At first Gladiator threw up his head arrogantly, and did not stir.

Ted again rode toward him, swinging his lariat.  The bull saw him as well as the rope, and, recognizing the agents of his defeat, moved off briskly at the head of the herd.

“Say,” said Bud, across the head of the herd, “yer could slap that old duffer across the face with your hat, and he’d apologize.”

They were almost at the rendezvous, where thousands of cattle had been gathered into a huge herd, and in every direction could be seen dust clouds announcing that others were on the way.

“Here comes Carl hotfoot,” said Stella.  “He looks as if something had happened, and he was an extra edition with ’a full account of the terrible disaster.’”

“Hello, Carl!  What is it?” asked Ted.

“Der United States marshal vaiting for you on der veranda iss,” answered Carl solemnly.

“Well, what do I care?” asked Ted.  “He’s come at a mighty busy time if he just wants to swap a little conversation.  Did he say what he wanted?”

“No, but he say it is very important vork, an’ for you to hurry.”

“My compliments to the marshal, and tell him I’m busy, and will see him as soon as I get through.  You entertain him for a while.”

“But he der boss iss.”

“Not on this ranch.  This is a free and unadulterated republic, where there are no bosses.  Tell him to make himself at home, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Now the cattle were all rounded up, and the cutting out of the two and three-year olds began.

This was intensely exciting work, in which Stella joined, as she was as skilled at it as any of the boys.  Outside of the big herd, the cowboys were picking up the cut-outs and driving them to the branding pens, for many of them were acquired stock, and even many of the home yearlings had never been branded.

Then the cows with calves were cut out, so that the youngsters might get a touch of life by feeling the sting of the hot iron with the Crescent V brand on it.

The buyers were circulating in the herds, looking over the stock.

Several of the buyers had brought their own cow-punchers with them, and these went to work cutting out the selections of their employers.

The sky was thick with dust, and the air rang with the shouts of the cowboys and the lowing and bellowing of the cattle.

The rattle of countless hoofs on the hard soil added to the din, and the cattle weaving in and out ceaselessly, and the dashing riding of the cowboys as they swooped out of the mass occasionally to drive back an escaping steer, made a scene of excitement, movement, and noise never seen anywhere, except at a Western cattle round-up and cut-out.

Soon the work was pretty well in hand, and, leaving Bud Morgan as segundo, Ted went to the house to see the marshal.

He found that officer sitting on the veranda, quietly smoking a cigar, an interested witness of the proceedings.