in short ages on. Just so a steer looks nice, it's hard for the
old man to turn one back. I've seen him receiving
three-year-olds, when one fourth of the cattle passed on were
short twos. And if you call his attention to one, he'll just
smile that little smile of his, and say, 'yes, he may be shy a
few months, but he'll grow.' But then that's just old man Don's
weakness for cattle; he can't look a steer in the face without
falling in love with him. Now, I've received before when by
throwing out one half the stock offered, you couldn't get as
uniform a bunch of beeves as those are. But you go right ahead,
Tom, and be sure that every hoof you accept will dress five
hundred pounds at Fort Buford. I'll simply sit around and clerk
and help you count and give you a good chance to make a
reputation."

Los Lobos was still an open range. They claimed to have over ten
thousand mixed cattle in the straight ranch brand. There had been
no demand for matured beeves for several years, and now on
effecting this sale they were anxious to deliver all their grown
steers. Dr. Beaver informed us that, previous to our arrival, his
foreman had been throwing everything in on the home range, and
that he hoped to deliver to us over two thousand head from his
own personal holdings. But he was liberal with his neighbors, for
in the contingent just passed upon, there must have been over a
hundred head in various ranch brands. Assuring him that we would
be on hand in the morning to take possession of the cattle, and
requesting him to have a fire burning, on coming opposite the
camp, we turned off and rode for our wagon. It meant a big day's
work to road-brand this first contingent, and with the first sign
of dawn, my outfit were riding for Los Lobos. We were encamped