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〃That's what；〃 Rowdy assented。 〃But I think they'll make it； all right。〃
〃I'll likely want yuh to stay up there and keep cases on 'em。 Any
objections？〃
〃Sure not！〃 laughed Rowdy。 〃Only I'll want Pink and the Silent One to stay
with me。〃
〃Keep what men yuh want。 Anything else？〃
〃I don't think of anything；〃 said Rowdy。 〃Only I'd like to have
atalkwith Conroy。〃 Creek eyed him sharply。 〃Yuh won't be apt t' meet
him。 Old Bill Brown； up home； would like to see him； too。 Bill's a
perseverin' old cuss； and wants to see Conroy so bad he's got the sheriff
out lookin' for him。 It's about a bunch uh horses that was run off； three
years ago。 Yuh brought one of 'em back into the country last spring； yuh
mind。〃
Rowdy and Pink looked at one another； but said nothing。
〃Old Bill； he follered your back trail and found out some things he wanted
t' know。 Conroy got wind of it； though； and he left the agency kind…a
suddint。 No use yuh lookin' for him。〃
〃Then we're ready to hit the grit； I guess。〃 Rowdy glanced again at Pink who
nodded。
〃Well； I ain't stoppin' yuh；〃 Eagle Creek drawled laconically。 〃S'…long； and
good luck t' yuh。〃
He waited while Pink and the Silent One swung the point back down the hill；
with Rowdy helping them； quite unmoved by his sudden promotion。 When the
herd was fairly started on the backward march； Eagle Creek nodded
satisfaction the while he pried off a corner of plug…tobacco。
〃He's all right；〃 he asserted emphatically。 〃That boy suits me； from the
ground up。 If he don't put that deal through in good shape； it'll be becaus'
it can't be did。〃
Wooden Shoes； with whom Rowdy had always been a prime favorite； agreed with
Dutch heartiness。 Then； leaving the herd to its new guardian they rode
swiftly to overtake and turn back the wagons。
〃Three hundred miles！ And part of it across howling desert！〃 Rowdy drew his
brows together。 〃It's a big thing for me； all right； Pink； but it's sure a
big contract to take this herd through； if anybody should happen to ask
yuh。〃
〃Oh； buck up！ You'll make good； all rightif only these creeks wasn't so
bone dry！〃
〃Well； there's water enough in the Rocking R field for to…day； we'll throw
'em in there till tomorrow。 And I've a notion I can find a better trail
across to North Fork than the way we came。 I'm going to strike out this
afternoon and see； anyway； if Quitter Creek hasn't got water farther up。
Once we get up north uh the home ranch； I can see my way clear。〃
〃Go to it； boss；〃 Pink cried heartily。 〃I don't see how I'm goin t' keep
from sassing yuh； once in a while； though。 That's what bothers me。 What'll
happen if I turn loose on yuh； some time？〃
〃You'll get fired； I expect；〃 laughed Rowdy； and rode off to announce the
news to the rest of the outfit； who were very unhappy in their
mystification。
If their reception of the change of plans and foreman was a bit profane； and
their manner toward him a bit familiar； Rowdy didn't mind。 He knew that they
did not grudge him his good luck； even while they hated the long drive。 He
also knew that they watched him furtively； for nothingnot even
misfortuneis as sure a test of a man's character as success。 They liked
Rowdy； and they did not believe this would spoil him； still； every man of
them was secretly a bit anxious。
On the trail； he rode in his accustomed place； and； so far as appearances
went； the party had no foreman。 He went forward and helped Pink take down
the fence that had been so carefully put up a few hours before； and he
whistled while he put it in place again； just as if he had no responsibility
in the world。 Then the cattle were left to themselves； and the men rode down
to their old campground； marked by empty tin…cans and a trodden place where
had been the horse corral。
Rowdy swung down and faced the men gravely。 Instinctively they stood at
attention； waiting for what he had to say； they felt that the situation was
so far out of the ordinary that a few remarks pertaining to their new
relations would not be out of place。
He looked them over appraisingly； and met glances as grave as his own。
