"As you like about that. Every gopher to his own hole," remarked Bud. "But if you had, and I guess you would if you thought there was more money in it, you would certainly insist on your rights on the range, wouldn't you?" "I might try." "And if you tried you'd be pretty sure to succeed, I imagine." "It's likely; I allow as how I'm a pretty good hand at succeedin'." "Well, so am I. I haven't got very far yet, but I am on my way. I didn't come out here to make a failure of things, and I don't intend to. Now, all I want is to run my sheep north on to the Montana range where my ranch is." "How many are there?" This from Stelton. "Five flocks of about two thousand each." Bissell snorted and turned in his chair. "I won't allow it, young man, an' that's all I've got to say. D'ye think I'm a fool?" "No, but neither am I. And I might as well tell you first and last that those sheep are coming north. Now, if you do the fair thing you will tell your cowboys the fact so they won't make any mistakes. I have given you fair warning, and if anything happens to those sheep you will be held responsible." "Is that all you got to say?" asked Bissell, sarcastically. "Yes." "Well, then, I'll do the talkin'. I'd as leave see Indians stampedin' my cows into the river as have your sheep come over the range. Since you've given me what you call a fair warning, I'll give you one. Leave your critters where they are. If you don't do it you'll be a sight wiser and also a mighty sight poorer before I get through with 'em." "Just what do you mean by that?" asked Larkin. "I ain't sayin' nothin' more than that now, because I'm a slow hand at makin' ornery promises, seein' I always keep 'em. But I'm just tellin' you, that's all." "Is that your last word on the subject?" asked Larkin. "It is, an' I want Stelton here to remember I said it." "Then we won't say anything more about the matter," replied Bud calmly, as he rose. "I'll go outside and look to my horse." "You'll stay the night with us, won't you?" asked Bissell anxiously. "Yes, thanks. I've heard so much about the Bar T I should like to see a little more of it." When Larkin had left the room, Bissell, with a frown on his face, turned to Stelton. "Tell all the boys what's happened to-day," he said, "and tell 'em to be on the watch for this young feller's first herd. He'll plenty soon find out he can't run riot on my range." CHAPTER II A LATE ARRIVAL After visiting the corral, Larkin paid his respects to the pump and refreshed himself for supper. Then he strolled around the long, rambling ranch house. Across the front, which faced southwest, had been built a low apology for a veranda on which a couple of uninviting chairs stood. He appropriated one of these and settled back to think.