To recover a rough estimate of $130,000.00 worth of live cattle for an measly $12,500 that he would never have been able to recover himself, sounds like a good deal to me. Plus the Cattle Man who recovered the beef could have claimed all unbranded or un-marked cattle for himself that had been born wild since they were running on Government range, (Free ranging cattle). Meaning all cattle born and never been marked nor branded had never been officially claimed by anyone. Leaving them to the person who did the work rounding them up. (Possession of ownership).
The man with horse and dogs who did the work was mighty generous considering. 😊