"D—n that Dutchman!" growled Slow Jack to Murray, as they met and strolled away a short distance; "Seems like we ain’t got enough cows up there to suit th’ hog. He wants that pasture covered with ’em, I reckon. Word or no word, them cows has got to get back on th’ range. An’ th’ itch is among ’em, too, Murray." Murray smoked in silence for a while and then looked up, a frown on his face. "Smiler has got to be quick. Dave, th’ fool, was out to see me again to-day. I asked him when he was goin’ to rustle that bunch an’ he says he ’s got it all fixed—mebby th’ first black night. Is it black to-night?" he asked, ironically. "Black as h—l!" growled Slow Jack. "If Dave beats th’ ol’ man to it, an’ gets away with that herd, I ’ll be plumb tickled to death. An’ if he gets away with it good an’ clean, without bein’ caught, it ’ll go down in th’ history o’ cattle-stealin’ as th’ greatest miracle since th’ Dead Sea was walked on. Holy Gripes! Would n’t it be a sensation?" "Th’ laurels will remain with th’ Dead Sea," grunted Murray. "Dave ’s shore goin’ to be fertilizer for th’ daisies some o’ these days if he don’t get sane." After a moment he growled: "An’ if he don’t stop comin’ to see me like he has, Smiler ’ll have to dig up another ass to be father to." "He was lookin’ for me, yesterday," grinned Slow Jack, "but I seen him first. He ain’t goin’ to _sic_ no lead _my_ way if I can help it." "Jack, did you ever figger out why Smiler lets Dave mess around like he does?" suddenly asked Murray. "Th’ Dutchman is one clever individual, but every clever crook makes one mistake that ropes him. I hereby prophesy that Dave is Smiler’s mistake an’ will make th’ Dutchman lose. Want to bet on it?" "What you allus lookin’ for shore things for?" jeered Jack. "You ain’t got no sportin’ blood in you! In course I know it—an’ that’s just th’ reason I’ve got my stuff ready to move quick an’ my trail all mapped out. I might want to leave before breakfast some day. Tell you one thing—_you_ can drive cows over th’ Hog Back but I ’m _all through_! D—n if I drive another one!" "I ’m th’ good little boy, too, from now on," replied Murray. "An’ I ’m goin’ to be awful busy farther east on that line. Savvy? I ain’t goin’ to be able to even guess how they got over th’ Hog Back, an’ I ’ll take th’ blame for bein’ careless. I ’d ruther lose my job than house any lead under my skin. Aw! I ’m goin’ in an’ get some sleep." "Me, too; I ’ll come right soon," and Slow Jack drifted off into the darkness as his companion started for the bunk-house.