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in twos and threes； in bands； in strings； could be seen winding leisurely
down the deep…trodden and converging trails to the water troughs at the
home ranch； there leisurely to drink； and then leisurely to drift away into
the saffron and violet and amethyst distances of the desert。 At ten other
outlying ranches this daily scene was repeated。 All these cattle belonged
to the man； great by reason of his priority in the country； the balance of his
even character； and the grim determination of his spirit。
When he had first entered Soda Springs Valley his companions had
called him Buck Johnson。 Since then his form had squared； his eyes had
steadied to the serenity of a great authority； his mouth； shadowed by the
moustache and the beard； had closed straight in the line of power and
taciturnity。 There was about him more than a trace of the Spanish。 So
now he was known as Senor Johnson； although in reality he was straight
American enough。 Senor Johnson lived at the home ranch with a
Chinese cook； and Parker； his foreman。 The home ranch was of adobe；
built with loopholes like a fort。 In the obsolescence of this necessity；
other buildings had sprung up unfortified。 An adobe bunkhouse for the
cow…punchers； an adobe blacksmith shop； a long； low stable； a shed； a
windmill and pond…like reservoir； a whole system of corrals of different
sizes； a walled…in vegetable gardenthese gathered to themselves
cottonwoods from the moisture of their being； and so added each a little to
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the green spot in the desert。 In the smallest corral； between the stable and
the shed； stood a buckboard and a heavy wagon； the only wheeled vehicles
about the place。 Under the shed were rows of saddles； riatas； spurs
mounted with silver； bits ornamented with the same metal； curved short
irons for the range branding； long； heavy 〃stamps〃 for the corral branding。
Behind the stable lay the 〃pasture；〃 a thousand acres of desert fenced in
with wire。 There the hardy cow…ponies sought out the sparse； but
nutritious； bunch grass； sixty of them； beautiful as antelope； for they were
the pick of Senor Johnson's herds。 And all about lay the desert；
shimmering； changing； many…tinted； wonderful； hemmed in by the
mountains that seemed tenuous and thin； like beautiful mists； and by the
sky that seemed hard and polished like a turquoise。 Each morning at
six o'clock the ten cow…punchers of the home ranch drove the horses to the
corral； neatly roped the dozen to be 〃kept up〃 for that day； and rewarded
the rest with a feed of grain。 Then they rode away at a little fox trot； two
by two。 All day long they travelled thus； conducting the business of the
range； and at night； having completed the circle； they jingled again into the
corral。 At the ten other ranches this programme had been duplicated。
The half…hundred men of Senor Johnson's outfit had covered the area of a
European principality。 And all of it； every acre； every spear of grass；
every cactus prickle； every creature on it； practically belonged to Senor
Johnson； because Senor Johnson owned the water； and without water one
cannot exist on the desert。
This result had not been gained without struggle。 The fact could be
read in the settled lines of Senor Johnson's face； and the great calm of his
grey eye。 Indian days drove him often to the shelter of the loopholed
adobe ranch house； there to await the soldiers from the Fort； in plain sight
thirty miles away on the slope that led to the foot of the Chiricahuas。 He
lost cattle and some men； but the profits were great； and in time Cochise；
Geronimo； and the lesser lights had flickered out in the winds of destiny。
The sheep terror merely threatened； for it was soon discovered that with
the feed of Soda Springs Valley grew a burr that annoyed the flocks
beyond reason； so the bleating scourge swept by forty miles away。 Cattle
rustling so near the Mexican line was an easy matter。 For a time Senor
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Johnson commanded an armed band。 He was lord of the high； the low；
and the middle justice。 He violated international ethics； and for the laws
of nations he substituted his own。 One by one he annihilated the thieves
of cattle； sometimes in open fight； but oftener by surprise and deliberate
massacre。 The country was delivered。 And then； with indefatigable
energy； Senor Johnson became a skilled detective。 Alone； or with Parker；
his foreman； he rode the country through； gathering evidence。 When the
evidence was unassailable he brought offenders to book。 The rebranding
through a wet blanket he knew and could prove； the ear…marking of an
unbranded calf until it could be weaned he understood； the paring of hoofs
to prevent travelling he could tell as far as he could see； the crafty
alteration of similar brandsas when a Mexican changed Johnson's Lazy
Y to a Dumb…bell Barhe saw through at a glance。 In short； the hundred
and one petty tricks of the sneak…thief he ferreted out； in danger of his life。
Then he sent to Phoenix for a Rangerand that was the last of the Dumb…
bell Bar brand； or the Three Link Bar brand； or the Hour Glass Brand； or a
half dozen others。 The Soda Springs Valley acquired a reputation for
good order。
Senor Johnson at this stage of his career found himself dropping into a
routine。 In March began the spring branding； then the corralling and
breaking of the wild horses； the summer range…riding； the great fall round…
up； the shipping of cattle； and the riding of the winter range。 This
happened over and over again。
You and I would not have suffered from ennui。 The roping and
throwing and branding； the wild swing and dash of handling stock； the
mad races to head the mustangs； the fierce combats to subdue these raging
wild beasts to the saddle； the spectacle of the round…up with it