“There’s two big lots, and they’d get ’em as easy as falling off a log, that’s dead sure!” he exclaimed; “and to think of me sitting here taking
things easy when I ought to be outside hustling every puncher off to drive the balance of our cattle into the corrals, where we could stand guard over them tonight, or till the sheriff comes, anyway.”
“But there must be some system about what you do, Uncle Fred,” interposed Adrian.
“Yes, sure there must, but what do you mean by that, son?”
“There are fourteen punchers all told, and five of them you can’t depend on to do the right thing; is that so?” continued the boy.
“Yes, and now I see what you mean, Adrian; we must fix it so that the greater part of each bunch of drivers will be our stand-by men,” the deposed manager said, hastily.
“Yes, if two gangs go out let three of the suspects accompany the one that has five of our fellows along, so that if they desert, or try any tricks, they’ll be at least outnumbered. Billie needn’t do any riding because I reckon he’s nearly played out. That would leave two others to go with me and a couple of the Walker sympathizers; and depend on it I’ll keep an eye on that pair good and hard. If they try any funny business they’ll be sorry, that’s all. So fix things that way, Uncle Fred; and chances are we’ll get all the cattle safely home before the Walkers come along.”
“You’re a great hand to plan things, son; and I’ll do that same; only I hope I can get the loan of
a spare gun, if I’m to be left at home when the rest of you go off. I’d be afraid of my life otherwise, I give you my solemn word for it.”
They left the bunk house after that. As they did so a face showed up at one of the windows further on, proving that some one had taken the trouble to listen, in hopes of hearing what plans they made; and it was the face of one of the suspects, in the bargain.