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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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + +CONTENTS + +I. OPENING THE CAMPAIGN + +II. ORGANIZING THE FORCES + +III. RECEIVING AT LOS LOBOS + +IV. MINGLING WITH THE EXODUS + +V. RED RIVER STATION + +VI. CAMP SUPPLY + +VII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK + +VIII. EN PASSANT + +IX. AT SHERIFF'S CREEK + +X. A FAMILY REUNION + +XI. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + +XII. MARSHALING THE FORCES + +XIII. JUSTICE IN THE SADDLE + +XIV. TURNING THE TABLES + +XV. TOLLESTON BUTTS IN + +XVI. CROSSING THE NIOBRARA + +XVII. WATER-BOUND + +XVIII. THE LITTLE MISSOURI + +XIX. IN QUARANTINE + +XX. ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST + +XXI. FORT BUFORD + +XXII. A SOLDIER'S HONOR + +XXIII. KANGAROOED + +XXIV. THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT + + + +THE OUTLET + +CHAPTER I. OPENING THE CAMPAIGN + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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." + + + +CHAPTER II. ORGANIZING THE FORCES + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +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." + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +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?" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + + + +CHAPTER III. RECEIVING AT LOS LOBOS + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + + + +CHAPTER IV. MINGLING WITH THE EXODUS + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + + + +CHAPTER V. RED RIVER STATION + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'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 ---- +----.'" + +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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.'" + +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." + + + +CHAPTER VI. CAMP SUPPLY + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Have you any intimation that they expect to buy in other +cattle?" I inquired. + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER VII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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." + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +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." + +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?" + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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." + +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." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. EN PASSANT + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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: + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER IX. AT SHERIFF'S CREEK + +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. + +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.' + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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: + +"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?" + +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'--" + +"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?" + +"Now, look here, young man," scornfully replied the chief deputy, +"I'll--" + +"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." + +"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--" + +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?" + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER X. A FAMILY REUNION + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XI. ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"But Pablo is dead," piped one of the vaqueros in defense. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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." + +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?" + + + +CHAPTER XII. MARSHALING THE FORCES + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + + +CHAPTER XIII. JUSTICE IN THE SADDLE + +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. + +"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.'" + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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?" + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +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 beees. 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." + +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: + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XIV. TURNING THE TABLES + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XV. TOLLESTON BUTTS IN + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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.'' + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +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: + +"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--" + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XVI. CROSSING THE NIOBRARA + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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: + +"'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!'" + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XVII. WATER-BOUND + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. THE LITTLE MISSOURI + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XIX. IN QUARANTINE + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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?" + +"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." + +"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--" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XX. ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +"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." + +"What did I tell you?" said Radcliff, the elder one, to his +partner, as they turned to leave. + +On nearing the door, Mr. Field halted and begrudgingly said, "See +you later, Quirk." + +"Not if I see you first," I replied; "you ain't my kind of +cowmen." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XXI. FORT BUFORD + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XXII. A SOLDIER'S HONOR + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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?" + +"I'm not at all afraid," replied Mr. Raddiff, "but feel under +obligation to protect my counsel. If you please, Colonel." + +"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." + +As we rode away, the bugles were calling the troopers. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +The decision was rendered amid breathless silence. Not a word of +exultation escaped one of our party, but the nervous strain +rather intensified. + +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: + +"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." + +"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." + +There was a hurried conference. The "major-domo" was called into +the consultation, after which the congressman returned to the +attack. + +"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--" + +"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." + +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." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. KANGAROOED + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +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? + +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!" + +"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. + +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." + +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. + +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: + +"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." + +"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--" + +"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." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Outlet, by Andy Adams |