his outfit were returning from bedding-down the cattle. Bob
readily agreed that the detective's plans were perfectly
feasible, and offered to play a close second to Seay if it was
necessary. And if his own brother does say so, Bob Quirk never
met the man who could drink him under the table.

My herd started early for the Saw Log, and the wagon for town.
Bob had agreed to go into Dodge in the morning, so Dorg stayed
with our outfit and was to go in with me after crossing the
river. We threaded our way through the other herds, and shortly
before noon made an easy ford about a mile below old Fort Dodge.
As we came down to the river, a carriage was seen on the farther
bank, and I dropped from the point back to the drag end. Sure
enough, as we trailed out, the fiscal agent and the buyers were
awaiting me. "Well, Mac, I sold your herd last night after you
left," said Siringo, dejectedly. "It was a kind of compromise
trade; they raised the cash payment to thirty thousand dollars,
and I split the difference in price. The herd goes at $29 a head
all round. So from now on, Mac, you're subject to these
gentlemen's orders."

Mr. Field, the elder of the two buyers, suggested that if a
convenient camp could be found, we should lie over a few days,
when final instructions would be given me. He made a memorandum
of the number of head that I claimed in our road brand, and asked
me if we could hold up the herd for a closer inspection. The lead
cattle were then nearly a mile away, and galloping off to
overtake the point, I left the party watching the saddle horses,
which were then fording in our rear. But no sooner had I reached
the lead and held up the herd, than I noticed Siringo on the