Evidently the cattle were from the south line. The
saddle-stock was branded "J.E." and "The Olla." These brands appeared
on none of the cattle that Pete had seen. About a month after his
arrival, and while he was drifting slowly along the fence with
Brevoort, Pete caught sight of a number of horsemen, far out beyond the
ranch-line, riding slowly toward the north. He spoke to Brevoort, who
nodded. "We're like to be right busy soon."
Brevoort and Pete rode to the ranch-house that evening to get supplies
for their line shack. The place was all but deserted. The cook was
there--and the Mexican Jose who looked after the "fast ones" in the
stables; but Brent, Harper, Sandy Bell, and the rest of the men were
gone. Pete thought of the horsemen that he had seen--and of Brevoort's
remark, that they would "be right busy soon." Pete wondered how soon,
and how busy.
The day after the departure of the men, Brevoort told Pete that they
would take turn about riding the north line, in an eight-hour shift,
and he cautioned Pete to be on the lookout for a messenger riding a bay
horse--"Not a cow-horse, but a thoroughbred.
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