the acquaintance of other cowmen and their foremen who expected to drive that year.  New Orleans had previously been the only outlet for beef cattle in southern Texas, and even in the spring of ’69 very few had any confidence of a market in the north.  Major Mabry, however, was going to drive two herds to Abilene, one of beeves and the other of younger steers, dry cows, and thrifty two-year-old heifers, and I was to have charge of the heavy cattle.  Both herds would be put up in Llano County, it being the intention to start with the grass.  Mules were to be worked to the wagons, oxen being considered too slow, while both outfits were to be mounted seven horses to the man.

During my stay at Austin I frequently made inquiry for land scrip.  Nearly all the merchants had more or less, the current prices being about five cents an acre.  There was a clear distinction, however, in case one was a buyer or seller, the former being shown every attention.  I allowed the impression to circulate that I would buy, which brought me numerous offers, and before leaving the town I secured twenty sections for five hundred dollars.  I needed just that amount to cover a four-mile bend of the Clear Fork on the west end of my new ranch,—­a possession which gave me ten miles of that virgin valley.  My employer congratulated me on my investment, and assured me that if the people ever overthrew the Reconstruction usurpers the public domain would no longer be bartered away for chips and whetstones.  I was too busy to take much interest in the political situation, and, so long as I was prosperous and employed, gave little heed to politics.

Major Mabry owned a ranch and extensive cattle interests northwest in Llano County.  As we expected to start the herds as early as possible, the latter part of February found us at the ranch actively engaged in arranging for the summer’s work.  There were horses to buy, wagons to outfit, and hands to secure, and a busy fortnight was spent in getting ready for the drive.  The spring before I had started out in debt; now, on permission being given me, I bought ten horses for my own use and invested the balance of my money in four yoke of oxen.  Had I remained in Palo Pinto County the chances were that I might have enlarged my holdings in the coming drive, as in order to have me remain several offered to sell me cattle on credit.  But so long as I was enlarging my experience I was content, while the wages offered me were double what I received the summer before.

We went into camp and began rounding up near the middle of March.  All classes of cattle were first gathered into one herd, after which the beeves were cut separate and taken charge of by my outfit.  We gathered a few over fifteen hundred of the latter, all prairie-raised cattle, four years old or over, and in the single ranch brand of my employer.  Major Seth had also contracted for one thousand other beeves, and it became our duty to receive them.  These outside contingents