the two forward extremities of the herd; two others rode the "drags,"
holding to either flank of the rear end of the drive. In choppy
country he detailed a third pair to skirt the middle flanks and prevent
leakage up any feathering coulees.

The chuck wagon followed a mile behind and the horse wrangler brought
up the rear, bringing the remuda, much depleted in numbers from full
round-up strength, for it now carried but three extra horses for each
man.

Three hours out from the Three Bar some of the cows showed a
disposition to rest and calmly bedded down; the forward drift of the
herd was arrested. After a prolonged rest they rose in scattering
groups to feed and once more they were moved slowly to the south. The
men not on active duty with the herd rode in knots and whiled away the
time as best they could. It was the habit to cover less than twenty
miles a day with the beef herd as any strenuous exertion would reduce
the weight of the grass-fattened steers.

The drove was a nondescript lot. In addition to the steers and older
cows that comprised every trail herd, the off-color she-stock had been
carefully culled from the range.

Harris pointed to the bunch.

"Look that assortment over well, Billie," he advised. "A few seasons
more, with fair luck, and you won't see one of these rainbow droves
with every color from brindle to strawberry roan; none of those
humpbacked runts; they'll all be gone. That's almost the last mongrel
herd that will ever wear your brand. They'll run better every year
until we have all big flat-backed beef stock--a straight white-face
run."

The third morning out from the home ranch broke stormy. Gray, leaden
skies and low scudding, drab clouds drifted over the foothills and
obscured the view of the peaks. A nasty drizzle dampened the face of
the world and laid its clammy touch on all living things. This
condition prevailed all through the day and shortly after the cows had
been milled and bedded for the night the drizzle turned to rain, now
falling straight and soft, again in fierce squalls whipped by varying
shifts of wind. A saddled night horse was picketed for every man. The
wagon stood close under a hill while the herd was bedded on a broad
flat at the mouth of a valley.

The men lay in the open, their bed-tarps folded to shed as much
moisture as possible. The soggy patter of the rain on her teepee
lulled the girl to sleep but she was frequently roused. A dull
mutter