They forded the creek at the ledge above the mud-hole, where the cows had been driven across, and started westward. They were careful to ride the low ground at first, but early in the afternoon they climbed the rocky slope of Little Bear Mountain. From the top they surveyed the surrounding country. They saw the splendid stretches of the range specked here and there with dots that were cows, but they saw no riders. They rode down the mountainside and turned into a wide draw, where pines and tamaracks grew slimly. At the head of the draw, where it sloped abruptly upward, was a brushless wood of tall cedars, and here, as they rode in among the trees, a calf bawled suddenly. They rode toward the sound and came upon a dead cow. At the cow's side stood a lonely calf. At sight of the men the calf fled lumberingly. Ramsay unstrapped his rope and gave his horse the spur. Loudon dismounted and examined the dead cow. When Ramsay returned with the calf, Loudon was squatting on his heels, rolling a cigarette. "There y'are," observed Loudon, waving his free hand toward the cow. "There's evidence for yuh. Ears slit with the 88 mark, an' the 88 brand over the old Bar S. Leg broke, an' a hole in her head. She ain't been dead more'n a day. What do you reckon?" "That the 88 are damn fools. Why didn't they skin her?" "Too lazy, I guess. That calf's branded an' earmarked all complete. Never was branded before, neither." "Shore. An' the brand's about two days old. Just look at it. Raw yet." "Same date as its ma's. They done some slick work with a wet blanket on that cow, but the Bar S is plain underneath. Give the cow a month, if she'd lived, an' yuh'd never know but what she was born 88." "Oh, they're slick, the pups!" exclaimed Johnny Ramsay. "The Old Man ought to see this. When Old Salt throws his eyes on that brandin' I'll gamble he'll change his views some." "You bet he will. Better start now." "All right. Let's get a-goin'." "One's enough. You go, Tommy. I'll stay an' caper around. I might run onto somethin'. Yuh can't tell." "I'd kind o' like to have yuh here when I get back." "Don't worry none. From what I know o' Old Salt you an' him won't be here before to-morrow mornin'! I'll be here then." "All right. I'll slide instanter. So long, Johnny." CHAPTER IV THE SKINNED CATTLE "This is a devil of a time to haul a man out o' bed," complained Mr. Saltoun, stuffing the tail of his nightshirt into his trousers. "C'mon in the office," he added, grumpily. Mr. Saltoun, while Loudon talked, never took his eyes from the puncher's face. Incredulity and anger warred in his expression. "What do you reckon?" the owner inquired in a low tone, when Loudon fell silent.