Straight； capable fellows they were； every man of them。
〃Boys；〃 he began impressively； 〃you all know that from to…day on you're
working under my orders。 I never was boss of anything but the cayuse I
happened to have under me； and I'm going to extract all the honey there is
in the situation。 Maybe I'll never be boss againbut at present I'm it。 I
want you fellows to remember that important fact； and treat me with proper
respect。 From now on you can call me Mr。 Vaughan； 'Rowdy' doesn't go； except
on a legal holiday。
〃Furthermore； I'm not going to get out at daylight and catch up my own
horse； I'll let yuh take turns being flunky； and I'll expect yuh to saddle
my horse every morning and noon； and bring him to the cook…tentand hold my
stirrup for me。 Also； you are expected； at all times and places； to
anticipate my wants and fall over yourselves waiting on me。 〃You're just
common； ordinary； forty…dollar cow…punchers； and if I treat yuh white； it's
because I pity yuh for not being up where I am。 Remember； vassals； that I'm
your superior； mentally； morally； socially〃
〃Chap him！〃 yelled Pink； and made for him 〃I'll stand for a lot； but don't
yuh ever think I'm a vassal！〃
〃Mutiny is strictly prohibited！〃 he thundered。 〃Villains； beware！
Gadzookserlet's have a swim before the wagons come！〃
They laughed and made for the creek； feeling rather crestfallen and a bit
puzzled。
〃If I had an outfit like this to run； and a three hundred…mile drive to
make；〃 Bob Nevin remarked to the Silent One； 〃blessed if I'd make a josh of
it！ I'd cultivate the corrugated brow and the stiff spineme！〃
〃My friend；〃 the Silent One responded； 〃don't be too hasty in your
judgment。 It's because the corrugated brow will come later that he laughs
now。 You'll presently find yourself accomplishing the impossible in
obedience to the flicker of Rowdy Vaughan's eyelids。 Man； did you never
observe the set of his head； and the look of his eye？ Rowdy Vaughan will get
more out of this crowd than any man ever did； and if he fails； he'll fail
with the band playing 'Hot Time。'〃
〃Maybe so；〃 Bob admitted； not quite convinced； 〃but I wonder if he realizes
what he's up against。〃 At which the Silent One only smiled queerly as he
splashed into the water。
After dinner Rowdy caught up the blue roan； which was his favorite for a
hard ridehe seemed to have forgotten his speech concerning
〃flunkies〃and rode away up the coulee which had brought them into the
field the night before。 The boys watched him go； speculated a lot； and went
to sleep as the best way of putting in the afternoon。
Pink； who knew quite well what was in Rowdy's mind； said nothing at all； it
is possible that he was several degrees more jealous of the dignity of
Rowdy's position than was Rowdy himself； who had no time to think of
anything but the best way of getting the herd to Canada。 He would like to
have gone along； only that Rowdy did not ask him to。 Pink assured himself
that it was best for Rowdy not to start playing any favorites； and curled
down in the bed…tent with the others and went to sleep。
It was late that night when Rowdy crept silently into his corner of the
tent； but Pink was awake； and whispered to know if he found water。 Rowdy's
〃Yes〃 was a mere breath； but it was enough。
At sunrise the herd trailed up the Rocking R coulee； and Pink and the Silent
One pointed them north of the old trail。
CHAPTER 12
〃You Can Tell Jessie。〃
In the days that followed Rowdy was much alone。 There was water to hunt； far
ahead of the herd； together with the most practicable way of reaching it。 He
did not take the shortest way across that arid country and leave the next
day's camping…place to chanceas Wooden Shoes had done。 He felt that there
was too much at stake； and the cattle were too thin for any more dry drives；
long drives there were； but such was his generalship that there was always
water at the end。
He rode miles and miles that he might have shirked； and he never slept until
the next day's move； at least； was clearly defined in his mind and he felt
sure th