“Yes; two of my men followed the parted trails, and came back to report the two herds halted and grazing.  My name is Ross.  I’m the owner of about a fourth of the cattle in the big herd.”

“I hope you don’t feel angry with us for doing the best we could to save our camp,” Dick went on.

“You saved myself and the other owners a greater loss,” replied Mr. Ross, “so I thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome, Mr. Ross,” smiled Tom Reade.  “But what was the shooting about?”

“I shot some of the cattle that appeared to be still alive, to put an end to their suffering.  You boys haven’t any ice here, have you?”

“No, sir,” Dick replied.

“Too bad,” said Mr. Ross.  “If you had ice I could offer you a prime lot of beef that it will hardly pay me to move, as I can’t get the animals cut up quickly enough and on ice, after the long haul I would have to make.”

“Are you going to leave the cattle on the clearing?” Dick asked in sudden concern.

“We’ll bury the carcasses,” smiled Mr. Ross.  “If we didn’t the smell would soon force you boys to move your camp a mile or two.  But see here!  Ever have a barbecue?”

“No, sir,” Dick made answer, his voice betraying sudden interest.

“Would you like one?” went on the owner.  “A barbecue, real western style, with a whole cow on the fire?”

“It would be great!” answered nearly all of Dick & Co. in concert.

“Then we’ll have one, as soon as I can call my men in,” replied Mr. Ross cheerfully.  “I’m bound to get some good out of the dead cattle.”

“We’ll want a lot of firewood for that, won’t we?” asked Dick, his eyes gleaming.

“More than a little,” nodded Mr. Ross.  “And big wood, at that.”

“Dave, you and Tom had better take the axes and get some real wood,” Prescott called.  “Harry and Dan will help you and bring it in.  Where shall we put the wood, Mr. Ross?”

“In the middle of the burnt clearing will be better,” replied the cattle owner.  “Then the fire won’t have a chance to spread in any direction.  Besides, you won’t want the heat of a great fire too close to your camp.  After the meat is cooked we can bring it over here.  Have you boys plenty of canned vegetables and the like?”

“Plenty, sir,” Dick answered cheerily, though his heart sank a trifle as he thought of how the cattle owner and his helpers might clean out their stock.

Dick and Greg busied themselves with carrying over to the clearing such things as Mr. Ross said that they would need.  Then it was decided that the vegetables should be cooked at the camp.

“Let me see your stock of provisions and perhaps I may get another idea,” proposed the cattle owner.  “I see that you have flour, and oh, yes; you have all that will be needed for a pudding, and one of my men knows how to make one of the best boiled puddings you ever ate out under the sky.”