," said he. "It's in the left-hand cubbyhole,"
he called from inside.

"Very well," she replied.

He stood in the doorway, looking fondly at her unconscious shoulders
and the pose of her blonde head thrown back against the high
rocking-chair.

"That's the sort of a woman, after all," said Senor Johnson. "No blame
fuss about her."

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE ROUND-UP

This, as you well may gather, was in the summer routine. Now the time
of the great fall round-up drew near. The home ranch began to bustle
in preparation.

All through Cochise County were short mountain ranges set down,
apparently at random, like a child's blocks. In and out between them
flowed the broad, plain-like valleys. On the valleys were the various
ranges, great or small, controlled by the different individuals of the
Cattlemen's Association. During the year an unimportant, but certain,
shifting of stock took place. A few cattle of Senor Johnson's Lazy Y
eluded the vigilance of his riders to drift over through the Grant Pass
and into the ranges of his neighbour; equally, many of the neighbour's
steers watered daily at Senor Johnson's troughs. It was a matter of
courtesy to permit this, but one of the reasons for the fall round-up
was a redistribution to the proper ranges. Each cattle-owner sent an
outfit to the scene of labour. The combined outfits moved slowly from
one valley to another, cutting out the strays, branding the late
calves, collecting for the owner of that particular range all his
stock, that he might select his marketable beef. In turn each
cattleman was host to his neighbours and their men.

This year it had been decided to begin the circle of the round-up at
the C 0 Bar, near the banks of the San Pedro. Thence it would work
eastward, wandering slowly in north and south deviation, to include all
the country, until the final break-up would occur at the Lazy Y.

The Lazy Y crew was to consist of four men, thirty riding horses, a
"chuck wagon," and cook. These, helping others, and receiving help in
turn, would suffice, for in the round-up labour was pooled to a common
end. With them would ride Jed Parker, to safeguard his master's
interests.

For a week the punchers, in their daily rides, gathered in the range
ponies. Senor Johnson owned fifty horses which he maintained at the
home ranch for every-day riding, two hundred broken saddle animals,
allowed the freedom of the range, except when special occasion demand