THE OUTLET

by Andy Adams

PREFACE

At the close of the civil war the need for a market for the surpluscattle of Texas was as urgent as it was general. There had been numerousexperiments in seeking an outlet, and there is authority for thestatement that in 1857 Texas cattle were driven to Illinois. Elevenyears later forty thousand head were sent to the mouth of Red Riverin Louisiana, shipped by boat to Cairo, Illinois, and thence inland byrail. Fever resulted, and the experiment was never repeated. To the westof Texas stretched a forbidding desert, while on the other hand, nearlyevery drive to Louisiana resulted in financial disaster to the drover. The republic of Mexico, on the south, afforded no relief, as it waslikewise overrun with a surplus of its own breeding. Immediately beforeand just after the war, a slight trade had sprung up in cattle betweeneastern points on Red River and Baxter Springs, in the southeast cornerof Kansas. The route was perfectly feasible, being short and entirelywithin the reservations of the Choctaws and Cherokees, civilizedIndians. This was the only route to the north; for farther to thewestward was the home of the buffalo and the unconquered, nomadictribes. A writer on that day, Mr. Emerson Hough, an acceptableauthority, says: "The civil war stopped almost all plans to market therange cattle, and the close of that war found the vast grazing landsof Texas fairly covered with millions of cattle which had no actualor determinate value. They were sorted and branded and herded after afashion, but neither they nor their increase could be converted intoanything but more cattle. The demand for a market became imperative. "

This was the situation at the close of the '50's and meanwhile therehad been no cessation in trying to find an outlet for the constantlyincreasing herds. Civilization was sweeping westward by leaps andbounds, and during the latter part of the '60's and early '70's, amarket for a very small percentage of the surplus was established atAbilene, Ellsworth, and Wichita, being confined almost exclusively tothe state of Kansas. But this outlet, slight as it was, developed thefact that the transplanted Texas steer, after a winter in the north, took on flesh like a native, and by being double-wintered became amarketable beef. It should be understood in this connection that Texas, owing to climatic conditions, did not mature an animal into marketableform, ready for the butcher's block. Yet it was an exceptional countryfor breeding, the percentage of increase in good years reaching thephenomenal figures of ninety-five calves to the hundred cows. At thistime all eyes were turned to the new Northwest, which was then lookedupon as the country that would at last afford the proper market. Railroads were pushing into the domain of the buffalo and Indian; therush of emigration was westward, and the Texan was clamoring for anoutlet for his cattle. It was written in the stars that the Indian andbuffalo would have to stand aside. 

Philanthropists may deplore the destruction of the American bison, yetit was inevitable. Possibly it is not commonly known that the generalgovernment had under consideration the sending of its own troops todestroy the buffalo. Yet it is a fact, for the army in the West fullyrealized the futility of subjugating the Indians while they could drawsubsistence from the bison. The well-mounted aborigines hung on theflanks of the great buffalo herds, migrating with them, spurning alltreaty obligations, and when opportunity offered murdering the advanceguard of civilization with the fiendish atrocity of carnivorous animals. But while the government hesitated, the hide-hunters and the railroadssolved the problem, and the Indian's base of supplies was destroyed. 

Then began the great exodus of Texas cattle. The red men were easilyconfined on reservations, and the vacated country in the Northwestbecame cattle ranges. The government was in the market for largequantities of beef with which to feed its army and Indian wards. Themaximum year's drive was reached in 1884, when nearly eight hundredthousand cattle, in something over three hundred herds, bound for thenew Northwest, crossed Red River, the northern boundary of Texas. Someslight idea of this exodus can be gained when one considers that in theabove year about four thousand men and over thirty thousand horses wererequired 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'lldrive the cattle. My boys have all been over the trail before, and yourfigures are no inducement to ship as far as Red River. We are fullyaware of the nature of the country, but we can deliver the herds attheir destination for less than you ask us for shipping them one thirdof the distance. No; we'll drive all the way. "

The speaker was Don Lovell, a trail drover, and the parties addressedwere the general freight agents of three railroad lines operating inTexas. A conference had been agreed upon, and we had come in by trainfrom the ranch in Medina County to attend the meeting in San Antonio. The railroad representatives were shrewd, affable gentlemen, andpresented an array of facts hard to overcome. They were well aware ofthe obstacles to be encountered in the arid, western portion of thestate, and magnified every possibility into a stern reality. Unrollinga large state map upon the table, around which the principals weresitting, the agent of the Denver and Fort Worth traced the trail fromBuffalo Gap to Doan's Crossing on Red River. Producing what was declaredto be a report of the immigration agent of his line, he showed bystatistics that whole counties through which the old trail ran hadrecently been settled up by Scandinavian immigrants. The representativeof the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, when opportunity offered, enumeratedevery disaster which had happened to any herd to the westward of hisline in the past five years. The factor of the International was equallywell posted. 

"Now, Mr. Lovell, " said he, dumping a bundle of papers on the table, "ifyou will kindly glance over these documents, I think I can convince youthat it is only a question of a few years until all trail cattle willship the greater portion of the way. Here is a tabulated statement up toand including the year '83. From twenty counties tributary to our lineand south of this city, you will notice that in '80 we practicallyhandled no cattle intended for the trail. Passing on to the nextseason's drive, you see we secured a little over ten per cent. Of thecattle 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, andthe percentage ran up to twenty-four and a fraction, or practicallyspeaking, one fourth of the total drive. We are able to offer thesame low rates this year, and all arrangements are completed with ourconnecting lines to give live-stock trains carrying trail cattle apassenger schedule. Now, if you care to look over this correspondence, you will notice that we have inquiries which will tax our carryingcapacity to its utmost. The 'Laurel Leaf' and 'Running W' people alonehave asked for a rate on thirty thousand head. "

But the drover brushed the correspondence aside, and asked for thepossible feed bills. A blanket rate had been given on the entireshipment from that city, or any point south, to Wichita Falls, with onerest and feed. Making a memorandum of the items, Lovell arose from thetable and came over to where Jim Flood and I were searching for FortBuford on a large wall map. We were both laboring under the impressionthat it was in Montana, but after our employer pointed it out to us atthe mouth of the Yellowstone in Dakota, all three of us adjourned toan ante-room. Flood was the best posted trail foreman in Don Lovell'semploy, and taking seats at the table, we soon reduced the proposedshipping expense to a pro-rata sum per head. The result was not tobe considered, and on returning to the main office, our employer, asalready expressed, declined the proffered rate. 

Then the freight men doubled on him, asking if he had taken intoconsideration a saving in wages. In a two days' run they would lay downthe cattle farther on their way than we could possibly drive in sixweeks, even if the country was open, not to say anything about the wearand tear of horseflesh. But Don Lovell had not been a trail drover fornearly fifteen years without understanding his business as well asthe freight agents did theirs. After going over a large lot of otherimportant data, our employer arose to take his leave, when the agentof the local line expressed a hope that Mr. Lovell would reconsider hisdecision before spring opened, and send his drive a portion of the wayby rail. 

"Well, I'm glad I met you, gentlemen, " said the cowman at parting, "butthis is purely a business proposition, and you and I look at it fromdifferent viewpoints. At the rate you offer, it will cost me one dollarand seventy-five cents to lay a steer down on Red River. Hold on; mineare all large beeves; and I must mount my men just the same as if theytrailed all the way. Saddle horses were worth nothing in the North lastyear, and I kept mine and bought enough others around Dodge to make upa thousand head, and sent them back over the trail to my ranch. Now, itwill take six carloads of horses for each herd, and I propose to chargethe freight on them against the cattle. I may have to winter my remudasin the North, or drive them home again, and if I put two dollars a headfreight in them, they won't bring a cent more on that account. With thecattle it's different; they are all under contract, but the horses mustbe 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 forFort Buford, calling for five million pounds of beef on foot. It willtake three herds or ten thousand cattle to fill it. I was anxious togive those Buford beeves an early start, and that was the main reason inmy consenting to this conference. I have three other earlier deliveriesat Indian agencies, but they are not as far north by several hundredmiles, and it's immaterial whether we ship or not. But the Bufordcontract sets the day of delivery for September 15, and it's going totake 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 andsee that there's no leakages. Your freight bill alone would be a niceprofit. It may cost us a little for water getting out of Texas, butwith 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 haveto sell, and they ought to treat us right. "

After the conference was over, we scattered about the city, on variouserrands, expecting to take the night train home. It was then the middleof February, and five of the six herds were already purchased. In spiteof the large numbers of cattle which the trail had absorbed in previousyears, there was still an abundance of all ages, anxious for a market. The demand in the North had constantly been for young cattle, leavingthe matured steers at home. Had Mr. Lovell's contracts that year calledfor forty thousand five and six year old beeves, instead of twenty, there would have been the same inexhaustible supply from which to pickand choose. But with only one herd yet to secure, and ample offerings onevery hand, there was no necessity for a hurry. Many of the herds driventhe year before found no sale, and were compelled to winter in the Northat the drover's risk. In the early spring of '84, there was a decidedlull over the enthusiasm of the two previous years, during the formerof which the trail afforded an outlet for nearly seven hundred thousandTexas 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 ofyounger cattle on speculation. Of the latter, one was sold in Dodge fordelivery on the Purgatory River in southern Colorado, while the otherwent to Ogalalla, and was disposed of and received at that point. Inboth cases there was no chance to sell the saddle horses, and theyreturned to Dodge and were sent to pasture down the river in thesettlements. My brother, Bob Quirk, had driven one of the other herds toan agency in the Indian Territory. After making the delivery, early inAugust, on his employer's orders, he had brought his remuda and outfitinto Dodge, the horses being also sent to pasture and the men home toTexas. I had made the trip that year to the Pine Ridge Agency in Dakotawith thirty-five hundred beeves, under Flood as foreman. Don Lovell waspresent at the delivery, and as there was no hope of effecting a sale ofthe saddle stock among the Indians, after delivering the outfit at thenearest railroad, I was given two men and the cook, and started backover the trail for Dodge with the remuda. The wagon was a drawback, buton reaching Ogalalla, an emigrant outfit offered me a fair price for themules and commissary, and I sold them. Lashing our rations and blanketson two pack-horses, we turned our backs on the Platte and crossed theArkansaw at Dodge on the seventh day. 

But instead of the remainder of the trip home by rail, as we fondlyexpected, the programme had changed. Lovell and Flood had arrived inDodge some ten days before, and looking over the situation, had come tothe conclusion it was useless even to offer our remudas. As remnantsof that year's drive, there had concentrated in and around that marketsomething like ten thousand saddle horses. Many of these were fromcentral and north Texas, larger and better stock than ours, even thoughcare had been used in selecting the latter. So on their arrival, insteadof making any effort to dispose of our own, the drover and his foremanhad sized up the congested condition of the market, and turned buyers. They had bought two whole remudas, and picked over five or six othersuntil their purchases amounted to over five hundred head. Consequentlyon our reaching Dodge with the Pine Ridge horses, I was informed thatthey were going to send all the saddle stock back over the trail to theranch and that I was to have charge of the herd. Had the trip been inthe spring and the other way, I certainly would have felt elated over mypromotion. 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 wouldcertainly be a summer's work to gratify an ordinary ambition. 

In the mean time and before our arrival, Flood had brought up all thestock and wagons from the settlement, and established a camp on MulberryCreek, south of Dodge on the trail. He had picked up two Texans whowere anxious to see their homes once more, and the next day at noon westarted. The herd numbered a thousand and sixty head, twenty of whichwere work-mules. The commissary which was to accompany us was ladenprincipally with harness; and waving Flood farewell, we turned homeward, leaving behind unsold of that year's drive only two wagons. Lovell hadinstructed us never to ride the same horse twice, and wherever goodgrass and water were encountered, to kill as much time as possible. Myemployer was enthusiastic over the idea, and well he might be, fora finer lot of saddle horses were not in the possession of any traildrover, while those purchased in Dodge could have been resold in SanAntonio at a nice profit. Many of the horses had run idle several monthsand were in fine condition. With the allowance of four men and a cook, adraft-book for personal expenses, and over a thousand horses from whichto choose a mount, I felt like an embryo foreman, even if it was a backtrack and the drag end of the season. Turning everything scot freeat night, we reached the ranch in old Medina in six weeks, actuallytraveling about forty days. 

But now, with the opening of the trail season almost at hand, the trialsof past years were forgotten in the enthusiasm of the present. I had adistinct recollection of numerous resolves made on rainy nights, whileholding a drifting herd, that this was positively my last trip over thetrail. Now, however, after a winter of idleness, my worst fear was thatI might be left at home with the ranch work, and thus miss the season'souting entirely. There were new charms in the Buford contract whichthrilled me, --its numerical requirements, the sight of the Yellowstoneagain, and more, to be present at the largest delivery of the year tothe government. Rather than have missed the trip, I would have gladlycooked or wrangled the horses for one of the outfits. 

On separating, Lovell urged his foreman and myself to be at the depot ingood time to catch our train. That our employer's contracts for the yearwould require financial assistance, both of us were fully aware. Thecredit of Don Lovell was gilt edge, not that he was a wealthy cowman, but the banks and moneyed men of the city recognized his businessability. Nearly every year since he began driving cattle, assistance hadbeen extended him, but the promptness with which he had always met hisobligations made his patronage desirable. 

Flood and I had a number of errands to look after for the boys on theranch and ourselves, and, like countrymen, reached the depot fullyan hour before the train was due. Not possessed of enough gumption toinquire if the westbound was on time, we loitered around until someother passengers informed us that it was late. Just as we were on thepoint of starting back to town, Lovell drove up in a hack, and the threeof us paced the platform until the arrival of the belated train. 

"Well, boys, everything looks serene, " said our employer, when we hadwalked 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 admitthat cattle are a slow sale and a shade lower this spring, and are notas free with their money as a year or two ago. My bankers detained meover an hour until they could send for a customer who claimed to have avery fine lot of beeves for sale in Lasalle County. That he is anxiousto sell there is no doubt, for he offered them to me on my own time, andagrees to meet any one's prices. I half promised to come back next weekand go down with him to Lasalle and look his cattle over. If they showup right, there will be no trouble in buying them, which will completeour purchases. It is my intention, Jim, to give you the herd to fillour earliest delivery. Our next two occur so near together that you willhave to represent me at one of them. The Buford cattle, being the lastby a few weeks, we will both go up there and see it over with. There areabout half a dozen trail foremen anxious for the two other herds, andwhile they are good men, I don't know of any good reason for not pushingmy own boys forward. I have already decided to give Dave Sponsilier andQuince Forrest two of the Buford herds, and I reckon, Tom, the last onewill fall to you. "

The darkness in which we were standing shielded my egotism from publicview. But I am conscious that I threw out my brisket several inchesand stood straight on my bow-legs as I thanked old man Don for theforemanship of his sixth herd. Flood was amused, and told me afterwardthat my language was extravagant. There is an old superstition that ifa man ever drinks out of the Rio Grande, it matters not where he roamsafterward, he is certain to come back to her banks again. I had wateredmy horse in the Yellowstone in '82, and ever afterward felt an itchingto see her again. And here the opportunity opened before me, not as acommon cow-hand, but as a trail boss and one of three in filling a fivemillion 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 tomy narrow world. 

On the arrival of the train, several other westward-bound cowmen boardedit. We all took seats in the smoker, it being but a two hours' run toour destination. Flood and I were sitting well forward in the car, theformer almost as elated over my good fortune as myself. "Well, won't oldQuince be all puffed up, " said Jim to me, "when the old man tells himhe's to have a herd. Now, I've never said a word in favor of eitherone of you. Of course, when Mr. Lovell asked me if I knew certain trailforemen who were liable to be idle this year, I intimated that he hadplenty of material in his employ to make a few of his own. The old manmay be a trifle slow on reaching a decision, but once he makes up hismind, he's there till the cows come home. Now, all you and Quince needto 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 givea preference to gray hairs, for they're not so liable to admire theirshadow in sunny or get homesick in falling weather. Tom, where you madea ten-strike with the old man was in accepting that horse herd at Dodgelast fall. Had you made a whine or whimper then, the chances are youwouldn't be bossing a herd this year. Lovell is a cowman who likes tosee 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 dayof February. They had spent a week along the Upper Nueces, and beforereturning to the ranch closed a trade on thirty-four hundred five andsix year old beeves. According to their report, the cattle along theriver had wintered in fine condition, and the grass had already startedin the valley. This last purchase concluded the buying for trailpurposes, and all absent foremen were notified to be on hand at theranch on March 10, for the beginning of active operations. Only some tenof us had wintered at headquarters in Medina County, and as about ninetymen would be required for the season's work, they would have to besecured elsewhere. All the old foremen expected to use the greaterportion of the men who were in their employ the year before, and couldsummon them on a few days' notice. But Forrest and myself were compelledto hire entirely new outfits, and it was high time we were looking upour help. 

One of Flood's regular outfit had married during the winter, and withForrest's and my promotion, he had only to secure three new men. Hehad dozens of applications from good cow-hands, and after selecting forhimself offered the others to Quince and me. But my brother Bob arrivedat the ranch, from our home in Karnes County, two days later, havingalso a surplus of men at his command. Although he did not show anyenthusiasm over my promotion, he offered to help me get up a good outfitof boys. I had about half a dozen good fellows in view, and on Bob'sapproval of them, he selected from his overplus six more as first choiceand four as second. It would take me a week of constant riding to seeall these men, and as Flood and Forrest had made up an outfit for thelatter from the former's available list, Quince and I saddled up androde away to hire outfits. Forrest was well acquainted in Wilson, whereLovell 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. Thenext morning we separated, Quince bearing due east for Floresville, while I continued southeast towards my home near Cibollo Ford on the SanAntonio River. It had been over a year since I had seen the family, andon reaching the ranch, my father gruffly noticed me, but my mother andsisters received me with open arms. I was a mature man of twenty-eightat the time, mustached, and stood six feet to a plumb-line. The familywere cognizant of my checkered past, and although never mentioning it, it seemed as if my misfortunes had elevated me in the estimation of mysisters, while to my mother I had become doubly dear. 

During the time spent in that vicinity, I managed to reach home at nightas often as possible. Constantly using fresh horses, I covered a widecircle of country, making one ride down the river into Goliad County ofover fifty miles, returning the next day. Within a week I had made up myoutfit, including the horse-wrangler and cook. Some of the men were tenyears my senior, while only a few were younger, but I knew that theselatter had made the trip before and were as reliable as their elders. The wages promised that year were fifty dollars a month, the men tofurnish only their own saddles and blankets, and at that figure Ipicked two pastoral counties, every man bred to the occupation. The trippromised six months' work with return passage, and I urged every oneemployed to make his appearance at headquarters, in Medina, on or beforethe 15th of the month. There was no railroad communication throughKarnes and Goliad counties at that time, and all the boys were assuredthat their private horses would have good pasturage at the home ranchwhile they were away, and I advised them all to come on horseback. Bythis method they would have a fresh horse awaiting them on their returnfrom the North with which to continue their homeward journey. All themen engaged were unmarried, and taken as a whole, I flattered myself onhaving secured a crack outfit. 

I was in a hurry to get back to the ranch. There had been nothing saidabout the remudas before leaving, and while we had an abundance ofhorses, no one knew them better than I did. For that reason I wanted tobe present when their allotment was made, for I knew that every foremanwould try to get the best mounts, and I did not propose to stand behindthe door and take the culls. Many of the horses had not had a saddle onthem in eight months, while all of them had run idle during the winterin a large mesquite pasture and were in fine condition with the openingof spring. So bidding my folks farewell, I saddled at noon and took across-country course for the ranch, covering the hundred and odd milesin a day and a half. Reaching headquarters late at night, I found thatactive preparations had been going on during my absence. There were newwagons to rig, harness to oil, and a carpenter was then at work buildingchuck-boxes for each of the six commissaries. A wholesale house in thecity had shipped out a stock of staple supplies, almost large enough tostart a store. There were whole coils of new rope of various sizes, fromlariats to corral cables, and a sufficient amount of the largest size tomake a stack of hobbles as large as a haycock. Four new branding-ironsto the wagon, the regulation "Circle Dot, " completed the mainessentials. 

All the foremen had reported at the ranch, with the exception ofForrest, who came in the next evening with three men. The division ofthe horses had not even come up for discussion, but several of the boysabout headquarters who were friendly to my interests posted me that theolder foremen were going to claim first choice. Archie Tolleston, nextto Jim Flood in seniority in Lovell's employ, had spent every day ridingamong the horses, and had even boasted that he expected to claim fifteenof the best for his own saddle. Flood was not so particular, as hisdestination was in southern Dakota, but my brother Bob was againticketed for the Crow Agency in Montana, and would naturally expecta good remuda. Tolleston was going to western Wyoming, while the FortBuford cattle were a two-weeks' later delivery and fully five hundredmiles farther travel. On my return Lovell was in the city, but I feltpositive that if he took a hand in the division, Tolleston would onlyrun on the rope once. 

A few days before the appointed time, the men began thronging intoheadquarters. Down to the minutest detail about the wagons and muleteams, everything was shipshape. The commissary department was stockedfor a month, and everything was ready to harness in and move. Lovell'sheadquarters was a stag ranch, and as fast as the engaged cooksreported, they were assigned to wagons, and kept open house in relievingthe home cocinero. In the absence of our employer, Flood was virtuallyat the head of affairs, and artfully postponed the division of horsesuntil the last moment. My outfit had all come in in good time, and wewere simply resting on our oars until the return of old man Don fromSan Antonio. The men were jubilant and light-hearted as a lot ofschool-boys, and with the exception of a feeling of jealousy among theforemen over the remudas, we were a gay crowd, turning night into day. But on the return of our employer, all frivolity ceased, and the ranchstood at attention. The only unfinished work was the division ofthe horses, and but a single day remained before the agreed time forstarting. Jim Flood had met his employer at the station the nightbefore, and while returning to the ranch, the two discussed theapportionment of the saddle stock. The next morning all the foremen werecalled together, when the drover said to his trail bosses:

"Boys, I suppose you are all anxious to get a good remuda for thissummer's trip. Well, I've got them for you. The only question is, how can we distribute them equitably so that all interests will beprotected. One herd may not have near the distance to travel that theothers have. It would look unjust to give it the best horses, and yetit may have the most trouble. Our remudas last year were all pickedanimals. 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 willuse your remudas of last year. Then each of you six bosses selecttwenty-five head each of the Dodge horses, --turn and turn about. Addthose to your old remudas, and cull back your surplus, allowing ten tothe man, twelve to the foreman, and five extra to each herd in case ofcripples or of galled backs. By this method, each herd will have twodozen prime saddlers, the pick of a thousand picked ones, and fit forany man who was ever in my employ. I'm breaking in two new foremen thisyear, and they shall have no excuse for not being mounted, and willdivide the remainder. Now, take four men apiece and round up the saddlestock, and have everything in shape to go into camp to-night. I'll bepresent 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 thirtythousand acres in the pasture, and by eleven o'clock everything wasthrown together. The private horses of all the boys had been turnedinto a separate inclosure, and before the cutting out commenced, everymother's son, including Don Lovell, arrived at the round-up. There wereno 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 handwe threw a cordon around them, equal to a corral, and the cutting out tothe four quarters commenced. 

The horses were gentle and handled easily. Forrest and I turned to andhelped our old foreman cut out his remuda of the year before. There wereseveral 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 knewtheir qualities and would have robbed me in demanding their equivalent. When the old remudas were again separated, they were counted andcarefully looked over by both foremen and men, and were open to theinspection of all who cared to look. Everything was passing verypleasantly, and the cutting of the extra twenty-five began. Then myselfishness was weighed in the balance and found to be full weight. Ihad ridden over a hundred of the best of them, but when any one appealedto me, even my own dear brother, I was as dumb as an oyster about ahorse. Tolleston, especially, cursed, raved, and importuned me to helphim 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 determinedto draw extra pay in getting the cream of that horse herd. There wereother features governing my actions: Flood was indifferent; Forrest, attimes, was cruel to horses, and had I helped my brother, I might havebeen charged with favoritism. Dave Sponsilier was a good horseman, ashis selections proved, and I was not wasting any love and affection onArchie Tolleston that day, anyhow. 

That no undue advantage should be taken, Lovell kept tally of everyhorse cut out, and once each foreman had taken his number, he was wavedout of the herd. I did the selecting of my own, and with the assistanceof one man, was constantly waiting my turn. With all the help he coulduse, Tolleston was over half an hour making his selections, and tookthe only blind horse in the entire herd. He was a showy animal, a dapplegray, fully fifteen hands high, bred in north Texas, and belonged toone of the whole remudas bought in Dodge. At the time of his purchase, neither Lovell nor Flood detected anything wrong, and no one could seeanything in the eyeball which would indicate he was moon-eyed. Yet anyhorseman need only notice him closely to be satisfied of his defect, as he was constantly shying from other horses and objects and smelledeverything which came within his reach. There were probably half a dozenpresent who knew of his blindness, but not a word was said until all theextras were chosen and the culling out of the overplus of the variousremudas began. It started in snickers, and before the cutting back wasover developed into peals of laughter, as man after man learned that thedapple gray in Tolleston's remuda was blind. 

Among the very last to become acquainted with the fact was the trailforeman himself. After watching the horse long enough to see hismistake, Tolleston culled the gray back and rode into the herd to claimanother. But the drover promptly summoned his foreman out, and, as theymet, Lovell said to his trail boss, "Arch, you're no better than anybodyelse. I bought that gray and paid my good money for him. No doubt butthe man who sold him has laughed about it often since, and if ever wemeet, I'll take my hat off and compliment him on being the only personwho ever sold me a moon-eyed horse. I'm still paying my tuition, and youneedn't flare up when the laugh's on you. You have a good remuda withouthim, and the only way you can get another horse out of that herd is withthe permission of Quince Forrest and Tom Quirk. "

"Well, if the permission of those new foremen is all I lack, thenI'll cut all the horses I want, " retorted Tolleston, and galloped backtowards the herd. But Quince and I were after him like a flash, followedleisurely by Lovell. As he slacked his mount to enter the mass ofanimals, I passed him, jerking the bridle reins from his hand. Throwingmy horse on his haunches, I turned just as Forrest slapped Tolleston onthe back, and said: "Look-ee here, Arch; just because you're a littlehot under the collar, don't do anything brash, for fear you may regretit afterward. I'm due to take a little pasear myself this summer, andI always did like to be well mounted. Now, don't get your back up orattempt to stand up any bluffs, for I can whip you in any sized circleyou can name. You never saw me burn powder, did you? Well, just you keepon 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 theclouds. "

But old man Don reached us, and raised his hand. I threw the reins backover the horse's head. Tolleston was white with rage, but before hecould speak our employer waved us aside and said, "Tom, you and Quinceclear right out of here and I'll settle this matter. Arch, there's yourremuda. 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 withyou. Go on. "

"Not an inch will I move until I get another horse, " hissed Tollestonbetween gasps. "If it lies between you and me, then I'll have one inplace of that gray, or you'll get another foreman. Now, you have myterms and ticket. "

"Very well then, Archie; that changes the programme entirely, " repliedLovell, 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 getsthe impression that I can't get along without him, that moment hebecomes useless to me. It seems that you are bloated with that idea, anda season's rest and quiet may cool you down and make a useful man of youagain. Remember that you're always welcome at my ranch, and don't letthis make us strangers, " he called back as he turned away. 

Riding over with us to where a group were sitting on their horses, ouremployer scanned the crowd without saying a word. Turning halfway in hissaddle, he looked over towards Flood's remuda and said: "One of youboys please ride over and tell Paul I want him. " During the ratherembarrassing interim, the conversation instantly changed, and weborrowed tobacco and rolled cigarettes to kill time. 

