. No
wonder, then, that the cattlemen of Crawling Water Valley were aroused.
Their livelihood was slipping away from them, day by day, for unless
prompt steps were taken the grass would be ruined by the woolly plague.

Thus far, Gordon Wade, a leader in the cattle faction, had been firm for
peaceful measures though some of the ranchers had threatened an open war
on the herders. "Avoid bloodshed at almost any cost," had been his
advice, and he had done his best to restrain the more hot-headed members
of his party, who were for shooting the sheep and driving out the
herders at the rifle point. But there was a limit, even to Wade's
patience, and his jaws squared grimly as he considered the probable
result, should Moran and his followers, the sheep owners, persist in
their present course of action.

It was still very early in the morning when Wade arrived at the herder's
camp. Oscar Jensen, a short, thick-set man, with an unwholesome, heavy
face, stepped out of the little tent as the rancher rode up.

"Mornin'."

"Good-morning!" The cattleman affected a cheerfulness which he did not
feel. "Are these your sheep, Mr. Jensen?" He waved in the direction of
the grazing band, a dirty white patch on the green of the valley.

"Yes."

"Perhaps you don't know that you are on Double Arrow land? I've ridden
over to ask you to move your sheep. They're spoiling our grass."

Jensen grinned sardonically, for he had been expecting Wade's visit and
was prepared for it.

"I got a right here," he said. "There's plenty good grass here and I
take my sheep where they get fat. This is government land."

"It is government land," Wade quietly acknowledged, "but you have no
right on it. I control this range, I've paid for it, and unless you move
within the next twelve hours you'll be arrested for trespass."

The sheepman's sullen face darkened with anger.

"Who'll do it? The sheriff won't, and I'm not afeerd of you cattlemen.
My sheep must eat as well as your cattle, and I got a good right here. I
won't move."

"Then remember that I warned you if you get into trouble, Jensen.
There's plenty of open range and good water on the other side of the
hills. I advise you to trail your sheep there before it is too late.
Don't think that Race Moran can save you from the law. Moran is not
running this valley, and don't you forget it."

"How do you know Moran's backin' me?" The Swede could not conceal his
surprise. "You can't bluff me, Wade. I kn