Later in the day came the wagon and the remuda.
From a period of calm and inaction the ranch now awoke to life and movement.

The bunkhouse was scrubbed;--"swabbed" in the vernacular of the cowboys; the scant bedding was "cured" in the white sunlight; and the cook was adjured to extend himself in the preparation of "chuck" (meaning food) to repay the men for the lack of good things during a fortnight on the open range with the wagon.
At dusk on the first day in Rope Jones, a tall, lithe young puncher, whose spare moments were passed in breaking the wild horses that occasionally found their way to the Two Diamond, was oiling his saddle leathers.

Sitting on a bench outside the bunkhouse he became aware of Stafford standing near.
"Leviatt come in ?" queried the manager.
The puncher grinned.

"Nope.

Last I seen of Dave he was hittin' the breeze toward Bear Flat.