Priest was rather slow in making his appearance, riding leisurely, buton coming up innocently inquired of his employer, "Did you want to seeme?"

"Yes. Paul, I've just lost one of my foremen. I need a good reliableman to take a herd to Fort Washakie. It's an Indian agency on the headwaters of the North Platte in Wyoming. Will you tackle the job?"

"A good soldier is always subject to orders, " replied The Rebel with amilitary salute. "If you have a herd for delivery in Wyoming, give methe men and horses, and I'll put the cattle there if possible. You arethe commandant in the field, and I am subject to instructions. "

"There's your remuda and outfit, then, " said Lovell, pointing to the oneintended for Tolleston, "and you'll get a commissary at the ranch and gointo camp this evening. You'll get your herd in Nueces County, andJim will assist in the receiving. Any other little details will all bearranged before you get away. "

Calling for all the men in Tolleston's outfit, the two rode away forthat remuda. Shortly before the trouble arose, our employer instructedthose 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, andSponsilier was entitled to ten of them. In order to be sure of ournumbers, we counted the remaining band, and Forrest and I trimmed themdown to two hundred and fifty-four head. As this number was too small tobe handled easily in the open, we decided to take them into the corralsfor the final division. After the culling back was over, and everythinghad started for the ranch, to oblige Sponsilier, I remained behind andhelped 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 theoverplus. But I knew many of them at first hand, and at Dave's request, after picking out the extra ones, continued selecting others in exchangefor horses in his old band. We spent nearly an hour cutting back andforth, or until we were both satisfied that his saddle stock could notbe improved from the material at hand. 

The ranch headquarters were fully six miles from the round-up. LeavingSponsilier delighted with the change in his remuda, I rode to overtakethe undivided band which were heading for the ranch corrals. On comingup with them, Forrest proposed that we divide the horses by a runningcut in squads of ten, and toss for choice. Once they were in thecorrals, this could have been easily done by simply opening a gate andallowing blocks of ten to pass alternately from the main into smallerinclosures. But I was expecting something like this from Quince, and hadentirely different plans of my own. Forrest and I were good friends, buthe was a foxy rascal, and I had never wavered in my determination to getthe pick of that horse herd. Had I accepted his proposal, the chance ofa spinning coin might have given him a decided advantage, and I declinedhis proposition. I had a remuda in sight that my very being had hungeredfor, 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 inFlood's outfit who had accompanied the horse herd home from Dodge. Inthe 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. ButQuince stood firm, and arguing the matter, we reached the corrals andpenned the band. 

The two top bunches were held separate and were left a mile back on theprairie, under herd. The other remudas were all in sight of the ranch, while a majority of the men were eating a late dinner. Still contendingfor his point, Forrest sent a lad to the house to ask our employer tocome over to the corrals. On his appearance, accompanied by Flood, eachof us stated our proposition. 

"Well, the way I size this up, " said old man Don, "one of you wants torely 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 bankon his own judgment, but you ain't. Now, I like a man who does his ownthinking, 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 firstchoice. "

"That's all right, Mr. Lovell, " said Quince, smilingly. "I just gotthe idea that you wanted the remudas for the Buford herds to be equallygood. How can you expect it when Tom knows every horse and I neversaddled one of them. Give me the same chance, and I might know them aswell as the little boy knew his pap. "

"You had the same chance, " I put in, "but didn't want it. You wereoffered the Pine Ridge horses last year to take back to Dodge, and youkicked like a bay steer. But I swallowed their dust to the Arkansaw, andfrom there home we lived in clouds of alkali. You went home drunk anddressed up, with a cigar in your mouth and your feet through the carwindow, claiming you was a brother-in-law to Jay Gould, and simply outon a tour of inspection. Now you expect me to give you the benefit of myexperience 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 twoboys were sent for and the dividing commenced. Remounting our horses, we entered the large corral, and as fast as they were selected thedifferent outfits were either roped or driven singly through a guardedgate. It took over an hour of dusty work to make the division, but whenit was finished I had a remuda of a hundred and fifty-two saddle horsesthat would make a man willing to work for his board and the privilegeof riding them. Turning out of the corrals, Priest and I accompanied thehorses out on the prairie where our toppy ones were being grazed. Paulwas tickled over my outfit of saddle stock, but gave me several hintsthat he was entitled to another picked mount. I attempted to explainthat he had a good remuda, but he still insisted, and I promised him ifhe would be at my wagon the next morning when we corralled, he shouldhave 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 muleswere allowed to the wagon, and in order to have them in good conditionthey had been grain-fed for the past month. In their allotment theBuford herds were given the best teams, and when mine was pointed outby my employer, the outfit assisted the cook to harness in. Givinghim instructions to go into camp on a creek three miles south ofheadquarters, my wagon was the second one to get away. Some of theteams bolted at the start, and only for timely assistance Sponsilier'scommissary would have been overturned in the sand. Two of the wagonsheaded west for Uvalde, while my brother Bob's started southeast for BeeCounty. The other two belonging to Flood and The Rebel would camp on thesame creek as mine, their herds being also south. Once the wagons wereoff, 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 theherds were ready to be received, and until then, they would be riddenuniformly but promiscuously. With instructions from our employer toreturn to the ranch after making camp, the remudas were started afterthe wagons. 

On our return after darkness, the ranch was as deserted as aschool-house on Saturday. A Mexican cook and a few regular ranch handswere all that were left. Archie Tolleston had secured his horse and quitheadquarters before any one had even returned from the round-up. Whenthe last of the foremen came in, our employer delivered his finalmessages. "Boys, " said he, "I'll only detain you a few minutes. I'mgoing west in the morning to Uvalde County, and will be present at thereceiving of Quince and Dave's herds. After they start, I'll come backto the city and take stage to Oakville. But you go right ahead andreceive your cattle, Bob, for we don't know what may turn up. Flood willhelp Tom first, and then Paul, to receive their cattle. That will givethe Buford herds the first start, and I'll be waiting for you at Abilenewhen you reach there. And above all else, boys, remember that I'vestrained my credit in this drive, and that the cattle must be A 1, andthat we must deliver them on the spot in prime condition. Now, that'sall, but you'd better be riding so as to get an early start in themorning. "

Our employer walked with us to the outer gate where our horses stood atthe hitch-rack. That he was reticent in his business matters was wellknown among all his old foremen, including Forrest and myself. If he hada confidant among his men, Jim Flood was the man--and there were afew things he did not know. As we mounted our horses to return to ourrespective camps, old man Don quietly took my bridle reins in hand andallowed the others to ride away. "I want a parting word with you, Tom, " said he a moment later. "Something has happened to-day which willrequire the driving of the Buford herds in some road brand other thanthe 'Circle Dot. ' The first blacksmith shop you pass, have your ironsaltered into 'Open A's, ' and I'll do the same with Quince and Dave'sbrands. Of the why or wherefore of this, say nothing to any one, as noone but myself knows. Don't breathe a word even to Flood, for he don'tknow 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 outfitskept in touch with each other, camping far enough apart to avoid anyconflict in night-herding the remudas. The only incident to mar thepleasure 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 asthere had been no frost to kill insect life, myriads of seed-ticks haddropped from the mesquite thickets upon the animals when rubbing againstor passing underneath them. As the inner side of a horse's ear is bothwarm and tender, that organ was frequently infested with this pest, whose ravages often undermined the supporting cartilages and producedthe drooping or "gotch" ear. In my remuda over one half the horses wereafflicted with ticks, and many of them it was impossible to bridle, owing to the inflamed condition of their ears. Fortunately we had withus some standard preparations for blistering, so, diluting this inaxle-grease, we threw every animal thus affected and thoroughly swabbedhis ears. On reaching the Nueces River, near the western boundary ofLasalle County, the other two outfits continued on down that stream fortheir destination in the lower country. Flood remained behind with me, and going into camp on the river with my outfit, the two of us rodeover to Los Lobos Ranch and announced ourselves as ready to receivethe cattle. Dr. Beaver, the seller of the herd, was expecting us, andsending word of our arrival to neighboring cowmen, we looked over thecorrals before returning to camp. They had built a new branding-chuteand otherwise improved their facilities for handling cattle. Themain inclosure had been built of heavy palisades in an early day, butrecently several of smaller sized lumber had been added, making the mostcomplete corrals I had ever seen. An abundance of wood was at hand forheating the branding-irons, and every little detail to facilitate thework had been provided for. Giving notice that we would receive everymorning on the open prairie only, we declined an invitation to remain atthe ranch and returned to my wagon. 

In the valley the grass was well forward. We had traveled only sometwenty miles a day coming down, and our horses had fared well. But assoon as we received any cattle, night-herding the remuda would cease, and we must either hobble or resort to other measures. John Leveringwas my horse-wrangler. He had made two trips over the trail with Fant'sherds in the same capacity, was careful, humane, and an all-roundhorseman. In employing a cook, I had given the berth to Neal Parent, anold boyhood chum of mine. He never amounted to much as a cow-hand, butwas a lighthearted, happy fool; and as cooking did not require muchsense, I gave him the chance to make his first trip. Like a courtjester, he kept the outfit in fine spirits and was the butt of alljokes. In entertaining company he was in a class by himself, and spokewith marked familiarity of all the prominent cowmen in southern Texas. To a stranger the inference might be easily drawn that Lovell was in hisemploy. 

As we were expecting to receive cattle on the third day, the nextmorning the allotment of horses was made. The usual custom of giving theforeman first choice was claimed, and I cut twelve of solid colors butnot the largest ones. Taking turns, the outfit roped out horse afterhorse until only the ten extra ones were left. In order that theseshould bear a fair share in the work, I took one of them for anight-horse and allotted the others to the second, third, and lastguard in a similar capacity. This gave the last three watches two horsesapiece for night work, but with the distinct understanding that incase of accident or injury to any horse in the remuda, they could berecalled. There was little doubt that before the summer ended, theywould be claimed to fill vacancies in the regular mounts. Flood had keptbehind only two horses with which to overtake the other outfits, andduring 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 knewhis mount, extra attention was shown each horse. There were witches'bridles to be removed from their manes, extra long tails were thinnedout to the proper length, and all hoofs trimmed short. The horses werefast shedding their winter coats, matting the saddle blankets withfalling hair, and unless carefully watched, galled backs would result. The branding-irons had been altered en route, and about noon a vaquerocame down the river and reported that the second round-up of the daywould meet just over the county line in Dimmit. He belonged at LosLobos, and reported the morning rodeo as containing over five hundredbeeves, which would be ready for delivery at our pleasure. We made himremain for dinner, after which Flood and I saddled up and returned withhim. We reached the round-up just as the cutting-out finished. They werea fine lot of big rangy beeves, and Jim suggested that we pass uponthem at once. The seller agreed to hold them overnight, and Flood andI culled back about one hundred and twenty which were under age ortoo light. The round-up outfit strung the cattle out and counted them, reporting a few over seven hundred head. This count was merely informaland for the information of the seller; but in the morning the final onewould be made, in which we could take a hand. 

After the cut had started in for the ranch, we loitered along, lookingthem 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 moretrimming. I call them a fine lot of beeves. It's all right for Donto rib the boys up and make them think that the cattle have to betop-notchers. I've watched him receive too often; he's about the easiestman 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 receivingthree-year-olds, when one fourth of the cattle passed on were shorttwos. And if you call his attention to one, he'll just smile that littlesmile of his, and say, 'yes, he may be shy a few months, but he'llgrow. ' But then that's just old man Don's weakness for cattle; he can'tlook a steer in the face without falling in love with him. Now, I'vereceived before when by throwing out one half the stock offered, youcouldn't get as uniform a bunch of beeves as those are. But you goright ahead, Tom, and be sure that every hoof you accept will dress fivehundred pounds at Fort Buford. I'll simply sit around and clerk and helpyou count and give you a good chance to make a reputation. "

Los Lobos was still an open range. They claimed to have over tenthousand mixed cattle in the straight ranch brand. There had been nodemand for matured beeves for several years, and now on effecting thissale they were anxious to deliver all their grown steers. Dr. Beaverinformed us that, previous to our arrival, his foreman had been throwingeverything in on the home range, and that he hoped to deliver to us overtwo thousand head from his own personal holdings. But he was liberalwith his neighbors, for in the contingent just passed upon, there musthave been over a hundred head in various ranch brands. Assuring him thatwe would be on hand in the morning to take possession of the cattle, andrequesting 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 toroad-brand this first contingent, and with the first sign of dawn, myoutfit were riding for Los Lobos. We were encamped about three milesfrom the corrals, and leaving orders for the cook to follow up, the campwas abandoned with the exception of the remuda. It was barely sun-upwhen we counted and took possession of the beeves. On being relieved, the foreman of Los Lobos took the ranch outfit and started off to renewthe gathering. We penned the cattle without any trouble, and as soon asthe irons were ready, a chuteful were run in and the branding commenced. This branding-chute was long enough to chamber eight beeves. It wasbuilt about a foot wide at the bottom and flared upward just enoughto prevent an animal from turning round. A heavy gate closed the exit, while bull-bars at the rear prevented the occupant from backing out. Ahigh platform ran along either side of the branding-chute, on which themen stood while handling the irons. 

Two men did the branding. "Runt" Pickett attended the fire, passing upthe heated irons, and dodging the cold branding-steel. A single ironwas often good for several animals, and sometimes a chuteful was brandedwith two irons. It was necessary that the work should be well done; notthat a five months' trip required it, but the unforeseen must be guardedagainst. Many trail herds had met disaster and been scattered to thefour winds with nothing but a road brand to identify them afterward. The cattle were changing owners, and custom decreed that an abstract oftitle should be indelibly seared on their sides. The first guard, JakeBlair, Morg Tussler, and Clay Zilligan, were detailed to cut and drivethe squads into the chute. These three were the only mounted men, theothers being placed so as to facilitate the work. Cattle are as innocentas they are strong, and in this necessary work everything was donequietly, care being taken to prevent them from becoming excited. Asfast as they were released from the chute, Dr. Beaver took a list of theranch brands, in order to bill of sale them to Lovell and settle withhis neighbors. 

The work moved with alacrity. As one chuteful was being freed the nextone was entering. Gates closed in their faces and the bull-bars at therear locked them as in a vice. We were averaging a hundred an hour, butthe smoke from the burning hair was offensive to the lungs. During theforenoon Burl Van Vedder and Vick Wolf "spelled" Flood and myself forhalf an hour at a time, or until we could recover from the nauseousfumes. When the cook called us to dinner, we had turned out nearly fivehundred branded cattle. No sooner was the midday meal bolted than thecook was ordered back to camp with his wagon, the branded contingent ofcattle following in charge of the first guard. Less than half an hourwas lost in refreshing the inner man, and ordering "G--G" Cederdall, TimStanley, and Jack Splann of the second guard into their saddles to takethe place of the relieved men, we resumed our task. The dust of thecorrals settled on us unheeded, the smoke of the fire mingled with thatof the singeing hair and its offensive odors, bringing tears to oureyes, but the work never abated until the last steer had passed thechute and bore the "Open A. "

The work over, a pretense was made at washing the dust and grime fromour faces. It was still early in the day, and starting the cattle forcamp, I instructed the boys to water and graze them as long as theywould stand up. The men all knew their places on guard, this havingbeen previously arranged; and joining Dr. Beaver, Jim and I rode for theranch about a mile distant. The doctor was a genial host, and prescribeda series of mint-juleps, after which he proposed that we ride out andmeet the cattle gathered during the day. The outfit had been working asection of country around some lagoons, south of the ranch, and it wasfully six o'clock when we met them, heading homeward. The cattle werefully up to the standard of the first bunch, and halting the herd wetrimmed them down and passed on them. After Flood rode out of thissecond contingent, I culled back about a dozen light weights. Onfinishing, Jim gave me a quiet wink, and said something to Dr. Beaverabout a new broom. But I paid no attention to these remarks; in acountry simply teeming with prime beeves, I was determined to get a herdto my liking. Dr. Beaver had assured Lovell that he and his neighborswould throw together over four thousand beeves in making up the herd, and now I was perfectly willing that they should. It would take two dayslonger to gather the cattle on the Los Lobos range, and then there werethe 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 beddeddown, and Levering felt so confident that the remuda was contented thathe had concluded to night-herd them himself until midnight, and thenturn them loose until dawn. He had belled a couple of the leaders, andassured me that he would have them in hand before sun-up. The cook wasurging me to supper, but before unsaddling, I rode around both herd andremuda. The cattle were sleeping nicely, and the boys assured me thatthey had got a splendid fill on them before bedding down. That wasthe only safe thing to do, and after circling the saddle stock on theopposite side of camp, I returned to find that a stranger had arrivedduring my brief absence. Parent had fully enlightened him as to who hewas, who the outfit were, the destination of the herd, the names ofboth buyer and seller, and, on my riding in, was delivering a volubledissertation on the tariff and the possible effect on the state ofputting hides on the free list. And although in cow-camps a soldier'sintroduction is usually sufficient, the cook inquired the stranger'sname and presented me to our guest with due formality. Supper beingwaiting, the stranger was invited to take pot-luck with us, and beforethe meal was over recognized me. He was a deputy cattle inspector forDimmit County, and had issued the certificate for Flood's herd the yearbefore. He had an eye for the main chance, and informed me that fullyone half the cattle making up our herd belonged to Dimmit; that thecounty line was only a mile up the river, and that if I would allow theherd to drift over into his territory, he would shade the legal rate. The law compelling the inspection of herds before they could be movedout of the county, like the rain, fell upon the just and the unjust. Itwas 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 acertificate of inspection before he could move out a purchased herd, orbe 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 infuture years. No railroad would receive any consignment of hides or livestock, unless accompanied by a certificate from the county inspector. The legal rate was ten cents on the first hundred, and three cents onall over that number, frequently making the office a lucrative one. 

Once the object of his call was made clear, I warmed to our guest. Ifthe rate allowed by law was enforced, it meant an expense of over ahundred dollars for a certificate of inspection covering both herd andsaddle stock. We did not take out certificates in Medina on the remudasas a matter of economy. By waiting until the herd was ready, the twowould be inspected as one, and the lower rate apply. So I urged thedeputy to make himself at home and share my blankets. Pretending that Iremembered him well, I made numerous inquiries about the ranch where wereceived our herd the year before, and by the time to turn in, we wereon the most friendly terms. The next morning I offered him a horse fromour extras, assuring him that Flood would be delighted to renew hisacquaintance, and invited him to go with us for the day. Turning hishorse among ours, he accepted and rode away with us. The cattle passedon the evening before had camped out several miles from the corrals andwere grazing in when we met them. Flood and the Doctor joined us shortlyafterward, and I had a quiet word with Jim before he and the inspectormet. After the count was over, Flood made a great ado over my guest andgave him the glad hand as if he had been a long-lost brother. We werea trifle short-handed the second day, and on my guest volunteeringto help, I assigned him to Runt Pickett's place at the fire, where heshortly developed a healthy sweat. As we did not have a large bunch ofbeeves to brand that day, the wagon did not come over and we brandedthem 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, WayneOutcault, "Dorg" Seay, and Owen Ubery, to graze the cattle over to ourcamp. 

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in idleness and in theentertainment of our guest. Official-like, he pretended he could hardlyspare the time to remain another night, but was finally prevailed on anddid so. After dark, I took him some distance from camp, and the two ofus had a confidential chat. I assured him if there was any object indoing so, we could move camp right to or over the county line, andfrankly asked him what inducement he would offer. At first he thoughtthat throwing off everything over a hundred dollars would be aboutright. But I assured him that there were whole families of inspectors inLasalle County who would discount that figure, and kindly advised him, if he really wanted the fee, to meet competition at least. We discussedthe matter at length, and before returning to camp, he offered to makeout the certificate, covering everything, for fifty dollars. As it wascertain to be several days yet before we would start, and there was aprospect of a falling market in certificates of inspection, I would makeno definite promises. The next morning I insisted that he remain at somenear-by ranch in his own territory, and, if convenient, ride down everyfew days and note the progress of the herd. 

We were promised a large contingent of cattle for that day. The ranchoutfit were to make three rodeos down the river the day before, wherethe bulk of their beeves ranged. Flood was anxious to overtake the otheroutfits before they reached the lower country, and as he assured me Ihad no further use for him, we agreed that after receiving that morninghe might leave us. Giving orders at camp to graze the received beeveswithin a mile of the corrals by noon, and the wagon to follow, we madean early start, Flood taking his own horses with him. We met thecattle coming up the river a thousand strong. It was late when the lastround-up of the day before had finished, and they had camped for thenight fully five miles from the corrals. It took less than an hour tocull back and count, excuse the ranch outfit, and start this contingentfor the branding-pens in charge of my boys. Flood was in a hurry, andriding a short distance with him, I asked that he pass or send word tothe county seat, informing the inspector of hides and animals that atrail herd would leave Los Lobos within a week. Jim knew my motive ingetting competition on the inspection, and wishing me luck on my trip, I wrung his hand in farewell until we should meet again in the uppercountry. 

The sun was setting that night when we finished road-branding the lastof the beeves received in the morning. After dinner, when the wagonreturned to camp, I instructed Parent to move up the river fully amile. We needed the change, anyhow, and even if it was farther, the nextmorning we would have the Los Lobos outfit to assist in the branding, asthat day would finish their gathering. The outside cattle were beginningto 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 delayedreceiving from the neighboring ranches for another day. But the nextmorning, as we were ironing-up the last contingent of some four hundredLos Lobos beeves, a deputy inspector for Lasalle arrived from the countyseat. He was likewise officious, and professed disappointment that theherd was not ready to pass upon. On his arrival, I was handling theirons, and paid no attention to him until the branding was over for themorning. When he introduced himself, I cordially greeted him, but at thefirst intimation of disappointment from his lips, I checked him. 

Using the best diplomacy at my command, I said, "Well, I'm sorry tocause you this long ride when it might have been avoided. You see, weare receiving cattle from both this and Dimmit County. In fact, we areholding our herd across the line just at present. On starting, we expectto go up the river to the first creek, and north on it to the LeonaRiver. 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'tyou come over to the wagon and stay all night?"

But Dr. Beaver, who understood my motive, claimed the privilege ofentertaining the deputy at Los Lobos, and I yielded. We now had a fewover twenty-four hundred beeves, of which nineteen hundred were in theLos Lobos brand, the others being mixed. There was a possibility offully a hundred more coming in with the neighboring cattle, and Dr. Beaver was delighted over the ranch delivery. The outside contingentswere in four bunches, then encamped in different directions and withinfrom three to five miles of the ranch. Taking Vick Wolf with me for theafternoon, I looked over the separate herds and found them numberingmore than fifteen hundred. They were the same uniform Nueces Valleycattle, and as we lacked only a few over a thousand, the offerings wereextremely liberal. Making arrangements with three of the four herds toreceive the next day, Vick and I reached our camp on the county lineabout sunset. The change was a decided advantage; wood, water, and grasswere plentiful, and not over a mile farther from the branding-pens. 

The next morning found us in our saddles at the usual early hour. Wewere anxious to receive and brand every animal possible that day, sothat with a few hours' work the next forenoon the herd would be readyto start. After we had passed on the first contingent of the outsidecattle, and as we were nearing the corrals, Dr. Beaver overtook us. Calling me aside, he said: "Quirk, if you play your cards right, you'llget 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 workthan the Dimmit inspector, and he'll wait until the herd is ready tostart. 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; butstill the law demands inspection and you must comply with it. I'll giveyou a duplicate list of the brands, so that neither inspector need seethe herd, and if we don't save your employer a hundred dollars, then weare amateurs. "

Everything was pointing to an auspicious start. The last cattle on thedelivery 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 ofthe day only a few over two hundred remained to complete our numbers. The last contingent were fully up to the standard; and rather thandisappoint the sellers, I accepted fifty head extra, making my herd atstarting thirty-four hundred and fifty. When the last beef had passedthe branding-chute, there was nothing remaining but to give a receiptto 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 carefullynursed. Conscious of each other's presence, and both equally anxious forthe fee, the one deputy was entertained at my camp and the other at LosLobos. They were treated courteously, but given to understand that inthe present instance money talked. With but a small bunch of beeves tobrand on the starting day, the direction in which the herd was allowedto leave the bed-ground would be the final answer. If west, Dimmit hadunderbid Lasalle; if the contrary, then the departure of this herdwould be a matter of record in the latter county. Dr. Beaver enjoyedthe 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 thenight of our last camp on the county line, and in the presence of theDimmit inspector, the last relief received instructions, in the absenceof contrary orders, to allow the herd to drift back into Lasalle inthe morning. Matters were being conducted in pantomime, and the playersunderstood their parts. Our guest had made himself useful in variousways, and I naturally felt friendly towards him. He had stood severalguards for the boys, and Burl Van Vedder, of the last watch, had secretinstructions to call him for that guard. 

The next morning the camp was not astir as early as usual. On the cook'sarousing us, in the uncertain light of dawn, the herd was slowly rising, and from the position of a group of four horsemen, it was plainlyevident that our guest had shaded all competition. Our camp was in plainview of Los Lobos, and only some five or six miles distant. With therising of the sun, and from the top of a windmill derrick, by the aid ofa field-glass, the Lasalle inspector had read his answer; and after thework in the morning was over, and the final papers had been exchanged, Dr. Beaver insisted that, in commiseration of his departed guest, justone more mint-julep should be drunk standing. 

When Don Lovell glanced over my expense account on our arrival atAbilene, he said: "Look here, Tom, is this straight?--twenty dollars forinspection?--the hell you say! Corrupted them, did you? Well, that'sthe cheapest inspection I ever paid, with one exception. Dave Sponsilieronce 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 thebrands and numbers. The herd was put up within a mile of where fourcounties cornered, and that inspector was a believer in the maxim ofthe early bird. The office is a red-tape one, anyhow, and little harm intaking all the advantage you can. --This item marked 'sundries' was DRYgoods, I suppose? All right, Quirk; I reckon rattlesnakes were ratherrabid this spring. "

CHAPTER IV. MINGLING WITH THE EXODUS

By noon the herd had grazed out five miles on its way. The boys wereso anxious to get off that on my return the camp was deserted with theexception of the cook and the horse-wrangler, none even returning fordinner. Before leaving I had lunched at Los Lobos with its owner, and onreaching the wagon, Levering and I assisted the cook to harness inand start the commissary. The general course of the Nueces River wassoutheast by northwest, and as our route lay on the latter angle, theherd would follow up the valley for the first day. Once outside theboundaries of our camp of the past week, the grass matted the groundwith 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 thedivides. Along the river and in the first bottom, the timber andmesquite thickets were in leaf and blossom, while on the outlyingprairies the only objects which dotted this sea of green were rangecattle and an occasional band of horses. 

The start was made on the 27th of March. By easy drives and withina week, we crossed the "Sunset" Railway, about thirty miles to thewestward of the ranch in Medina. On reaching the divide between theLeona and Frio rivers, we sighted our first herd of trail cattle, heading northward. We learned that some six herds had already passedupward on the main Frio, while a number of others were reported ashaving taken the east fork of that river. The latter stream almostparalleled the line between Medina and Uvalde counties, and as weexpected some word from headquarters, we crossed over to the east fork. When westward of and opposite the ranch, Runt Pickett was sent in forany necessary orders that might be waiting. By leaving us early in theevening he could reach headquarters that night and overtake us beforenoon the next day. We grazed leisurely forward the next morning, killingas much time as possible, and Pickett overtook us before the wagon hadeven gone into camp for dinner. Lovell had not stopped on his returnfrom the west, but had left with the depot agent at the home station aletter for the ranch. From its contents we learned that the other twoBuford herds had started from Uvalde, Sponsilier in the lead, one on the24th and the other the following day. Local rumors were encouraging inregard to grass and water to the westward, and the intimation wasclear that if favorable reports continued, the two Uvalde herds wouldintersect an old trail running from the head of Nueces Canon to theLlano River. Should they follow this route there was little hope oftheir coming into the main western trail before reaching the ColoradoRiver. Sponsilier was a daring fellow, and if there was a possiblechance to get through beyond the borders of any settlement, he wascertain to risk it. 

