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where stood the cabins。
Rowdy watched them impersonally； a glance proved that the man was not Wooden
Shoes； and so he was not particularly interested in him or his doings。 It
did occur to him； however； that if the fellow wanted to catch that brute； he
ought to have sense enough to get a horse。 No one but a plumb idiot would
mill around in that snow afoot。 He jogged down the slope at a shuffling
trot； grinning tolerantly at the pantomime below。
He of the bandy…legs stopped； evidently out of breath； the stallion stopped
also； snorting defiance。 Rowdy heard him plainly； even at that distance。 The
horse arched his neck and watched the man warily； ready to be off at the
first symptom of hostilitiesand Rowdy observed that a short rope hung from
his halter； swaying as he moved。
Bandy…legs seemed to have an idea； he turned and scuttled to the nearest
cabin； returning with what seemed a basin of oats； for he shook it
enticingly and edged cautiously toward the horse。 Rowdy could imagine him
coaxing； with hypocritically endearing names； such as 〃Good old boy！〃 and
〃Steady now； Billy〃or whatever the horse's name might be。 Rowdy chuckled
to himself； and hoped the horse saw through the subterfuge。
Perhaps the horse chuckled also； at any rate； he stood quite still； equally
prepared to bounce away on the instant or to don the mask of docility。
Bandy…legs drew nearer and nearer； shaking the basin briskly； like an old
woman sifting meal。 The horse waited； his nostrils quivering hungrily at the
smell of the oats； and with an occasional low nicker。
Bandy…legs went on tiptoesor as nearly as he could in the snowthe basin
at arm's length before。 The dainty； flaring nostrils sniffed tentatively；
dipped into the basin； and snuffed the oats about luxuriouslytill he felt
a stealthy hand seize the dangling rope。 At the touch he snorted protest；
and was off and away； upsetting Bandy…legs and the basin ignominiously into
a high…piled drift。
Bandy…legs sat up； scraped the snow out of his collar and his ears； and
swore。 It was then that Rowdy appeared like an angel of deliverance。
〃Want that horse caught？〃 he yelled cheerfully。
Bandy…legs lifted up his voice and bellowed things I should not like to
repeat verbatim。 But Rowdy gathered that the man emphatically did want that
so…and…so…and…then…some horse caught； and that it couldn't be done a blessed
minute too soon。 Whereat Rowdy smiled anew； with his face discreetly turned
away from Bandy…legs； and took down his rope and widened the loop。 Also； he
turned Chub loose。
The stallion evidently sensed what new danger threatened his stolen freedom；
and circled the yard with high； springy strides。 Rowdy circled after； saw
his chance； swirled the loop twice over his head； and hazarded a long throw。
Rowdy knew it for pure good luck that it landed right； but to this day
Bandy…legs looks upon him as a Wonder with a ropeand Bandy…legs would
insist upon the capital。
〃Where shall I take him？〃 Rowdy asked； coming up with his captive； and with
nothing but his eyes to show how he was laughing inwardly。
Bandy…legs crawled from the drift； still scraping snow from inside his
collar； and gave many directions about going through a certain gate into
such…and…such a corral； from there into a stable； and by seeming devious
ways into a minutely described stall。
〃All right；〃 said Rowdy； cutting short the last needless details。 〃I guess I
can find the trail；〃 and started off； leading the stallion。 Bandy…legs
followed； and Chub； observing the departure of Dixie； ambled faithfully in
the rear。
〃Much obliged；〃 conceded Bandy…legs； when the stallion was safely housed and
tied securely。 〃Where yuh headed for； young man？〃
〃Right here；〃 Rowdy told him calmly； loosening Dixie's cinch。 〃I'm the
long…lost top hand that the Cross L's been watching the sky…line for； lo！
these many moons； a…yearning for the privilege of handing me forty plunks
about twice as fast as I've got 'em coming。 Where's the boss？〃
〃ErI'm him；〃 confessed Bandy…legs meekly； and circled the two dubiously。
