"If that don't look like Stella I'll eat my saddle blanket fried in butter," he said. "Shore do look some like her," answered Bud, "an' that's ther same little ole red jacket what she wears." In a few moments they heard Stella's hail, and answered it. Then up galloped Stella and Miss Croffut, accompanied by the commandant of the post, Lieutenant Barrows, and two other officers, a captain and a major. After greeting the boys, and formally introducing Miss Croffut, Stella told them that from their last telegram she thought she might be able to catch them at Fort Felton, and had not hesitated in coming on, particularly as she happened to know Miss Croffut. "What's this trouble you fellows have been getting into with the folks at the fort?" asked Stella. "We're not having any trouble, but we had some in the night when the dogies stampeded us," replied Ted, with an almost imperceptible wink at her. "None of my business, I suppose?" "None in the least." "See here, Mr. Strong," the colonel broke in, "I suppose I was somewhat hasty last night in talking with you, especially as you had arrived on time. I wish you'd turn back, and let us have those cattle." "Like to if you'd said so a little earlier, but since morning, and the expiration of the contract, beef has gone up." "What do you mean?" "I mean that you haven't money enough to buy these cattle. What's the matter? Want a few head to feed to the Indians?" "We want the whole herd, but as you have guessed the truth, we must have a few head to keep those crazy Indians from making trouble. They have heard that the cattle are gone, and I'm afraid that they will break loose and murder a lot of settlers to get even with Uncle Sam." "What are the troops for?" "We wouldn't dare go after them without orders from Washington." "Well, you started it, and I would advise you to go on to the finish." "If we don't get enough cattle to feed the Indians the post is ruined." "You should have thought of that contingency when you sent your amiable young assistant out to me." He looked at Barrows. "Well, I apologize for him. He was dead wrong, but so was I." "Nothing doing! You would have given me the worst of it if I had been chump enough not to know the cow business as I do. But these cattle are due on the high range in a few days, and we must be moving on. Adios." "Oh, Mr. Strong, please do let us have enough cattle for those poor Indians. The squaws and babies and growing children are actually starving, for the government has kept them on short allowance lately. Let a few head go to us." Ted said nothing for several moments, during which they all looked at him anxiously. "Come on, Ted, be a good fellow," said Stella, with a laugh. "All right," said Ted. "How many do you want cut out?" Ted was looking at the colonel. "I'd like to have the whole herd," answered the colonel.