The letter contained no personal advice. Years of experience in trailmatters had taught my employer that explicit orders were often harmful. The emergencies to be met were of such a varied nature that the bestmethod was to trust to an outfit worming its way out of any situationwhich confronted it. From the information disclosed, it was evidentthat the other Buford herds were then somewhere to the northwest, andpossibly over a hundred miles distant. Thus freed from any restraint, we held a due northward course for several days, or until we encounteredsome rocky country. Water was plentiful and grass fairly good, but thoseflinty hills must be avoided or sorefooted beeves would be the result. I had seen trails of blood left by cattle from sandy countries onencountering rock, and now the feet of ours were a second considerationto their stomachs. But long before the herd reached this menace, MorgTussler and myself, scouting two full days in advance, located a saferoute to the westward. Had we turned to the other hand, we should havebeen forced into the main trail below Fredericksburg, and we preferredthe sea-room of the boundless plain. From every indication and report, this promised to be the banner year in the exodus of cattle from theSouth to the then new Northwest. This latter section was affording thelong-looked-for outlet, by absorbing the offerings of cattle which cameup from Texas over the trail, and marking an epoch barely covering asingle decade. 

Turning on a western angle, a week's drive brought us out on a hightableland. Veering again to the north, we snailed along through adelightful country, rich in flora and the freshness of the season. Fromevery possible elevation, we scanned the west in the hope of sightingsome of the herd which had followed up the main Frio, but in vain. Sweeping northward at a leisurely gait, the third week out we sightedthe Blue Mountains, the first familiar landmark on our course. As themain western trail skirted its base on the eastward, our position waseasily established. 

So far the cattle were well behaved, not a run, and only a singleincident occurring worth mention. About half an hour before dawn onemorning, the cook aroused the camp with the report that the herd wasmissing. The beeves had been bedded within two hundred yards of thewagon, and the last watch usually hailed the rekindling of the cook'sfire as the first harbinger of day. But on this occasion the absence ofthe usual salutations from the bed-ground aroused Parent's suspicion. Herushed into camp, and laboring under the impression that the cattlehad stampeded, trampled over our beds, yelling at the top of his lungs. Aroused in the darkness from heavy sleep, bewildered by a bright fireburning and a crazy man shouting, "The beeves have stampeded! the herd'sgone! Get up, everybody!" we were almost thrown into a panic. Many ofthe boys ran for their night-horses, but Clay Zilligan and I fell on thecook and shook the statement out of him that the cattle had left theirbeds. This simplified the situation, but before I could recall the men, several of them had reached the bed-ground. As fast as horses could besecured, others dashed through the lighted circle and faded into thedarkness. From the flickering of matches it was evident that the boyswere dismounting and looking for some sign of trouble. Zilligan wasswearing like a pirate, looking for his horse in the murky night; butinstead of any alarm, oaths and derision greeted our ears as the menreturned 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 toyourself. I don't begrudge losing thirty minutes' beauty sleep, butI hate to be scared out of a year's growth. Haven't you got cow-senseenough to know that if those beeves had run, they'd have shook theearth? If they had stampeded, that alarm clock of yours wouldn't be acircumstance to the barking of the boys' guns. Why, the cattle haven'tbeen gone thirty minutes. You can see where they got up and then quietlywalked away. The ground where they lay is still steaming and warm. Theywere watered a little too soon yesterday and naturally got up early thismorning. The boys on guard didn't want to alarm the outfit, and justallowed the beeves to graze off on their course. When day breaks, you'llsee they ain't far away, and in the right direction. Parent, if I didn'tsabe cows better than you do, I'd confine my attention to a cottonpatch. "

Seay had read the sign aright. When day dawned the cattle were in plainview about a mile distant. On the return of the last guard to camp, VickWolf explained the situation in a few words. During their watch the herdhad grown restless, many of the cattle arising; and knowing that dawnwas near at hand, the boys had pushed the sleepy ones off their bedsand started them feeding. The incident had little effect on theirrepressible Parent, who seemed born to blunder, yet gifted with asunny disposition which atoned for his numerous mistakes. 

With the Blue Mountains as our guiding star, we kept to the westward ofthat landmark, crossing the Llano River opposite some Indian mounds. On reaching the divide between this and the next water, we sighted twodust-clouds to the westward. They were ten to fifteen miles distant, butI was anxious to hear any word of Sponsilier or Forrest, and sent JakeBlair to make a social call. He did not return until the next day, andreported the first herd as from the mouth of the Pecos, and the moredistant one as belonging to Jesse Presnall. Blair had stayed all nightwith the latter, and while its foreman was able to locate at least adozen trail herds in close proximity, our two from Uvalde had neitherbeen seen nor heard of. Baffled again, necessity compelled us to turnwithin touch of some outfitting point. The staples of life were runninglow in our commissary, no opportunity having presented itself to obtaina 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 theeastward. 

Brady City was an outfitting point for herds on the old western trail. On coming opposite that frontier village, Parent and I took the wagonand went in after supplies, leaving the herd on its course, parallelingthe former route. They had instructions to camp on Brady Creek thatnight. On reaching the supply point, there was a question if we couldsecure the simple staples needed. The drive that year had outstrippedall calculations, some half-dozen chuck-wagons being in waiting forthe arrival of a freight outfit which was due that morning. The nearestrailroad was nearly a hundred miles to the eastward, and all suppliesmust be freighted in by mule and ox teams. While waiting for the freightwagons, which were in sight several miles distant, I made inquiry of thetwo outfitting stores if our Buford herds had passed. If they had, no dealings had taken place on the credit of Don Lovell, though bothmerchants knew him well. Before the freight outfit arrived, some onetook Abb Blocker, a trail foreman for his brother John, to task forhaving 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 myherd the other night and got to hossing my steers around. We couldn'tkeep him out, and I thought if he would just go along, why we'd put himunder the yoke and let him hoss that chuck-wagon to amuse himself. Oneof my wheelers was getting a little tenderfooted, anyhow. "

On the arrival of the freight outfit, short shift was made intransferring a portion of the cargo to the waiting chuck-wagons. As weexpected to reach Abilene, a railroad point, within a week, we took ononly a small stock of staple supplies. Having helped ourselves, the onlydelay was in getting a clerk to look over our appropriation, make outan itemized bill, and receive a draft on my employer. When finallythe merchant in person climbed into our wagon and took a list of thearticles, Parent started back to overtake the herd. I remained behindseveral hours, chatting with the other foremen. 

None of the other trail bosses had seen anything of Lovell's otherherds, though they all knew him personally or by reputation, andinquired if he was driving again in the same road brand. By generalagreement, in case of trouble, we would pick up each other's cattle; andfrom half a cent to a cent a head was considered ample remuneration inbuying water in Texas. Owing to the fact that many drovers hadshipped to Red River, it was generally believed that there would be nocongestion of cattle south of that point. All herds were then keepingwell to the westward, some even declaring their intention to go throughthe Panhandle until the Canadian was reached. 

Two days later we came into the main trail at the crossing of theColorado River. Before we reached it, several ominous dust-clouds hungon our right for hours, while beyond the river were others, indicatingthe presence of herds. Summer weather had already set in, and duringthe middle of the day the glare of heat-waves and mirages obstructed ourview of other wayfarers like ourselves, but morning and evening we werenever out of sight of their signals. The banks of the river at the fordwere trampled to the level of the water, while at both approach and exitthe ground was cut into dust. On our arrival, the stage of water wasfavorable, and we crossed without a halt of herd, horses, or commissary. But there was little inducement to follow the old trail. Washed intoruts 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 anarmy. As we felt under obligations to touch at Abilene within a fewdays, there was a constant skirmish for grass within a reasonabledistance of the trail; and we were early, fully two thirds of the drivebeing in our rear. One sultry morning south of Buffalo Gap, as we weregrazing past the foot of Table Mountain, several of us rode to thesummit of that butte. From a single point of observation we countedtwelve herds within a space of thirty miles both south and north, allmoving in the latter direction. 

When about midway between the Gap and the railroad we were met at noonone day by Don Lovell. This was his first glimpse of my herd, and hisexperienced eye took in everything from a broken harness to the peelingand legibility of the road brand. With me the condition of the cattlewas the first requisite, but the minor details as well as the moreimportant claimed my employer's attention. When at last, after ridingwith the herd for an hour, he spoke a few words of approbation on thecondition, weight, and uniformity of the beeves, I felt a load liftedfrom my shoulders. That the old man was in a bad humor on meeting us wasevident; 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 ofthe afternoon, as we were in the rear, looking over the drag steers, hecomplimented me on having the fewest tender-footed animals of any herdthat had passed Abilene since his arrival. Encouraged, I ventured thedouble question as to how this one would average with the other Bufordherds, and did he know their whereabouts. As I recall his reply, itwas that all Nueces Valley cattle were uniform, and if there was anydifference it was due to carelessness in receiving. In regard to thelocality of the other herds, it was easily to be seen that he wasprovoked about something. 

"Yes, I know where they are, " said he, snappishly, "but that's all thegood it does me. They crossed the railroad, west, at Sweetwater, about aweek ago. I don't blame Quince, for he's just trailing along, half a daybehind 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 knowwhat a satisfaction it is to me to spend a day or so with each of theherds. But those rascals didn't pay any more attention to me than if Iwas an old woman. There was some reason for it--sore-footed cattle, orelse 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 homeas far as I'm concerned. He may think it's funny to slip past, but thiscourt isn't indulging in any levity just at present. I fail to see thehumor in having two outfits with sixty-seven hundred cattle somewherebetween the Staked Plain and No-Man's-Land, and unable to communicatewith them. And while my herds are all contracted, mature beeves havebroke 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 boysdon'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 forothers. My employer was naturally irritable, and his abuse or praiseof a foreman was to be expected. Previously and under the smile ofprosperity, I had heard him laud Sponsilier, and under an imaginaryshadow abuse Jim Flood, the most experienced man in his employ. Feelingit was useless to pour oil on the present troubled waters, I excusedmyself, rode back, and ordered the wagon to make camp ahead about fourmiles on Elm Creek. We watered late in the afternoon, grazing thenceuntil time to bed the herd. When the first and second guards wererelieved to go in and catch night-horses and get their supper, myemployer remained behind with the cattle. While feeding during theevening, we allowed the herd to scatter over a thousand acres. Takingadvantage of the loose order of the beeves, the old man rode back andforth through them until approaching darkness compelled us to throw themtogether on the bedground. Even after the first guard took charge, thedrover loitered behind, reluctant to leave until the last steer had laindown; and all during the night, sharing my blankets, he awoke on everychange of guards, inquiring of the returning watch how the cattle weresleeping. 

As we should easily pass Abilene before noon, I asked him as a favorthat he take the wagon in and get us sufficient supplies to last untilRed 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 hewould have stayed with us, but my brother Bob's herd was expected atany time. Remaining with us a second night, something, possibly theplacidness of the cattle, mellowed the old man and he grew amiable withthe 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 tobe dangerously close together on the regular trail which crosses RedRiver at Doan's. The season is early yet, but over fifty herds havealready crossed the Texas Pacific Railway. Allowing one half the herdsto 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 wasconsidered the banner year, yet it won't be a marker to this one. Theway prices are tumbling shows that the Northwest was bluffing when theyoffered to mature all the cattle that Texas could breed for the nextfifty years. That's the kind of talk that suits me, but last year therewere some forty herds unsold, which were compelled to winter in theNorth. Not over half the saddle horses that came up the trail lastsummer were absorbed by these Northern cowmen. Talk's cheap, but ittakes money to buy whiskey. Lots of these men are new ones at thebusiness and may lose fortunes. The banks are getting afraid of cattlepaper, and conditions are tightening. With the increased drive thisyear, if the summer passes without a slaughter in prices, the Texasdrovers can thank their lucky stars. I'm not half as bright as I mightbe, but this is one year that I'm smooth enough not to have unsoldcattle on the trail. "

The herd had started an hour before, and when the wagon was ready tomove, I rode a short distance with my employer. It was possible that hehad something to say of a confidential nature, for it was seldom thathe acted so discouraged when his every interest seemed protected bycontracts. But at the final parting, when we both had dismounted and saton 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 Bufordherds had held a westward course and thus avoided the crush on the mainroutes. The only intimation which escaped him was when we had remountedand each started our way, he called me back and said, "Tom, no doubt butyou'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 aboutthe handling of the herds, for my foremen have always considered myinterests first. Keep this to yourself, for it may prove a nightmare. But if it should prove true, then we must stand together. Now, that'sall; 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. Butmy brain was too muddy even to attempt to solve the riddle. The mostplausible theory that I could advance was that some friendly cowmenwere playing a joke on him, and that the old man had taken things tooseriously. Within a week the matter was entirely forgotten, crowded outof mind by the demands of the hour. The next night, on the Clear Forkof the Brazos, a stranger, attracted by our camp-fire, rode up to thewagon. Returning from the herd shortly after his arrival, I recognizedin our guest John Blocker, a prominent drover. He informed us that heand his associates had fifty-two thousand cattle on the trail, and thathe 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 countrybetween our present location and Doan's Crossing. He reported thecountry 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 fromthose in control. 

The outlook was not to my liking. The next morning when I inquired ofour guest what he would advise me to do, his answer clearly covered theground. "Well, I'm not advising any one, " said he, "but you can drawyour own conclusions. The two herds of mine, which I overtook, haveorders to turn northeast and cross into the Nations at Red RiverStation. My other cattle, still below, will all be routed by way ofFort Griffin. Once across Red River, you will have the Chisholm Trail, running through civilized tribes, and free from all annoyance of blanketIndians. South of the river the grass is bound to be better than on thewestern route, and if we have to buy water, we'll have the advantage ofcompetition. "

With this summary of the situation, a decision was easily reached. TheChisholm Trail was good enough for me. Following up the north sideof the Clear Fork, we passed about twenty miles to the west of FortGriffin. Constantly bearing east by north, a few days later we crossedthe main Brazos at a low stage of water. But from there to Red River wasa trial not to be repeated. Wire fences halted us at every turn. Ownersof pastures refused permission to pass through. Lanes ran in the wrongdirection, and open country for pasturage was scarce. What we dreadedmost, lack of drink for the herd, was the least of our troubles, necessity requiring its purchase only three or four times. And like aclimax to a week of sore trials, when we were in sight of Red River asand and dust storm struck us, blinding both men and herd for hours. Thebeeves fared best, for with lowered heads they turned their backs tothe howling gale, while the horsemen caught it on every side. The cattledrifted at will in an uncontrollable mass. The air was so filled withsifting sand and eddying dust that it was impossible to see a mountedman at a distance of fifty yards. The wind blew a hurricane, making itimpossible to dismount in the face of it. Our horses trembled with fear, unsteady on their feet. The very sky overhead darkened as if nightwas falling. Two thirds of the men threw themselves in the lead of thebeeves, firing six-shooters to check them, which could not even be heardby the ones on the flank and in the rear. Once the herd drifted againsta wire fence, leveled it down and moved on, sullen but irresistible. Towards evening the storm abated, and half the outfit was sent out insearch of the wagon, which was finally found about dark some four milesdistant. 

That night Owen Ubery, as he bathed his bloodshot eyes in a pail ofwater, said to the rest of us: "Fellows, if ever I have a boy, and tellhim how his pa suffered this afternoon, and he don't cry, I'll cut aswitch and whip him until he does. "

CHAPTER V. RED RIVER STATION

When the spirit of a man is once broken, he becomes useless. On thetrail 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 RedRiver was a fire test of physical endurance. But after crossing into theChickasaw Nation, a comparatively new country would open before us. Whenthe strain of the past week was sorest, in buoying up the spirits of myoutfit, I had promised them rest and recreation at the first possibleopportunity. 

Fortunately we had an easy ford. There was not even an indication thatthere had been a freshet on the river that spring. This was temperingthe wind, for we were crippled, three of the boys being unable to resumetheir places around the herd on account of inflamed eyes. The cook hadweathered the sand-storm better than any of us. Sheltering his team, andfastening his wagon-sheet securely, he took refuge under it until thegale had passed. Pressing him into the service the next morning, andassigning him to the drag end of the herd, I left the blind to lead theblind in driving the wagon. On reaching the river about the middleof the forenoon, we trailed the cattle across in a long chain, notan animal being compelled to swim. The wagon was carried over on aferryboat, as it was heavily loaded, a six weeks' supply of provisionshaving been taken on before crossing. Once the trail left the breaks, onthe north side of the river, we drew off several miles to the left andwent into camp for the remainder of the day. Still keeping clear ofthe trail, daily we moved forward the wagon from three to fivemiles, allowing the cattle to graze and rest to contentment. Theherd recuperated rapidly, and by the evening of the fourth day aftercrossing, the inflammation was so reduced in those whose eyes wereinflamed, that we decided to start in earnest the next morning. 

The cook was ordered to set out the best the wagon afforded, severaloutside delicacies were added, and a feast was in sight. G--G Cederdallhad recrossed the river that day to mail a letter, and on his returnproudly carried a basket of eggs on his arm. Three of the others hadjoined a fishing party from the Texas side, and had come in earlier inthe day with a fine string of fish. Parent won new laurels in the supperto which he invited us about sundown. The cattle came in to their bedsgroaning and satiated, and dropped down as if ordered. When the firstwatch had taken them, there was nothing to do but sit around and tellstories. Since crossing Red River, we had slept almost night and day, but in that balmy May evening sleep was banished. The fact that we werein the Indian country, civilized though the Indians were, called forthmany an incident. The raids of the Comanches into the Panhandle countryduring the buffalo days was a favorite topic. Vick Wolf, however, hadhad an Indian experience in the North with which he regaled us at thefirst opportunity. 

"There isn't any trouble nowadays, " said he, lighting a cigarette, "withthese blanket Indians on the reservations. I had an experience once on areservation where the Indians could have got me easy enough if they hadbeen on the war-path. It was the first winter I ever spent on a Northernrange, 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-roundrustler. This was long before the country was fenced, and they rodelines to keep the cattle on their ranges. One evening about nightfallin December, the worst kind of a blizzard struck us that the country hadever seen. The next day it was just as bad, and BLOODY cold. A fellowcould not see any distance, and to venture away from the dugout meantto get lost. The third day she broke and the sun came out clear in theearly evening. The next day we managed to gather the saddle horses, asthey had not drifted like the cattle. 

"Well, we were three days overtaking the lead of that cattle drift, andthen found them in the heart of the Cheyenne country, at least on thatreservation. They had drifted a good hundred miles before the stormbroke. Every outfit in the Strip had gone south after their cattle. Instead of drifting them back together, the different ranches rustledfor their own. Some of the foremen paid the Indians so much per head togather for them, but ours didn't. The braves weren't very much struckon us on that account. I was cooking for the outfit, which suited me inwinter 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 Indianapproaching me from out of the timber. There was a Winchester standingagainst the wagon wheel, but as the bucks were making no trouble, I gavethe matter no attention. Mr. Injun came up to the fire and professedto be very friendly, shook hands, and spoke quite a number of words inEnglish. 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 andwalked out about a hundred yards to a little knoll, threw his arms inthe air, and made signs. 

"Instantly, out of the cover of some timber on the creek a quarterabove, came about twenty young bucks, mounted, and yelling like demons. When they came up, they began circling around the fire and wagon. I wassitting on an empty corn-crate by the fire. One young buck, seeing thatI was not scaring to suit him, unslung a carbine as he rode, and shotinto the fire before me. The bullet threw fire and ashes all over me, and I jumped about ten feet, which suited them better. They circledaround for several minutes, every one uncovering a carbine, and theymust have fired a hundred and fifty shots into the fire. In fact theyalmost shot it out, scattering the fire around so that it came nearburning up the bedding of our outfit. I was scared thoroughly by thistime. 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 practicalinsight into what hell's like. I was rustling the rolls of bedding outof the circle of fire, expecting every moment would be my last. It's awonder I wasn't killed. Were they throwing lead? Well, I should remark!You see the ground was not frozen around the fire, and the bulletsburied themselves in the soft soil. 

"After they had had as much fun as they wanted, the leader gave ayell and they all circled the other way once, and struck back into thetimber. Some of them had brought up the decoy Indian's horse when theymade the dash at first, and he suddenly turned as wild as a Cheyennegenerally gets. When the others were several hundred yards away, heturned his horse, rode back some little distance, and attracted myattention by holding out the Winchester. From his horse he laid itcarefully down on the ground, whirled his pony, and rode like a scaredwolf after the others. I could hear their yells for miles, as they madefor their encampment over on the North Fork. As soon as I got the fireunder control, I went out and got the carbine. It was empty; the Indianhad used its magazine in the general hilarity. That may be an Indian'sstyle 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 toflame up for a brief moment. With the exception of Wayne Outcault, whowas lying prone on the ground, the men were smoking and sitting Indianfashion around the fire. After rolling awhile uneasily, Outcault sat upand 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 hurta baby. There was only half a dozen hard-boiled eggs to the man, and Idon't remember of any of you being so generous as to share yours withme. Those few plates of prunes that I ate for dessert wouldn't hurtnobody--they're medicine to some folks. Unroll our bed, pardner, andI'll thrash around on it awhile. "

Several trail stories of more or less interest were told, when RuntPickett, in order to avoid the smoke, came over and sat down betweenBurl Van Vedder and me. He had had an experience, and instantly openedon us at short range. "Speaking of stampedes, " said Runt, "reminds meof a run I was in, and over which I was paid by my employer a very highcompliment. 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 olduncle and aunt living in middle Kansas, I concluded to run down and paythem a short visit. So I threw away all my trail togs--well, they wereworn out, anyway--and bought me a new outfit complete. Yes, I evenbought 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 boundfarther 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 saddleand outfit, but in toggery, in my visiting harness, I looked like a ranktenderfoot. 

"Well, boys, the first day I struck town I met a through man looking forhands. His herd had just come in over the Chisholm Trail, crossing tothe western somewhere above. He was disgusted with his outfit, and wasdischarging men right and left and hiring new ones to take their places. I apologized for my appearance, showed him my outfit, and got a jobcow-punching with this through man. He expected to hold on sale a weekor two, when if unsold he would drift north to the Platte. The firstweek that I worked, a wet stormy night struck us, and before ten o'clockwe lost every hoof of cattle. I was riding wild after little squads ofcattle here and there, guided by flashes of lightning, when the stormfinally broke. Well, there it was midnight, and I didn't have a HOOF OFCATTLE 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 wasanybody's guess. The horses in my mount were as good as worthless; wornout, and if you gave one free rein he lacked the energy to carry youback to camp. I ploughed around in the darkness for over an hour, butfinally came to a sudden stop on the banks of the muddy Arkansaw. Rightthere I held a council of war with myself, the decision of which wasthat it was at least five miles to the wagon. 

"After I'd prowled around some little time, a bright flash of lightningrevealed to me an old deserted cabin a few rods below. To this shelterI turned without even a bid, unsaddled my horse and picketed him, andturned into the cabin for the night. Early the next morning I was outand saddled my horse, and the question was, Which way is camp? As soonas the sun rose clearly, I got my bearings. By my reasoning, if theriver yesterday was south of camp, this morning the wagon must be northof the river, so I headed in that direction. Somehow or other I stoppedmy 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. Ofcourse I knew that all herds near about were through cattle and underherd, and the absence of any men in sight aroused my curiosity. Iconcluded to investigate it, and riding back found over five hundredhead of the cattle we had lost the night before. 'Here's a chance tomake a record with my new boss, ' I said to myself, and circling inbehind, began drifting them out of the bottoms towards the uplands. Byten o'clock I had got them to the first divide, when who should ride upbut 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 riddenthis horse to death, holding this bunch all night. If I had only had agood man or two with me, we could have caught twice as many. What kindof an outfit are you working, anyhow, Captain?' And at dinner that day, the boss pointed me out to the others and said, 'That little fellowstanding over there with the button shoes on is the only man in myoutfit that is worth a --------. '"

The cook had finished his work, and now joined the circle. Parent beganregaling us with personal experiences, in which it was evident that hewould prove the hero. Fortunately, however, we were spared listeningto his self-laudation. Dorg Seay and Tim Stanley, bunkies, engaged in afriendly scuffle, each trying to make the other get a firebrand for hispipe. In the tussle which followed, we were all compelled to give way orget trampled underfoot. When both had exhausted themselves in vain, weresumed our places around the fire. Parent, who was disgusted over theinterruption, on resuming his seat refused to continue his story at therequest of the offenders, replying, "The more I see of you two varmintsthe more you remind me of mule colts. "

Once the cook refused to pick up the broken thread of his story, JohnLevering, our horse-wrangler, preempted the vacated post. "I was overin Louisiana a few winters ago with a horse herd, " said John, "and hada 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 wordof anything but French. It's nothing to see a cow and mule harnessedtogether to a cart. One day on the road, I met a man, old enough to bemy 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 hadnever 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 ifhe was living and present, it was quite possible that he would rememberthe 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 drivenabout three hundred horses and mules, and after disposing of over twothirds of them, my employer was compelled to return home, leaving me todispose of the remainder. I was a fair salesman, and rather than carrythe remnant of the herd with me, made headquarters with a man who owneda large cane-brake pasture. It was a convenient stopping-place, andthe stock did well on the young cane. Every week I would drive to somedistant town eighteen or twenty head, or as many as I could handlealone. Sometimes I would sell out in a few days, and then again it wouldtake me longer. But when possible I always made it a rule to get backto my headquarters to spend Sunday. The owner of the cane-brake and hiswife 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 quitea shine to the 'Texas-Hoss-Man, ' as they called me. I reckon youunderstand now why I made that headquarters?--there were other reasonsbesides the good pasturage. 

"Well, the girl and her mother both could read, but I have some doubtabout the old man on that score. They took no papers, and the nearestapproach to a book in the house was an almanac three years old. Thewomen folks were ravenous for something to read, and each time on myreturn after selling out, I'd bring them a whole bundle of illustratedpapers and magazines. About my fourth return after more horses, --I wasmighty near one of the family by that time, --when we were all seatedaround the fire one night, the women poring over the papers and admiringthe pictures, the old man inquired what the news was over in the parishwhere I had recently been. The only thing that I could remember was thesuicide of a prominent man. After explaining the circumstances, I wenton to say that some little bitterness arose over his burial. Owing tohis prominence it was thought permission would be given to bury himin the churchyard. But it seems there was some superstition aboutpermitting a self-murderer to be buried in the same field as decentfolks. It was none of my funeral, and I didn't pay overmuch attentionto the matter, but the authorities refused, and they buried him justoutside the grounds, in the woods. 

