"Oh, of course I'll fight when I have to. But I'm not goin' out of my way
t' look for trouble."

This was strictly true, and Dave knew it. Pocus Pete would never
needlessly quarrel with any one, but once he had started on what he
regarded as a right course, nothing would turn him aside until he had
either vanquished or been beaten. And the latter was seldom the outcome.

"Well, that's my case," said Dave. "I'm not going to put this on Len until
I give him a chance to defend himself. But now, Pete, what are we going to
do? We can't leave these choice cattle here in a broken corral. They'll
stray all over the range."

"That's right. We've got to fix that fence, and we'll need help. Some new
posts will have to be set, and it's got to be done before dark. Tell you
what to do. You ride back to the ranch, and get some of the boys."

"What will you do?"

"I'll stay here and guard the cattle. It won't take long, and your horse
is faster than mine."

"All right, I'll go. But first let's make what repairs we can. That will
make it easier for you to hold in the cattle."

There was some wire at the corral, and with this, and by using some of the
broken posts and boards, the gap in the fence was made smaller so the
cattle would not be so likely to try to rush through it.

This done, Pete prepared to mount guard while Dave leaped to the back of