my brother Bob's herd was expected at any time. Remaining with us
a second night, something, possibly the placidness of the cattle,
mellowed the old man and he grew amiable with the outfit, and
myself in particular. At breakfast the next morning, when I asked
him if he was in a position to recommend any special route, he
replied:

"No, Tom, that rests with you. One thing's certain; herds are
going to be dangerously close together on the regular trail which
crosses Red River at Doan's. The season is early yet, but over
fifty herds have already crossed the Texas Pacific Railway.
Allowing one half the herds to start north of that line, it gives
you a fair idea what to expect. When seven hundred thousand
cattle left Texas two years ago, it was considered the banner
year, yet it won't be a marker to this one. The way prices are
tumbling shows that the Northwest was bluffing when they offered
to mature all the cattle that Texas could breed for the next
fifty years. That's the kind of talk that suits me, but last year
there were some forty herds unsold, which were compelled to
winter in the North. Not over half the saddle horses that came up
the trail last summer were absorbed by these Northern cowmen.
Talk's cheap, but it takes money to buy whiskey. Lots of these
men are new ones at the business and may lose fortunes. The banks
are getting afraid of cattle paper, and conditions are
tightening. With the increased drive this year, if the summer
passes without a slaughter in prices, the Texas drovers can thank
their lucky stars. I'm not half as bright as I might be, but this
is one year that I'm smooth enough not to have unsold cattle on
the trail."