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diff --git a/1987-h/1987-h.htm b/1987-h/1987-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad4785e --- /dev/null +++ b/1987-h/1987-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9229 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Outlet, by Andy Adams</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Outlet, by Andy Adams</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Outlet</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Andy Adams</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December, 1999 [eBook #1987]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 29, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Dianne Bean and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTLET ***</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:55%;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="[Illustration]" /> +</div> + +<h1>THE OUTLET</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">By Andy Adams</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_PREF"></a> +PREFACE</h2> + +<p> +At the close of the civil war the need for a market for the surplus cattle of +Texas was as urgent as it was general. There had been numerous experiments in +seeking an outlet, and there is authority for the statement that in 1857 Texas +cattle were driven to Illinois. Eleven years later forty thousand head were +sent to the mouth of Red River in Louisiana, shipped by boat to Cairo, +Illinois, and thence inland by rail. Fever resulted, and the experiment was +never repeated. To the west of Texas stretched a forbidding desert, while on +the other hand, nearly every drive to Louisiana resulted in financial disaster +to the drover. The republic of Mexico, on the south, afforded no relief, as it +was likewise overrun with a surplus of its own breeding. Immediately before and +just after the war, a slight trade had sprung up in cattle between eastern +points on Red River and Baxter Springs, in the southeast corner of Kansas. The +route was perfectly feasible, being short and entirely within the reservations +of the Choctaws and Cherokees, civilized Indians. This was the only route to +the north; for farther to the westward was the home of the buffalo and the +unconquered, nomadic tribes. A writer on that day, Mr. Emerson Hough, an +acceptable authority, says: “The civil war stopped almost all plans to market +the range cattle, and the close of that war found the vast grazing lands of +Texas fairly covered with millions of cattle which had no actual or determinate +value. They were sorted and branded and herded after a fashion, but neither +they nor their increase could be converted into anything but more cattle. The +demand for a market became imperative.” +</p> + +<p> +This was the situation at the close of the ’50’s and meanwhile there had been +no cessation in trying to find an outlet for the constantly increasing herds. +Civilization was sweeping westward by leaps and bounds, and during the latter +part of the ’60’s and early ’70’s, a market for a very small percentage of the +surplus was established at Abilene, Ellsworth, and Wichita, being confined +almost exclusively to the state of Kansas. But this outlet, slight as it was, +developed the fact that the transplanted Texas steer, after a winter in the +north, took on flesh like a native, and by being double-wintered became a +marketable beef. It should be understood in this connection that Texas, owing +to climatic conditions, did not mature an animal into marketable form, ready +for the butcher’s block. Yet it was an exceptional country for breeding, the +percentage of increase in good years reaching the phenomenal figures of +ninety-five calves to the hundred cows. At this time all eyes were turned to +the new Northwest, which was then looked upon as the country that would at last +afford the proper market. Railroads were pushing into the domain of the buffalo +and Indian; the rush of emigration was westward, and the Texan was clamoring +for an outlet for his cattle. It was written in the stars that the Indian and +buffalo would have to stand aside. +</p> + +<p> +Philanthropists may deplore the destruction of the American bison, yet it was +inevitable. Possibly it is not commonly known that the general government had +under consideration the sending of its own troops to destroy the buffalo. Yet +it is a fact, for the army in the West fully realized the futility of +subjugating the Indians while they could draw subsistence from the bison. The +well-mounted aborigines hung on the flanks of the great buffalo herds, +migrating with them, spurning all treaty obligations, and when opportunity +offered murdering the advance guard of civilization with the fiendish atrocity +of carnivorous animals. But while the government hesitated, the hide-hunters +and the railroads solved the problem, and the Indian’s base of supplies was +destroyed. +</p> + +<p> +Then began the great exodus of Texas cattle. The red men were easily confined +on reservations, and the vacated country in the Northwest became cattle ranges. +The government was in the market for large quantities of beef with which to +feed its army and Indian wards. The maximum year’s drive was reached in 1884, +when nearly eight hundred thousand cattle, in something over three hundred +herds, bound for the new Northwest, crossed Red River, the northern boundary of +Texas. Some slight idea of this exodus can be gained when one considers that in +the above year about four thousand men and over thirty thousand horses were +required on the trail, while the value of the drive ran into millions. The +history of the world can show no pastoral movement in comparison. The Northwest +had furnished the market—the outlet for Texas. +</p> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_PREF">PREFACE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">THE OUTLET</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0001">CHAPTER I. OPENING THE CAMPAIGN</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0002">CHAPTER II. ORGANIZING THE FORCES</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0003">CHAPTER III. RECEIVING AT LOS LOBOS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0004">CHAPTER IV. MINGLING WITH THE EXODUS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0005">CHAPTER V. RED RIVER STATION</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0006">CHAPTER VI. CAMP SUPPLY</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0007">CHAPTER VII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0008">CHAPTER VIII. EN PASSANT</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0009">CHAPTER IX. AT SHERIFF’S CREEK</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0010">CHAPTER X. A FAMILY REUNION</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0011">CHAPTER XI. ALL IN THE DAY’S WORK</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0012">CHAPTER XII. MARSHALING THE FORCES</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0013">CHAPTER XIII. JUSTICE IN THE SADDLE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0014">CHAPTER XIV. TURNING THE TABLES</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0015">CHAPTER XV. TOLLESTON BUTTS IN</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0016">CHAPTER XVI. CROSSING THE NIOBRARA</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0017">CHAPTER XVII. WATER-BOUND</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0018">CHAPTER XVIII. THE LITTLE MISSOURI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0019">CHAPTER XIX. IN QUARANTINE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0020">CHAPTER XX. ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0021">CHAPTER XXI. FORT BUFORD</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0022">CHAPTER XXII. A SOLDIER’S HONOR</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0023">CHAPTER XXIII. KANGAROOED</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2HCH0024">CHAPTER XXIV. THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002"></a>THE OUTLET</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0001"></a>CHAPTER I.<br/> +OPENING THE CAMPAIGN</h2> + +<p> +“Well, gentlemen, if that is the best rate you can offer us, then we’ll drive +the cattle. My boys have all been over the trail before, and your figures are +no inducement to ship as far as Red River. We are fully aware of the nature of +the country, but we can deliver the herds at their destination for less than +you ask us for shipping them one third of the distance. No; we’ll drive all the +way.” +</p> + +<p> +The speaker was Don Lovell, a trail drover, and the parties addressed were the +general freight agents of three railroad lines operating in Texas. A conference +had been agreed upon, and we had come in by train from the ranch in Medina +County to attend the meeting in San Antonio. The railroad representatives were +shrewd, affable gentlemen, and presented an array of facts hard to overcome. +They were well aware of the obstacles to be encountered in the arid, western +portion of the state, and magnified every possibility into a stern reality. +Unrolling a large state map upon the table, around which the principals were +sitting, the agent of the Denver and Fort Worth traced the trail from Buffalo +Gap to Doan’s Crossing on Red River. Producing what was declared to be a report +of the immigration agent of his line, he showed by statistics that whole +counties through which the old trail ran had recently been settled up by +Scandinavian immigrants. The representative of the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, +when opportunity offered, enumerated every disaster which had happened to any +herd to the westward of his line in the past five years. The factor of the +International was equally well posted. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Mr. Lovell,” said he, dumping a bundle of papers on the table, “if you +will kindly glance over these documents, I think I can convince you that it is +only a question of a few years until all trail cattle will ship the greater +portion of the way. Here is a tabulated statement up to and including the year +’83. From twenty counties tributary to our line and south of this city, you +will notice that in ’80 we practically handled no cattle intended for the +trail. Passing on to the next season’s drive, you see we secured a little over +ten per cent. of the cattle and nearly thirty per cent. of the horse stock. +Last year, or for ’83, drovers took advantage of our low rates for Red River +points, and the percentage ran up to twenty-four and a fraction, or practically +speaking, one fourth of the total drive. We are able to offer the same low +rates this year, and all arrangements are completed with our connecting lines +to give live-stock trains carrying trail cattle a passenger schedule. Now, if +you care to look over this correspondence, you will notice that we have +inquiries which will tax our carrying capacity to its utmost. The ‘Laurel Leaf’ +and ‘Running W’ people alone have asked for a rate on thirty thousand head.” +</p> + +<p> +But the drover brushed the correspondence aside, and asked for the possible +feed bills. A blanket rate had been given on the entire shipment from that +city, or any point south, to Wichita Falls, with one rest and feed. Making a +memorandum of the items, Lovell arose from the table and came over to where Jim +Flood and I were searching for Fort Buford on a large wall map. We were both +laboring under the impression that it was in Montana, but after our employer +pointed it out to us at the mouth of the Yellowstone in Dakota, all three of us +adjourned to an ante-room. Flood was the best posted trail foreman in Don +Lovell’s employ, and taking seats at the table, we soon reduced the proposed +shipping expense to a pro-rata sum per head. The result was not to be +considered, and on returning to the main office, our employer, as already +expressed, declined the proffered rate. +</p> + +<p> +Then the freight men doubled on him, asking if he had taken into consideration +a saving in wages. In a two days’ run they would lay down the cattle farther on +their way than we could possibly drive in six weeks, even if the country was +open, not to say anything about the wear and tear of horseflesh. But Don Lovell +had not been a trail drover for nearly fifteen years without understanding his +business as well as the freight agents did theirs. After going over a large lot +of other important data, our employer arose to take his leave, when the agent +of the local line expressed a hope that Mr. Lovell would reconsider his +decision before spring opened, and send his drive a portion of the way by rail. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I’m glad I met you, gentlemen,” said the cowman at parting, “but this is +purely a business proposition, and you and I look at it from different +viewpoints. At the rate you offer, it will cost me one dollar and seventy-five +cents to lay a steer down on Red River. Hold on; mine are all large beeves; and +I must mount my men just the same as if they trailed all the way. Saddle horses +were worth nothing in the North last year, and I kept mine and bought enough +others around Dodge to make up a thousand head, and sent them back over the +trail to my ranch. Now, it will take six carloads of horses for each herd, and +I propose to charge the freight on them against the cattle. I may have to +winter my remudas in the North, or drive them home again, and if I put two +dollars a head freight in them, they won’t bring a cent more on that account. +With the cattle it’s different; they are all under contract, but the horses +must be charged as general expense, and if nothing is realized out of them, the +herd must pay the fiddler. My largest delivery is a sub-contract for Fort +Buford, calling for five million pounds of beef on foot. It will take three +herds or ten thousand cattle to fill it. I was anxious to give those Buford +beeves an early start, and that was the main reason in my consenting to this +conference. I have three other earlier deliveries at Indian agencies, but they +are not as far north by several hundred miles, and it’s immaterial whether we +ship or not. But the Buford contract sets the day of delivery for September 15, +and it’s going to take close figuring to make a cent. The main contractors are +all right, but I’m the one that’s got to scratch his head and figure close and +see that there’s no leakages. Your freight bill alone would be a nice profit. +It may cost us a little for water getting out of Texas, but with the present +outlet for cattle, it’s bad policy to harass the herds. Water is about the best +crop some of those settlers along the trail have to sell, and they ought to +treat us right.” +</p> + +<p> +After the conference was over, we scattered about the city, on various errands, +expecting to take the night train home. It was then the middle of February, and +five of the six herds were already purchased. In spite of the large numbers of +cattle which the trail had absorbed in previous years, there was still an +abundance of all ages, anxious for a market. The demand in the North had +constantly been for young cattle, leaving the matured steers at home. Had Mr. +Lovell’s contracts that year called for forty thousand five and six year old +beeves, instead of twenty, there would have been the same inexhaustible supply +from which to pick and choose. But with only one herd yet to secure, and ample +offerings on every hand, there was no necessity for a hurry. Many of the herds +driven the year before found no sale, and were compelled to winter in the North +at the drover’s risk. In the early spring of ’84, there was a decided lull over +the enthusiasm of the two previous years, during the former of which the trail +afforded an outlet for nearly seven hundred thousand Texas cattle. +</p> + +<p> +In regard to horses we were well outfitted. During the summer of ’83, Don +Lovell had driven four herds, two on Indian contract and two of younger cattle +on speculation. Of the latter, one was sold in Dodge for delivery on the +Purgatory River in southern Colorado, while the other went to Ogalalla, and was +disposed of and received at that point. In both cases there was no chance to +sell the saddle horses, and they returned to Dodge and were sent to pasture +down the river in the settlements. My brother, Bob Quirk, had driven one of the +other herds to an agency in the Indian Territory. After making the delivery, +early in August, on his employer’s orders, he had brought his remuda and outfit +into Dodge, the horses being also sent to pasture and the men home to Texas. I +had made the trip that year to the Pine Ridge Agency in Dakota with thirty-five +hundred beeves, under Flood as foreman. Don Lovell was present at the delivery, +and as there was no hope of effecting a sale of the saddle stock among the +Indians, after delivering the outfit at the nearest railroad, I was given two +men and the cook, and started back over the trail for Dodge with the remuda. +The wagon was a drawback, but on reaching Ogalalla, an emigrant outfit offered +me a fair price for the mules and commissary, and I sold them. Lashing our +rations and blankets on two pack-horses, we turned our backs on the Platte and +crossed the Arkansaw at Dodge on the seventh day. +</p> + +<p> +But instead of the remainder of the trip home by rail, as we fondly expected, +the programme had changed. Lovell and Flood had arrived in Dodge some ten days +before, and looking over the situation, had come to the conclusion it was +useless even to offer our remudas. As remnants of that year’s drive, there had +concentrated in and around that market something like ten thousand saddle +horses. Many of these were from central and north Texas, larger and better +stock than ours, even though care had been used in selecting the latter. So on +their arrival, instead of making any effort to dispose of our own, the drover +and his foreman had sized up the congested condition of the market, and turned +buyers. They had bought two whole remudas, and picked over five or six others +until their purchases amounted to over five hundred head. Consequently on our +reaching Dodge with the Pine Ridge horses, I was informed that they were going +to send all the saddle stock back over the trail to the ranch and that I was to +have charge of the herd. Had the trip been in the spring and the other way, I +certainly would have felt elated over my promotion. Our beef herd that year had +been put up in Dimmit County, and from there to the Pine Ridge Agency and back +to the ranch would certainly be a summer’s work to gratify an ordinary +ambition. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time and before our arrival, Flood had brought up all the stock and +wagons from the settlement, and established a camp on Mulberry Creek, south of +Dodge on the trail. He had picked up two Texans who were anxious to see their +homes once more, and the next day at noon we started. The herd numbered a +thousand and sixty head, twenty of which were work-mules. The commissary which +was to accompany us was laden principally with harness; and waving Flood +farewell, we turned homeward, leaving behind unsold of that year’s drive only +two wagons. Lovell had instructed us never to ride the same horse twice, and +wherever good grass and water were encountered, to kill as much time as +possible. My employer was enthusiastic over the idea, and well he might be, for +a finer lot of saddle horses were not in the possession of any trail drover, +while those purchased in Dodge could have been resold in San Antonio at a nice +profit. Many of the horses had run idle several months and were in fine +condition. With the allowance of four men and a cook, a draft-book for personal +expenses, and over a thousand horses from which to choose a mount, I felt like +an embryo foreman, even if it was a back track and the drag end of the season. +Turning everything scot free at night, we reached the ranch in old Medina in +six weeks, actually traveling about forty days. +</p> + +<p> +But now, with the opening of the trail season almost at hand, the trials of +past years were forgotten in the enthusiasm of the present. I had a distinct +recollection of numerous resolves made on rainy nights, while holding a +drifting herd, that this was positively my last trip over the trail. Now, +however, after a winter of idleness, my worst fear was that I might be left at +home with the ranch work, and thus miss the season’s outing entirely. There +were new charms in the Buford contract which thrilled me,—its numerical +requirements, the sight of the Yellowstone again, and more, to be present at +the largest delivery of the year to the government. Rather than have missed the +trip, I would have gladly cooked or wrangled the horses for one of the outfits. +</p> + +<p> +On separating, Lovell urged his foreman and myself to be at the depot in good +time to catch our train. That our employer’s contracts for the year would +require financial assistance, both of us were fully aware. The credit of Don +Lovell was gilt edge, not that he was a wealthy cowman, but the banks and +moneyed men of the city recognized his business ability. Nearly every year +since he began driving cattle, assistance had been extended him, but the +promptness with which he had always met his obligations made his patronage +desirable. +</p> + +<p> +Flood and I had a number of errands to look after for the boys on the ranch and +ourselves, and, like countrymen, reached the depot fully an hour before the +train was due. Not possessed of enough gumption to inquire if the westbound was +on time, we loitered around until some other passengers informed us that it was +late. Just as we were on the point of starting back to town, Lovell drove up in +a hack, and the three of us paced the platform until the arrival of the belated +train. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, boys, everything looks serene,” said our employer, when we had walked to +the farther end of the depot. “I can get all the money I need, even if we +shipped part way, which I don’t intend to do. The banks admit that cattle are a +slow sale and a shade lower this spring, and are not as free with their money +as a year or two ago. My bankers detained me over an hour until they could send +for a customer who claimed to have a very fine lot of beeves for sale in +Lasalle County. That he is anxious to sell there is no doubt, for he offered +them to me on my own time, and agrees to meet any one’s prices. I half promised +to come back next week and go down with him to Lasalle and look his cattle +over. If they show up right, there will be no trouble in buying them, which +will complete our purchases. It is my intention, Jim, to give you the herd to +fill our earliest delivery. Our next two occur so near together that you will +have to represent me at one of them. The Buford cattle, being the last by a few +weeks, we will both go up there and see it over with. There are about half a +dozen trail foremen anxious for the two other herds, and while they are good +men, I don’t know of any good reason for not pushing my own boys forward. I +have already decided to give Dave Sponsilier and Quince Forrest two of the +Buford herds, and I reckon, Tom, the last one will fall to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The darkness in which we were standing shielded my egotism from public view. +But I am conscious that I threw out my brisket several inches and stood +straight on my bow-legs as I thanked old man Don for the foremanship of his +sixth herd. Flood was amused, and told me afterward that my language was +extravagant. There is an old superstition that if a man ever drinks out of the +Rio Grande, it matters not where he roams afterward, he is certain to come back +to her banks again. I had watered my horse in the Yellowstone in ’82, and ever +afterward felt an itching to see her again. And here the opportunity opened +before me, not as a common cow-hand, but as a trail boss and one of three in +filling a five million pound government beef contract! But it was dark and I +was afoot, and if I was a trifle “chesty,” there had suddenly come new +colorings to my narrow world. +</p> + +<p> +On the arrival of the train, several other westward-bound cowmen boarded it. We +all took seats in the smoker, it being but a two hours’ run to our destination. +Flood and I were sitting well forward in the car, the former almost as elated +over my good fortune as myself. “Well, won’t old Quince be all puffed up,” said +Jim to me, “when the old man tells him he’s to have a herd. Now, I’ve never +said a word in favor of either one of you. Of course, when Mr. Lovell asked me +if I knew certain trail foremen who were liable to be idle this year, I +intimated that he had plenty of material in his employ to make a few of his +own. The old man may be a trifle slow on reaching a decision, but once he makes +up his mind, he’s there till the cows come home. Now, all you and Quince need +to do is to make good, for you couldn’t ask for a better man behind you. In +making up your outfit, you want to know every man you hire, and give a +preference to gray hairs, for they’re not so liable to admire their shadow in +sunny or get homesick in falling weather. Tom, where you made a ten-strike with +the old man was in accepting that horse herd at Dodge last fall. Had you made a +whine or whimper then, the chances are you wouldn’t be bossing a herd this +year. Lovell is a cowman who likes to see a fellow take his medicine with a +smile.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0002"></a>CHAPTER II.<br/> +ORGANIZING THE FORCES</h2> + +<p> +Don Lovell and Jim Flood returned from Lasalle County on the last day of +February. They had spent a week along the Upper Nueces, and before returning to +the ranch closed a trade on thirty-four hundred five and six year old beeves. +According to their report, the cattle along the river had wintered in fine +condition, and the grass had already started in the valley. This last purchase +concluded the buying for trail purposes, and all absent foremen were notified +to be on hand at the ranch on March 10, for the beginning of active operations. +Only some ten of us had wintered at headquarters in Medina County, and as about +ninety men would be required for the season’s work, they would have to be +secured elsewhere. All the old foremen expected to use the greater portion of +the men who were in their employ the year before, and could summon them on a +few days’ notice. But Forrest and myself were compelled to hire entirely new +outfits, and it was high time we were looking up our help. +</p> + +<p> +One of Flood’s regular outfit had married during the winter, and with Forrest’s +and my promotion, he had only to secure three new men. He had dozens of +applications from good cow-hands, and after selecting for himself offered the +others to Quince and me. But my brother Bob arrived at the ranch, from our home +in Karnes County, two days later, having also a surplus of men at his command. +Although he did not show any enthusiasm over my promotion, he offered to help +me get up a good outfit of boys. I had about half a dozen good fellows in view, +and on Bob’s approval of them, he selected from his overplus six more as first +choice and four as second. It would take me a week of constant riding to see +all these men, and as Flood and Forrest had made up an outfit for the latter +from the former’s available list, Quince and I saddled up and rode away to hire +outfits. Forrest was well acquainted in Wilson, where Lovell had put up several +trail herds, and as it joined my home county, we bore each other company the +first day. +</p> + +<p> +A long ride brought us to the Atascosa, where we stayed all night. The next +morning we separated, Quince bearing due east for Floresville, while I +continued southeast towards my home near Cibollo Ford on the San Antonio River. +It had been over a year since I had seen the family, and on reaching the ranch, +my father gruffly noticed me, but my mother and sisters received me with open +arms. I was a mature man of twenty-eight at the time, mustached, and stood six +feet to a plumb-line. The family were cognizant of my checkered past, and +although never mentioning it, it seemed as if my misfortunes had elevated me in +the estimation of my sisters, while to my mother I had become doubly dear. +</p> + +<p> +During the time spent in that vicinity, I managed to reach home at night as +often as possible. Constantly using fresh horses, I covered a wide circle of +country, making one ride down the river into Goliad County of over fifty miles, +returning the next day. Within a week I had made up my outfit, including the +horse-wrangler and cook. Some of the men were ten years my senior, while only a +few were younger, but I knew that these latter had made the trip before and +were as reliable as their elders. The wages promised that year were fifty +dollars a month, the men to furnish only their own saddles and blankets, and at +that figure I picked two pastoral counties, every man bred to the occupation. +The trip promised six months’ work with return passage, and I urged every one +employed to make his appearance at headquarters, in Medina, on or before the +15th of the month. There was no railroad communication through Karnes and +Goliad counties at that time, and all the boys were assured that their private +horses would have good pasturage at the home ranch while they were away, and I +advised them all to come on horseback. By this method they would have a fresh +horse awaiting them on their return from the North with which to continue their +homeward journey. All the men engaged were unmarried, and taken as a whole, I +flattered myself on having secured a crack outfit. +</p> + +<p> +I was in a hurry to get back to the ranch. There had been nothing said about +the remudas before leaving, and while we had an abundance of horses, no one +knew them better than I did. For that reason I wanted to be present when their +allotment was made, for I knew that every foreman would try to get the best +mounts, and I did not propose to stand behind the door and take the culls. Many +of the horses had not had a saddle on them in eight months, while all of them +had run idle during the winter in a large mesquite pasture and were in fine +condition with the opening of spring. So bidding my folks farewell, I saddled +at noon and took a cross-country course for the ranch, covering the hundred and +odd miles in a day and a half. Reaching headquarters late at night, I found +that active preparations had been going on during my absence. There were new +wagons to rig, harness to oil, and a carpenter was then at work building +chuck-boxes for each of the six commissaries. A wholesale house in the city had +shipped out a stock of staple supplies, almost large enough to start a store. +There were whole coils of new rope of various sizes, from lariats to corral +cables, and a sufficient amount of the largest size to make a stack of hobbles +as large as a haycock. Four new branding-irons to the wagon, the regulation +“Circle Dot,” completed the main essentials. +</p> + +<p> +All the foremen had reported at the ranch, with the exception of Forrest, who +came in the next evening with three men. The division of the horses had not +even come up for discussion, but several of the boys about headquarters who +were friendly to my interests posted me that the older foremen were going to +claim first choice. Archie Tolleston, next to Jim Flood in seniority in +Lovell’s employ, had spent every day riding among the horses, and had even +boasted that he expected to claim fifteen of the best for his own saddle. Flood +was not so particular, as his destination was in southern Dakota, but my +brother Bob was again ticketed for the Crow Agency in Montana, and would +naturally expect a good remuda. Tolleston was going to western Wyoming, while +the Fort Buford cattle were a two-weeks’ later delivery and fully five hundred +miles farther travel. On my return Lovell was in the city, but I felt positive +that if he took a hand in the division, Tolleston would only run on the rope +once. +</p> + +<p> +A few days before the appointed time, the men began thronging into +headquarters. Down to the minutest detail about the wagons and mule teams, +everything was shipshape. The commissary department was stocked for a month, +and everything was ready to harness in and move. Lovell’s headquarters was a +stag ranch, and as fast as the engaged cooks reported, they were assigned to +wagons, and kept open house in relieving the home cocinero. In the absence of +our employer, Flood was virtually at the head of affairs, and artfully +postponed the division of horses until the last moment. My outfit had all come +in in good time, and we were simply resting on our oars until the return of old +man Don from San Antonio. The men were jubilant and light-hearted as a lot of +school-boys, and with the exception of a feeling of jealousy among the foremen +over the remudas, we were a gay crowd, turning night into day. But on the +return of our employer, all frivolity ceased, and the ranch stood at attention. +The only unfinished work was the division of the horses, and but a single day +remained before the agreed time for starting. Jim Flood had met his employer at +the station the night before, and while returning to the ranch, the two +discussed the apportionment of the saddle stock. The next morning all the +foremen were called together, when the drover said to his trail bosses: +</p> + +<p> +“Boys, I suppose you are all anxious to get a good remuda for this summer’s +trip. Well, I’ve got them for you. The only question is, how can we distribute +them equitably so that all interests will be protected. One herd may not have +near the distance to travel that the others have. It would look unjust to give +it the best horses, and yet it may have the most trouble. Our remudas last year +were all picked animals. They had an easy year’s work. With the exception of a +few head, we have the same mounts and in much better condition than last year. +This is about my idea of equalizing things. You four old foremen will use your +remudas of last year. Then each of you six bosses select twenty-five head each +of the Dodge horses,—turn and turn about. Add those to your old remudas, and +cull back your surplus, allowing ten to the man, twelve to the foreman, and +five extra to each herd in case of cripples or of galled backs. By this method, +each herd will have two dozen prime saddlers, the pick of a thousand picked +ones, and fit for any man who was ever in my employ. I’m breaking in two new +foremen this year, and they shall have no excuse for not being mounted, and +will divide the remainder. Now, take four men apiece and round up the saddle +stock, and have everything in shape to go into camp to-night. I’ll be present +at the division, and I warn you all that I want no clashing.” +</p> + +<p> +A ranch remuda was driven in, and we saddled. There were about thirty thousand +acres in the pasture, and by eleven o’clock everything was thrown together. The +private horses of all the boys had been turned into a separate inclosure, and +before the cutting out commenced, every mother’s son, including Don Lovell, +arrived at the round-up. There were no corrals on the ranch which would +accommodate such a body of animals, and thus the work had to be done in the +open; but with the force at hand we threw a cordon around them, equal to a +corral, and the cutting out to the four quarters commenced. +</p> + +<p> +The horses were gentle and handled easily. Forrest and I turned to and helped +our old foreman cut out his remuda of the year before. There were several +horses in my old mount that I would have liked to have again, but I knew it was +useless to try and trade Jim out of them, as he knew their qualities and would +have robbed me in demanding their equivalent. When the old remudas were again +separated, they were counted and carefully looked over by both foremen and men, +and were open to the inspection of all who cared to look. Everything was +passing very pleasantly, and the cutting of the extra twenty-five began. Then +my selfishness was weighed in the balance and found to be full weight. I had +ridden over a hundred of the best of them, but when any one appealed to me, +even my own dear brother, I was as dumb as an oyster about a horse. Tolleston, +especially, cursed, raved, and importuned me to help him get a good private +mount, but I was as innocent as I was immovable. The trip home from Dodge was +no pleasure jaunt, and now I was determined to draw extra pay in getting the +cream of that horse herd. There were other features governing my actions: Flood +was indifferent; Forrest, at times, was cruel to horses, and had I helped my +brother, I might have been charged with favoritism. Dave Sponsilier was a good +horseman, as his selections proved, and I was not wasting any love and +affection on Archie Tolleston that day, anyhow. +</p> + +<p> +That no undue advantage should be taken, Lovell kept tally of every horse cut +out, and once each foreman had taken his number, he was waved out of the herd. +I did the selecting of my own, and with the assistance of one man, was +constantly waiting my turn. With all the help he could use, Tolleston was over +half an hour making his selections, and took the only blind horse in the entire +herd. He was a showy animal, a dapple gray, fully fifteen hands high, bred in +north Texas, and belonged to one of the whole remudas bought in Dodge. At the +time of his purchase, neither Lovell nor Flood detected anything wrong, and no +one could see anything in the eyeball which would indicate he was moon-eyed. +Yet any horseman need only notice him closely to be satisfied of his defect, as +he was constantly shying from other horses and objects and smelled everything +which came within his reach. There were probably half a dozen present who knew +of his blindness, but not a word was said until all the extras were chosen and +the culling out of the overplus of the various remudas began. It started in +snickers, and before the cutting back was over developed into peals of +laughter, as man after man learned that the dapple gray in Tolleston’s remuda +was blind. +</p> + +<p> +Among the very last to become acquainted with the fact was the trail foreman +himself. After watching the horse long enough to see his mistake, Tolleston +culled the gray back and rode into the herd to claim another. But the drover +promptly summoned his foreman out, and, as they met, Lovell said to his trail +boss, “Arch, you’re no better than anybody else. I bought that gray and paid my +good money for him. No doubt but the man who sold him has laughed about it +often since, and if ever we meet, I’ll take my hat off and compliment him on +being the only person who ever sold me a moon-eyed horse. I’m still paying my +tuition, and you needn’t flare up when the laugh’s on you. You have a good +remuda without him, and the only way you can get another horse out of that herd +is with the permission of Quince Forrest and Tom Quirk.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, if the permission of those new foremen is all I lack, then I’ll cut all +the horses I want,” retorted Tolleston, and galloped back towards the herd. But +Quince and I were after him like a flash, followed leisurely by Lovell. As he +slacked his mount to enter the mass of animals, I passed him, jerking the +bridle reins from his hand. Throwing my horse on his haunches, I turned just as +Forrest slapped Tolleston on the back, and said: “Look-ee here, Arch; just +because you’re a little hot under the collar, don’t do anything brash, for fear +you may regret it afterward. I’m due to take a little pasear myself this +summer, and I always did like to be well mounted. Now, don’t get your back up +or attempt to stand up any bluffs, for I can whip you in any sized circle you +can name. You never saw me burn powder, did you? Well, just you keep on acting +the d—— fool if you want a little smoke thrown in your face. Just fool with me +and I’ll fog you till you look like an angel in the clouds.” +</p> + +<p> +But old man Don reached us, and raised his hand. I threw the reins back over +the horse’s head. Tolleston was white with rage, but before he could speak our +employer waved us aside and said, “Tom, you and Quince clear right out of here +and I’ll settle this matter. Arch, there’s your remuda. Take it and go about +your business or say you don’t want to. Now, we know each other, and I’ll not +mince or repeat any words with you. Go on.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not an inch will I move until I get another horse,” hissed Tolleston between +gasps. “If it lies between you and me, then I’ll have one in place of that +gray, or you’ll get another foreman. Now, you have my terms and ticket.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well then, Archie; that changes the programme entirely,” replied Lovell, +firmly. “You’ll find your private horse in the small pasture, and we’ll excuse +you for the summer. Whenever a man in my employ gets the impression that I +can’t get along without him, that moment he becomes useless to me. It seems +that you are bloated with that idea, and a season’s rest and quiet may cool you +down and make a useful man of you again. Remember that you’re always welcome at +my ranch, and don’t let this make us strangers,” he called back as he turned +away. +</p> + +<p> +Riding over with us to where a group were sitting on their horses, our employer +scanned the crowd without saying a word. Turning halfway in his saddle, he +looked over towards Flood’s remuda and said: “One of you boys please ride over +and tell Paul I want him.” During the rather embarrassing interim, the +conversation instantly changed, and we borrowed tobacco and rolled cigarettes +to kill time. +</p> + +<p> +Priest was rather slow in making his appearance, riding leisurely, but on +coming up innocently inquired of his employer, “Did you want to see me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes. Paul, I’ve just lost one of my foremen. I need a good reliable man to +take a herd to Fort Washakie. It’s an Indian agency on the head waters of the +North Platte in Wyoming. Will you tackle the job?” +</p> + +<p> +“A good soldier is always subject to orders,” replied The Rebel with a military +salute. “If you have a herd for delivery in Wyoming, give me the men and +horses, and I’ll put the cattle there if possible. You are the commandant in +the field, and I am subject to instructions.” +</p> + +<p> +“There’s your remuda and outfit, then,” said Lovell, pointing to the one +intended for Tolleston, “and you’ll get a commissary at the ranch and go into +camp this evening. You’ll get your herd in Nueces County, and Jim will assist +in the receiving. Any other little details will all be arranged before you get +away.” +</p> + +<p> +Calling for all the men in Tolleston’s outfit, the two rode away for that +remuda. Shortly before the trouble arose, our employer instructed those with +the Buford cattle to take ten extra horses for each herd. There were now over a +hundred and forty head to be culled back, and Sponsilier was entitled to ten of +them. In order to be sure of our numbers, we counted the remaining band, and +Forrest and I trimmed them down to two hundred and fifty-four head. As this +number was too small to be handled easily in the open, we decided to take them +into the corrals for the final division. After the culling back was over, and +everything had started for the ranch, to oblige Sponsilier, I remained behind +and helped him to retrim his remuda. Unless one knew the horses personally, it +was embarrassing even to try and pick ten of the best ones from the overplus. +But I knew many of them at first hand, and at Dave’s request, after picking out +the extra ones, continued selecting others in exchange for horses in his old +band. We spent nearly an hour cutting back and forth, or until we were both +satisfied that his saddle stock could not be improved from the material at +hand. +</p> + +<p> +The ranch headquarters were fully six miles from the round-up. Leaving +Sponsilier delighted with the change in his remuda, I rode to overtake the +undivided band which were heading for the ranch corrals. On coming up with +them, Forrest proposed that we divide the horses by a running cut in squads of +ten, and toss for choice. Once they were in the corrals, this could have been +easily done by simply opening a gate and allowing blocks of ten to pass +alternately from the main into smaller inclosures. But I was expecting +something like this from Quince, and had entirely different plans of my own. +Forrest and I were good friends, but he was a foxy rascal, and I had never +wavered in my determination to get the pick of that horse herd. Had I accepted +his proposal, the chance of a spinning coin might have given him a decided +advantage, and I declined his proposition. I had a remuda in sight that my very +being had hungered for, and now I would take no chance of losing it. But on the +other hand, I proposed to Forrest that he might have the assistance of two men +in Flood’s outfit who had accompanied the horse herd home from Dodge. In the +selecting of Jim’s extra twenty-five, the opinion of these two lads, as the +chosen horses proved, was a decided help to their foreman. But Quince stood +firm, and arguing the matter, we reached the corrals and penned the band. +</p> + +<p> +The two top bunches were held separate and were left a mile back on the +prairie, under herd. The other remudas were all in sight of the ranch, while a +majority of the men were eating a late dinner. Still contending for his point, +Forrest sent a lad to the house to ask our employer to come over to the +corrals. On his appearance, accompanied by Flood, each of us stated our +proposition. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, the way I size this up,” said old man Don, “one of you wants to rely on +his own judgment and the other don’t. It looks to me, Quince, you want a +gambler’s chance where you can’t lose. Tom’s willing to bank on his own +judgment, but you ain’t. Now, I like a man who does his own thinking, and to +give you a good lesson in that line, why, divide them, horse and horse, turn +about. Now, I’ll spin this coin for first pick, and while it’s in the air, Jim +will call the turn.... Tom wins first choice.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s all right, Mr. Lovell,” said Quince, smilingly. “I just got the idea +that you wanted the remudas for the Buford herds to be equally good. How can +you expect it when Tom knows every horse and I never saddled one of them. Give +me the same chance, and I might know them as well as the little boy knew his +pap.” +</p> + +<p> +“You had the same chance,” I put in, “but didn’t want it. You were offered the +Pine Ridge horses last year to take back to Dodge, and you kicked like a bay +steer. But I swallowed their dust to the Arkansaw, and from there home we lived +in clouds of alkali. You went home drunk and dressed up, with a cigar in your +mouth and your feet through the car window, claiming you was a brother-in-law +to Jay Gould, and simply out on a tour of inspection. Now you expect me to give +you the benefit of my experience and rob myself. Not this summer, John Quincy.” +</p> + +<p> +But rather than let Forrest feel that he was being taken advantage of, I +repeated my former proposition. Accepting it as a last resort, the two boys +were sent for and the dividing commenced. Remounting our horses, we entered the +large corral, and as fast as they were selected the different outfits were +either roped or driven singly through a guarded gate. It took over an hour of +dusty work to make the division, but when it was finished I had a remuda of a +hundred and fifty-two saddle horses that would make a man willing to work for +his board and the privilege of riding them. Turning out of the corrals, Priest +and I accompanied the horses out on the prairie where our toppy ones were being +grazed. Paul was tickled over my outfit of saddle stock, but gave me several +hints that he was entitled to another picked mount. I attempted to explain that +he had a good remuda, but he still insisted, and I promised him if he would be +at my wagon the next morning when we corralled, he should have a good one. I +could well afford to be generous with my old bunkie. +</p> + +<p> +There now only remained the apportionment of the work-stock. Four mules were +allowed to the wagon, and in order to have them in good condition they had been +grain-fed for the past month. In their allotment the Buford herds were given +the best teams, and when mine was pointed out by my employer, the outfit +assisted the cook to harness in. Giving him instructions to go into camp on a +creek three miles south of headquarters, my wagon was the second one to get +away. Some of the teams bolted at the start, and only for timely assistance +Sponsilier’s commissary would have been overturned in the sand. Two of the +wagons headed west for Uvalde, while my brother Bob’s started southeast for Bee +County. The other two belonging to Flood and The Rebel would camp on the same +creek as mine, their herds being also south. Once the wagons were off, the +saddle stock was brought in and corralled for our first mounts. The final +allotment of horses to the men would not take place until the herds were ready +to be received, and until then, they would be ridden uniformly but +promiscuously. With instructions from our employer to return to the ranch after +making camp, the remudas were started after the wagons. +</p> + +<p> +On our return after darkness, the ranch was as deserted as a school-house on +Saturday. A Mexican cook and a few regular ranch hands were all that were left. +Archie Tolleston had secured his horse and quit headquarters before any one had +even returned from the round-up. When the last of the foremen came in, our +employer delivered his final messages. “Boys,” said he, “I’ll only detain you a +few minutes. I’m going west in the morning to Uvalde County, and will be +present at the receiving of Quince and Dave’s herds. After they start, I’ll +come back to the city and take stage to Oakville. But you go right ahead and +receive your cattle, Bob, for we don’t know what may turn up. Flood will help +Tom first, and then Paul, to receive their cattle. That will give the Buford +herds the first start, and I’ll be waiting for you at Abilene when you reach +there. And above all else, boys, remember that I’ve strained my credit in this +drive, and that the cattle must be A 1, and that we must deliver them on the +spot in prime condition. Now, that’s all, but you’d better be riding so as to +get an early start in the morning.” +</p> + +<p> +Our employer walked with us to the outer gate where our horses stood at the +hitch-rack. That he was reticent in his business matters was well known among +all his old foremen, including Forrest and myself. If he had a confidant among +his men, Jim Flood was the man—and there were a few things he did not know. As +we mounted our horses to return to our respective camps, old man Don quietly +took my bridle reins in hand and allowed the others to ride away. “I want a +parting word with you, Tom,” said he a moment later. “Something has happened +to-day which will require the driving of the Buford herds in some road brand +other than the ‘Circle Dot.’ The first blacksmith shop you pass, have your +irons altered into ‘Open A’s,’ and I’ll do the same with Quince and Dave’s +brands. Of the why or wherefore of this, say nothing to any one, as no one but +myself knows. Don’t breathe a word even to Flood, for he don’t know any more +than he should. When the time comes, if it ever does, you’ll know all that is +necessary—or nothing. That’s all.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0003"></a>CHAPTER III.<br/> +RECEIVING AT LOS LOBOS</h2> + +<p> +The trip to Lasalle County was mere pastime. All three of the outfits kept in +touch with each other, camping far enough apart to avoid any conflict in +night-herding the remudas. The only incident to mar the pleasure of the outing +was the discovery of ticks in many of our horses’ ears. The pasture in which +they had wintered was somewhat brushy, and as there had been no frost to kill +insect life, myriads of seed-ticks had dropped from the mesquite thickets upon +the animals when rubbing against or passing underneath them. As the inner side +of a horse’s ear is both warm and tender, that organ was frequently infested +with this pest, whose ravages often undermined the supporting cartilages and +produced the drooping or “gotch” ear. In my remuda over one half the horses +were afflicted with ticks, and many of them it was impossible to bridle, owing +to the inflamed condition of their ears. Fortunately we had with us some +standard preparations for blistering, so, diluting this in axle-grease, we +threw every animal thus affected and thoroughly swabbed his ears. On reaching +the Nueces River, near the western boundary of Lasalle County, the other two +outfits continued on down that stream for their destination in the lower +country. Flood remained behind with me, and going into camp on the river with +my outfit, the two of us rode over to Los Lobos Ranch and announced ourselves +as ready to receive the cattle. Dr. Beaver, the seller of the herd, was +expecting us, and sending word of our arrival to neighboring cowmen, we looked +over the corrals before returning to camp. They had built a new branding-chute +and otherwise improved their facilities for handling cattle. The main inclosure +had been built of heavy palisades in an early day, but recently several of +smaller sized lumber had been added, making the most complete corrals I had +ever seen. An abundance of wood was at hand for heating the branding-irons, and +every little detail to facilitate the work had been provided for. Giving notice +that we would receive every morning on the open prairie only, we declined an +invitation to remain at the ranch and returned to my wagon. +</p> + +<p> +In the valley the grass was well forward. We had traveled only some twenty +miles a day coming down, and our horses had fared well. But as soon as we +received any cattle, night-herding the remuda would cease, and we must either +hobble or resort to other measures. John Levering was my horse-wrangler. He had +made two trips over the trail with Fant’s herds in the same capacity, was +careful, humane, and an all-round horseman. In employing a cook, I had given +the berth to Neal Parent, an old boyhood chum of mine. He never amounted to +much as a cow-hand, but was a lighthearted, happy fool; and as cooking did not +require much sense, I gave him the chance to make his first trip. Like a court +jester, he kept the outfit in fine spirits and was the butt of all jokes. In +entertaining company he was in a class by himself, and spoke with marked +familiarity of all the prominent cowmen in southern Texas. To a stranger the +inference might be easily drawn that Lovell was in his employ. +</p> + +<p> +As we were expecting to receive cattle on the third day, the next morning the +allotment of horses was made. The usual custom of giving the foreman first +choice was claimed, and I cut twelve of solid colors but not the largest ones. +Taking turns, the outfit roped out horse after horse until only the ten extra +ones were left. In order that these should bear a fair share in the work, I +took one of them for a night-horse and allotted the others to the second, +third, and last guard in a similar capacity. This gave the last three watches +two horses apiece for night work, but with the distinct understanding that in +case of accident or injury to any horse in the remuda, they could be recalled. +There was little doubt that before the summer ended, they would be claimed to +fill vacancies in the regular mounts. Flood had kept behind only two horses +with which to overtake the other outfits, and during his stay with us would +ride these extras and loans from my mount. +</p> + +<p> +The entire morning was spent working with the remuda. Once a man knew his +mount, extra attention was shown each horse. There were witches’ bridles to be +removed from their manes, extra long tails were thinned out to the proper +length, and all hoofs trimmed short. The horses were fast shedding their winter +coats, matting the saddle blankets with falling hair, and unless carefully +watched, galled backs would result. The branding-irons had been altered en +route, and about noon a vaquero came down the river and reported that the +second round-up of the day would meet just over the county line in Dimmit. He +belonged at Los Lobos, and reported the morning rodeo as containing over five +hundred beeves, which would be ready for delivery at our pleasure. We made him +remain for dinner, after which Flood and I saddled up and returned with him. We +reached the round-up just as the cutting-out finished. They were a fine lot of +big rangy beeves, and Jim suggested that we pass upon them at once. The seller +agreed to hold them overnight, and Flood and I culled back about one hundred +and twenty which were under age or too light. The round-up outfit strung the +cattle out and counted them, reporting a few over seven hundred head. This +count was merely informal and for the information of the seller; but in the +morning the final one would be made, in which we could take a hand. +</p> + +<p> +After the cut had started in for the ranch, we loitered along, looking them +over, and I noticed several that might have been thrown out. “Well, now,” said +Flood, “if you are going to be so very choice as all that, I might as well ride +on. You can’t use me if that bunch needs any more trimming. I call them a fine +lot of beeves. It’s all right for Don to rib the boys up and make them think +that the cattle have to be top-notchers. I’ve watched him receive too often; +he’s about the easiest man I know to ring in short ages on. Just so a steer +looks nice, it’s hard for the old man to turn one back. I’ve seen him receiving +three-year-olds, when one fourth of the cattle passed on were short twos. And +if you call his attention to one, he’ll just smile that little smile of his, +and say, ‘yes, he may be shy a few months, but he’ll grow.’ But then that’s +just old man Don’s weakness for cattle; he can’t look a steer in the face +without falling in love with him. Now, I’ve received before when by throwing +out one half the stock offered, you couldn’t get as uniform a bunch of beeves +as those are. But you go right ahead, Tom, and be sure that every hoof you +accept will dress five hundred pounds at Fort Buford. I’ll simply sit around +and clerk and help you count and give you a good chance to make a reputation.” +</p> + +<p> +Los Lobos was still an open range. They claimed to have over ten thousand mixed +cattle in the straight ranch brand. There had been no demand for matured beeves +for several years, and now on effecting this sale they were anxious to deliver +all their grown steers. Dr. Beaver informed us that, previous to our arrival, +his foreman had been throwing everything in on the home range, and that he +hoped to deliver to us over two thousand head from his own personal holdings. +But he was liberal with his neighbors, for in the contingent just passed upon, +there must have been over a hundred head in various ranch brands. Assuring him +that we would be on hand in the morning to take possession of the cattle, and +requesting him to have a fire burning, on coming opposite the camp, we turned +off and rode for our wagon. It meant a big day’s work to road-brand this first +contingent, and with the first sign of dawn, my outfit were riding for Los +Lobos. We were encamped about three miles from the corrals, and leaving orders +for the cook to follow up, the camp was abandoned with the exception of the +remuda. It was barely sun-up when we counted and took possession of the beeves. +On being relieved, the foreman of Los Lobos took the ranch outfit and started +off to renew the gathering. We penned the cattle without any trouble, and as +soon as the irons were ready, a chuteful were run in and the branding +commenced. This branding-chute was long enough to chamber eight beeves. It was +built about a foot wide at the bottom and flared upward just enough to prevent +an animal from turning round. A heavy gate closed the exit, while bull-bars at +the rear prevented the occupant from backing out. A high platform ran along +either side of the branding-chute, on which the men stood while handling the +irons. +</p> + +<p> +Two men did the branding. “Runt” Pickett attended the fire, passing up the +heated irons, and dodging the cold branding-steel. A single iron was often good +for several animals, and sometimes a chuteful was branded with two irons. It +was necessary that the work should be well done; not that a five months’ trip +required it, but the unforeseen must be guarded against. Many trail herds had +met disaster and been scattered to the four winds with nothing but a road brand +to identify them afterward. The cattle were changing owners, and custom decreed +that an abstract of title should be indelibly seared on their sides. The first +guard, Jake Blair, Morg Tussler, and Clay Zilligan, were detailed to cut and +drive the squads into the chute. These three were the only mounted men, the +others being placed so as to facilitate the work. Cattle are as innocent as +they are strong, and in this necessary work everything was done quietly, care +being taken to prevent them from becoming excited. As fast as they were +released from the chute, Dr. Beaver took a list of the ranch brands, in order +to bill of sale them to Lovell and settle with his neighbors. +</p> + +<p> +The work moved with alacrity. As one chuteful was being freed the next one was +entering. Gates closed in their faces and the bull-bars at the rear locked them +as in a vice. We were averaging a hundred an hour, but the smoke from the +burning hair was offensive to the lungs. During the forenoon Burl Van Vedder +and Vick Wolf “spelled” Flood and myself for half an hour at a time, or until +we could recover from the nauseous fumes. When the cook called us to dinner, we +had turned out nearly five hundred branded cattle. No sooner was the midday +meal bolted than the cook was ordered back to camp with his wagon, the branded +contingent of cattle following in charge of the first guard. Less than half an +hour was lost in refreshing the inner man, and ordering “G—G” Cederdall, Tim +Stanley, and Jack Splann of the second guard into their saddles to take the +place of the relieved men, we resumed our task. The dust of the corrals settled +on us unheeded, the smoke of the fire mingled with that of the singeing hair +and its offensive odors, bringing tears to our eyes, but the work never abated +until the last steer had passed the chute and bore the “Open A.” +</p> + +<p> +The work over, a pretense was made at washing the dust and grime from our +faces. It was still early in the day, and starting the cattle for camp, I +instructed the boys to water and graze them as long as they would stand up. The +men all knew their places on guard, this having been previously arranged; and +joining Dr. Beaver, Jim and I rode for the ranch about a mile distant. The +doctor was a genial host, and prescribed a series of mint-juleps, after which +he proposed that we ride out and meet the cattle gathered during the day. The +outfit had been working a section of country around some lagoons, south of the +ranch, and it was fully six o’clock when we met them, heading homeward. The +cattle were fully up to the standard of the first bunch, and halting the herd +we trimmed them down and passed on them. After Flood rode out of this second +contingent, I culled back about a dozen light weights. On finishing, Jim gave +me a quiet wink, and said something to Dr. Beaver about a new broom. But I paid +no attention to these remarks; in a country simply teeming with prime beeves, I +was determined to get a herd to my liking. Dr. Beaver had assured Lovell that +he and his neighbors would throw together over four thousand beeves in making +up the herd, and now I was perfectly willing that they should. It would take +two days longer to gather the cattle on the Los Lobos range, and then there +were the outside offerings, which were supposed to number fully two thousand. +There was no excuse for not being choice. +</p> + +<p> +On returning to Los Lobos about dusk, rather than offend its owner, Flood +consented to remain at the ranch overnight, but I rode for camp. Darkness had +fallen on my reaching the wagon, the herd had been bedded down, and Levering +felt so confident that the remuda was contented that he had concluded to +night-herd them himself until midnight, and then turn them loose until dawn. He +had belled a couple of the leaders, and assured me that he would have them in +hand before sun-up. The cook was urging me to supper, but before unsaddling, I +rode around both herd and remuda. The cattle were sleeping nicely, and the boys +assured me that they had got a splendid fill on them before bedding down. That +was the only safe thing to do, and after circling the saddle stock on the +opposite side of camp, I returned to find that a stranger had arrived during my +brief absence. Parent had fully enlightened him as to who he was, who the +outfit were, the destination of the herd, the names of both buyer and seller, +and, on my riding in, was delivering a voluble dissertation on the tariff and +the possible effect on the state of putting hides on the free list. And +although in cow-camps a soldier’s introduction is usually sufficient, the cook +inquired the stranger’s name and presented me to our guest with due formality. +Supper being waiting, the stranger was invited to take pot-luck with us, and +before the meal was over recognized me. He was a deputy cattle inspector for +Dimmit County, and had issued the certificate for Flood’s herd the year before. +He had an eye for the main chance, and informed me that fully one half the +cattle making up our herd belonged to Dimmit; that the county line was only a +mile up the river, and that if I would allow the herd to drift over into his +territory, he would shade the legal rate. The law compelling the inspection of +herds before they could be moved out of the county, like the rain, fell upon +the just and the unjust. It was not the intent of the law to impose a burden on +an honest drover. Yet he was classed with the rustler, and must have in his +possession a certificate of inspection before he could move out a purchased +herd, or be subject to arrest. A list of brands was recorded, at the county +seat, of every herd leaving, and if occasion required could be referred to in +future years. No railroad would receive any consignment of hides or live stock, +unless accompanied by a certificate from the county inspector. The legal rate +was ten cents on the first hundred, and three cents on all over that number, +frequently making the office a lucrative one. +</p> + +<p> +Once the object of his call was made clear, I warmed to our guest. If the rate +allowed by law was enforced, it meant an expense of over a hundred dollars for +a certificate of inspection covering both herd and saddle stock. We did not +take out certificates in Medina on the remudas as a matter of economy. By +waiting until the herd was ready, the two would be inspected as one, and the +lower rate apply. So I urged the deputy to make himself at home and share my +blankets. Pretending that I remembered him well, I made numerous inquiries +about the ranch where we received our herd the year before, and by the time to +turn in, we were on the most friendly terms. The next morning I offered him a +horse from our extras, assuring him that Flood would be delighted to renew his +acquaintance, and invited him to go with us for the day. Turning his horse +among ours, he accepted and rode away with us. The cattle passed on the evening +before had camped out several miles from the corrals and were grazing in when +we met them. Flood and the Doctor joined us shortly afterward, and I had a +quiet word with Jim before he and the inspector met. After the count was over, +Flood made a great ado over my guest and gave him the glad hand as if he had +been a long-lost brother. We were a trifle short-handed the second day, and on +my guest volunteering to help, I assigned him to Runt Pickett’s place at the +fire, where he shortly developed a healthy sweat. As we did not have a large +bunch of beeves to brand that day, the wagon did not come over and we branded +them at a single shift. It was nearly one o’clock when we finished, and instead +of going in to Los Lobos, we left the third guard, Wayne Outcault, “Dorg” Seay, +and Owen Ubery, to graze the cattle over to our camp. +</p> + +<p> +The remainder of the afternoon was spent in idleness and in the entertainment +of our guest. Official-like, he pretended he could hardly spare the time to +remain another night, but was finally prevailed on and did so. After dark, I +took him some distance from camp, and the two of us had a confidential chat. I +assured him if there was any object in doing so, we could move camp right to or +over the county line, and frankly asked him what inducement he would offer. At +first he thought that throwing off everything over a hundred dollars would be +about right. But I assured him that there were whole families of inspectors in +Lasalle County who would discount that figure, and kindly advised him, if he +really wanted the fee, to meet competition at least. We discussed the matter at +length, and before returning to camp, he offered to make out the certificate, +covering everything, for fifty dollars. As it was certain to be several days +yet before we would start, and there was a prospect of a falling market in +certificates of inspection, I would make no definite promises. The next morning +I insisted that he remain at some near-by ranch in his own territory, and, if +convenient, ride down every few days and note the progress of the herd. +</p> + +<p> +We were promised a large contingent of cattle for that day. The ranch outfit +were to make three rodeos down the river the day before, where the bulk of +their beeves ranged. Flood was anxious to overtake the other outfits before +they reached the lower country, and as he assured me I had no further use for +him, we agreed that after receiving that morning he might leave us. Giving +orders at camp to graze the received beeves within a mile of the corrals by +noon, and the wagon to follow, we made an early start, Flood taking his own +horses with him. We met the cattle coming up the river a thousand strong. It +was late when the last round-up of the day before had finished, and they had +camped for the night fully five miles from the corrals. It took less than an +hour to cull back and count, excuse the ranch outfit, and start this contingent +for the branding-pens in charge of my boys. Flood was in a hurry, and riding a +short distance with him, I asked that he pass or send word to the county seat, +informing the inspector of hides and animals that a trail herd would leave Los +Lobos within a week. Jim knew my motive in getting competition on the +inspection, and wishing me luck on my trip, I wrung his hand in farewell until +we should meet again in the upper country. