He endeavored to fulfil his agreement with Smith, and drove a number of cattle by moonlight.

These were part of the stock that the rancher had sold to buyers at Kremmling, and which had been collected and held in the big, fenced pasture down the valley next to the Andrews ranch.

The loss was not discovered until the cattle had been counted at Kremmling.
Then they were credited to loss by straying.

In driving a considerable herd of half-wild steers, with an inadequate force of cowboys, it was no unusual thing to lose a number.
Wade, however, was in possession of the facts not later than the day after this midnight steal in the moonlight.

He was forced to acknowledge that no one would have believed it possible for Jack Belllounds to perform a feat which might well have been difficult for the best of cowboys.