made him a cigarette；
and tried to forget the cowor； at least； to forgive her for not acting as
dog…tired as he felt。
They were on the very peak of the ridge now； and the hill sloped smoothly
down before them to the bluff which bounded Quitter Creek。 Far down； a tiny
black speck in the coulee…bottom； they could see Wooden Shoes riding along
the creek…bank； scouting for water。 From the way he rode； and from the fact
that camp was nowhere in sight； Pink guessed shrewdly that his quest was in
vain。 He shrugged his shoulders at what that meant； and gave his attention
to the herd。
The marching line split at the brow of the bluff。 The line…backed cow
lowered her head a bit and went unfaltering down the parched； gravel…coated
hill； followed by a few hundred of the freshest。 Then the stream stopped
flowing； and Pink and the Silent One rode back up the bluff to where the
bulk of the footsore herd； their senses dulled by hunger and weariness and
choking thirst； sniffed at the gravel that promised agony to their bruised
feet； and balked at the ordeal。 Others straggled up； bunched against the
rebels； and stood stolidly where they were。
Pink galloped on down the crawling line。 〃Forward； the Standard Oil
Brigade！〃 he yelled whimsically as he went。
The cowboys heardand understood。 They left their places and went forward
at a lope； and Pink rode back to the coulee edge； untying his slicker as he
went。 The Silent One was already off his horse and shouting hoarsely as he
whacked with his slicker at the sulky mass。 Pink rode in and did the same。
It was not the first time this thing had happened； and from a diversion it
was verging closely on the monotonous。 Presently； even a rank tenderfoot
must have caught the significance of Pink's military expression。 The
Standard Oil Brigade was at the front in force。
Cowboys； swinging five…gallon oil…cans； picked up from scattered sheep camps
and carried many a weary mile for just such an emergency； were charging the
bunch intrepidly。 Others made shift with flat sirup…cans with pebbles
inside。 A few； like Pink and the Silent One； flapped their slickers till
their arms ached。 Anything； everything that would make a din and startle the
cattle out of their lethargy； was pressed into service。
But they might have been raised in a barnyard and fed cabbage leaves from
back door…steps； for all the excitement they showed。 Cattle that three
months agoor a monthwould run； head and tail high in air； at sight of a
man on foot； backed away from a rattling； banging cube of gleaming tin；
turned and faced the thing dull…eyed and apathetic。
In time； however； they gave way dogedly before the onslaught。 A few were
forced shrinkingly down the hill； others followed gingerly； until the line
lengthened and flowed； a sluggish； brown…red stream； into the coulee and
across to Quitter Creek。
Here the leaders were browsing greedily along the banks。 They had emptied
the few holes that had still held a meager store of brackish water and so
the mutinous bulk of the herd snuffed at the trampled； muddy spots and
bellowed their disappointment。
Wooden Shoes rode up and surveyed the half maddened animals gloomily。 〃Push
'em on； boys；〃 he said。 〃They's nothings for 'em here。 I've sent the wagons
on to Red Willow； we'll try that next。 Push 'em along all yuh can； while I
go on ahead and see。〃
With tin…cans； slickers； and much vituperation； they forced the herd up the
coulee side and strung them out again on trail。 The line…backed cow walked
and walked in the lead before Pink's querulous gaze； and the others plodded
listlessly after。 The gray dust…cloud formed anew over their slowmoving
backs； and the cowboys humped over in their saddles and rode and rode； with
the hot sun beating aslant in their dirt…grimed faces； and with the wind
blowing and blowing。
If this had been the first herd to make that dreary trip； things would not
have been quite so disheartening。 But it was the third。 Seven thousand lean
kine had passed that way before them； eating the scant grass growth and
drinking what water they could find among those barren； sun…baked coulees。
The Cross L boys；