After selling the oxen we broke some of our saddle stock to harness, altered the wagon tongue for horses, and started across the country for home, taking our full remuda with us.  Where I had gone up the trail with five horses, I was going back with twenty; some of the oxen I had sold at treble their original cost, while none of them failed to double my money—­on credit.  Taking it all in all, I had never seen such good times and made money as easily.  On the back track we followed the trail, but instead of going down the Washita as we had come, we followed the Chisholm trail to the Texas boundary, crossing at what was afterward known as Red River Station.  From there home was an easy matter, and after an absence of four months and five days the outfit rode into the Edwards ranch with a flourish.

CHAPTER VI

SOWING WILD OATS

The results from driving cattle north were a surprise to every one.  My employers were delighted with their experiment, the general expense of handling the herd not exceeding fifty cents a head.  The enterprise had netted over fifty-two thousand dollars, the saddle horses had returned in good condition, while due credit was given me in the general management.  From my sale accounts I made out a statement, and once my expenses were approved it was an easy matter to apportion each owner his just dues in the season’s drive.  This over I was free to go my way.  The only incident of moment in the final settlement was the waggish contention of one of the owners, who expressed amazement that I ever remitted any funds or returned, roguishly admitting that no one expected it.  Then suddenly, pretending to have discovered the governing motive, he summoned Miss Gertrude, and embarrassed her with a profusion of thanks, averring that she alone had saved him from a loss of four hundred beeves.

The next move was to redeem my land scrip.  The surveyor was anxious to buy a portion of it, but I was too rich to part with even a single section.  During our conversation, however, it developed that he held his commission from the State, and when I mentioned my intention of locating land, he made application to do the surveying.  The fact that I expected to make my locations in another county made no difference to a free-lance official, and accordingly we came to an agreement.  The apple of my eye was a valley on the Clear Fork, above its juncture with the main Brazos, and from maps in the surveyor’s office I was able to point out the locality where I expected to make my locations.  He proved an obliging official and gave me all the routine details, and an appointment was made with him to report a week later at the Edwards ranch.  A wagon and cook would be necessary, chain carriers and flagmen must be taken along, and I began skirmishing about for an outfit.  The three hired men who had been up the trail with me were still in the country, and I engaged them and secured a cook.