hrough my sheep yesterday,
killing over two hundred of them."

Conrad replied softly: "I know, I know! I just heard of it. Too bad! but
you understand how it is. Herds get going that way, and you can't stop
'em nor head 'em off."

"Your men didn't try to head 'em off."

"How about that, boys?" inquired Conrad, turning to the younger men.

A long, freckled, grinning ape stepped forward.

"Well, it was this way: we was a-tryin' to head the herd off, and we
didn't see the sheep till we was right into 'em----"

"That's a lie!" said Mose. "You drove the horses right down the valley
into the sheep. I saw you do it."

"You call me a liar and I'll blow your heart out," shouted the cowboy,
dropping his hand to his revolver.

"Halt!" said Delmar. "Easy now, you young cockalorum. It ain't useful to
start shooting where Andrew Delmar is."

Conrad spoke sharply: "Jim, shut up." Turning to Mose, "Where did it
happen?"

"In Boulder Creek, just south of the road."

Conrad turned to Delmar in mock surprise. "_South_ of the road! Your
sheep must o' strayed over the line, Mr. Delmar. As they was on our
side of the range I don't see that I can do anything for you. If they'd
been on the north side----"

"That'll do," interrupted Delmar. "I told you that so long as the north
side fed my sheep I would keep them there to accommodate your stockmen.
I give notice now that I shall feed where I please, and I shall be with
my sheep night and day, and the next man that crosses my sheep will
leave his bones in the grass with the dead sheep, and likely a horse or
two besides." He stepped toward Conrad. "Williams has had his warning; I
give you yours. I hold you responsible for every shot fired at my men.
If one of my men is shot I'll kill you and Williams at sight. Good-day."

"What'll _we_ do?" called one of the cowboys.

Delmar turned, and his eyes took on a wild glare.

"I'll send you to hell so quick you won't be able to open your mouth.
Throw up your hands!" The man's hands went up. "Why, I'd ear-mark ye and
slit each nostril for a leather button----"

Conrad strove for peace. "Be easy on him, Delmar; he's a crazy fool,
anyway; he don't know you."

"He will after this," said Delmar. "I'll trouble you, Mr. Conrad, to
collect all the guns from your men." Mose drew his revolver. "My boy
here is handy too. I don't care to be shot in the back as I ride away.
Drop your guns, every scab of ye!"

"I'll be d----d if I do."

"Drop