CHAPTER V.
RANCHING IN NEW MEXICO The Scottish Company--My Difficulties and Dangers--Mustang Hunting--Round-up described--Shipping Cattle--Railroad Accidents--Close out Scotch Company's Interests.
Bidding good-bye to Arizona I travelled to Las Vegas, New Mexico, now quite an important place.

Calling on Mr L----, the manager of the Mortgage Company, and the Company's lawyers, the position of affairs was thus stated to me.

The Company had loaned a large sum of money to a cattleman named M----, who owned a large ranch with valuable water-claims and a very fine though small herd of cattle.

M---- had paid no interest for several years and attempted to repudiate the loan, so the Company decided to foreclose and take possession.

Well, that seemed all right; so after getting power of attorney papers, etc., from the Company, I started down to the ranch, some eighty miles and near Fort Sumner, and introduced myself to M----, who at once refused to turn over the property to me or to anyone else, and sent me back to Las Vegas in a somewhat puzzled state of mind.