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was setting that night when we finished road-branding the last of the +beeves received in the morning. After dinner, when the wagon returned to camp, +I instructed Parent to move up the river fully a mile. We needed the change, +anyhow, and even if it was farther, the next morning we would have the Los +Lobos outfit to assist in the branding, as that day would finish their +gathering. The outside cattle were beginning to report in small bunches, from +three hundred upward. Knowing that Dr. Beaver was anxious to turn in as many as +possible of his own, we delayed receiving from the neighboring ranches for +another day. But the next morning, as we were ironing-up the last contingent of +some four hundred Los Lobos beeves, a deputy inspector for Lasalle arrived from +the county seat. He was likewise officious, and professed disappointment that +the herd was not ready to pass upon. On his arrival, I was handling the irons, +and paid no attention to him until the branding was over for the morning. When +he introduced himself, I cordially greeted him, but at the first intimation of +disappointment from his lips, I checked him. +</p> + +<p> +Using the best diplomacy at my command, I said, “Well, I’m sorry to cause you +this long ride when it might have been avoided. You see, we are receiving +cattle from both this and Dimmit County. In fact, we are holding our herd +across the line just at present. On starting, we expect to go up the river to +the first creek, and north on it to the Leona River. I have partially promised +the work to an inspector from Dimmit. He inspected our herd last year, and +being a personal friend that way, you couldn’t meet his figures. Very sorry to +disappoint you, but won’t you come over to the wagon and stay all night?” +</p> + +<p> +But Dr. Beaver, who understood my motive, claimed the privilege of entertaining +the deputy at Los Lobos, and I yielded. We now had a few over twenty-four +hundred beeves, of which nineteen hundred were in the Los Lobos brand, the +others being mixed. There was a possibility of fully a hundred more coming in +with the neighboring cattle, and Dr. Beaver was delighted over the ranch +delivery. The outside contingents were in four bunches, then encamped in +different directions and within from three to five miles of the ranch. Taking +Vick Wolf with me for the afternoon, I looked over the separate herds and found +them numbering more than fifteen hundred. They were the same uniform Nueces +Valley cattle, and as we lacked only a few over a thousand, the offerings were +extremely liberal. Making arrangements with three of the four herds to receive +the next day, Vick and I reached our camp on the county line about sunset. The +change was a decided advantage; wood, water, and grass were plentiful, and not +over a mile farther from the branding-pens. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning found us in our saddles at the usual early hour. We were +anxious to receive and brand every animal possible that day, so that with a few +hours’ work the next forenoon the herd would be ready to start. After we had +passed on the first contingent of the outside cattle, and as we were nearing +the corrals, Dr. Beaver overtook us. Calling me aside, he said: “Quirk, if you +play your cards right, you’ll get a certificate of inspection for nothing and a +chromo as a pelon. I’ve bolstered up the Lasalle man that he’s better entitled +to the work than the Dimmit inspector, and he’ll wait until the herd is ready +to start. Now, you handle the one, and I’ll keep the other as my guest. We must +keep them apart and let them buck each other to their hearts’ content. Every +hoof in your herd will be in a ranch brand of record; but still the law demands +inspection and you must comply with it. I’ll give you a duplicate list of the +brands, so that neither inspector need see the herd, and if we don’t save your +employer a hundred dollars, then we are amateurs.” +</p> + +<p> +Everything was pointing to an auspicious start. The last cattle on the delivery +were equal to the first, if not better. The sky clouded over, and before noon a +light shower fell, settling the dust in the corrals. Help increased as the +various bunches were accepted, and at the end of the day only a few over two +hundred remained to complete our numbers. The last contingent were fully up to +the standard; and rather than disappoint the sellers, I accepted fifty head +extra, making my herd at starting thirty-four hundred and fifty. When the last +beef had passed the branding-chute, there was nothing remaining but to give a +receipt to the seller for the number of head received, in behalf of my +employer, pending a later settlement between them. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile competition in the matter of inspection had been carefully nursed. +Conscious of each other’s presence, and both equally anxious for the fee, the +one deputy was entertained at my camp and the other at Los Lobos. They were +treated courteously, but given to understand that in the present instance money +talked. With but a small bunch of beeves to brand on the starting day, the +direction in which the herd was allowed to leave the bed-ground would be the +final answer. If west, Dimmit had underbid Lasalle; if the contrary, then the +departure of this herd would be a matter of record in the latter county. Dr. +Beaver enjoyed the situation hugely, acting the intermediary in behalf of his +guest. Personally I was unconcerned, but was neutral and had little to say. +</p> + +<p> +My outfit understood the situation perfectly. Before retiring on the night of +our last camp on the county line, and in the presence of the Dimmit inspector, +the last relief received instructions, in the absence of contrary orders, to +allow the herd to drift back into Lasalle in the morning. Matters were being +conducted in pantomime, and the players understood their parts. Our guest had +made himself useful in various ways, and I naturally felt friendly towards him. +He had stood several guards for the boys, and Burl Van Vedder, of the last +watch, had secret instructions to call him for that guard. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning the camp was not astir as early as usual. On the cook’s +arousing us, in the uncertain light of dawn, the herd was slowly rising, and +from the position of a group of four horsemen, it was plainly evident that our +guest had shaded all competition. Our camp was in plain view of Los Lobos, and +only some five or six miles distant. With the rising of the sun, and from the +top of a windmill derrick, by the aid of a field-glass, the Lasalle inspector +had read his answer; and after the work in the morning was over, and the final +papers had been exchanged, Dr. Beaver insisted that, in commiseration of his +departed guest, just one more mint-julep should be drunk standing. +</p> + +<p> +When Don Lovell glanced over my expense account on our arrival at Abilene, he +said: “Look here, Tom, is this straight?—twenty dollars for inspection?—the +hell you say! Corrupted them, did you? Well, that’s the cheapest inspection I +ever paid, with one exception. Dave Sponsilier once got a certificate for his +herd for five dollars and a few drinks. But he paid for it a month in advance +of the starting of the herd. It was dated ahead, properly sealed, and all ready +for filling in the brands and numbers. The herd was put up within a mile of +where four counties cornered, and that inspector was a believer in the maxim of +the early bird. The office is a red-tape one, anyhow, and little harm in taking +all the advantage you can.—This item marked ‘sundries’ was DRY goods, I +suppose? All right, Quirk; I reckon rattlesnakes were rather rabid this +spring.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0004"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br/> +MINGLING WITH THE EXODUS</h2> + +<p> +By noon the herd had grazed out five miles on its way. The boys were so anxious +to get off that on my return the camp was deserted with the exception of the +cook and the horse-wrangler, none even returning for dinner. Before leaving I +had lunched at Los Lobos with its owner, and on reaching the wagon, Levering +and I assisted the cook to harness in and start the commissary. The general +course of the Nueces River was southeast by northwest, and as our route lay on +the latter angle, the herd would follow up the valley for the first day. Once +outside the boundaries of our camp of the past week, the grass matted the +ground with its rank young growth. As far as the eye could see, the mesas, +clothed in the verdure of spring, rolled in long swells away to the divides. +Along the river and in the first bottom, the timber and mesquite thickets were +in leaf and blossom, while on the outlying prairies the only objects which +dotted this sea of green were range cattle and an occasional band of horses. +</p> + +<p> +The start was made on the 27th of March. By easy drives and within a week, we +crossed the “Sunset” Railway, about thirty miles to the westward of the ranch +in Medina. On reaching the divide between the Leona and Frio rivers, we sighted +our first herd of trail cattle, heading northward. We learned that some six +herds had already passed upward on the main Frio, while a number of others were +reported as having taken the east fork of that river. The latter stream almost +paralleled the line between Medina and Uvalde counties, and as we expected some +word from headquarters, we crossed over to the east fork. When westward of and +opposite the ranch, Runt Pickett was sent in for any necessary orders that +might be waiting. By leaving us early in the evening he could reach +headquarters that night and overtake us before noon the next day. We grazed +leisurely forward the next morning, killing as much time as possible, and +Pickett overtook us before the wagon had even gone into camp for dinner. Lovell +had not stopped on his return from the west, but had left with the depot agent +at the home station a letter for the ranch. From its contents we learned that +the other two Buford herds had started from Uvalde, Sponsilier in the lead, one +on the 24th and the other the following day. Local rumors were encouraging in +regard to grass and water to the westward, and the intimation was clear that if +favorable reports continued, the two Uvalde herds would intersect an old trail +running from the head of Nueces Canon to the Llano River. Should they follow +this route there was little hope of their coming into the main western trail +before reaching the Colorado River. Sponsilier was a daring fellow, and if +there was a possible chance to get through beyond the borders of any +settlement, he was certain to risk it. +</p> + +<p> +The letter contained no personal advice. Years of experience in trail matters +had taught my employer that explicit orders were often harmful. The emergencies +to be met were of such a varied nature that the best method was to trust to an +outfit worming its way out of any situation which confronted it. From the +information disclosed, it was evident that the other Buford herds were then +somewhere to the northwest, and possibly over a hundred miles distant. Thus +freed from any restraint, we held a due northward course for several days, or +until we encountered some rocky country. Water was plentiful and grass fairly +good, but those flinty hills must be avoided or sorefooted beeves would be the +result. I had seen trails of blood left by cattle from sandy countries on +encountering rock, and now the feet of ours were a second consideration to +their stomachs. But long before the herd reached this menace, Morg Tussler and +myself, scouting two full days in advance, located a safe route to the +westward. Had we turned to the other hand, we should have been forced into the +main trail below Fredericksburg, and we preferred the sea-room of the boundless +plain. From every indication and report, this promised to be the banner year in +the exodus of cattle from the South to the then new Northwest. This latter +section was affording the long-looked-for outlet, by absorbing the offerings of +cattle which came up from Texas over the trail, and marking an epoch barely +covering a single decade. +</p> + +<p> +Turning on a western angle, a week’s drive brought us out on a high tableland. +Veering again to the north, we snailed along through a delightful country, rich +in flora and the freshness of the season. From every possible elevation, we +scanned the west in the hope of sighting some of the herd which had followed up +the main Frio, but in vain. Sweeping northward at a leisurely gait, the third +week out we sighted the Blue Mountains, the first familiar landmark on our +course. As the main western trail skirted its base on the eastward, our +position was easily established. +</p> + +<p> +So far the cattle were well behaved, not a run, and only a single incident +occurring worth mention. About half an hour before dawn one morning, the cook +aroused the camp with the report that the herd was missing. The beeves had been +bedded within two hundred yards of the wagon, and the last watch usually hailed +the rekindling of the cook’s fire as the first harbinger of day. But on this +occasion the absence of the usual salutations from the bed-ground aroused +Parent’s suspicion. He rushed into camp, and laboring under the impression that +the cattle had stampeded, trampled over our beds, yelling at the top of his +lungs. Aroused in the darkness from heavy sleep, bewildered by a bright fire +burning and a crazy man shouting, “The beeves have stampeded! the herd’s gone! +Get up, everybody!” we were almost thrown into a panic. Many of the boys ran +for their night-horses, but Clay Zilligan and I fell on the cook and shook the +statement out of him that the cattle had left their beds. This simplified the +situation, but before I could recall the men, several of them had reached the +bed-ground. As fast as horses could be secured, others dashed through the +lighted circle and faded into the darkness. From the flickering of matches it +was evident that the boys were dismounting and looking for some sign of +trouble. Zilligan was swearing like a pirate, looking for his horse in the +murky night; but instead of any alarm, oaths and derision greeted our ears as +the men returned to camp. Halting their horses within the circle of the fire, +Dorg Seay said to the cook: +</p> + +<p> +“Neal, the next time you find a mare’s nest, keep the secret to yourself. I +don’t begrudge losing thirty minutes’ beauty sleep, but I hate to be scared out +of a year’s growth. Haven’t you got cow-sense enough to know that if those +beeves had run, they’d have shook the earth? If they had stampeded, that alarm +clock of yours wouldn’t be a circumstance to the barking of the boys’ guns. +Why, the cattle haven’t been gone thirty minutes. You can see where they got up +and then quietly walked away. The ground where they lay is still steaming and +warm. They were watered a little too soon yesterday and naturally got up early +this morning. The boys on guard didn’t want to alarm the outfit, and just +allowed the beeves to graze off on their course. When day breaks, you’ll see +they ain’t far away, and in the right direction. Parent, if I didn’t sabe cows +better than you do, I’d confine my attention to a cotton patch.” +</p> + +<p> +Seay had read the sign aright. When day dawned the cattle were in plain view +about a mile distant. On the return of the last guard to camp, Vick Wolf +explained the situation in a few words. During their watch the herd had grown +restless, many of the cattle arising; and knowing that dawn was near at hand, +the boys had pushed the sleepy ones off their beds and started them feeding. +The incident had little effect on the irrepressible Parent, who seemed born to +blunder, yet gifted with a sunny disposition which atoned for his numerous +mistakes. +</p> + +<p> +With the Blue Mountains as our guiding star, we kept to the westward of that +landmark, crossing the Llano River opposite some Indian mounds. On reaching the +divide between this and the next water, we sighted two dust-clouds to the +westward. They were ten to fifteen miles distant, but I was anxious to hear any +word of Sponsilier or Forrest, and sent Jake Blair to make a social call. He +did not return until the next day, and reported the first herd as from the +mouth of the Pecos, and the more distant one as belonging to Jesse Presnall. +Blair had stayed all night with the latter, and while its foreman was able to +locate at least a dozen trail herds in close proximity, our two from Uvalde had +neither been seen nor heard of. Baffled again, necessity compelled us to turn +within touch of some outfitting point. The staples of life were running low in +our commissary, no opportunity having presented itself to obtain a new supply +since we left the ranch in Medina over a month before. Consequently, after +crossing the San Saba, we made our first tack to the eastward. +</p> + +<p> +Brady City was an outfitting point for herds on the old western trail. On +coming opposite that frontier village, Parent and I took the wagon and went in +after supplies, leaving the herd on its course, paralleling the former route. +They had instructions to camp on Brady Creek that night. On reaching the supply +point, there was a question if we could secure the simple staples needed. The +drive that year had outstripped all calculations, some half-dozen chuck-wagons +being in waiting for the arrival of a freight outfit which was due that +morning. The nearest railroad was nearly a hundred miles to the eastward, and +all supplies must be freighted in by mule and ox teams. While waiting for the +freight wagons, which were in sight several miles distant, I made inquiry of +the two outfitting stores if our Buford herds had passed. If they had, no +dealings had taken place on the credit of Don Lovell, though both merchants +knew him well. Before the freight outfit arrived, some one took Abb Blocker, a +trail foreman for his brother John, to task for having an odd ox in his wheel +team. The animal was a raw, unbroken “7L” bull, surly and chafing under the +yoke, and attracted general attention. When several friends of Blocker, +noticing the brand, began joking him, he made this explanation: “No, I don’t +claim him; but he came into my herd the other night and got to hossing my +steers around. We couldn’t keep him out, and I thought if he would just go +along, why we’d put him under the yoke and let him hoss that chuck-wagon to +amuse himself. One of my wheelers was getting a little tenderfooted, anyhow.” +</p> + +<p> +On the arrival of the freight outfit, short shift was made in transferring a +portion of the cargo to the waiting chuck-wagons. As we expected to reach +Abilene, a railroad point, within a week, we took on only a small stock of +staple supplies. Having helped ourselves, the only delay was in getting a clerk +to look over our appropriation, make out an itemized bill, and receive a draft +on my employer. When finally the merchant in person climbed into our wagon and +took a list of the articles, Parent started back to overtake the herd. I +remained behind several hours, chatting with the other foremen. +</p> + +<p> +None of the other trail bosses had seen anything of Lovell’s other herds, +though they all knew him personally or by reputation, and inquired if he was +driving again in the same road brand. By general agreement, in case of trouble, +we would pick up each other’s cattle; and from half a cent to a cent a head was +considered ample remuneration in buying water in Texas. Owing to the fact that +many drovers had shipped to Red River, it was generally believed that there +would be no congestion of cattle south of that point. All herds were then +keeping well to the westward, some even declaring their intention to go through +the Panhandle until the Canadian was reached. +</p> + +<p> +Two days later we came into the main trail at the crossing of the Colorado +River. Before we reached it, several ominous dust-clouds hung on our right for +hours, while beyond the river were others, indicating the presence of herds. +Summer weather had already set in, and during the middle of the day the glare +of heat-waves and mirages obstructed our view of other wayfarers like +ourselves, but morning and evening we were never out of sight of their signals. +The banks of the river at the ford were trampled to the level of the water, +while at both approach and exit the ground was cut into dust. On our arrival, +the stage of water was favorable, and we crossed without a halt of herd, +horses, or commissary. But there was little inducement to follow the old trail. +Washed into ruts by the seasons, the grass on either side eaten away for miles, +there was a look of desolation like that to be seen in the wake of an army. As +we felt under obligations to touch at Abilene within a few days, there was a +constant skirmish for grass within a reasonable distance of the trail; and we +were early, fully two thirds of the drive being in our rear. One sultry morning +south of Buffalo Gap, as we were grazing past the foot of Table Mountain, +several of us rode to the summit of that butte. From a single point of +observation we counted twelve herds within a space of thirty miles both south +and north, all moving in the latter direction. +</p> + +<p> +When about midway between the Gap and the railroad we were met at noon one day +by Don Lovell. This was his first glimpse of my herd, and his experienced eye +took in everything from a broken harness to the peeling and legibility of the +road brand. With me the condition of the cattle was the first requisite, but +the minor details as well as the more important claimed my employer’s +attention. When at last, after riding with the herd for an hour, he spoke a few +words of approbation on the condition, weight, and uniformity of the beeves, I +felt a load lifted from my shoulders. That the old man was in a bad humor on +meeting us was evident; but as he rode along beside the cattle, lazy and large +as oxen, the cockles of his heart warmed and he grew sociable. Near the middle +of the afternoon, as we were in the rear, looking over the drag steers, he +complimented me on having the fewest tender-footed animals of any herd that had +passed Abilene since his arrival. Encouraged, I ventured the double question as +to how this one would average with the other Buford herds, and did he know +their whereabouts. As I recall his reply, it was that all Nueces Valley cattle +were uniform, and if there was any difference it was due to carelessness in +receiving. In regard to the locality of the other herds, it was easily to be +seen that he was provoked about something. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I know where they are,” said he, snappishly, “but that’s all the good it +does me. They crossed the railroad, west, at Sweetwater, about a week ago. I +don’t blame Quince, for he’s just trailing along, half a day behind Dave’s +herd. But Sponsilier, knowing that I wanted to see him, had the nerve to write +me a postal card with just ten words on it, saying that all was well and to +meet him in Dodge. Tom, you don’t know what a satisfaction it is to me to spend +a day or so with each of the herds. But those rascals didn’t pay any more +attention to me than if I was an old woman. There was some reason for +it—sore-footed cattle, or else they have skinned up their remudas and didn’t +want me to see them. If I drive a hundred herds hereafter, Dave Sponsilier will +stay at home as far as I’m concerned. He may think it’s funny to slip past, but +this court isn’t indulging in any levity just at present. I fail to see the +humor in having two outfits with sixty-seven hundred cattle somewhere between +the Staked Plain and No-Man’s-Land, and unable to communicate with them. And +while my herds are all contracted, mature beeves have broke from three to five +dollars a head in price since these started, and it won’t do to shout before +we’re out of the woods. Those fool boys don’t know that, and I can’t get near +enough to tell them.” +</p> + +<p> +I knew better than to ask further questions or offer any apologies for others. +My employer was naturally irritable, and his abuse or praise of a foreman was +to be expected. Previously and under the smile of prosperity, I had heard him +laud Sponsilier, and under an imaginary shadow abuse Jim Flood, the most +experienced man in his employ. Feeling it was useless to pour oil on the +present troubled waters, I excused myself, rode back, and ordered the wagon to +make camp ahead about four miles on Elm Creek. We watered late in the +afternoon, grazing thence until time to bed the herd. When the first and second +guards were relieved to go in and catch night-horses and get their supper, my +employer remained behind with the cattle. While feeding during the evening, we +allowed the herd to scatter over a thousand acres. Taking advantage of the +loose order of the beeves, the old man rode back and forth through them until +approaching darkness compelled us to throw them together on the bedground. Even +after the first guard took charge, the drover loitered behind, reluctant to +leave until the last steer had lain down; and all during the night, sharing my +blankets, he awoke on every change of guards, inquiring of the returning watch +how the cattle were sleeping. +</p> + +<p> +As we should easily pass Abilene before noon, I asked him as a favor that he +take the wagon in and get us sufficient supplies to last until Red River was +reached. But he preferred to remain behind with the herd, and I went instead. +This suited me, as his presence overawed my outfit, who were delirious to see +the town. There was no telling how long he would have stayed with us, but my +brother Bob’s herd was expected at any time. Remaining with us a second night, +something, possibly the placidness of the cattle, mellowed the old man and he +grew amiable with the outfit, and myself in particular. At breakfast the next +morning, when I asked him if he was in a position to recommend any special +route, he replied: +</p> + +<p> +“No, Tom, that rests with you. One thing’s certain; herds are going to be +dangerously close together on the regular trail which crosses Red River at +Doan’s. The season is early yet, but over fifty herds have already crossed the +Texas Pacific Railway. Allowing one half the herds to start north of that line, +it gives you a fair idea what to expect. When seven hundred thousand cattle +left Texas two years ago, it was considered the banner year, yet it won’t be a +marker to this one. The way prices are tumbling shows that the Northwest was +bluffing when they offered to mature all the cattle that Texas could breed for +the next fifty years. That’s the kind of talk that suits me, but last year +there were some forty herds unsold, which were compelled to winter in the +North. Not over half the saddle horses that came up the trail last summer were +absorbed by these Northern cowmen. Talk’s cheap, but it takes money to buy +whiskey. Lots of these men are new ones at the business and may lose fortunes. +The banks are getting afraid of cattle paper, and conditions are tightening. +With the increased drive this year, if the summer passes without a slaughter in +prices, the Texas drovers can thank their lucky stars. I’m not half as bright +as I might be, but this is one year that I’m smooth enough not to have unsold +cattle on the trail.” +</p> + +<p> +The herd had started an hour before, and when the wagon was ready to move, I +rode a short distance with my employer. It was possible that he had something +to say of a confidential nature, for it was seldom that he acted so discouraged +when his every interest seemed protected by contracts. But at the final +parting, when we both had dismounted and sat on the ground for an hour, he had +disclosed nothing. On the contrary, he even admitted that possibly it was for +the best that the other Buford herds had held a westward course and thus +avoided the crush on the main routes. The only intimation which escaped him was +when we had remounted and each started our way, he called me back and said, +“Tom, no doubt but you’ve noticed that I’m worried. Well, I am. I’d tell you in +a minute, but I may be wrong in the matter. But I’ll know before you reach +Dodge, and then, if it’s necessary, you shall know all. It’s nothing about the +handling of the herds, for my foremen have always considered my interests +first. Keep this to yourself, for it may prove a nightmare. But if it should +prove true, then we must stand together. Now, that’s all; mum’s the word until +we meet. Drop me a line if you get a chance, and don’t let my troubles worry +you.” +</p> + +<p> +While overtaking the herd, I mused over my employer’s last words. But my brain +was too muddy even to attempt to solve the riddle. The most plausible theory +that I could advance was that some friendly cowmen were playing a joke on him, +and that the old man had taken things too seriously. Within a week the matter +was entirely forgotten, crowded out of mind by the demands of the hour. The +next night, on the Clear Fork of the Brazos, a stranger, attracted by our +camp-fire, rode up to the wagon. Returning from the herd shortly after his +arrival, I recognized in our guest John Blocker, a prominent drover. He +informed us that he and his associates had fifty-two thousand cattle on the +trail, and that he was just returning from overtaking two of their five lead +herds. Knowing that he was a well-posted cowman on routes and sustenance, +having grown up on the trail, I gave him the best our camp afforded, and in +return I received valuable information in regard to the country between our +present location and Doan’s Crossing. He reported the country for a hundred +miles south of Red River as having had a dry, backward spring, scanty of grass, +and with long dry drives; and further, that in many instances water for the +herds would have to be bought from those in control. +</p> + +<p> +The outlook was not to my liking. The next morning when I inquired of our guest +what he would advise me to do, his answer clearly covered the ground. “Well, +I’m not advising any one,” said he, “but you can draw your own conclusions. The +two herds of mine, which I overtook, have orders to turn northeast and cross +into the Nations at Red River Station. My other cattle, still below, will all +be routed by way of Fort Griffin. Once across Red River, you will have the +Chisholm Trail, running through civilized tribes, and free from all annoyance +of blanket Indians. South of the river the grass is bound to be better than on +the western route, and if we have to buy water, we’ll have the advantage of +competition.” +</p> + +<p> +With this summary of the situation, a decision was easily reached. The Chisholm +Trail was good enough for me. Following up the north side of the Clear Fork, we +passed about twenty miles to the west of Fort Griffin. Constantly bearing east +by north, a few days later we crossed the main Brazos at a low stage of water. +But from there to Red River was a trial not to be repeated. Wire fences halted +us at every turn. Owners of pastures refused permission to pass through. Lanes +ran in the wrong direction, and open country for pasturage was scarce. What we +dreaded most, lack of drink for the herd, was the least of our troubles, +necessity requiring its purchase only three or four times. And like a climax to +a week of sore trials, when we were in sight of Red River a sand and dust storm +struck us, blinding both men and herd for hours. The beeves fared best, for +with lowered heads they turned their backs to the howling gale, while the +horsemen caught it on every side. The cattle drifted at will in an +uncontrollable mass. The air was so filled with sifting sand and eddying dust +that it was impossible to see a mounted man at a distance of fifty yards. The +wind blew a hurricane, making it impossible to dismount in the face of it. Our +horses trembled with fear, unsteady on their feet. The very sky overhead +darkened as if night was falling. Two thirds of the men threw themselves in the +lead of the beeves, firing six-shooters to check them, which could not even be +heard by the ones on the flank and in the rear. Once the herd drifted against a +wire fence, leveled it down and moved on, sullen but irresistible. Towards +evening the storm abated, and half the outfit was sent out in search of the +wagon, which was finally found about dark some four miles distant. +</p> + +<p> +That night Owen Ubery, as he bathed his bloodshot eyes in a pail of water, said +to the rest of us: “Fellows, if ever I have a boy, and tell him how his pa +suffered this afternoon, and he don’t cry, I’ll cut a switch and whip him until +he does.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0005"></a>CHAPTER V.<br/> +RED RIVER STATION</h2> + +<p> +When the spirit of a man is once broken, he becomes useless. On the trail it is +necessary to have some diversion from hard work, long hours, and exposure to +the elements. With man and beast, from the Brazos to Red River was a fire test +of physical endurance. But after crossing into the Chickasaw Nation, a +comparatively new country would open before us. When the strain of the past +week was sorest, in buoying up the spirits of my outfit, I had promised them +rest and recreation at the first possible opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately we had an easy ford. There was not even an indication that there +had been a freshet on the river that spring. This was tempering the wind, for +we were crippled, three of the boys being unable to resume their places around +the herd on account of inflamed eyes. The cook had weathered the sand-storm +better than any of us. Sheltering his team, and fastening his wagon-sheet +securely, he took refuge under it until the gale had passed. Pressing him into +the service the next morning, and assigning him to the drag end of the herd, I +left the blind to lead the blind in driving the wagon. On reaching the river +about the middle of the forenoon, we trailed the cattle across in a long chain, +not an animal being compelled to swim. The wagon was carried over on a +ferryboat, as it was heavily loaded, a six weeks’ supply of provisions having +been taken on before crossing. Once the trail left the breaks, on the north +side of the river, we drew off several miles to the left and went into camp for +the remainder of the day. Still keeping clear of the trail, daily we moved +forward the wagon from three to five miles, allowing the cattle to graze and +rest to contentment. The herd recuperated rapidly, and by the evening of the +fourth day after crossing, the inflammation was so reduced in those whose eyes +were inflamed, that we decided to start in earnest the next morning. +</p> + +<p> +The cook was ordered to set out the best the wagon afforded, several outside +delicacies were added, and a feast was in sight. G—G Cederdall had recrossed +the river that day to mail a letter, and on his return proudly carried a basket +of eggs on his arm. Three of the others had joined a fishing party from the +Texas side, and had come in earlier in the day with a fine string of fish. +Parent won new laurels in the supper to which he invited us about sundown. The +cattle came in to their beds groaning and satiated, and dropped down as if +ordered. When the first watch had taken them, there was nothing to do but sit +around and tell stories. Since crossing Red River, we had slept almost night +and day, but in that balmy May evening sleep was banished. The fact that we +were in the Indian country, civilized though the Indians were, called forth +many an incident. The raids of the Comanches into the Panhandle country during +the buffalo days was a favorite topic. Vick Wolf, however, had had an Indian +experience in the North with which he regaled us at the first opportunity. +</p> + +<p> +“There isn’t any trouble nowadays,” said he, lighting a cigarette, “with these +blanket Indians on the reservations. I had an experience once on a reservation +where the Indians could have got me easy enough if they had been on the +war-path. It was the first winter I ever spent on a Northern range, having gone +up to the Cherokee Strip to avoid—well, no matter. I got a job in the Strip, +not riding, but as a kind of an all-round rustler. This was long before the +country was fenced, and they rode lines to keep the cattle on their ranges. One +evening about nightfall in December, the worst kind of a blizzard struck us +that the country had ever seen. The next day it was just as bad, and BLOODY +cold. A fellow could not see any distance, and to venture away from the dugout +meant to get lost. The third day she broke and the sun came out clear in the +early evening. The next day we managed to gather the saddle horses, as they had +not drifted like the cattle. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, we were three days overtaking the lead of that cattle drift, and then +found them in the heart of the Cheyenne country, at least on that reservation. +They had drifted a good hundred miles before the storm broke. Every outfit in +the Strip had gone south after their cattle. Instead of drifting them back +together, the different ranches rustled for their own. Some of the foremen paid +the Indians so much per head to gather for them, but ours didn’t. The braves +weren’t very much struck on us on that account. I was cooking for the outfit, +which suited me in winter weather. We had a permanent camp on a small +well-wooded creek, from which we worked all the country round. +</p> + +<p> +“One afternoon when I was in camp all alone, I noticed an Indian approaching me +from out of the timber. There was a Winchester standing against the wagon +wheel, but as the bucks were making no trouble, I gave the matter no attention. +Mr. Injun came up to the fire and professed to be very friendly, shook hands, +and spoke quite a number of words in English. After he got good and warm, he +looked all over the wagon, and noticing that I had no sixshooter on, he picked +up the carbine and walked out about a hundred yards to a little knoll, threw +his arms in the air, and made signs. +</p> + +<p> +“Instantly, out of the cover of some timber on the creek a quarter above, came +about twenty young bucks, mounted, and yelling like demons. When they came up, +they began circling around the fire and wagon. I was sitting on an empty +corn-crate by the fire. One young buck, seeing that I was not scaring to suit +him, unslung a carbine as he rode, and shot into the fire before me. The bullet +threw fire and ashes all over me, and I jumped about ten feet, which suited +them better. They circled around for several minutes, every one uncovering a +carbine, and they must have fired a hundred and fifty shots into the fire. In +fact they almost shot it out, scattering the fire around so that it came near +burning up the bedding of our outfit. I was scared thoroughly by this time. If +it was possible for me to have had fits, I’d have had one sure. The air seemed +full of coals of fire and ashes. I got good practical insight into what hell’s +like. I was rustling the rolls of bedding out of the circle of fire, expecting +every moment would be my last. It’s a wonder I wasn’t killed. Were they +throwing lead? Well, I should remark! You see the ground was not frozen around +the fire, and the bullets buried themselves in the soft soil. +</p> + +<p> +“After they had had as much fun as they wanted, the leader gave a yell and they +all circled the other way once, and struck back into the timber. Some of them +had brought up the decoy Indian’s horse when they made the dash at first, and +he suddenly turned as wild as a Cheyenne generally gets. When the others were +several hundred yards away, he turned his horse, rode back some little +distance, and attracted my attention by holding out the Winchester. From his +horse he laid it carefully down on the ground, whirled his pony, and rode like +a scared wolf after the others. I could hear their yells for miles, as they +made for their encampment over on the North Fork. As soon as I got the fire +under control, I went out and got the carbine. It was empty; the Indian had +used its magazine in the general hilarity. That may be an Indian’s style of +fun, but I failed to see where there was any in it for me.” +</p> + +<p> +The cook threw a handful of oily fish-bones on the fire, causing it to flame up +for a brief moment. With the exception of Wayne Outcault, who was lying prone +on the ground, the men were smoking and sitting Indian fashion around the fire. +After rolling awhile uneasily, Outcault sat up and remarked, “I feel about half +sick. Eat too much? Don’t you think it. Why, I only ate seven or eight of those +fish, and that oughtn’t to hurt a baby. There was only half a dozen hard-boiled +eggs to the man, and I don’t remember of any of you being so generous as to +share yours with me. Those few plates of prunes that I ate for dessert wouldn’t +hurt nobody—they’re medicine to some folks. Unroll our bed, pardner, and I’ll +thrash around on it awhile.” +</p> + +<p> +Several trail stories of more or less interest were told, when Runt Pickett, in +order to avoid the smoke, came over and sat down between Burl Van Vedder and +me. He had had an experience, and instantly opened on us at short range. +“Speaking of stampedes,” said Runt, “reminds me of a run I was in, and over +which I was paid by my employer a very high compliment. My first trip over the +trail, as far north as Dodge, was in ’78. The herd sold next day after reaching +there, and as I had an old uncle and aunt living in middle Kansas, I concluded +to run down and pay them a short visit. So I threw away all my trail togs—well, +they were worn out, anyway—and bought me a new outfit complete. Yes, I even +bought button shoes. After visiting a couple of weeks with my folks, I drifted +back to Dodge in the hope of getting in with some herd bound farther north—I +was perfectly useless on a farm. On my return to Dodge, the only thing about me +that indicated a cow-hand was my Texas saddle and outfit, but in toggery, in my +visiting harness, I looked like a rank tenderfoot. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, boys, the first day I struck town I met a through man looking for hands. +His herd had just come in over the Chisholm Trail, crossing to the western +somewhere above. He was disgusted with his outfit, and was discharging men +right and left and hiring new ones to take their places. I apologized for my +appearance, showed him my outfit, and got a job cow-punching with this through +man. He expected to hold on sale a week or two, when if unsold he would drift +north to the Platte. The first week that I worked, a wet stormy night struck +us, and before ten o’clock we lost every hoof of cattle. I was riding wild +after little squads of cattle here and there, guided by flashes of lightning, +when the storm finally broke. Well, there it was midnight, and I didn’t have a +HOOF OF CATTLE to hold and no one to help me if I had. The truth is, I was +lost. Common horse-sense told me that; but where the outfit or wagon was was +anybody’s guess. The horses in my mount were as good as worthless; worn out, +and if you gave one free rein he lacked the energy to carry you back to camp. I +ploughed around in the darkness for over an hour, but finally came to a sudden +stop on the banks of the muddy Arkansaw. Right there I held a council of war +with myself, the decision of which was that it was at least five miles to the +wagon. +</p> + +<p> +“After I’d prowled around some little time, a bright flash of lightning +revealed to me an old deserted cabin a few rods below. To this shelter I turned +without even a bid, unsaddled my horse and picketed him, and turned into the +cabin for the night. Early the next morning I was out and saddled my horse, and +the question was, Which way is camp? As soon as the sun rose clearly, I got my +bearings. By my reasoning, if the river yesterday was south of camp, this +morning the wagon must be north of the river, so I headed in that direction. +Somehow or other I stopped my horse on the first little knoll, and looking back +towards the bottom, I saw in a horseshoe which the river made a large bunch of +cattle. Of course I knew that all herds near about were through cattle and +under herd, and the absence of any men in sight aroused my curiosity. I +concluded to investigate it, and riding back found over five hundred head of +the cattle we had lost the night before. ‘Here’s a chance to make a record with +my new boss,’ I said to myself, and circling in behind, began drifting them out +of the bottoms towards the uplands. By ten o’clock I had got them to the first +divide, when who should ride up but the owner, the old cowman himself—the sure +enough big auger. +</p> + +<p> +“‘Well, son,’ said my boss, ‘you held some of them, didn’t you?’ ‘Yes,’ I +replied, surly as I could, giving him a mean look, ‘I’ve nearly ridden this +horse to death, holding this bunch all night. If I had only had a good man or +two with me, we could have caught twice as many. What kind of an outfit are you +working, anyhow, Captain?’ And at dinner that day, the boss pointed me out to +the others and said, ‘That little fellow standing over there with the button +shoes on is the only man in my outfit that is worth a ————.’” +</p> + +<p> +The cook had finished his work, and now joined the circle. Parent began +regaling us with personal experiences, in which it was evident that he would +prove the hero. Fortunately, however, we were spared listening to his +self-laudation. Dorg Seay and Tim Stanley, bunkies, engaged in a friendly +scuffle, each trying to make the other get a firebrand for his pipe. In the +tussle which followed, we were all compelled to give way or get trampled +underfoot. When both had exhausted themselves in vain, we resumed our places +around the fire. Parent, who was disgusted over the interruption, on resuming +his seat refused to continue his story at the request of the offenders, +replying, “The more I see of you two varmints the more you remind me of mule +colts.” +</p> + +<p> +Once the cook refused to pick up the broken thread of his story, John Levering, +our horse-wrangler, preempted the vacated post. “I was over in Louisiana a few +winters ago with a horse herd,” said John, “and had a few experiences. Of all +the simple people that I ever met, the ‘Cajin’ takes the bakery. You’ll meet +darkies over there that can’t speak a word of anything but French. It’s nothing +to see a cow and mule harnessed together to a cart. One day on the road, I met +a man, old enough to be my father, and inquired of him how far it was to the +parish centre, a large town. He didn’t know, except it was a long, long ways. +He had never been there, but his older brother, once when he was a young man, +had been there as a witness at court. The brother was dead now, but if he was +living and present, it was quite possible that he would remember the distance. +The best information was that it was a very long ways off. I rode it in the mud +in less than two hours; just about ten miles. +</p> + +<p> +“But that wasn’t a circumstance to other experiences. We had driven about three +hundred horses and mules, and after disposing of over two thirds of them, my +employer was compelled to return home, leaving me to dispose of the remainder. +I was a fair salesman, and rather than carry the remnant of the herd with me, +made headquarters with a man who owned a large cane-brake pasture. It was a +convenient stopping-place, and the stock did well on the young cane. Every week +I would drive to some distant town eighteen or twenty head, or as many as I +could handle alone. Sometimes I would sell out in a few days, and then again it +would take me longer. But when possible I always made it a rule to get back to +my headquarters to spend Sunday. The owner of the cane-brake and his wife were +a simple couple, and just a shade or two above the Arcadians. But they had a +daughter who could pass muster, and she took quite a shine to the +‘Texas-Hoss-Man,’ as they called me. I reckon you understand now why I made +that headquarters?—there were other reasons besides the good pasturage. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, the girl and her mother both could read, but I have some doubt about the +old man on that score. They took no papers, and the nearest approach to a book +in the house was an almanac three years old. The women folks were ravenous for +something to read, and each time on my return after selling out, I’d bring them +a whole bundle of illustrated papers and magazines. About my fourth return +after more horses,—I was mighty near one of the family by that time,—when we +were all seated around the fire one night, the women poring over the papers and +admiring the pictures, the old man inquired what the news was over in the +parish where I had recently been. The only thing that I could remember was the +suicide of a prominent man. After explaining the circumstances, I went on to +say that some little bitterness arose over his burial. Owing to his prominence +it was thought permission would be given to bury him in the churchyard. But it +seems there was some superstition about permitting a self-murderer to be buried +in the same field as decent folks. It was none of my funeral, and I didn’t pay +overmuch attention to the matter, but the authorities refused, and they buried +him just outside the grounds, in the woods. +</p> + +<p> +“My host and I discussed the matter at some length. He contended that if the +man was not of sound mind, he should have been given his little six feet of +earth among the others. A horse salesman has to be a good second-rate talker, +and being anxious to show off before the girl, I differed with her father. The +argument grew spirited yet friendly, and I appealed to the women in supporting +my view. My hostess was absorbed at the time in reading a sensational account +of a woman shooting her betrayer. The illustrations covered a whole page, and +the girl was simply burning, at short range, the shirt from off her seducer. +The old lady was bogged to the saddle skirts in the story, when I interrupted +her and inquired, ‘Mother, what do you think ought to be done with a man who +commits suicide?’ She lowered the paper just for an instant, and looking over +her spectacles at me replied, ‘Well, I think any man who would do THAT ought to +be made to support the child.’” +</p> + +<p> +No comment was offered. Our wrangler arose and strolled away from the fire +under the pretense of repicketing his horse. It was nearly time for the guards +to change, and giving the last watch orders to point the herd, as they left the +bed-ground in the morning, back on an angle towards the trail, I prepared to +turn in. While I was pulling off my boots in the act of retiring, Clay Zilligan +rode in from the herd to call the relief. The second guard were bridling their +horses, and as Zilligan dismounted, he said to the circle of listeners, “Didn’t +I tell you fellows that there was another herd just ahead of us? I don’t care +if they didn’t pass up the trail since we’ve been laying over, they are there +just the same. Of course you can’t see their camp-fire from here, but it’s in +plain view from the bed-ground, and not over four or five miles away. If I +remember rightly, there’s a local trail comes in from the south of the Wichita +River, and joins the Chisholm just ahead. And what’s more, that herd was there +at nine o’clock this morning, and they haven’t moved a peg since. Well, there’s +two lads out there waiting to be relieved, and you second guard know where the +cattle are bedded.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0006"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br/> +CAMP SUPPLY</h2> + +<p> +In gala spirits we broke camp the next morning. The herd had left the +bed-ground at dawn, and as the outfit rode away to relieve the last guard, +every mother’s son was singing. The cattle were a refreshing sight as they +grazed forward, their ragged front covering half a mile in width. The rest of +the past few days had been a boon to the few tender-footed ones. The lay-over +had rejuvenated both man and beast. From maps in our possession we knew we were +somewhere near the western border of the Chickasaw Nation, while on our left +was the reservation of three blanket tribes of Indians. But as far as signs of +occupancy were concerned, the country was unmarked by any evidence of +civilization. The Chisholm Cattle Trail, which ran from Red River to the Kansas +line, had almost fallen into disuse, owing to encroachments of settlements +south of the former and westward on the latter. With the advancement of +immigration, Abilene and Ellsworth as trail terminals yielded to the tide, and +the leading cattle trace of the ’70’s was relegated to local use in ’84. +</p> + +<p> +The first guard was on the qui vive for the outfit whose camp-fire they had +sighted the night before. I was riding with Clay Zilligan on the left point, +when he sighted what we supposed was a small bunch of cattle lying down several +miles distant. When we reached the first rise of ground, a band of saddle +horses came in view, and while we were trying to locate their camp, Jack Splann +from the opposite point attracted our attention and pointed straight ahead. +There a large band of cattle under herd greeted our view, compelling us to veer +to the right and intersect the trail sooner than we intended. Keeping a clear +half-mile between us, we passed them within an hour and exchanged the +compliments of the trail. They proved to be “Laurel Leaf” and “Running W” +cattle, the very ones for which the International Railway agent at the meeting +in February had so boastfully shown my employer the application for cars. The +foreman was cursing like a stranded pirate over the predicament in which he +found himself. He had left Santo Gertrudo Ranch over a month before with a herd +of three thousand straight two-year-old steers. But in the shipment of some +thirty-three thousand cattle from the two ranches to Wichita Falls, six trains +had been wrecked, two of which were his own. Instead of being hundreds of miles +ahead in the lead of the year’s drive, as he expected, he now found himself in +charge of a camp of cripples. What few trains belonging to his herd had escaped +the ditch were used in filling up other unfortunate ones, the injured cattle +from the other wrecks forming his present holdings. +</p> + +<p> +“Our people were anxious to get their cattle on to the market early this year,” +said he, “and put their foot into it up to the knee. Shipping to Red River was +an experiment with them, and I hope they’ve got their belly full. We’ve got +dead and dying cattle in every pasture from the falls to the river, while these +in sight aren’t able to keep out of the stench of those that croaked between +here and the ford. Oh, this shipping is a fine thing—for the railroads. Here +I’ve got to rot all summer with these cattle, just because two of my trains +went into the ditch while no other foreman had over one wrecked. And mind you, +they paid the freight in advance, and now King and Kennedy have brought suit +for damages amounting to double the shipping expense. They’ll get it all +right—in pork. I’d rather have a claim against a nigger than a railroad +company. Look at your beeves, slick as weasels, and from the Nueces River. Have +to hold them in, I reckon, to keep from making twenty miles a day. And here I +am—Oh, hell, I’d rather be on a rock-pile with a ball and chain to my foot! Do +you see those objects across yonder about two miles—in that old grass? That’s +where we bedded night before last and forty odd died. We only lost twenty-two +last night. Oh, we’re getting in shape fast. If you think you can hold your +breakfast down, just take a ride through mine. No, excuse me—I’ve seen them too +often already.” +</p> + +<p> +Several of the boys and myself rode into the herd some little distance, but the +sight was enough to turn a copper-lined stomach. Scarcely an animal had escaped +without more or less injury. Fully one half were minus one or both horns, +leaving instead bloody stumps. Broken bones and open sores greeted us on every +hand; myriads of flies added to the misery of the cattle, while in many +instances there was evidence of maggots at work on the living animal. Turning +from the herd in disgust, we went back to our own, thankful that the rate +offered us had been prohibitory. The trials and vexations of the road were mere +nothings to be endured, compared to the sights we were then leaving. Even what +we first supposed were cattle lying down, were only bed-grounds, the occupants +having been humanely relieved by unwaking sleep. Powerless to render any +assistance, we trailed away, glad to blot from our sight and memory such scenes +of misery and death. +</p> + +<p> +Until reaching the Washita River, we passed through a delightful country. There +were numerous local trails coming into the main one, all of which showed recent +use. Abandoned camp-fires and bed-grounds were to be seen on every hand, silent +witnesses of an exodus which was to mark the maximum year in the history of the +cattle movement from Texas. Several times we saw some evidence of settlement by +the natives, but as to the freedom of the country, we were monarchs of all we +surveyed. On arriving at the Washita, we encountered a number of herds, +laboring under the impression that they were water-bound. Immediate entrance at +the ford was held by a large herd of young cattle in charge of a negro outfit. +Their stock were scattered over several thousand acres, and when I asked for +the boss, a middle-aged darky of herculean figure was pointed out as in charge. +To my inquiry why he was holding the ford, his answer was that until to-day the +river had been swimming, and now he was waiting for the banks to dry. +Ridiculing his flimsy excuse, I kindly yet firmly asked him either to cross or +vacate the ford by three o’clock that afternoon. Receiving no definite reply, I +returned to our herd, which was some five miles in the rear. Beyond the river’s +steep, slippery banks and cold water, there was nothing to check a herd. +</p> + +<p> +After the noonday halt, the wrangler and myself took our remuda and went on +ahead to the river. Crossing and recrossing our saddle stock a number of times, +we trampled the banks down to a firm footing. While we were doing this work, +the negro foreman and a number of his men rode up and sullenly watched us. +Leaving our horses on the north bank, Levering and I returned, and ignoring the +presence of the darky spectators, started back to meet the herd, which was just +then looming up in sight. But before we had ridden any distance, the dusky +foreman overtook us and politely said, “Look-ee here, Cap’n; ain’t you-all +afraid of losin’ some of your cattle among ours?” Never halting, I replied, +“Not a particle; if we lose any, you eat them, and we’ll do the same if our +herd absorbs any of yours. But it strikes me that you had better have those +lazy niggers throw your cattle to one side,” I called back, as he halted his +horse. We did not look backward until we reached the herd; then as we turned, +one on each side to support the points, it was evident that a clear field would +await us on reaching the river. Every horseman in the black outfit was pushing +cattle with might and main, to give us a clean cloth at the crossing. +</p> + +<p> +The herd forded the Washita without incident. I remained on the south bank +while the cattle were crossing, and when they were about half over some +half-dozen of the darkies rode up and stopped apart, conversing among +themselves. When the drag cattle passed safely out on the farther bank, I +turned to the dusky group, only to find their foreman absent. Making a few +inquiries as to the ownership of their herd, its destination, and other matters +of interest, I asked the group to express my thanks to their foreman for moving +his cattle aside. Our commissary crossed shortly afterward, and the Washita was +in our rear. But that night, as some of my outfit returned from the river, +where they had been fishing, they reported the negro outfit as having crossed +and encamped several miles in our rear. +</p> + +<p> +“All they needed was a good example,” said Dorg Seay. “Under a white foreman, +I’ll bet that’s a good lot of darkies. They were just about the right shade—old +shiny black. As good cowhands as ever I saw were nigs, but they need a white +man to blow and brag on them. But it always ruins one to give him any +authority.” +</p> + +<p> +Without effort we traveled fifteen miles a day. In the absence of any wet +weather to gall their backs, there was not a horse in our remuda unfit for the +saddle. In fact, after reaching the Indian Territory, they took on flesh and +played like lambs. With the exception of long hours and night-herding, the days +passed in seeming indolence as we swept northward, crossing rivers without a +halt which in previous years had defied the moving herds. On arriving at the +Cimarron River, in reply to a letter written to my employer on leaving Texas +behind us, an answer was found awaiting me at Red Fork. The latter was an +Indian trading-post, located on the mail route to Fort Reno, and only a few +miles north of the Chisholm Crossing. The letter was characteristic of my +employer. It contained but one imperative order,—that I should touch, either +with or without the herd, at Camp Supply. For some unexplained reason he would +make that post his headquarters until after the Buford herds had passed that +point. The letter concluded with the injunction, in case we met any one, to +conceal the ownership of the herd and its destination. +</p> + +<p> +The mystery was thickening. But having previously declined to borrow trouble, I +brushed this aside as unimportant, though I gave my outfit instructions to +report the herd to every one as belonging to Omaha men, and on its way to +Nebraska to be corn-fed. Fortunately I had ridden ahead of the herd after +crossing the Cimarron, and had posted the outfit before they reached the +trading-station. I did not allow one of my boys near the store, and the herd +passed by as in contempt of such a wayside place. As the Dodge cut-off left the +Chisholm Trail some ten miles above the Indian trading-post, the next morning +we waved good-bye to the old cattle trace and turned on a northwest angle. Our +route now lay up the Cimarron, which we crossed and recrossed at our pleasure, +for the sake of grazing or to avoid several large alkali flats. There was +evidence of herds in our advance, and had we not hurried past Red Fork, I might +have learned something to our advantage. But disdaining all inquiry of the +cut-off, fearful lest our identity be discovered, we deliberately walked into +the first real danger of the trip. +</p> + +<p> +At low water the Cimarron was a brackish stream. But numerous tributaries put +in from either side, and by keeping above the river’s ebb, an abundance of +fresh water was daily secured from the river’s affluents. The fifth day out +from Red Rock was an excessively sultry one, and suffering would have resulted +to the herd had we not been following a divide where we caught an occasional +breeze. The river lay some ten miles to our right, while before us a tributary +could be distinctly outlined by the cottonwoods which grew along it. Since +early morning we had been paralleling the creek, having nooned within sight of +its confluence with the mother stream, and consequently I had considered it +unnecessary to ride ahead and look up the water. When possible, we always +preferred watering the herd between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. +But by holding our course, we were certain to intersect the creek at about the +usual hour for the cattle’s daily drink, and besides, as the creek neared the +river, it ran through an alkali flat for some distance. But before the time +arrived to intersect the creek on our course, the herd turned out of the trail, +determined to go to the creek and quench their thirst. The entire outfit, +however, massed on the right flank, and against their will we held them on +their course. As their thirst increased with travel, they made repeated +attempts to break through our cordon, requiring every man to keep on the alert. +But we held them true to the divide, and as we came to the brow of a small hill +within a quarter-mile of the water, a stench struck us until we turned in our +saddles, gasping for breath. I was riding third man in the swing from the +point, and noticing something wrong in front, galloped to the brow of the hill. +The smell was sickening and almost unendurable, and there before us in plain +view lay hundreds of dead cattle, bloated and decaying in the summer sun. +</p> + +<p> +I was dazed by the awful scene. A pretty, greenswarded little valley lay before +me, groups of cottonwoods fringed the stream here and there, around the roots +of which were both shade and water. The reeking stench that filled the air +stupefied me for the instant, and I turned my horse from the view, gasping for +a mouthful of God’s pure ozone. But our beeves had been scenting the creek for +hours, and now a few of the leaders started forward in a trot for it. Like a +flash it came to me that death lurked in that water, and summoning every man +within hearing, I dashed to the lead of our cattle to turn them back over the +hill. Jack Splann was on the point, and we turned the leaders when within two +hundred yards of the creek, frequently jumping our horses over the putrid +carcasses of dead cattle. The main body of the herd were trailing for three +quarters of a mile in our rear, and none of the men dared leave their places. +Untying our slickers, Splann and I fell upon the leaders and beat them back to +the brow of the hill, when an unfortunate breeze was wafted through that +polluted atmosphere from the creek to the cattle’s nostrils. Turning upon us +and now augmented to several hundred head, they sullenly started forward. But +in the few minutes’ interim, two other lads had come to our support, and +dismounting we rushed them, whipping our slickers into ribbons over their +heads. The mastery of man again triumphed over brutes in their thirst, for we +drove them in a rout back over the divide. +</p> + +<p> +Our success, however, was only temporary. Recovering our horses we beat the +cattle back, seemingly inch by inch, until the rear came up, when we rounded +them into a compact body. They quieted down for a short while, affording us a +breathing spell, for the suddenness of this danger had not only unnerved me but +every one of the outfit who had caught a glimpse of that field of death. The +wagon came up, and those who needed them secured a change of horses. Leaving +the outfit holding the herd, Splann and I took fresh mounts, and circling +around, came in on the windward side of the creek. As we crossed it half a mile +above the scene of disaster, each of us dipped a hand in the water and tasted +it. The alkali was strong as concentrated lye, blistering our mouths in the +experiment. The creek was not even running, but stood in long, deep pools, +clear as crystal and as inviting to the thirsty as a mountain spring. As we +neared the dead cattle, Splann called my attention to the attitude of the +animals when death relieved them, the heads of fully two thirds being thrown +back on their sides. Many, when stricken, were unable to reach the bank, and +died in the bed of the stream. Making a complete circle of the ghastly scene, +we returned to our own, agreeing that between five and six hundred cattle had +met their fate in those death-dealing pools. +</p> + +<p> +We were not yet out of the woods. On our return, many of the cattle were lying +down, while in the west thunder-clouds were appearing. The North Fork of the +Canadian lay on our left, which was now our only hope for water, yet beyond our +reach for the day. Keeping the slight divide between us and the creek, we +started the herd forward. Since it was impossible to graze them in their +thirsty condition, I was determined to move them as far as possible before +darkness overtook us. But within an hour we crossed a country trail over which +herds had passed on their way northwest, having left the Chisholm after +crossing the North Fork. At the first elevation which would give me a view of +the creek, another scene of death and desolation greeted my vision, only a few +miles above the first one. Yet from this same hill I could easily trace the +meanderings of the creek for miles as it made a half circle in our front, both +inviting and defying us. Turning the herd due south, we traveled until darkness +fell, going into camp on a high, flat mesa of several thousand acres. But those +evening breezes wafted an invitation to come and drink, and our thirsty herd +refused to bed down. To add to our predicament, a storm thickened in the west. +Realizing that we were confronting the most dangerous night in all my cattle +experience, I ordered every man into the saddle. The remuda and team were taken +in charge by the wrangler and cook, and going from man to man, I warned them +what the consequences would be if we lost the herd during the night, and the +cattle reached the creek. +</p> + +<p> +The cattle surged and drifted almost at will, for we were compelled to hold +them loose to avoid milling. Before ten o’clock the lightning was flickering +overhead and around us, revealing acres of big beeves, which in an instant +might take fright, and then, God help us. But in that night of trial a mercy +was extended to the dumb brutes in charge. A warm rain began falling, first in +a drizzle, increasing after the first hour, and by midnight we could hear the +water slushing under our horses’ feet. By the almost constant flashes of +lightning we could see the cattle standing as if asleep, in grateful enjoyment +of the sheeting downpour. As the night wore on, our fears of a stampede abated, +for the buffalo wallows on the mesa filled, and water was on every hand. The +rain ceased before dawn, but owing to the saturated condition underfoot, not a +hoof lay down during the night, and when the gray of morning streaked the east, +what a sense of relief it brought us. The danger had passed. +</p> + +<p> +Near noon that day, and within a few miles of the North Fork, we rounded an +alkaline plain in which this deadly creek had its source. Under the influence +of the season, alkali had oozed up out of the soil until it looked like an +immense lake under snow. The presence of range cattle in close proximity to +this creek, for we were in the Cherokee Strip, baffled my reasoning; but the +next day we met a range-rider who explained that the present condition of the +stream was unheard of before, and that native cattle had instinct enough to +avoid it. He accounted for its condition as due to the dry season, there being +no general rains sufficient to flood the alkaline plain and thoroughly flush +the creek. In reply to an inquiry as to the ownership of the unfortunate herds, +he informed me that there were three, one belonging to Bob Houston, another to +Major Corouthers, and the third to a man named Murphy, the total loss amounting +to about two thousand cattle. +</p> + +<p> +From this same range-man we also learned our location. Camp Supply lay up the +North Fork some sixty miles, while a plain trail followed up the first bottom +of the river. Wishing to avoid, if possible, intersecting the western trail +south of Dodge, the next morning I left the herd to follow up, and rode into +Camp Supply before noon. Lovell had sighted me a mile distant, and after a +drink at the sutler’s bar, we strolled aside for a few minutes’ chat. Once I +had informed him of the locality of the herd and their condition, he cautioned +me not to let my business be known while in the post. After refreshing the +inner man, my employer secured a horse and started with me on my return. As +soon as the flag over Supply faded out of sight in our rear, we turned to the +friendly shade of the timber on the North Fork and dismounted. I felt that the +precaution exercised by the drover was premonitory of some revelation, and +before we arose from the cottonwood log on which we took seats, the scales had +fallen from my eyes and the atmosphere of mystery cleared. +</p> + +<p> +“Tom,” said my employer, “I am up against a bad proposition. I am driving these +Buford cattle, you understand, on a sub-contract. I was the second lowest +bidder with the government, and no sooner was the award made to The Western +Supply Company than they sent an agent who gave me no peace until they sublet +their contract. Unfortunately for me, when the papers were drawn, my regular +attorney was out of town, and I was compelled to depend on a stranger. After +the articles were executed, I submitted the matter to my old lawyer; he shook +his head, arguing that a loophole had been left open, and that I should have +secured an assignment of the original contract. After studying the matter over, +we opened negotiations to secure a complete relinquishment of the award. But +when I offered the company a thousand dollars over and above what they admitted +was their margin, and they refused it, I opened my eyes to the true situation. +If cattle went up, I was responsible and would have to fill my contract; if +they went down, the company would buy in the cattle and I could go to hell in a +hand-basket for all they cared. Their bond to the government does me no good, +and beyond that they are irresponsible. Beeves have broken from four to five +dollars a head, and unless I can deliver these Buford herds on my contract, +they will lose me fifty thousand dollars.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have you any intimation that they expect to buy in other cattle?” I inquired. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes. I have had a detective in my employ ever since my suspicions were +aroused. There are two parties in Dodge this very minute with the original +contract, properly assigned, and they are looking for cattle to fill it. That’s +why I’m stopping here and lying low. I couldn’t explain it to you sooner, but +you understand now why I drove those Buford herds in different road brands. +Tom, we’re up against it, and we’ve got to fight the devil with fire. +Henceforth your name will be Tom McIndoo, your herd will be the property of the +Marshall estate, and their agent, my detective, will be known as Charles +Siringo. Any money or supplies you may need in Dodge, get in the usual form +through the firm of Wright, Beverly & Co.—they understand. Hold your herd +out south on Mulberry, and Siringo will have notice and be looking for you, or +you can find him at the Dodge House. I’ve sent a courier to Fort Elliott to +meet Dave and Quince, and once I see them, I’ll run up to Ogalalla and wait for +you. Now, until further orders, remember you never knew a man by the name of +Don Lovell, and by all means don’t forget to use what wits Nature gave you.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0007"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br/> +WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK</h2> + +<p> +It was late that night when I reached the herd. Before I parted with my +employer we had carefully reviewed the situation in its minutest details. Since +the future could not be foreseen, we could only watch and wait. The Texan may +have his shortcomings, but lack of fidelity to a trust is not one of them, and +relying on the metal of my outfit, I at once put them in possession of the +facts. At first their simple minds could hardly grasp the enormity of the +injustice to our employer, but once the land lay clear, they would gladly have +led a forlorn hope in Don Lovell’s interests. Agitation over the matter was +maintained at white heat for several days, as we again angled back towards the +Cimarron. Around the camp-fires at night, the chicanery of The Western Supply +Company gave place to the best stories at our command. “There ought to be a +law,” said Runt Pickett, in wrathy indignation, “making it legal to kill some +people, same as rattlesnakes. Now, you take a square gambler and I don’t think +anything of losing my money against his game, but one of these sneaking, +under-dealing, top-and-bottom-business pimps, I do despise. You can find them +in every honest calling, same as vultures hover round when cattle are dying. +Honest, fellows, I’d just dearly love to pull on a rope and watch one of the +varmints make his last kick.” +</p> + +<p> +Several days of showery weather followed. Crossing the Cimarron, we followed up +its north slope to within thirty miles of the regular western trail. Not +wishing to intercept it until necessity compelled us, when near the Kansas line +we made our last tack for Dodge. The rains had freshened the country and +flushed the creeks, making our work easy, and early in the month of June we +reached the Mulberry. Traveling at random, we struck that creek about twenty +miles below the trail, and moved up the stream to within a short distance of +the old crossing. The presence of a dozen other herds holding along it forced +us into a permanent camp a short half-day’s ride from the town. The +horse-wrangler was pressed into service in making up the first guard that +night, and taking Morg Tussler with me, I struck out for Dodge in the falling +darkness. On reaching the first divide, we halted long enough to locate the +camp-fires along the Mulberry to our rear, while above and below and beyond the +river, fires flickered like an Indian encampment. The lights of Dodge were +inviting us, and after making a rough estimate of the camps in sight, we rode +for town, arriving there between ten and eleven o’clock. The Dodge House was a +popular hostelry for trail men and cattle buyers, and on our making inquiry of +the night clerk if a Mr. Siringo was stopping there, we were informed that he +was, but had retired. I put up a trivial excuse for seeing him, the clerk gave +me the number of his room, and Tussler and I were soon closeted with him. The +detective was a medium-sized, ordinary man, badly pock-marked, with a soft, +musical voice, and apparently as innocent as a boy. In a brief preliminary +conversation, he proved to be a Texan, knowing every in and out of cattle, +having been bred to the occupation. Our relations to each other were easily +established. Reviewing the situation thoroughly, he informed me that he had +cultivated the acquaintance of the parties holding the assignment of the Buford +award. He had represented to them that he was the fiscal agent of some six +herds on the trail that year, three of which were heavy beeves, and they had +agreed to look them over, provided they arrived before the 15th of the month. +He further assured me that the parties were mere figureheads of The Supply +Company; that they were exceedingly bearish on the market, gloating over the +recent depreciation in prices, and perfectly willing to fatten on the wreck and +ruin of others. +</p> + +<p> +It was long after midnight when the consultation ended. Appointing an hour for +showing the herd the next day, or that one rather, Tussler and I withdrew, +agreeing to be out of town before daybreak. But the blaze of gambling and the +blare of dance-halls held us as in a siren’s embrace until the lights dimmed +with the breaking of dawn. Mounting our horses, we forded the river east of +town and avoided the herds, which were just arising from their bed-grounds. On +the divide we halted. Within the horizon before us, it is safe to assert that +one hundred thousand cattle grazed in lazy contentment, all feeding against the +morning breeze. Save for the freshness of early summer, with its background of +green and the rarified atmosphere of the elevated plain, the scene before us +might be compared to a winter drift of buffalo, ten years previous. Riding down +the farther slope, we reached our camp in time for a late breakfast, the +fifteen-mile ride having whetted our appetites. Three men were on herd, and +sending two more with instructions to water the cattle an hour before noon, +Tussler and I sought the shade of the wagon and fell asleep. It was some time +after midday when, on sighting the expected conveyance approaching our camp, +the cook aroused us. Performing a rather hasty ablution, I met the vehicle, +freshened, and with my wits on tap. I nearly dragged the detective from the +livery rig, addressing him as “Charley,” and we made a rough ado over each +other. Several of the other boys came forward and, shaking hands, greeted him +with equal familiarity. As two strangers alighted on the opposite side, the +detective took me around and they were introduced as Mr. Field and Mr. +Radcliff, prospective beef buyers. The boys had stretched a tarpaulin, +affording ample shade, and Parent invited every one to dinner. The two +strangers were rather testy, but Siringo ate ravenously, repeatedly asking for +things which were usually kept in a well-stocked chuck-wagon, meanwhile talking +with great familiarity with Tussler and me. +</p> + +<p> +The strangers said little, but were amused at the lightness of our dinner chat. +I could see at a glance that they were not cowmen. They were impatient to see +the cattle; and when dinner was over, I explained to them that the men on herd +would be relieved for dinner by those in camp, and orders would be given, if it +was their wish, to throw the cattle compactly together. To this Siringo +objected. “No, Mac,” said he, “that isn’t the right way to show beeves. Here, +Morg, listen to me; I’m foreman for the time being. When you relieve the other +lads, edge in your cattle from an ordinary loose herd until you have them on +two or three hundred acres. Then we can slowly drive through them for an hour +or so, or until these gentlemen are satisfied. They’re not wild, are they, +Mac?” +</p> + +<p> +I assured every one that the cattle were unusually gentle; that we had not had +a run so far, but urged caution in approaching them with a conveyance. As soon +as the relief started, I brought in the livery team off picket, watered, and +harnessed them into the vehicle. It was my intention to accompany them on +horseback, but Siringo hooted at the idea, and Mr. Radcliff and I occupied the +back seat, puffing splendid cigars. We met the relieved men coming in, who +informed us that the herd was just over the hill on the south side of the +creek. On reaching the gentle rise, there below us grazed the logy, lazy +beeves, while the boys quietly rode round, silently moving them together as +instructed. Siringo drove to their lead, and halting, we allowed the cattle to +loiter past us on either side of the conveyance. It was an easy herd to show, +for the pounds avoirdupois were there. Numerous big steers, out of pure +curiosity, came up near the vehicle and innocently looked at us as if expecting +a dole or sweetmeat. A snap of the finger would turn them, showing their +rounded buttocks, and they would rejoin the guard of honor. If eyes could +speak, the invitation was timidly extended, “Look at me, Mr. Buyer.” We allowed +the herd to pass by us, then slowly circled entirely around them, and finally +drove back and forth through them for nearly two hours, when the prospective +buyers expressed themselves as satisfied. +</p> + +<p> +But the fiscal agent was not. Calling two of the boys, he asked for the loan of +their horses and insisted that the buyers ride the cattle over and thoroughly +satisfy themselves on the brands. The boys gladly yielded, and as Mr. Field and +Mr. Radcliff mounted to ride away, the detective halted them long enough to +say: “Now, gentlemen, I wish to call your attention to the fact that over one +half the herd are in the single Marshall ranch brand. There are also some five +hundred head in the ‘8=8,’ that being an outside ranch, but belonging to the +estate. I am informed that the remainder of nearly a thousand were turned in by +neighboring ranchmen in making up the herd, and you’ll find those in various +mixed brands. If there’s a hoof among them not in the ‘Open A’ road, we’ll cut +them out for fear of trouble to the buyer. I never sold a man cattle in my life +who wasn’t my customer ever afterward. You gentlemen are strangers to me; and +for that reason I conceal nothing. Now look them over carefully, and keep a +sharp lookout for strays—cattle not in the road brand.” +</p> + +<p> +I knew there were about twenty strays in the herd, and informed Siringo to that +effect, but the cattle buyers noticed only two, a red and a roan, which again +classed them as inexperienced men among cattle. We returned to camp, not a word +being said about trading, when the buyers suggested returning to town. Siringo +looked at his watch, asked if there was anything further they wished to see or +know, and expressed himself like a true Texan, “that there was ample time.” I +was the only one who had alighted, and as they started to drive away, I said to +Siringo: “Charley, let me talk to you a minute first. You see how I’m situated +here—too many neighbors. I’m going to ride north of town to-morrow, and if I +can find a good camp on Saw Log, why I’ll move over. We are nearly out of +supplies, anyhow, and the wagon can go by town and load up. There’s liable to +be a mix-up here some night on the Mulberry, and I’d rather be excused than +present.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s all right, Mac; that’s just what I want you to do. If we trade, we’ll +make the deal within a day or two, and if not you can start right on for +Ogalalla. I’ve been selling cattle the last few years to the biggest feeders in +Nebraska, and I’m not a little bit afraid of placing those ‘Open A’s.’ About +four months full feed on corn will fit those steers to go to any market. Drop +into town on your way back from the Saw Log to-morrow.” +</p> + +<p> +That evening my brother Bob rode into camp. He had seen our employer at Supply, +and accordingly understood the situation. The courier had returned from Fort +Elliott and reported his mission successful; he had met both Forrest and +Sponsilier. The latter had had a slight run in the Panhandle during a storm, +losing a few cattle, which he recovered the next day. For fear of a repetition, +Forrest had taken the lead thereafter, and was due at Supply within a day or +two. Flood and Priest had passed Abilene, Texas, in safety, but no word had +reached our employer since, and it was believed that they had turned eastward +and would come up the Chisholm Trail. Bob reported the country between Abilene +and Doan’s Crossing as cut into dust and barren of sustenance, many weak cattle +having died in crossing the dry belt. But the most startling news, seriously +disturbing us both, was that Archie Tolleston was stationed at Doan’s Crossing +on Red River as a trail-cutter. He had come up from the south to Wichita Falls +by train with trail cattle, and finding no opening as a foreman, had accepted +the position of inspector for some Panhandle cattle companies. He and Bob had +had a friendly chat, and Archie admitted that it was purely his own +hot-headedness which prevented his being one of Lovell’s foremen on the present +drive. The disturbing feature was, that after leaving headquarters in Medina +County, he had gone into San Antonio, where he met a couple of strangers who +partially promised him a job as trail boss, in case he presented himself in +Dodge about June 15. They had intimated to him that it was possible they would +need a foreman or two who knew the trail from the Arkansaw to the Yellowstone +and Missouri River country. Putting this and that together, the presence of +Archie Tolleston in Dodge was not at all favorable to the working out of our +plans. “And Arch isn’t the man to forget a humiliation,” concluded Bob, to +which I agreed. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning I rode across to the Saw Log, and up that creek beyond all the +herds. The best prospect for a camp was nearly due north opposite us, as the +outfit lowest down the stream expected to start for the Platte the next +morning. Having fully made up my mind to move camp, I rode for town, taking +dinner on Duck Creek, which was also littered with cattle and outfits. I +reached town early in the afternoon, and after searching all the hotels, +located the fiscal agent in company with the buyers at the Lone Star saloon. +They were seated around a table, and Mr. Field, noticing my entrance, beckoned +me over and offered a chair. As I took the proffered seat, both strangers +turned on me, and Mr. Radcliff said: “McIndoo, this agent of yours is the +hardest man I ever tried to trade with. Here we’ve wasted the whole morning +dickering, and are no nearer together than when we started. The only concession +which Mr. Siringo seems willing to admit is that cattle are off from three to +five dollars a head, while we contend that heavy beeves are off seven dollars.” +</p> + +<p> +“Excuse me for interrupting,” said the fiscal agent, “but since you have used +the words HEAVY BEEVES, either one of you ask Mac, here, what those ‘Open A’s’ +will dress to-day, and what they ought to gain in the next three months on good +grass and water. There he sits; ask him.” +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Field explained that they had also differed as to what the herd would dress +out, and invited my opinion. “Those beeves will dress off from forty-five to +fifty per cent.,” I replied. “The Texan being a gaunt animal does not shrink +like a domestic beef. Take that ‘Open A’ herd straight through and they will +dress from four fifty to six hundred pounds, or average better than five +hundred all round. In three months, under favorable conditions, those steers +ought to easily put on a hundred pounds of tallow apiece. Mr. Radcliff, do you +remember pointing out a black muley yesterday and saying that he looked like a +native animal? I’ll just bet either one of you a hundred dollars that he’ll +dress out over five hundred pounds; and I’ll kill him in your presence and you +can weigh his quarters with a steelyard.” +</p> + +<p> +They laughed at me, Siringo joining in, and Mr. Field ordered the drinks. +“Mac,” said the detective, “these gentlemen are all right, and you shouldn’t +take any offense, for I don’t blame them for driving a hard bargain. I’d +probably do the same thing if I was the buyer instead of the seller. And +remember, Mac, if the deal goes through, you are to drive the herd at the +seller’s risk, and deliver it at any point the buyer designates, they accepting +without expense or reserve the cattle only. It means over three months’ further +expense, with a remuda thrown back on your hands; and all these incidentals run +into money fast. Gentlemen, unless you increase the advance cash payment, I +don’t see how you can expect me to shade my offer. What’s your hurry, Mac?” +</p> + +<p> +As it was growing late, I had arisen, and saying that I expected to move camp +to-morrow, invited the party to join me at the bar. I informed the buyers, +during the few minutes’ interim, that if they wished to look the cattle over +again, the herd would cross the river below old Fort Dodge about noon the next +day. They thanked me for the information, saying it was quite possible that +they might drive down, and discussing the matter we all passed into the street. +With the understanding that the prospect of making a deal was not hopeless, +Siringo excused himself, and we strolled away together. No sooner was the coast +clear than I informed the detective of the arrival of my brother, putting him +in possession of every fact regarding Archie Tolleston. He readily agreed with +me that the recent break between the latter and his former employer was a +dangerous factor, and even went so far as to say that Tolleston’s posing as a +trail-cutter at Doan’s Crossing was more than likely a ruse. I was giving the +detective a detailed description of Archie, when he stopped me and asked what +his special weaknesses were, if he had any. “Whiskey and women,” I replied. +“That’s good,” said he, “and I want you to send me in one of your best men in +the morning—I mean one who will drink and carouse. He can watch the trains, and +if this fellow shows up, we’ll keep him soaked and let him enjoy himself. Send +me one that’s good for a ten days’ protracted drunk. You think the other herds +will be here within a few days? That’s all I want to know.” +</p> + +<p> +I reached camp a little before dark, and learned that Bob’s herd had dropped in +just below us on the Mulberry. He expected to lie over a few days in passing +Dodge, and I lost no time in preparing to visit his camp. While riding out that +evening, I had made up my mind to send in Dorg Seay, as he was a heady fellow, +and in drinking had an oak-tan stomach. Taking him with me, I rode down the +Mulberry and reached the lower camp just as my brother and his outfit were +returning from bedding-down the cattle. Bob readily agreed that the detective’s +plans were perfectly feasible, and offered to play a close second to Seay if it +was necessary. And if his own brother does say so, Bob Quirk never met the man +who could drink him under the table. +</p> + +<p> +My herd started early for the Saw Log, and the wagon for town. Bob had agreed +to go into Dodge in the morning, so Dorg stayed with our outfit and was to go +in with me after crossing the river. We threaded our way through the other +herds, and shortly before noon made an easy ford about a mile below old Fort +Dodge. As we came down to the river, a carriage was seen on the farther bank, +and I dropped from the point back to the drag end. Sure enough, as we trailed +out, the fiscal agent and the buyers were awaiting me. “Well, Mac, I sold your +herd last night after you left,” said Siringo, dejectedly. “It was a kind of +compromise trade; they raised the cash payment to thirty thousand dollars, and +I split the difference in price. The herd goes at $29 a head all round. So from +now on, Mac, you’re subject to these gentlemen’s orders.” +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Field, the elder of the two buyers, suggested that if a convenient camp +could be found, we should lie over a few days, when final instructions would be +given me. He made a memorandum of the number of head that I claimed in our road +brand, and asked me if we could hold up the herd for a closer inspection. The +lead cattle were then nearly a mile away, and galloping off to overtake the +point, I left the party watching the saddle horses, which were then fording in +our rear. But no sooner had I reached the lead and held up the herd, than I +noticed Siringo on the wrangler’s horse, coming up on the opposite side of the +column of cattle from the vehicle. Supposing he had something of a private +nature to communicate, I leisurely rode down the line and met him. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you send that man in this morning?” he sternly demanded. I explained that +my brother had done, properly coached, and that Seay would go in with me in the +course of an hour. +</p> + +<p> +“Give him any money you have and send him at once,” commanded the detective. +“Tolleston was due on the ten o’clock train, but it was an hour late. Those +buyers wanted me to wait for it, so he could come along, but I urged the +importance of catching you at the ford. Now, send your man Seay at once, get +Tolleston beastly drunk, and quarter him in some crib until night.” +</p> + +<p> +Unobserved by the buyers, I signaled Seay, and gave him the particulars and +what money I had. He rode back through the saddle stock, recrossed the river, +and after rounding the bend, galloped away. Siringo continued: “You see, after +we traded, they inquired if you were a safe man, saying if you didn’t know the +Yellowstone country, they had a man in sight who did. That was last night, and +it seems that this morning they got a letter from Tolleston, saying he would be +there on the next train. They’re either struck on him, or else he’s in their +employ. Mark my words.” +</p> + +<p> +When we had showed the herd to the satisfaction of the purchasers, they +expressed themselves as anxious to return to town; but the fiscal agent of the +Marshall estate wished to look over the saddle horses first. Since they were +unsold, and amounted to quite an item, he begged for just a few minutes’ time +to look them over carefully. Who could refuse such a reasonable request? The +herd had started on for the Saw Log, while the remuda had wandered down the +river about half a mile, and it took us nearly an hour to give them a thorough +inspection. Once by ourselves, the detective said, with a chuckle: “All I was +playing for was to get as large a cash payment as possible. Those mixed brands +were my excuse for the money; the Marshall estate might wait for theirs, but +the small ranchmen would insist on an immediate settlement the moment the +cattle were reported sold. If it wasn’t for this fellow Tolleston, I’d sell the +other two Buford herds the day they arrive, and then we could give The Western +Supply Company the laugh. And say, when they drew me a draft for thirty +thousand dollars on a Washington City bank, I never let the ink dry on it until +I took it around to Wright, Beverly & Co., and had them wire its +acceptance. We’ll give Seay plenty of time, and I think there’ll be an answer +on the check when we get back to town.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0008"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br/> +EN PASSANT</h2> + +<p> +It was intentionally late in the day when we reached Dodge. My horse, which I +was leading, gave considerable trouble while returning, compelling us to drive +slow. The buyers repeatedly complained that dinner would be over at their +hotel, but the detective knew of a good restaurant and promised all of us a +feast. On reaching town, we drove to the stable where the rig belonged, and +once free of the horses, Siringo led the way to a well-known night-and-day +eating-house on a back street. No sooner had we entered the place than I +remembered having my wagon in town, and the necessity of its reaching camp +before darkness made my excuse imperative. I hurried around to the outfitting +house and found the order filled and all ready to load into the wagon. But +Parent was missing, and in skirmishing about to locate him, I met my brother +Bob. Tolleston had arrived, but his presence had not been discovered until +after Seay reached town. Archie was fairly well “organized” and had visited the +hotel where the buyers were stopping, leaving word for them of his arrival. My +brother and Seay had told him that they had met, down the trail that morning, +two cattle buyers by the name of Field and Radcliff; that they were inquiring +for a herd belonging to Tom Coleman, which was believed to be somewhere between +Dodge and the Cimarron River. The two had assured Tolleston that the buyers +might not be back for a week, and suggested a few drinks in memory of old +times. As Archie was then three sheets in the wind, his effacement, in the +hands of two rounders like Dorg Seay and Bob Quirk, was an easy matter. +</p> + +<p> +Once the wagon was loaded and started for camp, I returned to the restaurant. +The dinner was in progress, and taking the vacant seat, I lifted my glass with +great regularity as toast after toast was drunk. Cigars were ordered, and with +our feet on the table, the fiscal agent said: “Gentlemen, this is a mere +luncheon and don’t count. But if I’m able to sell you my other two beef herds, +why, I’ll give you a blow-out right. We’ll make it six-handed—the three trail +foremen and ourselves—and damn the expense so long as the cattle are sold. +Champagne will flow like water, and when our teeth float, we’ll wash our feet +in what’s left.” +</p> + +<p> +At a late hour the dinner ended. We were all rather unsteady on our feet, but +the pock-marked detective and myself formed a guard of honor in escorting the +buyers to their hotel, when an officious clerk attempted to deliver Tolleston’s +message. But anticipating it, I interrupted his highness and informed him that +we had met the party; I was a thousand times obliged to him for his kindness, +and forced on him a fine cigar, which had been given me by Bob Wright of the +outfitting store. While Siringo and the buyers passed upstairs, I entertained +the office force below with an account of the sale of my herd, constantly +referring to my new employers. The fiscal agent returned shortly, bought some +cigars at the counter, asked if he could get a room for the night, in case he +was detained in town, and then we passed out of the hotel. This afforded me the +first opportunity to notify Siringo of the presence of Tolleston, and I +withheld nothing which was to his interest to know. But he was impatient to +learn if the draft had been accepted, and asking me to bring my brother to his +room within half an hour, he left me. +</p> + +<p> +It was growing late in the day. The sun had already set when I found my +brother, who was anxious to return to his camp for the night. But I urged his +seeing Siringo first, and after waiting in the latter’s room some time, he +burst in upon us with a merry chuckle. “Well, the draft was paid all right,” +said he; “and this is Bob Quirk. Boys, things are coming nicely. This fellow +Tolleston is the only cloud in the sky. If we can keep him down for a week, and +the other herds come in shortly, I see nothing to thwart our plans. Where have +you picketed Tolleston?” “Around in Dutch Jake’s crib,” replied Bob. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s good,” continued the fiscal agent, “and I’ll just drop in to-night and +see the madam. A little money will go a long way with her, and in a case like +this, the devil himself would be a welcome ally. You boys stay in town as much +as you can and keep Tolleston snowed deep, and I’ll take the buyers down the +trail in the morning and meet the herds coming up.” +</p> + +<p> +My brother returned to his camp, and Siringo and I separated for the time +being. In ’84 Dodge, the Port Said of the plains, was in the full flower of her +wickedness. Literally speaking, night was turned into day in the old trail +town, for with the falling of darkness, the streets filled with people. +Restaurants were crowded with women of the half-world, bar-rooms thronged with +the wayfaring man, while in gambling and dance halls the range men congregated +as if on special invitation. The familiar bark of the six-shooter was a matter +of almost nightly occurrence; a dispute at the gaming table, a discourteous +word spoken, or the rivalry for the smile of a wanton was provocation for the +sacrifice of human life. Here the man of the plains reverted to and gave +utterance to the savagery of his nature, or, on the other hand, was as +chivalrous as in the days of heraldry. +</p> + +<p> +I knew the town well, this being my third trip over the trail, and mingled with +the gathering throng. Near midnight, and when in the Lady Gay dance-hall, I was +accosted by Dorg Seay and the detective. They had just left Dutch Jake’s, and +reported all quiet on the Potomac. Seay had not only proved himself artful, but +a good fellow, and had unearthed the fact that Tolleston had been in the employ +of Field and Radcliff for the past three months. “You see,” said Dorg, “Archie +never knew me except the few days that I was about headquarters in Medina +before we started. He fully believes that I’ve been discharged—and with three +months’ pay in my hip-pocket. The play now is that he’s to first help me spend +my wages, and then I’m to have a job under him with beeves which he expects to +drive to the Yellowstone. He has intimated that he might be able to give me a +herd. So, Tom, if I come out there and take possession of your cattle, don’t be +surprised. There’s only one thing to beat our game—I can’t get him so full but +what he’s over-anxious to see his employers. But if you fellows furnish the +money, I’ll try and pickle him until he forgets them.” +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Siringo and the buyers started south on the trail, and I rode +for my camp on the Saw Log. Before riding many miles I sighted my outfit coming +in a long lope for town. They reported everything serene at camp, and as many +of the boys were moneyless, I turned back with them. An enjoyable day was +before us; some drank to their hearts’ content, while all gambled with more or +less success. I was anxious that the outfit should have a good carouse, and +showed the lights and shadows of the town with a pride worthy of one of its +founders. Acting the host, I paid for our dinners; and as we sauntered into the +street, puffing vile cigars, we nearly ran amuck of Dorg Seay and Archie +Tolleston, trundling a child’s wagon between them up the street. We watched +them, keeping a judicious distance, as they visited saloon after saloon, the +toy wagon always in possession of one or the other. +</p> + +<p> +While we were amusing ourselves at the antics of these two, my attention was +attracted by a four-mule wagon pulling across the bridge from the south. On +reaching the railroad tracks, I recognized the team, and also the driver, as +Quince Forrest’s. Here was news, and accordingly I accosted him. Fortunately he +was looking for me or my brother, as his foreman could not come in with the +wagon, and some one was wanted to vouch for him in getting the needed supplies. +They had reached the Mulberry the evening before, but several herds had mixed +in a run during the night, though their cattle had escaped. Forrest was +determined not to risk a second night on that stream, and had started his herd +with the dawn, expecting to camp with his cattle that night west on Duck Creek. +The herd was then somewhere between the latter and the main Arkansaw, and the +cook was anxious to secure the supplies and reach the outfit before darkness +overtook him. Sponsilier was reported as two days behind Forrest when the +latter crossed the Cimarron, since when there had been no word from his cattle. +They had met the buyers near the middle of the forenoon, and when Forrest +admitted having the widow Timberlake’s beef herd, they turned back and were +spending the day with the cattle. +</p> + +<p> +The situation demanded instant action. Taking Forrest’s cook around to our +outfitting store, I introduced and vouched for him. Hurrying back, I sent Wayne +Outcault, as he was a stranger to Tolleston, to mix with the two rascals and +send Seay to me at once. Some little time was consumed in engaging Archie in a +game of pool, but when Dorg presented himself I lost no time in explaining the +situation. He declared that it was no longer possible to interest Tolleston at +Dutch Jake’s crib during the day, and that other means of amusement must be +resorted to, as Archie was getting clamorous to find his employers. To my +suggestion to get a livery rig and take him for a ride, Dorg agreed. “Take him +down the river to Spearville,” I urged, “and try and break into the calaboose +if you can. Paint the town red while you’re about it, and if you both land in +the lock-up, all the better. If the rascal insists on coming back to Dodge, +start after night, get lost, and land somewhere farther down the river. Keep +him away from this town for a week, and I’ll gamble that you boss a herd for +old man Don next year.” +</p> + +<p> +The afternoon was waning. The buyers might return at any moment, as Forrest’s +herd had no doubt crossed the river but a few miles above town. +</p> + +<p> +I was impatiently watching the boys, as Dorg and Wayne cautiously herded +Tolleston around to a livery stable, when my brother Bob rode up. He informed +me that he had moved his camp that day across to the Saw Log; that he had done +so to accommodate Jim Flood and The Rebel with a camp; their herds were due on +the Mulberry that evening. The former had stayed all night at Bob’s wagon, and +reported his cattle, considering the dry season, in good condition. As my +brother expected to remain in town overnight, I proposed starting for my camp +as soon as Seay and his ward drove out of sight. They parleyed enough before +going to unnerve a saint, but finally, with the little toy wagon on Tolleston’s +knee and the other driving, they started. Hurrahing my lads to saddle up, we +rode past the stable where Seay had secured the conveyance; and while I was +posting the stable-keeper not to be uneasy if the rig was gone a week, Siringo +and the buyers drove past the barn with a flourish. Taking a back street, we +avoided meeting them, and just as darkness was falling, rode into our camp some +twelve miles distant. +</p> + +<p> +My brother Bob’s camp was just above us on the creek, and a few miles nearer +town. As his wagon expected to go in after supplies the next morning, a +cavalcade of fifteen men from the two outfits preceded it. My horse-wrangler +had made arrangements with the cook to look after his charges, and in +anticipation of the day before him, had our mounts corralled before sun-up. +Bob’s wrangler was also with us, and he and Levering quarreled all the way in +about the respective merits of each one’s remuda. A match was arranged between +the two horses which they were riding, and on reaching a straight piece of +road, my man won it and also considerable money. But no matter how much we +differed among ourselves, when the interests of our employer were at stake, we +were a unit. On reaching town, our numbers were augmented by fully twenty more +from the other Lovell outfits, including the three foremen. My old bunkie, The +Rebel, nearly dragged me from my horse, while Forrest and I forgot past +differences over a social glass. And then there was Flood, my first foreman, +under whom I served my apprenticeship on the trail, the same quiet, languid old +Jim. The various foremen and their outfits were aware of the impending trouble +over the Buford delivery, and quietly expressed their contempt for such +underhand dealings. Quince Forrest had spent the evening before in town, and +about midnight his herd of “Drooping T’s” were sold at about the same figures +as mine, except five thousand more earnest-money, and the privilege of the +buyers placing their own foreman in charge thereafter. Forrest further reported +that the fiscal agent and the strangers had started to meet Sponsilier early +that morning, and that the probability of all the herds moving out in a few +days was good. +</p> + +<p> +Seay and his charge were still absent, and the programme, as outlined, was +working out nicely. With the exception of Forrest and myself, the other foremen +were busy looking after their outfits, while Bob Quirk had his wagon to load +and start on its return. Quince confided to me that though he had stayed on +Duck Creek the night before, his herd would noon that day on Saw Log, and camp +that evening on the next creek north. When pressed for his reasons, he shrugged +his shoulders, and with a quiet wink, said: “If this new outfit put a man over +me, just the minute we get out of the jurisdiction of this county, off his +horse he goes and walks back. If it’s Tolleston, the moment he sees me and +recognizes my outfit as belonging to Lovell, he’ll raise the long yell and let +the cat out. When that happens, I want to be in an unorganized country where a +six-shooter is the highest authority.” The idea was a new one to me, and I saw +the advantage of it, but could not move without Siringo’s permission, which +Forrest had. Accordingly about noon, Quince summoned his men together, and they +rode out of town. Looking up a map of Ford County, I was delighted to find that +my camp on Saw Log was but a few miles below the north line. +</p> + +<p> +Among the boys the day passed in riotousness. The carousing was a necessary +stimulant after the long, monotonous drive and exposure to the elements. Near +the middle of the forenoon, Flood and The Rebel rounded up their outfits and +started south for the Mulberry, while Bob Quirk gathered his own and my lads +preparatory to leaving for the Saw Log. I had agreed to remain on guard for +that night, for with the erratic turn on Tolleston’s part, we were doubly +cautious. But when my outfit was ready to start, Runt Pickett, the feisty +little rascal, had about twenty dollars in his possession which he insisted on +gambling away before leaving town. Runt was comfortably drunk, and as Bob urged +humoring him, I gave my consent, provided he would place it all at one bet, to +which Pickett agreed. Leaving the greater part of the boys holding the horses, +some half-dozen of us entered the nearest gambling-house, and Runt bet nineteen +dollars “Alce” on the first card which fell in a monte lay-out. To my chagrin, +he won. My brother was delighted over the little rascal’s luck, and urged him +to double his bet, but Pickett refused and invited us all to have a drink. +Leaving this place, we entered the next gaming-hall, when our man again bet +nineteen dollars alce on the first card. Again he won, and we went the length +of the street, Runt wagering nineteen dollars alce on the first card for ten +consecutive times without losing a bet. In his groggy condition, the prospect +of losing Pickett’s money was hopeless, and my brother and I promised him that +he might come back the next morning and try to get rid of his winnings. +</p> + +<p> +Two whole days passed with no report from either Seay or the buyers. Meanwhile +Flood and The Rebel threaded their way through the other herds, crossing the +Arkansaw above town, their wagons touching at Dodge for new supplies, never +halting except temporarily until they reached the creek on which Forrest was +encamped. The absence of Siringo and the buyers, to my thinking, was favorable, +for no doubt when they came in, a deal would have been effected on the last of +the Buford herds. They returned some time during the night of the third day +out, and I failed to see the detective before sunrise the next morning. When I +did meet him, everything seemed so serene that I felt jubilant over the +outlook. Sponsilier’s beeves had firmly caught the fancy of the buyers, and the +delay in closing the trade was only temporary. “I can close the deal any minute +I want to,” said Siringo to me, “but we mustn’t appear too anxious. Old man +Don’s idea was to get about one hundred thousand dollars earnest-money in hand, +but if I can get five or ten more, it might help tide us all over a hard +winter. My last proposition to the buyers was that if they would advance +forty-five thousand dollars on the ‘Apple’ beeves—Sponsilier’s cattle—they +might appoint, at the seller’s expense, their own foreman from Dodge to the +point of delivery. They have agreed to give me an answer this morning, and +after sleeping over it, I look for no trouble in closing the trade.” +</p> + +<p> +The buyers were also astir early. I met Mr. Field in the post-office, where he +was waiting for it to open. To his general inquiries I reported everything +quiet, but suggested we move camp soon or the cattle would become restless. He +listened very attentively, and promised that within a few days permission would +be given to move out for our final destination. The morning were the quiet +hours of the town, and when the buyers had received and gone over their large +and accumulated mail, the partners came over to the Dodge House, looking for +the fiscal agent, as I supposed, to close the trade on Sponsilier’s cattle. +Siringo was the acme of indifference, but listened to a different tale. A +trusted man, in whom they had placed a great deal of confidence, had failed to +materialize. He was then overdue some four or five days, and foul play was +suspected. The wily detective poured oil on the troubled waters, assuring them +if their man failed to appear within a day or two, he would gladly render every +assistance in looking him up. Another matter of considerable moment would be +the arrival that morning of a silent partner, the financial man of the firm +from Washington, D.C. He was due to arrive on the “Cannon Ball” at eight +o’clock, and we all sauntered down to meet the train from the East. On its +arrival, Siringo and I stood back among the crowd, but the buyers pushed +forward, looking for their friend. The first man to alight from the day coach, +coatless and with both eyes blackened, was Archie Tolleston; he almost fell +into the arms of our cattle buyers. I recognized Archie at a glance, and +dragging the detective inside the waiting-room, posted him as to the arrival +with the wild look and blood-shot optics. Siringo cautioned me to go to his +room and stay there, promising to report as the day advanced. +</p> + +<p> +Sponsilier had camped the night before on the main river, and as I crossed to +the hotel, his commissary pulled up in front of Wright, Beverly & Co.’s +outfitting store. Taking the chances of being seen, I interviewed Dave’s cook, +and learned that his foreman had given him an order for the supplies, and that +Sponsilier would not come in until after the herd had passed the Saw Log. As I +turned away, my attention was attracted by the deference being shown the +financial man of the cattle firm, as the party wended their way around to the +Wright House. The silent member of the firm was a portly fellow, and there was +no one in the group but did him honor, even the detective carrying a light +grip, while Tolleston lumbered along with a heavy one. +</p> + +<p> +My effacement was only temporary, as Siringo appeared at his room shortly +afterward. “Well, Quirk,” said he, with a smile, “I reckon my work is all done. +Field and Radcliff didn’t feel like talking business this morning, at least +until they had shown the financial member their purchases, both real and +prospective. Yes, they took the fat Colonel and Tolleston with them and started +for your camp with a two-seated rig. From yours they expect to drive to +Forrest’s camp, and then meet Sponsilier on the way coming back. No; I declined +a very pressing invitation to go along—you see my mixed herds might come in any +minute. And say, that man Tolleston was there in a hundred places with the big +conversation; he claims to have been kidnapped, and was locked up for the last +four days. He says he whipped your man Seay, but couldn’t convince the +authorities of his innocence until last night, when they set him free. +According to his report, Seay’s in jail yet at a little town down the road +called Kinsley. Now, I’m going to take a conveyance to Spearville, and catch +the first train out of there East. Settle my bill with this hotel, and say that +I may be out of town for a few days, meeting a herd which I’m expecting. When +Tolleston recognizes all three of those outfits as belonging to Don +Lovell—well, won’t there be hell to pay? Yes, my work is all done.” +</p> + +<p> +I fully agreed with the detective that Archie would recognize the remudas and +outfits as Lovell’s, even though the cattle were road-branded out of the usual +“Circle Dot.” Siringo further informed me that north of Ford County was all an +unorganized country until the Platte River was reached at Ogalalla, and advised +me to ignore any legal process served outside those bounds. He was impatient to +get away, and when he had put me in possession of everything to our advantage, +we wrung each other’s hands in farewell. As the drive outlined by the cattle +buyers would absorb the day, I felt no necessity of being in a hurry. The +absence of Dorg Seay was annoying, and the fellow had done us such valiant +service, I felt in honor bound to secure his release. Accordingly I wired the +city marshal at Kinsley, and received a reply that Seay had been released early +that morning, and had started overland for Dodge. This was fortunate, and after +settling all bills, I offered to pay the liveryman in advance for the rig in +Seay’s possession, assuring him by the telegram that it would return that +evening. He refused to make any settlement until the condition of both the +animal and the conveyance had been passed upon, and fearful lest Dorg should +come back moneyless, I had nothing to do but await his return. I was growing +impatient to reach camp, there being no opportunity to send word to my outfit, +and the passing hours seemed days, when late in the afternoon Dorg Seay drove +down the main street of Dodge as big as a government beef buyer. The liveryman +was pleased and accepted the regular rate, and Dorg and I were soon galloping +out of town. As we neared the first divide, we dropped our horses into a walk +to afford them a breathing spell, and in reply to my fund of information, Seay +said: +</p> + +<p> +“So Tolleston’s telling that he licked me. Well, that’s a good one on this one +of old man Seay’s boys. Archie must have been crazy with the heat. The fact is +that he had been trying to quit me for several days. We had exhausted every +line of dissipation, and when I decided that it was no longer possible to hold +him, I insulted and provoked him into a quarrel, and we were both arrested. +Licked me, did he? He couldn’t lick his upper lip.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0009"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br/> +AT SHERIFF’S CREEK</h2> + +<p> +The sun had nearly set when we galloped into Bob Quirk’s camp. Halting only +long enough to advise my brother of the escape of Tolleston and his joining the +common enemy, I asked him to throw any pursuit off our trail, as I proposed +breaking camp that evening. Seay and myself put behind us the few miles between +the two wagons, and dashed up to mine just as the outfit were corralling the +remuda for night-horses. Orders rang out, and instead of catching our regular +guard mounts, the boys picked the best horses in their strings. The cattle were +then nearly a mile north of camp, coming in slowly towards the bed-ground, but +a half-dozen of us rushed away to relieve the men on herd and turn the beeves +back. The work-mules were harnessed in, and as soon as the relieved herders +secured mounts, our camp of the past few days was abandoned. The twilight of +evening was upon us, and to the rattling of the heavily loaded wagon and the +shouting of the wrangler in our rear were added the old herd songs. The cattle, +without trail or trace to follow, and fit ransom for a dozen kings in pagan +ages, moved north as if imbued with the spirit of the occasion. +</p> + +<p> +A fair moon favored us. The night was an ideal one for work, and about twelve +o’clock we bedded down the herd and waited for dawn. As we expected to move +again with the first sign of day, no one cared to sleep; our nerves were under +a high tension with expectation of what the coming day might bring forth. Our +location was an unknown quantity. All agreed that we were fully ten miles north +of the Saw Log, and, with the best reasoning at my command, outside the +jurisdiction of Ford County. The regular trail leading north was some six or +eight miles to the west, and fearful that we had not reached unorganized +territory, I was determined to push farther on our course before veering to the +left. The night halt, however, afforded us an opportunity to compare notes and +arrive at some definite understanding as to the programme of the forthcoming +day. “Quirk, you missed the sight of your life,” said Jake Blair, as we +dismounted around the wagon, after bedding the cattle, “by not being there when +the discovery was made that these ‘Open A’s’ were Don Lovell’s cattle. +Tolleston, of course, made the discovery; but I think he must have smelt the +rat in advance. Archie and the buyers arrived for a late dinner, and several +times Tolleston ran his eye over one of the boys and asked, ‘Haven’t I met you +somewhere?’ but none of them could recall the meeting. Then he got to nosing +around the wagon and noticing every horse about camp. The road-brand on the +cattle threw him off the scent just for a second, but when he began reading the +ranch-brands, he took a new hold. As he looked over the remuda, the scent +seemed to get stronger, and when he noticed the ‘Circle Dot’ on those +work-mules, he opened up and bayed as if he had treed something. And sure +enough he had; for you know, Tom, those calico lead mules belonged in his team +last year, and he swore he’d know them in hell, brand or no brand. When Archie +announced the outfit, lock, stock, and barrel, as belonging to Don Lovell, the +old buyers turned pale as ghosts, and the fat one took off his hat and fanned +himself. That act alone was worth the price of admission. But when we boys were +appealed to, we were innocent and likewise ignorant, claiming that we always +understood that the herd belonged to the Marshall estate, but then we were just +common hands and not supposed to know the facts in the case. Tolleston argued +one way, and we all pulled the other, so they drove away, looking as if they +hoped it wasn’t true. But it was the sight of your life to see that fat fellow +fan himself as he kept repeating, ‘I thought you boys hurried too much in +buying these cattle.’” +</p> + +<p> +The guards changed hourly. No fire was allowed, but Parent set out all the cold +food available, and supplementing this with canned goods, we had a midnight +lunch. Dorg Seay regaled the outfit with his recent experience, concealing +nothing, and regretfully admitting that his charge had escaped before the work +was finished. A programme was outlined for the morrow, the main feature of +which was that, in case of pursuit, we would all tell the same story. Dawn came +between three and four on those June mornings, and with the first streak of +gray in the east we divided the outfit and mounted our horses, part riding to +push the cattle off their beds and the others to round in the remuda. Before +the herd had grazed out a half-mile, we were overtaken by half the outfit on +fresh mounts, who at once took charge of the herd. When the relieved men had +secured horses, I remained behind and assisted in harnessing in the team and +gathering the saddle stock, a number of which were missed for lack of proper +light. With the wagon once started, Levering and myself soon had the full +remuda in hand and were bringing up the rear in a long, swinging trot. Before +the sun peeped over the eastern horizon, we passed the herd and overtook the +wagon, which was bumping along over the uneven prairie. Ordering the cook to +have breakfast awaiting us beyond a divide which crossed our front, I turned +back to the herd, now strung out in regular trailing form. The halt ahead would +put us full fifteen miles north of our camp on the Saw Log. An hour later, as +we were scaling the divide, one of the point-men sighted a posse in our rear, +coming after us like fiends. I was riding in the swing at the time, the herd +being strung out fully a mile, and on catching first sight of the pursuers, +turned and hurried to the rear. To my agreeable surprise, instead of a +sheriff’s posse, my brother and five of his men galloped up and overtook us. