underation, boss, what'll we do?" inquired Sims petulantly.

"Call Lester, and we three will talk it over," said Bud, a half-formed
plan already in his mind.

Presently the three were alone and discussing the situation. Bud proposed
his scheme and outlined it clearly. For perhaps a quarter of an hour he
talked, interrupted by the eager, enthusiastic exclamations of Lester.
When he had finished, Sims lay back on his two elbows and regarded his
employer.

"If yuh keep on this-a-way, boss," he remarked, "I allow we might let yuh
herd a few lambs next spring, seein' yuh _will_ learn the sheep
business."

Bud grinned at the other's compliment and noted Lester's enthusiasm. Then
they plunged into the details.

"Better ride your horse around by way of the ford ten miles away," were
the instructions as Lester saddled up. "Then you can come at 'em by the
rear."

No word of young Larkin's intention had passed about the camp, and the
sheepmen watched with considerable wonder the departure of the boy,
placing it to Bud's fear of his receiving an injury in the trouble that
was almost surely bound to happen that night.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, or thereabouts, Lester, with his outfit
strapped on his dejected horse, rode slowly away from the sheepmen's
camp.

Meanwhile, behind the various defenses that had been erected against the
coming of Bud Larkin and his animals, the cowmen and their punchers were
making ready for their night's battle. The chief actor in these fevered
preparations was Beef Bissell, whose hatred of Larkin was something to
frighten babies with at night.

Since the gallant battle at Welsh's Butte, Bissell had changed some of his
ideas regarding sheepmen in general; but he had changed none regarding
Larkin in particular. It was now a matter of pride and determination,
almost of oath with him, to fight this matter of the range to the finish.
The other cowmen stood by him out of principle and because of the need of
a unified stand by men of their association.

So here in the last ditch, ready to sacrifice men, animals, and money,
wrong and knowing it, these beef barons prepared to dispute the last inch
of their territory. It should never be said, they had sworn, that sheep
had crossed the cattle-range of any of them. On this elevating platform
they proposed to make their fight.

To be perfectly just to all concerned, it is only right to add that all
who did not choose to remain, either owners or