〃I guess you've heard uh Eagle Creek SmithI'm him。 The Cross L belongs to
me。〃
Rowdy let out an explosive； and showed a row of nice teeth。 〃Well； I ain't
hard to please；〃 he added。 〃I won't kick on that； I guess。 I like your looks
tolerable well； and I'm willing to take yuh on for a boss。 If yuh do your
part； I bet we'll get along fine。〃 His tone was banteringly patronizing
〃Anyway； I'll try yuh for a spell。 You can put my name down as Rowdy
Vaughan； lately canned from the Horseshoe Bar。〃
〃What for？〃 ventured Bandy…legsrather； Eagle Creekstill circling Rowdy
dubiously。
〃What for was I canned？〃 repeated Rowdy easily。 〃Being a modest youth； I
hate t' tell yuh。 But the old man's son and me； we disagreed； and one of his
eyes swelled some； so did mine； a little。〃 He stood head and shoulders above
Eagle Creek； and he smiled down upon him engagingly。 Eagle Creek capitulated
before the smile。
〃Well； I ain't got any sonsthat I know of；〃 he grinned。 〃So I guess yuh
can consider yourself a Cross L man till further notice。〃
〃Why； sure！〃 The teeth gleamed again briefly。 〃That's what I've been telling
you right along。 Where's old Wooden Shoes？ He's responsible for me being
here。〃
〃Gone to Chinook。 He'll be back in a day or two。〃 Eagle Creek shifted his
feet awkwardly。 〃Say〃he glanced uneasily behind him〃yuh don't want t'
let it get around that yuh sort of hired mesee？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Rowdy assured him。 〃I was only joshing。 If you don't want
me； just tell me to hit the sod。〃
〃You stay right where you're at！〃 commanded Eagle Creek with returned
confidence in himself and his authority。 Of a truth； this self…assured；
straight…limbed young man had rather dazed him。 〃Take your bed and war…bag
up to the bunk…house and make yourself t' home till the boys get back；
andsay； where'd yuh git that pack…horse？〃
The laugh went out of Rowdy's tawny eyes。 The question hit a spot that was
becoming sore。 〃I borrowed him this morning from Mr。 Rodway；〃 he said
evenly。 〃I'm to take him back to…day。 I stopped there last night。〃
〃Oh！〃 Eagle Creek coughed apologetically； and said no word； while Rowdy led
Chub back to the cabin which he had pointed out as the bunk…house； he stood
by while Rowdy loosened the pack and dragged it inside。
〃I guess you can get located here；〃 he said。 〃I ain't workin' more'n three
or four men just now； but there's quite a few uh the boys stopping here； the
Cross L's a regular hang…out for cow…punchers。 You're a little early for the
season； but I'll see that yuh have something t' dojust t' keep yuh out uh
devilment。〃
Rowdy's brows unbent； it would seem that Eagle Creek was capable of
〃joshing〃 also。 〃It's up t' you； old…timer；〃 he retorted。 〃I'm strong and
willing； and don't shy at anything but pitchforks。〃
Eagle Creek grinned。 〃This ain't no blamed cowhospital；〃 he gave as a
parting shot。 〃All the hay that's shoveled on this ranch needn't hurt
nobody's feelings。〃 With that he shut the door； and left Rowdy to acquaint
himself with his new home。
CHAPTER 4
Pink as 〃Chappyrone。〃
Rowdy was sprawled ungracefully upon somebody's bunkhe neither knew nor
cared whoseand he was snoring unmelodiously； and not dreaming a thing； for
when a cow…puncher has nothing in particular to do； he sleeps to atone for
the weary hours when he must be very wide…awake。 An avalanche descended upon
his unwarned middle； and checked the rhythmic ebb and flow of sound。 He
squawked and came to life clawing viciously。
〃I'd like t' know where the devil yuh come from；〃 a voice remarked
plaintively in a soft treble。
Rowdy opened his eyes with a snap。 〃Pink！ by all that's good and bad！ Get up
off my diaphragm； you little fiend。〃
Pink absent…mindedly kneaded Rowdy's stomach with his knuckles； and
immediately found himself in a far corner。 He came back； dimpling
mischievously。 He looked much more an angel than a fiend； for all his Angora
chaps and flame…colored scarf。
〃Your bed and war…bag's on my bunk； you're on Smoky's； and Dixie's makin'
himself to home in the corral。 By all them signs and tokens； I give a
reckless guess you're here