Big cattle-men it takes longer."
"You like it?" asked Sid.
Dave laughed.
"Well 'nough," he said. "We stop, you know, and have a good time on
the road every little while."
"What do you do?" questioned Sid.
"Oh! drink--some," answered Dave.
"You don't though--do you?" asked Sid.
"Oh! well--some," said Dave slowly, as he poked the fire. "Have to
drink with other men, you know. They wouldn't think I was friendly if
I didn't."
Sid looked troubled. Dave never used to drink when he worked for Sid's
father two or three years before, on the fruit ranch up country.
Dave's bread was done. There were yellow streaks in it, but Sid ate it.
"The principal thing's to get something to eat when your [Transcriber's
note: you're?] ranching," apologized Dave.
About a week after this the round-up began.
"You take Rix," said Dave. "I'll take another horse, and we'll hunt
the cattle up."
In and out of the gullies they rode, here and there through the hills.
Late in the afternoon all the cattle that were to be shipped were
together.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184