noon
Forrest further reported that the fiscal agent and the strangers had started to meet Sponsilier early that morning , and that the probability of all the herds moving out in a few days was good . Seay and his charge were still absent , and the programme , as outlined , was working out nicely . With the exception of Forrest and myself , the other foremen were busy looking after their outfits , while Bob Quirk had his wagon to load and start on its return . Quince confided to me that though he had stayed on Duck Creek the night before , his herd would noon that day on Saw Log , and camp that evening on the next creek north . When pressed for his reasons , he shrugged his shoulders , and with a quiet wink , said : `` If this new outfit put a man over me , just the minute we get out of the jurisdiction of this county , off his horse he goes and walks back . If it 's Tolleston , the moment he sees me and recognizes my outfit as belonging to Lovell , he 'll raise the long yell and let the cat out . When that happens , I want to be in an unorganized country where a six-shooter is the highest authority . ''