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Tom, it’s a good thing you moved last night,” said Bob, as he reined in +his reeking horse. “A deputy sheriff and posse of six men had me under arrest +all night, thinking I was the Quirk who had charge of Don Lovell’s ‘Open A’ +herd. Yes, they came to my camp about midnight, and I admitted that my name was +Quirk and that we were holding Lovell’s cattle. They guarded me until +morning,—I slept like an innocent babe myself,—when the discovery was made that +my herd was in a ‘Circle Dot’ road-brand instead of an ‘Open A,’ which their +warrant called for. Besides, I proved by fourteen competent witnesses, who had +known me for years, that my name was Robert Burns Quirk. My outfit told the +posse that the herd they were looking for were camped three miles below, but +had left during the afternoon before, and no doubt were then beyond their +bailiwick. I gave the posse the horse-laugh, but they all went down the creek, +swearing they would trail down that herd of Lovell’s. My cattle are going to +follow up this morning, so I thought I’d ride on ahead and be your guest in +case there is any fun to-day.” +</p> + +<p> +The auxiliary was welcomed. The beeves moved on up the divide like veterans +assaulting an intrenchment. On reaching a narrow mesa on the summit, a +northwest breeze met the leaders, and facing it full in the eye, the herd was +allowed to tack westward as they went down the farther slope. This watershed +afforded a fine view of the surrounding country, and from its apex I scanned +our rear for miles without detecting any sign of animate life. From our +elevation, the plain dipped away in every direction. Far to the east, the +depression seemed as real as a trough in the ocean when seen from the deck of a +ship. The meanderings of this divide were as crooked as a river, and as we +surveyed its course one of Bob’s men sighted with the naked eye two specks +fully five miles distant to the northwest, and evidently in the vicinity of the +old trail. The wagon was in plain view, and leaving three of my boys to drift +the cattle forward, we rode away with ravenous appetites to interview the cook. +Parent maintained his reputation as host, and with a lofty conversation +reviewed the legal aspect of the situation confronting us. A hasty breakfast +over, my brother asked for mounts for himself and men; and as we were +corralling our remuda, one of the three lads on herd signaled to us from the +mesa’s summit. Catching the nearest horses at hand, and taking our wrangler +with us, we cantered up the slope to our waiting sentinel. +</p> + +<p> +“You can’t see them now,” said Burl Van Vedder, our outlook; “but wait a few +minutes and they’ll come up on higher ground. Here, here, you are looking a +mile too far to the right—they’re not following the cattle, but the wagon’s +trail. Keep your eyes to the left of that shale outcropping, and on a line with +that lone tree on the Saw Log. Hold your horses a minute; I’ve been watching +them for half an hour before I called you; be patient, and they’ll rise like a +trout. There! there comes one on a gray horse. See those two others just behind +him. Now, there come the others—six all told.” Sure enough, there came the +sleuths of deputy sheriffs, trailing up our wagon. They were not over three +miles away, and after patiently waiting nearly an hour, we rode to the brink of +the slope, and I ordered one of the boys to fire his pistol to attract their +attention. On hearing the report, they halted, and taking off my hat I waved +them forward. Feeling that we were on safe territory, I was determined to get +in the first bluff, and as they rode up, I saluted the leader and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Good-morning, Mr. Sheriff. What are you fooling along on our wagon track for, +when you could have trailed the herd in a long lope? Here we’ve wasted a whole +hour waiting for you to come up, just because the sheriff’s office of Ford +County employs as deputies ‘nesters’ instead of plainsmen. But now since you +are here, let us proceed to business, or would you like to breakfast first? Our +wagon is just over the other slope, and you-all look pale around the gills this +morning after your long ride and sleepless night. Which shall it be, business +or breakfast?” +</p> + +<p> +Haughtily ignoring my irony, the leader of the posse drew from his pocket +several papers, and first clearing his throat, said in an imperious tone, “I +have a warrant here for the arrest of Tom Quirk, alias McIndoo, and a distress +warrant for a herd of ‘Open A’—” +</p> + +<p> +“Old sport, you’re in the right church, but the wrong pew,” I interrupted. +“This may be the state of Kansas, but at present we are outside the bailiwick +of Ford County, and those papers of yours are useless. Let me take those +warrants and I’ll indorse them for you, so as to dazzle your superiors on their +return without the man or property. I was deputized once by a constable in +Texas to assist in recovering some cattle, but just like the present case they +got out of our jurisdiction before we overtook them. The constable was a lofty, +arrogant fellow like yourself, but had sense enough to keep within his rights. +But when it came to indorsing the warrant for return, we were all up a stump, +and rode twenty miles out of our way so as to pass Squire Little’s ranch and +get his advice on the matter. The squire had been a justice in Tennessee before +coming to our state, and knew just what to say. Now let me take those papers, +and I’ll indorse them ‘Non est inventus,’ which is Latin for SCOOTED, BY GOSH! +Ain’t you going to let me have them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, look here, young man,” scornfully replied the chief deputy, “I’ll—” +</p> + +<p> +“No, you won’t,” I again interrupted. “Let me read you a warrant from a higher +court. In the name of law, you are willing to prostitute your office to assist +a gang of thieves who have taken advantage of an opportunity to ruin my +employer, an honest trail drover. The warrant I’m serving was issued by Judge +Colt, and it says he is supreme in unorganized territory; that your official +authority ceases the moment you step outside your jurisdiction, and you know +the Ford County line is behind us. Now, as a citizen, I’ll treat you right, but +as an official, I won’t even listen to you. And what’s more, you can’t arrest +me or any man in my outfit; not that your hair’s the wrong color, but because +you lack authority. I’m the man you’re looking for, and these are Don Lovell’s +cattle, but you can’t touch a hoof of them, not even a stray. Now, if you want +to dispute the authority which I’ve sighted, all you need to do is pull your +guns and open your game.” +</p> + +<p> +“Mr. Quirk,” said the deputy, “you are a fugitive from justice, and I can +legally take you wherever I find you. If you resist arrest, all the worse, as +it classes you an outlaw. Now, my advice is—” +</p> + +<p> +But the sentence was never finished, for coming down the divide like a +hurricane was a band of horsemen, who, on sighting us, raised the long yell, +and the next minute Dave Sponsilier and seven of his men dashed up. The boys +opened out to avoid the momentum of the onslaught, but the deputies sat firm; +and as Sponsilier and his lads threw their horses back on their haunches in +halting, Dave stood in his stirrups, and waving his hat shouted, “Hurrah for +Don Lovell, and to hell with the sheriff and deputies of Ford County!” +Sponsilier and I were great friends, as were likewise our outfits, and we +nearly unhorsed each other in our rough but hearty greetings. When quiet was +once more restored, Dave continued: “I was in Dodge last night, and Bob Wright +put me next that the sheriff was going to take possession of two of old man +Don’s herds this morning. You can bet your moccasins that the grass didn’t grow +very much while I was getting back to camp. Flood and The Rebel took fifteen +men and went to Quince’s support, and I have been scouting since dawn trying to +locate you. Yes, the sheriff himself and five deputies passed up the trail +before daybreak to arrest Forrest and take possession of his herd—I don’t +think. I suppose these strangers are deputy sheriffs? If it was me, do you know +what I’d do with them?” +</p> + +<p> +The query was half a command. It required no order, for in an instant the +deputies were surrounded, and had it not been for the cool judgment of Bob +Quirk, violence would have resulted. The primitive mind is slow to resent an +affront, and while the chief deputy had couched his last remarks in well-chosen +language, his intimation that I was a fugitive from justice, and an outlaw in +resisting arrest, was tinder to stubble. Knowing the metal of my outfit, I +curbed the tempest within me, and relying on a brother whom I would gladly +follow to death if need be, I waved hands off to my boys. “Now, men,” said Bob +to the deputies, “the easiest way out of this matter is the best. No one here +has committed any crime subjecting him to arrest, neither can you take +possession of any cattle belonging to Don Lovell. I’ll renew the invitation for +you to go down to the wagon and breakfast, or I’ll give you the best directions +at my command to reach Dodge. Instead of trying to attempt to accomplish your +object you had better go back to the chaparral—you’re spelled down. Take your +choice, men.” +</p> + +<p> +Bob’s words had a soothing effect. He was thirty-three years old and a natural +born leader among rough men. His advice carried the steely ring of sincerity, +and for the first time since the meeting, the deputies wilted. The chief one +called his men aside, and after a brief consultation my brother was invited to +join them, which he did. I afterwards learned that Bob went into detail in +defining our position in the premises, and the posse, once they heard the other +side of the question, took an entirely different view of the matter. While the +consultation was in progress, we all dismounted; cigarettes were rolled, and +while the smoke arose in clouds, we reviewed the interim since we parted in +March in old Medina. The sheriff’s posse accompanied my brother to the wagon, +and after refreshing themselves, remounted their horses. Bob escorted them back +across the summit of the mesa, and the olive branch waved in peace on the +divide. +</p> + +<p> +The morning was not far advanced. After a brief consultation, the two older +foremen urged that we ride to the relief of Forrest. A hint was sufficient, and +including five of my best-mounted men, a posse of twenty of us rode away. We +held the divide for some distance on our course, and before we left it, a +dust-cloud, indicating the presence of Bob’s herd, was sighted on the southern +slope, while on the opposite one my cattle were beginning to move forward. +Sponsilier knew the probable whereabouts of Forrest, and under his lead we +swung into a free gallop as we dropped down the northern slope from the mesa. +The pace was carrying us across country at a rate of ten miles an hour, +scarcely a word being spoken, as we shook out kink after kink in our horses or +reined them in to recover their wind. Our objective point was a slight +elevation on the plain, from which we expected to sight the trail if not the +herds of Flood, Forrest, and The Rebel. On reaching this gentle swell, we +reined in and halted our horses, which were then fuming with healthy sweat. +Both creek and trail were clearly outlined before us, but with the heat-waves +and mirages beyond, our view was naturally restricted. Sponsilier felt +confident that Forrest was north of the creek and beyond the trail, and again +shaking out our horses, we silently put the intervening miles behind us. Our +mounts were all fresh and strong, and in crossing the creek we allowed them a +few swallows of water before continuing our ride. We halted again in crossing +the trail, but it was so worn by recent use that it afforded no clue to guide +us in our quest. But from the next vantage-point which afforded us a view, a +sea of cattle greeted our vision, all of which seemed under herd. Wagon sheets +were next sighted, and finally a horseman loomed up and signaled to us. He +proved to be one of Flood’s men, and under his direction Forrest’s camp and +cattle were soon located. The lad assured us that a pow-wow had been in session +since daybreak, and we hurried away to add our numbers to its council. When we +sighted Forrest’s wagon among some cottonwoods, a number of men were just +mounting to ride away, and before we reached camp, they crossed the creek +heading south. A moment later, Forrest walked out, and greeting us, said: +</p> + +<p> +“Hello, fellows. Get down and let your horses blow and enjoy yourselves. You’re +just a minute late to meet some very nice people. Yes, we had the sheriff from +Dodge and a posse of men for breakfast. No—no particular trouble, except John +Johns, the d—fool, threw the loop of his rope over the neck of the sheriff’s +horse, and one of the party offered to unsling a carbine. But about a dozen +six-shooters clicked within hearing, and he acted on my advice and cut +gun-plays out. No trouble at all except a big medicine talk, and a heap of +legal phrases that I don’t sabe very clear. Turn your horses loose, I tell you, +for I’m going to kill a nice fat stray, and towards evening, when the other +herds come up, we’ll have a round-up of Don Lovell’s outfits. I’ll make a +little speech, and on account of the bloodless battle this morning, this stream +will be rechristened Sheriff’s Creek.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0010"></a>CHAPTER X.<br/> +A FAMILY REUNION</h2> + +<p> +The hospitality of a trail wagon was aptly expressed in the invitation to enjoy +ourselves. Some one had exercised good judgment in selecting a camp, for every +convenience was at hand, including running water and ample shade from a clump +of cottonwoods. Turning our steaming horses free, we threw ourselves, in +complete abandonment and relaxation, down in the nearest shade. Unmistakable +hints were given our host of certain refreshments which would be acceptable, +and in reply Forrest pointed to a bucket of creek water near the wagon wheel, +and urged us not to be at all backward. +</p> + +<p> +Every one was well fortified with brown cigarette papers and smoking tobacco, +and singly and in groups we were soon smoking like hired hands and reviewing +the incidents of the morning. Forrest’s cook, a tall, red-headed fellow, in +anticipation of the number of guests his wagon would entertain for the day, put +on the little and the big pot. As it only lacked an hour of noon on our +arrival, the promised fresh beef would not be available in time for dinner; but +we were not like guests who had to hurry home—we would be right there when +supper was ready. +</p> + +<p> +The loss of a night’s sleep on my outfit was a good excuse for an after-dinner +siesta. Untying our slickers, we strolled out of hearing of the camp, and for +several hours obliterated time. About three o’clock Bob Quirk aroused and +informed us that he had ordered our horses, and that the signal of Sponsilier’s +cattle had been seen south on the trail. Dave was impatient to intercept his +herd and camp them well down the creek, at least below the regular crossing. +This would throw Bob’s and my cattle still farther down the stream; and we were +all determined to honor Forrest with our presence for supper and the evening +hours. Quince’s wrangler rustled in the horses, and as we rejoined the camp the +quarters of a beef hung low on a cottonwood, while a smudge beneath them warned +away all insect life. Leaving word that we would return during the evening, the +eleventh-hour guests rode away in the rough, uneven order in which we had +arrived. Sponsilier and his men veered off to the south, Bob Quirk and his lads +soon following, while the rest of us continued on down the creek. My cattle +were watering when we overtook them, occupying fully a mile of the stream, and +nearly an hour’s ride below the trail crossing. It takes a long time to water a +big herd thoroughly, and we repeatedly turned them back and forth across the +creek, but finally allowed them to graze away with a broad, fan-like front. As +ours left the stream, Bob’s cattle were coming in over a mile above, and in +anticipation of a dry camp that night, Parent had been advised to fill his kegs +and supply himself with wood. +</p> + +<p> +Detailing the third and fourth guard to wrangle the remuda, I sent Levering up +the creek with my brother’s horses and to recover our loaned saddle stock; even +Bob Quirk was just thoughtless enough to construe a neighborly act into a horse +trade. About two miles out from the creek and an equal distance from the trail, +I found the best bed-ground of the trip. It sloped to the northwest, was +covered with old dry grass, and would catch any vagrant breeze except an +eastern one. The wagon was ordered into camp, and the first and second guards +were relieved just long enough to secure their night-horses. Nearly all of +these two watches had been with me during the day, and on the return of +Levering with the horses, we borrowed a number of empty flour-sacks for beef, +and cantered away, leaving behind only the cook and the first two guards. +</p> + +<p> +What an evening and night that was! As we passed up the creek, we sighted in +the gathering twilight the camp-fires of Sponsilier and my brother, several +miles apart and south of the stream. When we reached Forrest’s wagon the clans +were gathering, The Rebel and his crowd being the last to come in from above. +Groups of saddle horses were tied among the trees, while around two fires were +circles of men broiling beef over live coals. The red-headed cook had +anticipated forty guests outside of his own outfit, and was pouring coffee into +tin cups and shying biscuit right and left on request. The supper was a +success, not on account of the spread or our superior table manners, but we +graced the occasion with appetites which required the staples of life to +satisfy. Then we smoked, falling into groups when the yarning began. All the +fresh-beef stories of our lives, and they were legion, were told, no one group +paying any attention to another. +</p> + +<p> +“Every time I run a-foul of fresh beef,” said The Rebel, as he settled back +comfortably between the roots of a cottonwood, with his back to its trunk, “it +reminds me of the time I was a prisoner among the Yankees. It was the last year +of the war, and I had got over my first desire to personally whip the whole +North. There were about five thousand of us held as prisoners of war for eleven +months on a peninsula in the Chesapeake Bay. The fighting spirit of the soldier +was broken in the majority of us, especially among the older men and those who +had families. But we youngsters accepted the fortunes of war and were glad that +we were alive, even if we were prisoners. In my mess in prison there were +fifteen, all having been captured at the same time, and many of us comrades of +three years’ standing. +</p> + +<p> +“I remember the day we were taken off the train and marched through the town +for the prison, a Yankee band in our front playing national airs and favorites +of their army, and the people along the route jeering us and asking how we +liked the music. Our mess held together during the march, and some of the boys +answered them back as well as they could. Once inside the prison stockade, we +went into quarters and our mess still held together. Before we had been there +long, one day there was a call among the prisoners for volunteers to form a +roustabout crew. Well, I enlisted as a roustabout. We had to report to an +officer twice a day, and then were put under guard and set to work. The kind of +labor I liked best was unloading the supplies for the prison, which were landed +on a near-by wharf. This roustabout crew had all the unloading to do, and the +reason I liked it was it gave us some chance to steal. Whenever there was +anything extra, intended for the officers, to be unloaded, look out for +accidents. Broken crates were common, and some of the contents was certain to +reach our pockets or stomachs, in spite of the guard. +</p> + +<p> +“I was a willing worker and stood well with the guards. They never searched me, +and when they took us outside the stockade, the captain of the guard gave me +permission, after our work was over, to patronize the sutler’s store and buy +knick-knacks from the booths. There was always some little money amongst +soldiers, even in prison, and I was occasionally furnished money by my +messmates to buy bread from a baker’s wagon which was outside the walls. Well, +after I had traded a few times with the baker’s boy, I succeeded in corrupting +him. Yes, had him stealing from his employer and selling to me at a discount. I +was a good customer, and being a prisoner, there was no danger of my meeting +his employer. You see the loaves were counted out to him, and he had to return +the equivalent or the bread. At first the bread cost me ten cents for a small +loaf, but when I got my scheme working, it didn’t cost me five cents for the +largest loaves the boy could steal from the bakery. I worked that racket for +several months, and if we hadn’t been exchanged, I’d have broke that baker, +sure. +</p> + +<p> +“But the most successful scheme I worked was stealing the kidneys out of beef +while we were handling it. It was some distance from the wharf to the +warehouse, and when I’d get a hind quarter of beef on my shoulder, it was an +easy trick to burrow my hand through the tallow and get a good grip on the +kidney. Then when I’d throw the quarter down in the warehouse, it would be +minus a kidney, which secretly found lodgment in a large pocket in the inside +of my shirt. I was satisfied with one or two kidneys a day when I first worked +the trick, but my mess caught on, and then I had to steal by wholesale to +satisfy them. Some days, when the guards were too watchful, I couldn’t get very +many, and then again when things were lax, ‘Elijah’s Raven’ would get a kidney +for each man in our mess. With the regular allowance of rations and what I +could steal, when the Texas troops were exchanged, our mess was ragged enough, +but pig-fat, and slick as weasels. Lord love you, but we were a great mess of +thieves.” +</p> + +<p> +Nearly all of Flood’s old men were with him again, several of whom were then in +Forrest’s camp. A fight occurred among a group of saddle horses tied to the +front wheel of the wagon, among them being the mount of John Officer. After the +belligerents had been quieted, and Officer had removed and tied his horse to a +convenient tree, he came over and joined our group, among which were the six +trail bosses. Throwing himself down among us, and using Sponsilier for a pillow +and myself for footstool, he observed: +</p> + +<p> +“All you foremen who have been over the Chisholm Trail remember the stage-stand +called Bull Foot, but possibly some of the boys haven’t. Well, no matter, it’s +just about midway between Little Turkey Creek and Buffalo Springs on that +trail, where it runs through the Cherokee Strip. I worked one year in that +northern country—lots of Texas boys there too. It was just about the time they +began to stock that country with Texas steers, and we rode lines to keep our +cattle on their range. You bet, there was riding to do in that country then. +The first few months that these Southern steers are turned loose on a new +range, Lord! but they do love to drift against a breeze. In any kind of a +rain-storm, they’ll travel farther in a night than a whole outfit can turn them +back in a day. +</p> + +<p> +“Our camp was on the Salt Fork of the Cimarron, and late in the fall when all +the beeves had been shipped, the outfit were riding lines and loose-herding a +lot of Texas yearlings, and mixed cattle, natives to that range. Up in that +country they have Indian summer and Squaw winter, both occurring in the fall. +They have lots of funny weather up there. Well, late one evening that fall +there came an early squall of Squaw winter, sleeted and spit snow wickedly. The +next morning there wasn’t a hoof in sight, and shortly after daybreak we were +riding deep in our saddles to catch the lead drift of our cattle. After a hard +day’s ride, we found that we were out several hundred head, principally +yearlings of the through Texas stock. You all know how locoed a bunch of dogies +can get—we hunted for three days and for fifty miles in every direction, and +neither hide, hair, nor hoof could we find. It was while we were hunting these +cattle that my yarn commences. +</p> + +<p> +“The big augers of the outfit lived in Wichita, Kansas. Their foreman, +Bibleback Hunt, and myself were returning from hunting this missing bunch of +yearlings when night overtook us, fully twenty-five miles from camp. Then this +Bull Foot stage came to mind, and we turned our horses and rode to it. It was +nearly dark when we reached it, and Bibleback said for me to go in and make the +talk. I’ll never forget that nice little woman who met me at the door of that +sod shack. I told her our situation, and she seemed awfully gracious in +granting us food and shelter for the night. She told us we could either picket +our horses or put them in the corral and feed them hay and grain from the +stage-company’s supply. Now, old Bibleback was what you might call shy of +women, and steered clear of the house until she sent her little boy out and +asked us to come in. Well, we sat around in the room, owly-like, and to save my +soul from the wrath to come, I couldn’t think of a word that was proper to say +to the little woman, busy getting supper. Bibleback was worse off than I was; +he couldn’t do anything but look at the pictures on the wall. What was worrying +me was, had she a husband? Or what was she doing away out there in that +lonesome country? Then a man old enough to be her grandfather put in an +appearance. He was friendly and quite talkative, and I built right up to him. +And then we had a supper that I distinctly remember yet. Well, I should say I +do—it takes a woman to get a good supper, and cheer it with her presence, +sitting at the head of the table and pouring the coffee. +</p> + +<p> +“This old man was a retired stage-driver, and was doing the wrangling act for +the stage-horses. After supper I went out to the corral and wormed the +information out of him that the woman was a widow; that her husband had died +before she came there, and that she was from Michigan. Amongst other things +that I learned from the old man was that she had only been there a few months, +and was a poor but deserving woman. I told Bibleback all this after we had gone +to bed, and we found that our finances amounted to only four dollars, which she +was more than welcome to. So the next morning after breakfast, when I asked her +what I owed her for our trouble, she replied so graciously: ‘Why, gentlemen, I +couldn’t think of taking advantage of your necessity to charge you for a favor +that I’m only too happy to grant.’ ‘Oh,’ said I, ‘take this, anyhow,’ laying +the silver on the corner of the table and starting for the door, when she +stopped me. ‘One moment, sir; I can’t think of accepting this. Be kind enough +to grant my request,’ and returned the money. We mumbled out some thanks, bade +her good-day, and started for the corral, feeling like two sheep thieves. While +we were saddling up—will you believe it?—her little boy came out to the corral +and gave each one of us as fine a cigar as ever I buttoned my lip over. Well, +fellows, we had had it put all over us by this little Michigan woman, till we +couldn’t look each other in the face. We were accustomed to hardship and +neglect, but here was genuine kindness enough to kill a cat. +</p> + +<p> +“Until we got within five miles of our camp that morning, old Bibleback +wouldn’t speak to me as we rode along. Then he turned halfway in his saddle and +said: ‘What kind of folks are those?’ ‘I don’t know,’ I replied, ‘what kind of +people they are, but I know they are good ones.’ ‘Well, I’ll get even with that +little woman if it takes every sou in my war-bags,’ said Hunt. +</p> + +<p> +“When within a mile of camp, Bibleback turned again in his saddle and asked, +‘When is Christmas?’ ‘In about five weeks,’ I answered. ‘Do you know where that +big Wyoming stray ranges?’ he next asked. I trailed onto his game in a second. +‘Of course I do.’ ‘Well,’ says he, ‘let’s kill him for Christmas and give that +little widow every ounce of the meat. It’ll be a good one on her, won’t it? +We’ll fool her a plenty. Say nothing to the others,’ he added; and giving our +horses the rein we rode into camp on a gallop. +</p> + +<p> +“Three days before Christmas we drove up this Wyoming stray and beefed him. We +hung the beef up overnight to harden in the frost, and the next morning bright +and early, we started for the stage-stand with a good pair of ponies to a light +wagon. We reached the widow’s place about eleven o’clock, and against her +protests that she had no use for so much, we hung up eight hundred pounds of as +fine beef as you ever set your peepers on. We wished her a merry Christmas, +jumped into the wagon, clucked to the ponies, and merely hit the high places +getting away. When we got well out of sight of the house—well, I’ve seen mule +colts play and kid goats cut up their antics; I’ve seen children that was +frolicsome; but for a man with gray hair on his head, old Bibleback Hunt that +day was the happiest mortal I ever saw. He talked to the horses; he sang songs; +he played Injun; and that Christmas was a merry one, for the debt was paid and +our little widow had beef to throw to the dogs. I never saw her again, but +wherever she is to-night, if my prayer counts, may God bless her!” +</p> + +<p> +Early in the evening I had warned my boys that we would start on our return at +ten o’clock. The hour was nearly at hand, and in reply to my inquiry if our +portion of the beef had been secured, Jack Splann said that he had cut off half +a loin, a side of ribs, and enough steak for breakfast. Splann and I tied the +beef to our cantle-strings, and when we returned to the group, Sponsilier was +telling of the stampede of his herd in the Panhandle about a month before. “But +that run wasn’t a circumstance to one in which I figured once, and in broad +daylight,” concluded Dave. It required no encouragement to get the story; all +we had to do was to give him time to collect his thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, it was in the summer of ’73,” he finally continued. “It was my first trip +over the trail, and I naturally fell into position at the drag end of the herd. +I was a green boy of about eighteen at the time, having never before been fifty +miles from the ranch where I was born. The herd belonged to Major Hood, and our +destination was Ellsworth, Kansas. In those days they generally worked oxen to +the chuck-wagons, as they were ready sale in the upper country, and in good +demand for breaking prairie. I reckon there must have been a dozen yoke of +work-steers in our herd that year, and they were more trouble to me than all +the balance of the cattle, for they were slothful and sinfully lazy. My +vocabulary of profanity was worn to a frazzle before we were out a week, and +those oxen didn’t pay any more attention to a rope or myself than to the +buzzing of a gnat. +</p> + +<p> +“There was one big roan ox, called Turk, which we worked to the wagon +occasionally, but in crossing the Arbuckle Mountains in the Indian Territory, +he got tender-footed. Another yoke was substituted, and in a few days Turk was +on his feet again. But he was a cunning rascal and had learned to soldier, and +while his feet were sore, I favored him with sandy trails and gave him his own +time. In fact, most of my duties were driving that one ox, while the other boys +handled the herd. When his feet got well—I had toadied and babied him so—he was +plum ruined. I begged the foreman to put him back in the chuck team, but the +cook kicked on account of his well-known laziness, so Turk and I continued to +adorn the rear of the column. I reckon the foreman thought it better to have +Turk and me late than no dinner. I tried a hundred different schemes to instill +ambition and self-respect into that ox, but he was an old dog and contented +with his evil ways. +</p> + +<p> +“Several weeks passed, and Turk and I became a standing joke with the outfit. +One morning I made the discovery that he was afraid of a slicker. For just +about a full half day, I had the best of him, and several times he was out of +sight in the main body of the herd. But he always dropped to the rear, and +finally the slicker lost its charm to move him. In fact he rather enjoyed +having me fan him with it—it seemed to cool him. It was the middle of the +afternoon, and Turk had dropped about a quarter-mile to the rear, while I was +riding along beside and throwing the slicker over him like a blanket. I was +letting him carry it, and he seemed to be enjoying himself, switching his tail +in appreciation, when the matted brush of his tail noosed itself over one of +the riveted buttons on the slicker. The next switch brought the yellow ‘fish’ +bumping on his heels, and emitting a blood-curdling bellow, he curved his tail +and started for the herd. Just for a minute it tickled me to see old Turk +getting such a wiggle on him, but the next moment my mirth turned to +seriousness, and I tried to cut him off from the other cattle, but he beat me, +bellowing bloody murder. The slicker was sailing like a kite, and the rear +cattle took fright and began bawling as if they had struck a fresh scent of +blood. The scare flashed through the herd from rear to point, and hell began +popping right then and there. The air filled with dust and the earth trembled +with the running cattle. Not knowing which way to turn, I stayed right where I +was—in the rear. As the dust lifted, I followed up, and about a mile ahead +picked up my slicker, and shortly afterward found old Turk, grazing +contentedly. With every man in the saddle, that herd ran seven miles and was +only turned by the Cimarron River. It was nearly dark when I and the roan ox +overtook the cattle. Fortunately none of the swing-men had seen the cause of +the stampede, and I attributed it to fresh blood, which the outfit believed. My +verdant innocence saved my scalp that time, but years afterward I nearly lost +it when I admitted to my old foreman what had caused the stampede that +afternoon. But I was a trail boss then and had learned my lesson.” +</p> + +<p> +The Rebel, who was encamped several miles up the creek, summoned his men, and +we all arose and scattered after our horses. There was quite a cavalcade going +our way, and as we halted within the light of the fires for the different +outfits to gather, Flood rode up, and calling Forrest, said: “In the absence of +any word from old man Don, we might as well all pull out in the morning. More +than likely we’ll hear from him at Grinnell, and until we reach the railroad, +the Buford herds had better take the lead. I’ll drag along in the rear, and if +there’s another move made from Dodge, you will have warning. Now, that’s about +all, except to give your cattle plenty of time; don’t hurry. S’long, fellows.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0011"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br/> +ALL IN THE DAY’S WORK</h2> + +<p> +The next morning the herds moved out like brigades of an army on dress-parade. +Our front covered some six or seven miles, the Buford cattle in the lead, while +those intended for Indian delivery naturally fell into position on flank and +rear. My beeves had enjoyed a splendid rest during the past week, and now +easily took the lead in a steady walk, every herd avoiding the trail until +necessity compelled us to reenter it. The old pathway was dusty and merely +pointed the way, and until rain fell to settle it, our intention was to give it +a wide berth. As the morning wore on and the herds drew farther and farther +apart, except for the dim dust-clouds of ten thousand trampling feet on a raw +prairie, it would have been difficult for us to establish each other’s +location. Several times during the forenoon, when a swell of the plain afforded +us a temporary westward view, we caught glimpses of Forrest’s cattle as they +snailed forward, fully five miles distant and barely noticeable under the low +sky-line. The Indian herds had given us a good start in the morning, and +towards evening as the mirages lifted, not a dust-signal was in sight, save one +far in our lead. +</p> + +<p> +The month of June, so far, had been exceedingly droughty. The scarcity of water +on the plains between Dodge and Ogalalla was the dread of every trail drover. +The grass, on the other hand, had matured from the first rank growth of early +spring into a forage, rich in sustenance, from which our beeves took on flesh +and rounded into beauties. Lack of water being the one drawback, long drives, +not in miles but hours, became the order of the day; from four in the morning +to eight at night, even at an ox’s pace, leaves every landmark of the day far +in the rear at nightfall. Thus for the next few days we moved forward, the +monotony of existence broken only by the great variety of mirage, the glare of +heat-waves, and the silent signal in the sky of other voyageurs like ourselves. +On reaching Pig Boggy, nothing but pools greeted us, while the regular crossing +was dry and dusty and paved with cattle bones. My curiosity was strong enough +to cause me to revisit the old bridge which I had helped to build two seasons +before; though unused, it was still intact, a credit to the crude engineering +of Pete Slaughter. After leaving the valley of the Solomon, the next running +water was Pawnee Fork, where we overtook and passed six thousand yearling +heifers in two herds, sold the winter before by John Blocker for delivery in +Montana. The Northwest had not yet learned that Texas was the natural +breeding-ground for cattle, yet under favorable conditions in both sections, +the ranchman of the South could raise one third more calves from an equal +number of cows. +</p> + +<p> +The weather continued hot and sultry. Several times storms hung on our left for +hours which we hoped would reach us, and at night the lightning flickered in +sheets, yet with the exception of cooling the air, availed us nothing. But as +we encamped one night on the divide before reaching the Smoky River, a storm +struck us that sent terror to our hearts. There were men in my outfit, and +others in Lovell’s employ, who were from ten to twenty years my senior, having +spent almost their lifetime in the open, who had never before witnessed such a +night. The atmosphere seemed to be overcharged with electricity, which played +its pranks among us, neither man nor beast being exempt. The storm struck the +divide about two hours after the cattle had been bedded, and from then until +dawn every man was in the saddle, the herd drifting fully three miles during +the night. Such keen flashes of lightning accompanied by instant thunder I had +never before witnessed, though the rainfall, after the first dash, was light in +quantity. Several times the rain ceased entirely, when the phosphorus, like a +prairie fire, appeared on every hand. Great sheets of it flickered about, the +cattle and saddle stock were soon covered, while every bit of metal on our +accoutrements was coated and twinkling with phosphorescent light. My gauntlets +were covered, and wherever I touched myself, it seemed to smear and spread and +refuse to wipe out. Several times we were able to hold up and quiet the cattle, +but along their backs flickered the ghostly light, while across the herd, which +occupied acres, it reminded one of the burning lake in the regions infernal. As +the night wore on, several showers fell, accompanied by almost incessant bolts +of lightning, but the rainfall only added moisture to the ground and this acted +like fuel in reviving the phosphor. Several hours before dawn, great sheets of +the fiery elements chased each other across the northern sky, lighting up our +surroundings until one could have read ordinary print. The cattle stood humped +or took an occasional step forward, the men sat their horses, sullen and +morose, forming new resolutions for the future, in which trail work was not +included. But morning came at last, cool and cloudy, a slight recompense for +the heat which we had endured since leaving Dodge. +</p> + +<p> +With the breaking of day, the herd was turned back on its course. For an hour +or more the cattle grazed freely, and as the sun broke through the clouds, they +dropped down like tired infantry on a march, and we allowed them an hour’s +rest. We were still some three or four miles eastward of the trail, and after +breakfasting and changing mounts we roused the cattle and started on an angle +for the trail, expecting to intercept it before noon. There was some settlement +in the Smoky River Valley which must be avoided, as in years past serious +enmity had been engendered between settlers and drovers in consequence of the +ravages of Texas fever among native cattle. I was riding on the left point, and +when within a short distance of the trail, one of the boys called my attention +to a loose herd of cattle, drifting south and fully two miles to the west of +us. It was certainly something unusual, and as every man of us scanned them, a +lone horseman was seen to ride across their front, and, turning them, continue +on for our herd. The situation was bewildering, as the natural course of every +herd was northward, but here was one apparently abandoned like a water-logged +ship at sea. +</p> + +<p> +The messenger was a picture of despair. He proved to be the owner of the +abandoned cattle, and had come to us with an appeal for help. According to his +story, he was a Northern cowman and had purchased the cattle a few days before +in Dodge. He had bought the outfit complete, with the understanding that the +through help would continue in his service until his range in Wyoming was +reached. But it was a Mexican outfit, foreman and all, and during the storm of +the night before, one of the men had been killed by lightning. The accident +must have occurred near dawn, as the man was not missed until daybreak, and +like ours, his cattle had drifted with the storm. Some time was lost in finding +the body, and to add to the panic that had already stricken the outfit, the +shirt of the unfortunate vaquero was burnt from the corpse. The horse had +escaped scathless, though his rider met death, while the housings were stripped +from the saddle so that it fell from the animal. The Mexican foreman and +vaqueros had thrown their hands in the air; steeped in superstition, they +considered the loss of their comrade a bad omen, and refused to go farther. The +herd was as good as abandoned unless we could lend a hand. +</p> + +<p> +The appeal was not in vain. Detailing four of my men, and leaving Jack Splann +as segundo in charge of our cattle, I galloped away with the stranger. As we +rode the short distance between the two herds and I mentally reviewed the +situation, I could not help but think it was fortunate for the alien outfit +that their employer was a Northern cowman instead of a Texan. Had the present +owner been of the latter school, there would have been more than one dead +Mexican before a valuable herd would have been abandoned over an unavoidable +accident. I kept my thoughts to myself, however, for the man had troubles +enough, and on reaching his drifting herd, we turned them back on their course. +It was high noon when we reached his wagon and found the Mexican outfit still +keening over their dead comrade. We pushed the cattle, a mixed herd of about +twenty-five hundred, well past the camp, and riding back, dismounted among the +howling vaqueros. There was not the semblance of sanity among them. The +foreman, who could speak some little English, at least his employer declared he +could, was carrying on like a madman, while a majority of the vaqueros were +playing a close second. The dead man had been carried in and was lying under a +tarpaulin in the shade of the wagon. Feeling that my boys would stand behind +me, and never offering to look at the corpse, I inquired in Spanish of the +vaqueros which one of the men was their corporal. A heavy-set, bearded man was +pointed out, and walking up to him, with one hand I slapped him in the face and +with the other relieved him of a six-shooter. He staggered back, turned ashen +pale, and before he could recover from the surprise, in his own tongue I +berated him as a worthless cur for deserting his employer over an accident. +Following up the temporary advantage, I inquired for the cook and +horse-wrangler, and intimated clearly that there would be other dead Mexicans +if the men were not fed and the herd and saddle stock looked after; that they +were not worthy of the name of vaqueros if they were lax in a duty with which +they had been intrusted. +</p> + +<p> +“But Pablo is dead,” piped one of the vaqueros in defense. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, he is,” said G—G Cederdall in Spanish, bristling up to the vaquero who +had volunteered the reply; “and we’ll bury him and a half-dozen more of you if +necessary, but the cattle will not be abandoned—not for a single hour. Pablo is +dead, but he was no better than a hundred other men who have lost their lives +on this trail. If you are a lot of locoed sheep-herders instead of vaqueros, +why didn’t you stay at home with the children instead of starting out to do a +man’s work. Desert your employer, will you? Not in a country where there is no +chance to pick up other men. Yes, Pablo is dead, and we’ll bury him.” +</p> + +<p> +The aliens were disconcerted, and wilted. The owner picked up courage and +ordered the cook to prepare dinner. We loaned our horses to the wrangler and +another man, the remuda was brought in, and before we sat down to the midday +meal, every vaquero had a horse under saddle, while two of them had ridden away +to look after the grazing cattle. With order restored, we set about +systematically to lay away the unfortunate man. A detail of vaqueros under +Cederdall prepared a grave on the nearest knoll, and wrapping the corpse in a +tarpaulin, we buried him like a sailor at sea. Several vaqueros were visibly +affected at the graveside, and in order to pacify them, I suggested that we +unload the wagon of supplies and haul up a load of rock from a near-by +outcropping ledge. Pablo had fallen like a good soldier at his post, I urged, +and it was befitting that his comrades should mark his last resting-place. To +our agreeable surprise the corporal hurrahed his men and the wagon was unloaded +in a jiffy and dispatched after a load of rock. On its return, we spent an hour +in decorating the mound, during which time lament was expressed for the future +of Pablo’s soul. Knowing the almost universal faith of this alien race, as we +stood around the finished mound, Cederdall, who was Catholic born, called for +contributions to procure the absolution of the Church. The owner of the cattle +was the first to respond, and with the aid of my boys and myself, augmented +later by the vaqueros, a purse of over fifty dollars was raised and placed in +charge of the corporal, to be expended in a private mass on their return to San +Antonio. Meanwhile the herd and saddle stock had started, and reloading the +wagon, we cast a last glance at the little mound which made a new landmark on +the old trail. +</p> + +<p> +The owner of the cattle was elated over the restoration of order. My contempt +for him, however, had not decreased; the old maxim of fools rushing in where +angels feared to tread had only been again exemplified. The inferior races may +lack in courage and leadership, but never in cunning and craftiness. This alien +outfit had detected some weakness in the armor of their new employer, and when +the emergency arose, were ready to take advantage of the situation. Yet under +an old patron, these same men would never dare to mutiny or assert themselves. +That there were possible breakers ahead for this cowman there was no doubt; for +every day that those Mexicans traveled into a strange country, their Aztec +blood would yearn for their Southern home. And since the unforeseen could not +be guarded against, at the first opportunity I warned the stranger that it was +altogether too soon to shout. To his anxious inquiries I replied that his very +presence with the herd was a menace to its successful handling by the Mexican +outfit. He should throw all responsibility on the foreman, or take charge +himself, which was impossible now; for an outfit which will sulk and mutiny +once will do so again under less provocation. When my curtain lecture was +ended, the owner authorized me to call his outfit together and give them such +instructions as I saw fit. +</p> + +<p> +We sighted our cattle but once during the afternoon. On locating the herd, two +of my boys left us to return, hearing the message that the rest of us might not +put in an appearance before morning. All during the evening, I made it a point +to cultivate the acquaintance of several vaqueros, and learned the names of +their master and rancho. Taking my cue from the general information gathered, +when we encamped for the night and all hands, with the exception of those on +herd, had finished catching horses, I attracted their attention by returning +the six-shooter taken from their corporal at noontime. Commanding attention, in +their mother tongue I addressed myself to the Mexican foreman. +</p> + +<p> +“Felipe Esquibil,” said I, looking him boldly in the face, “you were foreman of +this herd from Zavalla County, Texas, to the Arkansaw River, and brought your +cattle through without loss or accident. +</p> + +<p> +“The herd changed owners at Dodge, but with the understanding that you and your +vaqueros were to accompany the cattle to this gentleman’s ranch in the upper +country. An accident happens, and because you are not in full control, you +shift the responsibility and play the baby act by wanting to go home. Had the +death of one of your men occurred below the river, and while the herd was still +the property of Don Dionisio of Rancho Los Olmus, you would have lost your own +life before abandoning your cattle. Now, with the consent and approval of the +new owner, you are again invested with full charge of this herd until you +arrive at the Platte River. A new outfit will relieve you on reaching Ogalalla, +and then you will be paid your reckoning and all go home. In your immediate +rear are five herds belonging to my employer, and I have already sent warning +to them of your attempted desertion. A fortnight or less will find you +relieved, and the only safety in store for you is to go forward. Now your +employer is going to my camp for the night, and may not see you again before +this herd reaches the Platte. Remember, Don Felipe, that the opportunity is +yours to regain your prestige as a corporal—and you need it after to-day’s +actions. What would Don Dionisio say if he knew the truth? And do you ever +expect to face your friends again at Los Olmus? From a trusted corporal back to +a sheep-shearer would be your reward—and justly.” +</p> + +<p> +Cederdall, Wolf, and myself shook hands with several vaqueros, and mounting our +horses we started for my camp, taking the stranger with us. Only once did he +offer any protest to going. “Very well, then,” replied G—G, unable to suppress +his contempt, “go right back. I’ll gamble that you sheathe a knife before +morning if you do. It strikes me you don’t sabe Mexicans very much.” +</p> + +<p> +Around the camp-fire that night, the day’s work was reviewed. My rather drastic +treatment of the corporal was fully commented upon and approved by the outfit, +yet provoked an inquiry from the irrepressible Parent. Turning to the +questioner, Burl Van Vedder said in dove-like tones: “Yes, dear, slapped him +just to remind the varmint that his feet were on the earth, and that pawing the +air and keening didn’t do any good. Remember, love, there was the living to be +fed, the dead to bury, and the work in hand required every man to do his duty. +Now was there anything else you’d like to know?” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0012"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br/> +MARSHALING THE FORCES</h2> + +<p> +Both herds had watered in the Smoky during the afternoon. The stranger’s cattle +were not compelled to go down to the crossing, but found an easy passage +several miles above the regular ford. After leaving the river, both herds were +grazed out during the evening, and when darkness fell we were not over three +miles apart, one on either side of the trail. The Wyoming cowman spent a +restless night, and early the next morning rode to the nearest elevation which +would give him a view of his cattle. Within an hour after sun-up he returned, +elated over the fact that his herd was far in the lead of ours, camp being +already broken, while we were only breakfasting. Matters were working out just +as I expected. The mixed herd under the Mexican corporal, by moving early and +late, could keep the lead of our beeves, and with the abundance of time at my +disposal we were in no hurry. The Kansas Pacific Railroad was but a few days’ +drive ahead, and I advised our guest to take the train around to Ogalalla and +have a new outfit all ready to relieve the aliens immediately on their arrival. +Promising to take the matter under consideration, he said nothing further for +several days, his cattle in the mean time keeping a lead of from five to ten +miles. +</p> + +<p> +The trail crossed the railroad at a switch east of Grinnell. I was naturally +expecting some word from Don Lovell, and it was my intention to send one of the +boys into that station to inquire for mail. There was a hostelry at Grinnell, +several stores and a livery stable, all dying an easy death from the blight of +the arid plain, the town profiting little or nothing from the cattle trade. But +when within a half-day’s drive of the railway, on overtaking the herd after +dinner, there was old man Don talking to the boys on herd. The cattle were +lying down, and rather than disturb them, he patiently bided his time until +they had rested and arose to resume their journey. The old man was feeling in +fine spirits, something unusual, and declined my urgent invitation to go back +to the wagon and have dinner. I noticed that he was using his own saddle, +though riding a livery horse, and in the mutual inquiries which were exchanged, +learned that he had arrived at Grinnell but a few days before. He had left Camp +Supply immediately after Forrest and Sponsilier passed that point, and until +Siringo came in with his report, he had spent the time about detective +headquarters in Kansas City. From intimate friends in Dodge, he had obtained +the full particulars of the attempted but unsuccessful move of The Western +Supply Company to take possession of his two herds. In fact there was very +little that I could enlighten him on, except the condition of the cattle, and +they spoke for themselves, their glossy coats shining with the richness of +silk. On the other hand, my employer opened like a book. +</p> + +<p> +“Tom, I think we’re past the worst of it,” said he. “Those Dodge people are +just a trifle too officious to suit me, but Ogalalla is a cow-town after my own +heart. They’re a law unto themselves up there, and a cowman stands some show—a +good one against thieves. Ogalalla is the seat of an organized county, and the +town has officers, it’s true, but they’ve got sense enough to know which side +their bread’s buttered on; and a cowman who’s on the square has nothing to fear +in that town. Yes, the whole gang, Tolleston and all, are right up here at +Ogalalla now; bought a herd this week, so I hear, and expect to take two of +these away from us the moment we enter Keith County. Well, they may; I’ve seen +bad men before take a town, but it was only a question of time until the plain +citizens retook it. They may try to bluff us, but if they do, we’ll meet them a +little over halfway. Which one of your boys was it that licked Archie? I want +to thank him until such a time as I can reward him better.” +</p> + +<p> +The herd was moving out, and as Seay was working in the swing on the opposite +side, we allowed the cattle to trail past, and then rode round and overtook +him. The two had never met before, but old man Don warmed towards Dorg, who +recited his experience in such an inimitable manner that our employer rocked in +his saddle in spasms of laughter. Leaving the two together, I rode on ahead to +look out the water, and when the herd came up near the middle of the afternoon, +they were still inseparable. The watering over, we camped for the night several +miles south of the railroad, the mixed herd having crossed it about noon. My +guest of the past few days had come to a point requiring a decision and was in +a quandary to know what to do. But when the situation had been thoroughly +reviewed between Mr. Lovell and the Wyoming man, my advice was indorsed,—to +trust implicitly to his corporal, and be ready to relieve the outfit at the +Platte. Saddles were accordingly shifted, and the stranger, after professing a +profusion of thanks, rode away on the livery horse by which my employer had +arrived. Once the man was well out of hearing, the old trail drover turned to +my outfit and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Boys, there goes a warning that the days of the trail are numbered. To make a +success of any business, a little common sense is necessary. Nine tenths of the +investing in cattle to-day in the Northwest is being done by inexperienced men. +No other line of business could prosper in such incompetent hands, and it’s +foolish to think that cattle companies and individuals, nearly all tenderfeet +at the business, can succeed. They may for a time,—there are accidents in every +calling,—but when the tide turns, there won’t be one man or company in ten +survive. I only wish they would, as it means life and expansion for the cattle +interests in Texas. As long as the boom continues, and foreigners and +tenderfeet pour their money in, the business will look prosperous. Why, even +the business men are selling out their stores and going into cattle. But +there’s a day of reckoning ahead, and there’s many a cowman in this Northwest +country who will never see his money again. Now the government demand is a +healthy one: it needs the cattle for Indian and military purposes; but this +crazy investment, especially in she stuff, I wouldn’t risk a dollar in it.” +</p> + +<p> +During the conversation that evening, I was delighted to learn that my employer +expected to accompany the herds overland to Ogalalla. There was nothing +pressing elsewhere, and as all the other outfits were within a short day’s ride +in the rear, he could choose his abode. He was too good a cowman to interfere +with the management of cattle, and the pleasure of his company, when in good +humor, was to be desired. The next morning a horse was furnished him from our +extras, and after seeing us safely across the railroad track, he turned back to +meet Forrest or Sponsilier. This was the last we saw of him until after +crossing into Nebraska. In the mean time my boys kept an eye on the Mexican +outfit in our front, scarcely a day passing but what we sighted them either in +person or by signal. Once they dropped back opposite us on the western side of +the trail, when Cedardall, under the pretense of hunting lost horses, visited +their camp, finding them contented and enjoying a lay-over. They were impatient +to know the distance to the Rio Platte, and G—G assured them that within a week +they would see its muddy waters and be relieved. Thus encouraged they held the +lead, but several times vaqueros dropped back to make inquiries of drives and +the water. The route was passable, with a short dry drive from the head of +Stinking Water across to the Platte River, of which they were fully advised. +Keeping them in sight, we trailed along leisurely, and as we went down the +northern slope of the divide approaching the Republican River, we were +overtaken at noon by Don Lovell and Dave Sponsilier. +</p> + +<p> +“Quirk,” said the old man, as the two dismounted, “I was just telling Dave that +twenty years ago this summer I carried a musket with Sherman in his march to +the sea. And here we are to-day, driving beef to feed the army in the West. But +that’s neither here nor there under the present programme. Jim Flood and I have +talked matters over pretty thoroughly, and have decided to switch the foremen +on the ‘Open A’ and ‘Drooping T’ cattle until after Ogalalla is passed. From +their actions at Dodge, it is probable that they will try and arrest the +foreman of those two herds as accessory under some charge or other. By shifting +the foremen, even if the ones in charge are detained, we will gain time and be +able to push the Buford cattle across the North Platte. The chances are that +they will prefer some charges against me, and if they do, if necessary, we will +all go to the lock-up together. They may have spotters ahead here on the +Republican; Dave will take charge of your ‘Open A’s’ at once, and you will drop +back and follow up with his cattle. For the time being and to every stranger, +you two will exchange names. The Rebel is in charge of Forrest’s cattle now, +and Quince will drop back with Paul’s herd. Dave, here, gave me the slip on +crossing the Texas Pacific in the lower country, but when we reach the Union +Pacific, I want to know where he is, even if in jail. And I may be right there +with him, but we’ll live high, for I’ve got a lot of their money.” +</p> + +<p> +Sponsilier reported his herd on the same side of the trail and about ten miles +to our rear. I had no objection to the change, for those arid plains were still +to be preferred to the lock-up in Ogalalla. My only regret was in temporarily +losing my mount; but as Dave’s horses were nearly as good, no objection was +urged, and promising, in case either landed in jail, to send flowers, I turned +back, leaving my employer with the lead herd. Before starting, I learned that +the “Drooping T” cattle were in advance of Sponsilier’s, and as I soldiered +along on my way back, rode several miles out of my way to console my old +bunkie, The Rebel. He took my chaffing good-naturedly and assured me that his +gray hairs were a badge of innocence which would excuse him on any charge. +Turning, I rode back with him over a mile, this being my first opportunity of +seeing Forrest’s beeves. The steers were large and rangy, extremely uniform in +ages and weight, and in general relieved me of considerable conceit that I had +the best herd among the Buford cattle. With my vanity eased, I continued my +journey and reached Sponsilier’s beeves while they were watering. Again a +surprise was in store for me, as the latter herd had, if any, the edge over the +other two, while “The Apple” was by all odds the prettiest road brand I had +ever seen. I asked the acting segundo, a lad named Tupps, who cut the cattle +when receiving; light was thrown on the situation by his reply. +</p> + +<p> +“Old man Don joined the outfit the day we reached Uvalde,” said he, “and until +we began receiving, he poured it into our foreman that this year the cattle had +to be something extra—muy escogido, as the Mexicans say. Well, the result was +that Sponsilier went to work with ideas pitched rather high. But in the first +bunch received, the old man cut a pretty little four-year-old, fully a hundred +pounds too light. Dave and Mr. Lovell had a set-to over the beef, the old man +refusing to cut him back, but he rode out of the herd and never again offered +to interfere. Forrest was present, and at dinner that day old man Don admitted +that he was too easy when receiving. Sponsilier and Forrest did the trimming +afterward, and that is the secret of these two herds being so uniform.” +</p> + +<p> +A general halt was called at the head of Stinking Water. We were then within +forty miles of Ogalalla, and a day’s drive would put us within the jurisdiction +of Keith County. Some time was lost at this last water, waiting for the rear +herds to arrive, as it was the intention to place the “Open A” and “Drooping T” +cattle at the rear in crossing this dry belt. At the ford on the Republican, a +number of strangers were noticed, two of whom rode a mile or more with me, and +innocently asked numerous but leading questions. I frankly answered every +inquiry, and truthfully, with the exception of the names of the lead foreman +and my own. Direct, it was only sixty miles from the crossing on the Republican +to Ogalalla, an easy night’s ride, and I was conscious that our whereabouts +would be known at the latter place the next morning. For several days before +starting across this arid stretch, we had watered at ten o’clock in the +morning, so when Flood and Forrest came up, mine being the third herd to reach +the last water, I was all ready to pull out. But old man Don counseled another +day’s lie-over, as it would be a sore trial for the herds under a July sun, and +for a full day twenty thousand beeves grazed in sight of each other on the +mesas surrounding the head of Stinking Water. All the herds were aroused with +the dawn, and after a few hours’ sun on the cattle, the Indian beeves were +turned onto the water and held until the middle of the forenoon, when the start +was made for the Platte and Ogalalla. +</p> + +<p> +I led out with “The Apple” cattle, throwing onto the trail for the first ten +miles, which put me well in advance of Bob Quirk and Forrest, who were in my +immediate rear. A well-known divide marked the halfway between the two waters, +and I was determined to camp on it that night. It was fully nine o’clock when +we reached it, Don Lovell in the mean time having overtaken us. This watershed +was also recognized as the line of Keith County, an organized community, and +the next morning expectation ran high as to what the day would bring forth. +Lovell insisted on staying with the lead herd, and pressing him in as +horse-wrangler, I sent him in the lead with the remuda and wagon, while +Levering fell into the swing with the trailing cattle. A breakfast halt was +made fully seven miles from the bed-ground, a change of mounts, and then up +divide, across mesa, and down slope at the foot of which ran the Platte. +Meanwhile several wayfaring men were met, but in order to avoid our dust, they +took the right or unbranded side of our herd on meeting, and passed on their +way without inquiry. Near noon a party of six men, driving a number of loose +mounts and a pack-horse, were met, who also took the windward side. Our dragmen +learned that they were on their way to Dodge to receive a herd of range horses. +But when about halfway down the slope towards the river, two mounted men were +seen to halt the remuda and wagon for a minute, and then continue on southward. +Billy Tupps was on the left point, myself next in the swing; and as the two +horsemen turned out on the branded side, their identity was suspected. In reply +to some inquiry, Tupps jerked his thumb over his shoulder as much as to say, +“Next man.” I turned out and met the strangers, who had already noted the road +brand, and politely answered every question. One of the two offered me a cigar, +and after lighting it, I did remember hearing one of my boys say that among the +herds lying over on the head of Stinking Water was an “Open A” and “Drooping +T,” but I was unable to recall the owner’s or foremen’s names. Complimenting me +on the condition of my beeves, and assuring me that I would have time to water +my herd and reach the mesa beyond Ogalalla, they passed on down the column of +cattle. +</p> + +<p> +I had given the cook an order on an outfitting house for new supplies, saying I +would call or send a draft in the morning. A new bridge had been built across +the Platte opposite the town, and when nearing the river, the commissary turned +off the trail for it, but the horse-wrangler for the day gave the bridge a wide +berth and crossed the stream a mile below the village. The width of the river +was a decided advantage in watering a thirsty herd, as it gave the cattle room +to thrash around, filling its broad bed for fully a half mile. Fortunately +there were few spectators, but I kept my eye on the lookout for a certain +faction, being well disguised with dust and dirt and a month’s growth of beard. +As we pushed out of the river and were crossing the tracks below the railroad +yards, two other herds were sighted coming down to the water, their remudas +having forded above and below our cattle. On scaling the bluffs, we could see +the trail south of the Platte on which arose a great column of dust. Lovell was +waiting with the saddle stock in the hills beyond the town, and on striking the +first good grass, the cattle fell to grazing while we halted to await the +arrival of the wagon. The sun was still several hours high, and while waiting +for our commissary to come up, my employer and myself rode to the nearest point +of observation to reconnoitre the rear. Beneath us lay the hamlet; but our eyes +were concentrated beyond the narrow Platte valley on a dust-cloud which hung +midway down the farther slope. As we watched, an occasional breeze wafted the +dust aside, and the sinuous outline of a herd creeping forward greeted our +vision. Below the town were two other herds, distinctly separate and filling +the river for over a mile with a surging mass of animals, while in every +direction cattle dotted the plain and valley. Turning aside from the panorama +before us, my employer said: +</p> + +<p> +“Tom, you will have time to graze out a few miles and camp to the left of the +trail. I’ll stay here and hurry your wagon forward, and wait for Bob and +Quince. That lead herd beyond the river is bound to be Jim’s, and he’s due to +camp on this mesa to-night, so these outfits must give him room. If Dave and +Paul are still free to act, they’ll know enough to water and camp on the south +side of the Platte. I’ll stay at Flood’s wagon to-night, and you had better +send a couple of your boys into town and let them nose around. They’ll meet +lads from the ‘Open A’ and ‘Drooping T’ outfits; and I’ll send Jim and Bob in, +and by midnight we’ll have a report of what’s been done. If any one but an +officer takes possession of those two herds, it’ll put us to the trouble of +retaking them. And I think I’ve got men enough here to do it.