As these lay some miles away, and the task of rounding up the cattle, as well as driving them on the return trip, would consume considerable time, it was not expected that the first of the herds would reach the stockade until the moon was several hours high. When Ned and Jimmy galloped forth, keeping close to the other four riders, they turned in the saddle to wave to the stockman's wife, who stood on the piazza, to see the last of them off, with the Chinese cook close by, and also a couple of women, who were also employed in the house. The scout master believed he had reason to feel satisfied, because he had been allowed to balk the treacherous designs of those who would have sacrificed the property of their employer by sending word to the cattle rustlers. But as his eye wandered over to where the sullen Ally Sloper sat his saddle, Ned knew that this was hardly the end. A man of his double nature was not apt to throw up his hands and acknowledge himself beaten, just because he had been knocked down in the first round. "He'll bear close watching," was Ned's mental comment, "and even then chances are he may find a way to slip us, when the excitement of rounding-up the steers and the cows is on. But once we get the herd started home, I don't believe he'd be able to do us any great harm, if he did skip out. Still, Chunky is dealing with the hound and I mustn't interfere." CHAPTER XIII. AT WASHOUT COULIE. "Is it very far we have to go for our herd, Ned?" asked Jimmy, as he galloped along briskly at the side of his chum, managing the calico pony pretty fairly for one who had never been used to range riding and knew very little about the tricks of cow ponies. "Yes, I believe further than any others of the lot," Ned told him. "I heard some mention of a Washout Coulie; is that where we're headin' right now; and why d'ye reckon they give it such a funny name?" Jimmy continued. "We're making for a place of that name, I understood Chunky to say," the accommodating scout master replied, "and he spoke as though their best herd might be using that section for a feeding ground just now; but why they call it Washout Coulie, I'm unable to say." "A coulie is always connected with some sort of hill, isn't it, Ned?" "Strikes me that way, Jimmy, and, as you know there _are_ hills over this way, for we could see them when we came from the west and struck the ranch. It might be the name came from a washout that happened some time ago. They don't get much rain in this region, but once in a long time there's a regular cloudburst and a flood." Jimmy might have tried to keep the conversation going, for there were a number of things he wanted to ask the scout master; but it happened that the obstreperous calico pony developed a streak of ugliness just about that time and, consequently, Jimmy had all he could do to manage the beast so as to keep his seat in the cowboy saddle.