But when you turn it this way, it's the Bar X: "An' there's a bunch of your steers with the brand on them that way.
I'll have to take charge of the herd until the thing is cleared up!" Sanderson's lips took on a straight line; the color left his face.
Here was authority--that law with which he had unaccountably clashed on several occasions during his stay at the Double A.

Yet he knew that--as on those other occasions--the law was operating to the benefit of his enemies.
However, he did not now suspect Silverthorn and the others of setting the law upon him.

The Double A men might have been careless with their branding, and it was unfortunate that he had been forced by the closing of the Okar market to drive his cattle over a range upon which were cattle bearing a brand so startlingly similar to his.
His men were silent, watching him with set faces.

He knew they would stand behind him in any trouble that might occur.

And yet he hesitated, for he did not wish to force trouble.
"How many Bar X cattle do you think are in the herd ?" he asked.
"Mebbe a hundred--mebbe more." "How long will it take you to get Bill Lester here to prove his stock ?" The big man laughed.