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0013"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br/> +JUSTICE IN THE SADDLE</h2> + +<p> +It was an hour after the usual time when we bedded down the cattle. The wagon +had overtaken us about sunset, and the cook’s fire piloted us into a camp fully +two miles to the right of the trail. A change of horses was awaiting us, and +after a hasty supper Tupps detailed two young fellows to visit Ogalalla. It +required no urging; I outlined clearly what was expected of their mission, +requesting them to return by the way of Flood’s wagon, and to receive any +orders which my employer might see fit to send. The horse-wrangler was pressed +in to stand the guard of one of the absent lads on the second watch, and I +agreed to take the other, which fell in the third. The boys had not yet +returned when our guard was called, but did so shortly afterward, one of them +hunting me up on night-herd. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” said he, turning his horse and circling with me, “we caught onto +everything that was adrift. The Rebel and Sponsilier were both in town, in +charge of two deputies. Flood and your brother went in with us, and with the +lads from the other outfits, including those across the river, there must have +been twenty-five of Lovell’s men in town. I noticed that Dave and The Rebel +were still wearing their six-shooters, while among the boys the arrests were +looked upon as quite a joke. The two deputies had all kinds of money, and +wouldn’t allow no one but themselves to spend a cent. The biggest one of the +two—the one who gave you the cigar—would say to my boss: ‘Sponsilier, you’re a +trail foreman from Texas—one of Don Lovell’s boss men—but you’re under arrest; +your cattle are in my possession this very minute. You understand that, don’t +you? Very well, then; everybody come up and have a drink on the sheriff’s +office.’ That was about the talk in every saloon and dance-hall visited. But +when we proposed starting back to camp, about midnight, the big deputy said to +Flood: ‘I want you to tell Colonel Lovell that I hold a warrant for his arrest; +urge him not to put me to the trouble of coming out after him. If he had +identified himself to me this afternoon, he could have slept on a goose-hair +bed to-night instead of out there on the mesa, on the cold ground. His +reputation in this town would entitle him to three meals a day, even if he was +under arrest. Now, we’ll have one more, and tell the damned old rascal that +I’ll expect him in the morning.’” +</p> + +<p> +We rode out the watch together. On returning to Flood’s camp, they had found +Don Lovell awake. The old man was pleased with the report, but sent me no +special word except to exercise my own judgment. The cattle were tired after +their long tramp of the day before, the outfit were saddle weary, and the first +rays of the rising sun flooded the mesa before men or animals offered to arise. +But the duties of another day commanded us anew, and with the cook calling us, +we rose to meet them. I was favorably impressed with Tupps as a segundo, and +after breakfast suggested that he graze the cattle over to the North Platte, +cross it, and make a permanent camp. This was agreed to, half the men were +excused for the day, and after designating, beyond the river, a clump of +cottonwoods where the wagon would be found, seven of us turned and rode back +for Ogalalla. With picked mounts under us, we avoided the other cattle which +could be seen grazing northward, and when fully halfway to town, there before +us on the brink of the mesa loomed up the lead of a herd. I soon recognized +Jack Splann on the point, and taking a wide circle, dropped in behind him, the +column stretching back a mile and coming up the bluffs, forty abreast like an +army in loose marching order. I was proud of those “Open A’s;” they were my +first herd, and though in a hurry to reach town, I turned and rode back with +them for fully a mile. +</p> + +<p> +Splann was acting under orders from Flood, who had met him at the ford that +morning. If the cattle were in the possession of any deputy sheriff, they had +failed to notify Jack, and the latter had already started for the North Platte +of his own accord. The “Drooping T” cattle were in the immediate rear under +Forrest’s segundo, and Splann urged me to accompany him that forenoon, saying: +“From what the boys said this morning, Dave and Paul will not be given a +hearing until two o’clock this afternoon. I can graze beyond the North Fork by +that time, and then we’ll all go back together. Flood’s right behind here with +the ‘Drooping T’s,’ and I think it’s his intention to go all the way to the +river. Drop back and see him.” +</p> + +<p> +The boys who were with me never halted, but had ridden on towards town. When +the second herd began the ascent of the mesa, I left Splann and turned back, +waiting on the brink for its arrival. As it would take the lead cattle some +time to reach me, I dismounted, resting in the shade of my horse. But my rest +was brief, for the clattering hoofs of a cavalcade of horsemen were +approaching, and as I arose, Quince Forrest and Bob Quirk with a dozen or more +men dashed up and halted. As their herds were intended for the Crow and Fort +Washakie agencies, they would naturally follow up the south side of the North +Platte, and an hour or two of grazing would put them in camp. The Buford +cattle, as well as Flood’s herd, were due to cross this North Fork of the +mother Platte within ten miles of Ogalalla, their respective routes thenceforth +being north and northeast. Forrest, like myself, was somewhat leary of entering +the town, and my brother and the boys passed on shortly, leaving Quince behind. +We discussed every possible phase of what might happen in case we were +recognized, which was almost certain if Tolleston or the Dodge buyers were +encountered. But an overweening hunger to get into Ogalalla was dominant in us, +and under the excuse of settling for our supplies, after the herd passed, we +remounted our horses, Flood joining us, and rode for the hamlet. +</p> + +<p> +There was little external and no moral change in the town. Several new saloons +had opened, and in anticipation of the large drive that year, the Dew-Drop-In +dance-hall had been enlarged, and employed three shifts of bartenders. A stage +had been added with the new addition, and a special importation of ladies had +been brought out from Omaha for the season. I use the term LADIES advisedly, +for in my presence one of the proprietors, with marked courtesy, said to an +Eastern stranger, “Oh, no, you need no introduction. My wife is the only woman +in town; all the balance are ladies.” Beyond a shave and a hair-cut, Forrest +and I fought shy of public places. But after the supplies were settled for, and +some new clothing was secured, we chambered a few drinks and swaggered about +with considerable ado. My bill of supplies amounted to one hundred and +twenty-six dollars, and when, without a word, I drew a draft for the amount, +the proprietor of the outfitting store, as a pelon, made me a present of two +fine silk handkerchiefs. +</p> + +<p> +Forrest was treated likewise, and having invested ourselves in white shirts, +with flaming red ties, we used the new handkerchiefs to otherwise decorate our +persons. We had both chosen the brightest colors, and with these knotted about +our necks, dangling from pistol-pockets, or protruding from ruffled shirt +fronts, our own mothers would scarcely have known us. Jim Flood, whom we met +casually on a back street, stopped, and after circling us once, said, “Now if +you fellows just keep perfectly sober, your disguise will be complete.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Don Lovell had reported at an early hour to the sheriff’s office. The +legal profession was represented in Ogalalla by several firms, criminal +practice being their specialty; but fortunately Mike Sutton, an attorney of +Dodge, had arrived in town the day before on a legal errand for another trail +drover. Sutton was a frontier advocate, alike popular with the Texas element +and the gambling fraternity, having achieved laurels in his home town as a +criminal lawyer. Mike was born on the little green isle beyond the sea, and, +gifted with the Celtic wit, was also in logic clear as the tones of a bell, +while his insight into human motives was almost superhuman. Lovell had had +occasion in other years to rely on Sutton’s counsel, and now would listen to no +refusal of his services. As it turned out, the lawyer’s mission in Ogalalla was +so closely in sympathy with Lovell’s trouble that they naturally strengthened +each other. The highest tribunal of justice in Ogalalla was the county court, +the judge of which also ran the stock-yards during the shipping season, and was +banker for two monte games at the Lone Star saloon. He enjoyed the reputation +of being an honest, fearless jurist, and supported by a growing civic pride, +his decisions gave satisfaction. A sense of crude equity governed his rulings, +and as one of the citizens remarked, “Whatever the judge said, went.” It should +be remembered that this was in ’84, but had a similar trouble occurred five +years earlier, it is likely that Judge Colt would have figured in the +preliminaries, and the coroner might have been called on to impanel a jury. But +the rudiments of civilization were sweeping westward, and Ogalalla was nerved +to the importance of the occasion; for that very afternoon a hearing was to be +given for the possession of two herds of cattle, valued at over a +quarter-million dollars. +</p> + +<p> +The representatives of The Western Supply Company were quartered in the largest +hotel in town, but seldom appeared on the streets. They had employed a firm of +local attorneys, consisting of an old and a young man, both of whom evidently +believed in the justice of their client’s cause. All the cattle-hands in +Lovell’s employ were anxious to get a glimpse of Tolleston, many of them +patronizing the bar and table of the same hostelry, but their efforts were +futile until the hour arrived for the hearing. They probably have a new +court-house in Ogalalla now, but at the date of this chronicle the building +which served as a temple of justice was poorly proportioned, its height being +entirely out of relation to its width. It was a two-story affair, the lower +floor being used for county offices, the upper one as the court-room. A long +stairway ran up the outside of the building, landing on a gallery in front, +from which the sheriff announced the sitting of the honorable court of Keith +County. At home in Texas, lawsuits were so rare that though I was a grown man, +the novelty of this one absorbed me. Quite a large crowd had gathered in +advance of the hour, and while awaiting the arrival of Judge Mulqueen, a +contingent of fifteen men from the two herds in question rode up and halted in +front of the court-house. Forrest and I were lying low, not caring to be seen, +when the three plaintiffs, the two local attorneys, and Tolleston put in an +appearance. The cavalcade had not yet dismounted, and when Dorg Seay caught +sight of Tolleston, he stood up in his stirrups and sang out, “Hello there, +Archibald! my old college chum, how goes it?” +</p> + +<p> +Judge Mulqueen had evidently dressed for the occasion, for with the exception +of the plaintiffs, he was the only man in the court-room who wore a coat. The +afternoon was a sultry one; in that first bottom of the Platte there was +scarcely a breath of air, and collars wilted limp as rags. Neither map nor +chart graced the unplastered walls, the unpainted furniture of the room was +sadly in need of repair, while a musty odor permeated the room. Outside the +railing the seating capacity of the court-room was rather small, rough, bare +planks serving for seats, but the spectators gladly stood along the sides and +rear, eager to catch every word, as they silently mopped the sweat which oozed +alike from citizen and cattleman. Forrest and I were concealed in the rear, +which was packed with Lovell’s boys, when the judge walked in and court opened +for the hearing. Judge Mulqueen requested counsel on either side to be as brief +and direct as possible, both in their pleadings and testimony, adding: “If they +reach the stock-yards in time, I may have to load out a train of feeders this +evening. We’ll bed the cars, anyhow.” Turning to the sheriff, he continued: +“Frank, if you happen outside, keep an eye up the river; those Lincoln feeders +made a deal yesterday for five hundred three-year-olds.—Read your complaint.” +</p> + +<p> +The legal document was read with great fervor and energy by the younger of the +two local lawyers. In the main it reviewed the situation correctly, every +point, however, being made subservient to their object,—the possession of the +cattle. The plaintiffs contended that they were the innocent holders of the +original contract between the government and The Western Supply Company, +properly assigned; that they had purchased these two herds in question, had +paid earnest-money to the amount of sixty-five thousand dollars on the same, +and concluded by petitioning the court for possession. Sutton arose, counseled +a moment with Lovell, and borrowing a chew of tobacco from Sponsilier, +leisurely addressed the court. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not trouble your honor by reading our reply in full, but briefly state +its contents,” said he, in substance. “We admit that the herds in question, +which have been correctly described by road brands and ages, are the property +of my client. We further admit that the two trail foremen here under arrest as +accessories were acting under the orders of their employer, who assumes all +responsibility for their acts, and in our pleadings we ask this honorable court +to discharge them from further detention. The earnest-money, said to have been +paid on these herds, is correct to a cent, and we admit having the amount in +our possession. But,” and the little advocate’s voice rose, rich in its Irish +brogue, “we deny any assignment of the original contract. The Western Supply +Company is a corporation name, a shield and fence of thieves. The plaintiffs +here can claim no assignment, because they themselves constitute the company. +It has been decided that a man cannot steal his own money, neither can he +assign from himself to himself. We shall prove by a credible witness that The +Western Supply Company is but another name for John C. Fields, Oliver Radcliff, +and the portly gentleman who was known a year ago as ‘Honest’ John Griscom, one +of his many aliases. If to these names you add a few moneyed confederates, you +have The Western Supply Company, one and the same. We shall also prove that for +years past these same gentlemen have belonged to a ring, all brokers in +government contracts, and frequently finding it necessary to use assumed names, +generally that of a corporation.” +</p> + +<p> +Scanning the document in his hand, Sutton continued: “Our motive in selling and +accepting money on these herds in Dodge demands a word of explanation. The +original contract calls for five million pounds of beef on foot to be delivered +at Fort Buford. My client is a sub-contractor under that award. There are +times, your honor, when it becomes necessary to resort to questionable means to +attain an end. This is one of them. Within a week after my client had given +bonds for the fulfillment of his contract, he made the discovery that he was +dealing with a double-faced set of scoundrels. From that day until the present +moment, secret-service men have shadowed every action of the plaintiffs. My +client has anticipated their every move. When beeves broke in price from five +to seven dollars a head, Honest John, here, made his boasts in Washington City +over a champagne supper that he and his associates would clear one hundred +thousand dollars on their Buford contract. Let us reason together how this +could be done. The Western Supply Company refused, even when offered a bonus, +to assign their contract to my client. But they were perfectly willing to +transfer it, from themselves as a corporation, to themselves as individuals, +even though they had previously given Don Lovell a subcontract for the delivery +of the bees. The original award was made seven months ago, and the depreciation +in cattle since is the secret of why the frog eat the cabbage. My client is +under the necessity of tendering his cattle on the day of delivery, and +proposes to hold this earnest-money to indemnify himself in case of an adverse +decision at Fort Buford. It is the only thing he can do, as The Western Supply +Company is execution proof, its assets consisting of some stud-horse office +furniture and a corporate seal. On the other hand, Don Lovell is rated at half +a million, mostly in pasture lands; is a citizen of Medina County, Texas, and +if these gentlemen have any grievance, let them go there and sue him. A +judgment against my client is good. Now, your honor, you have our side of the +question. To be brief, shall these old Wisinsteins come out here from +Washington City and dispossess any man of his property? There is but one +answer—not in the Republic of Keith.” +</p> + +<p> +All three of the plaintiffs took the stand, their testimony supporting the +complaint, Lovell’s attorney refusing even to cross-examine any one of them. +When they rested their case Sutton arose, and scanning the audience for some +time, inquired, “Is Jim Reed there?” In response, a tall, one-armed man worked +his way from the outer gallery through the crowd and advanced to the rail. I +knew Reed by sight only, my middle brother having made several trips with his +trail cattle, but he was known to every one by reputation. He had lost an arm +in the Confederate service, and was recognized by the gambling fraternity as +the gamest man among all the trail drovers, while every cowman from the Rio +Grande to the Yellowstone knew him as a poker-player. Reed was asked to take +the stand, and when questioned if he knew either of the plaintiffs, said: +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I know that fat gentleman, and I’m powerful glad to meet up with him +again,” replied the witness, designating Honest John. “That man is so crooked +that he can’t sleep in a bed, and it’s one of the wonders of this country that +he hasn’t stretched hemp before this. I made his acquaintance as manager of The +Federal Supply Company, and delivered three thousand cows to him at the Washita +Indian Agency last fall. In the final settlement, he drew on three different +banks, and one draft of twenty-eight thousand dollars came back, indorsed, +DRAWEE UNKNOWN. I had other herds on the trail to look after, and it was a +month before I found out that the check was bogus, by which time Honest John +had sailed for Europe. There was nothing could be done but put my claim into a +judgment and lay for him. But I’ve got a grapevine twist on him now, for no +sooner did he buy a herd here last week than Mr. Sutton transferred the +judgment to this jurisdiction, and his cattle will be attached this afternoon. +I’ve been on his trail for nearly a year, but he’ll come to me now, and before +he can move his beeves out of this county, the last cent must come, with +interest, attorney’s fees, detective bills, and remuneration for my own time +and trouble. That’s the reason that I’m so glad to meet him. Judge, I’ve gone +to the trouble and expense to get his record for the last ten years. He’s so +snaky he sheds his name yearly, shifting for a nickname from Honest John to The +Quaker. In ’80 he and his associates did business under the name of The Army +& Sutler Supply Company, and I know of two judgments that can be bought +very reasonable against that corporation. His record would convince any one +that he despises to make an honest dollar.” +</p> + +<p> +The older of the two attorneys for the plaintiffs asked a few questions, but +the replies were so unsatisfactory to their side, that they soon passed the +witness. During the cross-questioning, however, the sheriff had approached the +judge and whispered something to his honor. As there were no further witnesses +to be examined, the local attorneys insisted on arguing the case, but Judge +Mulqueen frowned them down, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“This court sees no occasion for any argument in the present case. You might +spout until you were black in the face and it wouldn’t change my opinion any; +besides I’ve got twenty cars to send and a train of cattle to load out this +evening. This court refuses to interfere with the herds in question, at present +the property of and in possession of Don Lovell, who, together with his men, +are discharged from custody. If you’re in town to-night, Mr. Reed, drop into +the Lone Star. Couple of nice monte games running there; hundred-dollar limit, +and if you feel lucky, there’s a nice bank roll behind them. Adjourn court, Mr. +Sheriff.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0014"></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br/> +TURNING THE TABLES</h2> + +<p> +“Keep away from me, you common cow-hands,” said Sponsilier, as a group of us +waited for him at the foot of the court-house stairs. But Dave’s gravity soon +turned to a smile as he continued: “Did you fellows notice The Rebel and me +sitting inside the rail among all the big augers? Paul, was it a dream, or did +we sleep in a bed last night and have a sure-enough pillow under our heads? My +memory is kind of hazy to-day, but I remember the drinks and the cigars all +right, and saying to some one that this luck was too good to last. And here we +are turned out in the cold world again, our fun all over, and now must go back +to those measly cattle. But it’s just what I expected.” +</p> + +<p> +The crowd dispersed quietly, though the sheriff took the precaution to +accompany the plaintiffs and Tolleston back to their hotel. The absence of the +two deputies whom we had met the day before was explained by the testimony of +the one-armed cowman. When the two drovers came downstairs, they were talking +very confidentially together, and on my employer noticing the large number of +his men present, he gave orders for them to meet him at once at the White +Elephant saloon. Those who had horses at hand mounted and dashed down the +street, while the rest of us took it leisurely around to the appointed +rendezvous, some three blocks distant. While on the way, I learned from The +Rebel that the cattle on which the attachment was to be made that afternoon +were then being held well up the North Fork. Sheriff Phillips joined us shortly +after we entered the saloon, and informed my employer and Mr. Reed that the +firm of Field, Radcliff & Co. had declared war. They had even denounced him +and the sheriff’s office as being in collusion against them, and had dispatched +Tolleston with orders to refuse service. +</p> + +<p> +“Let them get on the prod all they want to,” said Don Lovell to Reed and the +sheriff. “I’ve got ninety men here, and you fellows are welcome to half of +them, even if I have to go out and stand a watch on night-herd myself. Reed, we +can’t afford to have our business ruined by such a set of scoundrels, and we +might as well fight it out here and now. Look at the situation I’m in. A +hundred thousand dollars wouldn’t indemnify me in having my cattle refused as +late as the middle of September at Fort Buford. And believing that I will be +turned down, under my contract, so Sutton says, I must tender my beeves on the +appointed day of delivery, which will absolve my bondsmen and me from all +liability. A man can’t trifle with the government—the cattle must be there. Now +in my case, Jim, what would you do?” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s a hard question, Don. You see we’re strangers up in this Northwest +country. Now, if it was home in Texas, there would be only one thing to do. Of +course I’m no longer handy with a shotgun, but you’ve got two good arms.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, gentlemen,” said the sheriff, “you must excuse me for interrupting, but +if my deputies are to take possession of that herd this afternoon, I must +saddle up and go to the front. If Honest John and associates try to stand up +any bluffs on my office, they’ll only run on the rope once. I’m much obliged to +you, Mr. Lovell, for the assurance of any help I may need, for it’s quite +likely that I may have to call upon you. If a ring of government speculators +can come out here and refuse service, or dictate to my office, then old Keith +County is certainly on the verge of decadence. Now, I’ll be all ready to start +for the North Fork in fifteen minutes, and I’d admire to have you all go +along.” +</p> + +<p> +Lovell and Reed both expressed a willingness to accompany the sheriff. Phillips +thanked them and nodded to the force behind the mahogany, who dexterously slid +the glasses up and down the bar, and politely inquired of the double row +confronting them as to their tastes. As this was the third round since entering +the place, I was anxious to get away, and summoning Forrest, we started for our +horses. We had left them at a barn on a back street, but before reaching the +livery, Quince concluded that he needed a few more cartridges. I had ordered a +hundred the day before for my own personal use, but they had been sent out with +the supplies and were then in camp. My own belt was filled with ammunition, but +on Forrest buying fifty, I took an equal number, and after starting out of the +store, both turned back and doubled our purchases. On arriving at the stable, +whom should I meet but the Wyoming cowman who had left us at Grinnell. During +the few minutes in which I was compelled to listen to his troubles, he informed +me that on his arrival at Ogalalla, all the surplus cow-hands had been engaged +by a man named Tolleston for the Yellowstone country. He had sent to his ranch, +however, for an outfit who would arrive that evening, and he expected to start +his herd the next morning. But without wasting any words, Forrest and I swung +into our saddles, waved a farewell to the wayfaring acquaintance, and rode +around to the White Elephant. The sheriff and quite a cavalcade of our boys had +already started, and on reaching the street which terminated in the only road +leading to the North Fork, we were halted by Flood to await the arrival of the +others. Jim Reed and my employer were still behind, and some little time was +lost before they came up, sufficient to give the sheriff a full half-mile +start. But under the leadership of the two drovers, we shook out our horses, +and the advance cavalcade were soon overtaken. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Mr. Sheriff,” said old man Don, as he reined in beside Phillips, “how do +you like the looks of this for a posse? I’ll vouch that they’re all good +cow-hands, and if you want to deputize the whole works, why, just work your +rabbit’s foot. You might leave Reed and me out, but I think there’s some forty +odd without us. Jim and I are getting a little too old, but we’ll hang around +and run errands and do the clerking. I’m perfectly willing to waste a week, and +remember that we’ve got the chuck and nearly a thousand saddle horses right +over here on the North Fork. You can move your office out to one of my wagons +if you wish, and whatever’s mine is yours, just so long as Honest John and his +friends pay the fiddler. If he and his associates are going to make one hundred +thousand dollars on the Buford contract, one thing is certain—I’ll lose plenty +of money on this year’s drive. If he refuses service and you take possession, +your office will be perfectly justified in putting a good force of men with the +herd. And at ten dollars a day for a man and horse, they’ll soon get sick and +Reed will get his pay. If I have to hold the sack in the end, I don’t want any +company.” +</p> + +<p> +The location of the beeves was about twelve miles from town and but a short +distance above the herds of The Rebel and Bob Quirk. It was nearly four o’clock +when we left the hamlet, and by striking a free gait, we covered the +intervening distance in less than an hour and a half. The mesa between the two +rivers was covered with through cattle, and as we neared the herd in question, +we were met by the larger one of the two chief deputies. The undersheriff was +on his way to town, but on sighting his superior among us, he halted and a +conference ensued. Sponsilier and Priest made a great ado over the big deputy +on meeting, and after a few inquiries were exchanged, the latter turned to +Sheriff Phillips and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Well, we served the papers and I left the other two boys in temporary +possession of the cattle. It’s a badly mixed-up affair. The Texas foreman is +still in charge, and he seems like a reasonable fellow. The terms of the sale +were to be half cash here and the balance at the point of delivery. But the +buyers only paid forty thousand down, and the trail boss refuses to start until +they make good their agreement. From what I could gather from the foreman, the +buyers simply buffaloed the young fellow out of his beeves, and are now hanging +back for more favorable terms. He accepted service all right and assured me +that our men would be welcome at his wagon until further notice, so I left +matters just as I found them. But as I was on the point of leaving, that +segundo of the buyers arrived and tried to stir up a little trouble. We all sat +down on him rather hard, and as I left he and the Texas foreman were holding +quite a big pow-wow.” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s Tolleston all right,” said old man Don, “and you can depend on him +stirring up a muss if there’s any show. It’s a mystery to me how I tolerated +that fellow as long as I did. If some of you boys will corner and hold him for +me, I’d enjoy reading his title to him in a few plain words. It’s due him, and +I want to pay everything I owe. What’s the programme, Mr. Sheriff?” +</p> + +<p> +“The only safe thing to do is to get full possession of the cattle,” replied +Phillips. “My deputies are all right, but they don’t thoroughly understand the +situation. Mr. Lovell, if you can lend me ten men, I’ll take charge of the herd +at once and move them back down the river about seven miles. They’re entirely +too near the west line of the county to suit me, and once they’re in our +custody the money will be forthcoming, or the expenses will mount up rapidly. +Let’s ride.” +</p> + +<p> +The under-sheriff turned back with us. A swell of the mesa cut off a view of +the herd, but under the leadership of the deputy we rode to its summit, and +there before and under us were both camp and cattle. Arriving at the wagon, +Phillips very politely informed the Texas foreman that he would have to take +full possession of his beeves for a few days, or until the present difficulties +were adjusted. The trail boss was a young fellow of possibly thirty, and met +the sheriff’s demand with several questions, but, on being assured that his +employer’s equity in the herd would be fully protected without expense, he +offered no serious objection. It developed that Reed had some slight +acquaintance with the seller of the cattle, and lost no time in informing the +trail boss of the record of the parties with whom his employer was dealing. The +one-armed drover’s language was plain, the foreman knew Reed by reputation, and +when Lovell assured the young man that he would be welcome at any of his +wagons, and would be perfectly at liberty to see that his herd was properly +cared for, he yielded without a word. My sympathies were with the foreman, for +he seemed an honest fellow, and deliberately to take his herd from him, to my +impulsive reasoning looked like an injustice. But the sheriff and those two old +cowmen were determined, and the young fellow probably acted for the best in +making a graceful surrender. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the two deputies in charge failed to materialize, and on inquiry they +were reported as out at the herd with Tolleston. The foreman accompanied us to +the cattle, and while on the way he informed the sheriff that he wished to +count the beeves over to him and take a receipt for the same. Phillips +hesitated, as he was no cowman, but Reed spoke up and insisted that it was fair +and just, saying: “Of course, you’ll count the cattle and give him a receipt in +numbers, ages, and brands. It’s not this young man’s fault that his herd must +undergo all this trouble, and when he turns them over to an officer of the law +he ought to have something to show for it. Any of Lovell’s foremen here will +count them to a hair for you, and Don and I will witness the receipt, which +will make it good among cowmen.” +</p> + +<p> +Without loss of time the herd was started east. Tolleston kept well out of +reach of my employer, and besought every one to know what this movement meant. +But when the trail boss and Jim Flood rode out to a swell of ground ahead, and +the point-men began filing the column through between the two foremen, Archie +was sagacious enough to know that the count meant something serious. In the +mean time Bob Quirk had favored Tolleston with his company, and when the count +was nearly half over, my brother quietly informed him that the sheriff was +taking possession. Once the atmosphere cleared, Archie grew uneasy and +restless, and as the last few hundred beeves were passing the counters, he +suddenly concluded to return to Ogalalla. But my brother urged him not to think +of going until he had met his former employer, assuring Tolleston that the old +man had made inquiry about and was anxious to meet him. The latter, however, +could not remember anything of urgent importance between them, and pleaded the +lateness of the hour and the necessity of his immediate return to town. The +more urgent Bob Quirk became, the more fidgety grew Archie. The last of the +cattle were passing the count as Tolleston turned away from my brother’s +entreaty, and giving his horse the rowel, started off on a gallop. But there +was a scattering field of horsemen to pass, and before the parting guest could +clear it, a half-dozen ropes circled in the air and deftly settled over his +horse’s neck and himself, one of which pinioned his arms. The boys were +expecting something of this nature, and fully half the men in Lovell’s employ +galloped up and formed a circle around the captive, now livid with rage. Archie +was cursing by both note and rhyme, and had managed to unearth a knife and was +trying to cut the lassos which fettered himself and horse, when Dorg Seay rode +in and rapped him over the knuckles with a six-shooter, saying, “Don’t do that, +sweetheart; those ropes cost thirty-five cents apiece.” +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately the knife was knocked from Tolleston’s hand and his six-shooter +secured, rendering him powerless to inflict injury to any one. The cattle count +had ended, and escorted by a cordon of mounted men, both horse and captive were +led over to where a contingent had gathered around to hear the result of the +count. I was merely a delighted spectator, and as the other men turned from the +cattle and met us, Lovell languidly threw one leg over his horse’s neck, and, +suppressing a smile, greeted his old foreman. +</p> + +<p> +“Hello, Archie,” said he; “it’s been some little time since last we met. I’ve +been hearing some bad reports about you, and was anxious to meet up and talk +matters over. Boys, take those ropes off his horse and give him back his irons; +I raised this man and made him the cow-hand he is, and there’s nothing so +serious between us that we should remain strangers. Now, Archie, I want you to +know that you are in the employ of my enemies, who are as big a set of +scoundrels as ever missed a halter. You and Flood, here, were the only two men +in my employ who knew all the facts in regard to the Buford contract. And just +because I wouldn’t favor you over a blind horse, you must hunt up the very men +who are trying to undermine me on this drive. No wonder they gave you +employment, for you’re a valuable man to them; but it’s at a serious loss,—the +loss of your honor. You can’t go home to Texas and again be respected among +men. This outfit you are with will promise you the earth, but the moment that +they’re through with you, you won’t cut any more figure than a last year’s +bird’s nest. They’ll throw you aside like an old boot, and you’ll fall so hard +that you’ll hear the clock tick in China. Now, Archie, it hurts me to see a +young fellow like you go wrong, and I’m willing to forgive the past and stretch +out a hand to save you. If you’ll quit those people, you can have Flood’s +cattle from here to the Rosebud Agency, or I’ll buy you a ticket home and you +can help with the fall work at the ranch. You may have a day or two to think +this matter over, and whatever you decide on will be final. You have shown +little gratitude for the opportunities that I’ve given you, but we’ll break the +old slate and start all over with a new one. Now, that’s all I wanted to say to +you, except to do your own thinking. If you’re going back to town, I’ll ride a +short distance with you.” +</p> + +<p> +The two rode away together, but halted within sight for a short conference, +after which Lovell returned. The cattle were being drifted east by the deputies +and several of our boys, the trail boss having called off his men on an +agreement of the count. The herd had tallied out thirty-six hundred and ten +head, but in making out the receipt, the fact was developed that there were +some six hundred beeves not in the regular road brand. These had been purchased +extra from another source, and had been paid for in full by the buyers, the +seller of the main herd agreeing to deliver them along with his own. This was +fortunate, as it increased the equity of the buyers in the cattle, and more +than established a sufficient interest to satisfy the judgment and all +expenses. +</p> + +<p> +Darkness was approaching, which hastened our actions. Two men from each outfit +present were detailed to hold the cattle that night, and were sent on ahead to +Priest’s camp to secure their suppers and a change of mounts. The deposed trail +boss accepted an invitation to accompany us and spend the night at one of our +wagons, and we rode away to overtake the drifting herd. The different outfits +one by one dropped out and rode for their camps; but as mine lay east and +across the river, the course of the herd was carrying me home. After passing +The Rebel’s wagon fully a half mile, we rounded in the herd, which soon lay +down to rest on the bedground. In the gathering twilight, the camp-fires of +nearly a dozen trail wagons were gleaming up and down the river, and while we +speculated with Sponsilier’s boys which one was ours, the guard arrived and +took the bedded herd. The two old cowmen and the trail boss had dropped out +opposite my brother’s camp, leaving something like ten men with the attached +beeves; but on being relieved by the first watch, Flood invited Sheriff +Phillips and his deputies across the river to spend the night with him. +</p> + +<p> +“Like to, mighty well, but can’t do it,” replied Phillips. “The sheriff’s +office is supposed to be in town, and not over on the North Fork, but I’ll +leave two of these deputies with you. Some of you had better ride in to-morrow, +for there may be overtures made looking towards a settlement; and treat those +beeves well, so that there can be no charge of damage to the cattle. +Good-night, everybody.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0015"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br/> +TOLLESTON BUTTS IN</h2> + +<p> +Morning dawned on a scene of pastoral grandeur. The valley of the North Platte +was dotted with cattle from hill and plain. The river, well confined within its +low banks, divided an unsurveyed domain of green-swarded meadows like a +boundary line between vast pastures. The exodus of cattle from Texas to the new +Northwest was nearing flood-tide, and from every swell and knoll the solitary +figure of the herdsman greeted the rising sun. +</p> + +<p> +Sponsilier and I had agreed to rejoin our own outfits at the first opportunity. +We might have exchanged places the evening before, but I had a horse and some +ammunition at Dave’s camp and was just contentious enough not to give up a +single animal from my own mount. On the other hand, Mr. Dave Sponsilier would +have traded whole remudas with me; but my love for a good horse was strong, and +Fort Buford was many a weary mile distant. Hence there was no surprise shown as +Sponsilier rode up to his own wagon that morning in time for breakfast. We were +good friends when personal advantages did not conflict, and where our +employer’s interests were at stake we stood shoulder to shoulder like comrades. +Yet Dave gave me a big jolly about being daffy over my horses, well knowing +that there is an indescribable nearness between one of our craft and his own +mount. But warding off his raillery, just the same and in due time, I cantered +away on my own horse. +</p> + +<p> +As I rode up the North Fork towards my outfit, the attached herd was in plain +view across the river. Arriving at my own wagon, I saw a mute appeal in every +face for permission to go to town, and consent was readily granted to all who +had not been excused on a similar errand the day before. The cook and +horse-wrangler were included, and the activities of the outfit in saddling and +getting away were suggestive of a prairie fire or a stampede. I accompanied +them across the river, and then turned upstream to my brother’s camp, promising +to join them later and make a full day of it. At Bob’s wagon they had stretched +a fly, and in its shade lounged half a dozen men, while an air of languid +indolence pervaded the camp. Without dismounting, I announced myself as on the +way to town, and invited any one who wished to accompany me. Lovell and Reed +both declined; half of Bob’s men had been excused and started an hour before, +but my brother assured me that if I would wait until the deposed foreman +returned, the latter’s company could be counted on. I waited, and in the course +of half an hour the trail boss came back from his cattle. During the interim, +the two old cowmen reviewed Grant’s siege of Vicksburg, both having been +participants, but on opposite sides. While the guest was shifting his saddle to +a loaned horse, I inquired if there was anything that I could attend to for any +one at Ogalalla. Lovell could think of nothing; but as we mounted to start, +Reed aroused himself, and coming over, rested the stub of his armless sleeve on +my horse’s neck, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“You boys might drop into the sheriff’s office as you go in and also again as +you are starting back. Report the cattle as having spent a quiet night and ask +Phillips if he has any word for me.” +</p> + +<p> +Turning to the trail boss he continued: “Young man, I would suggest that you +hunt up your employer and have him stir things up. The cattle will be well +taken care of, but we’re just as anxious to turn them back to you as you are to +receive them. Tell the seller that it would be well worth his while to see +Lovell and myself before going any farther. We can put him in possession of a +few facts that may save him time and trouble. I reckon that’s about all. Oh, +yes, I’ll be at this wagon all evening.” +</p> + +<p> +My brother rode a short distance with us and introduced the stranger as Hugh +Morris. He proved a sociable fellow, had made three trips up the trail as +foreman, his first two herds having gone to the Cherokee Strip under contract. +By the time we reached Ogalalla, as strong a fraternal level existed between us +as though we had known each other for years. Halting for a moment at the +sheriff’s office, we delivered our messages, after which we left our horses at +the same corral with the understanding that we would ride back together. A few +drinks were indulged in before parting, then each went to attend to his own +errands, but we met frequently during the day. Once my boys were provided with +funds, they fell to gambling so eagerly that they required no further thought +on my part until evening. Several times during the day I caught glimpses of +Tolleston, always on horseback, and once surrounded by quite a cavalcade of +horsemen. Morris and I took dinner at the hotel where the trio of government +jobbers were stopping. They were in evidence, and amongst the jolliest of the +guests, commanding and receiving the best that the hostelry afforded. Sutton +was likewise present, but quiet and unpretentious, and I thought there was a +false, affected note in the hilarity of the ringsters, and for effect. I was +known to two of the trio, but managed to overhear any conversation which was +adrift. After dinner and over fragrant cigars, they reared their feet high on +an outer gallery, and the inference could be easily drawn that a contract, +unless it involved millions, was beneath their notice. +</p> + +<p> +Morris informed me that his employer’s suspicions were aroused, and that he had +that morning demanded a settlement in full or the immediate release of the +herd. They had laughed the matter off as a mere incident that would right +itself at the proper time, and flashed as references a list of congressmen, +senators, and bankers galore. But Morris’s employer had stood firm in his +contentions, refusing to be overawed by flattery or empty promises. What would +be the result remained to be seen, and the foreman and myself wandered +aimlessly around town during the afternoon, meeting other trail bosses, nearly +all of whom had heard more or less about the existing trouble. That we had the +sympathy of the cattle interests on our side goes without saying, and one of +them, known as “the kidgloved foreman,” a man in the employ of Shanghai Pierce, +invoked the powers above to witness what would happen if he were in Lovell’s +boots. This was my first meeting with the picturesque trail boss, though I had +heard of him often and found him a trifle boastful but not a bad fellow. He +distinguished himself from others of his station on the trail by always wearing +white shirts, kid gloves, riding-boots, inlaid spurs, while a heavy silver +chain was wound several times round a costly sombrero in lieu of a hatband. We +spent an hour or more together, drinking sparingly, and at parting he begged +that I would assure my employer that he sympathized with him and was at his +command. +</p> + +<p> +The afternoon was waning when I hunted up my outfit and started them for camp. +With one or two exceptions, the boys were broke and perfectly willing to go. +Morris and I joined them at the livery where they had left their horses, and +together we started out of town. Ordering them to ride on to camp, and saying +that I expected to return by way of Bob Quirk’s wagon, Morris and myself +stopped at the court-house. Sheriff Phillips was in his office and recognized +us both at a glance. “Well, she’s working,” said he, “and I’ll probably have +some word for you late this evening. Yes, one of the local attorneys for your +friends came in and we figured everything up. He thought that if this office +would throw off a certain per cent. of its expense, and Reed would knock off +the interest, his clients would consent to a settlement. I told him to go right +back and tell his people that as long as they thought that way, it would only +cost them one hundred and forty dollars every twenty-four hours.” The lawyer +was back within twenty minutes, bringing a draft, covering every item, and +urged me to have it accepted by wire. The bank was closed, but I found the +cashier in a poker-game and played his hand while he went over to the depot and +sent the message. “The operator has orders to send a duplicate of the answer to +this office, and the moment I get it, if favorable, I’ll send a deputy with the +news over to the North Fork. Tell Reed that I think the check’s all right this +time, but we’ll stand pat until we know for a certainty. We’ll get an answer by +morning sure.” +</p> + +<p> +The message was hailed with delight at Bob Quirk’s wagon. On nearing the river, +Morris rode by way of the herd to ask the deputies in charge to turn the cattle +up the river towards his camp. Several of the foreman’s men were waiting at my +brother’s wagon, and on Morris’s return he ordered his outfit to meet the +beeves the next morning and be in readiness to receive them back. Our foremen +were lying around temporary headquarters, and as we were starting for our +respective camps for the night, Lovell suggested that we hold our outfits all +ready to move out with the herds on an hour’s notice. Accordingly the next +morning, I refused every one leave of absence, and gave special orders to the +cook and horse-wrangler to have things in hand to start on an emergency order. +Jim Flood had agreed to wait for me, and we would recross the river together +and hear the report from the sheriff’s office. Forrest and Sponsilier rode up +about the same time we arrived at his wagon, and all four of us set out for +headquarters across the North Fork. The sun was several hours high when we +reached the wagon, and learned that an officer had arrived during the night +with a favorable answer, that the cattle had been turned over to Morris without +a count, and that the deputies had started for town at daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, boys,” said Lovell, as we came in after picketing our horses, “Reed, +here, wins out, but we’re just as much at sea as ever. I’ve looked the +situation over from a dozen different viewpoints, and the only thing to do is +graze across country and tender our cattle at Fort Buford. It’s my nature to +look on the bright side of things, and yet I’m old enough to know that justice, +in a world so full of injustice, is a rarity. By allowing the earnest-money +paid at Dodge to apply, some kind of a compromise might be effected, whereby I +could get rid of two of these herds, with three hundred saddle horses thrown +back on my hands at the Yellowstone River. I might dispose of the third herd +here and give the remuda away, but at a total loss of at least thirty thousand +dollars on the Buford cattle. But then there’s my bond to The Western Supply +Company, and if this herd of Morris’s fails to respond on the day of delivery, +I know who will have to make good. An Indian uprising, or the enforcement of +quarantine against Texas fever, or any one of a dozen things might tie up the +herd, and September the 15th come and go and no beef offered on the contract. +I’ve seen outfits start out and never get through with the chuck-wagon, even. +Sutton’s advice is good; we’ll tender the cattle. There is a chance that we’ll +get turned down, but if we do, I have enough indemnity money in my possession +to temper the wind if the day of delivery should prove a chilly one to us. I +think you had all better start in the morning.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man’s review of the situation was a rational one, in which Jim Reed and +the rest of us concurred. Several of the foremen, among them myself, were +anxious to start at once, but Lovell urged that we kill a beef before starting +and divide it up among the six outfits. He also proposed to Flood that they go +into town during the afternoon and freely announce our departure in the +morning, hoping to force any issue that might be smouldering in the enemy’s +camp. The outlook for an early departure was hailed with delight by the older +foremen, and we younger and more impulsive ones yielded. The cook had orders to +get up something extra for dinner, and we played cards and otherwise lounged +around until the midday meal was announced as ready. A horse had been gotten up +for Lovell to ride and was on picket, all the relieved men from the attached +herd were at Bob’s wagon for dinner, and jokes and jollity graced the occasion. +But near the middle of the noon repast, some one sighted a mounted man coming +at a furious pace for the camp, and shortly the horseman dashed up and inquired +for Lovell. We all arose, when the messenger dismounted and handed my employer +a letter. Tearing open the missive, the old man read it and turned ashy pale. +The message was from Mike Sutton, stating that a fourth member of the ring had +arrived during the forenoon, accompanied by a United States marshal from the +federal court at Omaha; that the officer was armed with an order of injunctive +relief; that he had deputized thirty men whom Tolleston had gathered, and +proposed taking possession of the two herds in question that afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +“Like hell they will,” said Don Lovell, as he started for his horse. His action +was followed by every man present, including the one-armed guest, and within a +few minutes thirty men swung into saddles, subject to orders. The camps of the +two herds at issue were about four and five miles down and across the river, +and no doubt Tolleston knew of their location, as they were only a little more +than an hour’s ride from Ogalalla. There was no time to be lost, and as we +hastily gathered around the old man, he said: “Ride for your outfits, boys, and +bring along every man you can spare. We’ll meet north of the river about midway +between Quince’s and Tom’s camps. Bring all the cartridges you have, and don’t +spare your horses going or coming.” +</p> + +<p> +Priest’s wagon was almost on a line with mine, though south of the river. +Fortunately I was mounted on one of the best horses in my string, and having +the farthest to go, shook the kinks out of him as old Paul and myself tore down +the mesa. After passing The Rebel’s camp, I held my course as long as the +footing was solid, but on encountering the first sand, crossed the river nearly +opposite the appointed rendezvous. The North Platte was fordable at any point, +flowing but a midsummer stage of water, with numerous wagon crossings, its +shallow channel being about one hundred yards wide. I reined in my horse for +the first time near the middle of the stream, as the water reached my +saddle-skirts; when I came out on the other side, Priest and his boys were not +a mile behind me. As I turned down the river, casting a backward glance, squads +of horsemen were galloping in from several quarters and joining a larger one +which was throwing up clouds of dust like a column of cavalry. In making a +cut-off to reach my camp, I crossed a sand dune from which I sighted the +marshal’s posse less than two miles distant. My boys were gambling among +themselves, not a horse under saddle, and did not notice my approach until I +dashed up. Three lads were on herd, but the rest, including the wrangler, ran +for their mounts on picket, while Parent and myself ransacked the wagon for +ammunition. Fortunately the supply of the latter was abundant, and while +saddles were being cinched on horses, the cook and I divided the ammunition and +distributed it among the men. The few minutes’ rest refreshed my horse, but as +we dashed away, the boys yelling like Comanches, the five-mile ride had bested +him and he fell slightly behind. As we turned into the open valley, it was a +question if we or the marshal would reach the stream first; he had followed an +old wood road and would strike the river nearly opposite Forrest’s camp. The +horses were excited and straining every nerve, and as we neared our crowd the +posse halted on the south side and I noticed a conveyance among them in which +were seated four men. There was a moment’s consultation held, when the posse +entered the water and began fording the stream, the vehicle and its occupants +remaining on the other side. We had halted in a circle about fifty yards back +from the river-bank, and as the first two men came out of the water, Don Lovell +rode forward several lengths of his horse, and with his hand motioned to them +to halt. The leaders stopped within easy speaking distance, the remainder of +the posse halting in groups at their rear, when Lovell demanded the meaning of +this demonstration. +</p> + +<p> +An inquiry and answer followed identifying the speakers. “In pursuance of an +order from the federal court of this jurisdiction,” continued the marshal, “I +am vested with authority to take into my custody two herds, numbering nearly +seven thousand beeves, now in your possession, and recently sold to Field, +Radcliff & Co. for government purposes. I propose to execute my orders +peaceably, and any interference on your part will put you and your men in +contempt of government authority. If resistance is offered, I can, if +necessary, have a company of United States cavalry here from Fort Logan within +forty-eight hours to enforce the mandates of the federal court. Now my advice +to you would be to turn these cattle over without further controversy.” +</p> + +<p> +“And my advice to you,” replied Lovell, “is to go back to your federal court +and tell that judge that as a citizen of these United States, and one who has +borne arms in her defense, I object to having snap judgment rendered against +me. If the honorable court which you have the pleasure to represent is willing +to dispossess me of my property in favor of a ring of government thieves, and +on only hearing one side of the question, then consider me in contempt. I’ll +gladly go back to Omaha with you, but you can’t so much as look at a hoof in my +possession. Now call your troops, or take me with you for treating with scorn +the orders of your court.” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile every man on our side had an eye on Archie Tolleston, who had +gradually edged forward until his horse stood beside that of the marshal. +Before the latter could frame a reply to Lovell’s ultimatum, Tolleston said to +the federal officer: +</p> + +<p> +“Didn’t my employers tell you that the old —— — — —— would defy you without a +demonstration of soldiers at your back? Now, the laugh’s on you, and—” +</p> + +<p> +“No, it’s on you,” interrupted a voice at my back, accompanied by a pistol +report. My horse jumped forward, followed by a fusillade of shots behind me, +when the hireling deputies turned and plunged into the river. Tolleston had +wheeled his horse, joining the retreat, and as I brought my six-shooter into +action and was in the act of leveling on him, he reeled from the saddle, but +clung to the neck of his mount as the animal dashed into the water. I held my +fire in the hope that he would right in the saddle and afford me a shot, but he +struck a swift current, released his hold, and sunk out of sight. Above the din +and excitement of the moment, I heard a voice which I recognized as Reed’s, +shouting, “Cut loose on that team, boys! blaze away at those harness horses!” +Evidently the team had been burnt by random firing, for they were rearing and +plunging, and as I fired my first shot at them, the occupants sprang out of the +vehicle and the team ran away. A lull occurred in the shooting, to eject shells +and refill cylinders, which Lovell took advantage of by ordering back a number +of impulsive lads, who were determined to follow up the fleeing deputies. +</p> + +<p> +“Come back here, you rascals, and stop this shooting!” shouted the old man. +“Stop it, now, or you’ll land me in a federal prison for life! Those horsemen +may be deceived. When federal courts can be deluded with sugar-coated +blandishments, ordinary men ought to be excusable.” +</p> + +<p> +Six-shooters were returned to their holsters. Several horses and two men on our +side had received slight flesh wounds, as there had been a random return fire. +The deputies halted well out of pistol range, covering the retreat of the +occupants of the carriage as best they could, but leaving three dead horses in +plain view. As we dropped back towards Forrest’s wagon, the team in the mean +time having been caught, those on foot were picked up and given seats in the +conveyance. Meanwhile a remuda of horses and two chuck-wagons were sighted back +on the old wood road, but a horseman met and halted them and they turned back +for Ogalalla. On reaching our nearest camp, the posse south of the river had +started on their return, leaving behind one of their number in the muddy waters +of the North Platte. +</p> + +<p> +Late that evening, as we were preparing to leave for our respective camps, +Lovell said to the assembled foremen: “Quince will take Reed and me into +Ogalalla about midnight. If Sutton advises it, all three of us will go down to +Omaha and try and square things. I can’t escape a severe fine, but what do I +care as long as I have their money to pay it with? The killing of that fool boy +worries me more than a dozen fines. It was uncalled for, too, but he would butt +in, and you fellows were all itching for the chance to finger a trigger. Now +the understanding is that you all start in the morning.