us before noon the next day. We grazed leisurely forward the next
morning, killing as much time as possible, and Pickett overtook
us before the wagon had even gone into camp for dinner. Lovell
had not stopped on his return from the west, but had left with
the depot agent at the home station a letter for the ranch. From
its contents we learned that the other two Buford herds had
started from Uvalde, Sponsilier in the lead, one on the 24th and
the other the following day. Local rumors were encouraging in
regard to grass and water to the westward, and the intimation was
clear that if favorable reports continued, the two Uvalde herds
would intersect an old trail running from the head of Nueces
Canon to the Llano River. Should they follow this route there was
little hope of their coming into the main western trail before
reaching the Colorado River. Sponsilier was a daring fellow, and
if there was a possible chance to get through beyond the borders
of any settlement, he was certain to risk it.

The letter contained no personal advice. Years of experience in
trail matters had taught my employer that explicit orders were
often harmful. The emergencies to be met were of such a varied
nature that the best method was to trust to an outfit worming its
way out of any situation which confronted it. From the
information disclosed, it was evident that the other Buford herds
were then somewhere to the northwest, and possibly over a hundred
miles distant. Thus freed from any restraint, we held a due
northward course for several days, or until we encountered some
rocky country. Water was plentiful and grass fairly good, but
those flinty hills must be avoided or sorefooted beeves would be
the result. I had seen trails of blood left by cattle from sandy
countries on encountering rock, and now the feet of ours were a