"I'm talking to you. I want those cattle driven in to the pasture, and I want no delay or nonsense about it," cried the officer angrily. "Now, run along, little soldier boy, don't yer see I'm busy?" Bud looked at the officer with a tolerant pity. Ted now rode up and interfered. "I'm capable of giving all the orders necessary to my men," he said gently. "You will please not interfere." "Who are you?" asked the lieutenant, with a sneer. "My name is Ted Strong." The lieutenant looked at him with some curiosity and respect. "Oh," he said. "I thought perhaps you were some kind of a foreman. My name is Lieutenant Barrows." Ted acknowledged it with a slight bow. "I am in charge of this delivery of beef to the department, and as you are already late I wish you to send this herd further into the reservation." "I am sorry I cannot comply with your wish," said Ted, "but it will be impossible to-night. The cattle made a forced march to-day, and are tired out, and, besides, they have just been watered, and have only time to graze a full feed before they bed. I am explaining all this to show you that my action in not doing what you wish was not through spite, but in the best interests of both the government and ourselves." "It is my duty to inspect the animals, and----" "I can't help that. The cattle do not go forward a foot farther to-night. I will get them into the pasture early in the morning." "That will be too late," said the officer curtly. "I shall inform the commandant of the post, Colonel Croffut, that you are late and that you refuse to obey orders." "Confound your impudence, who are you to give orders to me?" asked Ted, mad in a minute. "As I told you, I am the inspector, and it seems to me that it would be good policy, to say the least, to cater to my wishes somewhat." "What do I care for your wishes? Less than that, if I am doing the right thing and stand within my own rights;" and he snapped his fingers. "Perhaps you may be sorry." "That's my affair." "Very well. I am to understand that you refuse to move the cattle on to-night." "You've got it right." The lieutenant bowed, and, turning, rode slowly away with an ugly scowl on his face. "I reckon Little Bright Eyes has got it in fer you now," said Bud, who had ridden up in time to hear this part of the conversation. "He's aimin' ter do some dirty work, I reckon." "Oh, bother him! He got me all worked up and angry, and that always makes me feel bad. I wish he had happened to be somewhere else. Forget him! We'll drive the herd in early in the morning. He couldn't have inspected the beeves this evening, anyway." It took some little time to get the big herd in shape for the night, and Ted was washing himself and putting on some clean clothes when a soldier dashed up on a horse and asked for Mr. Strong. "I am Strong," said Ted, rubbing his head and neck vigorously with a rough towel.