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0016"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br/> +CROSSING THE NIOBRARA</h2> + +<p> +The parting of the ways was reached. On the morning of July 12, the different +outfits in charge of Lovell’s drive in ’84 started on three angles of the +compass for their final destination. The Rosebud Agency, where Flood’s herd was +to be delivered on September 1, lay to the northeast in Dakota. The route was +not direct, and the herd would be forced to make quite an elbow, touching on +the different forks of the Loup in order to secure water. The Rebel and my +brother would follow up on the south side of the North Platte until near old +Fort Laramie, when their routes would separate, the latter turning north for +Montana, while Priest would continue along the same watercourse to within a +short distance of his destination. The Buford herds would strike due north from +the first tributary putting in from above, which we would intercept the second +morning out. +</p> + +<p> +An early start was the order of the day. My beeves were pushed from the +bed-ground with the first sign of dawn, and when the relief overtook them, they +were several miles back from the river and holding a northwest course. My camp +being the lowest one on the North Fork, Forrest and Sponsilier, also starting +at daybreak, naturally took the lead, the latter having fully a five-mile start +over my outfit. But as we left the valley and came up on the mesa, there on an +angle in our front, Flood’s herd snailed along like an army brigade, anxious to +dispute our advance. The point-men veered our cattle slightly to the left, and +as the drag-end of Flood’s beeves passed before us, standing in our stirrups we +waved our hats in farewell to the lads, starting on their last tack for the +Rosebud Agency. Across the river were the dim outlines of two herds trailing +upstream, being distinguishable from numerous others by the dust-clouds which +marked the moving from the grazing cattle. The course of the North Platte was +southwest, and on the direction which we were holding, we would strike the +river again during the afternoon at a bend some ten or twelve miles above. +</p> + +<p> +Near the middle of the forenoon we were met by Hugh Morris. He was discouraged, +as it was well known now that his cattle would be tendered in competition with +ours at Fort Buford. There was no comparison between the beeves, ours being +much larger, more uniform in weight, and in better flesh. He looked over both +Forrest’s and Sponsilier’s herds before meeting us, and was good enough judge +of cattle to know that his stood no chance against ours, if they were to be +received on their merits. We talked matters over for fully an hour, and I +advised him never to leave Keith County until the last dollar in payment for +his beeves was in hand. Morris thought this was quite possible, as information +had reached him that the buyers had recently purchased a remuda, and now, since +they had failed to take possession of two of Lovell’s herds, it remained to be +seen what the next move would be. He thought it quite likely, though, that a +settlement could be effected whereby he would be relieved at Ogalalla. Mutually +hoping that all would turn out well, we parted until our paths should cross +again. +</p> + +<p> +We intercepted the North Fork again during the afternoon, watering from it for +the last time, and the next morning struck the Blue River, the expected +tributary. Sponsilier maintained his position in the lead, but I was certain +when we reached the source of the Blue, David would fall to the rear, as +thenceforth there was neither trail nor trace, map nor compass. The year +before, Forrest and I had been over the route to the Pine Ridge Agency, and one +or the other of us must take the lead across a dry country between the present +stream and tributaries of the Niobrara. The Blue possessed the attributes of a +river in name only, and the third day up it, Sponsilier crossed the tributary +to allow either Forrest or myself to take the lead. Quince professed a +remarkable ignorance and faulty memory as to the topography of the country +between the Blue and Niobrara, and threw bouquets at me regarding my ability +always to find water. It is true that I had gone and returned across this arid +belt the year before, but on the back trip it was late in the fall, and we were +making forty miles a day with nothing but a wagon and remuda, water being the +least of my troubles. But a compromise was effected whereby we would both ride +out the country anew, leaving the herds to lie over on the head waters of the +Blue River. There were several shallow lakes in the intervening country, and on +finding the first one sufficient to our needs, the herds were brought up, and +we scouted again in advance. The abundance of antelope was accepted as an +assurance of water, and on recognizing certain landmarks, I agreed to take the +lead thereafter, and we turned back. The seventh day out from the Blue, the Box +Buttes were sighted, at the foot of which ran a creek by the same name, and an +affluent of the Niobrara. Contrary to expectations, water was even more +plentiful than the year before, and we grazed nearly the entire distance. The +antelope were unusually tame; with six-shooters we killed quite a number by +flagging, or using a gentle horse for a blind, driving the animal forward with +the bridle reins, tacking frequently, and allowing him to graze up within +pistol range. +</p> + +<p> +The Niobrara was a fine grazing country. Since we had over two months at our +disposal, after leaving the North Platte, every advantage was given the cattle +to round into form. Ten miles was a day’s move, and the different outfits kept +in close touch with each other. We had planned a picnic for the crossing of the +Niobrara, and on reaching that stream during the afternoon, Sponsilier and +myself crossed, camping a mile apart, Forrest remaining on the south side. Wild +raspberries had been extremely plentiful, and every wagon had gathered a +quantity sufficient to make a pie for each man. The cooks had mutually agreed +to meet at Sponsilier’s wagon and do the baking, and every man not on herd was +present in expectation of the coming banquet. One of Forrest’s boys had a +fiddle, and bringing it along, the festivities opened with a stag dance, the +“ladies” being designated by wearing a horse-hobble loosely around their necks. +While the pies were baking, a slow process with Dutch ovens, I sat on the +wagon-tongue and played the violin by the hour. A rude imitation of the gentler +sex, as we had witnessed in dance-halls in Dodge and Ogalalla, was reproduced +with open shirt fronts, and amorous advances by the sterner one. +</p> + +<p> +The dancing ceased the moment the banquet was ready. The cooks had experienced +considerable trouble in restraining some of the boys from the too free exercise +of what they looked upon as the inalienable right of man to eat his pie when, +where, and how it best pleased him. But Sponsilier, as host, stood behind the +culinary trio, and overawed the impetuous guests. The repast barely concluded +in time for the wranglers and first guard from Forrest’s and my outfit to reach +camp, catch night-horses, bed the cattle, and excuse the herders, as supper was +served only at the one wagon. The relieved ones, like eleventh-hour guests, +came tearing in after darkness, and the tempting spread soon absorbed them. As +the evening wore on, the loungers gathered in several circles, and the +raconteur held sway. The fact that we were in a country in which game abounded +suggested numerous stories. The delights of cat-hunting by night found an +enthusiast in each one present. Every dog in our memory, back to early boyhood, +was properly introduced and his best qualities applauded. Not only cat-hounds +but coon-dogs had a respectful hearing. +</p> + +<p> +“I remember a hound,” said Forrest’s wrangler, “which I owned when a boy back +in Virginia. My folks lived in the foot-hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in +that state. We were just as poor as our poorest neighbors. But if there was any +one thing that that section was rich in it was dogs, principally hounds. This +dog of mine was four years old when I left home to go to Texas. Fine hound, +swallow marked, and when he opened on a scent you could always tell what it was +that he was running. I never allowed him to run with packs, but generally used +him in treeing coon, which pestered the cornfields during roasting-ear season +and in the fall. Well, after I had been out in Texas about five years, I +concluded to go back on a little visit to the old folks. There were no +railroads within twenty miles of my home, and I had to hoof it that distance, +so I arrived after dark. Of course my return was a great surprise to my folks, +and we sat up late telling stories about things out West. I had worked with +cattle all the time, and had made one trip over the trail from Collin County to +Abilene, Kansas. +</p> + +<p> +“My folks questioned me so fast that they gave me no show to make any inquiries +in return, but I finally eased one in and asked about my dog Keiser, and was +tickled to hear that he was still living. I went out and called him, but he +failed to show up, when mother explained his absence by saying that he often +went out hunting alone now, since there was none of us boys at home to hunt +with him. They told me that he was no account any longer; that he had grown old +and gray, and father said he was too slow on trail to be of any use. I noticed +that it was a nice damp night, and if my old dog had been there, I think I’d +have taken a circle around the fields in the hope of hearing him sing once +more. Well, we went back into the house, and after talking awhile longer, I +climbed into the loft and went to bed. I didn’t sleep very sound that night, +and awakened several times. About an hour before daybreak, I awoke suddenly and +imagined I heard a hound baying faintly in the distance. Finally I got up and +opened the board window in the gable and listened. Say, boys, I knew that +hound’s baying as well as I know my own saddle. It was old Keiser, and he had +something treed about a mile from the house, across a ridge over in some +slashes. I slipped on my clothes, crept downstairs, and taking my old man’s +rifle out of the rack, started to him. +</p> + +<p> +“It was as dark as a stack of black cats, but I knew every path and byway by +heart. I followed the fields as far as I could, and later, taking into the +timber, I had to go around a long swamp. An old beaver dam had once crossed the +outlet of this marsh, and once I gained it, I gave a long yell to let the dog +know that some one was coming. He answered me, and quite a little while before +day broke I reached him. Did he know me? Why, he knew me as easy as the little +boy knew his pap. Right now, I can’t remember any simple thing in my whole life +that moved me just as that little reunion of me and my dog, there in those +woods that morning. Why, he howled with delight. He licked my face and hands +and stood up on me with his wet feet and said just as plain as he could that he +was glad to see me again. And I was glad to meet him, even though he did make +me feel as mellow as a girl over a baby. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, when daybreak came, I shot a nice big fat Mr. Zip Coon out of an old +pin-oak, and we started for home like old pardners. Old as he was, he played +like a puppy around me, and when we came in sight of the house, he ran on ahead +and told the folks what he had found. Yes, you bet he told them. He came near +clawing all the clothing off them in his delight. That’s one reason I always +like a dog and a poor man—you can’t question their friendship.” +</p> + +<p> +A circus was in progress on the other side of the wagon. From a large rock, +Jake Blair was announcing the various acts and introducing the actors and +actresses. Runt Pickett, wearing a skirt made out of a blanket and belted with +a hobble, won the admiration of all as the only living lady lion-tamer. +Resuming comfortable positions on our side of the commissary, a lad named +Waterwall, one of Sponsilier’s boys, took up the broken thread where Forrest’s +wrangler had left off. +</p> + +<p> +“The greatest dog-man I ever knew,” said he, “lived on the Guadalupe River. His +name was Dave Hapfinger, and he had the loveliest vagabond temperament of any +man I ever saw. It mattered nothing what he was doing, all you had to do was to +give old Dave a hint that you knew where there was fish to be caught, or a +bee-course to hunt, and he would stop the plow and go with you for a week if +necessary. He loved hounds better than any man I ever knew. You couldn’t confer +greater favor than to give him a promising hound pup, or, seeking the same, ask +for one of his raising. And he was such a good fellow. If any one was sick in +the neighborhood, Uncle Dave always had time to kill them a squirrel every day; +and he could make a broth for a baby, or fry a young squirrel, in a manner that +would make a sick man’s mouth water. +</p> + +<p> +“When I was a boy, I’ve laid around many a camp-fire this way and listened to +old Dave tell stories. He was quite a humorist in his way, and possessed a +wonderful memory. He could tell you the day of the month, thirty years before, +when he went to mill one time and found a peculiar bird’s nest on the way. +Colonel Andrews, owner of several large plantations, didn’t like Dave, and +threatened to prosecute him once for cutting a bee-tree on his land. If the +evidence had been strong enough, I reckon the Colonel would. No doubt Uncle +Dave was guilty, but mere suspicion isn’t sufficient proof. +</p> + +<p> +“Colonel Andrews was a haughty old fellow, blue-blooded and proud as a peacock, +and about the only way Dave could get even with him was in his own mild, +humorous way. One day at dinner at a neighboring log-rolling, when all danger +of prosecution for cutting the bee-tree had passed, Uncle Dave told of a recent +dream of his, a pure invention. ‘I dreamt,’ said he, ‘that Colonel Andrews died +and went to heaven. There was an unusually big commotion at St. Peter’s gate on +his arrival. A troop of angels greeted him, still the Colonel seemed displeased +at his reception. But the welcoming hosts humored him forward, and on nearing +the throne, the Almighty, recognizing the distinguished arrival, vacated the +throne and came down to greet the Colonel personally. At this mark of +appreciation, he relaxed a trifle, and when the Almighty insisted that he +should take the throne seat, Colonel Andrews actually smiled for the first time +on earth or in heaven.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Uncle Dave told this story so often that he actually believed it himself. But +finally a wag friend of Colonel Andrews told of a dream which he had had about +old Dave, which the latter hugely enjoyed. According to this second vagary, the +old vagabond had also died and gone to heaven. There was some trouble at St. +Peter’s gate, as they refused to admit dogs, and Uncle Dave always had a troop +of hounds at his heels. When he found that it was useless to argue the matter, +he finally yielded the point and left the pack outside. Once inside the gate he +stopped, bewildered at the scene before him. But after waiting inside some +little time unnoticed, he turned and was on the point of asking the gate-keeper +to let him out, when an angel approached and asked him to stay. There was some +doubt in Dave’s mind if he would like the place, but the messenger urged that +he remain and at least look the city over. The old hunter goodnaturedly +consented, and as they started up one of the golden streets Uncle Dave +recognized an old friend who had once given him a hound pup. Excusing himself +to the angel, he rushed over to his former earthly friend and greeted him with +warmth and cordiality. The two old cronies talked and talked about the things +below, and finally Uncle Dave asked if there was any hunting up there. The +reply was disappointing. +</p> + +<p> +“Meanwhile the angel kept urging Uncle Dave forward to salute the throne. But +he loitered along, meeting former hunting acquaintances, and stopping with each +for a social chat. When they finally neared the throne, the patience of the +angel was nearly exhausted; and as old Dave looked up and saw Colonel Andrews +occupying the throne, he rebelled and refused to salute, when the angel +wrathfully led him back to the gate and kicked him out among his dogs.” +</p> + +<p> +Jack Splann told a yarn about the friendship of a pet lamb and dog which he +owned when a boy. It was so unreasonable that he was interrupted on nearly +every assertion. Long before he had finished, Sponsilier checked his narrative +and informed him that if he insisted on doling out fiction he must have some +consideration for his listeners, and at least tell it within reason. Splann +stopped right there and refused to conclude his story, though no one but myself +seemed to regret it. I had a true incident about a dog which I expected to +tell, but the audience had become too critical, and I kept quiet. As it was +evident that no more dog stories would be told, the conversation was allowed to +drift at will. The recent shooting on the North Platte had been witnessed by +nearly every one present, and was suggestive of other scenes. +</p> + +<p> +“I have always contended,” said Dorg Seay, “that the man who can control his +temper always shoots the truest. You take one of these fellows that can smile +and shoot at the same time—they are the boys that I want to stand in with. But +speaking of losing the temper, did any of you ever see a woman real angry,—not +merely cross, but the tigress in her raging and thirsting to tear you limb from +limb? I did only once, but I have never forgotten the occasion. In supreme +anger the only superior to this woman I ever witnessed was Captain Cartwright +when he shot the slayer of his only son. He was as cool as a cucumber, as his +only shot proved, but years afterward when he told me of the incident, he lost +all control of himself, and fire flashed from his eyes like from the muzzle of +a six-shooter. ‘Dorg,’ said he, unconsciously shaking me like a terrier does a +rat, his blazing eyes not a foot from my face, ‘Dorg, when I shot that cowardly +—— — — ——, I didn’t miss the centre of his forehead the width of my thumb +nail.’ +</p> + +<p> +“But this woman defied a throng of men. Quite a few of the crowd had assisted +the night before in lynching her husband, and this meeting occurred at the +burying-ground the next afternoon. The woman’s husband was a well-known +horse-thief, a dissolute, dangerous character, and had been warned to leave the +community. He lived in a little village, and after darkness the evening before, +had crept up to a window and shot a man sitting at the supper-table with his +family. The murderer had harbored a grudge against his victim, had made +threats, and before he could escape, was caught red-handed with the freshly +fired pistol in his hand. The evidence of guilt was beyond question, and a +vigilance committee didn’t waste any time in hanging him to the nearest tree. +</p> + +<p> +“The burying took place the next afternoon. The murdered man was a popular +citizen, and the village and country turned out to pay their last respects. But +when the services were over, a number of us lingered behind, as it was +understood that the slayer as well as his victim would be interred in the same +grounds. A second grave had been prepared, and within an hour a wagon +containing a woman, three small children, and several Mexicans drove up to the +rear side of the inclosure. There was no mistaking the party, the coffin was +carried in to the open grave, when every one present went over to offer +friendly services. But as we neared the little group the woman picked up a +shovel and charged on us like a tigress. I never saw such an expression of +mingled anger and anguish in a human countenance as was pictured in that +woman’s face. We shrank from her as if she had been a lioness, and when at last +she found her tongue, every word cut like a lash. Livid with rage, the spittle +frothing from her mouth, she drove us away, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“‘Oh, you fiends of hell, when did I ask your help? Like the curs you are, you +would lick up the blood of your victim! Had you been friends to me or mine, why +did you not raise your voice in protest when they were strangling the life out +of the father of my children? Away, you cowardly hounds! I’ve hired a few +Mexicans to help me, and I want none of your sympathy in this hour. Was it your +hand that cut him down from the tree this morning, and if it was not, why do I +need you now? Is my shame not enough in your eyes but that you must taunt me +further? Do my innocent children want to look upon the faces of those who +robbed them of a father? If there is a spark of manhood left in one of you, +show it by leaving me alone! And you other scum, never fear but that you will +clutter hell in reward for last night’s work. Begone, and leave me with my +dead!’” +</p> + +<p> +The circus had ended. The lateness of the hour was unobserved by any one until +John Levering asked me if he should bring in my horse. It lacked less than half +an hour until the guards should change, and it was high time our outfit was +riding for camp. The innate modesty of my wrangler, in calling attention to the +time, was not forgotten, but instead of permitting him to turn servant, I asked +him to help our cook look after his utensils. On my return to the wagon, Parent +was trying to quiet a nervous horse so as to allow him to carry the Dutch oven +returning. But as Levering was in the act of handing up the heavy oven, one of +Forrest’s men, hoping to make the animal buck, attempted to place a briar stem +under the horse’s tail. Sponsilier detected the movement in time to stop it, +and turning to the culprit, said: “None of that, my bully boy. I have no +objection to killing a cheap cow-hand, but these cooks have won me, hands down. +If ever I run across a girl who can make as good pies as we had for supper, she +can win the affections of my young and trusting heart.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0017"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br/> +WATER-BOUND</h2> + +<p> +Our route was carrying us to the eastward of the Black Hills. The regular trail +to the Yellowstone and Montana points was by the way of the Powder River, +through Wyoming; but as we were only grazing across to our destination, the +most direct route was adopted. The first week after leaving the Niobrara was +without incident, except the meeting with a band of Indians, who were gathering +and drying the wild fruit in which the country abounded. At first sighting +their camp we were uneasy, holding the herd close together; but as they proved +friendly, we relaxed and shared our tobacco with the men. The women were nearly +all of one stature, short, heavy, and repulsive in appearance, while the men +were tall, splendid specimens of the aborigines, and as uniform in a dozen +respects as the cattle we were driving. Communication was impossible, except by +signs, but the chief had a letter of permission from the agent at Pine Ridge, +allowing himself and band a month’s absence from the reservation on a berrying +expedition. The bucks rode with us for hours, silently absorbed in the beeves, +and towards evening turned and galloped away for their encampment. +</p> + +<p> +It must have been the latter part of July when we reached the South Fork of the +Big Cheyenne River. The lead was first held by one and then the other herd, but +on reaching that watercourse, we all found it more formidable than we expected. +The stage of water was not only swimming, but where we struck it, the river had +an abrupt cut-bank on one side or the other. Sponsilier happened to be in the +lead, and Forrest and myself held back to await the decision of the veteran +foreman. The river ran on a northwest angle where we encountered it, and Dave +followed down it some distance looking for a crossing. The herds were only +three or four miles apart, and assistance could have been rendered each other, +but it was hardly to be expected that an older foreman would ask either advice +or help from younger ones. Hence Quince and myself were in no hurry, nor did we +intrude ourselves on David the pathfinder, but sought out a crossing up the +river and on our course. A convenient riffle was soon found in the river which +would admit the passage of the wagons without rafting, if a cut-bank on the +south side could be overcome. There was an abrupt drop of about ten feet to the +water level, and I argued that a wagon-way could be easily cut in the bank and +the commissaries lowered to the river’s edge with a rope to the rear axle. +Forrest also favored the idea, and I was authorized to cross the wagons in case +a suitable ford could be found for the cattle. My aversion to manual labor was +quite pronounced, yet John Q. Forrest wheedled me into accepting the task of +making a wagon-road. About a mile above the riffle, a dry wash cut a gash in +the bluff bank on the opposite side, which promised the necessary passageway +for the herds out of the river. The slope on the south side was gradual, +affording an easy inlet to the water, the only danger being on the other bank, +the dry wash not being over thirty feet wide. But we both agreed that by +putting the cattle in well above the passageway, even if the current was swift, +an easy and successful ford would result. Forrest volunteered to cross the +cattle, and together we returned to the herds for dinner. +</p> + +<p> +Quince allowed me one of his men besides the cook, and detailed Clay Zilligan +to assist with the wagons. We took my remuda, the spades and axes, and started +for the riffle. The commissaries had orders to follow up, and Forrest rode away +with a supercilious air, as if the crossing of wagons was beneath the attention +of a foreman of his standing. Several hours of hard work were spent with the +implements at hand in cutting the wagon-way through the bank, after which my +saddle horses were driven up and down; and when it was pronounced finished, it +looked more like a beaver-slide than a roadway. But a strong stake was cut and +driven into the ground, and a corral-rope taken from the axle to it; without +detaching the teams, the wagons were eased down the incline and crossed in +safety, the water not being over three feet deep in the shallows. I was elated +over the ease and success of my task, when Zilligan called attention to the +fact that the first herd had not yet crossed. The chosen ford was out of sight, +but had the cattle been crossing, we could have easily seen them on the mesa +opposite. “Well,” said Clay, “the wagons are over, and what’s more, all the +mules in the three outfits couldn’t bring one of them back up that cliff.” +</p> + +<p> +We mounted our horses, paying no attention to Zilligan’s note of warning, and +started up the river. But before we came in view of the ford, a great shouting +reached our ears, and giving our horses the rowel, we rounded a bend, only to +be confronted with the river full of cattle which had missed the passageway out +on the farther side. A glance at the situation revealed a dangerous +predicament, as the swift water and the contour of the river held the animals +on the farther side or under the cut-bank. In numerous places there was footing +on the narrow ledges to which the beeves clung like shipwrecked sailors, +constantly crowding each other off into the current and being carried +downstream hundreds of yards before again catching a foothold. Above and below +the chosen ford, the river made a long gradual bend, the current and deepest +water naturally hugged the opposite shore, and it was impossible for the cattle +to turn back, though the swimming water was not over forty yards wide. As we +dashed up, the outfit succeeded in cutting the train of cattle and turning them +back, though fully five hundred were in the river, while not over one fifth +that number had crossed in safety. Forrest was as cool as could be expected, +and exercised an elegant command of profanity in issuing his orders. +</p> + +<p> +“I did allow for the swiftness of the current,” said he, in reply to a +criticism of mine, “but those old beeves just drifted downstream like a lot of +big tubs. The horses swam it easy, and the first hundred cattle struck the +mouth of the wash square in the eye, but after that they misunderstood it for a +bath instead of a ford. Oh, well, it’s live and learn, die and forget it. But +since you’re so d—— strong on the sabe, suppose you suggest a way of getting +those beeves out of the river.” +</p> + +<p> +It was impossible to bring them back, and the only alternative was attempted. +About three quarters of a mile down the river the cut-bank shifted to the south +side. If the cattle could swim that distance there was an easy landing below. +The beeves belonged to Forrest’s herd, and I declined the proffered leadership, +but plans were outlined and we started the work of rescue. Only a few men were +left to look after the main herds, the remainder of us swimming the river on +our horses. One man was detailed to drive the contingent which had safely +forded, down to the point where the bluff bank shifted and the incline +commenced on the north shore. The cattle were clinging, in small bunches, under +the cut-bank like swallows to a roof for fully a quarter-mile below the mouth +of the dry wash. Divesting ourselves of all clothing, a squad of six of us, by +way of experiment, dropped over the bank and pushed into the river about twenty +of the lowest cattle. On catching the full force of the current, which ran like +a mill-race, we swept downstream at a rapid pace, sometimes clinging to a +beef’s tail, but generally swimming between the cattle and the bluff. The force +of the stream drove them against the bank repeatedly, but we dashed water in +their eyes and pushed them off again and again, and finally landed every steer. +</p> + +<p> +The Big Cheyenne was a mountain stream, having numerous tributaries heading in +the Black Hills. The water was none too warm, and when we came out the air +chilled us; but we scaled the bluff and raced back after more cattle. Forrest +was in the river on our return, but I ordered his wrangler to drive all the +horses under saddle down to the landing, in order that the men could have +mounts for returning. This expedited matters, and the work progressed more +rapidly. Four separate squads were drifting the cattle, but in the third +contingent we cut off too many beeves and came near drowning two fine ones. The +animals in question were large and strong, but had stood for nearly an hour on +a slippery ledge, frequently being crowded into the water, and were on the +verge of collapse from nervous exhaustion. They were trembling like leaves when +we pushed them off. Runt Pickett was detailed to look especially after those +two, and the little rascal nursed and toyed and played with them like a circus +rider. They struggled constantly for the inshore, but Runt rode their rumps +alternately, the displacement lifting their heads out of the water to good +advantage. When we finally landed, the two big fellows staggered out of the +river and dropped down through sheer weakness, a thing which I had never seen +before except in wild horses. +</p> + +<p> +A number of the boys were attacked by chills, and towards evening had to be +excused for fear of cramps. By six o’clock we were reduced to two squads, with +about fifty cattle still remaining in the river. Forrest and I had quit the +water after the fourth trip; but Quince had a man named De Manse, a Frenchman, +who swam like a wharf-rat and who stayed to the finish, while I turned my crew +over to Runt Pickett. The latter was raised on the coast of Texas, and when a +mere boy could swim all day, with or without occasion. Dividing the remaining +beeves as near equally as possible, Runt’s squad pushed off slightly in advance +of De Manse, the remainder of us riding along the bank with the horses and +clothing, and cheering our respective crews. The Frenchman was but a moment +later in taking the water, and as pretty and thrilling a race as I ever +witnessed was in progress. The latter practiced a trick, when catching a +favorable current, of dipping the rump of a steer, thus lifting his fore parts +and rocking him forward like a porpoise. When a beef dropped to the rear, this +process was resorted to, and De Manse promised to overtake Pickett. From our +position on the bank, we shouted to Runt to dip his drag cattle in swift water; +but amid the din and splash of the struggling swimmers our messages failed to +reach his ears. De Manse was gaining slowly, when Pickett’s bunch were driven +inshore, a number of them catching a footing, and before they could be again +pushed off, the Frenchman’s cattle were at their heels. A number of De Manse’s +men were swimming shoreward of their charges, and succeeded in holding their +beeves off the ledge, which was the last one before the landing. The remaining +hundred yards was eddy water; and though Pickett fought hard, swimming among +the Frenchman’s lead cattle, to hold the two bunches separate, they mixed in +the river. As an evidence of victory, however, when the cattle struck a +foothold, Runt and each of his men mounted a beef and rode out of the water +some distance. As the steers recovered and attempted to dislodge their riders, +they nimbly sprang from their backs and hustled themselves into their ragged +clothing. +</p> + +<p> +I breathed easier after the last cattle landed, though Forrest contended there +was never any danger. At least a serious predicament had been blundered into +and handled, as was shown by subsequent events. At noon that day, rumblings of +thunder were heard in the Black Hills country to the west, a warning to get +across the river as soon as possible. So the situation at the close of the day +was not a very encouraging one to either Forrest or myself. The former had his +cattle split in two bunches, while I had my wagon and remuda on the other side +of the river from my herd. But the emergency must be met. I sent a messenger +after our wagon, it was brought back near the river, and a hasty supper was +ordered. Two of my boys were sent up to the dry wash to recross the river and +drift our cattle down somewhere near the wagon-crossing, thus separating the +herds for the night. I have never made claim to being overbright, but that +evening I did have sense or intuition enough to take our saddle horses back +across the river. My few years of trail life had taught me the importance of +keeping in close touch with our base of subsistence, while the cattle and the +saddle stock for handling them should under no circumstances ever be separated. +Yet under existing conditions it was impossible to recross our commissary, and +darkness fell upon us encamped on the south side of the Big Cheyenne. +</p> + +<p> +The night passed with almost constant thunder and lightning in the west. At +daybreak heavy dark clouds hung low in a semicircle all around the northwest, +threatening falling weather, and hasty preparations were made to move down the +stream in search of a crossing. In fording the river to breakfast, my outfit +agreed that there had been no perceptible change in the stage of water +overnight, which quickened our desire to move at once. The two wagons were +camped close together, and as usual Forrest was indifferent and unconcerned +over the threatening weather; he had left his remuda all night on the north +side of the river, and had actually turned loose the rescued contingent of +cattle. I did not mince my words in giving Mr. Forrest my programme, when he +turned on me, saying: “Quirk, you have more trouble than a married woman. What +do I care if it is raining in London or the Black Hills either? Let her rain; +our sugar and salt are both covered, and we can lend you some if yours gets +wet. But you go right ahead and follow up Sponsilier; he may not find a +crossing this side of the Belle Fourche. I can take spades and axes, and in two +hours’ time cut down and widen that wagon-way until the herds can cross. I +wouldn’t be as fidgety as you are for a large farm. You ought to take something +for your nerves.” +</p> + +<p> +I had a mental picture of John Quincy Forrest doing any manual labor with an +axe or spade. During our short acquaintance that had been put to the test too +often to admit of question; but I encouraged him to fly right at the bank, +assuring him that in case his tools became heated, there was always water at +hand to cool them. The wrangler had rustled in the wagon-mules for our cook, +and Forrest was still ridiculing my anxiety to move, when a fusillade of shots +was heard across and up the river. Every man at both wagons was on his feet in +an instant, not one of us even dreaming that the firing of the boys on herd was +a warning, when Quince’s horsewrangler galloped up and announced a flood-wave +coming down the river. A rush was made for our horses, and we struck for the +ford, dashing through the shallows and up the farther bank without drawing +rein. With a steady rush, a body of water, less than a mile distant, greeted +our vision, looking like the falls of some river, rolling forward like an +immense cylinder. We sat our horses in bewilderment of the scene, though I had +often heard Jim Flood describe the sudden rise of streams which had mountain +tributaries. Forrest and his men crossed behind us, leaving but the cooks and a +horse-wrangler on the farther side. It was easily to be seen that all the +lowlands along the river would be inundated, so I sent Levering back with +orders to hook up the team and strike for tall timber. Following suit, Forrest +sent two men to rout the contingent of cattle out of a bend which was nearly a +mile below the wagons. The wave, apparently ten to twelve feet high, moved +forward slowly, great walls lopping off on the side and flooding out over the +bottoms, while on the farther shore every cranny and arroyo claimed its fill +from the avalanche of water. The cattle on the south side were safe, grazing +well back on the uplands, so we gave the oncoming flood our undivided +attention. It was traveling at the rate of eight to ten miles an hour, not at a +steady pace, but sometimes almost halting when the bottoms absorbed its volume, +only to catch its breath and forge ahead again in angry impetuosity. As the +water passed us on the bluff bank, several waves broke over and washed around +our horses’ feet, filling the wagon-way, but the main volume rolled across the +narrow valley on the opposite side. The wagons had pulled out to higher ground, +and while every eye was strained, watching for the rescued beeves to come out +of the bend below, Vick Wolf, who happened to look upstream, uttered a single +shout of warning and dashed away. Turning in our saddles, we saw within five +hundred feet of us a second wave about half the height of the first one. Rowels +and quirts were plied with energy and will, as we tore down the river-bank, +making a gradual circle until the second bottoms were reached, outriding the +flood by a close margin. +</p> + +<p> +The situation was anything but encouraging, as days might elapse before the +water would fall. But our hopes revived as we saw the contingent of about six +hundred beeves stampede out of a bend below and across the river, followed by +two men who were energetically burning powder and flaunting slickers in their +rear. Within a quarter of an hour, a halfmile of roaring, raging torrent, +filled with floating driftwood, separated us from the wagons which contained +the staples of life. But in the midst of the travail of mountain and plain, the +dry humor of the men was irrepressible, one of Forrest’s own boys asking him if +he felt any uneasiness now about his salt and sugar. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, this is nothing,” replied Quince, with a contemptuous wave of his hand. +“These freshets are liable to happen at any time; rise in an hour and fall in +half a day. Look there how it is clearing off in the west; the river will be +fordable this evening or in the morning at the furthest. As long as everything +is safe, what do we care? If it comes to a pinch, we have plenty of stray beef; +berries are ripe, and I reckon if we cast around we might find some wild +onions. I have lived a whole month at a time on nothing but land-terrapin; they +make larruping fine eating when you are cut off from camp this way. Blankets? +Never use them; sleep on your belly and cover with your back, and get up with +the birds in the morning. These Lovell outfits are getting so tony that by +another year or two they’ll insist on bathtubs, Florida water, and towels with +every wagon. I like to get down to straight beans for a few days every once in +a while; it has a tendency to cure a man with a whining disposition. The only +thing that’s worrying me, if we get cut off, is the laugh that Sponsilier will +have on us.” +</p> + +<p> +We all knew Forrest was bluffing. The fact that we were water-bound was too +apparent to admit of question, and since the elements were beyond our control, +there was no telling when relief would come. Until the weather moderated in the +hills to the west, there was no hope of crossing the river; but men grew hungry +and nights were chilly, and bluster and bravado brought neither food nor +warmth. A third wave was noticed within an hour, raising the water-gauge over a +foot. The South Fork of the Big Cheyenne almost encircled the entire Black +Hills country, and with a hundred mountain affluents emptying in their tribute, +the waters commanded and we obeyed. Ordering my men to kill a beef, I rode down +the river in the hope of finding Sponsilier on our side, and about noon sighted +his camp and cattle on the opposite bank. A group of men were dallying along +the shore, but being out of hearing, I turned back without exposing myself. +</p> + +<p> +On my return a general camp had been established at the nearest wood, and a +stray killed. Stakes were driven to mark the rise or fall of the water, and we +settled down like prisoners, waiting for an expected reprieve. Towards evening +a fire was built up and the two sides of ribs were spitted over it, our only +chance for supper. Night fell with no perceptible change in the situation, the +weather remaining dry and clear. Forrest’s outfit had been furnished horses +from my remuda for guard duty, and about midnight, wrapping ourselves in +slickers, we lay down in a circle with our feet to the fire like cave-dwellers. +The camp-fire was kept up all night by the returning guards, even until the +morning hours, when we woke up shivering at dawn and hurried away to note the +stage of the water. A four-foot fall had taken place during the night, another +foot was added within an hour after sun-up, brightening our hopes, when a tidal +wave swept down the valley, easily establishing a new high-water mark. Then we +breakfasted on broiled beefsteak, and fell back into the hills in search of the +huckleberry, which abounded in that vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +A second day and night passed, with the water gradually falling. The third +morning a few of the best swimmers, tiring of the diet of beef and berries, +took advantage of the current and swam to the other shore. On returning several +hours later, they brought back word that Sponsilier had been up to the wagons +the afternoon before and reported an easy crossing about five miles below. By +noon the channel had narrowed to one hundred yards of swimming water, and +plunging into it on our horses, we dined at the wagons and did justice to the +spread. Both outfits were anxious to move, and once dinner was over, the +commissaries were started down the river, while we turned up it, looking for a +chance to swim back to the cattle. Forrest had secured a fresh mount of horses, +and some distance above the dry wash we again took to the water, landing on the +opposite side between a quarter and half mile below. Little time was lost in +starting the herds, mine in the lead, while the wagons got away well in +advance, accompanied by Forrest’s remuda and the isolated contingent of cattle. +</p> + +<p> +Sponsilier was expecting us, and on the appearance of our wagons, moved out to +a new camp and gave us a clear crossing. A number of the boys came down to the +river with him, and several of them swam it, meeting the cattle a mile above +and piloting us into the ford. They had assured me that there might be +seventy-five yards of swimming water, with a gradual entrance to the channel +and a half-mile of solid footing at the outcome. The description of the +crossing suited me, and putting our remuda in the lead, we struck the muddy +torrent and crossed it without a halt, the chain of swimming cattle never +breaking for a single moment. Forrest followed in our wake, the one herd +piloting the other, and within an hour after our arrival at the lower ford, the +drag-end of the “Drooping T” herd kicked up their heels on the north bank of +the Big Cheyenne. Meanwhile Sponsilier had been quietly sitting his horse below +the main landing, his hat pulled down over his eye, nursing the humor of the +situation. As Forrest came up out of the water with the rear guard of his +cattle, the opportunity was too good to be overlooked. +</p> + +<p> +“Hello, Quince,” said Dave; “how goes it, old sport? Do you keep stout? I was +up at your wagon yesterday to ask you all down to supper. Yes, we had +huckleberry pie and venison galore, but your men told me that you had quit +eating with the wagon. I was pained to hear that you and Tom have both gone +plum hog-wild, drinking out of cowtracks and living on wild garlic and +land-terrapin, just like Injuns. Honest, boys, I hate to see good men go wrong +that way.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0018"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br/> +THE LITTLE MISSOURI</h2> + +<p> +A week later we crossed the Belle Fourche, sometimes called the North Fork of +the Big Cheyenne. Like its twin sister on the south, it was a mountain river, +having numerous affluents putting in from the Black Hills, which it encircled +on the north and west. Between these two branches of the mother stream were +numerous tributaries, establishing it as the best watered country encountered +in our long overland cruise. Besides the splendid watercourses which marked +that section, numerous wagontrails, leading into the hills, were peopled with +freighters. Long ox trains, moving at a snail’s pace, crept over hill and +plain, the common carrier between the mines and the outside world. The +fascination of the primal land was there; the buttes stood like sentinels, +guarding a king’s domain, while the palisaded cliffs frowned down, as if +erected by the hand Omnipotent to mark the boundary of nations. +</p> + +<p> +Our route, after skirting the Black Hills, followed up the Belle Fourche a few +days, and early in August we crossed over to the Little Missouri River. The +divide between the Belle Fourche and the latter stream was a narrow one, +requiring little time to graze across it, and intercepting the Little Missouri +somewhere in Montana. The course of that river was almost due north, and +crossing and recrossing it frequently, we kept constantly in touch with it on +our last northward tack. The river led through sections of country now known as +the Bad Lands, but we found an abundance of grass and an easy passage. +Sponsilier held the lead all the way down the river, though I did most of the +advance scouting, sometimes being as much as fifty miles in front of the herds. +Near the last of the month we sighted Sentinel Butte and the smoke of railroad +trains, and a few days later all three of us foremen rode into Little Missouri +Station of the Northern Pacific Railway. Our arrival was expected by one man at +least; for as we approached the straggling village, our employer was recognized +at a distance, waving his hat, and a minute later all three of us were shaking +hands with Don Lovell. Mutual inquiries followed, and when we reported the +cattle fine as silk, having never known a hungry or thirsty hour after leaving +the North Platte, the old man brightened and led the way to a well-known +saloon. +</p> + +<p> +“How did I fare at Omaha?” said old man Don, repeating Forrest’s query. “Well, +at first it was a question if I would be hung or shot, but we came out with +colors flying. The United States marshal who attempted to take possession of +the cattle on the North Platte went back on the same train with us. He was +feeling sore over his defeat, but Sutton cultivated his acquaintance, and in +mollifying that official, showed him how easily failure could be palmed off as +a victory. In fact, I think Mike overcolored the story at my expense. He and +the marshal gave it to the papers, and the next morning it appeared in the form +of a sensational article. According to the report, a certain popular federal +officer had gone out to Ogalalla to take possession of two herds of cattle +intended for government purposes; he had met with resistance by a lot of Texas +roughs, who fatally shot one of his deputies, wounding several others, and +killing a number of horses during the assault; but the intrepid officer had +added to his laurels by arresting the owner of the cattle and leader of the +resisting mob, and had brought him back to face the charge of contempt in +resisting service. The papers freely predicted that I would get the maximum +fine, and one even went so far as to suggest that imprisonment might teach +certain arrogant cattle kings a salutary lesson. But when the hearing came up, +Sutton placed Jim Reed and me in the witness-box, taking the stand later +himself, and we showed that federal court that it had been buncoed out of an +order of injunctive relief, in favor of the biggest set of ringsters that ever +missed stretching hemp. The result was, I walked out of that federal court scot +free. And Judge Dundy, when he realized the injustice that he had inflicted, +made all three of us take dinner with him, fully explaining the pressure which +had been brought to bear at the time the order of relief was issued. Oh, that +old judge was all right. I only hope we’ll have as square a man as Judge Dundy +at the final hearing at Fort Buford. Do you see that sign over there, where it +says Barley Water and Bad Cigars? Well, put your horses in some corral and meet +me there.” +</p> + +<p> +There was a great deal of news to review. Lovell had returned to Ogalalla; the +body of Tolleston had been recovered and given decent burial; delivery day of +the three Indian herds was at hand, bringing that branch of the season’s drive +to a close. But the main thing which absorbed our employer was the quarantine +that the upper Yellowstone country proposed enforcing against through Texas +cattle. He assured us that had we gone by way of Wyoming and down the Powder +River, the chances were that the local authorities would have placed us under +quarantine until after the first frost. He assured us that the year before, +Texas fever had played sad havoc among the native and wintered Southern cattle, +and that Miles City and Glendive, live-stock centres on the Yellowstone, were +up in arms in favor of a rigid quarantine against all through cattle. If this +proved true, it was certainly an ill wind to drovers on the Powder River route; +yet I failed to see where we were benefited until my employer got down to +details. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s so,” said he; “I forgot to tell you boys that when Reed and I went back +to Ogalalla, we found Field, Radcliff & Co. buying beeves. Yes, they had +bought a remuda of horses, rigged up two wagons, and hired men to take +possession of our ‘Open A’ and ‘Drooping T’ herds. But meeting with +disappointment and having the outfit on their hands, they concluded to buy +cattle and go ahead and make the delivery at Buford. They simply had to do it +or admit that I had called their hands. But Reed and I raised such a howl +around that town that we posted every man with beeves for sale until the buyers +had to pony up the cash for every hoof they bought. We even hunted up young +Murnane, the seller of the herd that Jim Reed ran the attachment on; and before +old Jim and I got through with him, we had his promise not to move out of Keith +County until the last dollar was in hand. The buyers seemed to command all +kinds of money, but where they expect to make anything, even if they do +deliver, beats me, as Reed and I have got a good wad of their money. Since +leaving there, I have had word that they settled with Murnane, putting a new +outfit with the cattle, and that they have ten thousand beef steers on the way +to Fort Buford this very minute. They are coming through on the North Platte +and Powder River route, and if quarantine can be enforced against them until +frost falls, it will give us a clear field at Buford on the day of delivery. +Now it stands us in hand to see that those herds are isolated until after the +15th day of September.” +</p> + +<p> +The atmosphere cleared instantly. I was well aware of the ravages of splenic +fever; but two decades ago every drover from Texas denied the possibility of a +through animal in perfect health giving a disease to wintered Southerners or +domestic cattle, also robust and healthy. Time has demonstrated the truth, yet +the manner in which the germ is transmitted between healthy animals remains a +mystery to this day, although there has been no lack of theories advanced. Even +the theorists differed as to the manner of germ transmission, the sporule, +tick, and ship fever being the leading theories, and each having its advocates. +The latter was entitled to some consideration, for if bad usage and the lack of +necessary rest, food, and water will produce fever aboard emigrant steamships, +the same privations might do it among animals. The overdriving of trail cattle +was frequently unavoidable, dry drives and the lack of grass on arid wastes +being of common occurrence. However, the presence of fever among through cattle +was never noticeable to the practical man, and if it existed, it must have been +very mild in form compared to its virulent nature among natives. Time has +demonstrated that it is necessary for the domestic animals to walk over and +occupy the same ground to contract the disease, though they may drink from the +same trough or stream of water, or inhale each other’s breath in play across a +wire fence, without fear of contagion. A peculiar feature of Texas fever was +that the very cattle which would impart it on their arrival, after wintering in +the North would contract it and die the same as natives. The isolation of herds +on a good range for a period of sixty days, or the falling of frost, was +recognized as the only preventive against transmitting the germ. Government +rewards and experiments have never demonstrated a theory that practical +experience does not dispute. +</p> + +<p> +The only time on this drive that our attention had been called to the fever +alarm was on crossing the wagon trail running from Pierre on the Missouri River +to the Black Hills. I was in the lead when a large bull train was sighted in +our front, and shortly afterward the wagon-boss met me and earnestly begged +that I allow his outfit to pass before we crossed the wagon-road. I knew the +usual form of ridicule of a herd foreman, but the boss bull-whacker must have +anticipated my reply, for he informed me that the summer before he had lost +ninety head out of two hundred yoke of oxen. The wagon-master’s appeal was +fortified by a sincerity which won his request, and I held up my cattle and +allowed his train to pass in advance. Sponsilier’s herd was out of sight in my +rear, while Forrest was several miles to my left, and slightly behind me. The +wagon-boss rode across and made a similar request of Forrest, but that worthy +refused to recognize the right of way to a bull train at the expense of a trail +herd of government beeves. Ungentlemanly remarks are said to have passed +between them, when the boss bull-whacker threw down the gauntlet and galloped +back to his train. Forrest pushed on, with ample time to have occupied the road +in crossing, thus holding up the wagon train. My herd fell to grazing, and +Sponsilier rode up to inquire the cause of my halting. I explained the request +of the wagon-master, his loss the year before and present fear of fever, and +called attention to the clash which was imminent between the long freight +outfit in our front and Forrest’s herd to the left, both anxious for the right +of way. A number of us rode forward in clear view of the impending meeting. It +was evident that Forrest would be the first to reach the freight road, and +would naturally hold it while his cattle were crossing it. But when this also +became apparent to the bull train, the lead teams drove out of the road and +halted, the rear wagons passing on ahead, the two outfits being fully a mile +apart. There were about twenty teams of ten yoke each, and when the first five +or six halted, they unearthed old needle rifles and opened fire across +Forrest’s front. Once the range was found, those long-range buffalo guns threw +up the dust in handfuls in the lead of the herd, and Forrest turned his cattle +back, while the bull train held its way, undisputed. It was immaterial to +Forrest who occupied the road first, and with the jeers of the freighters +mingled the laughter of Sponsilier and my outfit, as John Quincy Forrest +reluctantly turned back. +</p> + +<p> +This incident served as a safety-valve, and whenever Forrest forged to the lead +in coming down the Little Missouri, all that was necessary to check him was to +inquire casually which held the right of way, a trail herd or a bull train. +</p> + +<p> +Throughout the North, Texas fever was generally accepted as a fact, and any one +who had ever come in contact with it once, dreaded it ever afterward. So when +the devil was sick the devil a monk would be; and if there was any advantage in +taking the contrary view to the one entertained by all drovers, so long as our +herds were free, we were not like men who could not experience a change of +opinion, if in doing so the wind was tempered to us. Also in this instance we +were fighting an avowed enemy, and all is fair in love and war. And amid the +fumes of bad cigars, Sponsilier drew out the plan of campaign. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, let’s see,” said old man Don, “tomorrow will be the 25th day of August. +I’ve got to be at the Crow Agency a few days before the 10th of next month, as +you know we have a delivery there on that date. Flood will have to attend to +matters at Rosebud on the 1st, and then hurry on west and be present at Paul’s +delivery at Fort Washakie. So you see I’ll have to depend on two of you boys +going up to Glendive and Miles and seeing that those cow-towns take the proper +view of this quarantine matter. After dinner you’ll fall back and bring up your +herds, and after crossing the railroad here, the outfits will graze over to +Buford. We’ll leave four of our best saddle horses here in a pasture, so as to +be independent on our return. Since things have changed so, the chances are +that I’ll bring Bob Quirk back with me, as I’ve written Flood to help The Rebel +sell his remuda and take the outfit and go home. Now you boys decide among +yourselves which two of you will go up the Yellowstone and promote the +enforcement of the quarantine laws. Don’t get the impression that you can’t do +this, because an all-round cowman can do anything where his interests are at +stake. I’ll think the programme out a little more clearly by the time you bring +up the cattle.” +</p> + +<p> +The herds were not over fifteen miles back up the river when we left them in +the morning. After honoring the village of Little Missouri with our presence +for several hours, we saddled up and started to meet the cattle. There was no +doubt in my mind but that Sponsilier would be one of the two to go on the +proposed errand of diplomacy, as his years, experience, and good solid sense +entitled him to outrank either Forrest or myself. I knew that Quince would want +to go, if for no other reason than to get out of working the few days that yet +remained of the drive. All three of us talked the matter of quarantine freely +as we rode along, yet no one ventured any proposition looking to an agreement +as to who should go on the diplomatic mission. I was the youngest and naturally +took refuge behind my years, yet perfectly conscious that, in spite of the +indifferent and nonchalant attitude assumed, all three of us foremen were +equally anxious for the chance. Matters remained undecided; but the next day at +dinner, Lovell having met us before reaching the railroad, the question arose +who should go up to Miles City. Dave and Quince were also eating at my wagon, +and when our employer forced an answer, Sponsilier innocently replied that he +supposed that we were all willing to leave it to him. Forrest immediately +approved of Dave’s suggestion. I gave my assent, and old man Don didn’t +qualify, hedge, or mince his words in appointing the committees to represent +the firm of Lovell. +</p> + +<p> +“Jealous of each other, ain’t you? Very well; I want these herds grazed across +to Buford at the rate of four miles a day. Nothing but a Mexican pastor, or a +white man as lazy as Quince Forrest can fill the bill. You’re listening, are +you, Quince? Well, after the sun sets to-night, you’re in charge of ten +thousand beeves from here to the mouth of the Yellowstone. I want to put every +ounce possible on those steers for the next twenty days. We may have to make a +comparison of cattle, and if we should, I want ours to lay over the opposition +like a double eagle does over a lead dime. We may run up against a lot of red +tape at Fort Buford, but if there is a lick of cow-sense among the government +representatives, we want our beeves to speak for themselves. Fat animals do +their own talking. You remember when every one was admiring the fine horse, the +blind man said, ‘Isn’t he fat?’ Now, Dave, you and Tom appoint your segundos, +and we’ll all catch the 10:20 train west to-night.” +</p> + +<p> +I dared to risk one eye on Forrest. Inwardly I was chuckling, but Quince was +mincing along with his dinner, showing that languid indifference which is +inborn to the Texan. Lovell continued to monopolize the conversation, blowing +on the cattle and ribbing up Forrest to see that the beeves thenceforth should +never know tire, hunger, or thirst. The commissaries had run low; Sponsilier’s +cook had been borrowing beans from us for a week past, while Parent point-blank +refused to share any more of our bacon. The latter was recognized as a staple +in trail-work, and it mattered not how inviting the beef or venison might be, +we always fell back to bacon with avidity. When it came time to move out on the +evening lap, Forrest’s herd took the lead, the other two falling in behind, the +wagons pulling out for town in advance of everything. Jack Splann had always +acted as segundo in my absence, and as he had overheard Lovell’s orders to +Forrest, there was nothing further for me to add, and Splann took charge of my +“Open A’s.” +</p> + +<p> +When changing mounts at noon, I caught out two of my best saddlers and tied one +behind the chuckwagon, to be left with a liveryman in town. Leaving old man Don +with the cattle, all three of us foremen went into the village in order to +secure a few staple supplies with which to complete the journey. +</p> + +<p> +It can be taken for granted that Sponsilier and myself were feeling quite gala. +The former took occasion, as we rode along, to throw several bouquets at +Forrest over his preferment, when the latter turned on us, saying: “You fellows +think you’re d—d smart, now, don’t you? You’re both purty good talkers, but +neither one of you can show me where the rainbow comes in in rotting along with +these measly cattle. It’s enough to make a man kick his own dog. But I can see +where the old man was perfectly right in sending you two up to Miles City. When +you fellows work your rabbit’s foot, it will be Katy with those Washington City +schemers—more than likely they’ll not draw cards when they see that you are in +the game—When it comes to the real sabe, you fellows shine like a tree full of +owls. Honest, it has always been a wonder to me that Grant didn’t send for both +of you when he was making up his cabinet.” +</p> + +<p> +The herds crossed the railroad about a mile west of Little Missouri Station. +The wagons secured the needed supplies, and pulled out down the river, leaving +Sponsilier and myself foot-loose and free. +</p> + +<p> +Lovell was riding a livery horse, and as neither of us expected him to return +until it was too dark to see the cattle, we amused ourselves by looking over +the town. There seemed to be a great deal of freighting to outlying points, +numerous ox and mule trains coming in and also leaving for their destinations. +Our employer came in about dusk, and at once went to the depot, as he was +expecting a message. One had arrived during his absence, and after reading it, +he came over to Dave and me, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“It’s from Mike Sutton. I authorized him to secure the services of the best +lawyer in the West, and he has just wired me that he has retained Senator +Aspgrain of Sioux City, Iowa. They will report at Fort Buford on September the +5th and will take care of any legal complications which may arise. I don’t know +who this senator is, but Mike has orders not to spare any expense as long as we +have the other fellow’s money to fight with. Well, if the Iowa lawyers are as +good stuff as the Iowa troops were down in Dixie, that’s all I ask. Now, we’ll +get our suppers and then sack our saddles—why, sure, you’ll need them; every +good cowman takes his saddle wherever he goes, though he may not have clothes +enough with him to dust a fiddle.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0019"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br/> +IN QUARANTINE</h2> + +<p> +We reached Miles City shortly after midnight. It was the recognized cattle +centre of Montana at that time, but devoid of the high-lights which were a +feature of the trail towns. The village boasted the usual number of saloons and +dance-houses, and likewise an ordinance compelling such resorts to close on the +stroke of twelve. Lovell had been there before, and led the way to a well-known +hostelry. The house was crowded, and the best the night clerk could do was to +give us a room with two beds. This was perfectly satisfactory, as it was a +large apartment and fronted out on an open gallery. Old man Don suggested we +take the mattresses outside, but as this was my first chance to sleep in a bed +since leaving the ranch in March, I wanted all the comforts that were due me. +Sponsilier likewise favored the idea of sleeping inside, and our employer +yielded, taking the single bed on retiring. The night was warm, and after +thrashing around for nearly an hour, supposing that Dave and I were asleep, old +man Don arose and quietly dragged his mattress outside. Our bed was soft and +downy, but in spite of the lateness of the hour and having been in our saddles +at dawn, we tossed about, unable to sleep. After agreeing that it was the +mattress, we took the covering and pillows and lay down on the floor, falling +into a deep slumber almost instantly. “Well, wouldn’t that jar your eccentric,” +said Dave to me the next morning, speaking of our inability to sleep in a bed. +“I slept in one in Ogalalla, and I wasn’t over-full either.” +</p> + +<p> +Lovell remained with us all the next day. He was well known in Miles City, +having in other years sold cattle to resident cowmen. The day was spent in +hunting up former acquaintances, getting the lay of the land, and feeling the +public pulse on the matter of quarantine on Southern cattle. The outlook was to +our liking, as heavy losses had been sustained from fever the year before, and +steps had already been taken to isolate all through animals until frost fell. +Report was abroad that there were already within the jurisdiction of Montana +over one hundred and fifty thousand through Texas cattle, with a possibility of +one third that number more being added before the close of the season. That +territory had established a quarantine camp on the Wyoming line, forcing all +Texas stock to follow down the eastern side of the Powder River. Fully one +hundred miles on the north, a dead-line was drawn from Powderville on that +watercourse eastward to a spur of the Powder River Mountains, thus setting +aside a quarantine ground ample to accommodate half a million cattle. Local +range-riders kept all the native and wintered Texas cattle to the westward of +the river and away from the through ones, which was easily done by riding +lines, the Southern herds being held under constant control and hence never +straying. The first Texas herds to arrive naturally traveled north to the +dead-line, and, choosing a range, went into camp until frost relieved them. It +was an unwritten law that a herd was entitled to as much grazing land as it +needed, and there was a report about Miles City that the quarantine ground was +congested with cattle halfway from Powderville to the Wyoming line. +</p> + +<p> +The outlook was encouraging. Quarantine was working a hardship to herds along +the old Powder River route, yet their enforced isolation was like a tempered +wind to our cause and cattle, the latter then leisurely grazing across Dakota +from the Little Missouri to the mouth of the Yellowstone. Fortune favored us in +many respects. About Miles City there was no concealment of our mission, +resulting in an old acquaintance of Lovell’s loaning us horses, while old man +Don had no trouble in getting drafts cashed to the amount of two thousand +dollars. What he expected to do with this amount of money was a mystery to Dave +and myself, a mystery which instantly cleared when we were in the privacy of +our room at the hotel. +</p> + +<p> +“Here, boys,” said old man Don, throwing the roll of money on the bed, “divide +this wad between you. There might be such a thing as using a little here and +there to sweeten matters up, and making yourselves rattling good fellows +wherever you go. Now in the first place, I want you both to understand that +this money is clear velvet, and don’t hesitate to spend it freely. Eat and +drink all you can, and gamble a little of it if that is necessary. You two will +saddle up in the morning and ride to Powderville, while I will lie around here +a few days and try the market for cattle next year, and then go on to Big Horn +on my way to the Crow Agency. Feel your way carefully; locate the herds of +Field, Radcliff & Co., and throw everything in their way to retard +progress. It is impossible to foretell what may happen, and for that reason +only general orders can be given. And remember, I don’t want to see that money +again if there is any chance to use it.” +</p> + +<p> +Powderville was a long day’s ride from Miles City. By making an early start and +resting a few hours at noon, we reached that straggling outpost shortly after +nightfall. There was a road-house for the wayfaring man and a corral for his +beast, a general store, opposition saloons, and the regulation blacksmith shop, +constituting the business interests of Powderville. As arriving guests, a rough +but cordial welcome was extended us by the keeper of the hostelry, and we +mingled with the other travelers, but never once mentioning our business. I was +uneasy over the money in our possession; not that I feared robbery, but my mind +constantly reverted to it, and it was with difficulty that I refrained from +continually feeling to see that it was safe. Sponsilier had concealed his in +his boot, and as we rode along, contended that he could feel the roll chafing +his ankle. I had tied two handkerchiefs together, and rolling my share in one +of them, belted the amount between my overshirt and undershirt. The belt was +not noticeable, but in making the ride that day, my hand involuntarily went to +my side where the money lay, the action never escaping the notice of +Sponsilier, who constantly twitted me over my nervousness. And although we were +tired as dogs after our long ride, I awoke many times that night and felt to +see if my money was safe; my partner slept like a log. +</p> + +<p> +Several cowmen, ranching on the lower Powder River, had headquarters at this +outpost. The next morning Sponsilier and I made their acquaintance, and during +the course of the day got a clear outline of the situation. On the west the +river was the recognized dead-line to the Wyoming boundary, while two camps of +five men each patroled the dividing line on the north, drifting back the native +stock and holding the through herds in quarantine. The nearest camp was some +distance east of Powderville, and saddling up towards evening we rode out and +spent the night at the first quarantine station. A wagon and two tents, a relay +of saddle horses, and an arsenal of long-range firearms composed the outfit. +Three of the five men on duty were Texans. Making ourselves perfectly at home, +we had no trouble in locating the herds in question, they having already +sounded the tocsin to clear the way, claiming government beef recognized no +local quarantine. The herds were not over thirty miles to the south, and +expectation ran high as to results when an attempt should be made to cross the +deadline. Trouble had already occurred, where outfits respecting the quarantine +were trespassed upon by three herds, making claim of being under government +protection and entitled to the rights of eminent domain. Fortunately several of +the herds on the immediate line had been bought at Ogalalla and were in +possession of ranch outfits who owned ranges farther north, and were anxious to +see quarantine enforced. These local cowmen would support the established +authority, and trouble was expected. Sponsilier and I widened the breach by +denouncing these intruders as the hirelings of a set of ringsters, who had no +regard for the rights of any one, and volunteered our services in enforcing +quarantine against them the same as others. +</p> + +<p> +Our services were gratefully accepted. The next morning we were furnished fresh +horses, and one of us was requested, as we were strangers, to ride down the +country and reconnoitre the advance of the defiant drovers. As I was fearful +that Field or Radcliff might be accompanying the herds, and recognize me, +Sponsilier went instead, returning late that evening. