This completed the purchase of beef cattle.  Two of our contracts called for northern wintered beeves, which would be filled out of our holdings in the Cherokee Outlet.  We again stopped in central Texas, but prices were too firm, and we passed on west to San Saba and Lampasas counties, where we effected trades on nine thousand five hundred three-year-old steers.  My own outfits would drop down from the Clear Fork to receive these cattle, and after we had perfected our banking arrangements the major returned to San Antonio and I started homeward.  George Edwards had in the mean time bargained for ten brands, running anywhere from one to five thousand head, paying straight through five to seven dollars, half cash and the balance in eight months, everything to be delivered on the Clear Fork.  We intentionally made these deliveries late—­during the last week in March and the first one in April—­in order that Major Hunter might approve of the three herds of cows for Indian delivery.  Once I had been put in possession of all necessary details, Edwards started south to join Major Hunter, as the receiving of the Nueces River beeves was set for from the 10th to the 15th of March.

I could see a busy time ahead.  There was wood to haul for the branding, three complete outfits to start for the central part of the State, new wagons to equip for the trail, and others to care for the calf crop while en route to the Double Mountain Fork.  There were oxen to buy in equipping teams to accompany the stock cattle to the new ranch, two yoke being allowed to each wagon, as it was strength and not speed that was desired.  My old foremen rallied at a word and relieved me of the lesser details of provisioning the commissaries and engaging the help.  Trusty men were sent to oversee and look out for my interests in gathering the different brands, the ranges of many of them being fifty to one hundred miles distant.  The different brands were coming from six separate counties along the border, and on their arrival at my ranch we must be ready to receive, brand, and separate the herds into their respective classes, sending two grades to market and the remnant to their new home at the foot of the Staked Plain.  The condition of the mules must be taken into consideration before the army can move, and in cattle life the same reliance is placed on the fitness for duty of the saddle horses.  I had enough picked ones to make up a dozen remudas if necessary, and rested easy on that score.  The date for receiving arrived and found us all ready and waiting.

The first herd was announced to arrive on the 25th of March.  I met it ten miles from the ranch.  My man assured me that the brand as gathered was intact and that it would run fifty per cent dry cows and steers over two years old.  A number of mature beeves even were noticeable and younger steers were numerous, while the miscellany of the herd ran to every class and condition of the bovine race.  Two other brands