about midnight
My old bunkie , The Rebel , nearly dragged me from my horse , while Forrest and I forgot past differences over a social glass . And then there was Flood , my first foreman , under whom I served my apprenticeship on the trail , the same quiet , languid old Jim . The various foremen and their outfits were aware of the impending trouble over the Buford delivery , and quietly expressed their contempt for such underhand dealings . Quince Forrest had spent the evening before in town , and about midnight his herd of `` Drooping T 's '' were sold at about the same figures as mine , except five thousand more earnest-money , and the privilege of the buyers placing their own foreman in charge thereafter . 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 .