"My host and I discussed the matter at some length. He contended that ifthe man was not of sound mind, he should have been given his littlesix feet of earth among the others. A horse salesman has to be a goodsecond-rate talker, and being anxious to show off before the girl, Idiffered with her father. The argument grew spirited yet friendly, and Iappealed to the women in supporting my view. My hostess was absorbedat the time in reading a sensational account of a woman shooting herbetrayer. The illustrations covered a whole page, and the girl wassimply burning, at short range, the shirt from off her seducer. The oldlady was bogged to the saddle skirts in the story, when I interruptedher and inquired, 'Mother, what do you think ought to be done with aman who commits suicide?' She lowered the paper just for an instant, andlooking over her spectacles at me replied, 'Well, I think any man whowould do THAT ought to be made to support the child. '"

No comment was offered. Our wrangler arose and strolled away from thefire under the pretense of repicketing his horse. It was nearly timefor the guards to change, and giving the last watch orders to pointthe herd, as they left the bed-ground in the morning, back on an angletowards the trail, I prepared to turn in. While I was pulling off myboots in the act of retiring, Clay Zilligan rode in from the herd tocall the relief. The second guard were bridling their horses, and asZilligan dismounted, he said to the circle of listeners, "Didn't I tellyou fellows that there was another herd just ahead of us? I don't careif they didn't pass up the trail since we've been laying over, they arethere 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 fivemiles away. If I remember rightly, there's a local trail comes in fromthe south of the Wichita River, and joins the Chisholm just ahead. Andwhat's more, that herd was there at nine o'clock this morning, and theyhaven't moved a peg since. Well, there's two lads out there waiting tobe 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 thebed-ground at dawn, and as the outfit rode away to relieve the lastguard, every mother's son was singing. The cattle were a refreshingsight as they grazed forward, their ragged front covering half a milein width. The rest of the past few days had been a boon to the fewtender-footed ones. The lay-over had rejuvenated both man and beast. From maps in our possession we knew we were somewhere near the westernborder of the Chickasaw Nation, while on our left was the reservation ofthree blanket tribes of Indians. But as far as signs of occupancy wereconcerned, the country was unmarked by any evidence of civilization. TheChisholm Cattle Trail, which ran from Red River to the Kansas line, hadalmost fallen into disuse, owing to encroachments of settlements southof the former and westward on the latter. With the advancement ofimmigration, Abilene and Ellsworth as trail terminals yielded to thetide, and the leading cattle trace of the '70's was relegated to localuse in '84. 

The first guard was on the qui vive for the outfit whose camp-fire theyhad sighted the night before. I was riding with Clay Zilligan on theleft point, when he sighted what we supposed was a small bunch of cattlelying down several miles distant. When we reached the first rise ofground, a band of saddle horses came in view, and while we were tryingto locate their camp, Jack Splann from the opposite point attracted ourattention and pointed straight ahead. There a large band of cattle underherd greeted our view, compelling us to veer to the right and intersectthe trail sooner than we intended. Keeping a clear half-mile betweenus, we passed them within an hour and exchanged the compliments of thetrail. They proved to be "Laurel Leaf" and "Running W" cattle, thevery ones for which the International Railway agent at the meeting inFebruary had so boastfully shown my employer the application for cars. The foreman was cursing like a stranded pirate over the predicament inwhich he found himself. He had left Santo Gertrudo Ranch over a monthbefore with a herd of three thousand straight two-year-old steers. But in the shipment of some thirty-three thousand cattle from the tworanches to Wichita Falls, six trains had been wrecked, two of which werehis own. Instead of being hundreds of miles ahead in the lead of theyear's drive, as he expected, he now found himself in charge of a campof cripples. What few trains belonging to his herd had escaped the ditchwere used in filling up other unfortunate ones, the injured cattle fromthe other wrecks forming his present holdings. 

"Our people were anxious to get their cattle on to the market early thisyear, " said he, "and put their foot into it up to the knee. Shippingto Red River was an experiment with them, and I hope they've got theirbelly full. We've got dead and dying cattle in every pasture from thefalls to the river, while these in sight aren't able to keep out ofthe stench of those that croaked between here and the ford. Oh, thisshipping is a fine thing--for the railroads. Here I've got to rot allsummer with these cattle, just because two of my trains went into theditch while no other foreman had over one wrecked. And mind you, theypaid the freight in advance, and now King and Kennedy have brought suitfor damages amounting to double the shipping expense. They'll get it allright--in pork. I'd rather have a claim against a nigger than a railroadcompany. Look at your beeves, slick as weasels, and from the NuecesRiver. Have to hold them in, I reckon, to keep from making twenty milesa day. And here I am--Oh, hell, I'd rather be on a rock-pile with a balland chain to my foot! Do you see those objects across yonder about twomiles--in that old grass? That's where we bedded night before last andforty odd died. We only lost twenty-two last night. Oh, we're getting inshape fast. If you think you can hold your breakfast down, just take aride 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 ananimal had escaped without more or less injury. Fully one half wereminus one or both horns, leaving instead bloody stumps. Broken bonesand open sores greeted us on every hand; myriads of flies added to themisery of the cattle, while in many instances there was evidence ofmaggots 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 beenprohibitory. The trials and vexations of the road were mere nothings tobe endured, compared to the sights we were then leaving. Even whatwe first supposed were cattle lying down, were only bed-grounds, theoccupants having been humanely relieved by unwaking sleep. Powerless torender any assistance, we trailed away, glad to blot from our sight andmemory such scenes of misery and death. 

Until reaching the Washita River, we passed through a delightfulcountry. There were numerous local trails coming into the main one, allof which showed recent use. Abandoned camp-fires and bed-grounds were tobe seen on every hand, silent witnesses of an exodus which was to markthe maximum year in the history of the cattle movement from Texas. Several times we saw some evidence of settlement by the natives, but asto the freedom of the country, we were monarchs of all we surveyed. On arriving at the Washita, we encountered a number of herds, laboringunder the impression that they were water-bound. Immediate entrance atthe ford was held by a large herd of young cattle in charge of a negrooutfit. Their stock were scattered over several thousand acres, andwhen I asked for the boss, a middle-aged darky of herculean figure waspointed out as in charge. To my inquiry why he was holding the ford, hisanswer was that until to-day the river had been swimming, and now he waswaiting for the banks to dry. Ridiculing his flimsy excuse, I kindlyyet firmly asked him either to cross or vacate the ford by three o'clockthat 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 wenton ahead to the river. Crossing and recrossing our saddle stock a numberof times, we trampled the banks down to a firm footing. While we weredoing this work, the negro foreman and a number of his men rode up andsullenly watched us. Leaving our horses on the north bank, Levering andI returned, and ignoring the presence of the darky spectators, startedback to meet the herd, which was just then looming up in sight. Butbefore we had ridden any distance, the dusky foreman overtook us andpolitely said, "Look-ee here, Cap'n; ain't you-all afraid of losin' someof 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 absorbsany of yours. But it strikes me that you had better have those lazyniggers throw your cattle to one side, " I called back, as he halted hishorse. We did not look backward until we reached the herd; then as weturned, one on each side to support the points, it was evident that aclear field would await us on reaching the river. Every horseman in theblack outfit was pushing cattle with might and main, to give us a cleancloth at the crossing. 

The herd forded the Washita without incident. I remained on the southbank while the cattle were crossing, and when they were about half oversome half-dozen of the darkies rode up and stopped apart, conversingamong themselves. When the drag cattle passed safely out on the fartherbank, I turned to the dusky group, only to find their foremanabsent. Making a few inquiries as to the ownership of their herd, itsdestination, and other matters of interest, I asked the group to expressmy thanks to their foreman for moving his cattle aside. Our commissarycrossed shortly afterward, and the Washita was in our rear. But thatnight, as some of my outfit returned from the river, where they had beenfishing, they reported the negro outfit as having crossed and encampedseveral miles in our rear. 

"All they needed was a good example, " said Dorg Seay. "Under a whiteforeman, I'll bet that's a good lot of darkies. They were just about theright 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 ruinsone to give him any authority. "

Without effort we traveled fifteen miles a day. In the absence of anywet weather to gall their backs, there was not a horse in our remudaunfit for the saddle. In fact, after reaching the Indian Territory, theytook on flesh and played like lambs. With the exception of long hoursand night-herding, the days passed in seeming indolence as we sweptnorthward, crossing rivers without a halt which in previous years haddefied the moving herds. On arriving at the Cimarron River, in reply toa letter written to my employer on leaving Texas behind us, ananswer was found awaiting me at Red Fork. The latter was an Indiantrading-post, located on the mail route to Fort Reno, and only a fewmiles north of the Chisholm Crossing. The letter was characteristicof my employer. It contained but one imperative order, --that I shouldtouch, either with or without the herd, at Camp Supply. For someunexplained reason he would make that post his headquarters until afterthe Buford herds had passed that point. The letter concluded with theinjunction, in case we met any one, to conceal the ownership of the herdand its destination. 

The mystery was thickening. But having previously declined to borrowtrouble, I brushed this aside as unimportant, though I gave my outfitinstructions 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 riddenahead of the herd after crossing the Cimarron, and had posted the outfitbefore they reached the trading-station. I did not allow one of my boysnear the store, and the herd passed by as in contempt of such a waysideplace. As the Dodge cut-off left the Chisholm Trail some ten miles abovethe Indian trading-post, the next morning we waved good-bye to the oldcattle trace and turned on a northwest angle. Our route now lay up theCimarron, which we crossed and recrossed at our pleasure, for the sakeof grazing or to avoid several large alkali flats. There was evidence ofherds in our advance, and had we not hurried past Red Fork, I might havelearned something to our advantage. But disdaining all inquiry of thecut-off, fearful lest our identity be discovered, we deliberately walkedinto the first real danger of the trip. 

At low water the Cimarron was a brackish stream. But numeroustributaries put in from either side, and by keeping above the river'sebb, an abundance of fresh water was daily secured from the river'saffluents. The fifth day out from Red Rock was an excessively sultryone, and suffering would have resulted to the herd had we not beenfollowing a divide where we caught an occasional breeze. The riverlay some ten miles to our right, while before us a tributary could bedistinctly outlined by the cottonwoods which grew along it. Since earlymorning we had been paralleling the creek, having nooned within sight ofits confluence with the mother stream, and consequently I had consideredit unnecessary to ride ahead and look up the water. When possible, wealways preferred watering the herd between three and four o'clock in theafternoon. But by holding our course, we were certain to intersect thecreek 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 somedistance. But before the time arrived to intersect the creek on ourcourse, the herd turned out of the trail, determined to go to the creekand quench their thirst. The entire outfit, however, massed on the rightflank, and against their will we held them on their course. As theirthirst increased with travel, they made repeated attempts to breakthrough our cordon, requiring every man to keep on the alert. But weheld them true to the divide, and as we came to the brow of a small hillwithin a quarter-mile of the water, a stench struck us until we turnedin our saddles, gasping for breath. I was riding third man in the swingfrom the point, and noticing something wrong in front, galloped to thebrow of the hill. The smell was sickening and almost unendurable, andthere before us in plain view lay hundreds of dead cattle, bloated anddecaying in the summer sun. 

I was dazed by the awful scene. A pretty, greenswarded little valleylay before me, groups of cottonwoods fringed the stream here and there, around the roots of which were both shade and water. The reeking stenchthat filled the air stupefied me for the instant, and I turned my horsefrom the view, gasping for a mouthful of God's pure ozone. But ourbeeves had been scenting the creek for hours, and now a few of theleaders started forward in a trot for it. Like a flash it came to methat 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 withintwo hundred yards of the creek, frequently jumping our horses over theputrid carcasses of dead cattle. The main body of the herd were trailingfor three quarters of a mile in our rear, and none of the men daredleave their places. Untying our slickers, Splann and I fell upon theleaders and beat them back to the brow of the hill, when an unfortunatebreeze was wafted through that polluted atmosphere from the creek to thecattle's nostrils. Turning upon us and now augmented to several hundredhead, 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 managain triumphed over brutes in their thirst, for we drove them in a routback over the divide. 

Our success, however, was only temporary. Recovering our horses we beatthe cattle back, seemingly inch by inch, until the rear came up, when werounded them into a compact body. They quieted down for a short while, affording us a breathing spell, for the suddenness of this dangerhad not only unnerved me but every one of the outfit who had caught aglimpse of that field of death. The wagon came up, and those who neededthem secured a change of horses. Leaving the outfit holding the herd, Splann and I took fresh mounts, and circling around, came in on thewindward side of the creek. As we crossed it half a mile above the sceneof disaster, each of us dipped a hand in the water and tasted it. Thealkali was strong as concentrated lye, blistering our mouths in theexperiment. The creek was not even running, but stood in long, deeppools, clear as crystal and as inviting to the thirsty as a mountainspring. As we neared the dead cattle, Splann called my attention to theattitude of the animals when death relieved them, the heads of fullytwo thirds being thrown back on their sides. Many, when stricken, wereunable to reach the bank, and died in the bed of the stream. Making acomplete circle of the ghastly scene, we returned to our own, agreeingthat between five and six hundred cattle had met their fate in thosedeath-dealing pools. 

We were not yet out of the woods. On our return, many of the cattle werelying down, while in the west thunder-clouds were appearing. The NorthFork of the Canadian lay on our left, which was now our only hope forwater, yet beyond our reach for the day. Keeping the slight dividebetween us and the creek, we started the herd forward. Since it wasimpossible to graze them in their thirsty condition, I was determined tomove them as far as possible before darkness overtook us. But within anhour we crossed a country trail over which herds had passed on their waynorthwest, having left the Chisholm after crossing the North Fork. Atthe first elevation which would give me a view of the creek, anotherscene of death and desolation greeted my vision, only a few milesabove the first one. Yet from this same hill I could easily trace themeanderings of the creek for miles as it made a half circle in ourfront, both inviting and defying us. Turning the herd due south, wetraveled until darkness fell, going into camp on a high, flat mesa ofseveral thousand acres. But those evening breezes wafted an invitationto come and drink, and our thirsty herd refused to bed down. To add toour predicament, a storm thickened in the west. Realizing that we wereconfronting the most dangerous night in all my cattle experience, Iordered every man into the saddle. The remuda and team were taken incharge by the wrangler and cook, and going from man to man, I warnedthem what the consequences would be if we lost the herd during thenight, and the cattle reached the creek. 

The cattle surged and drifted almost at will, for we were compelled tohold them loose to avoid milling. Before ten o'clock the lightning wasflickering overhead and around us, revealing acres of big beeves, whichin an instant might take fright, and then, God help us. But in thatnight of trial a mercy was extended to the dumb brutes in charge. A warmrain 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 cattlestanding as if asleep, in grateful enjoyment of the sheeting downpour. As the night wore on, our fears of a stampede abated, for the buffalowallows on the mesa filled, and water was on every hand. The rain ceasedbefore dawn, but owing to the saturated condition underfoot, not a hooflay down during the night, and when the gray of morning streaked theeast, 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 roundedan alkaline plain in which this deadly creek had its source. Under theinfluence of the season, alkali had oozed up out of the soil until itlooked like an immense lake under snow. The presence of range cattlein close proximity to this creek, for we were in the Cherokee Strip, baffled my reasoning; but the next day we met a range-rider whoexplained that the present condition of the stream was unheard ofbefore, and that native cattle had instinct enough to avoid it. Heaccounted for its condition as due to the dry season, there being nogeneral rains sufficient to flood the alkaline plain and thoroughlyflush the creek. In reply to an inquiry as to the ownership of theunfortunate herds, he informed me that there were three, one belongingto Bob Houston, another to Major Corouthers, and the third to a mannamed Murphy, the total loss amounting to about two thousand cattle. 

From this same range-man we also learned our location. Camp Supply layup the North Fork some sixty miles, while a plain trail followed up thefirst bottom of the river. Wishing to avoid, if possible, intersectingthe western trail south of Dodge, the next morning I left the herd tofollow up, and rode into Camp Supply before noon. Lovell had sighted mea mile distant, and after a drink at the sutler's bar, we strolled asidefor a few minutes' chat. Once I had informed him of the locality ofthe herd and their condition, he cautioned me not to let my businessbe known while in the post. After refreshing the inner man, my employersecured a horse and started with me on my return. As soon as the flagover Supply faded out of sight in our rear, we turned to the friendlyshade of the timber on the North Fork and dismounted. I felt that theprecaution exercised by the drover was premonitory of some revelation, and before we arose from the cottonwood log on which we took seats, thescales had fallen from my eyes and the atmosphere of mystery cleared. 

"Tom, " said my employer, "I am up against a bad proposition. I amdriving these Buford cattle, you understand, on a sub-contract. I wasthe second lowest bidder with the government, and no sooner was theaward made to The Western Supply Company than they sent an agent whogave me no peace until they sublet their contract. Unfortunately for me, when the papers were drawn, my regular attorney was out of town, and Iwas compelled to depend on a stranger. After the articles were executed, I submitted the matter to my old lawyer; he shook his head, arguingthat a loophole had been left open, and that I should have secured anassignment of the original contract. After studying the matter over, weopened negotiations to secure a complete relinquishment of the award. But when I offered the company a thousand dollars over and above whatthey admitted was their margin, and they refused it, I opened my eyes tothe true situation. If cattle went up, I was responsible and would haveto fill my contract; if they went down, the company would buy in thecattle 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 areirresponsible. Beeves have broken from four to five dollars a head, andunless I can deliver these Buford herds on my contract, they will loseme fifty thousand dollars. "

"Have you any intimation that they expect to buy in other cattle?" Iinquired. 

"Yes. I have had a detective in my employ ever since my suspicionswere aroused. There are two parties in Dodge this very minute with theoriginal contract, properly assigned, and they are looking for cattle tofill it. That's why I'm stopping here and lying low. I couldn't explainit to you sooner, but you understand now why I drove those Buford herdsin different road brands. Tom, we're up against it, and we've got tofight 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 suppliesyou 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 himat the Dodge House. I've sent a courier to Fort Elliott to meet Dave andQuince, 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 ofDon Lovell, and by all means don't forget to use what wits Nature gaveyou. "

CHAPTER VII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK

It was late that night when I reached the herd. Before I parted withmy employer we had carefully reviewed the situation in its minutestdetails. Since the future could not be foreseen, we could only watchand wait. The Texan may have his shortcomings, but lack of fidelity toa trust is not one of them, and relying on the metal of my outfit, I atonce put them in possession of the facts. At first their simple mindscould hardly grasp the enormity of the injustice to our employer, butonce the land lay clear, they would gladly have led a forlorn hope inDon Lovell's interests. Agitation over the matter was maintainedat white heat for several days, as we again angled back towards theCimarron. Around the camp-fires at night, the chicanery of The WesternSupply Company gave place to the best stories at our command. "Thereought to be a law, " said Runt Pickett, in wrathy indignation, "making itlegal to kill some people, same as rattlesnakes. Now, you take a squaregambler and I don't think anything of losing my money against his game, but one of these sneaking, under-dealing, top-and-bottom-businesspimps, I do despise. You can find them in every honest calling, same asvultures hover round when cattle are dying. Honest, fellows, I'd justdearly love to pull on a rope and watch one of the varmints make hislast kick. "

Several days of showery weather followed. Crossing the Cimarron, wefollowed up its north slope to within thirty miles of the regularwestern trail. Not wishing to intercept it until necessity compelled us, when near the Kansas line we made our last tack for Dodge. The rains hadfreshened the country and flushed the creeks, making our work easy, andearly in the month of June we reached the Mulberry. Traveling at random, we struck that creek about twenty miles below the trail, and moved upthe stream to within a short distance of the old crossing. The presenceof a dozen other herds holding along it forced us into a permanent campa short half-day's ride from the town. The horse-wrangler was pressedinto service in making up the first guard that night, and taking MorgTussler with me, I struck out for Dodge in the falling darkness. On reaching the first divide, we halted long enough to locate thecamp-fires along the Mulberry to our rear, while above and below andbeyond the river, fires flickered like an Indian encampment. The lightsof Dodge were inviting us, and after making a rough estimate of thecamps in sight, we rode for town, arriving there between ten and eleveno'clock. The Dodge House was a popular hostelry for trail men and cattlebuyers, and on our making inquiry of the night clerk if a Mr. Siringowas stopping there, we were informed that he was, but had retired. I putup a trivial excuse for seeing him, the clerk gave me the number of hisroom, and Tussler and I were soon closeted with him. The detective wasa medium-sized, ordinary man, badly pock-marked, with a soft, musicalvoice, and apparently as innocent as a boy. In a brief preliminaryconversation, he proved to be a Texan, knowing every in and out ofcattle, having been bred to the occupation. Our relations to each otherwere easily established. Reviewing the situation thoroughly, he informedme that he had cultivated the acquaintance of the parties holding theassignment of the Buford award. He had represented to them that he wasthe fiscal agent of some six herds on the trail that year, three ofwhich were heavy beeves, and they had agreed to look them over, providedthey arrived before the 15th of the month. He further assured me thatthe parties were mere figureheads of The Supply Company; that they wereexceedingly bearish on the market, gloating over the recent depreciationin prices, and perfectly willing to fatten on the wreck and ruin ofothers. 

It was long after midnight when the consultation ended. Appointing anhour for showing the herd the next day, or that one rather, Tussler andI withdrew, agreeing to be out of town before daybreak. But the blazeof gambling and the blare of dance-halls held us as in a siren's embraceuntil the lights dimmed with the breaking of dawn. Mounting our horses, we forded the river east of town and avoided the herds, which were justarising from their bed-grounds. On the divide we halted. Within thehorizon before us, it is safe to assert that one hundred thousand cattlegrazed in lazy contentment, all feeding against the morning breeze. Savefor the freshness of early summer, with its background of green and therarified atmosphere of the elevated plain, the scene before us might becompared to a winter drift of buffalo, ten years previous. Riding downthe farther slope, we reached our camp in time for a late breakfast, thefifteen-mile ride having whetted our appetites. Three men were on herd, and sending two more with instructions to water the cattle an hourbefore noon, Tussler and I sought the shade of the wagon and fellasleep. It was some time after midday when, on sighting the expectedconveyance approaching our camp, the cook aroused us. Performing arather hasty ablution, I met the vehicle, freshened, and with my wits ontap. I nearly dragged the detective from the livery rig, addressing himas "Charley, " and we made a rough ado over each other. Several of theother boys came forward and, shaking hands, greeted him with equalfamiliarity. As two strangers alighted on the opposite side, thedetective 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 twostrangers were rather testy, but Siringo ate ravenously, repeatedlyasking 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 ourdinner chat. I could see at a glance that they were not cowmen. Theywere impatient to see the cattle; and when dinner was over, I explainedto them that the men on herd would be relieved for dinner by those incamp, and orders would be given, if it was their wish, to throw thecattle 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'mforeman for the time being. When you relieve the other lads, edge inyour cattle from an ordinary loose herd until you have them on two orthree hundred acres. Then we can slowly drive through them for an houror so, or until these gentlemen are satisfied. They're not wild, arethey, Mac?"

I assured every one that the cattle were unusually gentle; that wehad not had a run so far, but urged caution in approaching them with aconveyance. As soon as the relief started, I brought in the livery teamoff picket, watered, and harnessed them into the vehicle. It was myintention to accompany them on horseback, but Siringo hooted at theidea, and Mr. Radcliff and I occupied the back seat, puffing splendidcigars. We met the relieved men coming in, who informed us that the herdwas just over the hill on the south side of the creek. On reaching thegentle rise, there below us grazed the logy, lazy beeves, while the boysquietly rode round, silently moving them together as instructed. Siringodrove to their lead, and halting, we allowed the cattle to loiter pastus on either side of the conveyance. It was an easy herd to show, forthe pounds avoirdupois were there. Numerous big steers, out of purecuriosity, came up near the vehicle and innocently looked at us as ifexpecting a dole or sweetmeat. A snap of the finger would turn them, showing their rounded buttocks, and they would rejoin the guard ofhonor. If eyes could speak, the invitation was timidly extended, "Lookat me, Mr. Buyer. " We allowed the herd to pass by us, then slowlycircled entirely around them, and finally drove back and forth throughthem for nearly two hours, when the prospective buyers expressedthemselves as satisfied. 

But the fiscal agent was not. Calling two of the boys, he asked for theloan of their horses and insisted that the buyers ride the cattleover and thoroughly satisfy themselves on the brands. The boys gladlyyielded, and as Mr. Field and Mr. Radcliff mounted to ride away, thedetective halted them long enough to say: "Now, gentlemen, I wish tocall your attention to the fact that over one half the herd are in thesingle Marshall ranch brand. There are also some five hundred head inthe '8=8, ' that being an outside ranch, but belonging to the estate. Iam informed that the remainder of nearly a thousand were turned in byneighboring ranchmen in making up the herd, and you'll find those invarious 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 neversold a man cattle in my life who wasn't my customer ever afterward. Yougentlemen are strangers to me; and for that reason I concealnothing. Now look them over carefully, and keep a sharp lookout forstrays--cattle not in the road brand. "

I knew there were about twenty strays in the herd, and informed Siringoto that effect, but the cattle buyers noticed only two, a red and aroan, which again classed them as inexperienced men among cattle. Wereturned to camp, not a word being said about trading, when the buyerssuggested returning to town. Siringo looked at his watch, asked if therewas anything further they wished to see or know, and expressed himselflike a true Texan, "that there was ample time. " I was the only one whohad 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 situatedhere--too many neighbors. I'm going to ride north of town to-morrow, andif I can find a good camp on Saw Log, why I'll move over. We are nearlyout 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'drather 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 righton for Ogalalla. I've been selling cattle the last few years to thebiggest feeders in Nebraska, and I'm not a little bit afraid of placingthose 'Open A's. ' About four months full feed on corn will fit thosesteers to go to any market. Drop into town on your way back from the SawLog to-morrow. "

That evening my brother Bob rode into camp. He had seen our employerat Supply, and accordingly understood the situation. The courier hadreturned from Fort Elliott and reported his mission successful; he hadmet both Forrest and Sponsilier. The latter had had a slight run in thePanhandle during a storm, losing a few cattle, which he recoveredthe next day. For fear of a repetition, Forrest had taken the leadthereafter, and was due at Supply within a day or two. Flood and Priesthad passed Abilene, Texas, in safety, but no word had reached ouremployer since, and it was believed that they had turned eastward andwould come up the Chisholm Trail. Bob reported the country betweenAbilene and Doan's Crossing as cut into dust and barren of sustenance, many weak cattle having died in crossing the dry belt. But the moststartling news, seriously disturbing us both, was that Archie Tollestonwas stationed at Doan's Crossing on Red River as a trail-cutter. He hadcome up from the south to Wichita Falls by train with trail cattle, andfinding no opening as a foreman, had accepted the position of inspectorfor some Panhandle cattle companies. He and Bob had had a friendly chat, and Archie admitted that it was purely his own hot-headedness whichprevented his being one of Lovell's foremen on the present drive. The disturbing feature was, that after leaving headquarters in MedinaCounty, he had gone into San Antonio, where he met a couple of strangerswho partially promised him a job as trail boss, in case he presentedhimself in Dodge about June 15. They had intimated to him that it waspossible they would need a foreman or two who knew the trail from theArkansaw to the Yellowstone and Missouri River country. Putting this andthat together, the presence of Archie Tolleston in Dodge was not at allfavorable to the working out of our plans. "And Arch isn't the man toforget a humiliation, " concluded Bob, to which I agreed. 

