to this amiable exchange of personalities, for
while she ate with the men she seldom took part in the conversation. Now
she said, rising:

"Stack the dishes, Bowers, and come over and help us."

"Yes, Bowers," Bunch mocked when Kate was well out of hearing, "come
over and run down fifty or sixty sheep and wrastle a few three-hundred
poun' bucks and drag around several wool sacks and halter-break that
two-year-ol' colt while you're restin'."

Bowers resented instantly any criticism of Kate by her herders. But he
himself saw and regretted the change in her. Occasionally he wished that
he dared remind her of the old adage that "Molasses catches more flies
than vinegar," for there were times when she made difficulties for
herself by her brusqueness, antagonizing where it would have been as
easy to engender a feeling of friendliness. She was more interesting,
perhaps, but less lovable, and this Bowers felt vaguely.

The work that morning went slowly. Bunch and Oleson moved with
exasperating deliberation and made stupid blunders. The brunt of the
labor fell upon Bowers and Kate, who soon were grimy with dust and
perspiration. As the sun rose higher, so did Kate's temper, and her
voice grew sharper and more imperious each time she spoke to the
shirkers. The fact that the present task was necessary, because of
carelessness on their part, did not tend to increase her tolerance.
Bunch, herding a band of yearlings, had allowed them to get back to
their mothers. To allow a "mix" was one of the supreme offenses and the
herders knew that only necessity ever made Kate overlook it. If new men
had been available, both Bunch and Oleson would have received their time
checks quickly.

Kate had been at the "dodge gate" until she was dizzy. Her eyes ached
with the strain of watching the chute and her arm ached with the strain
of slamming the gate to-and-fro, which cut them into their proper
divisions. The last sheep was through finally, but not until the sun was
high and the heat made exertion an effort.

"There are some yearlings in there that belong in the 'bum bunch,' and
six or eight with wrong earmarks. We'll have to catch them." Kate set
the example by walking in among them, and immediately a cloud of dust
arose as the frightened sheep ran bleating in a circle. Above the din
Kate's voice rose sharp and imperative as her trained eye singled out
the sheep she wanted.

"There, Oleson, that one! Bowers, catch that lame one! Hold th