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doctors most unjustly； and were agreed that all he needed was to
be back on the ranch where somebody could look after him right。
They asserted that； if they ever got tired of living and wanted
to cash in without using a gun or anything； they'd go to a
hospital and tell the doctors to turn loose and try to cure them
of something。
This by way of illustration； also as an explanation of their
sleeping soundly that night； instead of watching for some hostile
demonstration on the part of the Dot outfit。 To a manone never
counted Happy Jack's prophecies of disaster as being anything
more than a personal deformity of thoughtthey were positive in
their belief that the Dot sheepherders would be very； very
careful not to provoke the Happy Family to further manifestations
of disapproval。 They knew what they'd get； if they tried any more
funny business； and they'd be mighty careful where they drove
their sheep after this。
So； with the comfortable glow of victory in their souls； they
laid them down； and； when the animated discussion of that night's
adventure flagged； as their tongues grew sleep…clogged and their
eyelids drooped； they slept in peace； save when Slim； awakened by
the soreness of his leg； grunted a malediction or two before he
began snoring again。
They rose and ate their breakfast in a fair humor with the world。
One grows accustomed to the thought of sickness； even when it
strikes close to the affections； and； with the resilience of
youth and hope； life adjusts itself to make room for the specter
of fear； so that it does not crowd unduly； but stands
half…forgotten in the background of one's thoughts。 For that
reason they no longer spoke soberly because of the Old Man lying
hurt unto death in Chicago。 And； when they mentioned the Dot
sheep and men； they spoke as men speak of the vanquished。
With the taste of hot biscuits and maple syrup still lingering
pleasantly against their palates； they went out and were
confronted with sheep； blatting sheep； stinking sheep；
devastating sheep； Dot sheep。 On the south side of the coulee； up
on the bluff； grazed the band。 They fed upon the brow of the hill
opposite the ranch buildings； they squeezed under the fence and
spilled a ragged fringe of running； gray animals down the slope。
Half a mile away though the nearest of them were； the murmur of
them； the smell of them； the whole intolerable presence of them；
filled the Happy Family with an amazed loathing too deep for
words。
Technically； that high； level stretch of land bounding Flying U
coulee on the south was open range。 It belonged to the
government。 The soil was not fertile enough even for the most
optimistic of 〃dry land〃 farmers to locate upon it； and this was
before the dry…land farming craze had swept the country；
gathering in all public land as claims。 J。 G。 Whitmore had
contented himself with acquiring title to the whole of the Flying
U coulee； secure in his belief that the old order of things would
not change； in his life…time； at least； and that the unwritten
law of the range land； which leaves the vicinity of a ranch to
the use of the ranch owner； would never be repealed by new
customs imposed by a new class of people。
Legally； there was no trespassing of the Dots； beyond the two or
three hundred which had made their way through the fence。
Morally； however； and by right of custom； their offense would not
be much greater if they came on down the hill and invaded the Old
Man's pet meadows； just beyond the 〃little pasture。〃
Ladies may read this story； so I am not going to pretend to
repeat the things they said； once they were released from dumb
amazement。 I should be compelled to improvise and substitute
which would remove much of the flavor。 Let bare facts suffice； at
present。
They saddled in haste； and in haste they rode to the scene。 This；
they were convinced； was the band herded by the bug…killer and
the man from Wyoming； and the nerve of those two almost excited
the admiration of the Happy Family。 It did not； however； deter
them from their purpose。
Weary； to look at him； was no longer in the mood to preach
patience and a turning of the other cheek。 He also made that
change of heart manifest in his speech when Pink； his eyes almost
black； rode up close and gritted at him：
〃Well； what's the orders now？ Want me to go back and get the wire
nippers so we can let them poor little sheep down into the
meadow？ Maybe we better ask the herders down to have some of
Patsy's grub； too； I don't believe they had time to cook much
breakfast。 And it wouldn't be a bad idea to haze our own stuff
clear off the range。 I'm afraid Dunk's sheep are going to fare
kinda slim； if we go on letting our cattle eat all the good
grass！〃 Pink did not often indulge in such lengthy sarcasm；
especially toward his beloved Weary； but his exasperation toward
Weary's mild tactics had been growing apace。
Weary's reply； I fear； will have to be omitted。 It was terribly
unrefined。
〃I want you boys to spread out； around the whole bunch；〃 was his
first printable utterance； 〃and haze these sheep just as far
south as they can get without taking to the river。 Don't get all
het up chasing 'em yourselfmake the men （Weary did not call
them men； he called them something very naughty） that's paid for
it do the driving。〃
〃And； if they don't go；〃 drawled the smooth voice of the Native
Son； 〃what shall we do； amigo？ Slap them on the wrist？〃
Weary twisted in the saddle and sent him a baleful glance； which
was not at all like Weary the sunny…hearted。
〃If you can't figure that out for yourself；〃 he snapped； 〃you had
better go back and wipe the dishes for Patsy； and； when that's
done； you can pull the weeds out of his radishes。 Maybe he'll
give you a nickel to buy candy with； if you do it good。〃 Before
he faced to the front again his harsh glance swept the faces of
his companions。
They were grinning； every man of them； and he knew why。 To see
him lose his temper was something of an event with the Happy
Family； who used sometimes to fix the date of an incident by
saying； 〃It was right after that time Weary got mad； a year ago
last fall；〃 or something of the sort。 He grinned himself；
shamefacedly； and told them that they were a bunch of no…account
cusses； anyway； and he'd just about as soon herd sheep himself as
to have to run with such an outfit； which swept his anger from
him and left him his usual self； with but the addition of a
purpose from which nothing could stay him。 He was going to settle
the sheep question； and he was going to settle it that day。
Only one injunction did he lay upon the Happy Family。 〃You
fellows don't want to get excited and go to shooting；〃 he warned；
while they were still out of hearing of the herders。 〃We don't
want Dunk to get anything like that on us； savvy？〃
They 〃savvied；〃 and they told him so； each after his own
individual manner。
〃I gu