times. That's what makes farmers
hate sheep-men so. Folks down 'n the valley round up the hogs every
June to pick fox-tail out of their eyes. If they didn't, half the
hogs'd go blind."

"Round up?" questioned Sid.

"Drive 'em together," explained Dave. "You'll see a round-up of my
cattle 'fore long. Got to go out and hunt the hills for 'em, and drive
'em away down to the railroad. The other men are going to do it on
their ranches too. Takes about a day for us little cattle-men to round
up, and then about two days more to drive them down to the railroad.
Big cattle-men it takes longer."

"You like it?" asked Sid.

Dave laughed.

"Well 'nough," he said. "We stop, you know, and have a good time on
the road every little while."

"What do you do?" questioned Sid.

"Oh! drink--some," answered Dave.

"You don't though--do you?" asked Sid.

"Oh! well--some," said Dave slowly, as he poked the fire. "Have to
drink with other men, you know. They wouldn't think I was friendly if
I didn't."

Sid looked troubled. Dave never used to drink when he worked for Sid's
father two or three years before, on the fruit ranch up country.

Dave's bread was done. There were yellow streaks in it, but Sid ate it.

"The principal thing's to get something to eat when your [Transcriber's
note: you're?] ranching," apologized Dave.

About a week after this the round-up began.

"You take Rix," said Dave. "I'll take another horse, and we'll hunt
the cattle up."

In and out of the gullies they rode, here and there through the hills.
Late in the afternoon all the cattle that were to be shipped were
together. The moon rose full and bright, making the hills almost as
light as day. Sid and Dave stood by the shanty, looking back at the
corral, where the cattle were.

"We'll start early to-morrow morning, Sid," said Dave. "Guess we'll
meet some of the other ranchers on the road, most likely. You tired?
Musn't let one day's riding use you up. We'll be two days going down,
and one coming back. We can ride nights some, maybe. It'll be
pleasant."

Next night they were part way down the hills, far enough so that they
were leaving the bare portions behind, and entering the live-oak
districts. Sid stood in the moonlight by an oak, and watched some of
the men. They sat around a little fire, and played cards and drank.
Out in the moonlight were other men, taking charge of the droves of
cattle. Sid could see horns and heads,