The next morning my active partner and Edwards arrived. The
latter had met some parties at the capital who were anxious to fill
our Indian deliveries, and had wired us in the firm's name, and
Major Hunter had taken the first train for Austin. Both returned
wreathed in smiles, having sublet our awards at figures that netted
us more than we could have realized had we bought and delivered the
cattle at our own risk. It was clear money, requiring not a stroke
of work, while it freed a valuable man in outfitting, receiving,
and starting our other herds, as well as relieving a snug sum for
reinvestment. Our capital lay idle half the year, the spring months
were our harvest, and, assigning Edwards full charge of the cattle
bought on the Colorado River, we instructed him to buy for the
