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roundup and waiting for good grass。
〃I'll be darned if I'd be as calm as he is；〃 Cal Emmett muttered
while the door was being closed。 〃Good thing the Old Man ain't
here； now。 He'd go straight up in the air。 He wouldn't wait for
no breakfast。〃
〃I betche there'll be a killin' yet； before we're through with
them sheep；〃 gloomed Happy Jack。 〃When sheepherders starts in
once to be ornery； there ain't no way uh stoppin' 'em except by
killin' 'em off。 And that'll mean the pen for a lot of us
fellers〃
〃Well； by golly； it won't be me；〃 Slim declared loudly。 〃Yuh
wouldn't ketch me goin' t' jail for no doggone sheepherder。 They
oughta be a bounty on 'en by rights。〃
〃Seems queer they'd be right back here this morning； after being
hazed out yesterday afternoon；〃 said Andy Green thoughtfully。
〃Looks like they're plumb anxious to build a lot of trouble for
themselves。〃
Patsy； thumping energetically the bottom of a tin pan； sent them
trooping to the mess…house。 There it was evident that the
breakfast had been unduly hurried； there were no biscuits in
sight； for one thing； though Patsy was lumbering about the stove
frying hot…cakes。 They were in too great a hurry to wait for
them； however。 They swallowed their coffee hurriedly； bolted a
few mouthfuls of meat and fried eggs； and let it go at that。
Weary looked at then with a faint smile。 〃I'm going to give a few
of you fellows a chance to herd sheep to…day；〃 he announced；
cooling his coffee so that it would not actually scald his
palate。 〃That's why I wanted you to get some grub into you。 Some
of you fellows will have to take the trail up on the hill； and
meet us outside the fence； so when we chase 'em through you can
make a good job of it this time。 I wonder〃
〃You don't need to call out the troops for that job； one man is
enough to put the fear uh the Lord into then herders；〃 Andy
remarked slightingly。 〃Once they're on the move〃
〃All right； my boy； we'll let you be the man；〃 Weary told him
promptly。 〃I was going to have a bunch of you take a packadero
outfit down toward Boiler Bottom and comb the breaks along there
for horsesand I sure do hate to spend the whole day chasing
sheepherders around over the country。 So we'll haze 'em through
the fence again； and； seeing you feel that way about it； I'll let
you go around and keep 'em going。 And； if you locate their camp；
kinda impress it on the tender； if you can round him up； that the
Flying U ain't pasturing sheep this spring。 No matter what kinda
talk he puts up； you put the run on 'em till you see 'em across
One…Man coulee。 Better have Patsy put you up a lunchunless
you're fond of mutton。〃
Andy twisted his mouth disgustedly。 〃Say； I'm going to quit
handing out any valuable advice to you； Weary；〃 he expostulated。
〃Haw…haw…haw…w…w！〃 laughed Big Medicine； and slapped Andy on the
shoulder so that his face almost came in contact with his plate。
〃Yuh will try to work some innercent man into sheepherdin'； will
yuh？ Haw…haw…haw…w！ You'll come in tonight blattin'if yuh don't
stay out on the range tryin' t' eat grass； by cripes！ Andy had a
little lamb that follered him around〃
〃Better let Bud take that herdin' job； Weary；〃 Andy suggested。
〃It won't hurt himhe's blattin' already。〃
〃If you think you're liable to need somebody along；〃 Weary began；
soft…heartedly relenting； 〃why； I guess〃
〃If I can't handle two crazy sheepherders without any help； by
gracious； I'll get me a job holdin' yarn in an old ladies' hone；〃
Andy cut in hastily； and got up from the table。 〃Being a truthful
man； I can't say I'm stuck on the job； but I'm game for it。 And
I'll promise you there won't be no more sheep of that brand
lickin' our doorsteps。 What darned outfit is it； anyway？ I never
bumped into any Dot sheep before； to my knowledge。〃
〃It's a new one on me；〃 Weary testified； heading the procession
down to the stable。 〃If they belonged anywhere in this part of
the country； though； they wouldn't be acting the way they are。
They'd be wise to the fact that it ain't healthy。〃
Even while he spoke his eyes were fixed with cold intensity upon
a fringe of gray across the coulee below the little pasture。 To
the nostrils of the outraged Happy Family was borne that
indescribable aroma which betrays the presence of sheep； that
aroma which sheepmen love and which cattlemen hate； and which a
favorable wind will carry a long way。
They slapped saddles on their horses in record time that morning；
and raced down the coulee ironically shouting commiserating
sentences to the unfortunate Andy； who rode slowly up to the
mess…house for the lunch which Patsy had waiting for him in a
flour sack； and afterward climbed the grade and loped along
outside the line fence to a point opposite the sheep and the
shouting horsemen； who forced them back by weight of numbers。
This morning the herders were not quite so passive。 The
bug…killer still scowled； but he spoke without the preliminary
sulky silence of the day before；
〃We're goin' across the coulee；〃 he growled。 〃Them's orders。 We
range south uh here。〃
〃No； you don't；〃 Weary dissented calmly。 〃Not by a long shot； you
don't。 You're going back where you come fromif you ask me。 And
you're going quick！〃
CHAPTER VI。 What Happened to Andy
With the sun shining comfortably upon his back； and with a
cigarette between his lips； Andy sat upon his horse and watched
in silent glee while the irate Happy Family scurried here and
there behind the band； swinging their ropes down upon the woolly
backs； and searching their vocabularies for new and terrible
epithets。 Andy smiled broadly as a colorful phrase now and then
boomed across the coulee in that clear； snappy atmosphere； which
carries sounds so far。 He did not expect to do much smiling upon
his own account； that day； and he was therefore grateful for the
opportunity to behold the spectacle before him。
There was Slim； for instance； unwillingly careening down hill
toward home； because； in his zeal to slap an old ewe smartly with
his rope； he drove her unexpectedly under his horse； and so
created a momentary panic that came near standing both horse and
rider upon their heads。 And there was Big Medicine whistling
until he was purple； while the herder； with a single gesture；
held the dog motionless； though a dozen sheep broke back from the
band and climbed a slope so steep that Big Medicine was compelled
to go after them afoot； and turn them with stones and profane
objurgations。
It was very funnywhen one could sit at ease upon the hilltop
and smoke a cigarette while others risked apoplexy and their
souls' salvation below。 By the time they panted up the last
rock…strewn slope of the bluff； and sent the vanguard of the
invaders under the fence； Andy's mood was complacent in the
extreme； and his smile offensively wide。
〃Oh； you needn't look so sorry for us；〃 drawled the Native Son；