The next morning I rode across to the Saw Log, and up that creekbeyond all the herds. The best prospect for a camp was nearly due northopposite us, as the outfit lowest down the stream expected to start forthe 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 litteredwith cattle and outfits. I reached town early in the afternoon, andafter searching all the hotels, located the fiscal agent in company withthe buyers at the Lone Star saloon. They were seated around a table, andMr. 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 evertried to trade with. Here we've wasted the whole morning dickering, andare no nearer together than when we started. The only concession whichMr. Siringo seems willing to admit is that cattle are off from three tofive dollars a head, while we contend that heavy beeves are off sevendollars. "

"Excuse me for interrupting, " said the fiscal agent, "but since you haveused 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 nextthree months on good grass and water. There he sits; ask him. "

Mr. Field explained that they had also differed as to what the herdwould dress out, and invited my opinion. "Those beeves will dress offfrom forty-five to fifty per cent. , " I replied. "The Texan being a gauntanimal does not shrink like a domestic beef. Take that 'Open A' herdstraight through and they will dress from four fifty to six hundredpounds, or average better than five hundred all round. In three months, under favorable conditions, those steers ought to easily put on ahundred pounds of tallow apiece. Mr. Radcliff, do you remember pointingout a black muley yesterday and saying that he looked like a nativeanimal? I'll just bet either one of you a hundred dollars that he'lldress out over five hundred pounds; and I'll kill him in your presenceand you can weigh his quarters with a steelyard. "

They laughed at me, Siringo joining in, and Mr. Field ordered thedrinks. "Mac, " said the detective, "these gentlemen are all right, andyou shouldn't take any offense, for I don't blame them for driving ahard bargain. I'd probably do the same thing if I was the buyer insteadof the seller. And remember, Mac, if the deal goes through, you are todrive the herd at the seller's risk, and deliver it at any point thebuyer designates, they accepting without expense or reserve the cattleonly. It means over three months' further expense, with a remuda thrownback on your hands; and all these incidentals run into money fast. Gentlemen, unless you increase the advance cash payment, I don't see howyou 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 movecamp to-morrow, invited the party to join me at the bar. I informed thebuyers, during the few minutes' interim, that if they wished to look thecattle over again, the herd would cross the river below old Fort Dodgeabout noon the next day. They thanked me for the information, saying itwas quite possible that they might drive down, and discussing the matterwe all passed into the street. With the understanding that the prospectof making a deal was not hopeless, Siringo excused himself, and westrolled away together. No sooner was the coast clear than I informedthe detective of the arrival of my brother, putting him in possessionof every fact regarding Archie Tolleston. He readily agreed with methat the recent break between the latter and his former employer was adangerous factor, and even went so far as to say that Tolleston's posingas a trail-cutter at Doan's Crossing was more than likely a ruse. I wasgiving the detective a detailed description of Archie, when he stoppedme and asked what his special weaknesses were, if he had any. "Whiskeyand women, " I replied. "That's good, " said he, "and I want you to sendme in one of your best men in the morning--I mean one who will drinkand carouse. He can watch the trains, and if this fellow shows up, we'llkeep him soaked and let him enjoy himself. Send me one that's good fora ten days' protracted drunk. You think the other herds will be herewithin a few days? That's all I want to know. "

I reached camp a little before dark, and learned that Bob's herd haddropped in just below us on the Mulberry. He expected to lie over afew days in passing Dodge, and I lost no time in preparing to visit hiscamp. While riding out that evening, I had made up my mind to send inDorg Seay, as he was a heady fellow, and in drinking had an oak-tanstomach. Taking him with me, I rode down the Mulberry and reachedthe lower camp just as my brother and his outfit were returning frombedding-down the cattle. Bob readily agreed that the detective's planswere perfectly feasible, and offered to play a close second to Seay ifit was necessary. And if his own brother does say so, Bob Quirk nevermet the man who could drink him under the table. 

My herd started early for the Saw Log, and the wagon for town. Bob hadagreed to go into Dodge in the morning, so Dorg stayed with our outfitand was to go in with me after crossing the river. We threaded our waythrough the other herds, and shortly before noon made an easy ford abouta mile below old Fort Dodge. As we came down to the river, a carriagewas seen on the farther bank, and I dropped from the point back tothe drag end. Sure enough, as we trailed out, the fiscal agent and thebuyers were awaiting me. "Well, Mac, I sold your herd last night afteryou left, " said Siringo, dejectedly. "It was a kind of compromise trade;they raised the cash payment to thirty thousand dollars, and I split thedifference in price. The herd goes at $29 a head all round. So from nowon, Mac, you're subject to these gentlemen's orders. "

Mr. Field, the elder of the two buyers, suggested that if a convenientcamp could be found, we should lie over a few days, when finalinstructions would be given me. He made a memorandum of the number ofhead that I claimed in our road brand, and asked me if we could holdup the herd for a closer inspection. The lead cattle were then nearlya mile away, and galloping off to overtake the point, I left the partywatching the saddle horses, which were then fording in our rear. Butno sooner had I reached the lead and held up the herd, than I noticedSiringo on the wrangler's horse, coming up on the opposite side ofthe column of cattle from the vehicle. Supposing he had something of aprivate nature to communicate, I leisurely rode down the line and methim. 

"Did you send that man in this morning?" he sternly demanded. Iexplained that my brother had done, properly coached, and that Seaywould go in with me in the course of an hour. 

"Give him any money you have and send him at once, " commanded thedetective. "Tolleston was due on the ten o'clock train, but it wasan hour late. Those buyers wanted me to wait for it, so he could comealong, but I urged the importance of catching you at the ford. Now, sendyour man Seay at once, get Tolleston beastly drunk, and quarter him insome crib until night. "

Unobserved by the buyers, I signaled Seay, and gave him the particularsand what money I had. He rode back through the saddle stock, recrossedthe river, and after rounding the bend, galloped away. Siringocontinued: "You see, after we traded, they inquired if you were a safeman, saying if you didn't know the Yellowstone country, they had a manin sight who did. That was last night, and it seems that this morningthey got a letter from Tolleston, saying he would be there on the nexttrain. They're either struck on him, or else he's in their employ. Markmy words. "

When we had showed the herd to the satisfaction of the purchasers, theyexpressed themselves as anxious to return to town; but the fiscal agentof the Marshall estate wished to look over the saddle horses first. Since they were unsold, and amounted to quite an item, he begged forjust a few minutes' time to look them over carefully. Who could refusesuch a reasonable request? The herd had started on for the Saw Log, while the remuda had wandered down the river about half a mile, andit took us nearly an hour to give them a thorough inspection. Once byourselves, the detective said, with a chuckle: "All I was playing forwas to get as large a cash payment as possible. Those mixed brands weremy excuse for the money; the Marshall estate might wait for theirs, butthe small ranchmen would insist on an immediate settlement the momentthe 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 wecould give The Western Supply Company the laugh. And say, when theydrew me a draft for thirty thousand dollars on a Washington City bank, Inever 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 totown. "

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 thatdinner would be over at their hotel, but the detective knew of a goodrestaurant and promised all of us a feast. On reaching town, we drove tothe stable where the rig belonged, and once free of the horses, Siringoled 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 wagonin town, and the necessity of its reaching camp before darkness made myexcuse imperative. I hurried around to the outfitting house and foundthe order filled and all ready to load into the wagon. But Parent wasmissing, and in skirmishing about to locate him, I met my brother Bob. Tolleston had arrived, but his presence had not been discovered untilafter Seay reached town. Archie was fairly well "organized" and hadvisited the hotel where the buyers were stopping, leaving word for themof 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 andRadcliff; 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 aweek, and suggested a few drinks in memory of old times. As Archiewas then three sheets in the wind, his effacement, in the hands of tworounders like Dorg Seay and Bob Quirk, was an easy matter. 

Once the wagon was loaded and started for camp, I returned to therestaurant. The dinner was in progress, and taking the vacant seat, Ilifted my glass with great regularity as toast after toast was drunk. Cigars were ordered, and with our feet on the table, the fiscal agentsaid: "Gentlemen, this is a mere luncheon and don't count. But if I'mable to sell you my other two beef herds, why, I'll give you ablow-out right. We'll make it six-handed--the three trail foremenand 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 ourfeet in what's left. "

At a late hour the dinner ended. We were all rather unsteady on ourfeet, but the pock-marked detective and myself formed a guard ofhonor in escorting the buyers to their hotel, when an officious clerkattempted to deliver Tolleston's message. But anticipating it, Iinterrupted his highness and informed him that we had met the party; Iwas a thousand times obliged to him for his kindness, and forced on hima fine cigar, which had been given me by Bob Wright of the outfittingstore. While Siringo and the buyers passed upstairs, I entertained theoffice force below with an account of the sale of my herd, constantlyreferring to my new employers. The fiscal agent returned shortly, boughtsome 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 presenceof 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 askingme 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 foundmy brother, who was anxious to return to his camp for the night. But Iurged his seeing Siringo first, and after waiting in the latter's roomsome time, he burst in upon us with a merry chuckle. "Well, the draftwas paid all right, " said he; "and this is Bob Quirk. Boys, things arecoming nicely. This fellow Tolleston is the only cloud in the sky. If wecan keep him down for a week, and the other herds come in shortly, I seenothing to thwart our plans. Where have you picketed Tolleston?" "Aroundin Dutch Jake's crib, " replied Bob. 

"That's good, " continued the fiscal agent, "and I'll just drop into-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. Youboys stay in town as much as you can and keep Tolleston snowed deep, andI'll take the buyers down the trail in the morning and meet the herdscoming up. "

My brother returned to his camp, and Siringo and I separated for thetime being. In '84 Dodge, the Port Said of the plains, was in the fullflower of her wickedness. Literally speaking, night was turned into dayin the old trail town, for with the falling of darkness, the streetsfilled with people. Restaurants were crowded with women of thehalf-world, bar-rooms thronged with the wayfaring man, while in gamblingand dance halls the range men congregated as if on special invitation. The familiar bark of the six-shooter was a matter of almost nightlyoccurrence; a dispute at the gaming table, a discourteous word spoken, or the rivalry for the smile of a wanton was provocation for thesacrifice of human life. Here the man of the plains reverted to and gaveutterance to the savagery of his nature, or, on the other hand, was aschivalrous as in the days of heraldry. 

I knew the town well, this being my third trip over the trail, andmingled with the gathering throng. Near midnight, and when in the LadyGay dance-hall, I was accosted by Dorg Seay and the detective. They hadjust left Dutch Jake's, and reported all quiet on the Potomac. Seay hadnot only proved himself artful, but a good fellow, and had unearthed thefact that Tolleston had been in the employ of Field and Radcliff for thepast three months. "You see, " said Dorg, "Archie never knew me exceptthe few days that I was about headquarters in Medina before we started. He fully believes that I've been discharged--and with three months' payin my hip-pocket. The play now is that he's to first help me spend mywages, and then I'm to have a job under him with beeves which he expectsto drive to the Yellowstone. He has intimated that he might be able togive me a herd. So, Tom, if I come out there and take possession of yourcattle, don't be surprised. There's only one thing to beat our game--Ican'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 heforgets them. "

The next morning Siringo and the buyers started south on the trail, andI rode for my camp on the Saw Log. Before riding many miles I sighted myoutfit coming in a long lope for town. They reported everything sereneat camp, and as many of the boys were moneyless, I turned back withthem. An enjoyable day was before us; some drank to their hearts'content, while all gambled with more or less success. I was anxious thatthe outfit should have a good carouse, and showed the lights and shadowsof 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, puffingvile 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, thetoy wagon always in possession of one or the other. 

While we were amusing ourselves at the antics of these two, my attentionwas attracted by a four-mule wagon pulling across the bridge from thesouth. On reaching the railroad tracks, I recognized the team, andalso the driver, as Quince Forrest's. Here was news, and accordingly Iaccosted him. Fortunately he was looking for me or my brother, as hisforeman could not come in with the wagon, and some one was wanted tovouch for him in getting the needed supplies. They had reached theMulberry the evening before, but several herds had mixed in a run duringthe night, though their cattle had escaped. Forrest was determined notto risk a second night on that stream, and had started his herd with thedawn, 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 outfitbefore darkness overtook him. Sponsilier was reported as two days behindForrest when the latter crossed the Cimarron, since when there had beenno word from his cattle. They had met the buyers near the middle of theforenoon, and when Forrest admitted having the widow Timberlake's beefherd, they turned back and were spending the day with the cattle. 

The situation demanded instant action. Taking Forrest's cook around toour outfitting store, I introduced and vouched for him. Hurrying back, Isent Wayne Outcault, as he was a stranger to Tolleston, to mix with thetwo rascals and send Seay to me at once. Some little time was consumedin engaging Archie in a game of pool, but when Dorg presented himselfI lost no time in explaining the situation. He declared that it was nolonger possible to interest Tolleston at Dutch Jake's crib during theday, and that other means of amusement must be resorted to, as Archiewas getting clamorous to find his employers. To my suggestion to geta livery rig and take him for a ride, Dorg agreed. "Take him down theriver to Spearville, " I urged, "and try and break into the calaboose ifyou can. Paint the town red while you're about it, and if you both landin the lock-up, all the better. If the rascal insists on coming back toDodge, start after night, get lost, and land somewhere farther down theriver. Keep him away from this town for a week, and I'll gamble that youboss a herd for old man Don next year. "

The afternoon was waning. The buyers might return at any moment, asForrest's herd had no doubt crossed the river but a few miles abovetown. 

I was impatiently watching the boys, as Dorg and Wayne cautiously herdedTolleston around to a livery stable, when my brother Bob rode up. Heinformed 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 stayedall night at Bob's wagon, and reported his cattle, considering the dryseason, in good condition. As my brother expected to remain in townovernight, I proposed starting for my camp as soon as Seay and hisward drove out of sight. They parleyed enough before going to unnervea saint, but finally, with the little toy wagon on Tolleston's knee andthe other driving, they started. Hurrahing my lads to saddle up, we rodepast the stable where Seay had secured the conveyance; and while I wasposting 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 aback 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 milesnearer town. As his wagon expected to go in after supplies the nextmorning, a cavalcade of fifteen men from the two outfits preceded it. My horse-wrangler had made arrangements with the cook to look afterhis charges, and in anticipation of the day before him, had our mountscorralled before sun-up. Bob's wrangler was also with us, and he andLevering quarreled all the way in about the respective merits of eachone's remuda. A match was arranged between the two horses which theywere riding, and on reaching a straight piece of road, my man won itand also considerable money. But no matter how much we differed amongourselves, when the interests of our employer were at stake, we were aunit. On reaching town, our numbers were augmented by fully twentymore from the other Lovell outfits, including the three foremen. My oldbunkie, The Rebel, nearly dragged me from my horse, while Forrest and Iforgot 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 outfitswere aware of the impending trouble over the Buford delivery, andquietly expressed their contempt for such underhand dealings. QuinceForrest had spent the evening before in town, and about midnight hisherd of "Drooping T's" were sold at about the same figures as mine, except five thousand more earnest-money, and the privilege of the buyersplacing their own foreman in charge thereafter. Forrest further reportedthat the fiscal agent and the strangers had started to meet Sponsilierearly that morning, and that the probability of all the herds moving outin 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, theother foremen were busy looking after their outfits, while Bob Quirk hadhis wagon to load and start on its return. Quince confided to me thatthough he had stayed on Duck Creek the night before, his herd would noonthat day on Saw Log, and camp that evening on the next creek north. Whenpressed for his reasons, he shrugged his shoulders, and with a quietwink, said: "If this new outfit put a man over me, just the minute weget out of the jurisdiction of this county, off his horse he goes andwalks back. If it's Tolleston, the moment he sees me and recognizes myoutfit as belonging to Lovell, he'll raise the long yell and let the catout. When that happens, I want to be in an unorganized country where asix-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'spermission, which Forrest had. Accordingly about noon, Quince summonedhis men together, and they rode out of town. Looking up a map of FordCounty, I was delighted to find that my camp on Saw Log was but a fewmiles below the north line. 

Among the boys the day passed in riotousness. The carousing was anecessary stimulant after the long, monotonous drive and exposure to theelements. Near the middle of the forenoon, Flood and The Rebel roundedup their outfits and started south for the Mulberry, while Bob Quirkgathered his own and my lads preparatory to leaving for the Saw Log. Ihad agreed to remain on guard for that night, for with the erratic turnon Tolleston's part, we were doubly cautious. But when my outfit wasready to start, Runt Pickett, the feisty little rascal, had about twentydollars in his possession which he insisted on gambling away beforeleaving 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 whichPickett agreed. Leaving the greater part of the boys holding the horses, some half-dozen of us entered the nearest gambling-house, and Runt betnineteen 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'sluck, and urged him to double his bet, but Pickett refused and invitedus all to have a drink. Leaving this place, we entered the nextgaming-hall, when our man again bet nineteen dollars alce on the firstcard. Again he won, and we went the length of the street, Runt wageringnineteen dollars alce on the first card for ten consecutive timeswithout losing a bet. In his groggy condition, the prospect of losingPickett's money was hopeless, and my brother and I promised him that hemight 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 otherherds, crossing the Arkansaw above town, their wagons touching at Dodgefor new supplies, never halting except temporarily until they reachedthe creek on which Forrest was encamped. The absence of Siringo and thebuyers, 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. Theyreturned some time during the night of the third day out, and I failedto see the detective before sunrise the next morning. When I did meethim, everything seemed so serene that I felt jubilant over the outlook. Sponsilier's beeves had firmly caught the fancy of the buyers, and thedelay in closing the trade was only temporary. "I can close the dealany minute I want to, " said Siringo to me, "but we mustn't appeartoo anxious. Old man Don's idea was to get about one hundred thousanddollars earnest-money in hand, but if I can get five or ten more, itmight help tide us all over a hard winter. My last proposition to thebuyers was that if they would advance forty-five thousand dollars on the'Apple' beeves--Sponsilier's cattle--they might appoint, at the seller'sexpense, their own foreman from Dodge to the point of delivery. Theyhave agreed to give me an answer this morning, and after sleeping overit, 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 reportedeverything quiet, but suggested we move camp soon or the cattle wouldbecome restless. He listened very attentively, and promised thatwithin a few days permission would be given to move out for our finaldestination. The morning were the quiet hours of the town, and when thebuyers had received and gone over their large and accumulated mail, thepartners came over to the Dodge House, looking for the fiscal agent, asI supposed, to close the trade on Sponsilier's cattle. Siringo was theacme of indifference, but listened to a different tale. A trustedman, in whom they had placed a great deal of confidence, had failed tomaterialize. He was then overdue some four or five days, and foul playwas suspected. The wily detective poured oil on the troubled waters, assuring them if their man failed to appear within a day or two, hewould gladly render every assistance in looking him up. Another matterof considerable moment would be the arrival that morning of a silentpartner, the financial man of the firm from Washington, D. C. He was dueto arrive on the "Cannon Ball" at eight o'clock, and we all sauntereddown to meet the train from the East. On its arrival, Siringo and Istood back among the crowd, but the buyers pushed forward, looking fortheir friend. The first man to alight from the day coach, coatless andwith both eyes blackened, was Archie Tolleston; he almost fell into thearms of our cattle buyers. I recognized Archie at a glance, and draggingthe detective inside the waiting-room, posted him as to the arrival withthe wild look and blood-shot optics. Siringo cautioned me to go to hisroom and stay there, promising to report as the day advanced. 

Sponsilier had camped the night before on the main river, and as Icrossed to the hotel, his commissary pulled up in front of Wright, Beverly & Co. 's outfitting store. Taking the chances of being seen, Iinterviewed Dave's cook, and learned that his foreman had given himan order for the supplies, and that Sponsilier would not come in untilafter the herd had passed the Saw Log. As I turned away, my attentionwas attracted by the deference being shown the financial man of thecattle 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 noone in the group but did him honor, even the detective carrying a lightgrip, while Tolleston lumbered along with a heavy one. 

My effacement was only temporary, as Siringo appeared at his roomshortly afterward. "Well, Quirk, " said he, with a smile, "I reckon mywork is all done. Field and Radcliff didn't feel like talking businessthis morning, at least until they had shown the financial member theirpurchases, both real and prospective. Yes, they took the fat Coloneland Tolleston with them and started for your camp with a two-seatedrig. From yours they expect to drive to Forrest's camp, and then meetSponsilier on the way coming back. No; I declined a very pressinginvitation 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 bigconversation; he claims to have been kidnapped, and was locked up forthe last four days. He says he whipped your man Seay, but couldn'tconvince the authorities of his innocence until last night, when theyset him free. According to his report, Seay's in jail yet at a littletown down the road called Kinsley. Now, I'm going to take a conveyanceto Spearville, and catch the first train out of there East. Settle mybill 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 threeof those outfits as belonging to Don Lovell--well, won't there be hellto pay? Yes, my work is all done. "

I fully agreed with the detective that Archie would recognizethe remudas and outfits as Lovell's, even though the cattle wereroad-branded out of the usual "Circle Dot. " Siringo further informedme that north of Ford County was all an unorganized country until thePlatte River was reached at Ogalalla, and advised me to ignore any legalprocess served outside those bounds. He was impatient to get away, andwhen he had put me in possession of everything to our advantage, wewrung each other's hands in farewell. As the drive outlined by thecattle buyers would absorb the day, I felt no necessity of being in ahurry. The absence of Dorg Seay was annoying, and the fellow had doneus such valiant service, I felt in honor bound to secure his release. Accordingly I wired the city marshal at Kinsley, and received a replythat Seay had been released early that morning, and had started overlandfor Dodge. This was fortunate, and after settling all bills, I offeredto pay the liveryman in advance for the rig in Seay's possession, assuring him by the telegram that it would return that evening. Herefused to make any settlement until the condition of both the animaland the conveyance had been passed upon, and fearful lest Dorg shouldcome back moneyless, I had nothing to do but await his return. I wasgrowing impatient to reach camp, there being no opportunity to sendword to my outfit, and the passing hours seemed days, when late in theafternoon Dorg Seay drove down the main street of Dodge as big asa government beef buyer. The liveryman was pleased and accepted theregular rate, and Dorg and I were soon galloping out of town. As weneared the first divide, we dropped our horses into a walk to affordthem a breathing spell, and in reply to my fund of information, Seaysaid:

"So Tolleston's telling that he licked me. Well, that's a good one onthis one of old man Seay's boys. Archie must have been crazy with theheat. 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 itwas no longer possible to hold him, I insulted and provoked him into aquarrel, and we were both arrested. Licked me, did he? He couldn't lickhis upper lip. "

CHAPTER IX. AT SHERIFF'S CREEK

The sun had nearly set when we galloped into Bob Quirk's camp. Haltingonly long enough to advise my brother of the escape of Tolleston andhis joining the common enemy, I asked him to throw any pursuit off ourtrail, as I proposed breaking camp that evening. Seay and myself putbehind us the few miles between the two wagons, and dashed up to minejust as the outfit were corralling the remuda for night-horses. Ordersrang out, and instead of catching our regular guard mounts, the boyspicked the best horses in their strings. The cattle were then nearlya mile north of camp, coming in slowly towards the bed-ground, but ahalf-dozen of us rushed away to relieve the men on herd and turn thebeeves back. The work-mules were harnessed in, and as soon as therelieved herders secured mounts, our camp of the past few days wasabandoned. The twilight of evening was upon us, and to the rattling ofthe heavily loaded wagon and the shouting of the wrangler in our rearwere added the old herd songs. The cattle, without trail or trace tofollow, and fit ransom for a dozen kings in pagan ages, moved north asif imbued with the spirit of the occasion. 

A fair moon favored us. The night was an ideal one for work, and abouttwelve o'clock we bedded down the herd and waited for dawn. As weexpected to move again with the first sign of day, no one cared tosleep; our nerves were under a high tension with expectation of what thecoming day might bring forth. Our location was an unknown quantity. Allagreed that we were fully ten miles north of the Saw Log, and, with thebest reasoning at my command, outside the jurisdiction of Ford County. The regular trail leading north was some six or eight miles to thewest, and fearful that we had not reached unorganized territory, I wasdetermined to push farther on our course before veering to the left. The night halt, however, afforded us an opportunity to compare notesand arrive at some definite understanding as to the programme of theforthcoming day. "Quirk, you missed the sight of your life, " said JakeBlair, as we dismounted around the wagon, after bedding the cattle, "bynot being there when the discovery was made that these 'Open A's' wereDon Lovell's cattle. Tolleston, of course, made the discovery; butI think he must have smelt the rat in advance. Archie and the buyersarrived for a late dinner, and several times Tolleston ran his eye overone of the boys and asked, 'Haven't I met you somewhere?' but none ofthem could recall the meeting. Then he got to nosing around the wagonand noticing every horse about camp. The road-brand on the cattle threwhim off the scent just for a second, but when he began reading theranch-brands, he took a new hold. As he looked over the remuda, thescent seemed to get stronger, and when he noticed the 'Circle Dot' onthose 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 mulesbelonged 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 asghosts, and the fat one took off his hat and fanned himself. That actalone was worth the price of admission. But when we boys were appealedto, we were innocent and likewise ignorant, claiming that we alwaysunderstood that the herd belonged to the Marshall estate, but then wewere 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 droveaway, looking as if they hoped it wasn't true. But it was the sight ofyour life to see that fat fellow fan himself as he kept repeating, 'Ithought you boys hurried too much in buying these cattle. '"

The guards changed hourly. No fire was allowed, but Parent set out allthe cold food available, and supplementing this with canned goods, we had a midnight lunch. Dorg Seay regaled the outfit with his recentexperience, concealing nothing, and regretfully admitting that hischarge had escaped before the work was finished. A programme wasoutlined for the morrow, the main feature of which was that, in case ofpursuit, we would all tell the same story. Dawn came between three andfour on those June mornings, and with the first streak of gray in theeast we divided the outfit and mounted our horses, part riding to pushthe cattle off their beds and the others to round in the remuda. Beforethe herd had grazed out a half-mile, we were overtaken by half theoutfit on fresh mounts, who at once took charge of the herd. When therelieved men had secured horses, I remained behind and assisted inharnessing in the team and gathering the saddle stock, a number ofwhich were missed for lack of proper light. With the wagon once started, Levering and myself soon had the full remuda in hand and were bringingup the rear in a long, swinging trot. Before the sun peeped over theeastern horizon, we passed the herd and overtook the wagon, whichwas bumping along over the uneven prairie. Ordering the cook to havebreakfast awaiting us beyond a divide which crossed our front, I turnedback to the herd, now strung out in regular trailing form. The haltahead would put us full fifteen miles north of our camp on the SawLog. An hour later, as we were scaling the divide, one of the point-mensighted a posse in our rear, coming after us like fiends. I was ridingin the swing at the time, the herd being strung out fully a mile, and oncatching first sight of the pursuers, turned and hurried to the rear. Tomy agreeable surprise, instead of a sheriff's posse, my brother and fiveof his men galloped up and overtook us. 

"Well, Tom, it's a good thing you moved last night, " said Bob, as hereined in his reeking horse. "A deputy sheriff and posse of six men hadme under arrest all night, thinking I was the Quirk who had charge ofDon 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'scattle. They guarded me until morning, --I slept like an innocent babemyself, --when the discovery was made that my herd was in a 'CircleDot' road-brand instead of an 'Open A, ' which their warrant called for. Besides, I proved by fourteen competent witnesses, who had known me foryears, that my name was Robert Burns Quirk. My outfit told the possethat the herd they were looking for were camped three miles below, buthad left during the afternoon before, and no doubt were then beyondtheir bailiwick. I gave the posse the horse-laugh, but they all wentdown 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 onahead and be your guest in case there is any fun to-day. "

The auxiliary was welcomed. The beeves moved on up the divide likeveterans assaulting an intrenchment. On reaching a narrow mesa on thesummit, a northwest breeze met the leaders, and facing it full in theeye, the herd was allowed to tack westward as they went down the fartherslope. This watershed afforded a fine view of the surrounding country, and from its apex I scanned our rear for miles without detecting anysign of animate life. From our elevation, the plain dipped away in everydirection. Far to the east, the depression seemed as real as a troughin the ocean when seen from the deck of a ship. The meanderings of thisdivide were as crooked as a river, and as we surveyed its course one ofBob's men sighted with the naked eye two specks fully five miles distantto the northwest, and evidently in the vicinity of the old trail. Thewagon was in plain view, and leaving three of my boys to drift thecattle forward, we rode away with ravenous appetites to interviewthe cook. Parent maintained his reputation as host, and with a loftyconversation reviewed the legal aspect of the situation confronting us. A hasty breakfast over, my brother asked for mounts for himself andmen; and as we were corralling our remuda, one of the three lads on herdsignaled to us from the mesa's summit. Catching the nearest horses athand, and taking our wrangler with us, we cantered up the slope to ourwaiting sentinel. 

