"I'm talking to you. I want those cattle driven in to the pasture, and I
want no delay or nonsense about it," cried the officer angrily.
"Now, run along, little soldier boy, don't yer see I'm busy?" Bud looked
at the officer with a tolerant pity.
Ted now rode up and interfered.
"I'm capable of giving all the orders necessary to my men," he said
gently. "You will please not interfere."
"Who are you?" asked the lieutenant, with a sneer.
"My name is Ted Strong."
The lieutenant looked at him with some curiosity and respect.
"Oh," he said. "I thought perhaps you were some kind of a foreman. My
name is Lieutenant Barrows."
Ted acknowledged it with a slight bow.
"I am in charge of this delivery of beef to the department, and as you
are already late I wish you to send this herd further into the
reservation."
"I am sorry I cannot comply with your wish," said Ted, "but it will be
impossible to-night. The cattle made a forced march to-day, and are
tired out, and, besides, they have just been watered, and have only time
to graze a full feed before they bed. I am explaining all this to show
you that my action in not doing what you wish was not through spite, but
in the best interests of both the government and ourselves."
"It is my duty to inspect the animals, and----"
"I can't help that.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258