Tolleston and all, are right up here at Ogalalla now; bought a
herd this week, so I hear, and expect to take two of these away
from us the moment we enter Keith County. Well, they may; I've
seen bad men before take a town, but it was only a question of
time until the plain citizens retook it. They may try to bluff
us, but if they do, we'll meet them a little over halfway. Which
one of your boys was it that licked Archie? I want to thank him
until such a time as I can reward him better."

The herd was moving out, and as Seay was working in the swing on
the opposite side, we allowed the cattle to trail past, and then
rode round and overtook him. The two had never met before, but
old man Don warmed towards Dorg, who recited his experience in
such an inimitable manner that our employer rocked in his saddle
in spasms of laughter. Leaving the two together, I rode on ahead
to look out the water, and when the herd came up near the middle
of the afternoon, they were still inseparable. The watering over,
we camped for the night several miles south of the railroad, the
mixed herd having crossed it about noon. My guest of the past few
days had come to a point requiring a decision and was in a
quandary to know what to do. But when the situation had been
thoroughly reviewed between Mr. Lovell and the Wyoming man, my
advice was indorsed,--to trust implicitly to his corporal, and be
ready to relieve the outfit at the Platte. Saddles were
accordingly shifted, and the stranger, after professing a
profusion of thanks, rode away on the livery horse by which my
employer had arrived. Once the man was well out of hearing, the
old trail drover turned to my outfit and said:

"Boys, there goes a warning that the days of the trail are