"You can't see them now, " said Burl Van Vedder, our outlook; "but waita few minutes and they'll come up on higher ground. Here, here, you arelooking 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 shaleoutcropping, and on a line with that lone tree on the Saw Log. Holdyour horses a minute; I've been watching them for half an hour beforeI called you; be patient, and they'll rise like a trout. There! therecomes one on a gray horse. See those two others just behind him. Now, there come the others--six all told. " Sure enough, there came thesleuths of deputy sheriffs, trailing up our wagon. They were not overthree miles away, and after patiently waiting nearly an hour, we rode tothe brink of the slope, and I ordered one of the boys to fire his pistolto attract their attention. On hearing the report, they halted, andtaking off my hat I waved them forward. Feeling that we were on safeterritory, I was determined to get in the first bluff, and as they rodeup, I saluted the leader and said:

"Good-morning, Mr. Sheriff. What are you fooling along on our wagontrack for, when you could have trailed the herd in a long lope? Herewe've wasted a whole hour waiting for you to come up, just because thesheriff's office of Ford County employs as deputies 'nesters' insteadof 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 otherslope, and you-all look pale around the gills this morning afteryour long ride and sleepless night. Which shall it be, business orbreakfast?"

Haughtily ignoring my irony, the leader of the posse drew from hispocket several papers, and first clearing his throat, said in animperious 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, " Iinterrupted. "This may be the state of Kansas, but at present we areoutside the bailiwick of Ford County, and those papers of yours areuseless. Let me take those warrants and I'll indorse them for you, so asto dazzle your superiors on their return without the man or property. Iwas deputized once by a constable in Texas to assist in recovering somecattle, but just like the present case they got out of our jurisdictionbefore we overtook them. The constable was a lofty, arrogant fellow likeyourself, but had sense enough to keep within his rights. But when itcame to indorsing the warrant for return, we were all up a stump, androde twenty miles out of our way so as to pass Squire Little's ranch andget his advice on the matter. The squire had been a justice in Tennesseebefore coming to our state, and knew just what to say. Now let me takethose papers, and I'll indorse them 'Non est inventus, ' which is Latinfor 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 froma higher court. In the name of law, you are willing to prostituteyour office to assist a gang of thieves who have taken advantage of anopportunity to ruin my employer, an honest trail drover. The warrantI'm serving was issued by Judge Colt, and it says he is supreme inunorganized territory; that your official authority ceases the momentyou step outside your jurisdiction, and you know the Ford County line isbehind 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 anyman in my outfit; not that your hair's the wrong color, but becauseyou lack authority. I'm the man you're looking for, and these are DonLovell'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 youneed to do is pull your guns and open your game. "

"Mr. Quirk, " said the deputy, "you are a fugitive from justice, and Ican legally take you wherever I find you. If you resist arrest, all theworse, as it classes you an outlaw. Now, my advice is--"

But the sentence was never finished, for coming down the divide like ahurricane was a band of horsemen, who, on sighting us, raised the longyell, and the next minute Dave Sponsilier and seven of his men dashedup. The boys opened out to avoid the momentum of the onslaught, but thedeputies sat firm; and as Sponsilier and his lads threw their horsesback on their haunches in halting, Dave stood in his stirrups, andwaving his hat shouted, "Hurrah for Don Lovell, and to hell with thesheriff and deputies of Ford County!" Sponsilier and I were greatfriends, as were likewise our outfits, and we nearly unhorsed each otherin our rough but hearty greetings. When quiet was once more restored, Dave continued: "I was in Dodge last night, and Bob Wright put me nextthat the sheriff was going to take possession of two of old man Don'sherds this morning. You can bet your moccasins that the grass didn'tgrow very much while I was getting back to camp. Flood and The Rebeltook fifteen men and went to Quince's support, and I have been scoutingsince dawn trying to locate you. Yes, the sheriff himself and fivedeputies passed up the trail before daybreak to arrest Forrest and takepossession of his herd--I don't think. I suppose these strangers aredeputy 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 instantthe deputies were surrounded, and had it not been for the cool judgmentof Bob Quirk, violence would have resulted. The primitive mind is slowto resent an affront, and while the chief deputy had couched his lastremarks in well-chosen language, his intimation that I was a fugitivefrom justice, and an outlaw in resisting arrest, was tinder to stubble. Knowing the metal of my outfit, I curbed the tempest within me, andrelying on a brother whom I would gladly follow to death if need be, Iwaved hands off to my boys. "Now, men, " said Bob to the deputies, "theeasiest way out of this matter is the best. No one here has committedany crime subjecting him to arrest, neither can you take possession ofany cattle belonging to Don Lovell. I'll renew the invitation for you togo down to the wagon and breakfast, or I'll give you the best directionsat my command to reach Dodge. Instead of trying to attempt to accomplishyour object you had better go back to the chaparral--you're spelleddown. Take your choice, men. "

Bob's words had a soothing effect. He was thirty-three years old and anatural born leader among rough men. His advice carried the steely ringof sincerity, and for the first time since the meeting, the deputieswilted. The chief one called his men aside, and after a briefconsultation my brother was invited to join them, which he did. Iafterwards learned that Bob went into detail in defining our positionin the premises, and the posse, once they heard the other side of thequestion, took an entirely different view of the matter. While theconsultation was in progress, we all dismounted; cigarettes were rolled, and while the smoke arose in clouds, we reviewed the interim sincewe parted in March in old Medina. The sheriff's posse accompanied mybrother to the wagon, and after refreshing themselves, remounted theirhorses. Bob escorted them back across the summit of the mesa, and theolive branch waved in peace on the divide. 

The morning was not far advanced. After a brief consultation, the twoolder foremen urged that we ride to the relief of Forrest. A hint wassufficient, and including five of my best-mounted men, a posse of twentyof us rode away. We held the divide for some distance on our course, andbefore 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 cattlewere beginning to move forward. Sponsilier knew the probable whereaboutsof Forrest, and under his lead we swung into a free gallop as we droppeddown the northern slope from the mesa. The pace was carrying us acrosscountry at a rate of ten miles an hour, scarcely a word being spoken, aswe shook out kink after kink in our horses or reined them in to recovertheir 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 andhalted our horses, which were then fuming with healthy sweat. Both creekand trail were clearly outlined before us, but with the heat-wavesand mirages beyond, our view was naturally restricted. Sponsilier feltconfident that Forrest was north of the creek and beyond the trail, and again shaking out our horses, we silently put the intervening milesbehind us. Our mounts were all fresh and strong, and in crossing thecreek we allowed them a few swallows of water before continuing ourride. We halted again in crossing the trail, but it was so worn byrecent use that it afforded no clue to guide us in our quest. But fromthe next vantage-point which afforded us a view, a sea of cattle greetedour vision, all of which seemed under herd. Wagon sheets were nextsighted, and finally a horseman loomed up and signaled to us. He provedto be one of Flood's men, and under his direction Forrest's camp andcattle were soon located. The lad assured us that a pow-wow had been insession since daybreak, and we hurried away to add our numbers to itscouncil. When we sighted Forrest's wagon among some cottonwoods, anumber of men were just mounting to ride away, and before we reachedcamp, they crossed the creek heading south. A moment later, Forrestwalked 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 thesheriff from Dodge and a posse of men for breakfast. No--no particulartrouble, except John Johns, the d--fool, threw the loop of his rope overthe neck of the sheriff's horse, and one of the party offered to unslinga carbine. But about a dozen six-shooters clicked within hearing, and heacted on my advice and cut gun-plays out. No trouble at all except a bigmedicine 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 fatstray, and towards evening, when the other herds come up, we'll havea round-up of Don Lovell's outfits. I'll make a little speech, andon account of the bloodless battle this morning, this stream will berechristened Sheriff's Creek. "

CHAPTER X. A FAMILY REUNION

The hospitality of a trail wagon was aptly expressed in the invitationto enjoy ourselves. Some one had exercised good judgment in selectinga camp, for every convenience was at hand, including running water andample shade from a clump of cottonwoods. Turning our steaming horsesfree, we threw ourselves, in complete abandonment and relaxation, downin the nearest shade. Unmistakable hints were given our host of certainrefreshments which would be acceptable, and in reply Forrest pointed toa bucket of creek water near the wagon wheel, and urged us not to be atall backward. 

Every one was well fortified with brown cigarette papers and smokingtobacco, and singly and in groups we were soon smoking like hired handsand reviewing the incidents of the morning. Forrest's cook, a tall, red-headed fellow, in anticipation of the number of guests his wagonwould entertain for the day, put on the little and the big pot. As itonly lacked an hour of noon on our arrival, the promised fresh beefwould not be available in time for dinner; but we were not like guestswho 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 anafter-dinner siesta. Untying our slickers, we strolled out of hearingof the camp, and for several hours obliterated time. About three o'clockBob Quirk aroused and informed us that he had ordered our horses, andthat 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 thecreek, at least below the regular crossing. This would throw Bob's andmy cattle still farther down the stream; and we were all determinedto honor Forrest with our presence for supper and the evening hours. Quince's wrangler rustled in the horses, and as we rejoined the camp thequarters of a beef hung low on a cottonwood, while a smudge beneath themwarned away all insect life. Leaving word that we would return duringthe evening, the eleventh-hour guests rode away in the rough, unevenorder in which we had arrived. Sponsilier and his men veered off tothe south, Bob Quirk and his lads soon following, while the rest of uscontinued on down the creek. My cattle were watering when we overtookthem, occupying fully a mile of the stream, and nearly an hour's ridebelow the trail crossing. It takes a long time to water a big herdthoroughly, and we repeatedly turned them back and forth across thecreek, but finally allowed them to graze away with a broad, fan-likefront. As ours left the stream, Bob's cattle were coming in over a mileabove, and in anticipation of a dry camp that night, Parent had beenadvised to fill his kegs and supply himself with wood. 

Detailing the third and fourth guard to wrangle the remuda, I sentLevering up the creek with my brother's horses and to recover our loanedsaddle stock; even Bob Quirk was just thoughtless enough to construe aneighborly act into a horse trade. About two miles out from the creekand an equal distance from the trail, I found the best bed-ground of thetrip. It sloped to the northwest, was covered with old dry grass, andwould catch any vagrant breeze except an eastern one. The wagon wasordered into camp, and the first and second guards were relieved justlong enough to secure their night-horses. Nearly all of these twowatches had been with me during the day, and on the return of Leveringwith the horses, we borrowed a number of empty flour-sacks for beef, andcantered away, leaving behind only the cook and the first two guards. 

What an evening and night that was! As we passed up the creek, wesighted in the gathering twilight the camp-fires of Sponsilier and mybrother, several miles apart and south of the stream. When we reachedForrest's wagon the clans were gathering, The Rebel and his crowd beingthe last to come in from above. Groups of saddle horses were tied amongthe trees, while around two fires were circles of men broiling beef overlive coals. The red-headed cook had anticipated forty guests outside ofhis own outfit, and was pouring coffee into tin cups and shying biscuitright and left on request. The supper was a success, not on account ofthe spread or our superior table manners, but we graced the occasionwith appetites which required the staples of life to satisfy. Then wesmoked, falling into groups when the yarning began. All the fresh-beefstories of our lives, and they were legion, were told, no one grouppaying any attention to another. 

"Every time I run a-foul of fresh beef, " said The Rebel, as he settledback comfortably between the roots of a cottonwood, with his back to itstrunk, "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 topersonally whip the whole North. There were about five thousand ofus held as prisoners of war for eleven months on a peninsula in theChesapeake Bay. The fighting spirit of the soldier was broken inthe majority of us, especially among the older men and those who hadfamilies. But we youngsters accepted the fortunes of war and were gladthat we were alive, even if we were prisoners. In my mess in prisonthere were fifteen, all having been captured at the same time, and manyof us comrades of three years' standing. 

"I remember the day we were taken off the train and marched through thetown for the prison, a Yankee band in our front playing national airsand favorites of their army, and the people along the route jeering usand asking how we liked the music. Our mess held together during themarch, and some of the boys answered them back as well as they could. Once inside the prison stockade, we went into quarters and our messstill held together. Before we had been there long, one day there was acall 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 likedbest was unloading the supplies for the prison, which were landed on anear-by wharf. This roustabout crew had all the unloading to do, and thereason I liked it was it gave us some chance to steal. Whenever therewas anything extra, intended for the officers, to be unloaded, look outfor accidents. Broken crates were common, and some of the contents wascertain to reach our pockets or stomachs, in spite of the guard. 

"I was a willing worker and stood well with the guards. They neversearched me, and when they took us outside the stockade, the captain ofthe guard gave me permission, after our work was over, to patronize thesutler's store and buy knick-knacks from the booths. There wasalways some little money amongst soldiers, even in prison, and I wasoccasionally furnished money by my messmates to buy bread from a baker'swagon which was outside the walls. Well, after I had traded a fewtimes with the baker's boy, I succeeded in corrupting him. Yes, had himstealing from his employer and selling to me at a discount. I was a goodcustomer, and being a prisoner, there was no danger of my meeting hisemployer. You see the loaves were counted out to him, and he had toreturn the equivalent or the bread. At first the bread cost me ten centsfor a small loaf, but when I got my scheme working, it didn't cost mefive cents for the largest loaves the boy could steal from the bakery. Iworked 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 ofbeef while we were handling it. It was some distance from the wharf tothe 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 agood grip on the kidney. Then when I'd throw the quarter down in thewarehouse, it would be minus a kidney, which secretly found lodgment ina large pocket in the inside of my shirt. I was satisfied with one ortwo 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, whenthe guards were too watchful, I couldn't get very many, and then againwhen things were lax, 'Elijah's Raven' would get a kidney for each manin our mess. With the regular allowance of rations and what I couldsteal, 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 greatmess of thieves. "

Nearly all of Flood's old men were with him again, several of whom werethen in Forrest's camp. A fight occurred among a group of saddle horsestied to the front wheel of the wagon, among them being the mount ofJohn Officer. After the belligerents had been quieted, and Officer hadremoved and tied his horse to a convenient tree, he came over and joinedour group, among which were the six trail bosses. Throwing himself downamong us, and using Sponsilier for a pillow and myself for footstool, heobserved:

"All you foremen who have been over the Chisholm Trail remember thestage-stand called Bull Foot, but possibly some of the boys haven't. Well, no matter, it's just about midway between Little Turkey Creek andBuffalo Springs on that trail, where it runs through the Cherokee Strip. I worked one year in that northern country--lots of Texas boys theretoo. It was just about the time they began to stock that country withTexas steers, and we rode lines to keep our cattle on their range. Youbet, there was riding to do in that country then. The first few monthsthat these Southern steers are turned loose on a new range, Lord! butthey 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 backin a day. 

"Our camp was on the Salt Fork of the Cimarron, and late in the fallwhen all the beeves had been shipped, the outfit were riding lines andloose-herding a lot of Texas yearlings, and mixed cattle, natives tothat 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 Squawwinter, sleeted and spit snow wickedly. The next morning there wasn'ta hoof in sight, and shortly after daybreak we were riding deep in oursaddles 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 ofthe through Texas stock. You all know how locoed a bunch of dogies canget--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 werehunting 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 missingbunch of yearlings when night overtook us, fully twenty-five miles fromcamp. Then this Bull Foot stage came to mind, and we turned our horsesand rode to it. It was nearly dark when we reached it, and Biblebacksaid for me to go in and make the talk. I'll never forget that nicelittle woman who met me at the door of that sod shack. I told her oursituation, and she seemed awfully gracious in granting us food andshelter for the night. She told us we could either picket our horsesor put them in the corral and feed them hay and grain from thestage-company's supply. Now, old Bibleback was what you might call shyof women, and steered clear of the house until she sent her little boyout 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 aword 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 atthe 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? Thena man old enough to be her grandfather put in an appearance. He wasfriendly and quite talkative, and I built right up to him. And then wehad a supper that I distinctly remember yet. Well, I should say I do--ittakes 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 wranglingact for the stage-horses. After supper I went out to the corral andwormed the information out of him that the woman was a widow; that herhusband 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 hadonly been there a few months, and was a poor but deserving woman. Itold Bibleback all this after we had gone to bed, and we found that ourfinances amounted to only four dollars, which she was more than welcometo. So the next morning after breakfast, when I asked her what I owedher for our trouble, she replied so graciously: 'Why, gentlemen, Icouldn't think of taking advantage of your necessity to charge you fora 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 startingfor the door, when she stopped me. 'One moment, sir; I can't think ofaccepting this. Be kind enough to grant my request, ' and returned themoney. We mumbled out some thanks, bade her good-day, and started forthe corral, feeling like two sheep thieves. While we were saddlingup--will you believe it?--her little boy came out to the corral and gaveeach 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 tohardship and neglect, but here was genuine kindness enough to kill acat. 

"Until we got within five miles of our camp that morning, old Biblebackwouldn't speak to me as we rode along. Then he turned halfway in hissaddle and said: 'What kind of folks are those?' 'I don't know, ' Ireplied, '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 mywar-bags, ' said Hunt. 

"When within a mile of camp, Bibleback turned again in his saddle andasked, 'When is Christmas?' 'In about five weeks, ' I answered. 'Do youknow where that big Wyoming stray ranges?' he next asked. I trailed ontohis game in a second. 'Of course I do. ' 'Well, ' says he, 'let's kill himfor Christmas and give that little widow every ounce of the meat. It'llbe a good one on her, won't it? We'll fool her a plenty. Say nothing tothe others, ' he added; and giving our horses the rein we rode into campon a gallop. 

"Three days before Christmas we drove up this Wyoming stray and beefedhim. We hung the beef up overnight to harden in the frost, and the nextmorning bright and early, we started for the stage-stand with a goodpair of ponies to a light wagon. We reached the widow's place abouteleven o'clock, and against her protests that she had no use for somuch, we hung up eight hundred pounds of as fine beef as you ever setyour peepers on. We wished her a merry Christmas, jumped into the wagon, clucked to the ponies, and merely hit the high places getting away. Whenwe got well out of sight of the house--well, I've seen mule coltsplay and kid goats cut up their antics; I've seen children that wasfrolicsome; but for a man with gray hair on his head, old Bibleback Huntthat day was the happiest mortal I ever saw. He talked to the horses; hesang songs; he played Injun; and that Christmas was a merry one, forthe debt was paid and our little widow had beef to throw to the dogs. Inever 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 ourreturn at ten o'clock. The hour was nearly at hand, and in reply to myinquiry if our portion of the beef had been secured, Jack Splann saidthat he had cut off half a loin, a side of ribs, and enough steak forbreakfast. Splann and I tied the beef to our cantle-strings, and whenwe returned to the group, Sponsilier was telling of the stampede ofhis herd in the Panhandle about a month before. "But that run wasn'ta circumstance to one in which I figured once, and in broad daylight, "concluded Dave. It required no encouragement to get the story; all wehad to do was to give him time to collect his thoughts. 

"Yes, it was in the summer of '73, " he finally continued. "It was myfirst trip over the trail, and I naturally fell into position at thedrag 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 demandfor breaking prairie. I reckon there must have been a dozen yoke ofwork-steers in our herd that year, and they were more trouble to me thanall 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 aweek, and those oxen didn't pay any more attention to a rope or myselfthan to the buzzing of a gnat. 

"There was one big roan ox, called Turk, which we worked to the wagonoccasionally, but in crossing the Arbuckle Mountains in the IndianTerritory, he got tender-footed. Another yoke was substituted, and in afew days Turk was on his feet again. But he was a cunning rascal andhad learned to soldier, and while his feet were sore, I favored him withsandy trails and gave him his own time. In fact, most of my duties weredriving that one ox, while the other boys handled the herd. When hisfeet 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 cookkicked on account of his well-known laziness, so Turk and I continued toadorn the rear of the column. I reckon the foreman thought it betterto have Turk and me late than no dinner. I tried a hundred differentschemes to instill ambition and self-respect into that ox, but he was anold dog and contented with his evil ways. 

"Several weeks passed, and Turk and I became a standing joke withthe outfit. One morning I made the discovery that he was afraid of aslicker. For just about a full half day, I had the best of him, andseveral times he was out of sight in the main body of the herd. But healways dropped to the rear, and finally the slicker lost its charm tomove him. In fact he rather enjoyed having me fan him with it--it seemedto cool him. It was the middle of the afternoon, and Turk had droppedabout a quarter-mile to the rear, while I was riding along beside andthrowing the slicker over him like a blanket. I was letting himcarry it, and he seemed to be enjoying himself, switching his tail inappreciation, when the matted brush of his tail noosed itself overone of the riveted buttons on the slicker. The next switch broughtthe yellow 'fish' bumping on his heels, and emitting a blood-curdlingbellow, he curved his tail and started for the herd. Just for a minuteit tickled me to see old Turk getting such a wiggle on him, but the nextmoment my mirth turned to seriousness, and I tried to cut him off fromthe other cattle, but he beat me, bellowing bloody murder. The slickerwas sailing like a kite, and the rear cattle took fright and beganbawling as if they had struck a fresh scent of blood. The scare flashedthrough the herd from rear to point, and hell began popping right thenand there. The air filled with dust and the earth trembled with therunning cattle. Not knowing which way to turn, I stayed right where Iwas--in the rear. As the dust lifted, I followed up, and about a mileahead picked up my slicker, and shortly afterward found old Turk, grazing contentedly. With every man in the saddle, that herd ran sevenmiles and was only turned by the Cimarron River. It was nearly dark whenI and the roan ox overtook the cattle. Fortunately none of the swing-menhad seen the cause of the stampede, and I attributed it to fresh blood, which the outfit believed. My verdant innocence saved my scalp thattime, but years afterward I nearly lost it when I admitted to my oldforeman what had caused the stampede that afternoon. But I was a trailboss then and had learned my lesson. "

The Rebel, who was encamped several miles up the creek, summoned hismen, and we all arose and scattered after our horses. There was quite acavalcade going our way, and as we halted within the light of the firesfor 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 wellall pull out in the morning. More than likely we'll hear from him atGrinnell, and until we reach the railroad, the Buford herds had bettertake the lead. I'll drag along in the rear, and if there's another movemade from Dodge, you will have warning. Now, that's about all, except togive 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 ondress-parade. Our front covered some six or seven miles, the Bufordcattle in the lead, while those intended for Indian delivery naturallyfell into position on flank and rear. My beeves had enjoyed a splendidrest during the past week, and now easily took the lead in a steadywalk, every herd avoiding the trail until necessity compelled us toreenter it. The old pathway was dusty and merely pointed the way, anduntil 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 rawprairie, it would have been difficult for us to establish each other'slocation. Several times during the forenoon, when a swell of the plainafforded us a temporary westward view, we caught glimpses of Forrest'scattle as they snailed forward, fully five miles distant and barelynoticeable under the low sky-line. The Indian herds had given us a goodstart in the morning, and towards evening as the mirages lifted, not adust-signal was in sight, save one far in our lead. 

The month of June, so far, had been exceedingly droughty. The scarcityof water on the plains between Dodge and Ogalalla was the dread of everytrail drover. The grass, on the other hand, had matured from the firstrank growth of early spring into a forage, rich in sustenance, fromwhich our beeves took on flesh and rounded into beauties. Lack of waterbeing the one drawback, long drives, not in miles but hours, became theorder of the day; from four in the morning to eight at night, even atan ox's pace, leaves every landmark of the day far in the rear atnightfall. Thus for the next few days we moved forward, the monotonyof existence broken only by the great variety of mirage, the glare ofheat-waves, and the silent signal in the sky of other voyageurs likeourselves. On reaching Pig Boggy, nothing but pools greeted us, whilethe regular crossing was dry and dusty and paved with cattle bones. Mycuriosity was strong enough to cause me to revisit the old bridge whichI had helped to build two seasons before; though unused, it was stillintact, a credit to the crude engineering of Pete Slaughter. Afterleaving the valley of the Solomon, the next running water was PawneeFork, where we overtook and passed six thousand yearling heifers in twoherds, sold the winter before by John Blocker for delivery inMontana. The Northwest had not yet learned that Texas was the naturalbreeding-ground for cattle, yet under favorable conditions in bothsections, the ranchman of the South could raise one third more calvesfrom an equal number of cows. 

The weather continued hot and sultry. Several times storms hung on ourleft for hours which we hoped would reach us, and at night the lightningflickered in sheets, yet with the exception of cooling the air, availedus nothing. But as we encamped one night on the divide before reachingthe Smoky River, a storm struck us that sent terror to our hearts. Therewere men in my outfit, and others in Lovell's employ, who were from tento twenty years my senior, having spent almost their lifetime in theopen, who had never before witnessed such a night. The atmosphere seemedto be overcharged with electricity, which played its pranks among us, neither man nor beast being exempt. The storm struck the divide abouttwo hours after the cattle had been bedded, and from then until dawnevery man was in the saddle, the herd drifting fully three miles duringthe night. Such keen flashes of lightning accompanied by instant thunderI had never before witnessed, though the rainfall, after the first dash, was light in quantity. Several times the rain ceased entirely, when thephosphorus, like a prairie fire, appeared on every hand. Great sheets ofit flickered about, the cattle and saddle stock were soon covered, whileevery bit of metal on our accoutrements was coated and twinkling withphosphorescent light. My gauntlets were covered, and wherever I touchedmyself, it seemed to smear and spread and refuse to wipe out. Severaltimes we were able to hold up and quiet the cattle, but along theirbacks flickered the ghostly light, while across the herd, which occupiedacres, it reminded one of the burning lake in the regions infernal. Asthe night wore on, several showers fell, accompanied by almost incessantbolts of lightning, but the rainfall only added moisture to the groundand this acted like fuel in reviving the phosphor. Several hours beforedawn, great sheets of the fiery elements chased each other across thenorthern sky, lighting up our surroundings until one could have readordinary print. The cattle stood humped or took an occasional stepforward, the men sat their horses, sullen and morose, forming newresolutions for the future, in which trail work was not included. Butmorning came at last, cool and cloudy, a slight recompense for the heatwhich we had endured since leaving Dodge. 

With the breaking of day, the herd was turned back on its course. For anhour or more the cattle grazed freely, and as the sun broke through theclouds, they dropped down like tired infantry on a march, and we allowedthem an hour's rest. We were still some three or four miles eastwardof the trail, and after breakfasting and changing mounts we roused thecattle and started on an angle for the trail, expecting to intercept itbefore noon. There was some settlement in the Smoky River Valley whichmust be avoided, as in years past serious enmity had been engenderedbetween settlers and drovers in consequence of the ravages of Texasfever among native cattle. I was riding on the left point, and whenwithin a short distance of the trail, one of the boys called myattention to a loose herd of cattle, drifting south and fully two milesto the west of us. It was certainly something unusual, and as every manof us scanned them, a lone horseman was seen to ride across theirfront, and, turning them, continue on for our herd. The situation wasbewildering, as the natural course of every herd was northward, but herewas one apparently abandoned like a water-logged ship at sea. 

