"He wants us to ride Seeping Springs last
because he'll be with us then, and Snap too. We're going to have trouble
over there."
"How's this branding stock going to help the matter any, I'd like to
know?" inquired George. "We Mormons never needed it."
"Father says we'll all have to come to it. Holderness's stock is
branded. Perhaps he's marked a good many steers of ours. We can't tell.
But if we have our own branded we'll know what's ours. If he drives our
stock we'll know it; if Dene steals, it can be proved that he steals."
"Well, what then? Do you think he'll care for that, or Holderness
either?"
"No, only it makes this difference: both things will then be barefaced
robbery. We've never been able to prove anything, though we boys know;
we don't need any proof. Father gives these men the benefit of a doubt.
We've got to stand by him. I know, George, your hand's begun to itch for
your gun. So does mine. But we've orders to obey."
Many gullies and canyons headed up on the slope of Coconina west of
Silver Cup, and ran down to open wide on the flat desert. They contained
plots of white sage and bunches of rich grass and cold springs.
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