ded 'J.E.', which is pet stock and no good at
workin' cattle. You met up with Ed Brevoort this evenin'. Well, you
can ride fence with Ed and he'll show you the high spots and
hollows--and the line--south. If you run onto any strangers ridin' too
close to the line, find out what they want. If you can't find out, get
word to me. That goes for strangers. But if you get to arguin' with
any of my boys--talk all you like--but don't start a smoke--_for you
won't get away with it_. The Spider ain't payin' guns to shoot up his
own outfit. If you're lookin' for real trouble, all you got to do is
to ride south acrost the line--and you'll find it. And you're gettin'
a straight hundred a month and your keep as long as you work for the
Olla."

"Which is some different from takin' my hoss and fannin' it easy for
Texas," said Pete, grinning.

"Some different," said Brent.

CHAPTER XXVII

OVER THE LINE

Few cattle grazed across the Olla's well-fenced acres--and these cattle
were of a poor strain, lean Mexican stock that would never run into
weight as beef. Pete had expected to see many cattle--and much work to
be done. Instead, there were few cattle; and as for work--he had been
put to riding line with big Ed Brevoort. For two weeks he had done
nothing else. Slowly it dawned upon Pete that The Spider's ranch was
little more than a thoroughfare for the quick handling of occasional
small bands of cattle from one questionable owner to another. He saw
many brands, and few of them were alike, and among them none that were
familiar. Evidently the cattle were from the south line. The
saddle-stock was branded "J.E." and "The Olla." These brands appeared
on none of the cattle that Pete had seen. About a month after his
arrival, and while he was drifting slowly along the fence with
Brevoort, Pete caught sight of a number of horsemen, far out beyond the
ranch-line, riding slowly toward the north. He spoke to Brevoort, who
nodded. "We're like to be right busy soon."

Brevoort and Pete rode to the ranch-house that evening to get supplies
for their line shack. The place was all but deserted. The cook was
there--and the Mexican Jose who looked after the "fast ones" in the
stables; but Brent, Harper, Sandy Bell, and the rest of the men were
gone. Pete thought of the horsemen that he had seen--and of Brevoort's
remark, that they would "be right busy soon." Pete wondered how soon,
and how busy.

The day after the d