Chapter 2, The Valley Summary and Analysis

This section of text begins after the author has provided readers with further details about how one Scotsman persuaded another back in the old country to come to Montana and homestead. A prominent figure emerges, but in this case it's a man who is wealthy but rapidly becomes notorious in the region. His name is Rankin and he introduces cattle ranching on the largest scale ever known. The problem is that his cattle and his cowboys are underfed, worked hard but not well provided for or looked after.

The author reverts back to a time prior to the birth of either he or any of his siblings. He begins to tell the tale of how his father had developed his own reputation learning ranching as a family member and then that fateful day when he met, and...