"The thousand Blackburn drove over, and the seven thousand the other boys are holding at the Circle L.I wouldn't sell them to Warden if he offered fifty dollars a head." It was late when Caldwell and the others rode out of town, heading into the darkness toward their ranches to prepare their herds for the drive to the company corral at Willets.

But before they left, Caldwell visited Warden's office, in which, all evening, a light had glowed.

Warden's expression indicated he had expected the cattlemen to surrender.
With shamed face Caldwell carried to Warden the news of the surrender; speaking gruffly to Simmons, whom he found in the office with Warden.
"I reckon there'll be cars--now ?" he said.
Simmons smiled smoothly.

"Them that contracted for cars last spring will probably get them," he said.

"I reckon the cause of all this mix-up was that the company wasn't aimin' to play no hit-an'-miss game." "There'll be a day comin' when the cattlemen in this country will jump on you guys with both feet!" threatened Caldwell.