after a brief
consultation my brother was invited to join them, which he did. I
afterwards learned that Bob went into detail in defining our position
in the premises, and the posse, once they heard the other side of the
question, took an entirely different view of the matter. While the
consultation was in progress, we all dismounted; cigarettes were rolled,
and while the smoke arose in clouds, we reviewed the interim since
we parted in March in old Medina. The sheriff's posse accompanied my
brother to the wagon, and after refreshing themselves, remounted their
horses. Bob escorted them back across the summit of the mesa, and the
olive branch waved in peace on the divide.

The morning was not far advanced. After a brief consultation, the two
older foremen urged that we ride to the relief of Forrest. A hint was
sufficient, and including five of my best-mounted men, a posse of twenty
of us rode away. We held the divide for some distance on our course, and
before we left it, a dust-cloud, indicating the presence of Bob's herd,
was sighted on the southern slope, while on the opposite one my cattle
were beginning to move forward. Sponsilier knew the probable whereabouts
of Forrest, and under his lead we swung into a free gallop as we dropped
down the northern slope from the mesa. The pace was carrying us across
country at a rate of ten miles an hour, scarcely a word being spoken, as
we shook out kink after kink in our horses or reined them in to recover
their wind. Our objective point was a slight elevation on the plain,
from which we expected to sight the trail if not the herds of Flood,
Forrest, and The Rebel. On reaching this gentle swell, we reined in and
halted our horses, which were then fuming with healthy sweat. Both creek
and trail were clearly outlined before us, but with the heat-waves
and mirages beyond, our view was naturally restricted. Sponsilier felt
confident that Forrest was north of the creek and beyond the trail,
and again shaking out our horses, we silently put the intervening miles
behind us. Our mounts were all fresh and strong, and in crossing the
creek we allowed them a few swallows of water before continuing our
ride. We halted again in crossing the trail, but it was so worn by
recent use that it afforded no clue to guide us in our quest. But from
the next vantage-point which afforded us a view, a sea of cattle greeted
our vision, all of which seemed under herd. Wagon sheets were next
sighted, and f