measures. John Levering was my horse-wrangler. He had made two
trips over the trail with Fant's herds in the same capacity, was
careful, humane, and an all-round horseman. In employing a cook,
I had given the berth to Neal Parent, an old boyhood chum of
mine. He never amounted to much as a cow-hand, but was a
lighthearted, happy fool; and as cooking did not require much
sense, I gave him the chance to make his first trip. Like a court
jester, he kept the outfit in fine spirits and was the butt of
all jokes. In entertaining company he was in a class by himself,
and spoke with marked familiarity of all the prominent cowmen in
southern Texas. To a stranger the inference might be easily drawn
that Lovell was in his employ.

As we were expecting to receive cattle on the third day, the next
morning the allotment of horses was made. The usual custom of
giving the foreman first choice was claimed, and I cut twelve of
solid colors but not the largest ones. Taking turns, the outfit
roped out horse after horse until only the ten extra ones were
left. In order that these should bear a fair share in the work, I
took one of them for a night-horse and allotted the others to the
second, third, and last guard in a similar capacity. This gave
the last three watches two horses apiece for night work, but with
the distinct understanding that in case of accident or injury to
any horse in the remuda, they could be recalled. There was little
doubt that before the summer ended, they would be claimed to fill
vacancies in the regular mounts. Flood had kept behind only two
horses with which to overtake the other outfits, and during his
stay with us would ride these extras and loans from my mount.

The entire morning was spent working with the remuda. Once a man