CHAPTER III

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      The rancher thought it best to wait till after the round-up before he turned over the foremanship to his son. This was wise, but Jack did not see it that way. He showed that his old, intolerant spirit had, if anything, grown during his absence. Belllounds patiently argued with him, explaining what certainly should have been clear to a young man brought up in Colorado. The fall round-up was the most important time of the year, and during the strenuous drive the appointed foreman should have absolute control. Jack gave in finally with a bad grace.

      It was unfortunate that he went directly from his father's presence out to the corrals. Some of the cowboys who had ridden all the day before and stood guard all night had just come in. They were begrimed with dust, weary, and sleepy-eyed.

      "This hyar outfit won't see my tracks no more," said one, disgustedly. "I never kicked on doin' two men's work. But when it comes to rustlin' day and night, all the time, I'm a-goin' to pass."

      "Turn in, boys, and sleep till we get back with the chuck-wagon," said Wilson Moore. "We'll clean up that bunch to-day."

      "Ain't you tired, Wils?" queried Bludsoe, a squat, bow-legged cowpuncher who appeared to be crippled or very lame.

      "Me? Naw!" grunted Moore, derisively. "Blud, you sure ask fool questions.... Why, you--mahogany-colored, stump-legged, biped of a cowpuncher, I've had three hours' sleep in four nights!"

      "What's a biped?" asked Bludsoe, dubiously.

      Nobody enlightened him.

      "Wils, you-all air the only eddicated cowman I ever loved, but I'm a son-of-a-gun if we ain't agoin' to come to blows some day," declared Bludsoe.

      "He shore can sling English," drawled Lem Billings. "I reckon he swallowed a dictionary onct."

      "Wal, he can sling a rope, too, an' thet evens up," added Jim Montana.

      Just at this moment Jack Belllounds appeared upon the scene. The cowboys took no notice of him. Jim was bandaging a leg of his horse; Bludsoe was wearily gathering up his saddle and trappings; Lem was giving his tired mustang a parting slap that meant much. Moore evidently awaited a fresh mount. A Mexican lad had come in out of the pasture leading several horses, one of which was the mottled white mustang that Moore rode most of the time.

      Belllounds lounged forward with interest as Moore whistled, and the mustang showed his pleasure. Manifestly he did not like the Mexican boy and he did like Moore.

      "Spottie, it's drag yearlings around for you to-day," said the cowboy, as he caught the mustang. Spottie tossed his head and stepped high until the bridle was on. When the saddle was thrown and strapped in place the mustang showed to advantage. He was beautiful, but not too graceful or sleek or fine-pointed or prancing to prejudice any cowboy against his qualities for work.

      Jack Belllounds admiringly walked all around the mustang a little too close to please Spottie.

      "Moore, he's a fair-to-middling horse," said Belllounds, with the air of judge of horseflesh. "What's his name?"

      "Spottie," replied Moore, shortly, as he made ready to mount.

      "Hold on, will you!" ordered Jack, peremptorily. "I like this horse. I want to look him over."

      When he grasped the bridle-reins out of the cowboy's hand Spottie jumped as if he had been shot at. Belllounds jerked at him and went closer. The mustang reared, snorting, plunging to get loose. Then Jack Belllounds showed the sudden temper for which he was noted. Red stained his pale cheeks.

      "Damn you--come down!" he shouted, infuriated at the mustang, and with both hands he gave a powerful lunge. Spottie came down, and stood there, trembling all over, his ears laid back, his eyes showing fright and pain. Blood dripped from his mouth where the bit had cut him.

      "I'll teach you to stand," said Belllounds, darkly. "Moore, lend me your spurs. I want to try him out."

      "I don't lend my spurs--or my horse, either," replied the cowboy, quietly, with a stride that put him within reach of Spottie.

      The other cowboys had dropped their trappings and stood at attention, with intent gaze and mute lips.

      "Is he your horse?" demanded Jack, with a quick flush.

      "I reckon so," replied Moore, slowly. "No one but me ever rode him."

      "Does my father own him or do you own him?"

      "Well, if that's the way you figure--he belongs to White Slides," returned the cowboy. "I never bought him. I only raised him from a colt, broke him, and rode him."

      "I thought so. Moore, he's mine, and I'm going to ride him now. Lend me spurs, one of you cowpunchers."

      Nobody made any motion to comply. There seemed to be a suspense at hand that escaped Belllounds.

      "I'll ride him without spurs," he declared, presently, and again he turned to mount the mustang.

      "Belllounds, it'd be better for you not to ride him now," said Moore, coolly.

      "Why, I'd like to know?" demanded Belllounds, with the temper of one who did not tolerate opposition.

      "He's the only horse left for me to ride," answered the cowboy. "We're branding to-day. Hudson was hurt yesterday. He was foreman, and he appointed me to fill his place. I've got to rope yearlings. Now, if you get up on Spottie you'll excite him. He's high-strung, nervous. That'll be bad for him, as he hates cutting-out and roping."

      The reasonableness of this argument was lost upon Belllounds.

      "Moore, maybe it'd interest you to know that I'm foreman of White Slides," he asserted, not without loftiness.

      His speech manifestly decided something vital for the cowboy.

      "Ahuh!... I'm sure interested this minute," replied Moore, and then, stepping to the side of the mustang, with swift hands he unbuckled the cinch, and with one sweep he drew saddle and blanket to the ground.

      The action surprised Belllounds. He stared. There seemed something boyish in his lack of comprehension. Then his temper flamed.

      "What do you mean by that?" he demanded, with a strident note in his voice. "Put that saddle back."

      "Not much. It's my saddle. Cost sixty dollars at Kremmling last year. Good old hard-earned saddle!... And you can't ride it. Savvy?"

      "Yes, I savvy," replied Belllounds, violently. "Now you'll savvy what I say. I'll have you discharged."

      "Nope. Too late," said Moore, with cool, easy scorn. "I figured that. And I quit a minute ago--when you showed what little regard you had for a horse."

      "You quit!... Well, it's damned good riddance. I wouldn't have you in the outfit."

      "You couldn't have kept me, Buster Jack."

      The epithet must have been an insult to Belllounds. "Don't you dare call me that," he burst out, furiously.

      Moore pretended surprise. "Why not? It's your range name. We all get a handle, whether we like it or not. There's Montana and Blud and Lemme Two Bits. They call me Professor. Why should