without the man or property. I was deputized once by a constable
in Texas to assist in recovering some cattle, but just like the
present case they got out of our jurisdiction before we overtook
them. The constable was a lofty, arrogant fellow like yourself,
but had sense enough to keep within his rights. But when it came
to indorsing the warrant for return, we were all up a stump, and
rode twenty miles out of our way so as to pass Squire Little's
ranch and get his advice on the matter. The squire had been a
justice in Tennessee before coming to our state, and knew just
what to say. Now let me take those papers, and I'll indorse them
'Non est inventus,' which is Latin for SCOOTED, BY GOSH! Ain't
you going to let me have them?"

"Now, look here, young man," scornfully replied the chief deputy,
"I'll--"

"No, you won't," I again interrupted. "Let me read you a warrant
from a higher court. In the name of law, you are willing to
prostitute your office to assist a gang of thieves who have taken
advantage of an opportunity to ruin my employer, an honest trail
drover. The warrant I'm serving was issued by Judge Colt, and it
says he is supreme in unorganized territory; that your official
authority ceases the moment you step outside your jurisdiction,
and you know the Ford County line is behind us. Now, as a
citizen, I'll treat you right, but as an official, I won't even
listen to you. And what's more, you can't arrest me or any man in
my outfit; not that your hair's the wrong color, but because you
lack authority. I'm the man you're looking for, and these are Don
Lovell's cattle, but you can't touch a hoof of them, not even a
stray. Now, if you want to dispute the authority which I've