whether there was anything in it or not, yet. He had been
here three years and sometimes thought there was not much in
it, said it was very expensive and a great many outs to it
and I believe he told the truth. Out about town they blow it
up, want to get everybody at it they can. We shall see in
time. Can tell better in the spring after we see how they
come in with their cattle.

The truth was, Bill knew the ways of cattle, for he had run cattle in
the open in Maine under climatic conditions not dissimilar to those of
the Dakota country. His experience had taught him that when a cow is
allowed to have one calf after another without special feeding, she is
more than likely to die after the third calf. He knew also that when a
cow calves in cold weather, she is likely to freeze her udder and be
ruined, and lose the calf besides.

"Those cows will either have to be fed," he said to Roosevelt, "or
they'll die."

Roosevelt took Sewall's pessimism with a grain of salt. "No one
hereabouts seems to think there's any danger of that sort," he said.
"I think, Bill, you're wrong."

"I hope I am," said Bill; and there the matter dropped.

It was while Roosevelt was working at Elkhorn that further rumors of
trouble came from the party of the Marquis. Maunders insisted that he
had a prior claim to the shack in which Sewall and Dow were living and
all the land that lay around it, and demanded five hundred dollars for
his rights. Roosevelt had from the first scouted the claim, for
Maunders had a way of claiming any shack which a hunter deserted
anywhere. Vague threats which Maunders was making filled the air, but
did not greatly disturb Roosevelt. Sewall and Dow, however, had heard
a rumor which sounded authentic and might require attention. Maunders
had said that he was going to shoot Roosevelt at the next opportunity.
They passed the news on to "the boss."

This was decidedly interesting. Maunders was known as a good shot and
was well protected by the Marquis.

Roosevelt promptly saddled his horse and rode back up the river.
Maunders's shack stood on the west bank a few hundred yards from the
Pyramid Park Hotel. Roosevelt knocked on the door. Maunders opened it.

"Maunders," said Roosevelt sharply, "I understand that you have
threatened to kill me on sight. I have come over to see when you want
to begin the killing and to let you know that, if you have anything to
say against me, now is the time