of the corrals by noon, and the wagon to follow, we made an early
start, Flood taking his own horses with him. We met the cattle
coming up the river a thousand strong. It was late when the last
round-up of the day before had finished, and they had camped for
the night fully five miles from the corrals. It took less than an
hour to cull back and count, excuse the ranch outfit, and start
this contingent for the branding-pens in charge of my boys. Flood
was in a hurry, and riding a short distance with him, I asked
that he pass or send word to the county seat, informing the
inspector of hides and animals that a trail herd would leave Los
Lobos within a week. Jim knew my motive in getting competition on
the inspection, and wishing me luck on my trip, I wrung his hand
in farewell until we should meet again in the upper country.

The sun was setting that night when we finished road-branding the
last of the beeves received in the morning. After dinner, when
the wagon returned to camp, I instructed Parent to move up the
river fully a mile. We needed the change, anyhow, and even if it
was farther, the next morning we would have the Los Lobos outfit
to assist in the branding, as that day would finish their
gathering. The outside cattle were beginning to report in small
bunches, from three hundred upward. Knowing that Dr. Beaver was
anxious to turn in as many as possible of his own, we delayed
receiving from the neighboring ranches for another day. But the
next morning, as we were ironing-up the last contingent of some
four hundred Los Lobos beeves, a deputy inspector for Lasalle
arrived from the county seat. He was likewise officious, and
professed disappointment that the herd was not ready to pass
upon. On his arrival, I was handling the irons, and paid no
attention to him until the branding was over for the morning.