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, fellows,” said Dave, as he dismounted at the quarantine camp, “I’ve seen +the herds, and they propose to cross this dead-line of yours as easily as water +goes through a gourd funnel. They’ll be here by noon to-morrow, and they’ve got +the big conversation right on tap to show that the government couldn’t feed its +army if it wasn’t for a few big cowmen like them. There’s a strange corporal +over the three herds and they’re working on five horses to the man. But the +major-domo’s the whole works; he’s a windy cuss, and intimates that he has a +card or two up his sleeve that will put these quarantine guards to sleep when +he springs them. He’s a new man to me; at least he wasn’t with the gang at +Ogalalla.” +</p> + +<p> +During the absence of my partner, I had ridden the dead-line on the north. A +strip of country five miles wide was clear of cattle above the boundary, while +below were massed four herds, claiming the range from the mountains to the +Powder River. The leader of the quarantine guards, Fred Ullmer, had accompanied +me on the ride, and on our return we visited three of the outfits, urging them +to hold all their reserve forces subject to call, in case an attempt was made +to force the dead-line. At each camp I took every possible chance to sow the +seeds of dissension and hatred against the high-handed methods of The Western +Supply Company. Defining our situation clearly, I asked each foreman, in case +these herds defied local authority, who would indemnify the owners for the loss +among native cattle by fever between Powderville and the mouth of the +Yellowstone. Would the drovers? Would the government? Leaving these and similar +thoughts for their consideration, Ullmer and I had arrived at the first +quarantine station shortly before the return of my partner. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the report of Sponsilier, Ullmer was appointed captain, and lost no time +in taking action. After dark, a scout was sent to Camp No. 2, a meeting-place +was appointed on Wolf Creek below, and orders were given to bring along every +possible man from the local outfits and to meet at the rendezvous within an +hour after sun-up the next morning. Ullmer changed horses and left for +Powderville, assuring us that he would rally every man interested in +quarantine, and have his posse below, on the creek by sunrise. The remainder of +us at headquarters were under orders to bring all the arms and ammunition, and +join the quarantine forces at the meeting-place some five miles from our camp. +We were also to touch at and command the presence of one of the four outfits +while en route. I liked the determined action of Captain Ullmer, who I learned +had emigrated with his parents to Montana when a boy, and had grown into +manhood on the frontier. Sponsilier was likewise pleased with the quarantine +leader, and we lay awake far into the night, reviewing the situation and trying +to anticipate any possible contingency that might thwart our plans. But to our +best reasoning the horizon was clear, and if Field, Radcliff & Co.’s cattle +reached Fort Buford on the day of delivery, well, it would be a miracle. +</p> + +<p> +Fresh horses were secured at dawn, and breakfast would be secured en route with +the cow outfit. There were a dozen large-calibre rifles in scabbards, and +burdening ourselves with two heavy guns to the man and an abundance of +ammunition, we abandoned Quarantine Station No. 1 for the time being. The camp +which we were to touch at was the one nearest the river and north of Wolf +Creek, and we galloped up to it before the sun had even risen. Since everything +was coming our way, Sponsilier and I observed a strict neutrality, but a +tow-headed Texan rallied the outfit, saying: +</p> + +<p> +“Make haste, fellows, and saddle up your horses. Those three herds which raised +such a rumpus up on Little Powder have sent down word that they’re going to +cross our dead-line to-day if they have to prize up hell and put a chunk under +it. We have decided to call their bluff before they even reach the line, and +make them show their hand for all this big talk. Here’s half a dozen guns and +cartridges galore, but hustle yourselves. Fred went into Powderville last night +and will meet us above at the twin buttes this morning with every cowman in +town. All the other outfits have been sent for, and we’ll have enough men to +make our bluff stand up, never fear. From what I learn, these herds belong to a +lot of Yankee speculators, and they don’t give a tinker’s dam if all the cattle +in Montana die from fever. They’re no better than anybody else, and if we allow +them to go through, they’ll leave a trail of dead natives that will stink us +out of this valley. Make haste, everybody.” +</p> + +<p> +I could see at a glance that the young Texan had touched their pride. The +foreman detailed three men to look after the herd, and the balance made hasty +preparations to accompany the quarantine guards. A relief was rushed away for +the herders; and when the latter came in, they reported having sighted the +posse from Powderville, heading across country for the twin buttes. Meanwhile a +breakfast had been bolted by the guards, Sponsilier, and myself, and swinging +into our saddles, we rounded a bluff bend of the creek and rode for the +rendezvous, some three miles distant. I noticed by the brands that nearly every +horse in that country had been born in Texas, and the short time in which we +covered the intervening miles proved that the change of climate had added to +their stability and bottom. Our first glimpse of the meeting-point revealed the +summit of the buttes fairly covered with horsemen. From their numbers it was +evident that ours was the last contingent to arrive; but before we reached the +twin mounds, the posse rode down from the lookout and a courier met and turned +us from our course. The lead herd had been sighted in trail formation but a few +miles distant, heading north, and it was the intention to head them at the +earliest moment. The messenger inquired our numbers, and reported those arrived +at forty-five, making the posse when united a few over sixty men. +</p> + +<p> +A juncture of forces was effected within a mile of the lead herd. It was a +unique posse. Old frontiersmen, with patriarchal beards and sawed-off shotguns, +chewed their tobacco complacently as they rode forward at a swinging gallop. +Beardless youths, armed with the old buffalo guns of their fathers, led the way +as if an Indian invasion had called them forth. Soldiers of fortune, with +Southern accents, who were assisting in the conquest of a new empire, +intermingled with the hurrying throng, and two men whose home was in Medina +County, Texas, looked on and approved. The very horses had caught the +inspiration of the moment, champing bits in their effort to forge to the front +rank, while the blood-stained slaver coated many breasts or driveled from our +boots. Before we met the herd a halt was called, and about a dozen men were +deployed off on each flank, while the main body awaited the arrival of the +cattle. The latter were checked by the point-men and turned back when within a +few hundred yards of the main posse. Several horsemen from the herd rode +forward, and one politely inquired the meaning of this demonstration. The +question was met by a counter one from Captain Ullmer, who demanded to know the +reason why these cattle should trespass on the rights of others and ignore +local quarantine. The spokesman in behalf of the herd turned in his saddle and +gave an order to send some certain person forward. Sponsilier whispered to me +that this fellow was merely a segundo. “But wait till the ‘major-domo’ +arrives,” he added. The appearance of the posse and the halting of the herd +summoned that personage from the rear to the front, and the next moment he was +seen galloping up the column of cattle. With a plausible smile this high mogul, +on his arrival, repeated the previous question, and on a similar demand from +the captain of the posse, he broke into a jolly laugh from which he recovered +with difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, gentlemen,” said he, every word dripping with honeyed sweetness, “this is +entirely uncalled for. I assure you that it was purely an oversight on my part +that I did not send you word in advance that these herds of mine are government +cattle and not subject to local quarantine. My associates are the largest army +contractors in the country, these cattle are due at Fort Buford on the 15th of +this month, and any interference on your part would be looked upon as an insult +to the government. In fact, the post commander at Fort Laramie insisted that he +be permitted to send a company of cavalry to escort us across Wyoming, and +assured us that a troop from Fort Keogh, if requested, would meet our cattle on +the Montana line. The army is jealous over its supplies, but I declined all +military protection, knowing that I had but to show my credentials to pass +unmolested anywhere. Now, if you care to look over these papers, you will see +that these cattle are en route to Fort Buford, on an assignment of the original +contract, issued by the secretary of war to The Western Supply Company. Very +sorry to put you to all this trouble, but these herds must not be interfered +with. I trust that you gentlemen understand that the government is supreme.” +</p> + +<p> +As the papers mentioned were produced, Sponsilier kicked me on the shin, gave +me a quiet wink, and nodded towards the documents then being tendered to +Captain Ullmer. Groping at his idea, I rode forward, and as the papers were +being returned with a mere glance on the part of the quarantine leader, I +politely asked if I might see the assignment of the original contract. But a +quizzical smile met my request, and shaking out the heavy parchment, he rapped +it with the knuckles of his disengaged hand, remarking as he returned it to his +pocket, “Sorry, but altogether too valuable to allow out of my possession.” +Just what I would have done with the beribboned document, except to hand it +over to Sponsilier, is beyond me, yet I was vaguely conscious that its +destruction was of importance to our side of the matter at issue. At the same +instant in which my request was declined, the big medicine man turned to +Captain Ullmer and suavely remarked, “You found everything as represented, did +you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, I heard your statement, and I have also heard it disputed from other +sources. In fact I have nothing to do with you except to enforce the quarantine +now established by the cattlemen of eastern Montana. If you have any papers +showing that your herds were wintered north of latitude 37, you can pass, as +this quarantine is only enforced against cattle from south of that degree. This +territory lost half a million dollars’ worth of native stock last fall from +Texas fever, and this season they propose to apply the ounce of preventive. You +will have ample time to reach your destination after frost falls, and your +detention by quarantine will be a good excuse for your delay. Now, unless you +can convince me that your herds are immune, I’ll show you a good place to camp +on the head of Wolf Creek. It will probably be a matter of ten to fifteen days +before the quarantine is lifted, and we are enforcing it against citizens of +Montana and Texas alike, and no exception can be made in your case.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, my dear sir, this is not a local or personal matter. Whatever you do, +don’t invite the frown of the government. Let me warn you not to act in haste. +Now, remember—” +</p> + +<p> +“You made your cracks that you would cross this quarantine line,” interrupted +Ullmer, bristlingly, “and I want you to find out your mistake. There is no +occasion for further words, and you can either order your outfit to turn your +cattle east, or I’ll send men and do it myself.” +</p> + +<p> +The “major-domo” turned and galloped back to his men, a number of whom had +congregated near at hand. The next moment he returned and haughtily threatened +to surrender the cattle then and there unless he was allowed to proceed. “Give +him a receipt for his beeves, Fred,” quietly remarked an old cowman, gently +stroking his beard, “and I’ll take these boys over here on the right and start +the cattle. That will be the safest way, unless the gentleman can indemnify us. +I lost ten thousand dollars’ worth of stock last fall, and as a citizen of +Montana I have objections to leaving a trail of fever from here to the mouth of +the Yellowstone. And tell him he can have a bond for his cattle,” called back +the old man as he rode out of hearing. +</p> + +<p> +The lead herd was pointed to the east, and squads of men rode down and met the +other two, veering them off on an angle to the right. Meanwhile the +superintendent raved, pleaded, and threatened without avail, but finally +yielded and refused the receipt and dispossession of his cattle. This was just +what the quarantine captain wanted, and the dove of peace began to shake its +plumage. Within an hour all three of the herds were moving out for the head of +Wolf Creek, accompanied only by the quarantine guards, the remainder of the +posse returning to their homes or their work. Having ample time on our hands, +Sponsilier and I expected to remain at Station No. 1 until after the 10th of +September, and accordingly made ourselves at home at that camp. To say that we +were elated over the situation puts it mildly, and that night the two of us +lost nearly a hundred dollars playing poker with the quarantine guards. A +strict vigilance was maintained over the herds in question, but all reports +were unanimous that they were contentedly occupying their allotted range. +</p> + +<p> +But at noon on the third day of the enforced isolation, a messenger from +Powderville arrived at the first station. A troop of cavalry from Fort Keogh, +accompanied by a pack-train, had crossed the Powder River below the hamlet, +their avowed mission being to afford an escort for certain government beef, +then under detention by the local authorities. The report fell among us like a +flash of lightning. Ample time had elapsed for a messenger to ride to the +Yellowstone, and, returning with troops, pilot them to the camps of Field, +Radcliff & Co. A consultation was immediately held, but no definite line of +action had been arrived at when a horseman from one of the lower camps dashed +up and informed us that the three herds were already trailing out for the +dead-line, under an escort of cavalry. Saddling up, we rallied what few men +were available, determined to make a protest, at least, in the interest of +humanity to dumb brutes. We dispatched couriers to the nearest camps and the +outer quarantine station; but before a posse of twenty men arrived, the lead +herd was within a mile of the dead-line, and we rode out and met them. Fully +eighty troopers, half of which rode in column formation in front, halted us as +we approached. Terse and to the point were the questions and answers exchanged +between the military arm of the government and the quarantine authorities of +Montana. When the question arose of indemnity to citizens, in case of death to +native cattle, a humane chord was touched in the young lieutenant in command, +resulting in his asking several questions, to which the “major-domo” protested. +Once satisfied of the justice of quarantine, the officer, in defense of his +action, said: +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen, I am under instructions to give these herds, intended for use at +Fort Buford, a three days’ escort beyond this quarantine line. I am very much +obliged to you all for making so clear the necessity of isolating herds of +Texas cattle, and that little or no hardship may attend my orders, you may have +until noon to-morrow to drift all native stock west of the Powder River. When +these herds encamp for the night, they will receive instructions not to move +forward before twelve to-morrow. I find the situation quite different from +reports; nevertheless orders are orders.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0020"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br/> +ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST</h2> + +<p> +The quarantine guards returned to their camp. Our plans were suddenly and +completely upset, and not knowing which way to turn, Sponsilier and I, slightly +crestfallen, accompanied the guards. It was already late in the evening, but +Captain Ullmer took advantage of the brief respite granted him to clear the +east half of the valley of native cattle. Couriers were dispatched to sound the +warning among the ranches down the river, while a regular round-up outfit was +mustered among the camps to begin the drifting of range stock that evening. A +few men were left at the two camps, as quarantine was not to be abandoned, and +securing our borrowed horses, my partner and I bade our friends farewell and +set out on our return for the Yellowstone. Merely touching at Powderville for a +hasty supper, we held a northwest, cross-country course, far into the night, +when we unsaddled to rest our horses and catch a few hours’ sleep. But sunrise +found us again in our saddles, and by the middle of the forenoon we were +breakfasting with our friends in Miles City. +</p> + +<p> +Fort Keogh was but a short distance up the river. That military interference +had been secured through fraud and deception, there was not the shadow of a +doubt. During the few hours which we spent in Miles, the cattle interests were +duly aroused, and a committee of cowmen were appointed to call on the post +commander at Keogh with a formidable protest, which would no doubt be +supplemented later, on the return of the young lieutenant and his troopers. +During our ride the night before, Sponsilier and I had discussed the +possibility of arousing the authorities at Glendive. Since it was in the +neighborhood of one hundred miles from Powderville to the former point on the +railroad, the herds would consume nearly a week in reaching there. A freight +train was caught that afternoon, and within twenty-four hours after leaving the +quarantine camp on the Powder River, we had opened headquarters at the Stock +Exchange Saloon in Glendive. On arriving, I deposited one hundred dollars with +the proprietor of that bar-room, with the understanding that it was to be used +in getting an expression from the public in regard to the question of Texas +fever. Before noon the next day, Dave Sponsilier and Tom Quirk were not only +the two most popular men in Glendive, but quarantine had been decided on with +ringing resolutions. +</p> + +<p> +Our standing was soon of the best. Horses were tendered us, and saddling one I +crossed the Yellowstone and started down the river to arouse outlying ranches, +while Sponsilier and a number of local cowmen rode south to locate a camp and a +deadline. I was absent two days, having gone north as far as Wolf Island, where +I recrossed the river, returning on the eastern side of the valley. At no ranch +which was visited did my mission fail of meeting hearty approval, especially on +the western side of the river, where severe losses from fever had been +sustained the fall before. One ranch on Thirteen Mile offered, if necessary, to +send every man in its employ, with their own wagon and outfit of horses, free +of all charge, until quarantine was lifted. But I suggested, instead, that they +send three or four men with their horses and blankets, leaving the remainder to +be provided for by the local committee. In my two days’ ride, over fifty +volunteers were tendered, but I refused all except twenty, who were to report +at Glendive not later than the morning of the 6th. On my return to the +railroad, all arrangements were completed and the outlook was promising. +Couriers had arrived from the south during my absence, bringing the news of the +coming of the through Texas cattle, and warning the local ranches to clear the +way or take the consequences. All native stock had been pushed west of the +Powder and Yellowstone, as far north as Cabin Creek, which had been decided on +as the second quarantine-line. Daily reports were being received of the +whereabouts of the moving herds, and at the rate they were traveling, they +would reach Cabin Creek about the 7th. Two wagons had been outfitted, cooks +employed, and couriers dispatched to watch the daily progress of the cattle, +which, if following the usual route, would strike the deadline some distance +south of Glendive. +</p> + +<p> +During the next few days, Sponsilier and I were social lions in that town, and +so great was our popularity we could have either married or been elected to +office. We limited our losses at poker to so much an evening, and what we won +from the merchant class we invariably lost among the volunteer guards and +cowmen, taking our luck with a sangfroid which proved us dead-game sports, and +made us hosts of friends. We had contributed one hundred dollars to the general +quarantine fund, and had otherwise made ourselves popular with all classes in +the brief time at our command. Under the pretense that we might receive orders +at any time to overtake our herds, we declined all leadership in the second +campaign about to be inaugurated against Texas fever. Dave and I were both +feeling rather chesty over the masterful manner in which we had aroused the +popular feeling in favor of quarantine in our own interest, at the same time +making it purely a local movement. We were swaggering about like ward-heelers, +when on the afternoon of the 5th the unexpected again happened. The business +interests of the village usually turned out to meet the daily passenger trains, +even the poker-games taking a recess until the cars went past. The arrival and +departure of citizens of the place were noted by every one, and strangers were +looked upon with timidity, very much as in all simple communities. Not taking +any interest in the passing trains, Sponsilier was writing a letter to his girl +in Texas, while I was shaking dice for the cigars with the bartender of the +Stock Exchange, when the Eastbound arrived. After the departure of the train, I +did not take any notice of the return of the boys to the abandoned games, or +the influx of patrons to the house, until some one laid a hand on my shoulder +and quietly said, “Isn’t your name Quirk?” +</p> + +<p> +Turning to the speaker, I was confronted by Mr. Field and Mr. Radcliff, who had +just arrived by train from the west. Admitting my identity, I invited them to +have a cigar or liquid refreshment, inquiring whence they had come and where +their cattle were. To my surprise, Fort Keogh was named as their last refuge, +and the herds were reported to cross the railroad within the next few days. +Similar questions were asked me, but before replying, I caught Sponsilier’s eye +and summoned him with a wink. On Dave’s presenting himself, I innocently asked +the pair if they did not remember my friend as one of the men whom they had +under arrest at Dodge. They grunted an embarrassed acknowledgment, which was +returned in the same coin, when I proceeded to inform them that our cattle +crossed the railroad at Little Missouri ten days before, and that we were only +waiting the return of Mr. Lovell from the Crow Agency before proceeding to our +destination. With true Yankee inquisitiveness, other questions followed, the +trend of which was to get us to admit that we had something to do with the +present activities in quarantining Texas cattle. But I avoided their leading +queries, and looked appealingly at Sponsilier, who came to my rescue with an +answer born of the moment. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, gentlemen,” said Dave, seating himself on the bar and leisurely rolling +a cigarette, “that town of Little Missouri is about the dullest hole that I was +ever water-bound in. Honestly, I’d rather be with the cattle than loafing in it +with money in my pocket. Now this town has got some get-up about it; I’ll kiss +a man’s foot if he complains that this burg isn’t sporty enough for his blood. +They’ve given me a run here for my white alley, and I still think I know +something about that game called draw-poker. But you were speaking about +quarantine. Yes; there seems to have been a good many cattle lost through these +parts last fall. You ought to have sent your herds up through Dakota, where +there is no native stock to interfere. I’d hate to have cattle coming down the +Powder River. A friend of mine passed through here yesterday; his herd was sold +for delivery on the Elkhorn, north of here, and he tells me he may not be able +to reach there before October. He saw your herds and tells me you are driving +the guts out of them. So if there’s anything in that old ‘ship-fever theory,’ +you ought to be quarantined until it snows. There’s a right smart talk around +here of fixing a dead-line below somewhere, and if you get tied up before +reaching the railroad, it won’t surprise me a little bit. When it comes to +handling the cattle, old man Don has the good hard cow-sense every time, but +you shorthorns give me a pain.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did I tell you?” said Radcliff, the elder one, to his partner, as they +turned to leave. +</p> + +<p> +On nearing the door, Mr. Field halted and begrudgingly said, “See you later, +Quirk.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not if I see you first,” I replied; “you ain’t my kind of cowmen.” +</p> + +<p> +Not even waiting for them to pass outside, Sponsilier, from his elevated +position, called every one to the bar to irrigate. The boys quit their games, +and as they lined up in a double row, Dave begged the bartenders to bestir +themselves, and said to his guests: “Those are the kid-gloved cowmen that I’ve +been telling you about—the owners of the Texas cattle that are coming through +here. Did I hang it on them artistically, or shall I call them back and smear +it on a shade deeper? They smelt a mouse all right, and when their cattle reach +Cabin Creek, they’ll smell the rat in earnest. Now, set out the little and big +bottle and everybody have a cigar on the side. And drink hearty, lads, for +to-morrow we may be drinking branch water in a quarantine camp.” +</p> + +<p> +The arrival of Field and Radcliff was accepted as a defiance to the local +cattle interests. Popular feeling was intensified when it was learned that they +were determined not to recognize any local quarantine, and were secretly +inquiring for extra men to guard their herds in passing Glendive. There was +always a rabble element in every frontier town, and no doubt, as strangers, +they could secure assistance in quarters that the local cowmen would spurn. +Matters were approaching a white heat, when late that night an expected courier +arrived, and reported the cattle coming through at the rate of twenty miles a +day. They were not following any particular trail, traveling almost due north, +and if the present rate of travel was maintained, Cabin Creek would be reached +during the forenoon of the 7th. This meant business, and the word was quietly +passed around that all volunteers were to be ready to move in the morning. A +cowman named Retallac, owner of a range on the Yellowstone, had previously been +decided on as captain, and would have under him not less than seventy-five +chosen men, which number, if necessary, could easily be increased to one +hundred. +</p> + +<p> +Morning dawned on a scene of active operations. The two wagons were started +fully an hour in advance of the cavalcade, which was to follow, driving a +remuda of over two hundred saddle horses. Sponsilier and I expected to +accompany the outfit, but at the last moment our plans were changed by an +incident and we remained behind, promising to overtake them later. There were a +number of old buffalo hunters in town, living a precarious life, and one of +their number had quietly informed Sheriff Wherry that they had been approached +with an offer of five dollars a day to act as an escort to the herds while +passing through. The quarantine captain looked upon that element as a valuable +ally, suggesting that if it was a question of money, our side ought to be in +the market for their services. Heartily agreeing with him, the company of +guards started, leaving their captain behind with Sponsilier and myself. +Glendive was a county seat, and with the assistance of the sheriff, we soon had +every buffalo hunter in the town corralled. They were a fine lot of rough men, +inclined to be convivial, and with the assistance of Sheriff Wherry, coupled +with the high standing of the quarantine captain, on a soldier’s introduction +Dave and I made a good impression among them. Sponsilier did the treating and +talking, his offer being ten dollars a day for a man and horse, which was +promptly accepted, when the question naturally arose who would stand sponsor +for the wages. Dave backed off some distance, and standing on his left foot, +pulled off his right boot, shaking out a roll of money on the floor. +</p> + +<p> +“There’s the long green, boys,” said he, “and you fellows can name your own +banker. I’ll make it up a thousand, and whoever you say goes with me. Shall it +be the sheriff, or Mr. Retallac, or the proprietor of the Stock Exchange?” +</p> + +<p> +Sheriff Wherry interfered, relieving the embarrassment in appointing a +receiver, and vouched that these two Texans were good for any reasonable sum. +The buffalo hunters approved, apologizing to Sponsilier, as he pulled on his +boot, for questioning his financial standing, and swearing allegiance in every +breath. An hour’s time was granted in which to saddle and make ready, during +which we had a long chat with Sheriff Wherry and found him a valuable ally. He +had cattle interests in the country, and when the hunters appeared, fifteen +strong, he mounted his horse and accompanied us several miles on the way. “Now, +boys,” said he, at parting, “I’ll keep an eye over things around town, and if +anything important happens, I’ll send a courier with the news. If those +shorthorns attempt to offer any opposition, I’ll run a blazer on them, and if +necessary I’ll jug the pair. You fellows just buffalo the herds, and the +sheriff’s office will keep cases on any happenings around Glendive. It’s +understood that night or day your camp can be found on Cabin Creek, opposite +the old eagle tree. Better send me word as soon as the herds arrive. Good luck +to you, lads.” +</p> + +<p> +Neither wagons nor guards were even sighted during our three hours’ ride to the +appointed campground. On our arrival tents were being pitched and men were +dragging up wood, while the cooks were busily preparing a late dinner, the +station being fully fifteen miles south of the railroad. Scouts were thrown out +during the afternoon, corrals built, and evening found the quarantine camp well +established for the comfort of its ninety-odd men. The buffalo hunters were +given special attention and christened the “Sponsilier Guards;” they took again +to outdoor life as in the old days. The report of the scouts was satisfactory; +all three of the herds had been seen and would arrive on schedule time. A hush +of expectancy greeted this news, but Sponsilier and I ridiculed the idea that +there would be any opposition, except a big talk and plenty of bluffing. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, if that’s what they rely on,” said Captain Retallac, “then they’re as +good as in quarantine this minute. If you feel certain they can’t get help from +Fort Keogh a second time, those herds will be our guests until further orders. +What we want to do now is to spike every possible chance for their getting any +help, and the matter will pass over like a summer picnic. If you boys think +there’s any danger of an appeal to Fort Buford, the military authorities want +to be notified that the Yellowstone Valley has quarantined against Texas fever +and asks their cooperation in enforcing the same.” +</p> + +<p> +“I can fix that,” replied Sponsilier. “We have lawyers at Buford right now, and +I can wire them the situation fully in the morning. If they rely on the +military, they will naturally appeal to the nearest post, and if Keogh and +Buford turn them down, the next ones are on the Missouri River, and at that +distance cavalry couldn’t reach here within ten days. Oh, I think we’ve got a +grapevine twist on them this time.” +</p> + +<p> +Sponsilier sat up half the night wording a message to our attorneys at Fort +Buford. The next morning found me bright and early on the road to Glendive with +the dispatch, the sending of which would deplete my cash on hand by several +dollars, but what did we care for expense when we had the money and orders to +spend it? I regretted my absence from the quarantine camp, as I was anxious to +be present on the arrival of the herds, and again watch the “major-domo” run on +the rope and fume and charge in vain. But the importance of blocking assistance +was so urgent that I would gladly have ridden to Buford if necessary. In that +bracing atmosphere it was a fine morning for the ride, and I was rapidly +crossing the country, when a vehicle, in the dip of the plain, was sighted +several miles ahead. I was following no road, but when the driver of the +conveyance saw me he turned across my front and signaled. On meeting the rig, I +could hardly control myself from laughing outright, for there on the rear seat +sat Field and Radcliff, extremely gruff and uncongenial. Common courtesies were +exchanged between the driver and myself, and I was able to answer clearly his +leading questions: Yes; the herds would reach Cabin Creek before noon; the old +eagle tree, which could be seen from the first swell of the plain beyond, +marked the quarantine camp, and it was the intention to isolate the herds on +the South Fork of Cabin. “Drive on,” said a voice, and, in the absence of any +gratitude expressed, I inwardly smiled in reward. +</p> + +<p> +I was detained in Glendive until late in the day, waiting for an acknowledgment +of the message. Sheriff Wherry informed me that the only move attempted on the +part of the shorthorn drovers was the arrest of Sponsilier and myself, on the +charge of being accomplices in the shooting of one of their men on the North +Platte. But the sheriff had assured the gentlemen that our detention would have +no effect on quarantining their cattle, and the matter was taken under +advisement and dropped. It was late when I started for camp that evening. The +drovers had returned, accompanied by their superintendent, and were occupying +the depot, burning the wires in every direction. I was risking no chances, and +cultivated the company of Sheriff Wherry until the acknowledgment arrived, when +he urged me to ride one of his horses in returning to camp, and insisted on my +taking a carbine. Possibly this was fortunate, for before I had ridden one +third the distance to the quarantine camp, I met a cavalcade of nearly a dozen +men from the isolated herds. When they halted and inquired the distance to +Glendive, one of their number recognized me as having been among the quarantine +guards at Powderville. I admitted that I was there, turning my horse so that +the carbine fell to my hand, and politely asked if any one had any objections. +It seems that no one had, and after a few commonplace inquiries were exchanged, +we passed on our way. +</p> + +<p> +There was great rejoicing on Cabin Creek that night. Songs were sung, and white +navy beans passed current in numerous poker-games until the small hours of +morning. There had been nothing dramatic in the meeting between the herds and +the quarantine guards, the latter force having been augmented by visiting +ranchmen and their help, until protest would have been useless. A routine of +work had been outlined, much stricter than at Powderville, and a surveillance +of the camps was constantly maintained. Not that there was any danger of +escape, but to see that the herds occupied the country allotted to them, and +did not pollute any more territory than was necessary. The Sponsilier Guards +were given an easy day shift, and held a circle of admirers at night, +recounting and living over again “the good old days.” Visitors from either side +of the Yellowstone were early callers, and during the afternoon the sheriff +from Glendive arrived. I did not know until then that Mr. Wherry was a +candidate for reelection that fall, but the manner in which he mixed with the +boys was enough to warrant his election for life. What endeared him to +Sponsilier and myself was the fund of information he had collected, and the +close tab he had kept on every movement of the opposition drovers. He told us +that their appeal to Fort Keogh for assistance had been refused with a stinging +rebuke; that a courier had started the evening before down the river for Fort +Buford, and that Mr. Radcliff had personally gone to Fort Abraham Lincoln to +solicit help. The latter post was fully one hundred and fifty miles away, but +that distance could be easily covered by a special train in case of government +interference. +</p> + +<p> +It rained on the afternoon of the 9th. The courier had returned from Fort +Buford on the north, unsuccessful, as had also Mr. Radcliff from Fort Lincoln +on the Missouri River to the eastward. The latter post had referred the request +to Keogh, and washed its hands of intermeddling in a country not tributary to +its territory. The last hope of interference was gone, and the rigors of +quarantine closed in like a siege with every gun of the enemy spiked. Let it be +a week or a month before the quarantine was lifted, the citizens of Montana had +so willed it, and their wish was law. Evening fell, and the men drew round the +fires. The guards buttoned their coats as they rode away, and the tired ones +drew their blankets around them as they lay down to sleep. Scarcely a star +could be seen in the sky overhead, but before my partner or myself sought our +bed, a great calm had fallen, the stars were shining, and the night had grown +chilly. +</p> + +<p> +The old buffalo hunters predicted a change in the weather, but beyond that they +were reticent. As Sponsilier and I lay down to sleep, we agreed that if three +days, even two days, were spared us, those cattle in quarantine could never be +tendered at Fort Buford on the appointed day of delivery. But during the early +hours of morning we were aroused by the returning guards, one of whom halted +his horse near our blankets and shouted, “Hey, there, you Texans; get up—a +frost has fallen!” +</p> + +<p> +Sure enough, it had frosted during the night, and the quarantine was lifted. +When day broke, every twig and blade of grass glistened in silver sheen, and +the horses on picket stood humped and shivering. The sun arose upon the herds +moving, with no excuse to say them nay, and orders were issued to the guards to +break camp and disperse to their homes. As we rode into Glendive that morning, +sullen and defeated by a power beyond our control, in speaking of the +peculiarity of the intervention, Sponsilier said: “Well, if it rains on the +just and the unjust alike, why shouldn’t it frost the same.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0021"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br/> +FORT BUFORD</h2> + +<p> +We were at our rope’s end. There were a few accounts to settle in Glendive, +after which we would shake its dust from our feet. Very few of the quarantine +guards returned to town, and with the exception of Sheriff Wherry, none of the +leading cowmen, all having ridden direct for their ranches. Long before the +train arrived which would carry us to Little Missouri, the opposition herds +appeared and crossed the railroad west of town. Their commissaries entered the +village for supplies, while the “major-domo,” surrounded by a body-guard of +men, rode about on his miserable palfrey. The sheriff, fearing a clash between +the victorious and the vanquished, kept an eye on Sponsilier and me as we +walked the streets, freely expressing our contempt of Field, Radcliff & +Co., their henchmen and their methods. Dave and I were both nerved to +desperation; Sheriff Wherry, anxious to prevent a conflict, counciled with the +opposition drovers, resulting in their outfits leaving town, while the +principals took stage across to Buford. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Sponsilier had wired full particulars to our employer at Big Horn. It +was hardly necessary, as the frost no doubt was general all over Montana, but +we were anxious to get into communication with Lovell immediately on his return +to the railroad. We had written him from Miles of our failure at Powderville, +and the expected second stand at Glendive, and now the elements had notified +him that the opposition herds were within striking distance, and would no doubt +appear at Buford on or before the day of delivery. An irritable man like our +employer would neither eat nor sleep, once the delivery at the Crow Agency was +over, until reaching the railroad, and our message would be awaiting him on his +return to Big Horn. Our train reached Little Missouri early in the evening, and +leaving word with the agent that we were expecting important messages from the +west, we visited the liveryman and inquired about the welfare of our horses. +The proprietor of the stable informed us that they had fared well, and that he +would have them ready for us on an hour’s notice. It was after dark and we were +at supper when the first message came. An immediate answer was required, and +arising from the table, we left our meal unfinished and hastened to the depot. +From then until midnight, messages flashed back and forth, Sponsilier dictating +while I wrote. As there was no train before the regular passenger the next day, +the last wire requested us to have the horses ready to meet the Eastbound, +saying that Bob Quirk would accompany Lovell. +</p> + +<p> +That night it frosted again. Sponsilier and I slept until noon the next day +without awakening. Then the horses were brought in from pasture, and +preparation was made to leave that evening. It was in the neighborhood of +ninety miles across to the mouth of the Yellowstone, and the chances were that +we would ride it without unsaddling. The horses had had a two weeks’ rest, and +if our employer insisted on it, we would breakfast with the herds the next +morning. I was anxious to see the cattle again and rejoin my outfit, but like a +watched pot, the train was an hour late. Sponsilier and I took advantage of the +delay and fortified the inner man against the night and the ride before us. +This proved fortunate, as Lovell and my brother had supper en route in the +dining-car. A running series of questions were asked and answered; saddles were +shaken out of gunny-sacks and cinched on waiting horses as though we were +starting to a prairie fire. Bob Quirk’s cattle had reached the Crow Agency in +splendid condition, the delivery was effected without a word, and old man Don +was in possession of a letter from Flood, saying everything had passed smoothly +at the Rosebud Agency. +</p> + +<p> +Contrary to the expectation of Sponsilier and myself, our employer was in a +good humor, fairly walking on the clouds over the success of his two first +deliveries of the year. But amid the bustle and rush, in view of another frosty +night, Sponsilier inquired if it would not be a good idea to fortify against +the chill, by taking along a bottle of brandy. “Yes, two of them if you want +to,” said old man Don, in good-humored approval. “Here, Tom, fork this horse +and take the pitch out of him,” he continued; “I don’t like the look of his +eye.” But before I could reach the horse, one of my own string, Bob Quirk had +mounted him, when in testimony of the nutritive qualities of Dakota’s grasses, +he arched his spine like a true Texan and outlined a worm-fence in bucking a +circle. +</p> + +<p> +The start was made during the gathering dusk. Sponsilier further lifted the +spirits of our employer, as we rode along, by a clear-cut description of the +opposition cattle, declaring that had they ever equaled ours, the handling they +had received since leaving Ogalalla, compared to his, would class them with +short twos in the spring against long threes in the fall. Within an hour the +stars shone out, and after following the river some ten miles, we bore directly +north until Beaver Creek was reached near midnight. The pace was set at about +an eight-mile, steady clip, with an occasional halt to tighten cinches or shift +saddles. The horses were capable of a faster gait without tiring, but we were +not sure of the route and were saving them for the finish after daybreak. Early +in the night we were conscious that a frost was falling, and several times +Sponsilier inquired if no one cared for a nip from his bottle. Bob Quirk +started the joke on Dave by declining; old man Don uncorked the flask, and, +after smelling of the contents, handed it back with his thanks. I caught onto +their banter, and not wishing to spoil a good jest, also declined, leaving +Sponsilier to drink alone. During the night, whenever conversation lagged, some +one was certain to make reference to the remarks which are said to have passed +between the governors of the Carolinas, or if that failed to provoke a rise, +ask direct if no one had something to ward off the chilly air. After being +refused several times, Dave had thrown the bottle away, meeting these jests +with the reply that he had a private flask, but its quality was such that he +was afraid of offending our cultivated tastes by asking us to join him. +</p> + +<p> +Day broke about five in the morning. We had been in the saddle nearly ten +hours, and were confident that sunrise would reveal some landmark to identify +our location. The atmosphere was frosty and clear, and once the gray of dawn +yielded to the rising sun, the outline of the Yellowstone was easily traced on +our left, while the bluffs in our front shielded a view of the mother Missouri. +In attempting to approach the latter we encountered some rough country and were +compelled to turn towards the former, crossing it, at O’Brien’s roadhouse, some +seven miles above the mouth. The husbanded reserves of our horses were shaken +out, and shortly afterward smoke-clouds from camp-fires, hanging low, attracted +our attention. The herds were soon located as they arose and grazed away from +their bed-grounds. The outfits were encamped on the eastern side of the +Yellowstone; and before leaving the government road, we sighted in our front a +flag ascending to greet the morning, and the location of Fort Buford was +established. Turning towards the cattle, we rode for the lower wagon and were +soon unsaddling at Forrest’s camp. The latter had arrived two days before and +visited the post; he told us that the opposition were there in force, as well +as our own attorneys. The arrival of the cattle under contract for that +military division was the main topic of discussion, and Forrest had even met a +number of civilian employees of Fort Buford whose duties were to look after the +government beeves. The foreman of these unenlisted attaches, a Texan named +Sanders, had casually ridden past his camp the day before, looking over the +cattle, and had pronounced them the finest lot of beeves tendered the +government since his connection with that post. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s good news,” said Lovell, as he threw his saddle astride the front wheel +of the wagon; “that’s the way I like to hear my cattle spoken about. Now, you +boys want to make friends with all those civilians, and my attorneys and Bob +and I will hobnob around with the officers, and try and win the good will of +the entire post. You want to change your camp every few days and give your +cattle good grazing and let them speak for themselves. Better kill a beef among +the outfits, and insist on all callers staying for meals. We’re strangers here, +and we want to make a good impression, and show the public that we were born +white, even if we do handle cattle for a living. Quince, tie up the horses for +us, and after breakfast Bob and I will look over the herds and then ride into +Fort Buford.—Trout for breakfast? You don’t mean it!” +</p> + +<p> +It was true, however, and our appetites did them justice. Forrest reported +Splann as having arrived a day late, and now encamped the last herd up the +valley. Taking our horses with us, Dave and I set out to look up our herds and +resume our former positions. I rode through Sponsilier’s cattle while en route +to my own, and remembered the first impression they had made on my mind,—their +uniformity in size and smoothness of build,—and now found them fatted into +finished form, the herd being a credit to any drover. Continuing on my way, I +intercepted my own cattle, lying down over hundreds of acres, and so contented +that I refused to disturb them. Splann reported not over half a dozen +sore-footed ones among them, having grazed the entire distance from Little +Missouri, giving the tender cattle a good chance to recover. I held a circle of +listeners for several hours, in recounting Sponsilier’s and my own experiences +in the quarantine camps, and our utter final failure, except that the +opposition herds had been detained, which would force them to drive over twenty +miles a day in order to reach Buford on time. On the other hand, an incident of +more than ordinary moment had occurred with the cattle some ten days previous. +The slow movement of the grazing herds allowed a great amount of freedom to the +boys and was taken advantage of at every opportunity. It seems that on +approaching Beaver Creek, Owen Ubery and Runt Pickett had ridden across to it +for the purpose of trout-fishing. They were gone all day, having struck the +creek some ten or twelve miles west of the cattle, expecting to fish down it +and overtake the herds during the evening. But about noon they discovered where +a wagon had been burned, years before, and near by were five human skeletons, +evidently a family. It was possibly the work of Indians, or a blizzard, and to +prove the discovery, Pickett had brought in one of the skulls and proposed +taking it home with him as a memento of the drive. Parent objected to having +the reminder in the wagon, and a row resulted between them, till Splann +interfered and threw the gruesome relic away. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning a dozen of us from the three herds rode into the post. Fort +Buford was not only a military headquarters, but a supply depot for other posts +farther west on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. The nearest railroad +connection was Glendive, seventy-six miles up the latter stream, though +steamboats took advantage of freshets in the river to transport immense +supplies from lower points on the Missouri where there were rail connections. +From Buford westward, transportation was effected by boats of lighter draft and +the regulation wagon train. It was recognized as one of the most important +supply posts in the West; as early as five years previous to this date, it had +received in a single summer as many as ten thousand beeves. Its provision for +cavalry was one of its boasted features, immense stacks of forage flanking +those quarters, while the infantry barracks and officers’ quarters were large +and comfortable. A stirring little town had sprung up on the outside, affording +the citizens employment in wood and hay contracts, and becoming the home of a +large number of civilian employees, the post being the mainstay of the village. +</p> + +<p> +After settling our quarantine bills, Sponsilier and I each had money left. Our +employer refused even to look at our expense bills until after the delivery, +but urged us to use freely any remaining funds in cultivating the good will of +the citizens and soldiery alike. Forrest was accordingly supplied with funds, +with the understanding that he was to hunt up Sanders and his outfit and show +them a good time. The beef foreman was soon located in the quartermaster’s +office, and, having been connected with the post for several years, knew the +ropes. He had come to Buford with Texas cattle, and after their delivery had +accepted a situation under the acting quartermaster, easily rising to the +foremanship through his superior abilities as a cowman. It was like a meeting +of long-lost brothers to mingle again with a cow outfit, and the sutler’s bar +did a flourishing business during our stay in the post. There were ten men in +Sanders’s outfit, several of whom besides himself were Texans, and before we +parted, every rascal had promised to visit us the next day and look over all +the cattle. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Bob Quirk put in an early appearance at my wagon. He had +passed the other outfits, and notified us all to have the cattle under +convenient herd, properly watered in advance, as the post commandant, +quartermaster, and a party of minor officers were going to ride out that +afternoon and inspect our beeves. Lovell, of course, would accompany them, and +Bob reported him as having made a ten-strike with the officers’ mess, not being +afraid to spend his money. Fortunately the present quartermaster at Buford was +a former acquaintance of Lovell, the two having had business transactions. The +quartermaster had been connected with frontier posts from Fort Clark, Texas, to +his present position. According to report, the opposition were active and +waging an aggressive campaign, but not being Western men, were at a +disadvantage. Champagne had flowed freely at a dinner given the night before by +our employer, during which Senator Aspgrain, in responding to a toast, had paid +the army a high tribute for the part it had played in reclaiming the last of +our western frontier. The quartermaster, in replying, had felicitously +remarked, as a matter of his own observation, that the Californian’s love for a +horse was only excelled by the Texan’s love for a cow, to which, amid +uproarious laughter, old man Don arose and bowed his acknowledgment. +</p> + +<p> +My brother changed horses and returned to Sponsilier’s wagon. Dave had planned +to entertain the post beef outfit for dinner, and had insisted on Bob’s +presence. They arrived at my herd near the middle of the forenoon, and after +showing the cattle and remuda, we all returned to Sponsilier’s camp. These +civilian employees furnished their own mounts, and were anxious to buy a number +of our best horses after the delivery was over. Not even a whisper was breathed +about any uncertainty of our filling the outstanding contract, yet Sanders was +given to understand that Don Lovell would rather, if he took a fancy to him, +give a man a horse than sell him one. Not a word was said about any opposition +to our herds; that would come later, and Sanders and his outfit were too good +judges of Texas cattle to be misled by any bluster or boastful talk. Sponsilier +acted the host, and after dinner unearthed a box of cigars, and we told stories +and talked of our homes in the sunny South until the arrival of the military +party. The herds had been well watered about noon and drifted out on the first +uplands, and we intercepted the cavalcade before it reached Sponsilier’s herd. +They were mounted on fine cavalry horses, and the only greeting which passed, +aside from a military salute, was when Lovell said: “Dave, show these officers +your beeves. Answer any question they may ask to the best of your ability. +Gentlemen, excuse me while you look over the cattle.” +</p> + +<p> +There were about a dozen military men in the party, some of them veterans of +the civil war, others having spent their lifetime on our western frontier, +while a few were seeing their first year’s service after leaving West Point. In +looking over the cattle, the post commander and quartermaster were taken under +the wing of Sanders, who, as only a man could who was born to the occupation, +called their attention to every fine point about the beeves. After spending +fully an hour with Sponsilier’s herd, the cavalcade proceeded on to mine, +Lovell rejoining the party, but never once attempting to draw out an opinion, +and again excusing himself on reaching my cattle. I continued with the +military, answering every one’s questions, from the young lieutenant’s to the +veteran commandant’s, in which I was ably seconded by the quartermaster’s +foreman. My cattle had a splendid fill on them and eloquently spoke their own +praises, yet Sanders lost no opportunity to enter a clincher in their favor. He +pointed out beef after beef, and vouched for the pounds net they would dress, +called attention to their sameness in build, ages, and general thrift, until +one would have supposed that he was a salesman instead of a civilian employee. +</p> + +<p> +My herd was fully ten miles from the post, and it was necessary for the +military to return that evening. Don Lovell and a number of the boys had halted +at a distance, and once the inspection was over, we turned and rode back to the +waiting group of horsemen. On coming up, a number of the officers dismounted to +shift saddles, preparatory to starting on their return, when the quartermaster +halted near our employer and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Colonel Lovell, let me say to you, in all sincerity, that in my twenty-five +years’ experience on this frontier, I never saw a finer lot of beeves tendered +the government than these of yours. My position requires that I should have a +fair knowledge of beef cattle, and the perquisites of my office in a post of +Buford’s class enable me to employ the best practical men available to perfect +the service. I remember the quality of cattle which you delivered four years +ago to me at Fort Randall, when it was a six-company post, yet they were not as +fine a lot of beeves as these are. I have always contended that there was +nothing too good in my department for the men who uphold the colors of our +country, especially on the front line. You have been a soldier yourself and +know that I am talking good horsesense, and I want to say to you that whatever +the outcome of this dispute may be, if yours are the best cattle, you may count +on my support until the drums beat tattoo. The government is liberal and +insists on the best; the rank and file are worthy, and yet we don’t always get +what is ordered and well paid for. Now, remember, comrade, if this difference +comes to an issue, I’m right behind you, and we’ll stand or be turned down +together.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, Colonel,” replied Mr. Lovell. “It does seem rather fortunate, my +meeting up with a former business acquaintance, and at a time when I need him +bad. If I am successful in delivering on this Buford award, it will round out, +during my fifteen years as a drover, over a hundred thousand cattle that I have +sold to the government for its Indian and army departments. There are no +secrets in my business; the reason of my success is simple—my cattle were +always there on the appointed day, humanely handled, and generally just a shade +better than the specifications. My home country has the cattle for sale; I can +tell within two bits a head what it will cost to lay them down here, and it’s +music to my ear to hear you insist on the best. I agree with you that the +firing-line is entitled to special consideration, yet you know that there are +ringsters who fatten at the expense of the rank and file. At present I haven’t +a word to say, but at noon to-morrow I shall tender the post commander at Ford +Buford, through his quartermaster, ten thousand beeves, as a sub-contractor on +the original award to The Western Supply Company.” The post commander, an +elderly, white-haired officer, rode over and smilingly said: “Now, look here, +my Texas friend, I’m afraid you are borrowing trouble. True enough, there has +been a protest made against our receiving your beeves, and I don’t mince my +words in saying that some hard things have been said about you. But we happen +to know something about your reputation and don’t give credit for all that is +said. Your beeves are an eloquent argument in your favor, and if I were you I +wouldn’t worry. It is always a good idea in this Western country to make a +proviso; and unless the unforeseen happens, the quartermaster’s cattle foreman +will count your beeves to-morrow afternoon; and for the sake of your company, +if we keep you a day or two longer settling up, I don’t want to hear you kick. +Now, come on and go back with us to the post, as I promised my wife to bring +you over to our house this evening. She seems to think that a man from Texas +with ten thousand cattle ought to have horns, and I want to show her that she’s +mistaken. Come on, now, and not a damned word of protest out of you.” +</p> + +<p> +The military party started on their return, accompanied by Lovell. The civilian +attaches followed at a respectful distance, a number of us joining them as far +as Sponsilier’s camp. There we halted, when Sanders insisted on an explanation +of the remarks which had passed between our employer and his. Being once more +among his own, he felt no delicacy in asking for information—which he would +never think of doing with his superiors. My brother gave him a true version of +the situation, but it remained for Dave Sponsilier to add an outline of the +opposition herds and outfits. +</p> + +<p> +“With humane treatment,” said Dave, “the cattle would have qualified under the +specifications. They were bought at Ogalalla, and any of the boys here will +tell you that the first one was a good herd. The market was all shot to pieces, +and they picked them up at their own price. But the owners didn’t have +cow-sense enough to handle the cattle, and put one of their own gang over the +herds as superintendent. They left Cabin Creek, below Glendive, on the morning +of the 10th, and they’ll have to travel nearly twenty miles a day to reach here +by noon to-morrow. Sanders, you know that gait will soon kill heavy cattle. The +outfits were made up of short-card men and dance-hall ornaments, wild enough to +look at, but shy on cattle sabe. Just so they showed up bad and wore a +six-shooter, that was enough to win a home with Field and Radcliff. If they +reach here on time, I’ll gamble there ain’t ten horses in the entire outfit +that don’t carry a nigger brand. And when it comes to the big +conversation—well, they’ve simply got the earth faded.” +</p> + +<p> +It was nearly sundown when we mounted our horses and separated for the day. Bob +Quirk returned to the post with the civilians, while I hastened back to my +wagon. I had left orders with Splann to water the herd a second time during the +evening and thus insure an easy night in holding the cattle. On my return, they +were just grazing out from the river, their front a mile wide, making a pretty +picture with the Yellowstone in the background. But as I sat my horse and in +retrospect reviewed my connection with the cattle before me and the prospect of +soon severing it, my remuda came over a near-by hill in a swinging trot for +their second drink. Levering threw them into the river below the herd, and +turning, galloped up to me and breathlessly asked: “Tom, did you see that +dust-cloud up the river? Well, the other cattle are coming. The timber cuts off +your view from here, besides the sun’s gone down, but I watched their signal +for half an hour from that second hill yonder. Oh, it’s cattle all right; I +know the sign, even if they are ten miles away.