ut,
turning over and over in its descent until it fell in the rocky bottom
of the chasm, crushed and broken.

Ted and the broncho boys, together with Stella, remained at the Bubbly
Well Ranch until well into the winter, when the entire party returned to
the Moon Valley Ranch to spend several uneventful weeks.

CHAPTER XXV.

TED'S INDEPENDENCE.

"Is this the Moon Valley outfit?"

A young cavalry officer galloped up to the head of a beef trail that
strung backward for the better part of a mile, the cattle plodding on
wearily, guarded by a dozen or more tired and cross cow-punchers.

"It is, lieutenant," answered Ted Strong, eying the epaulets on the
officer's tunic, and reading his rank.

The lieutenant was in anything but a pleasant frame of mind, and looked
sneeringly at Ted, and at the tired cattle behind him.

"Well, another fifteen minutes' delay would have cost you the contract,"
he said. "It seems to me that you have been taking your time. Don't you
know that a government contract means business, and that to-day doesn't
mean to-morrow?"

This was said in such an uppish and unpleasant manner that Ted could
scarce restrain an angry reply, for he was tired out with the long
drive, which had been unusually full of dangers and vexatious delays.

But instead of making a sharp answer he merely smiled at the officer,
and said:

"Yes, I understand all about government contracts and the penalties for
not living up to them. But I am within the government reservation, and
here are my cattle, and I have, as you say, fifteen minutes to spare."

"Well, we consider that you are overdue, as you should have been here in
time to have the cattle inspected and formally accepted before the time
allowance elapsed."

"Nothing in the contract that says so," said Ted, still pleasantly.

"Well, it's usage, and that goes in the army."

"I'm not in the army."

"I don't want any words with you on the matter. It is sufficient that
you are late, and that you have been the cause of a great deal of worry
and annoyance."

Ted was beginning to get angry at the officer's tone and looks.

He turned from the lieutenant to the herd, and shouted:

"Bud, round 'em up and bed 'em. This is as far as we go to-night."

"No, you don't," said the lieutenant. "You will drive into the
quarantine pasture, where your stock will be inspected in the morning."

Ted paid no attention to him, and the rounding up of the herd began as
he