He had betrayed no emotion in the presence of Williams, but he was
seething with passion.
Late the next afternoon he joined Carter and the outfit. The men had
made good use of their time, and when Sanderson arrived, the entire
herd of cattle was massed on a broad level near the river. They were
milling impatiently, for the round-up had just been completed, and they
were nervous over the unusual activity.
The cowboys, bronzed, lean, and capable, were guarding the herd, riding
slowly around the fringe of tossing horns, tired, dusty, but singing
their quaint songs.
Carter had sent the cook back to the ranchhouse during the afternoon to
obtain supplies; and now the chuck wagon, with bulging sides, was
standing near a fire at which the cook himself was preparing supper.
Carter grinned as Sanderson rode up.
"All ready!" he declared. "We sure did hump ourselves!"
Around the camp fire that night Sanderson was moody and taciturn. He
had stretched out on his blanket and lay listening to the men until one
by one they dropped off to sleep.
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