go see what sort of sleepin'
quarters they got here. It might be well for us to stay here in the
house for the night. We can settle on a bunk house later. The rest of
you can make yourselves generally useful. I'll go 'tend to the eats.
Mex, we need food! Where's the kitchen?"

Apparently understanding, the Mexican led the way toward the rear,
followed by the Kid. The lay-out of the place was a great deal like
that of the ordinary cattle ranch. Indeed, if one were not wholly
familiar with the types of dwellings which dot the Texas border, he
would be hard put to show the difference between a cattle and a sheep
ranch. The corral of the cattle ranch would be built of stronger
boards, and on the sheep ranch, or "farm," there would be huge vats for
"dipping" the sheep, to cure them of any disease they might have
contracted.

But except for these minor differences the two ranches are much the
same. Of course the personnel of the sheep ranch would not be as
extensive as that of the cattle ranch--one herder being able to
adequately care for two thousand head of sheep. In shearing time the
ranch hands are increased, to take care of this added labor.

So it is not strange to find five hands prepared to take over the
management of a whole sheep ranch. Naturally it would be necessary to
hire some "sheep man" to handle the technical part of the venture, for
sheep are delicate creatures, and a green manager could easily lose his
whole herd in short order.

It was now five o'clock. With a fire roaring in the kitchen and the
ranchers hurrying here and there about the place, it seemed home-like
and cheerful.

"Be all set in half an hour," the Kid called to Bud as he stepped out
in the yard for a moment. "Found plenty of bacon and beans, and enough
other stuff to make a pretty fair meal. Reckon you-all can eat, if
you're anything like me. What do you think of the place, Bud?"

"Pretty fair, Kid, pretty fair. Looks as though we may be able to make
something of it. I've been thinking of buying a radio outfit to keep
us company on long winter evenings. You know we bring in the sheep
then, and we'll have to stick close to home to take care of them."

"A wireless! A sparkin' outfit! What are you goin' to do, Bud, put
them woolies to sleep with music?"

"Hardly that," Bud laughed. "You'll be glad we got it when you hear
some of the big fights being reported, just as though you were at the
ringside. But apart fr