The cattle had to be brought from the outlying feeding-grounds with the coming of the rains; a great part of the range would soon become inundated. Also, there were numerous other things to be done, such as branding the calves and counting and segregating the animals of different ages and intended for different purposes. David, of course, confidently expected that he would be permitted to participate in this work. It was the thing for which he had come to the ranch and in anticipation of which he had endured all the hardships and discouragements that had been thrust into his path. But once again he was disappointed. One by one the men were selected for the round-up and sent on their various missions. And when the last place had been filled, those who remained were put to work weighing the rubber and marking it for shipment. David awaited a favorable opportunity to protest against this treatment to Dom Carlos. The latter gave him a look of contempt. “You’re lucky to be doing anything,” he said in reply. “When I told the _patron_ all the things you are guilty of he came near sending you down the river under guard. But he decided to let you work out your debt; after that you’re going on the first launch that leaves.” “If that’s the case I might as well leave right now,” David replied hotly. “Not until you’ve squared your account. You’ll work that out first, and it will take a long time, too.” David said nothing more, but quickly formed a plan of action. He would venture to speak to Rice if there was a possible chance of doing so; if not, he simply had to make the best of a very bad situation. Soon the cattle began to arrive, in small groups and in droves that numbered hundreds. They were a wild lot and David was surprised that there were so many of them. As he watched the mounted herders, wielding their ropes, riding frantically and shouting, he longed to be among them. Instead, he carried the heavy balls of rubber to the weighing shed and back again to the storehouse, after they had been weighed and checked. However, in the evenings, when the day’s hard labor was over, he visited the corrals accompanied by Miguel and eagerly talked about the things he would like to do and would do--elsewhere, if the opportunity did not come at Las Palmas. The more he thought of the matter, the more impatient he became. And finally, unable longer to endure in silence, he decided to go to Rice to settle the issue. Scarcely had he determined on this course than the ranchman sent for him. He hastened to the office in response to the summons, breathless with eagerness and anticipation. A gruff “Enter” came in answer to his knock. He went in. Rice was at the table, his back turned toward the door and he continued writing fully five minutes longer before turning around. In the meantime, David’s enthusiasm and ardor cooled considerably. He doubted now that he had been called for a good purpose.