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0022"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br/> +A SOLDIER’S HONOR</h2> + +<p> +Delivery day dawned with a heavy fog hanging over the valley of the +Yellowstone. The frosts had ceased, and several showers had fallen during the +night, one of which brought our beeves to their feet, but they gave no serious +trouble and resumed their beds within an hour. There was an autumn feeling in +the atmosphere, and when the sun arose, dispelling the mists, a glorious +September day was ushered in. The foliage of the timber which skirted either +river was coloring from recent frosts, while in numerous places the fallen +leaves of the cottonwood were littering the ground. Enough rain had fallen to +settle the dust, and the signal of the approaching herds, seen the evening +before, was no longer visible. +</p> + +<p> +The delay in their appearance, however, was only temporary. I rode down to +Sponsilier’s camp early that morning and reported the observations of my +wrangler at sundown. No one at the lower wagon had noticed the dust-clouds, and +some one suggested that it might be a freight outfit returning unloaded, when +one of the men on herd was seen signaling the camp’s notice. The attention of +the day-herders, several miles distant, was centered on some object up the +river; and mounting our horses, we rode for the nearest elevation, from which +two herds were to be seen on the opposite side, traveling in trail formation. +There was no doubting their identity; and wondering what the day would bring +forth, we rode for a better point of observation, when from behind a timbered +bend of the river the lead of the last herd appeared. At last the Yellowstone +Valley held over twenty thousand beef cattle, in plain sight of each other, +both factions equally determined on making the delivery on an award that +required only half that number. Dismounting, we kept the herds in view for over +an hour, or until the last one had crossed the river above O’Brien’s +road-house, the lead one having disappeared out of sight over on the main +Missouri. +</p> + +<p> +This was the situation on the morning of September 15. As we returned to +Sponsilier’s wagon, all the idle men about the camp joined our cavalcade, and +we rode down and paid Forrest’s outfit a social visit. The latter were all +absent, except the cook, but shortly returned from down the river and reported +the opposition herds to be crossing the Missouri, evidently going to camp at +Alkali Lake. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I’ve been present at a good many deliveries,” said Quince Forrest, as he +reined in his horse, “but this one is in a class by itself. We always aimed to +get within five or ten miles of a post or agency, but our friends made a worthy +effort to get on the parade-ground. They did the next best thing and occupied +the grazing where the cavalry horses have been herded all summer. Oh, their +cattle will be hog-fat in a few days. Possibly they expect to show their cattle +in town, and not trouble the quartermaster and comandante to even saddle +up—they’re the very kind of people who wouldn’t give anybody trouble if they +could help it. It wouldn’t make so much difference about those old frontier +officers or a common cowman, but if one of those young lieutenants was to get +his feet wet, the chances are that those Washington City contractors would fret +and worry for weeks. Of course, any little inconvenience that any one incurred +on their account, they’d gladly come all the way back from Europe to make it +right—I don’t think.” +</p> + +<p> +While we were discussing the situation, Bob Quirk arrived at camp. He reported +that Lovell, relying on the superiority of our beeves, had waived his right to +deliver on the hour of high noon, and an inspection of the other cattle would +be made that evening. The waiver was made at the request of the leading +officers of Fort Buford, all very friendly to the best interests of the service +and consequently ours, and the object was to silence all subsequent +controversy. My brother admitted that some outside pressure had been brought to +bear during the night, very antagonistic to the post commander, who was now +more determined than ever to accept none but the best for their next year’s +meat supply. A well-known congressman, of unsavory reputation as a lobbyist in +aiding and securing government contracts for his friends, was the latest +addition to the legal forces of the opposition. He constantly mentioned his +acquaintances in the War Department and maintained an air of assurance which +was very disconcerting. The younger officers in the post were abashed at the +effrontery of the contractors and their legal representatives, and had even +gone so far as to express doubts as to the stability of their positions in case +the decision favored Lovell’s cattle. Opinion was current that a possible +shake-up might occur at Buford after the receipt of its beef supply, and the +more timorous ones were anxious to get into the right wagon, instead of being +relegated to some obscure outpost. +</p> + +<p> +It was now evident that the decisive issue was to occur over the delivery of +the contending herds. Numerous possibilities arose in my imagination, and the +various foremen advanced their views. A general belief that old man Don would +fight to the last was prevalent, and amidst the discussions pro and con, I +remarked that Lovell could take a final refuge behind the indemnity in hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Indemnity, hell!” said Bob Quirk, giving me a withering look; “what is +sixty-five thousand dollars on ten thousand beeves, within an hour of delivery +and at thirty-seven and a half a head? You all know that the old man has +strained his credit on this summer’s drive, and he’s got to have the money when +he goes home. A fifteen or twenty per cent. indemnity does him no good. The +Indian herds have paid out well, but if this delivery falls down, it will leave +him holding the sack. On the other hand, if it goes through, he will be, +financially, an independent man for life. And while he knows the danger of +delay, he consented as readily as any of us would if asked for a +cigarette-paper. He may come out all right, but he’s just about white enough to +get the worst of it. I’ve read these Sunday-school stories, where the good +little boy always came out on top, but in real life, especially in cattle, it’s +quite different.” +</p> + +<p> +My brother’s words had a magical effect. Sponsilier asked for suggestions, when +Bob urged that every man available go into the post and accompany the +inspection party that afternoon. Since Forrest and himself were unknown, they +would take about three of the boys with them, cross the Missouri, ride through +and sum up the opposition cattle. Forrest approved of the idea, and ordered his +cook to bestir himself in getting up an early dinner. Meanwhile a number of my +boys had ridden down to Forrest’s wagon, and I immediately dispatched Clay +Zilligan back to my cattle to relieve Vick Wolf and inform the day-herders that +we might not return before dark. Wolf was the coolest man in my employ, had +figured in several shooting scrapes, and as he was a splendid shot, I wanted to +send him with Forrest and my brother. If identified as belonging to Lovell’s +outfits, there was a possibility that insult might be offered the boys; and +knowing that it mattered not what the odds were, it would be resented, I +thought it advisable to send a man who had smelt powder at short range. I felt +no special uneasiness about my brother, in fact he was the logical man to go, +but a little precaution would do no harm, and I saw to it that Sponsilier sent +a good representative. +</p> + +<p> +About one o’clock we started, thirty strong. Riding down the Yellowstone, the +three detailed men, Quince Forrest, and my brother soon bore off to the left +and we lost sight of them. Continuing on down the river, we forded the Missouri +at the regular wagon-crossing, and within an hour after leaving Forrest’s camp +cantered into Fort Buford. Sanders and his outfit were waiting in front of the +quartermaster’s office, the hour for starting having been changed from two to +three, which afforded ample time to visit the sutler’s bar. Our arrival was +noticed about the barracks, and evidently some complaint had been made, as old +man Don joined us in time for the first round, after which he called Dave and +me aside. In reply to his inquiry regarding our presence, Sponsilier informed +him that we had come in to afford him an escort, in case he wished to attend +the inspection of the opposition herds; that if there was any bulldozing going +on he needn’t stand behind the door. Dave informed him that Bob and Quince and +three of the other boys would meet us at the cattle, and that he need feel no +hesitancy in going if it was his wish. It was quite evident that Mr. Lovell was +despondent, but he took courage and announced his willingness to go along. +</p> + +<p> +“It was my intention not to go,” said he, “though Mr. Aspgrain and Sutton both +urged that I should. But now since you boys all feel the same way, I believe +I’ll go. Heaven and earth are being moved to have the other cattle accepted, +but there are a couple of old war-horses at the head of this post that will +fight them to the last ditch, and then some. I’m satisfied that my beeves, in +any market in the West, are worth ten dollars a head more than the other ones, +yet there is an effort being made to turn us down. Our claims rest on two +points,—superiority of the beef tendered, and the legal impossibility of a +transfer from themselves, a corporation, to themselves as individuals. If there +is no outside interference, I think we will make the delivery before noon +to-morrow. Now, I’ll get horses for both Mr. Sutton and Senator Aspgrain, and +you see that none of the boys drink too much. Sanders and his outfit are all +right, and I want you lads to remind me to remember him before we leave this +post. Now, we’ll all go in a little party by ourselves, and I don’t want a word +out of a man, unless we are asked for an opinion from the officers, as our +cattle must argue our cause.” +</p> + +<p> +A second drink, a cigar all round, and we were ready to start. As we returned +to our mounts, a bustle of activity pervaded the post. Orderlies were leading +forth the best horses, officers were appearing in riding-boots and gauntlets, +while two conveyances from a livery in town stood waiting to convey the +contractors and their legal representatives. Our employer and his counsel were +on hand, awaiting the start, when the quartermaster and his outfit led off. +There was some delay among the officers over the change of a horse, which had +shown lameness, while the ringsters were all seated and waiting in their +vehicles. Since none of us knew the trail to Alkali Lake, some one suggested +that we follow up the quartermaster and allow the military and conveyances to +go by the wagon-road. But Lovell objected, and ordered me forward to notice the +trail and course, as the latter was a cut-off and much nearer than by road. I +rode leisurely past the two vehicles, carefully scanning every face, when Mr. +Field recognized and attempted to halt me, but I answered him with a +contemptuous look and rode on. Instantly from the rigs came cries of “Stop that +man!” “Halt that cowboy!” etc., when an orderly stepped in front of my horse +and I reined in. But the shouting and my detention were seen and heard, and the +next instant, led by Mike Sutton, our men dashed up, scaring the teams, +overturning both of the conveyances, and spilling their occupants on the dusty +ground. I admit that we were a hard-looking lot of cow-hands, our employer’s +grievance was our own, and just for an instant there was a blue, sulphuric +tinge in the atmosphere as we accented our protest. The congressman scrambled +to his feet, sputtering a complaint to the post commander, and when order was +finally restored, the latter coolly said: +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Mr. Y——-, when did you assume command at Fort Buford? Any orders that +you want given, while on this military reservation, please submit them to the +proper authorities, and if just, they will receive attention. What right have +you or any of your friends to stop a man without due process? I spent several +hours with these men a few days ago and found them to my liking. I wish we +could recruit the last one of them into our cavalry. But if you are afraid, +I’ll order out a troop of horse to protect you. Shall I?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m not at all afraid,” replied Mr. Raddiff, “but feel under obligation to +protect my counsel. If you please, Colonel.” +</p> + +<p> +“Captain O’Neill,” said the commandant, turning to that officer, “order out +your troop and give these conveyances ample protection from now until their +return from this cattle inspection. Mr. Lovell, if you wish to be present, +please ride on ahead with your men. The rest of us will proceed at once, and as +soon as the escort arrives, these vehicles will bring up the rear.” +</p> + +<p> +As we rode away, the bugles were calling the troopers. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s the way to throw the gaff into them,” said Sutton, when we had ridden +out of hearing. “Every time they bluff, call their hand, and they’ll soon get +tired running blazers. I want to give notice right now that the first mark of +disrespect shown me, by client or attorney, I’ll slap him then and there, I +don’t care if he is as big as a giant. We are up against a hard crowd, and we +want to meet them a little over halfway, even on a hint or insinuation. When it +comes to buffaloing the opposite side, that’s my long suit. The history of this +case shows that the opposition has no regard for the rights of others, and it +is up to us to try and teach them that a love of justice is universal. +Personally, I’m nothing but a frontier lawyer from Dodge, but I’m the equal of +any lobbyist that ever left Washington City.” +</p> + +<p> +Alkali Lake was some little distance from the post. All three of the herds were +holding beyond it, a polite request having reached them to vacate the +grazing-ground of the cavalry horses. Lovell still insisted that we stand aloof +and give the constituted authorities a free, untrammeled hand until the +inspection was over. The quartermaster and his assistants halted on approaching +the first herd, and giving them a wide berth, we rode for the nearest good +point of observation. The officers galloped up shortly afterward, reining in +for a short conversation, but entering the first herd before the arrival of the +conveyances and their escort. When the latter party arrived, the nearest one of +the three herds had been passed upon, but the contractors stood on the carriage +seats and attempted to look over the cordon of troopers, formed into a hollow +square, which surrounded them. The troop were mounted on chestnut horses, +making a pretty sight, and I think they enjoyed the folly and humor of the +situation fully as much as we did. On nearing the second herd, we were met by +the other boys, who had given the cattle a thorough going-over and reported +finding two “Circle Dot” beeves among the opposition steers. The chances are +that they had walked off a bed-ground some night while holding at Ogalalla and +had been absorbed into another herd before morning. My brother announced his +intention of taking them back with us, when Sponsilier taunted him with the +fact that there might be objections offered. +</p> + +<p> +“That’ll be all right, Davy,” replied Bob; “it’ll take a bigger and better +outfit than these pimps and tin-horns to keep me from claiming my own. You just +watch and notice if those two steers don’t go back with Forrest. Why, they had +the nerve to question our right even to look them over. It must be a trifle +dull with the GIRLS down there in Ogalalla when all these ‘babies’ have to turn +out at work or go hungry.” +</p> + +<p> +Little time was lost in inspecting the last herd. The cattle were thrown +entirely too close together to afford much opportunity in looking them over, +and after riding through them a few times, the officers rode away for a +consultation. We had kept at a distance from the convoy, perfectly contented so +long as the opposition were prisoners of their own choosing. Captain O’Neill +evidently understood the wishes of his superior officer, and never once were +his charges allowed within hailing distance of the party of inspection. As far +as exerting any influence was concerned, for that matter, all of us might have +remained back at the post and received the report on the commander’s return. +Yet there was a tinge of uncertainty as to the result, and all concerned wanted +to hear it at the earliest moment. The inspection party did not keep us long in +waiting, for after a brief conference they turned and rode for the contractors +under escort. We rode forward, the troop closed up in close formation about the +two vehicles, and the general tension rose to that of rigidity. We halted +quietly within easy hearing distance, and without noticing us the commandant +addressed himself to the occupants of the conveyances, who were now standing on +the seats. +</p> + +<p> +“Gentlemen,” said he, with military austerity, “the quality and condition of +your cattle places them beyond our consideration. Beef intended for delivery at +this post must arrive here with sufficient flesh to withstand the rigors of our +winter. When possible to secure them, we prefer Northern wintered cattle, but +if they are not available, and we are compelled to receive Southern ones, they +must be of the first quality in conformation and flesh. It now becomes my duty +to say to you that your beeves are rough, have been over-driven, are +tender-footed and otherwise abused, and, having in view the best interests of +the service, with the concurrence of my associates, I decline them.” +</p> + +<p> +The decision was rendered amid breathless silence. Not a word of exultation +escaped one of our party, but the nervous strain rather intensified. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Y——, the congressman, made the first move. Quietly alighting from the +vehicle, he held a whispered conversation with his associates, very composedly +turned to the commandant, and said: +</p> + +<p> +“No doubt you are aware that there are higher authorities than the post +commander and quartermaster of Fort Buford. This higher court to which I refer +saw fit to award a contract for five million pounds of beef to be delivered at +this post on foot. Any stipulations inserted or omitted in that article, the +customary usages of the War Department would govern. If you will kindly look at +the original contract, a copy of which is in your possession, you will notice +that nothing is said about the quality of the cattle, just so the pounds +avoirdupois are there. The government does not presume, when contracting for +Texas cattle, that they will arrive here in perfect order; but so long as the +sex, age, and weight have been complied with, there can be no evasion of the +contract. My clients are sub-contractors, under an assignment of the original +award, are acting in good faith in making this tender, and if your decision is +against them, we will make an appeal to the War Department. I am not presuming +to tell you your duty, but trust you will take this matter under full +advisement before making your decision final.” +</p> + +<p> +“Mr. Y—, I have received cattle before without any legal advice or interference +of higher authority. Although you have ignored his presence, there is another +man here with a tender of beef who is entitled to more than passing +consideration. He holds a sub-contract under the original award, and there is +no doubt but he is also acting in good faith. My first concern as a receiving +agent of this government is that the goods tendered must be of the first +quality. Your cattle fall below our established standards here, while his will +take rank as the finest lot of beeves ever tendered at this post, and therefore +he is entitled to the award. I am not going to stand on any technicalities as +to who is legally entitled to make this delivery; there have been charges and +counter-charges which have reached me, the justice of which I cannot pass on, +but with the cattle it is quite different. I lack but five years of being +retired on my rank, the greater portion of which service has been spent on this +frontier, and I feel justified in the decision made. The government buys the +best, insists on its receiving agents demanding the same, and what few +remaining years I serve the flag, there will be no change in my policy.” +</p> + +<p> +There was a hurried conference. The “major-domo” was called into the +consultation, after which the congressman returned to the attack. +</p> + +<p> +“Colonel, you are forcing us to make a protest to the War Department. As +commander at Fort Buford, what right have you to consider the tender of any +Tom, Dick, or Harry who may have cattle to sell? Armed with an assignment of +the original award, we have tendered you the pounds quantity required by the +existing contract, have insisted on the acceptance of the same, and if refused, +our protest will be in the War Office before that sun sets. Now, my advice is—” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t give a damn for you nor your advice. My reputation as a soldier is all +I possess, and no man can dictate to nor intimidate me. My past record is an +open book and one which I am proud of; and while I have the honor to command at +Fort Buford, no threats can terrify nor cause me to deviate from my duty. +Captain O’Neill, attend orders and escort these vehicles back to their +quarters.” +</p> + +<p> +The escort loosened out, the conveyances started, and the inspection was over. +We were a quiet crowd, though inwardly we all felt like shouting. We held apart +from the military party, and when near the herd which held the “Circle Dot” +steers, my brother and a number of the boys galloped on ahead and cut out the +animals before our arrival. On entering the wagon-road near the post, the +military cavalcade halted a moment for us to come up. Lovell was in the lead, +and as we halted the commandant said to him: “We have decided to receive your +cattle in the morning—about ten o’clock if that hour will be convenient. I may +not come over, but the quartermaster’s Mr. Sanders will count for us, and you +cowmen ought to agree on the numbers. We have delayed you a day, and if you +will put in a bill for demurrage, I will approve it. I believe that is all. +We’ll expect you to spend the night with us at the post. I thought it best to +advise you now, so that you might give your men any final orders.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0023"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br/> +KANGAROOED</h2> + +<p> +Lovell and his attorneys joined the cavalcade which returned to the post, while +we continued on south, fording the Missouri above Forrest’s camp. The two +recovered beeves were recognized by their ranch brands as belonging in Bee +County, thus identifying them as having escaped from Bob Quirk’s herd, though +he had previously denied all knowledge of them. The cattle world was a small +one, and it mattered little where an animal roamed, there was always a man near +by who could identify the brand and give the bovine’s past history. With the +prospects bright for a new owner on the morrow, these two wayfarers found +lodgment among our own for the night. +</p> + +<p> +But when another day dawned, it brought new complications. Instead of the early +arrival of any receiving party, the appointed hour passed, noon came, and no +one appeared. I had ridden down to the lower camps about the latter hour, yet +there was no one who could explain, neither had any word from the post reached +Forrest’s wagon. Sponsilier suggested that we ride into Buford, and accordingly +all three of us foremen started. When we sighted the ford on the Missouri, a +trio of horsemen were just emerging from the water, and we soon were in +possession of the facts. Sanders, my brother, and Mike Sutton composed the +party, and the latter explained the situation. Orders from the War Department +had reached Fort Buford that morning, temporarily suspending the post commander +and his quartermaster from receiving any cattle intended for that post, and +giving notice that a special commissioner was then en route from Minneapolis +with full authority in the premises. The order was signed by the first +quartermaster and approved by the head of that department; there was no going +behind it, which further showed the strength that the opposition were able to +command. The little attorney was wearing his war-paint, and we all dismounted, +when Sanders volunteered some valuable points on the wintering of Texas cattle +in the North. Sutton made a memorandum of the data, saying if opportunity +offered he would like to submit it in evidence at the final hearing. The +general opinion was that a court of inquiry would be instituted, and if such +was the case, our cause was not by any means hopeless. +</p> + +<p> +“The chances are that the opposition will centre the fight on an assignment of +the original contract which they claim to hold,” said the lawyer, in +conclusion. “The point was advanced yesterday that we were intruders, while, on +the other hand, the government was in honor bound to recognize its outstanding +obligation, no matter in whose hands it was presented, so long as it was +accompanied by the proper tender. A great deal will depend on the viewpoint of +this special commissioner; he may be a stickler for red tape, with no concern +for the service, as were the post commander and quartermaster. Their possession +of the original document will be self-evident, and it will devolve on us to +show that that assignment was illegal. This may not be as easy as it seems, for +the chances are that there may be a dozen men in the gang, with numerous +stool-pigeons ready and willing to do their bidding. This contract may +demonstrate the possibility of a ring within a ring, with everything working to +the same end. The absence of Honest John Griscom at this delivery is +significant as proving that his presence at Dodge and Ogalalla was a mistake. +You notice, with the exception of Field and Radcliff, they are all new men. +Well, another day will tell the story.” +</p> + +<p> +The special commissioner could not arrive before the next morning. An +ambulance, with relay teams, had left the post at daybreak for Glendive, and +would return that night. Since the following promised to be a decisive day, we +were requested to bring every available man and report at Fort Buford at an +early hour. The trio returned to the post and we foremen to our herds. My +outfit received the news in anything but a cheerful mood. The monotony of the +long drive had made the men restless, and the delay of a single day in being +finally relieved, when looked forward to, was doubly exasperating. It had been +over six months since we left the ranch in Medina, and there was a lurking +suspicion among a number of the boys that the final decision would be against +our cattle and that they would be thrown back on our hands. There was a general +anxiety among us to go home, hastened by the recent frosty nights and a common +fear of a Northern climate. I tried to stem this feeling, promising a holiday +on the morrow and assuring every one that we still had a fighting chance. +</p> + +<p> +We reached the post at a timely hour the next morning. Only three men were left +with each herd, my wrangler and cook accompanying us for the day. Parent held +forth with quite a dissertation on the legal aspects of the case, and after we +forded the river, an argument arose between him and Jake Blair. “Don’t talk to +me about what’s legal and what isn’t,” said the latter; “the man with the pull +generally gets all that he goes after. You remember the Indian and the white +man were at a loss to know how to divide the turkey and the buzzard, but in the +end poor man got the buzzard. And if you’ll just pay a little more attention to +humanity, you may notice that the legal aspects don’t cut so much figure as you +thought they did. The moment that cattle declined five to seven dollars a head, +The Western Supply Company didn’t trouble themselves as to the legality or the +right or wrong, but proceeded to take advantage of the situation at once. Neal, +when you’ve lived about twenty-five years on the cold charity of strangers, +you’ll get over that blind confidence and become wary and cunning. It might be +a good idea to keep your eye open to-day for your first lesson. Anyhow don’t +rely too strong on the right or justice of anything, but keep a good horse on +picket and your powder dry.” +</p> + +<p> +The commissioner had arrived early that morning and would take up matters at +once. Nine o’clock was set for the hearing, which would take place in the +quartermaster’s office. Consultations were being held among the two factions, +and the only ray of light was the reported frigidity of the special officer. He +was such a superior personage that ordinary mortals felt a chill radiating from +his person on their slightest approach. His credentials were from the War +Department and were such as to leave no doubt but that he was the autocrat of +the situation, before whom all should render homage. A rigid military air +prevailed about the post and grounds, quite out of the ordinary, while the +officers’ bar was empty and silent. +</p> + +<p> +The quartermaster’s office would comfortably accommodate about one hundred +persons. Fort Buford had been rebuilt in 1871, the adobe buildings giving place +to frame structures, and the room in which the hearing was to be held was not +only commodious but furnished with good taste. Promptly on the stroke of the +hour, and escorted by the post adjutant, the grand mogul made his appearance. +There was nothing striking about him, except his military bearing; he was +rather young and walked so erect that he actually leaned backward a trifle. +There was no prelude; he ordered certain tables rearranged, seated himself at +one, and called for a copy of the original contract. The post adjutant had all +the papers covering the situation in hand, and the copy was placed at the +disposal of the special commissioner, who merely glanced at the names of the +contracting parties, amount and date, and handed the document back. Turning to +the table at which Lovell and his attorneys sat, he asked for the credentials +under which they were tendering beeves at Fort Buford. The sub-contract was +produced, some slight memorandum was made, and it was passed back as readily as +was the original. The opposition were calmly awaiting a similar request, and +when it came, in offering the papers, Congressman Y—— took occasion to remark: +“Our tender is not only on a sub-contract, but that agreement is fortified by +an assignment of the original award, by and between the War Department and The +Western Supply Company. We rely on the latter; you will find everything +regular.” +</p> + +<p> +The customary glance was given the bulky documents. Senator Aspgrain was +awaiting the opportune moment to attack the assignment. When it came, the +senator arose with dignity and, addressing the commissioner, attempted to enter +a protest, but was instantly stopped by that high functionary. A frozen silence +pervaded the room. “There is no occasion for any remarks in this matter,” +austerely replied the government specialist. “Our department regularly awarded +the beef contract for this post to The Western Supply Company. There was ample +competition on the award, insuring the government against exorbitant prices, +and the required bonds were furnished for the fulfillment of the contract. +Right then and there all interest upon the part of the grantor ceased until the +tender was made at this post on the appointed day of delivery. In the interim, +however, it seems that for reasons purely their own, the grantees saw fit to +sub-let their contract, not once but twice. Our department amply protected +themselves by requiring bonds, and the sub-contractors should have done the +same. That, however, is not the matter at issue, but who is entitled to deliver +on the original award. Fortunately that point is beyond question; an assignment +of the original has always been recognized at the War Office, and in this case +the holders of the same are declared entitled to deliver. There is only one +provision,—does the article of beef tendered qualify under the specifications? +That is the only question before making this decision final. If there is any +evidence to the contrary, I am ready to hear it.” +</p> + +<p> +This afforded the opportunity of using Sanders as a witness, and Sutton grasped +the opportunity of calling him to testify in regard to wintering Southern +cattle in the North. After stating his qualifications as a citizen and present +occupation, he was asked by the commissioner regarding his experience with +cattle to entitle his testimony to consideration. “I was born to the occupation +in Texas,” replied the witness. “Five years ago this summer I came with beef +cattle from Uvalde County, that State, to this post, and after the delivery, +accepted a situation under the quartermaster here in locating and holding the +government’s beeves. At present I am foreman and have charge of all cattle +delivered at or issued from this post. I have had five years’ experience in +wintering Texas cattle in this vicinity, and have no hesitancy in saying that +it is a matter of the utmost importance that steers should be in the best +possible flesh to withstand our winters. The losses during the most favorable +seasons have averaged from one to five per cent., while the same cattle in a +severe season will lose from ten to twenty-five, all depending on the condition +of the stock with the beginning of cold weather. Since my connection with this +post we have always received good steers, and our losses have been light, but +above and below this military reservation the per cent. loss has run as high as +fifty among thin, weak animals.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Mr. Sanders,” said the special commissioner, “as an expert, you are +testifying as to the probable loss to the government in this locality in buying +and holding beef on its own account. You may now state if you have seen the +tender of beef made by Field, Radcliff & Co., and if so, anticipating the +worst, what would be the probable loss if their cattle were accepted on this +year’s delivery?” +</p> + +<p> +“I was present at their inspection by the officers of this post,” replied the +witness, “and have no hesitancy in saying that should the coming one prove as +hard a winter as ’82 was, there would be a loss of fully one half these cattle. +At least that was my opinion as expressed to the post commander and +quartermaster at the inspection, and they agreed with me. There are half a +dozen other boys here whose views on wintering cattle can be had—and they’re +worth listening to.” +</p> + +<p> +This testimony was the brutal truth, and though eternal, was sadly out of +place. The opposition lawyers winced; and when Sutton asked if permission would +be given to hear the testimony of the post commander and quartermaster, both +familiar with the quality of cattle the government had been receiving for +years, the commissioner, having admitted damaging testimony, objected on the +ground that they were under suspension, and military men were not considered +specialists outside their own vocation. Other competent witnesses were offered +and objected to, simply because they would not admit they were experts. Taking +advantage of the opening, Congressman Y—— called attention to a few facts in +passing. This unfortunate situation, he said, in substance, was deeply +regretted by his clients and himself. The War Department was to be warmly +commended for sending a special commissioner to hear the matter at issue, +otherwise unjust charges might have been preferred against old and honored +officers in the service. However, if specialists were to be called to testify, +and their testimony considered, as to what per cent. of cattle would survive a +winter, why not call on the weather prophets to testify just what the coming +one would be? He ridiculed the attestations of Sanders as irrelevant, defiantly +asserting that the only question at issue was, were there five million pounds +of dressed beef in the tender of cattle by Field, Radcliff & Co. He +insisted on the letter in the bond being observed. The government bought cattle +one year with another, and assumed risks as did other people. Was there any man +present to challenge his assertion that the pounds quantity had been tendered? +</p> + +<p> +There was. Don Lovell arose, and addressing the special commissioner, said: +“Sir, I am not giving my opinion as an expert but as a practical cowman. If the +testimony of one who has delivered over ninety thousand cattle to this +government, in its army and Indian departments, is of any service to you, I +trust you will hear me patiently. No exception is taken to your ruling as to +who is entitled to deliver on the existing award; that was expected from the +first. I have been contracting beef to this government for the past fifteen +years, and there may be tricks in the trade of which I am ignorant. The army +has always demanded the best, while lower grades have always been acceptable to +the Indian Department. But in all my experience, I have never tendered this +government for its gut-eating wards as poor a lot of cattle as I am satisfied +that you are going to receive at the hands of Field, Radcliff & Co. I +accept the challenge that there are not five million pounds of dressed beef in +their tender to-day, and what there is would be a disgrace to any commonwealth +to feed its convicts. True, these cattle are not intended for immediate use, +and I make the counter-assertion that this government will never kill out fifty +per cent. of the weight that you accept to-day. Possibly you prefer the +blandishments of a lobbyist to the opinion of a practical cowman like Sanders. +That’s your privilege. You refuse to allow us to show the relationship between +The Western Supply Company and the present holders of its assignment, and in +doing so I charge you with being in collusion with these contractors to defraud +the government!” +</p> + +<p> +“You’re a liar!” shouted Congressman Y——, jumping to his feet. The only reply +was a chair hurled from the hand of Sutton at the head of the offender, +instantly followed by a rough house. Several officers present sprang to the +side of the special commissioner, but fortunately refrained from drawing +revolvers. I was standing at some distance from the table, and as I made a +lunge forward, old man Don was hurled backward into my arms. He could not whip +a sick chicken, yet his uncontrollable anger had carried him into the general +melee and he had been roughly thrown out by some of his own men. They didn’t +want him in the fight; they could do all that was necessary. A number of +soldiers were present, and while the officers were frantically commanding them +to restore order, the scrap went merrily on. Old man Don struggled with might +and main, cursing me for refusing to free him, and when one of the contractors +was knocked down within easy reach, I was half tempted to turn him loose. The +“major-domo” had singled out Sponsilier and was trying issues with him, Bob +Quirk was dropping them right and left, when the deposed commandant sprang upon +a table, and in a voice like the hiss of an adder, commanded peace, and the +disorder instantly ceased. +</p> + +<p> +The row had lasted only a few seconds. The opposing sides stood glaring daggers +at each other, when the commissioner took occasion to administer a reproof to +all parties concerned, referring to Texas in not very complimentary terms. Dave +Sponsilier was the only one who had the temerity to offer any reply, saying, +“Mr. Yank, I’ll give you one hundred dollars if you’ll point me out the grave +of a man, woman, or child who starved to death in that state.” +</p> + +<p> +A short recess was taken, after which apologies followed, and the commissioner +resumed the hearing. A Western lawyer, named Lemeraux, made a very plausible +plea for the immediate acceptance of the tender of Field, Radcliff & Co. He +admitted that the cattle, at present, were not in as good flesh as his clients +expected to offer them; that they had left the Platte River in fine condition, +but had been twice quarantined en route. He was cautious in his remarks, but +clearly intimated that had there been no other cattle in competition for +delivery on this award, there might have been no quarantine. In his +insinuations, the fact was adroitly brought out that the isolation of their +herds, if not directly chargeable to Lovell and his men, had been aided and +abetted by them, retarding the progress of his clients’ beeves and forcing them +to travel as fast as twenty-five miles a day, so that they arrived in a jaded +condition. Had there been no interference, the tender of Field, Radcliff & +Co. would have reached this post ten days earlier, and rest would soon have +restored the cattle to their normal condition. In concluding, he boldly made +the assertion that the condition of his client’s tender of beef was the result +of a conspiracy to injure one firm, that another drover might profit thereby; +that right and justice could be conserved only by immediately making the +decision final, and thus fearlessly silencing any and all imputations +reflecting on the character of this government’s trusted representatives. +</p> + +<p> +The special commissioner assumed an air of affected dignity and announced that +a conclusion had been arrived at. Turning to old man Don, he expressed the +deepest regret that a civilian was beyond his power to punish, otherwise he +would have cause to remember the affront offered himself; not that he +personally cared, but the department of government which he had the honor to +serve was jealous of its good name. Under the circumstances he could only warn +him to be more guarded hereafter in choosing his language, and assured Lovell +that it was in his power to escort any offender off that military reservation. +Pausing a moment, he resumed a judicial air, and summed up the situation: +</p> + +<p> +“There was no occasion,” said he, in an amiable mood, “to refer this incident +to the War Department if the authorities here had gone about their work +properly. Fortunately I was in Minneapolis adjusting some flour accounts, when +I was ordered here by the quartermaster-general. Instead of attempting to +decide who had the best tender of cattle, the one with the legal right alone +should have been considered. Our department is perfectly familiar with these +petty jealousies, which usually accompany awards of this class, and generally +emanate from disappointed and disgruntled competitors. The point is well taken +by counsel that the government does not anticipate the unforeseen, and it +matters not what the loss may be from the rigors of winter, the contractor is +exempt after the day of delivery. If the cattle were delayed en route, as has +been asserted, and it was necessary to make forced drives in order to reach +here within the specified time, all this should be taken into consideration in +arriving at a final conclusion. On his reinstatement, I shall give the +quartermaster of this post instructions, in receiving these cattle, to be +governed, not so much by their present condition as by what they would have +been had there been no interference. Now in behalf of the War Department, I +declare the award to The Western Supply Company, and assigned to Field, +Radcliff, and associates, to have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of all +parties concerned. This closes the incident, and if there is nothing further, +the inquiry will stand adjourned without date.” +</p> + +<p> +“One moment, if you please,” said Don Lovell, addressing the commissioner and +contractors; “there is a private matter existing between Field, Radcliff & +Co. and myself which demands an understanding between us. I hold a sum of +money, belonging to them, as indemnity against loss in driving ten thousand +cattle from Southern Texas to this post. That I will sustain a heavy loss, +under your decision, is beyond question. I am indemnified to the amount of +about six dollars and a half a head, and since the government is exempt from +garnishment and the contractors are wholly irresponsible, I must content myself +with the money in hand. To recover this amount, held as indemnity, suit has +been threatened against me. Of course I can’t force their hands, but I +sincerely hope they will feel exultant enough over your kangaroo decision to +file their action before taking their usual outing in Europe. They will have no +trouble in securing my legal address, my rating can be obtained from any +commercial agency, and no doubt their attorneys are aware of the statute of +limitation in my state. I believe that’s all, except to extend my thanks to +every one about Fort Buford for the many kind attentions shown my counsel, my +boys, and myself. To my enemies, I can only say that I hope to meet them on +Texas soil, and will promise them a fairer hearing than was accorded me here +to-day. Mr. Commissioner, I have always prided myself on being a good citizen, +have borne arms in defense of my country, and in taking exception to your +decision I brand you as the most despicable member of The Western Supply +Company. Any man who will prostitute a trust for a money consideration—” +</p> + +<p> +“That’s enough!” shouted the special commissioner, rising. “Orderly, call the +officer of the day, and tell him I want two companies of cavalry to furnish an +escort for this man and his herds beyond the boundaries of this military +reservation.” Looking Lovell in the face, he said: “You have justly merited a +severe punishment, and I shall report your reflections to the War and Indian +departments, and you may find it more difficult to secure contracts in the +future. One of you officers detail men and take charge of this man until the +escort is ready. The inquiry is adjourned.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2HCH0024"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br/> +THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT</h2> + +<p> +The inquiry was over before noon. A lieutenant detailed a few men and made a +pretense of taking possession of Lovell. But once the special commissioner was +out of sight, the farce was turned into an ovation, and nearly every officer in +the post came forward and extended his sympathy. Old man Don was visibly +affected by the generous manifestations of the military men in general, and +after thanking each one personally, urged that no unnecessary demonstration +should be made, begging that the order of escort beyond the boundary of the +reservation be countermanded. No one present cared to suggest it, but gave +assurance that it would be so modified as not in any way to interfere with the +natural movement of the herds. Some little time would be required to outfit the +forage-wagons to accommodate the cavalry companies, during which my brother +rode up, leading Lovell’s horse, permission was given to leave in advance of +the escort, and we all mounted and quietly rode away. +</p> + +<p> +The sudden turn of affairs had disconcerted every man in the three outfits. +Just what the next move would be was conjecture with most of us, though every +lad present was anxious to know. But when we were beyond the immediate grounds, +Lovell turned in his saddle and asked which one of us foremen wanted to winter +in the North. No one volunteered, and old man Don continued: “Anticipating the +worst, I had a long talk this morning with Sanders, and he assured me that our +cattle would go through any winter without serious loss. He suggested the +Little Missouri as a good range, and told me of a hay ranch below the mouth of +the Beaver. If it can be bought reasonably, we would have forage for our +horses, and the railroad is said to be not over forty miles to the south. If +the government can afford to take the risk of wintering cattle in this climate, +since there is no other choice, I reckon I’ll have to follow suit. Bob and I +will take fresh horses and ride through to the Beaver this afternoon, and you +fellows follow up leisurely with the cattle. Sanders says the winters are dry +and cold, with very little if any snowfall. Well, we’re simply up against it; +there’s no hope of selling this late in the season, and nothing is left us but +to face the music of a Northern winter.” +</p> + +<p> +As we turned in to ford the Missouri, some one called attention to a cavalry +company riding out from their quarters at the post. We halted a moment, and as +the first one entered the road, the second one swung into view, followed by +forage-wagons. From maps in our possession we knew the southern boundary of the +Fort Buford military reservation must be under twenty miles to the south, and +if necessary, we could put it behind us that afternoon. But after crossing the +river, and when the two troops again came in view, they had dropped into a +walk, passing entirely out of sight long before we reached Forrest’s camp. +Orders were left with the latter to take the lead and make a short drive that +evening, at least far enough to convince observers that we were moving. The +different outfits dropped out as their wagons were reached, and when my remuda +was sighted, old man Don ordered it brought in for a change of horses. One of +the dayherders was at camp getting dinner, and inviting themselves to join him, +my employer and my brother helped themselves while their saddles were shifted +to two of my well-rested mounts. Inquiry had been made of all three of the +outfits if any ranch had been sighted on the Beaver while crossing that creek, +but the only recollection among the forty-odd men was that of Burl Van Vedder, +who contended that a dim trail, over which horses had passed that summer, ran +down on the south side of the stream. +</p> + +<p> +With this meagre information Lovell and my brother started. A late dinner over +and the herders relieved, we all rode for the nearest eminence which would +afford us a view. The cavalry were just going into camp below O’Brien’s ranch, +their forage-train in sight, while Forrest’s cattle were well bunched and +heading south. Sponsilier was evidently going to start, as his team was tied up +and the saddle stock in hand, while the herd was crossing over to the eastern +side of the Yellowstone. We dismounted and lay around for an hour or so, when +the greater portion of the boys left to help in the watering of our herd, the +remainder of us doing outpost duty. Forrest had passed out of sight, +Sponsilier’s wagon and remuda crossed opposite us, going up the valley, +followed by his cattle in loose grazing order, and still we loitered on the +hill. But towards evening I rode down to where the cavalry was encamped, and +before I had conversed very long with the officers, it was clear to me that the +shorter our moves the longer it would extend their outing. Before I left the +soldier camp, Sanders arrived, and as we started away together, I sent him back +to tell the officers to let me know any time they could use half a beef. On +reaching our wagon, the boys were just corralling the saddle stock for their +night-horses, when Sanders begged me to sell him two which had caught his +fancy. I dared not offer them; but remembering the fellow’s faithful service in +our behalf, and that my employer expected to remember him, I ordered him to +pick, with Don Lovell’s compliments, any horse in the remuda as a present. +</p> + +<p> +The proposition stunned Sanders, but I insisted that if old man Don was there, +he would make him take something. He picked a good horse out of my mount and +stayed until morning, when he was compelled to return, as the probabilities +were that they would receive the other cattle some time during the day. After +breakfast, and as he was starting to return, he said, “Well, boys, tell the old +man that I don’t expect ever to be able to return his kindness, though I’d ride +a thousand miles for the chance. One thing sure, there isn’t a man in Dakota +who has money enough to tempt me to part with my pelon. If you locate down on +the Little Missouri, drop me a line where you are at, and if Lovell wants four +good men, I can let him have them about the first of December. You through lads +are liable to be scared over the coming winter, and a few acclimated ones will +put backbone in his outfit. And tell the old man that if I can ever do him a +good turn just to snap his fingers and I’ll quit the government—he’s a few +shades whiter than it, anyhow.” +</p> + +<p> +The herd had already left the bed-ground, headed south. About five miles above +O’Brien’s, we recrossed to the eastern side of the Yellowstone, and for the +next three days moved short distances, the military always camped well in our +rear. The fourth morning I killed a beef, a forage-wagon came forward and took +half of it back to the cavalry camp with our greetings and farewell, and we +parted company. Don Lovell met us about noon, elated as a boy over his purchase +of the hay ranch. My brother had gone on to the railroad and thence by train to +Miles City to meet his remuda and outfit. “Boys, I have bought you a new home,” +was the greeting of old man Don, as he dismounted at our noon camp. “There’s a +comfortable dugout, stabling for about ten horses, and seventy-five tons of +good hay in the stack. The owner was homesick to get back to God’s country, and +he’ll give us possession in ten days. Bob will be in Little Missouri to-day and +order us a car of sacked corn from Omaha, and within a month we’ll be as snug +as they are down in old Medina. Bob’s outfit will go home from Miles, and if he +can’t sell his remuda he’ll bring it up here. Two of these outfits can start +back in a few days, and afterward the camp will be reduced to ten men.” +</p> + +<p> +Two days later Forrest veered off and turned his cattle loose below the +junction of the Beaver with the Little Missouri. Sponsilier crossed the former, +scattering his beeves both up and down the latter, while I cut mine into a +dozen bunches and likewise freed them along the creek. The range was about ten +miles in length along the river, and a camp was established at either end where +men would be stationed until the beeves were located. The commissaries had run +low, there was a quiet rivalry as to which outfits should go home, and we all +waited with bated breath for the final word. I had Dorg Seay secretly inform my +employer that I had given Sanders a horse without his permission, hoping that +it might displease him. But the others pointed out the fact that my outfit had +far the best remuda, and that it would require well-mounted men to locate and +hold that number of cattle through the winter. Old man Don listened to them +all, and the next morning, as all three of us foremen were outlining certain +improvements about the hay ranch with him, he turned to me and said: +</p> + +<p> +“Tom, I hear you gave Sanders a horse. Well, that was all right, although it +strikes me you were rather liberal in giving him the pick of a choice remuda. +But it may all come right in the long run, as Bob and I have decided to leave +you and your outfit to hold these cattle this winter. So divide your men and +send half of them down to Quince’s camp, and have your cook and wrangler come +over to Dave’s wagon to bring back provision and the horses, as we’ll start for +the railroad in the morning. I may not come back, but Bob will, and he’ll see +that you are well fixed for the winter before he goes home. After he leaves, I +want you to write me every chance you have to send a letter to the railroad. +Now, I don’t want any grumbling out of you or your men; you’re a disgrace to +the state that raised you if you can’t handle cattle anywhere that any other +man can.” +</p> + +<p> +I felt all along it would fall to me, the youngest of six foremen; and my own +dear brother consigning me to a winter in the North, while he would bask in the +sunshine of our own sunny South! It was hard to face; but I remembered that the +fall before it had been my lot to drive a thousand saddle horses home to the +ranch, and that I had swaggered as a trail foreman afterward as the result. It +had always been my luck to have to earn every little advance or promotion, +while others seemed to fall into them without any effort. Bob Quirk never saw +the day that he was half the all-round cowman that I was; yet he was above me +and could advise, and I had to obey. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 25th of September, 1884, the two outfits started for the +railroad, leaving the remainder of us in a country, save for the cattle, so +desolate that there was no chance even to spend our wages. I committed to +memory a curtain lecture for my brother, though somehow or other it escaped me +and was never delivered. We rode lines between the upper and lower wagons, +holding the cattle loosely on a large range. A delightful fall favored us, and +before the first squall of winter came on, the beeves had contented themselves +as though they had been born on the Little Missouri. Meanwhile Bob’s wagon and +remuda arrived, the car of corn was hauled to our headquarters, extra stabling +was built, and we settled down like banished exiles. Communication had been +opened with Fort Buford, and in the latter part of October the four promised +men arrived, when Bob Quirk took part of my outfit and went home, leaving me +ten men. Parent remained as cook, the new men assimilated easily, a fiddle was +secured, and in fulfillment of the assertion of Sanders, we picked up courage. +Two grain-fed horses, carefully stabled, were allowed to each man, the +remainder of our large number of saddle stock running free on the range. +</p> + +<p> +To that long winter on the Little Missouri a relentless memory turns in +retrospect. We dressed and lived like Eskimos. The first blizzard struck us +early in December, the thermometer dropped sixty degrees in twelve hours, but +in the absence of wind and snow the cattle did not leave the breaks along the +river. Three weeks later a second one came, and we could not catch the lead +animals until near the railroad; but the storm drove them up the Little +Missouri, and its sheltering banks helped us to check our worst winter drift. +After the first month of wintry weather, the dread of the cold passed, and men +and horses faced the work as though it was springtime in our own loved +southland. The months rolled by scarcely noticed. During fine weather Sanders +and some of his boys twice dropped down for a few days, but we never left camp +except to send letters home. +</p> + +<p> +An early spring favored us. I was able to report less than one per cent. loss +on the home range, with the possibility of but few cattle having escaped us +during the winter. The latter part of May we sold four hundred saddle horses to +some men from the upper Yellowstone. Early in June a wagon was rigged out, +extra men employed, and an outfit sent two hundred miles up the Little Missouri +to attend the round-ups. They were gone a month and came in with less than five +hundred beeves, which represented our winter drift. Don Lovell reached the +ranch during the first week in July. One day’s ride through the splendid +cattle, and old man Don lost his voice, but the smile refused to come off. +Everything was coming his way. Field, Radcliff & Co. had sued him, and the +jury awarded him one-hundred thousand dollars. His bankers had unlimited +confidence in his business ability; he had four Indian herds on the trail and +three others of younger steers, intended for the Little Missouri ranch. Cattle +prices in Texas had depreciated nearly one half since the spring before—“a good +time for every cowman to strain his credit and enlarge his holdings,” my +employer assured me. +</p> + +<p> +Orders were left that I was to begin shipping out the beeves early in August. +It was the intention to ship them in two and three train-load lots, and I was +expecting to run a double outfit, when a landslide came our way. The first +train-load netted sixty dollars a head at Omaha—but they were beeves; cods like +an ox’s heart and waddled as they walked. We had just returned from the +railroad with the intention of shipping two train-loads more, when the +quartermaster and Sanders from Fort Buford rode into the ranch under an escort. +The government had lost forty per cent. of the Field-Radcliff cattle during the +winter just passed, and were in the market to buy the deficiency. The +quartermaster wanted a thousand beeves on the first day of September and +October each, and double that number for the next month. Did we care to sell +that amount? A United States marshal, armed with a search-warrant, could not +have found Don Lovell in a month, but they were promptly assured that our beef +steers were for sale. It is easy to show prime cattle. The quartermaster, +Sanders, and myself rode down the river, crossed over and came up beyond our +camp, forded back and came down the Beaver, and I knew the sale was made. I +priced the beeves, delivered at Buford, at sixty-five dollars a head, and the +quartermaster took them. +</p> + +<p> +Then we went to work in earnest. Sanders remained to receive the first +contingent for Buford, which would leave our range on the 25th of each month. A +single round-up and we had the beeves in hand. The next morning after Splann +left for the mouth of the Yellowstone, I started south for the railroad with +two train-loads of picked cattle. Professional shippers took them off our hands +at the station, accompanied them en route to market, and the commission house +in Omaha knew where to remit the proceeds. The beef shipping season was on with +a vengeance. Our saddle stock had improved with a winter in the North, until +one was equal to two Southern or trail horses. Old man Don had come on in the +mean time, and was so pleased with my sale to the army post that he returned to +Little Missouri Station at once and bought two herds of three-year-olds at +Ogalalla by wire. This made sixteen thousand steer cattle en route from the +latter point for Lovell’s new ranch in Dakota. +</p> + +<p> +“Tom,” said old man Don, enthusiastically, “this is the making of a fine cattle +ranch, and we want to get in on the flood-tide. There is always a natural +wealth in a new country, and the goldmines of this one are in its grass. The +instinct that taught the buffalo to choose this as their summer and winter +range was unerring, and they found a grass at hand that would sustain them in +any and all kinds of weather. This country to-day is just what Texas was thirty +years ago. All the early settlers at home grew rich without any effort, but +once the cream of the virgin land is gone, look out for a change. The early +cowmen of Texas flatter themselves on being shrewd and far-seeing—just about as +much as I was last fall, when I would gladly have lost twenty-five thousand +dollars rather than winter these cattle. Now look where I will come out, all +due to the primitive wealth of the land. From sixty to sixty-five dollars a +head beats thirty-seven and a half for our time and trouble.” +</p> + +<p> +The first of the through cattle arrived early in September. They avoided our +range for fear of fever, and dropped in about fifteen miles below our +headquarters on the Little Missouri. Dorg Seay was one of the three foremen, +Forrest and Sponsilier being the other two, having followed the same route as +our herds of the year before. But having spent a winter in the North, we showed +the through outfits a chilling contempt. I had ribbed up Parent not even to +give them a pleasant word about our wagon or headquarters; and particularly if +Bob Quirk came through with one of the purchased herds, he was to be given the +marble heart. One outfit loose-herded the new cattle, the other two going home, +and about the middle of the month, my brother and The Rebel came trailing in +with the last two herds. I was delighted to meet my old bunkie, and had him +remain over until the last outfit went home, when we reluctantly parted +company. Not so, however, with Bob Quirk, who haughtily informed me that he +came near slapping my cook for his effrontery. “So you are another one of these +lousy through outfits that think we ought to make a fuss over you, are you?” I +retorted. “Just you wait until we do. Every one of you except old Paul had the +idea that we ought to give you a reception and ask you to sleep in our beds. +I’m glad that Parent had the gumption to give you a mean look; he’ll ride for +me next year.” +</p> + +<p> +The month of October finished the shipping. There was a magic in that Northern +climate that wrought wonders in an animal from the South. Little wonder that +the buffalo could face the blizzard, in a country of his own choosing, and in a +climate where the frost king held high revel five months out of the twelve. +There was a tonic like the iron of wine in the atmosphere, absorbed alike by +man and beast, and its possessor laughed at the fury of the storm. Our loss of +cattle during the first winter, traceable to season, was insignificant, while +we sold out over two hundred head more than the accounts called for, due to the +presence of strays, which went to Buford. And when the last beef was shipped, +the final delivery concluded to the army, Don Lovell was a quarter-million +dollars to the good, over and above the contract price at which he failed to +deliver the same cattle to the government the fall before. +</p> + +<p> +As foreman of Lovell’s beef ranch on the Little Missouri I spent five banner +years of my life. In ’89 the stock, good-will, and range were sold to a cattle +syndicate, who installed a superintendent and posted rules for the observance +of its employees. I do not care to say why, but in a stranger’s hands it never +seemed quite the same home to a few of us who were present when it was +transformed into a cattle range. Late that fall, some half-dozen of us who were +from Texas asked to be relieved and returned to the South. A traveler passing +through that country to-day will hear the section about the mouth of the Beaver +called only by the syndicate name, but old-timers will always lovingly refer to +it as the Don Lovell Ranch. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OUTLET ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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