six o'clock
It was still early in the day , and starting the cattle for camp , I instructed the boys to water and graze them as long as they would stand up . The men all knew their places on guard , this having been previously arranged ; and joining Dr. Beaver , Jim and I rode for the ranch about a mile distant . The doctor was a genial host , and prescribed a series of mint-juleps , after which he proposed that we ride out and meet the cattle gathered during the day . The outfit had been working a section of country around some lagoons , south of the ranch , and it was fully six o'clock when we met them , heading homeward . The cattle were fully up to the standard of the first bunch , and halting the herd we trimmed them down and passed on them . After Flood rode out of this second contingent , I culled back about a dozen light weights . On finishing , Jim gave me a quiet wink , and said something to Dr. Beaver about a new broom .