branding-chute, there was nothing remaining but to give a receipt
to the seller for the number of head received, in behalf of my
employer, pending a later settlement between them.

Meanwhile competition in the matter of inspection had been
carefully nursed. Conscious of each other's presence, and both
equally anxious for the fee, the one deputy was entertained at my
camp and the other at Los Lobos. They were treated courteously,
but given to understand that in the present instance money
talked. With but a small bunch of beeves to brand on the starting
day, the direction in which the herd was allowed to leave the
bed-ground would be the final answer. If west, Dimmit had
underbid Lasalle; if the contrary, then the departure of this
herd would be a matter of record in the latter county. Dr. Beaver
enjoyed the situation hugely, acting the intermediary in behalf
of his guest. Personally I was unconcerned, but was neutral and
had little to say.

My outfit understood the situation perfectly. Before retiring on
the night of our last camp on the county line, and in the
presence of the Dimmit inspector, the last relief received
instructions, in the absence of contrary orders, to allow the
herd to drift back into Lasalle in the morning. Matters were
being conducted in pantomime, and the players understood their
parts. Our guest had made himself useful in various ways, and I
naturally felt friendly towards him. He had stood several guards
for the boys, and Burl Van Vedder, of the last watch, had secret
instructions to call him for that guard.

The next morning the camp was not astir as early as usual. On the