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inside。 A few； like Pink and the Silent One； flapped their slickers till
their arms ached。 Anything； everything that would make a din and startle the
cattle out of their lethargy； was pressed into service。
But they might have been raised in a barnyard and fed cabbage leaves from
back door…steps； for all the excitement they showed。 Cattle that three
months agoor a monthwould run； head and tail high in air； at sight of a
man on foot； backed away from a rattling； banging cube of gleaming tin；
turned and faced the thing dull…eyed and apathetic。
In time； however； they gave way dogedly before the onslaught。 A few were
forced shrinkingly down the hill； others followed gingerly； until the line
lengthened and flowed； a sluggish； brown…red stream； into the coulee and
across to Quitter Creek。
Here the leaders were browsing greedily along the banks。 They had emptied
the few holes that had still held a meager store of brackish water and so
the mutinous bulk of the herd snuffed at the trampled； muddy spots and
bellowed their disappointment。
Wooden Shoes rode up and surveyed the half maddened animals gloomily。 〃Push
'em on； boys；〃 he said。 〃They's nothings for 'em here。 I've sent the wagons
on to Red Willow； we'll try that next。 Push 'em along all yuh can； while I
go on ahead and see。〃
With tin…cans； slickers； and much vituperation； they forced the herd up the
coulee side and strung them out again on trail。 The line…backed cow walked
and walked in the lead before Pink's querulous gaze； and the others plodded
listlessly after。 The gray dust…cloud formed anew over their slowmoving
backs； and the cowboys humped over in their saddles and rode and rode； with
the hot sun beating aslant in their dirt…grimed faces； and with the wind
blowing and blowing。
If this had been the first herd to make that dreary trip； things would not
have been quite so disheartening。 But it was the third。 Seven thousand lean
kine had passed that way before them； eating the scant grass growth and
drinking what water they could find among those barren； sun…baked coulees。
The Cross L boys； on this third trip； were become a jaded lot of
hollow…eyed men； whose nerves were rasped raw with long hours and longer
days in the saddle。 Pink's cheeks no longer made his name appropriate； and
he was not the only one who grew fretful over small things。 Rowdy had been
heard； more than once lately； to anathematize viciously the prairie…dogs for
standing on their tails and chipchip…chipping at them as they went by。 And
though the Silent One did not swear； he carried rocks in his pockets；
and threw them with venomous precision at every 〃dog〃 that showed his
impertinent nose out of a burrow within range。 For Pink； he vented his
spleen on the line…backed cow。
So they walked and walked and walked。
The cattle balked at another hill； and all the tincans and slickers in the
crowd could scarcely move them。 The wind dropped with the sun； and the
clouds glowed gorgeously above them； getting scant notice； except that they
told eloquently of the coming night； and there were yet mileslong； rough；
heartbreaking milesto put behind them before they could hope for the
things their tired bodies craved： supper and dreamless sleep。
When the last of the herd had sidled； under protest； down the long hill to
the flat； dusk was pushing the horizon closer upon them； mile by mile。 When
they crawled sinuously out upon the welcome level； the hill loomed ghostly
and black behind them。 A mile out； Wooden Shoes rode out of the gloom and
met the point。 He turned and rode beside Pink。
〃Yuh'll have t' swing 'em north；〃 he greeted。
〃Red Willow's dry as hellall but in the Rockin' R field。 No use askin' ole
Mullen to let us in there； we'll just go。 I sent the wagons through the
fence； an' yuh'll find camp about a mile up from the mouth uh the big
coulee。 You swing 'em round the end uh this bench； an' hit that big coulee
at the head。 When you come t' the fence； tear it down。 They's awful good
grass in that field！〃
〃All right；〃 said Pink cheerfully。 It was in open defiance of range
etiquette； but their need was desperate。 The only thing about it Pink did
not like was the long detour they must make。 He called the news across to
the Silent One； after Wooden Shoes had gone on down the line； and they swung
the point gradually to the left。
Before that drive was over； Pink had vowed many times to leave the range
forever and never to turn another cowbesides a good many other foolish
things which would be forgotten； once he had a good sleep。 And Rowdy；
plodding half…way down the herd； had grown exceedingly pessimistic regarding
Jessie Conroy； and decided that there was no sense in thinking about her all
the time； the way he had been doing。 Also； he told himself savagely that if
Harry ever crossed his trail again； there would be something doing。 This
thing of letting a cur like that run roughshod over a man on account of a
girl that didn't care was plumb idiotic。 And beside him the cattle walked
and walked and walked； a dim； moving mass in the quiet July night。
CHAPTER 10
Harry Conroy at Home。
It was late next morning when they got under way； for they had not reached
camp until long after midnight； and Wooden Shoes was determined the cattle
should have one good feed； and all the water they wanted； to requite them
for the hard drive of the day before。
Pink rode out with Rowdy to the herda heavylidded； gloomy Rowdy he was；
and not amiably inclined toward the small talk of the range。 But Pink had
slept five whole hours and was almost his normal self； which means that
speech was not to be denied him。
〃What yuh mourning over？〃 he bantered。 〃Mad 'cause the reservation's so
close？〃
〃Sure；〃 assented Rowdy； with deep sarcasm。
〃That's what I thought。 Studying up the nicest way uh giving brother…in…law
the glad hand； ain't yuh？〃
〃He's no relation uh mineand never will be；〃 said Rowdy curtly。 〃And I'll
thank you； Pink； to drop that subject for good and all。〃
〃Down she goes；〃 assented Pink； quite unperturbed。 〃But the cards ain't all
turned yet； yuh want to remember； I wouldn't pass on no hand like you've
got。 If I wanted a girl right bad； Rowdy； I'd wait till I got refused before
I'd quit。〃
〃Seems to me you've changed your politics lately；〃 Rowdy retorted。 〃A while
back you was cussing the whole business； and now you're worse than an old
maid aunt。 Pink； you may not be wise to the fact； but you sure are an
inconsistent little devil。〃
〃Are yuh going t' hunt Harry up and〃
〃I thought I told you to drop that。〃
〃Did yuh？ All right； thenonly I hope yuh didn't leave your gun packed away
in your bed；〃 he insinuated。
〃You can take a look to…night； if you want to。〃
Pink laughed in a particularly infectious way he had； and； before he quite
knew it； Rowdy was laughing； also。 After that the world did not look quite
so forlorn as it had； nor the day's work so distasteful。 So Pink； having
accomplished his purpose； was content to turn the subject。
〃There's old Liney〃he pointed her out to Rowdy〃fresh as a meadow…lark。 I
had a big grouch against her yesterday； just because she batted her eyes and
kept putting one foot ahead uh the other。 I could 'a' killed her。 But she's
all right； that old girl。 The way she led out down that black coulee last
night wasn't slow！ Say； she's an ambitious old party。 I wish you was riding
point with me； Rowdy。 The Silent One talks just about as much as
that old cow。 He sure loves to live up to his rep。〃
〃Oh； go on to work；〃 Rowdy admonished。 〃You make me think of a magpie。〃 All
the same； he looked after him with smiling lips； and eyes that forgot their
gloom。 He even whistled while he helped round up the scattered herd； ready
for that last day's drive。
Every man in the outfit comforted himself with the thought that it was the
last day's drive。 After long weeks of trailing lean herds over barren；
windbrushed hills； the last day meant much to them。 Even the Silent One sang
something they had never heard before； about 〃If Only I Knew You Were True。〃
They crossed the Rocking R field； took down four panels of fence； passed
out； and carefully put them up again