Page:Patches (1928).pdf/185

 the fact. He went at once to the corral to saddle his horse.

"You'll have to come along with me, Larry," he said, "I don't just like to take you on such an errand, but there don't seem to be anyone else around and I want a witness."

Larry was not altogether surprised when he saw his uncle buckle on two .45's. He also insisted on inspecting Larry's own gun.

"We probably won't have to use them this time, but it is always best to be prepared. These sheep men are the scum of the earth," said his uncle.

Half an hour later they arrived at the intervale where Larry had found the large herd of sheep and Hank Brodie saw that his nephew had given a faithful report of the conditions. There were four shepherds in charge, and the head cow-puncher of the Crooked Creek ranch at once sought out the foreman of the shepherds.

"What in the devil are you and your stinking sheep doing on my land?" thundered Hank.

"It ain't your land any more than its our'n," returned the shepherd coolly. "It belongs to the government and what belongs to them is as much our'n as it's your'n."

"It doesn't belong to the government," returned Hank, vigorously, "We've grazed it for twenty years