The messenger was a picture of despair. He proved to be the owner of theabandoned cattle, and had come to us with an appeal for help. Accordingto his story, he was a Northern cowman and had purchased the cattle afew days before in Dodge. He had bought the outfit complete, with theunderstanding that the through help would continue in his service untilhis range in Wyoming was reached. But it was a Mexican outfit, foremanand all, and during the storm of the night before, one of the men hadbeen killed by lightning. The accident must have occurred near dawn, as the man was not missed until daybreak, and like ours, his cattle haddrifted with the storm. Some time was lost in finding the body, and toadd to the panic that had already stricken the outfit, the shirt of theunfortunate vaquero was burnt from the corpse. The horse had escapedscathless, though his rider met death, while the housings were strippedfrom the saddle so that it fell from the animal. The Mexican foremanand vaqueros had thrown their hands in the air; steeped in superstition, they considered the loss of their comrade a bad omen, and refused to gofarther. 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 JackSplann as segundo in charge of our cattle, I galloped away with thestranger. As we rode the short distance between the two herds and Imentally reviewed the situation, I could not help but think it wasfortunate for the alien outfit that their employer was a Northern cowmaninstead of a Texan. Had the present owner been of the latter school, there would have been more than one dead Mexican before a valuableherd would have been abandoned over an unavoidable accident. I kept mythoughts to myself, however, for the man had troubles enough, and onreaching his drifting herd, we turned them back on their course. It washigh noon when we reached his wagon and found the Mexican outfit stillkeening over their dead comrade. We pushed the cattle, a mixed herdof about twenty-five hundred, well past the camp, and riding back, dismounted among the howling vaqueros. There was not the semblance ofsanity 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 deadman had been carried in and was lying under a tarpaulin in the shadeof the wagon. Feeling that my boys would stand behind me, and neveroffering to look at the corpse, I inquired in Spanish of the vaqueroswhich one of the men was their corporal. A heavy-set, bearded man waspointed out, and walking up to him, with one hand I slapped him in theface and with the other relieved him of a six-shooter. He staggeredback, turned ashen pale, and before he could recover from the surprise, in his own tongue I berated him as a worthless cur for deserting hisemployer over an accident. Following up the temporary advantage, Iinquired for the cook and horse-wrangler, and intimated clearly thatthere would be other dead Mexicans if the men were not fed and the herdand saddle stock looked after; that they were not worthy of the name ofvaqueros 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 thevaquero who had volunteered the reply; "and we'll bury him and ahalf-dozen more of you if necessary, but the cattle will not beabandoned--not for a single hour. Pablo is dead, but he was no betterthan a hundred other men who have lost their lives on this trail. If youare a lot of locoed sheep-herders instead of vaqueros, why didn't youstay at home with the children instead of starting out to do a man'swork. Desert your employer, will you? Not in a country where there is nochance to pick up other men. Yes, Pablo is dead, and we'll bury him. "

The aliens were disconcerted, and wilted. The owner picked up courageand ordered the cook to prepare dinner. We loaned our horses to thewrangler and another man, the remuda was brought in, and before we satdown to the midday meal, every vaquero had a horse under saddle, whiletwo of them had ridden away to look after the grazing cattle. With orderrestored, we set about systematically to lay away the unfortunate man. A detail of vaqueros under Cederdall prepared a grave on the nearestknoll, and wrapping the corpse in a tarpaulin, we buried him like asailor at sea. Several vaqueros were visibly affected at the graveside, and in order to pacify them, I suggested that we unload the wagon ofsupplies 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 wasbefitting that his comrades should mark his last resting-place. Toour agreeable surprise the corporal hurrahed his men and the wagon wasunloaded 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 wasexpressed for the future of Pablo's soul. Knowing the almost universalfaith of this alien race, as we stood around the finished mound, Cederdall, who was Catholic born, called for contributions to procurethe absolution of the Church. The owner of the cattle was the first torespond, and with the aid of my boys and myself, augmented later by thevaqueros, a purse of over fifty dollars was raised and placed in chargeof the corporal, to be expended in a private mass on their return to SanAntonio. Meanwhile the herd and saddle stock had started, and reloadingthe wagon, we cast a last glance at the little mound which made a newlandmark on the old trail. 

The owner of the cattle was elated over the restoration of order. Mycontempt for him, however, had not decreased; the old maxim of foolsrushing in where angels feared to tread had only been again exemplified. The inferior races may lack in courage and leadership, but never incunning and craftiness. This alien outfit had detected some weaknessin the armor of their new employer, and when the emergency arose, wereready to take advantage of the situation. Yet under an old patron, thesesame men would never dare to mutiny or assert themselves. That therewere possible breakers ahead for this cowman there was no doubt; forevery day that those Mexicans traveled into a strange country, their Aztec blood would yearn for their Southern home. And since theunforeseen could not be guarded against, at the first opportunity Iwarned the stranger that it was altogether too soon to shout. To hisanxious inquiries I replied that his very presence with the herd was amenace to its successful handling by the Mexican outfit. He should throwall responsibility on the foreman, or take charge himself, which wasimpossible now; for an outfit which will sulk and mutiny once will doso again under less provocation. When my curtain lecture was ended, the owner authorized me to call his outfit together and give them suchinstructions as I saw fit. 

We sighted our cattle but once during the afternoon. On locating theherd, two of my boys left us to return, hearing the message that therest of us might not put in an appearance before morning. All duringthe evening, I made it a point to cultivate the acquaintance of severalvaqueros, and learned the names of their master and rancho. Taking mycue from the general information gathered, when we encamped for thenight and all hands, with the exception of those on herd, hadfinished catching horses, I attracted their attention by returning thesix-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 wereforeman 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 youand your vaqueros were to accompany the cattle to this gentleman's ranchin the upper country. An accident happens, and because you are not infull control, you shift the responsibility and play the baby act bywanting to go home. Had the death of one of your men occurred belowthe river, and while the herd was still the property of Don Dionisio ofRancho Los Olmus, you would have lost your own life before abandoningyour cattle. Now, with the consent and approval of the new owner, youare again invested with full charge of this herd until you arrive at thePlatte River. A new outfit will relieve you on reaching Ogalalla, andthen you will be paid your reckoning and all go home. In your immediaterear are five herds belonging to my employer, and I have already sentwarning to them of your attempted desertion. A fortnight or lesswill find you relieved, and the only safety in store for you is to goforward. Now your employer is going to my camp for the night, and maynot see you again before this herd reaches the Platte. Remember, DonFelipe, that the opportunity is yours to regain your prestige asa corporal--and you need it after to-day's actions. What would DonDionisio say if he knew the truth? And do you ever expect to faceyour friends again at Los Olmus? From a trusted corporal back to asheep-shearer would be your reward--and justly. "

Cederdall, Wolf, and myself shook hands with several vaqueros, andmounting our horses we started for my camp, taking the stranger with us. Only once did he offer any protest to going. "Very well, then, " repliedG--G, unable to suppress his contempt, "go right back. I'll gamble thatyou sheathe a knife before morning if you do. It strikes me you don'tsabe Mexicans very much. "

Around the camp-fire that night, the day's work was reviewed. My ratherdrastic treatment of the corporal was fully commented upon and approvedby 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 wereon 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 thereanything else you'd like to know?"

CHAPTER XII. MARSHALING THE FORCES

Both herds had watered in the Smoky during the afternoon. The stranger'scattle were not compelled to go down to the crossing, but found an easypassage several miles above the regular ford. After leaving the river, both herds were grazed out during the evening, and when darkness fellwe were not over three miles apart, one on either side of the trail. TheWyoming cowman spent a restless night, and early the next morning rodeto 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 hisherd was far in the lead of ours, camp being already broken, while wewere only breakfasting. Matters were working out just as I expected. Themixed herd under the Mexican corporal, by moving early and late, couldkeep the lead of our beeves, and with the abundance of time at mydisposal we were in no hurry. The Kansas Pacific Railroad was but a fewdays' drive ahead, and I advised our guest to take the train aroundto Ogalalla and have a new outfit all ready to relieve the aliensimmediately on their arrival. Promising to take the matter underconsideration, he said nothing further for several days, his cattle inthe mean time keeping a lead of from five to ten miles. 

The trail crossed the railroad at a switch east of Grinnell. I wasnaturally expecting some word from Don Lovell, and it was my intentionto send one of the boys into that station to inquire for mail. There wasa hostelry at Grinnell, several stores and a livery stable, all dying aneasy death from the blight of the arid plain, the town profiting littleor nothing from the cattle trade. But when within a half-day's drive ofthe railway, on overtaking the herd after dinner, there was old man Dontalking to the boys on herd. The cattle were lying down, and ratherthan disturb them, he patiently bided his time until they had rested andarose to resume their journey. The old man was feeling in fine spirits, something unusual, and declined my urgent invitation to go back tothe wagon and have dinner. I noticed that he was using his own saddle, though riding a livery horse, and in the mutual inquiries which wereexchanged, learned that he had arrived at Grinnell but a few daysbefore. He had left Camp Supply immediately after Forrest and Sponsilierpassed that point, and until Siringo came in with his report, hehad spent the time about detective headquarters in Kansas City. Fromintimate friends in Dodge, he had obtained the full particulars of theattempted but unsuccessful move of The Western Supply Company to takepossession of his two herds. In fact there was very little that I couldenlighten him on, except the condition of the cattle, and they spoke forthemselves, their glossy coats shining with the richness of silk. On theother hand, my employer opened like a book. 

"Tom, I think we're past the worst of it, " said he. "Those Dodge peopleare just a trifle too officious to suit me, but Ogalalla is a cow-townafter my own heart. They're a law unto themselves up there, and a cowmanstands some show--a good one against thieves. Ogalalla is the seat of anorganized county, and the town has officers, it's true, but they've gotsense enough to know which side their bread's buttered on; and a cowmanwho's on the square has nothing to fear in that town. Yes, the wholegang, Tolleston and all, are right up here at Ogalalla now; bought aherd this week, so I hear, and expect to take two of these away fromus the moment we enter Keith County. Well, they may; I've seen bad menbefore take a town, but it was only a question of time until the plaincitizens retook it. They may try to bluff us, but if they do, we'll meetthem a little over halfway. Which one of your boys was it that lickedArchie? I want to thank him until such a time as I can reward himbetter. "

The herd was moving out, and as Seay was working in the swing on theopposite side, we allowed the cattle to trail past, and then rode roundand overtook him. The two had never met before, but old man Don warmedtowards Dorg, who recited his experience in such an inimitable mannerthat our employer rocked in his saddle in spasms of laughter. Leavingthe two together, I rode on ahead to look out the water, and whenthe herd came up near the middle of the afternoon, they were stillinseparable. The watering over, we camped for the night several milessouth of the railroad, the mixed herd having crossed it about noon. Myguest of the past few days had come to a point requiring a decision andwas in a quandary to know what to do. But when the situation had beenthoroughly reviewed between Mr. Lovell and the Wyoming man, my advicewas indorsed, --to trust implicitly to his corporal, and be ready torelieve the outfit at the Platte. Saddles were accordingly shifted, andthe stranger, after professing a profusion of thanks, rode away on thelivery horse by which my employer had arrived. Once the man was well outof hearing, the old trail drover turned to my outfit and said:

"Boys, there goes a warning that the days of the trail are numbered. Tomake a success of any business, a little common sense is necessary. Ninetenths of the investing in cattle to-day in the Northwest is being doneby inexperienced men. No other line of business could prosper in suchincompetent hands, and it's foolish to think that cattle companies andindividuals, nearly all tenderfeet at the business, can succeed. Theymay for a time, --there are accidents in every calling, --but when thetide turns, there won't be one man or company in ten survive. I onlywish they would, as it means life and expansion for the cattle interestsin Texas. As long as the boom continues, and foreigners and tenderfeetpour their money in, the business will look prosperous. Why, even thebusiness men are selling out their stores and going into cattle. Butthere's a day of reckoning ahead, and there's many a cowman in thisNorthwest country who will never see his money again. Now the governmentdemand is a healthy one: it needs the cattle for Indian and militarypurposes; but this crazy investment, especially in she stuff, I wouldn'trisk a dollar in it. "

During the conversation that evening, I was delighted to learn that myemployer expected to accompany the herds overland to Ogalalla. There wasnothing pressing elsewhere, and as all the other outfits were within ashort day's ride in the rear, he could choose his abode. He was too gooda cowman to interfere with the management of cattle, and the pleasure ofhis company, when in good humor, was to be desired. The next morninga horse was furnished him from our extras, and after seeing us safelyacross the railroad track, he turned back to meet Forrest or Sponsilier. This was the last we saw of him until after crossing into Nebraska. Inthe 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 bysignal. Once they dropped back opposite us on the western side ofthe trail, when Cedardall, under the pretense of hunting lost horses, visited their camp, finding them contented and enjoying a lay-over. Theywere impatient to know the distance to the Rio Platte, and G--G assuredthem that within a week they would see its muddy waters and be relieved. Thus encouraged they held the lead, but several times vaqueros droppedback 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 thePlatte River, of which they were fully advised. Keeping them in sight, we trailed along leisurely, and as we went down the northern slope ofthe divide approaching the Republican River, we were overtaken at noonby Don Lovell and Dave Sponsilier. 

"Quirk, " said the old man, as the two dismounted, "I was just tellingDave that twenty years ago this summer I carried a musket with Shermanin his march to the sea. And here we are to-day, driving beef to feedthe army in the West. But that's neither here nor there under thepresent programme. Jim Flood and I have talked matters over prettythoroughly, and have decided to switch the foremen on the 'Open A' and'Drooping T' cattle until after Ogalalla is passed. From their actionsat Dodge, it is probable that they will try and arrest the foreman ofthose two herds as accessory under some charge or other. By shifting theforemen, even if the ones in charge are detained, we will gain time andbe able to push the Buford cattle across the North Platte. The chancesare 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 havespotters 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 hiscattle. For the time being and to every stranger, you two will exchangenames. The Rebel is in charge of Forrest's cattle now, and Quince willdrop back with Paul's herd. Dave, here, gave me the slip on crossing theTexas 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 therewith 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 aboutten miles to our rear. I had no objection to the change, for those aridplains were still to be preferred to the lock-up in Ogalalla. My onlyregret was in temporarily losing my mount; but as Dave's horses werenearly as good, no objection was urged, and promising, in case eitherlanded in jail, to send flowers, I turned back, leaving my employer withthe lead herd. Before starting, I learned that the "Drooping T" cattlewere in advance of Sponsilier's, and as I soldiered along on my wayback, rode several miles out of my way to console my old bunkie, TheRebel. He took my chaffing good-naturedly and assured me that his grayhairs were a badge of innocence which would excuse him on any charge. Turning, I rode back with him over a mile, this being my firstopportunity of seeing Forrest's beeves. The steers were large and rangy, extremely uniform in ages and weight, and in general relieved me ofconsiderable conceit that I had the best herd among the Buford cattle. With my vanity eased, I continued my journey and reached Sponsilier'sbeeves 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 "TheApple" was by all odds the prettiest road brand I had ever seen. Iasked the acting segundo, a lad named Tupps, who cut the cattle whenreceiving; light was thrown on the situation by his reply. 

"Old man Don joined the outfit the day we reached Uvalde, " said he, "anduntil we began receiving, he poured it into our foreman that this yearthe cattle had to be something extra--muy escogido, as the Mexicans say. Well, the result was that Sponsilier went to work with ideas pitchedrather high. But in the first bunch received, the old man cut a prettylittle 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 himback, 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 thathe was too easy when receiving. Sponsilier and Forrest did the trimmingafterward, 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 thenwithin forty miles of Ogalalla, and a day's drive would put us withinthe 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 placethe "Open A" and "Drooping T" cattle at the rear in crossing this drybelt. 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 numerousbut 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 wouldbe known at the latter place the next morning. For several days beforestarting across this arid stretch, we had watered at ten o'clock in themorning, so when Flood and Forrest came up, mine being the third herdto reach the last water, I was all ready to pull out. But old man Doncounseled another day's lie-over, as it would be a sore trial for theherds under a July sun, and for a full day twenty thousand beeves grazedin sight of each other on the mesas surrounding the head of StinkingWater. 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 helduntil the middle of the forenoon, when the start was made for the Platteand Ogalalla. 

I led out with "The Apple" cattle, throwing onto the trail for the firstten miles, which put me well in advance of Bob Quirk and Forrest, who were in my immediate rear. A well-known divide marked the halfwaybetween 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 meantime having overtaken us. This watershed was also recognized as theline of Keith County, an organized community, and the next morningexpectation ran high as to what the day would bring forth. Lovellinsisted on staying with the lead herd, and pressing him in ashorse-wrangler, I sent him in the lead with the remuda and wagon, whileLevering fell into the swing with the trailing cattle. A breakfast haltwas made fully seven miles from the bed-ground, a change of mounts, andthen up divide, across mesa, and down slope at the foot of which ran thePlatte. Meanwhile several wayfaring men were met, but in order to avoidour 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 alsotook the windward side. Our dragmen learned that they were on their wayto Dodge to receive a herd of range horses. But when about halfwaydown the slope towards the river, two mounted men were seen to halt theremuda and wagon for a minute, and then continue on southward. BillyTupps was on the left point, myself next in the swing; and as the twohorsemen turned out on the branded side, their identity was suspected. In reply to some inquiry, Tupps jerked his thumb over his shoulder asmuch as to say, "Next man. " I turned out and met the strangers, who hadalready noted the road brand, and politely answered every question. Oneof the two offered me a cigar, and after lighting it, I did rememberhearing one of my boys say that among the herds lying over on the headof Stinking Water was an "Open A" and "Drooping T, " but I was unable torecall the owner's or foremen's names. Complimenting me on the conditionof my beeves, and assuring me that I would have time to water my herdand reach the mesa beyond Ogalalla, they passed on down the column ofcattle. 

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 hadbeen built across the Platte opposite the town, and when nearingthe river, the commissary turned off the trail for it, but thehorse-wrangler for the day gave the bridge a wide berth and crossed thestream a mile below the village. The width of the river was a decidedadvantage in watering a thirsty herd, as it gave the cattle room tothrash around, filling its broad bed for fully a half mile. Fortunatelythere were few spectators, but I kept my eye on the lookout for acertain faction, being well disguised with dust and dirt and a month'sgrowth of beard. As we pushed out of the river and were crossing thetracks below the railroad yards, two other herds were sighted comingdown to the water, their remudas having forded above and below ourcattle. On scaling the bluffs, we could see the trail south of thePlatte on which arose a great column of dust. Lovell was waiting withthe saddle stock in the hills beyond the town, and on striking the firstgood grass, the cattle fell to grazing while we halted to await thearrival of the wagon. The sun was still several hours high, and whilewaiting for our commissary to come up, my employer and myself rode tothe nearest point of observation to reconnoitre the rear. Beneath uslay the hamlet; but our eyes were concentrated beyond the narrow Plattevalley on a dust-cloud which hung midway down the farther slope. As wewatched, an occasional breeze wafted the dust aside, and the sinuousoutline of a herd creeping forward greeted our vision. Below the townwere two other herds, distinctly separate and filling the river for overa mile with a surging mass of animals, while in every direction cattledotted 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 leftof the trail. I'll stay here and hurry your wagon forward, and wait forBob 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 givehim room. If Dave and Paul are still free to act, they'll know enoughto water and camp on the south side of the Platte. I'll stay at Flood'swagon to-night, and you had better send a couple of your boys intotown 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 midnightwe'll have a report of what's been done. If any one but an officer takespossession of those two herds, it'll put us to the trouble of retakingthem. 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. Thewagon had overtaken us about sunset, and the cook's fire piloted us intoa camp fully two miles to the right of the trail. A change of horses wasawaiting us, and after a hasty supper Tupps detailed two young fellowsto visit Ogalalla. It required no urging; I outlined clearly what wasexpected of their mission, requesting them to return by the way ofFlood's wagon, and to receive any orders which my employer might see fitto send. The horse-wrangler was pressed in to stand the guard of oneof 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 guardwas called, but did so shortly afterward, one of them hunting me up onnight-herd. 

"Well, " said he, turning his horse and circling with me, "we caught ontoeverything that was adrift. The Rebel and Sponsilier were both in town, in charge of two deputies. Flood and your brother went in with us, andwith 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 thatDave and The Rebel were still wearing their six-shooters, while amongthe boys the arrests were looked upon as quite a joke. The two deputieshad all kinds of money, and wouldn't allow no one but themselves tospend a cent. The biggest one of the two--the one who gave you thecigar--would say to my boss: 'Sponsilier, you're a trail foreman fromTexas--one of Don Lovell's boss men--but you're under arrest; yourcattle are in my possession this very minute. You understand that, don't you? Very well, then; everybody come up and have a drink onthe sheriff's office. ' That was about the talk in every saloon anddance-hall visited. But when we proposed starting back to camp, aboutmidnight, the big deputy said to Flood: 'I want you to tell ColonelLovell that I hold a warrant for his arrest; urge him not to put me tothe trouble of coming out after him. If he had identified himself to methis afternoon, he could have slept on a goose-hair bed to-night insteadof out there on the mesa, on the cold ground. His reputation in thistown would entitle him to three meals a day, even if he was underarrest. Now, we'll have one more, and tell the damned old rascal thatI'll expect him in the morning. '"

We rode out the watch together. On returning to Flood's camp, they hadfound Don Lovell awake. The old man was pleased with the report, butsent me no special word except to exercise my own judgment. The cattlewere tired after their long tramp of the day before, the outfit weresaddle weary, and the first rays of the rising sun flooded the mesabefore men or animals offered to arise. But the duties of another daycommanded us anew, and with the cook calling us, we rose to meet them. I was favorably impressed with Tupps as a segundo, and after breakfastsuggested that he graze the cattle over to the North Platte, cross it, and make a permanent camp. This was agreed to, half the men wereexcused for the day, and after designating, beyond the river, a clump ofcottonwoods where the wagon would be found, seven of us turned and rodeback for Ogalalla. With picked mounts under us, we avoided the othercattle which could be seen grazing northward, and when fully halfway totown, there before us on the brink of the mesa loomed up the lead ofa herd. I soon recognized Jack Splann on the point, and taking a widecircle, dropped in behind him, the column stretching back a mile andcoming up the bluffs, forty abreast like an army in loose marchingorder. I was proud of those "Open A's;" they were my first herd, andthough in a hurry to reach town, I turned and rode back with them forfully a mile. 

Splann was acting under orders from Flood, who had met him at theford that morning. If the cattle were in the possession of any deputysheriff, they had failed to notify Jack, and the latter had alreadystarted for the North Platte of his own accord. The "Drooping T" cattlewere in the immediate rear under Forrest's segundo, and Splann urged meto accompany him that forenoon, saying: "From what the boys said thismorning, Dave and Paul will not be given a hearing until two o'clockthis afternoon. I can graze beyond the North Fork by that time, and thenwe'll all go back together. Flood's right behind here with the 'DroopingT'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 andturned back, waiting on the brink for its arrival. As it would take thelead cattle some time to reach me, I dismounted, resting in the shade ofmy horse. But my rest was brief, for the clattering hoofs of a cavalcadeof horsemen were approaching, and as I arose, Quince Forrest and BobQuirk with a dozen or more men dashed up and halted. As their herds wereintended for the Crow and Fort Washakie agencies, they would naturallyfollow up the south side of the North Platte, and an hour or two ofgrazing would put them in camp. The Buford cattle, as well as Flood'sherd, were due to cross this North Fork of the mother Platte within tenmiles of Ogalalla, their respective routes thenceforth being north andnortheast. Forrest, like myself, was somewhat leary of entering thetown, and my brother and the boys passed on shortly, leaving Quincebehind. We discussed every possible phase of what might happen in casewe were recognized, which was almost certain if Tolleston or the Dodgebuyers were encountered. But an overweening hunger to get into Ogalallawas dominant in us, and under the excuse of settling for our supplies, after the herd passed, we remounted our horses, Flood joining us, androde for the hamlet. 

There was little external and no moral change in the town. Several newsaloons had opened, and in anticipation of the large drive that year, the Dew-Drop-In dance-hall had been enlarged, and employed three shiftsof bartenders. A stage had been added with the new addition, and aspecial importation of ladies had been brought out from Omaha for theseason. I use the term LADIES advisedly, for in my presence one of theproprietors, with marked courtesy, said to an Eastern stranger, "Oh, no, you need no introduction. My wife is the only woman in town; all thebalance are ladies. " Beyond a shave and a hair-cut, Forrest and I foughtshy of public places. But after the supplies were settled for, and somenew clothing was secured, we chambered a few drinks and swaggered aboutwith considerable ado. My bill of supplies amounted to one hundred andtwenty-six dollars, and when, without a word, I drew a draft for theamount, the proprietor of the outfitting store, as a pelon, made me apresent of two fine silk handkerchiefs. 

Forrest was treated likewise, and having invested ourselves in whiteshirts, with flaming red ties, we used the new handkerchiefs tootherwise 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 scarcelyhave known us. Jim Flood, whom we met casually on a back street, stopped, and after circling us once, said, "Now if you fellows just keepperfectly sober, your disguise will be complete. "

Meanwhile Don Lovell had reported at an early hour to the sheriff'soffice. The legal profession was represented in Ogalalla by severalfirms, criminal practice being their specialty; but fortunately MikeSutton, an attorney of Dodge, had arrived in town the day before on alegal errand for another trail drover. Sutton was a frontier advocate, alike popular with the Texas element and the gambling fraternity, havingachieved laurels in his home town as a criminal lawyer. Mike was born onthe 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 intohuman motives was almost superhuman. Lovell had had occasion in otheryears to rely on Sutton's counsel, and now would listen to no refusal ofhis services. As it turned out, the lawyer's mission in Ogalalla wasso closely in sympathy with Lovell's trouble that they naturallystrengthened each other. The highest tribunal of justice in Ogalalla wasthe county court, the judge of which also ran the stock-yards duringthe shipping season, and was banker for two monte games at the Lone Starsaloon. 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 citizensremarked, "Whatever the judge said, went. " It should be remembered thatthis 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 therudiments of civilization were sweeping westward, and Ogalalla wasnerved to the importance of the occasion; for that very afternoon ahearing 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 inthe largest hotel in town, but seldom appeared on the streets. They hademployed a firm of local attorneys, consisting of an old and a youngman, both of whom evidently believed in the justice of their client'scause. All the cattle-hands in Lovell's employ were anxious to get aglimpse of Tolleston, many of them patronizing the bar and table of thesame hostelry, but their efforts were futile until the hour arrived forthe hearing. They probably have a new court-house in Ogalalla now, butat the date of this chronicle the building which served as a templeof justice was poorly proportioned, its height being entirely out ofrelation to its width. It was a two-story affair, the lower floorbeing used for county offices, the upper one as the court-room. A longstairway ran up the outside of the building, landing on a gallery infront, from which the sheriff announced the sitting of the honorablecourt of Keith County. At home in Texas, lawsuits were so rare thatthough I was a grown man, the novelty of this one absorbed me. Quite alarge crowd had gathered in advance of the hour, and while awaitingthe arrival of Judge Mulqueen, a contingent of fifteen men from thetwo 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 threeplaintiffs, the two local attorneys, and Tolleston put in an appearance. The cavalcade had not yet dismounted, and when Dorg Seay caught sightof 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 theexception of the plaintiffs, he was the only man in the court-room whowore a coat. The afternoon was a sultry one; in that first bottom of thePlatte there was scarcely a breath of air, and collars wilted limp asrags. Neither map nor chart graced the unplastered walls, the unpaintedfurniture of the room was sadly in need of repair, while a musty odorpermeated the room. Outside the railing the seating capacity of thecourt-room was rather small, rough, bare planks serving for seats, butthe spectators gladly stood along the sides and rear, eager to catchevery word, as they silently mopped the sweat which oozed alike fromcitizen and cattleman. Forrest and I were concealed in the rear, whichwas packed with Lovell's boys, when the judge walked in and court openedfor the hearing. Judge Mulqueen requested counsel on either side to beas 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 outa train of feeders this evening. We'll bed the cars, anyhow. " Turning tothe sheriff, he continued: "Frank, if you happen outside, keep an eye upthe river; those Lincoln feeders made a deal yesterday for five hundredthree-year-olds. --Read your complaint. "

The legal document was read with great fervor and energy by theyounger of the two local lawyers. In the main it reviewed the situationcorrectly, every point, however, being made subservient to theirobject, --the possession of the cattle. The plaintiffs contended thatthey were the innocent holders of the original contract between thegovernment and The Western Supply Company, properly assigned; that theyhad purchased these two herds in question, had paid earnest-money tothe amount of sixty-five thousand dollars on the same, and concluded bypetitioning the court for possession. Sutton arose, counseled a momentwith Lovell, and borrowing a chew of tobacco from Sponsilier, leisurelyaddressed the court. 

