“I don’t give a damn for you nor your advice. My reputation as a soldier is all I possess, and no man can dictate to nor intimidate me. My past record is an open book and one which I am proud of; and while I have the honor to command at Fort Buford, no threats can terrify nor cause me to deviate from my duty. Captain O’Neill, attend orders and escort these vehicles back to their quarters.” The escort loosened out, the conveyances started, and the inspection was over. We were a quiet crowd, though inwardly we all felt like shouting. We held apart from the military party, and when near the herd which held the “Circle Dot” steers, my brother and a number of the boys galloped on ahead and cut out the animals before our arrival. On entering the wagon-road near the post, the military cavalcade halted a moment for us to come up. Lovell was in the lead, and as we halted the commandant said to him: “We have decided to receive your cattle in the morning—about ten o’clock if that hour will be convenient. I may not come over, but the quartermaster’s Mr. Sanders will count for us, and you cowmen ought to agree on the numbers. We have delayed you a day, and if you will put in a bill for demurrage, I will approve it. I believe that is all. We’ll expect you to spend the night with us at the post. I thought it best to advise you now, so that you might give your men any final orders.” CHAPTER XXIII. KANGAROOED Lovell and his attorneys joined the cavalcade which returned to the post, while we continued on south, fording the Missouri above Forrest’s camp. The two recovered beeves were recognized by their ranch brands as belonging in Bee County, thus identifying them as having escaped from Bob Quirk’s herd, though he had previously denied all knowledge of them. The cattle world was a small one, and it mattered little where an animal roamed, there was always a man near by who could identify the brand and give the bovine’s past history. With the prospects bright for a new owner on the morrow, these two wayfarers found lodgment among our own for the night.