Near them--all around them--similar scenes were being enacted, and, not infrequently, ancient enemies would thus come together, with none of the kindly greetings that I have indicated. Often as not there would be the drawing of guns and an exchange of shots, more or less dangerous under any circumstances, and particularly so where there was a throng as at the opening of court. But on this occasion all grudges seemed to have been forgotten or buried, for there was no shooting. The feeling was of the friendliest, save that an important issue was to be fought out between the sheep men on one side and the cattle men on the other. To both sides the issue meant much, for it meant success or failure in what they elected to gain their livings by means of. So it cannot be wondered at that there were more or less serious faces as men met and inquired one of the other: "How do you think it's going?" "Well, you can't tell much about it," the answer might be. "These lawyers and judges----" "That's right. They don't seem to use common sense--some of 'em." "But what sort of a case do you s'pose Diamond X has got, anyhow?" "Pretty good, I hear." "Well, I hope they have. Gosh! If we're goin' t' be overrun with them onery sheep jest as we've got things runnin' nicely fer cattle--wa'al, I don't want t' live around here--that's all I got to say!" exclaimed one grizzled cowman. "Same here!" commented some of his hearers. "Sheep's no good; never were any good; an' what's more, never will be any good!" "That's right!" came a deep-voiced chorus. To hear them tell it one would think that a sheep had no rights at all and that a sheep man was the worst being on earth, and yet, as a matter of fact, many a cowman, sick of the eternal beef that he had to eat, welcomes a tender bit of roast lamb. But such is the world! To the cattlemen the sheep owners and herders were despised and hated of men--not fit to live within the same thousand-mile area of cattle and horses. Of course sheep was not the direct issue. As was said, the point turned on whether the Spur Creek land came under the provisions of the open range, as defined by Congress, and once this was settled a man could pasture elephants on the land he staked out, provided he could get elephants to stay there. But the coming of the sheep meant the going of the cattle. And that is why the courtroom was so filled with spectators. Dick was there, his bullet-wounded hand almost better. Bud was there, as was his father and many cowboys from Diamond X. Del Pinzo, with a grin on his evil, bearded face, was there also. "We will take up first the matter of the open range land," said the Judge. "The matter was laid over until to-day to enable the defendant to produce certain papers in court substantiating his claim to pasturage along Spur Creek. Are you ready to proceed, Mr. Bonnett?" and he looked at Mr. Merkel's lawyer.