"I presume you mean that you would quarrel with me," said Barrows, blustering up.
"I have no objection in the world, but not in a lady's presence," said Ted, turning from him carelessly.
"I don't like your attitude at all, Mr. Strong," said the colonel. "That is not my idea of army discipline, in fact, sir——"
"Excuse me, colonel," said an officer, bustling up, "don't forget that to-morrow is beef-issue day to the Indians, and that we must have three hundred head before noon to-morrow. There is not a hoof in the government pasture."
Barrows was trying to attract the other officer's attention with vigorous shakes of his head, which Ted, although his back was toward Barrows, saw reflected in the window.
What could the matter be? Were they so short of beef at the post and a beef issue coming off, and then attempt to bluff him with their army rulings? He saw through it all, and now he would stand pat, and take nobody's bluff.
The officer walked away at a signal from the colonel, who turned to Ted.
"I want you to go back to your herd and drive it into the government pasture at once, do you hear, at once?" he said in a tone of great severity.
"I think not," said Ted. "The herd stays where it is until morning, or if it must be driven at all it will be over the way it came."
"What do you mean, sir?"