into Camp Supply before noon. Lovell had sighted me a mile
distant, and after a drink at the sutler's bar, we strolled aside
for a few minutes' chat. Once I had informed him of the locality
of the herd and their condition, he cautioned me not to let my
business be known while in the post. After refreshing the inner
man, my employer secured a horse and started with me on my
return. As soon as the flag over Supply faded out of sight in our
rear, we turned to the friendly shade of the timber on the North
Fork and dismounted. I felt that the precaution exercised by the
drover was premonitory of some revelation, and before we arose
from the cottonwood log on which we took seats, the scales had
fallen from my eyes and the atmosphere of mystery cleared.

"Tom," said my employer, "I am up against a bad proposition. I am
driving these Buford cattle, you understand, on a sub-contract. I
was the second lowest bidder with the government, and no sooner
was the award made to The Western Supply Company than they sent
an agent who gave me no peace until they sublet their contract.
Unfortunately for me, when the papers were drawn, my regular
attorney was out of town, and I was compelled to depend on a
stranger. After the articles were executed, I submitted the
matter to my old lawyer; he shook his head, arguing that a
loophole had been left open, and that I should have secured an
assignment of the original contract. After studying the matter
over, we opened negotiations to secure a complete relinquishment
of the award. But when I offered the company a thousand dollars
over and above what they admitted was their margin, and they
refused it, I opened my eyes to the true situation. If cattle
went up, I was responsible and would have to fill my contract; if
they went down, the company would buy in the cattle and I could