the cattle should be treated considerately,
especially at the beginning of the long journey, for it was to the
interests of the owners that they should arrive at their destination in
good condition. Like men in training for a pedestrian contest,
particular care was needed at the start to prevent a general breakdown.
After a few days the beasts, if well used, would be able to stand much
more.

It, therefore, lacked considerable of night when the final halt was
made, and the cattle were allowed to crop the grass until they became
sated and chose to lie down.

The men in charge of the other herd were equally thoughtful, for they
came to a pause about the same time, with nearly a mile separating the
camps. It was hardly dark, indeed, when a horseman was seen approaching
from the southward, on an easy gallop, and there was no doubt that he
belonged to the other party.

"It's my old friend Sclevinger," said Captain Shirril, recognizing the
visitor, as he saluted, and, checking his steed beside that of the old
Texan, extended his hand, with the heartiest of salutations.

"I suspected it was you," said the new arrival, whose pleasant
countenance was covered by as shaggy a growth as that of the captain,
"and I concluded I would run over and shake hands."

"That's right, pard. I'm mighty glad to see you; you must take supper
with us."

"Thank you, I guess I will," replied Sclevinger, dismounting and
accepting the invitation as readily as it was given; "I tried to run in
my herd ahead of you this afternoon," he added, with a twinkle of his
fine eyes, "but I couldn't quite make it."

"We saw what you were up to, and we had to bestir ourselves to head you
off. How many have you, colonel?"

"Only about twelve hundred--that is, I _had_ twelve hundred, when I
started from the ranch two days ago, but we lost nearly a hundred
yesterday."

"How was that?" asked the captain, as they reached the provision wagon,
and paused while the cook made their meal ready.

"A confounded lot of Comanches cut out some of our cattle, and, despite
all we could do, got off with them."

"They have been hanging round us, but didn't do anything. Seems to me,
colonel, you shouldn't have allowed that."

"That's what makes me so mad," was the bluff response of the guest. "It
was just after crossing the creek to the southwest, which doesn't lie in
your way. A lot of the beasts took fright at something, and away they
went on a bee line for Arizona.