Over this problem California John puzzled a long time.
"We ain't doing any good playing hide and coop," he told Ross; "it's
just using up our time. We got to get at it different. I wish those
regulations was worded just the least mite different!"
He produced the worn Blue Book and his own instructions and thumbed them
over for the hundredth time.
"'Employ only necessary force,'" he muttered; "'remove them beyond the
confines of the reserve.'" He bit savagely at his pipe. Suddenly his
tension relaxed and his wonted shrewdly humorous expression returned to
his brown and lean old face. "Ross," said he, "this is going to be plumb
amusing. Do you guess we-all can track up with any sheep?"
"Jim Hutchins's herders must have sneaked back over by Iron Mountain,"
suggested Fletcher.
"Jim Hutchins," mused California John; "where is he now? Know?"
"I heard tell he was at Stockton."
"Well, that's all right then. If Jim was around, he might start a
shootin' row, and we don't want any of that."
"Well, I don't know as I'm afraid of Jim Hutchins," said Ross Fletcher.
"Neither am I, sonny," replied California John; "but this is a
grand-stand play, and we got to bring her off without complications.
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