d and fled. Did he go
toward the cows? Not at all; but in the opposite direction. Instinct
told him that if he had gone toward the cows it would have meant another
fight. To leave them was the bovine manner of saying, "Well, then, take
them."

The big bull did not go far. His head hung low, and the heaving flanks
showed he was tired. But Apollo's head was high in the air. Dejection on
one side and absolute mastery on the other were as plainly exhibited in
the manners of the animals as though it had been written out and
proclaimed.

"What will he do if I go up to him now?"

"The fight is all out of him."

This was true. He exhibited no alarm when they approached, and when they
walked around to get a view of his other side, the mark plainly showed
the following brand: "M--V."

"That is undoubtedly the brand of some person who captured the animal
when young."

"How old do you suppose he is?"

"It is difficult to fix his age with any certainty, but I do not think
he is over ten."

"What do you suppose the brand means!"

"It is some arbitrary term, the initials of a person, or it may be
intended to designate something. Branding is a very common way of
marking cattle, so as to indicate ownership; nearly all savage tribes
have a habit of branding, or tattooing; and sailors also. Various
civilized countries in the past have branded criminals as a means of
identifying them."

[Illustration: _Fig. 22. The Mysterious Brand on the Yak._]

They now had an opportunity of taking an inventory of their stock. The
original herd comprised Apollo, six cows and four calves, or half-grown
cattle. The new acquisition brought the count up to twenty-six cows and
twenty young animals. The vanquished bull was very meek from that time
forward, and the surprising thing was that Apollo was thereafter the
same quiet, unobtrusive animal he had been before.

But there was work to do in the factory. Harry was now engaged in
building an iron lathe for their further work. A drilling machine was
his next tool, and as the weeks passed the boys devoted much of their
time to making such articles of machinery as could be used
advantageously to turn out the simple products which future needs might
demand.

The leather vats were examined and the skins found in excellent
condition. These were then taken out, and grease and oil worked into
them until they were pliable. The thick parts of the hides had been
previously cut out, so that they could