The big pasture ran north from the home pasture, which was near the ranch house. It comprised thousands of acres, and was so high that nearly always it was free of snow, which the strong winds coming down from the mountains swept as clear as if a gigantic broom had been used. Back of the pasture lay a range of low mountains, the Sweet Grass they were called, in which several high buttes towered like sentinels. The Sweet Grass Mountains had the reputation of harboring a great many "bad men," both whites and Indians, who had forsaken the Blackfeet Indian reservation to the west. The mountain valleys afforded a splendid protection for the cattle, as did the numerous coulees with which the country was seamed. The big pasture of the Long Tom was reputed to be the best winter feeding ground in Montana. The grass was high and nutritious, and there were plenty of water holes. Once on the pasture the cattle scattered into smaller herds, each under the leadership of a bull, while the steers drifted off by themselves. All that was necessary to care for the herd was to ride the lines of the pasture, and keep the cattle on their own feeding grounds, prevent them from straying, and hunt down the packs of wolves which preyed upon the weak cows and young cattle. At stated intervals along the lines of the pasture were cabins, known as "sign camps," in which the line riders lived. The first sign camp out of the home pasture was eight miles distant, and the next was under the lee of the mountains, on the west line. As Ted directed the drive of the herd to the big pasture, on the south and west line of which the first sign camp was situated, he cut out part of the herd and held it back, while the remainder of the cattle went forward. At the first sign camp Bud and Carl were dropped, for they were to ride the line to the north and east from that point. Bud was glad to get some rest, and with a wave of the hand went on his way to the camp to await the arrival of Carl, who had ridden back to the ranch house for his blankets and other supplies. During the day the chuck wagon, following the instructions of Ted, stopped at the sign camp, and left a supply of provisions and Bud's blankets. Bud looked out the window of the cabin, and saw that the herd was grazing quietly, for the cattle were very hungry, and as they were safe for the time being, he rolled himself in his blankets and was soon sleeping soundly. He awoke on hearing a fumbling at the door, and sat up. It was pitch dark, and he had slept nearly all day. Unlimbering his six-shooter, he called, "Who's thar?" "Ach, Pud, it's me alretty," came the muffled reply. "So it's you, Carl. Why don't you come in?" "Der door open, Pud, please. I my arrums full mit dings have." Bud sprang from his blankets and threw the door open, admitting a cold blast and a flurry of snow. "Ugh!" he ejaculated, with a shudder. "Come in, yer fat wad o' Dutch. What yer waitin' fer?"