dismounted in the shade of a tree.  Commonplace chat of the country occupied the attention of the two Texans until hunger or some other warning caused one of them to look at his watch, when it was discovered to be three o’clock in the afternoon.  It was then too late in the day to make an extensive ride, and the ranchman invited his neighbor and guest to return to the ranch for the night.  Another day was wasted in entertaining the neighbor, the northern cowman, in the meantime, impatient and walking on nettles until a second start was made to see the cattle.  It was a foggy morning, and they started on a different route from that previously taken, the visiting ranchman going along.  Unnoticed, a pack of hounds followed the trio of horsemen, and before the fog lifted a cougar trail was struck and the dogs opened in a brilliant chorus.  The two Texans put spurs to their horses in following the pack, the cattle buyer of necessity joining in, the chase leading into some hills, from which they returned after darkness, having never seen a cow during the day.  One trivial incident after another interfered with seeing the cattle for ten days, when the guest took his host aside and kindly told him that he must be shown the cattle or he would go home.

“You’re not in a hurry, are you, captain?” innocently asked the Texan.  “All right, then; no trouble to show the cattle.  Yes, they run right around home here within twenty-five miles of the ranch.  Show you a sample of the stock within an hour’s ride.  You can just bet that old Tom Green County has got the steers!  Sugar, if I’d a-known that you was in a hurry, I could have shown you the cattle the next morning after you come.  Captain, you ought to know me well enough by this time to speak your little piece without any prelude.  You Yankees are so restless and impatient that I seriously doubt if you get all the comfort and enjoyment out of life that’s coming to you.  Make haste, some of you boys, and bring in a remuda; Captain Stone and I are going to ride over on the Middle Fork this morning.  Make haste, now; we’re in a hurry.”

In due time I suppose I drifted into the languorous ways of the Texan; but on the occasion of Mr. Hunter’s first visit I was in the need of a moneyed partner, and accordingly danced attendance.  Once communication was opened with his Northern associates, we made several short rides into adjoining counties, never being gone over two or three days.  When we had looked at cattle to his satisfaction, he surprised me by offering to put fifty thousand dollars into young steers for the Kansas trade.  I never fainted in my life, but his proposition stunned me for an instant, or until I could get my bearings.  The upshot of the proposal was that we entered into an agreement whereby I was to purchase and handle the cattle, and he was to make himself useful in selling and placing the stock in his State.  A silent partner was furnishing an equal portion of the means, and I was