Big Medicine, Weary, Cal Emmett and Jack Bates were just returning from driving the settlers' stock well across Antelope Coulee which had been decided upon as a hypothetical boundary line until such time as a fence could be built.
They talked with the day-herders, and they talked with the other four.
Chip came up from the ranch with the Kid riding proudly beside him on Silver, and told them that the Honorable Mr.Blake was at the Flying U and had sent word that he would be pleased to take the legal end of the fight, if the Happy Family so desired.

Which was in itself a vast encouragement.

The Honorable Blake had said that they were well within their rights thus far, and advised them to permit service of the contest notices, and to go calmly on fulfilling the law.

Which was all very well as far as it went, providing they were permitted to go on calmly.
"What about them cattle they're trying to git across our land ?" Slim wanted to know.

"We got a right to keep 'em off, ain't we ?" Chip said that he thought they had, but to make sure, he would ask the Honorable Blake.