第14章 RECEIVING AT LOS LOBOS(4)

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in idleness and in the entertainment of our guest.Official-like, he pretended he could hardly spare the time to remain another night, but was finally prevailed on and did so.After dark, I took him some distance from camp, and the two of us had a confidential chat.I assured him if there was any object in doing so, we could move camp right to or over the county line, and frankly asked him what inducement he would offer.At first he thought that throwing off everything over a hundred dollars would be about right.But I assured him that there were whole families of inspectors in Lasalle County who would discount that figure, and kindly advised him, if he really wanted the fee, to meet competition at least.We discussed the matter at length, and before returning to camp, he offered to make out the certificate, covering everything, for fifty dollars.

As it was certain to be several days yet before we would start, and there was a prospect of a falling market in certificates of inspection, I would make no definite promises.The next morning Iinsisted that he remain at some near-by ranch in his own territory, and, if convenient, ride down every few days and note the progress of the herd.

We were promised a large contingent of cattle for that day.The ranch outfit were to make three rodeos down the river the day before, where the bulk of their beeves ranged.Flood was anxious to overtake the other outfits before they reached the lower country, and as he assured me I had no further use for him, we agreed that after receiving that morning he might leave us.

Giving orders at camp to graze the received beeves within a mile of the corrals by noon, and the wagon to follow, we made an early start, Flood taking his own horses with him.We met the cattle coming up the river a thousand strong.It was late when the last round-up of the day before had finished, and they had camped for the night fully five miles from the corrals.It took less than an hour to cull back and count, excuse the ranch outfit, and start this contingent for the branding-pens in charge of my boys.Flood was in a hurry, and riding a short distance with him, I asked that he pass or send word to the county seat, informing the inspector of hides and animals that a trail herd would leave Los Lobos within a week.Jim knew my motive in getting competition on the inspection, and wishing me luck on my trip, I wrung his hand in farewell until we should meet again in the upper country.

The sun was setting that night when we finished road-branding the last of the beeves received in the morning.After dinner, when the wagon returned to camp, I instructed Parent to move up the river fully a mile.We needed the change, anyhow, and even if it was farther, the next morning we would have the Los Lobos outfit to assist in the branding, as that day would finish their gathering.The outside cattle were beginning to report in small bunches, from three hundred upward.Knowing that Dr.Beaver was anxious to turn in as many as possible of his own, we delayed receiving from the neighboring ranches for another day.But the next morning, as we were ironing-up the last contingent of some four hundred Los Lobos beeves, a deputy inspector for Lasalle arrived from the county seat.He was likewise officious, and professed disappointment that the herd was not ready to pass upon.On his arrival, I was handling the irons, and paid no attention to him until the branding was over for the morning.

When he introduced himself, I cordially greeted him, but at the first intimation of disappointment from his lips, I checked him.

Using the best diplomacy at my command, I said, "Well, I'm sorry to cause you this long ride when it might have been avoided.You see, we are receiving cattle from both this and Dimmit County.In fact, we are holding our herd across the line just at present.On starting, we expect to go up the river to the first creek, and north on it to the Leona River.I have partially promised the work to an inspector from Dimmit.He inspected our herd last year, and being a personal friend that way, you couldn't meet his figures.Very sorry to disappoint you, but won't you come over to the wagon and stay all night?"But Dr.Beaver, who understood my motive, claimed the privilege of entertaining the deputy at Los Lobos, and I yielded.We now had a few over twenty-four hundred beeves, of which nineteen hundred were in the Los Lobos brand, the others being mixed.