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XIX

A BRIEF MESSAGE FOR MRS. BENSON

E'LL not be able to advance another mile unless something can be done to cure the cattle's feet/' exclaimed the Captain the next morning, when his teamsters came together for consultation.

"I have been studying the case during the night," said Mrs. McAlpin, who was preparing breakfast. "It is cool and pleasant now, but it will be terribly hot by nine o'clock. We must treat the sore feet of our sufferers to a heroic cure, and get them out on the range, away from the sand of the public road, before the sun gets over the hills. We can't drive a hoof over the road to-day."

"I'd like to know how in blazes we 're going to doctor the cattle's feet without medicine," cried Hal. "We haven't even enough o' * Number Six ' on hand to give my off-leader's left foot a thorough treatment."

"I guess we have everything we need," replied the Little Doctor. "Bring me your fullest tar-bucket. There, that's encouraging. Got any turpentine. Captain? That's good. Now bring me an iron pot, Susannah. Here's a good bed of glowing coals. There," she cried, as she emptied the liquid tar into the iron kettle. " Now let's add the turpentine, and I'll heat the mixture as slowly as possible over these red-hot coals. It is fortunate that the flames are dead, otherwise we might set our dish on fire and spoil our broth. Have you any oakum?"

"Not a bit. Who'd 'a' thought we'd need oakum on a land-lubbers' journey like this?" said the Captain.

The Little Doctor knitted her brows. "Have you some Manila rope and a big pan?" she asked.