half past ten
Every rider on that range for the past ten years knew it to be the rendezvous of El Lobo , while the ravages of his nightly raids were in evidence for forty miles in every direction . It was a common sight , early in the morning during the winter months , to see twenty and upward in a band , leisurely returning to their retreat , logy and insolent after a night 's raid . To make doubly sure that they would be at home to callers , the promoters of this drive gathered a number of worthless lump-jawed cattle two days in advance , and driving them to the edge of the grove , shot one occasionally along its borders , thus , to be hoped , spreading the last feast of the wolves . * * * * * By half past ten , Encampment Butte was deserted with the exception of a few old cowmen , two ladies , wife and sister of a popular cowman , and the captain , who from this point of vantage surveyed the field with a glass . Usually a languid and indifferent man , Miller had so set his heart on making this drive a success that this morning he appeared alert and aggressive as he rode forward and back across the plateau of the Butte . The dull , heavy reports of several shotguns caused him to wheel his horse and cover the beef ford with his glass , and a moment later Edwards and his squad were seen with the naked eye to scale the bank and strike up the river at a gallop . It was known that the ford was saddle-skirt deep , and some few of the men were strangers to it ; but with that passed safely he felt easier , though his blood coursed quicker .