"'No, sir, it won't. What's got into you boys?' questioned the
foreman.

"'There's nothing the matter with the boys, but the cattle business
has gone to the dogs when a valuable herd like this will be trusted
to cross a country for two thousand miles in the hands of a man like
yourself. You have men that will pull you through if you'll only let
them,' said the point-rider, his voice mild and kind as though he were
speaking to a child.

"'You're just like the rest of them!' roared the boss. 'Want to act
contrary! Now let me say to you that you'll help me to count these
cattle or I'll discharge, unhorse, and leave you afoot here in this
country! I'll make an example of you as a warning to others.'

"'It's strange that I should be signaled out as an object of your
wrath and displeasure,' said Californy. 'Besides, if I were you, I
wouldn't make any examples as you were thinking of doing. When you
talk of making an example of me as a warning to others,' said the
pox-marked lad, as he reached over, taking the reins of the foreman's
horse firmly in his hand, 'you're a simpering idiot for entertaining
the idea, and a cowardly bluffer for mentioning it. When you talk of
unhorsing and leaving me here afoot in a country a thousand miles from
nowhere, you don't know what that means, but there's no danger of your
doing it. I feel easy on that point. But I'm sorry to see you make
such a fool of yourself. Now, you may think for a moment that I'm
afraid of that ivory-handled gun you wear, but I'm not. Men wear them
on the range, not so much to emphasize their demands with, as you
might think. If it were me, I'd throw it in the wagon; it may get you