to take the herd to Ogalalla
on the Platte, while he took a train for Denver. Around the camp-fire
that night, Pink gave us his experience in losing Mr. Medicine. 'Oh,
I lost him late enough in the day so he couldn't reach any shelter for
the night,' said Pink. 'At noon, when the sun was straight overhead, I
sounded him as to directions and found that he didn't know straight
up or east from west. After giving him the slip, I kept an eye on him
among the sand hills, at the distance of a mile or so, until he gave
up and unsaddled at dusk. The next morning when I overtook him,
I pretended to be trailing him up, and I threw enough joy into my
rapture over finding him, that he never doubted my sincerity.'

"On reaching Ogalalla, a man from Montana put in an appearance in
company with poor old Medicine, and as they did business strictly with
Pink, we were left out of the grave and owly council of medicine men.
Well, the upshot of the whole matter was that Pink was put in charge
of the herd, and a better foreman I never worked under. We reached the
company's Yellowstone range early in the fall, counted over and bade
our dogies good-by, and rode into headquarters. That night I talked
with the regular men on the ranch, and it was there that I found out
that a first-class cowhand could get in four months' haying in the
summer and the same feeding it out in the winter. But don't you forget
it, she's a cow country all right. I always was such a poor hand afoot
that I passed up that country, and here I am a 'boomer.'"

"Well, boom if you want," said Tom Roll, "but do you all remember
what the governor of North Carolina said to the governor of South
Carolina?"

"It is quite a long time between drinks," remarked Joe, rising, "but I
didn't want to interrupt Ace."

As we lined up at the bar, Ace held up a glass two thirds full, and
looking at it in a meditative mood, remarked: "Isn't it funny how
little of this stuff it takes to make a fellow feel rich! Why, four
bits' worth under his belt, and the President of the United States
can't hire him."

As we strolled out into the street, Joe inquired, "Ace, where will I
see you after supper?"

"You will see me, not only after supper, but all during supper,
sitting right beside you."

IV

A WINTER ROUND-UP

An hour before daybreak one Christmas morning in the Cherokee Strip,
six hundred horses were under saddle awaiting the dawn. It was a
clear, frosty morning that bespok