Chapter IV

           OntheQuienSaberanch,inoneofitswesterndivisions,nearthelinefencethatdivideditfromtheOstermanholding,Vanameewasharnessingthehorsestotheploughtowhichhehadbeenassignedtwodaysbefore,astable-boyfromthedivisionbarnhelpinghim.

           Promptlydischargedfromtheemployofthesheep-raisersafterthelamentableaccidentneartheLongTrestle,VanameehadpresentedhimselftoHarran,askingforemployment.Theseasonwasbeginning;onalltheranchesworkwasbeingresumed.Therainhadputthegroundintoadmirableconditionforploughing,andAnnixter,Broderson,andOstermanallhadtheirgangsatwork.Thus,VanameewasvastlysurprisedtofindLosMuertosidle,thehorsesstillinthebarns,themengatheringintheshadeofthebunk-houseandeating-house,smoking,dozing,orgoingaimlesslyabout,theirarmsdangling.TheploughsforwhichMagnusandHarranwerewaitinginafuryofimpatiencehadnotyetarrived,andsincethemanagementofLosMuertoshadcounteduponhavingtheseinhandlongbeforethistime,noprovisionhadbeenmadeforkeepingtheoldstockinrepair;manyoftheseoldploughswereuseless,broken,andoutoforder;somehadbeensold.Itcouldnotbesaiddefinitelywhenthenewploughswouldarrive.Harranhaddecidedtowaitoneweeklonger,andthen,incaseoftheirnon-appearance,tobuyaconsignmentoftheoldstyleofploughfromthedealersinBonneville.Hecouldaffordtolosethemoneybetterthanhecouldaffordtolosetheseason.

           FailingofworkonLosMuertos,VanameehadgonetoQuienSabe.