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were also ready； and； with a dexterous flip； settled the noose
neatly over the iron pin that thrust up through the end of the
ridge…pole in front。 Andy's loop sank neatly over it a second
later； and the two wheeled and dashed away together； with Pink
and Irish duplicating their performance at the other end of the
tent。 The dingy； smoke…stained canvas swayed； toppled； as the
pegs gave way； and finally lay flat upon the prairie fifty feet
from where it had stood； leaving the inmates exposed to the cruel
stare of eight unfriendly cowpunchers。 Four cowering figures they
were； with guns in their hands that shook。
〃Drop them guns！〃 thundered Big Medicine； flipping his rope loose
and recoiling it mechanically as he plunged up to the group。
One man obeyed。 One gave a squawk of terror and permitted his gun
to go off at random before he fled toward the coulee。 The other
two crouched behind their bed…rolls； set their jaws doggedly and
glared defiance。
Pink； Andy； Irish； Big Medicine and the Native Son slid off their
horses and made a rush at them。 A rifle barked viciously； and
Slim； sitting prudently on his horse well in the rear； gave a
yell and started for home at a rapid pace。
Considering the provocation the Happy Family behaved with quite
praiseworthy self…control and leniency。 They did not lynch those
two herders。 They did not kill them； either by bullets； knives；
or beating to death。 They took away the guns； however； and they
told them with extreme bluntness what sort of men they believed
them to be。 They defined accurately their position in society at
large； in that neighborhood； and stated what would be their
future fate if they persisted in acting with so little caution
and common sense。
At Andy Green's earnest behest they also wound them round and
round with ropes； before they departed； and gave them some very
good advice upon the matter of range rules and the herding of
sheep； particularly of Dot sheep。
〃You're playing big luck； if you only had sense enough to know
it；〃 Andy pointed out to the recumbent three before they rode
away。 〃We didn't come over here on the warpath； and； if you
hadn't got in such a darned hurry to start something； you'd be a
whole lot more comfortable right now。 We rode over to tell yuh
not to start them sheep across Flying U coulee； because； if you
do； you're going to have both hands and your hats plumb full uh
trouble。 It has taken some little time and fussing to get yuh
gentled down so we can talk to you； and I sure do hope yuh
remember what I'm saying。〃
〃Oh； we'll remember it； all right！〃 menaced one of the men；
lifting his head turtlewise that he might glare at the group。
〃And our bosses'll remember it； you needn't worry about that
none。 You wait till〃
The next man to him turned his head and muttered a sentence； and
the speaker dropped his head back upon the ground； silenced。
〃It was your own outfit started this style of rope trimming； so
you can't kick about that part of the deal；〃 Pink informed them
melodiously。 〃It's liable to get to be all the rage with us。 So；
if you don't like it； don't come around where we are。 And say！〃
His dimples stood deep in his cheeks。 〃You send those ropes home
to…morrow； will yuh？ We're liable to need 'em。〃
〃by cripes！〃 Big Medicine bawled。 〃What say we haze them sheep a
few miles north； boys？〃
〃Oh； I guess they'll be all right where they are；〃 Andy
protested； his thirst for revenge assuaged at sight of those
three trussed as he had been trussed； and apparently not liking
it any better than he had liked it。 〃They'll be good and careful
not to come around the Flying Uor I miss my guess a mile。〃
The others cast comprehensive glances at their immediate
surroundings； and decided that they had at least made their
meaning plain； there was no occasion for emphasizing their
disapproval any further。 They confiscated the rifles； and they
told the fellows why they did so。 They very kindly pulled a
tarpaulin over the three to protect them in a measure from the
chill night that was close upon them； and they wished them good
night and pleasant dreams； and rode away home。
On the way they met Weary and Happy Jack； galloping anxiously to
the battle scene。 Slim； it appeared from Weary's rapid
explanation； had arrived at the ranch with his horse in a lather
and with a four…inch furrow in the fleshiest part of his leg；
where a bullet had flicked him in passing。 The tale he told had
led Weary to believe that Slim was the sole survivor of that
reckless company。
〃Mamma！ I'm so glad to see you boys able to fork your horses and
swear natural； that I don't believe I can speak my little piece
about staying on your own side the fence and letting trouble do
some of the hunting；〃 he exclaimed thankfully。 〃I wish you'd
stayed at home and left these blamed Dots alone。 But； seeing yuh
didn't； I'm tickled to death to hear you didn't kill anybody off。
I don't want the folks to come home and find the whole bunch in
the pen。 It might look as if〃
〃You don't want the folks to come home and find the whole ranch
sheeped off； either； and the herders camping up in the white
house； do yuh？〃 Pink inquired pointedly。 〃I kinda think；〃 he
added dryly； 〃those same herders will feel like going away around
Flying U fences with their sheep。 I don't believe they'll do any
cutting across。〃
〃I betche old Dunk'll make it interestin' fer this outfit； just
the same；〃 Happy Jack predicted。 〃Tyin' up three men uh hisn；
like that； and ropin' their tent and draggin' it off； ain't
things he'll pass up。 He'll have a possy out hereyou see if he
don't！〃
〃In that case； I'll be sorry for you； Happy；〃 purred Miguel close
beside him。 〃You're the only one in the outfit that looks capable
of such a vile deed。〃
〃Oh； Dunk won't do anything；〃 Weary said cheerfully。 〃You'll have
to take those guns back； though。 They might take a notion to call
that stealing！〃
〃You forget；〃 the Native Son reminded calmly； 〃that we left them
three good ropes in exchange。〃
Whereupon the Happy Family laughed and went to offer their
unsought sympathy to Slim。
CHAPTER X。 The Happy Family Herd Sheep
The boys of the Flying U had many faults in common； aside from
certain individual frailties； one of their chief weaknesses was
over…confidence in their own ability to cope with any situation
which might arise； unexpectedly or otherwise； and a belief that
others felt that same confidence in them； and that enemies were
wont to sit a long time counting the cost before venturing to
offer too great an affront。 Also they believedand made it
manifest in their conversationthat they could even bring the
Old Man back to health if they only had him on the ranch where
they could get at him。 They maligned the hospitals and Chicago
doctors most unjustly； and were agreed that all he needed was to
be back on the ranch where somebody could look af