"Oh, we won't go broke," said Baugh, who was the leader in the idea
that they would go to Kansas for the winter, and come back in the
spring when men are wanted.

So when the beef season had ended, the calves had all been branded up
and everything made snug for the winter, the foreman said to the boys
at breakfast one morning, "Well, lads, I've kept you on the pay-roll
as long as there has been anything to do, but this morning I'll have
to give you your time. These recent orders of mine are sweeping, for
they cut me down to one man, and we are to do our own cooking. I'm
sorry that any of you that care to can't spend the winter with us.
It's there that my orders are very distasteful to me, for I know what
it is to ride a chuck-line myself. You all know that it's no waste of
affection by this company that keeps even two of us on the pay-roll."

While the foreman was looking up accounts and making out the time of
each, Baugh asked him, "When is the wagon going in after the winter's
supplies?"

"In a day or two," answered the foreman. "Why?"

"Why, Stubby, Arab, and myself want to leave our saddles and private
horses here with you until spring. We're going up in the State for the
winter, and will wait and go in with the wagon."

"That will be all right," said the foreman. "You'll find things right
side up when you come after them, and a job if I can give it to you."

"Don't you think it's poor policy," asked Stubb of the foreman, as