"I shall not trouble your honor by reading our reply in full, butbriefly state its contents, " said he, in substance. "We admit that theherds in question, which have been correctly described by road brandsand ages, are the property of my client. We further admit that the twotrail foremen here under arrest as accessories were acting under theorders of their employer, who assumes all responsibility for their acts, and in our pleadings we ask this honorable court to discharge them fromfurther detention. The earnest-money, said to have been paid on theseherds, is correct to a cent, and we admit having the amount in ourpossession. But, " and the little advocate's voice rose, rich in itsIrish brogue, "we deny any assignment of the original contract. TheWestern Supply Company is a corporation name, a shield and fence ofthieves. The plaintiffs here can claim no assignment, because theythemselves constitute the company. It has been decided that a man cannotsteal his own money, neither can he assign from himself to himself. Weshall prove by a credible witness that The Western Supply Company isbut another name for John C. Fields, Oliver Radcliff, and the portlygentleman who was known a year ago as 'Honest' John Griscom, one of hismany aliases. If to these names you add a few moneyed confederates, youhave The Western Supply Company, one and the same. We shall also provethat for years past these same gentlemen have belonged to a ring, allbrokers in government contracts, and frequently finding it necessary touse assumed names, generally that of a corporation. "

Scanning the document in his hand, Sutton continued: "Our motive inselling and accepting money on these herds in Dodge demands a word ofexplanation. The original contract calls for five million pounds of beefon foot to be delivered at Fort Buford. My client is a sub-contractorunder that award. There are times, your honor, when it becomes necessaryto 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 hiscontract, he made the discovery that he was dealing with adouble-faced set of scoundrels. From that day until the present moment, secret-service men have shadowed every action of the plaintiffs. Myclient has anticipated their every move. When beeves broke in pricefrom five to seven dollars a head, Honest John, here, made his boasts inWashington City over a champagne supper that he and his associates wouldclear one hundred thousand dollars on their Buford contract. Let usreason together how this could be done. The Western Supply Companyrefused, even when offered a bonus, to assign their contract to myclient. But they were perfectly willing to transfer it, from themselvesas a corporation, to themselves as individuals, even though they hadpreviously given Don Lovell a subcontract for the delivery of the bees. The original award was made seven months ago, and the depreciation incattle since is the secret of why the frog eat the cabbage. My client isunder the necessity of tendering his cattle on the day of delivery, andproposes to hold this earnest-money to indemnify himself in case of anadverse decision at Fort Buford. It is the only thing he can do, as TheWestern Supply Company is execution proof, its assets consisting of somestud-horse office furniture and a corporate seal. On the other hand, DonLovell is rated at half a million, mostly in pasture lands; is a citizenof Medina County, Texas, and if these gentlemen have any grievance, letthem 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 theseold Wisinsteins come out here from Washington City and dispossess anyman of his property? There is but one answer--not in the Republic ofKeith. "

All three of the plaintiffs took the stand, their testimony supportingthe complaint, Lovell's attorney refusing even to cross-examine anyone of them. When they rested their case Sutton arose, and scanning theaudience for some time, inquired, "Is Jim Reed there?" In response, atall, one-armed man worked his way from the outer gallery through thecrowd and advanced to the rail. I knew Reed by sight only, my middlebrother having made several trips with his trail cattle, but he wasknown to every one by reputation. He had lost an arm in the Confederateservice, and was recognized by the gambling fraternity as the gamest manamong all the trail drovers, while every cowman from the Rio Grande tothe Yellowstone knew him as a poker-player. Reed was asked to take thestand, 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 withhim again, " replied the witness, designating Honest John. "That man isso crooked that he can't sleep in a bed, and it's one of the wondersof this country that he hasn't stretched hemp before this. I made hisacquaintance as manager of The Federal Supply Company, and deliveredthree thousand cows to him at the Washita Indian Agency last fall. Inthe final settlement, he drew on three different banks, and one draft oftwenty-eight thousand dollars came back, indorsed, DRAWEE UNKNOWN. Ihad other herds on the trail to look after, and it was a month before Ifound out that the check was bogus, by which time Honest John had sailedfor Europe. There was nothing could be done but put my claim into ajudgment and lay for him. But I've got a grapevine twist on him now, forno sooner did he buy a herd here last week than Mr. Sutton transferredthe judgment to this jurisdiction, and his cattle will be attached thisafternoon. I've been on his trail for nearly a year, but he'll come tome now, and before he can move his beeves out of this county, the lastcent must come, with interest, attorney's fees, detective bills, andremuneration for my own time and trouble. That's the reason that I'm soglad to meet him. Judge, I've gone to the trouble and expense to get hisrecord 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 andhis associates did business under the name of The Army & Sutler SupplyCompany, and I know of two judgments that can be bought very reasonableagainst that corporation. His record would convince any one that hedespises 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 soonpassed the witness. During the cross-questioning, however, the sheriffhad approached the judge and whispered something to his honor. As therewere no further witnesses to be examined, the local attorneys insistedon arguing the case, but Judge Mulqueen frowned them down, saying:

"This court sees no occasion for any argument in the present case. Youmight spout until you were black in the face and it wouldn't change myopinion any; besides I've got twenty cars to send and a train of cattleto load out this evening. This court refuses to interfere with the herdsin question, at present the property of and in possession of Don Lovell, who, together with his men, are discharged from custody. If you're intown to-night, Mr. Reed, drop into the Lone Star. Couple of nice montegames 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 groupof us waited for him at the foot of the court-house stairs. But Dave'sgravity soon turned to a smile as he continued: "Did you fellows noticeThe 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 asure-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 someone that this luck was too good to last. And here we are turned out inthe cold world again, our fun all over, and now must go back to thosemeasly cattle. But it's just what I expected. "

The crowd dispersed quietly, though the sheriff took the precaution toaccompany the plaintiffs and Tolleston back to their hotel. The absenceof the two deputies whom we had met the day before was explained by thetestimony of the one-armed cowman. When the two drovers came downstairs, they were talking very confidentially together, and on my employernoticing the large number of his men present, he gave orders for them tomeet him at once at the White Elephant saloon. Those who had horses athand mounted and dashed down the street, while the rest of us took itleisurely around to the appointed rendezvous, some three blocks distant. While on the way, I learned from The Rebel that the cattle on which theattachment was to be made that afternoon were then being held well upthe North Fork. Sheriff Phillips joined us shortly after we entered thesaloon, and informed my employer and Mr. Reed that the firm of Field, Radcliff & Co. Had declared war. They had even denounced him and thesheriff's office as being in collusion against them, and had dispatchedTolleston with orders to refuse service. 

"Let them get on the prod all they want to, " said Don Lovell to Reed andthe sheriff. "I've got ninety men here, and you fellows are welcome tohalf of them, even if I have to go out and stand a watch on night-herdmyself. Reed, we can't afford to have our business ruined by such a setof scoundrels, and we might as well fight it out here and now. Look atthe situation I'm in. A hundred thousand dollars wouldn't indemnify mein having my cattle refused as late as the middle of September at FortBuford. And believing that I will be turned down, under my contract, soSutton 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'ttrifle 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 thisNorthwest country. Now, if it was home in Texas, there would be only onething to do. Of course I'm no longer handy with a shotgun, but you'vegot two good arms. "

"Well, gentlemen, " said the sheriff, "you must excuse me forinterrupting, but if my deputies are to take possession of that herdthis afternoon, I must saddle up and go to the front. If Honest John andassociates try to stand up any bluffs on my office, they'll only run onthe rope once. I'm much obliged to you, Mr. Lovell, for the assurance ofany help I may need, for it's quite likely that I may have to call uponyou. If a ring of government speculators can come out here and refuseservice, or dictate to my office, then old Keith County is certainly onthe verge of decadence. Now, I'll be all ready to start for the NorthFork 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, whodexterously slid the glasses up and down the bar, and politely inquiredof the double row confronting them as to their tastes. As this was thethird round since entering the place, I was anxious to get away, andsummoning Forrest, we started for our horses. We had left them at a barnon a back street, but before reaching the livery, Quince concluded thathe needed a few more cartridges. I had ordered a hundred the day beforefor my own personal use, but they had been sent out with the suppliesand were then in camp. My own belt was filled with ammunition, but onForrest buying fifty, I took an equal number, and after starting out ofthe store, both turned back and doubled our purchases. On arriving atthe stable, whom should I meet but the Wyoming cowman who had left us atGrinnell. During the few minutes in which I was compelled to listen tohis troubles, he informed me that on his arrival at Ogalalla, all thesurplus cow-hands had been engaged by a man named Tolleston for theYellowstone country. He had sent to his ranch, however, for an outfitwho would arrive that evening, and he expected to start his herd thenext morning. But without wasting any words, Forrest and I swung intoour saddles, waved a farewell to the wayfaring acquaintance, and rodearound to the White Elephant. The sheriff and quite a cavalcade of ourboys had already started, and on reaching the street which terminatedin the only road leading to the North Fork, we were halted by Flood toawait the arrival of the others. Jim Reed and my employer were stillbehind, and some little time was lost before they came up, sufficient togive the sheriff a full half-mile start. But under the leadership ofthe two drovers, we shook out our horses, and the advance cavalcade weresoon 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'reall 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 Ithink there's some forty odd without us. Jim and I are getting a littletoo old, but we'll hang around and run errands and do the clerking. I'mperfectly willing to waste a week, and remember that we've got the chuckand 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, andwhatever's mine is yours, just so long as Honest John and his friendspay the fiddler. If he and his associates are going to make one hundredthousand dollars on the Buford contract, one thing is certain--I'll loseplenty of money on this year's drive. If he refuses service and you takepossession, your office will be perfectly justified in putting a goodforce of men with the herd. And at ten dollars a day for a man andhorse, they'll soon get sick and Reed will get his pay. If I have tohold the sack in the end, I don't want any company. "

The location of the beeves was about twelve miles from town and but ashort distance above the herds of The Rebel and Bob Quirk. It was nearlyfour o'clock when we left the hamlet, and by striking a free gait, wecovered the intervening distance in less than an hour and a half. Themesa between the two rivers was covered with through cattle, and as weneared the herd in question, we were met by the larger one of the twochief deputies. The undersheriff was on his way to town, but on sightinghis superior among us, he halted and a conference ensued. Sponsilier andPriest made a great ado over the big deputy on meeting, and after afew inquiries were exchanged, the latter turned to Sheriff Phillips andsaid:

"Well, we served the papers and I left the other two boys in temporarypossession of the cattle. It's a badly mixed-up affair. The Texasforeman is still in charge, and he seems like a reasonable fellow. Theterms of the sale were to be half cash here and the balance at the pointof delivery. But the buyers only paid forty thousand down, and the trailboss refuses to start until they make good their agreement. From whatI could gather from the foreman, the buyers simply buffaloed the youngfellow out of his beeves, and are now hanging back for more favorableterms. He accepted service all right and assured me that our men wouldbe welcome at his wagon until further notice, so I left matters just asI found them. But as I was on the point of leaving, that segundo of thebuyers arrived and tried to stir up a little trouble. We all sat downon him rather hard, and as I left he and the Texas foreman were holdingquite a big pow-wow. "

"That's Tolleston all right, " said old man Don, "and you can depend onhim stirring up a muss if there's any show. It's a mystery to me how Itolerated that fellow as long as I did. If some of you boys will cornerand hold him for me, I'd enjoy reading his title to him in a few plainwords. It's due him, and I want to pay everything I owe. What's theprogramme, 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 thoroughlyunderstand the situation. Mr. Lovell, if you can lend me ten men, I'lltake charge of the herd at once and move them back down the river aboutseven miles. They're entirely too near the west line of the county tosuit 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 aview of the herd, but under the leadership of the deputy we rode toits summit, and there before and under us were both camp and cattle. Arriving at the wagon, Phillips very politely informed the Texas foremanthat he would have to take full possession of his beeves for a few days, or until the present difficulties were adjusted. The trail boss wasa young fellow of possibly thirty, and met the sheriff's demand withseveral questions, but, on being assured that his employer's equity inthe herd would be fully protected without expense, he offered no seriousobjection. It developed that Reed had some slight acquaintance with theseller of the cattle, and lost no time in informing the trail bossof the record of the parties with whom his employer was dealing. The one-armed drover's language was plain, the foreman knew Reed byreputation, and when Lovell assured the young man that he would bewelcome at any of his wagons, and would be perfectly at liberty to seethat his herd was properly cared for, he yielded without a word. Mysympathies were with the foreman, for he seemed an honest fellow, anddeliberately to take his herd from him, to my impulsive reasoninglooked like an injustice. But the sheriff and those two old cowmen weredetermined, and the young fellow probably acted for the best in making agraceful surrender. 

Meanwhile the two deputies in charge failed to materialize, and oninquiry they were reported as out at the herd with Tolleston. Theforeman accompanied us to the cattle, and while on the way he informedthe sheriff that he wished to count the beeves over to him and take areceipt for the same. Phillips hesitated, as he was no cowman, but Reedspoke 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, andbrands. It's not this young man's fault that his herd must undergo allthis trouble, and when he turns them over to an officer of the law heought to have something to show for it. Any of Lovell's foremen herewill count them to a hair for you, and Don and I will witness thereceipt, which will make it good among cowmen. "

Without loss of time the herd was started east. Tolleston kept wellout of reach of my employer, and besought every one to know what thismovement meant. But when the trail boss and Jim Flood rode out to aswell of ground ahead, and the point-men began filing the column throughbetween the two foremen, Archie was sagacious enough to know that thecount meant something serious. In the mean time Bob Quirk had favoredTolleston 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 thelast few hundred beeves were passing the counters, he suddenly concludedto return to Ogalalla. But my brother urged him not to think of goinguntil he had met his former employer, assuring Tolleston that the oldman 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 immediatereturn to town. The more urgent Bob Quirk became, the more fidgetygrew Archie. The last of the cattle were passing the count as Tollestonturned away from my brother's entreaty, and giving his horse the rowel, started off on a gallop. But there was a scattering field of horsemento pass, and before the parting guest could clear it, a half-dozen ropescircled in the air and deftly settled over his horse's neck and himself, one of which pinioned his arms. The boys were expecting something ofthis nature, and fully half the men in Lovell's employ galloped up andformed a circle around the captive, now livid with rage. Archie wascursing by both note and rhyme, and had managed to unearth a knife andwas trying to cut the lassos which fettered himself and horse, whenDorg Seay rode in and rapped him over the knuckles with a six-shooter, saying, "Don't do that, sweetheart; those ropes cost thirty-five centsapiece. "

Fortunately the knife was knocked from Tolleston's hand and hissix-shooter secured, rendering him powerless to inflict injury to anyone. The cattle count had ended, and escorted by a cordon of mountedmen, both horse and captive were led over to where a contingenthad gathered around to hear the result of the count. I was merely adelighted spectator, and as the other men turned from the cattle andmet 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 upand talk matters over. Boys, take those ropes off his horse and give himback his irons; I raised this man and made him the cow-hand he is, andthere'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 myenemies, 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 allthe facts in regard to the Buford contract. And just because I wouldn'tfavor you over a blind horse, you must hunt up the very men whoare trying to undermine me on this drive. No wonder they gave youemployment, for you're a valuable man to them; but it's at a seriousloss, --the loss of your honor. You can't go home to Texas and againbe respected among men. This outfit you are with will promise you theearth, but the moment that they're through with you, you won't cut anymore figure than a last year's bird's nest. They'll throw you aside likean old boot, and you'll fall so hard that you'll hear the clock tick inChina. 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 tothe Rosebud Agency, or I'll buy you a ticket home and you can help withthe fall work at the ranch. You may have a day or two to think thismatter over, and whatever you decide on will be final. You have shownlittle gratitude for the opportunities that I've given you, but we'llbreak the old slate and start all over with a new one. Now, that's allI wanted to say to you, except to do your own thinking. If you're goingback to town, I'll ride a short distance with you. "

The two rode away together, but halted within sight for a shortconference, after which Lovell returned. The cattle were being driftedeast by the deputies and several of our boys, the trail boss havingcalled off his men on an agreement of the count. The herd had talliedout thirty-six hundred and ten head, but in making out the receipt, thefact was developed that there were some six hundred beeves not in theregular 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 herdagreeing to deliver them along with his own. This was fortunate, asit increased the equity of the buyers in the cattle, and more thanestablished a sufficient interest to satisfy the judgment and allexpenses. 

Darkness was approaching, which hastened our actions. Two men from eachoutfit present were detailed to hold the cattle that night, and weresent on ahead to Priest's camp to secure their suppers and a change ofmounts. The deposed trail boss accepted an invitation to accompany usand spend the night at one of our wagons, and we rode away to overtakethe drifting herd. The different outfits one by one dropped out and rodefor their camps; but as mine lay east and across the river, the courseof the herd was carrying me home. After passing The Rebel's wagon fullya half mile, we rounded in the herd, which soon lay down to rest on thebedground. In the gathering twilight, the camp-fires of nearly adozen trail wagons were gleaming up and down the river, and while wespeculated with Sponsilier's boys which one was ours, the guard arrivedand took the bedded herd. The two old cowmen and the trail boss haddropped out opposite my brother's camp, leaving something like ten menwith the attached beeves; but on being relieved by the first watch, Flood invited Sheriff Phillips and his deputies across the river tospend the night with him. 

"Like to, mighty well, but can't do it, " replied Phillips. "Thesheriff's office is supposed to be in town, and not over on the NorthFork, but I'll leave two of these deputies with you. Some of you hadbetter ride in to-morrow, for there may be overtures made lookingtowards a settlement; and treat those beeves well, so that there can beno 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 NorthPlatte was dotted with cattle from hill and plain. The river, wellconfined within its low banks, divided an unsurveyed domain ofgreen-swarded meadows like a boundary line between vast pastures. Theexodus of cattle from Texas to the new Northwest was nearing flood-tide, and from every swell and knoll the solitary figure of the herdsmangreeted the rising sun. 

Sponsilier and I had agreed to rejoin our own outfits at the firstopportunity. We might have exchanged places the evening before, but Ihad a horse and some ammunition at Dave's camp and was just contentiousenough not to give up a single animal from my own mount. On the otherhand, Mr. Dave Sponsilier would have traded whole remudas with me; butmy love for a good horse was strong, and Fort Buford was many a wearymile distant. Hence there was no surprise shown as Sponsilier rode up tohis own wagon that morning in time for breakfast. We were good friendswhen personal advantages did not conflict, and where our employer'sinterests were at stake we stood shoulder to shoulder like comrades. YetDave gave me a big jolly about being daffy over my horses, well knowingthat there is an indescribable nearness between one of our craft and hisown 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 wasin plain view across the river. Arriving at my own wagon, I saw a muteappeal in every face for permission to go to town, and consent wasreadily granted to all who had not been excused on a similar errandthe day before. The cook and horse-wrangler were included, and theactivities of the outfit in saddling and getting away were suggestive ofa prairie fire or a stampede. I accompanied them across the river, andthen turned upstream to my brother's camp, promising to join them laterand make a full day of it. At Bob's wagon they had stretched a fly, andin its shade lounged half a dozen men, while an air of languid indolencepervaded the camp. Without dismounting, I announced myself as on the wayto town, and invited any one who wished to accompany me. Lovell and Reedboth declined; half of Bob's men had been excused and started an hourbefore, but my brother assured me that if I would wait until the deposedforeman 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 hiscattle. During the interim, the two old cowmen reviewed Grant's siege ofVicksburg, both having been participants, but on opposite sides. Whilethe guest was shifting his saddle to a loaned horse, I inquired if therewas anything that I could attend to for any one at Ogalalla. Lovellcould think of nothing; but as we mounted to start, Reed arousedhimself, and coming over, rested the stub of his armless sleeve on myhorse's neck, saying:

"You boys might drop into the sheriff's office as you go in and alsoagain as you are starting back. Report the cattle as having spent aquiet night and ask Phillips if he has any word for me. "

Turning to the trail boss he continued: "Young man, I would suggest thatyou hunt up your employer and have him stir things up. The cattle willbe well taken care of, but we're just as anxious to turn them back toyou as you are to receive them. Tell the seller that it would be wellworth his while to see Lovell and myself before going any farther. Wecan put him in possession of a few facts that may save him time andtrouble. I reckon that's about all. Oh, yes, I'll be at this wagon allevening. "

My brother rode a short distance with us and introduced the stranger asHugh Morris. He proved a sociable fellow, had made three trips up thetrail as foreman, his first two herds having gone to the Cherokee Stripunder contract. By the time we reached Ogalalla, as strong a fraternallevel 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 understandingthat we would ride back together. A few drinks were indulged in beforeparting, then each went to attend to his own errands, but we metfrequently during the day. Once my boys were provided with funds, theyfell to gambling so eagerly that they required no further thought on mypart until evening. Several times during the day I caught glimpses ofTolleston, always on horseback, and once surrounded by quite a cavalcadeof horsemen. Morris and I took dinner at the hotel where the trio ofgovernment jobbers were stopping. They were in evidence, and amongstthe jolliest of the guests, commanding and receiving the best thatthe hostelry afforded. Sutton was likewise present, but quiet andunpretentious, and I thought there was a false, affected note in thehilarity of the ringsters, and for effect. I was known to two of thetrio, but managed to overhear any conversation which was adrift. Afterdinner and over fragrant cigars, they reared their feet high on an outergallery, and the inference could be easily drawn that a contract, unlessit involved millions, was beneath their notice. 

Morris informed me that his employer's suspicions were aroused, andthat he had that morning demanded a settlement in full or the immediaterelease of the herd. They had laughed the matter off as a mere incidentthat would right itself at the proper time, and flashed as references alist of congressmen, senators, and bankers galore. But Morris's employerhad stood firm in his contentions, refusing to be overawed by flatteryor empty promises. What would be the result remained to be seen, and theforeman and myself wandered aimlessly around town during the afternoon, meeting other trail bosses, nearly all of whom had heard more or lessabout the existing trouble. That we had the sympathy of the cattleinterests on our side goes without saying, and one of them, known as"the kidgloved foreman, " a man in the employ of Shanghai Pierce, invokedthe powers above to witness what would happen if he were in Lovell'sboots. This was my first meeting with the picturesque trail boss, thoughI had heard of him often and found him a trifle boastful but not a badfellow. He distinguished himself from others of his station on the trailby always wearing white shirts, kid gloves, riding-boots, inlaid spurs, while a heavy silver chain was wound several times round a costlysombrero in lieu of a hatband. We spent an hour or more together, drinking sparingly, and at parting he begged that I would assure myemployer that he sympathized with him and was at his command. 

The afternoon was waning when I hunted up my outfit and started themfor camp. With one or two exceptions, the boys were broke and perfectlywilling to go. Morris and I joined them at the livery where they hadleft their horses, and together we started out of town. Ordering themto ride on to camp, and saying that I expected to return by way of BobQuirk's wagon, Morris and myself stopped at the court-house. SheriffPhillips 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 latethis evening. Yes, one of the local attorneys for your friends came inand we figured everything up. He thought that if this office would throwoff a certain per cent. Of its expense, and Reed would knock off theinterest, his clients would consent to a settlement. I told him to goright 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-fourhours. " The lawyer was back within twenty minutes, bringing a draft, covering every item, and urged me to have it accepted by wire. The bankwas closed, but I found the cashier in a poker-game and played his handwhile he went over to the depot and sent the message. "The operator hasorders to send a duplicate of the answer to this office, and the momentI get it, if favorable, I'll send a deputy with the news over to theNorth Fork. Tell Reed that I think the check's all right this time, butwe'll stand pat until we know for a certainty. We'll get an answer bymorning sure. "

The message was hailed with delight at Bob Quirk's wagon. On nearing theriver, Morris rode by way of the herd to ask the deputies in charge toturn the cattle up the river towards his camp. Several of the foreman'smen were waiting at my brother's wagon, and on Morris's return heordered his outfit to meet the beeves the next morning and be inreadiness to receive them back. Our foremen were lying around temporaryheadquarters, and as we were starting for our respective camps for thenight, Lovell suggested that we hold our outfits all ready to move outwith the herds on an hour's notice. Accordingly the next morning, Irefused every one leave of absence, and gave special orders to thecook and horse-wrangler to have things in hand to start on an emergencyorder. Jim Flood had agreed to wait for me, and we would recross theriver together and hear the report from the sheriff's office. Forrestand Sponsilier rode up about the same time we arrived at his wagon, andall four of us set out for headquarters across the North Fork. The sunwas several hours high when we reached the wagon, and learned that anofficer had arrived during the night with a favorable answer, that thecattle had been turned over to Morris without a count, and that thedeputies 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'velooked the situation over from a dozen different viewpoints, and theonly thing to do is graze across country and tender our cattle at FortBuford. It's my nature to look on the bright side of things, and yet I'mold enough to know that justice, in a world so full of injustice, is ararity. By allowing the earnest-money paid at Dodge to apply, some kindof a compromise might be effected, whereby I could get rid of two ofthese herds, with three hundred saddle horses thrown back on my hands atthe Yellowstone River. I might dispose of the third herd here and givethe remuda away, but at a total loss of at least thirty thousand dollarson the Buford cattle. But then there's my bond to The Western SupplyCompany, and if this herd of Morris's fails to respond on the day ofdelivery, I know who will have to make good. An Indian uprising, or theenforcement of quarantine against Texas fever, or any one of a dozenthings might tie up the herd, and September the 15th come and go and nobeef offered on the contract. I've seen outfits start out and neverget through with the chuck-wagon, even. Sutton's advice is good; we'lltender the cattle. There is a chance that we'll get turned down, but ifwe do, I have enough indemnity money in my possession to temper the windif the day of delivery should prove a chilly one to us. I think you hadall better start in the morning. "

The old man's review of the situation was a rational one, in which JimReed and the rest of us concurred. Several of the foremen, among themmyself, were anxious to start at once, but Lovell urged that we killa beef before starting and divide it up among the six outfits. He alsoproposed to Flood that they go into town during the afternoon and freelyannounce our departure in the morning, hoping to force any issue thatmight be smouldering in the enemy's camp. The outlook for an earlydeparture was hailed with delight by the older foremen, and we youngerand more impulsive ones yielded. The cook had orders to get up somethingextra for dinner, and we played cards and otherwise lounged around untilthe midday meal was announced as ready. A horse had been gotten up forLovell to ride and was on picket, all the relieved men from the attachedherd were at Bob's wagon for dinner, and jokes and jollity graced theoccasion. But near the middle of the noon repast, some one sighteda mounted man coming at a furious pace for the camp, and shortly thehorseman dashed up and inquired for Lovell. We all arose, when themessenger dismounted and handed my employer a letter. Tearing open themissive, the old man read it and turned ashy pale. The message was fromMike Sutton, stating that a fourth member of the ring had arrived duringthe forenoon, accompanied by a United States marshal from the federalcourt at Omaha; that the officer was armed with an order of injunctiverelief; that he had deputized thirty men whom Tolleston had gathered, and proposed taking possession of the two herds in question thatafternoon. 

"Like hell they will, " said Don Lovell, as he started for his horse. Hisaction was followed by every man present, including the one-armed guest, and within a few minutes thirty men swung into saddles, subject toorders. The camps of the two herds at issue were about four and fivemiles down and across the river, and no doubt Tolleston knew of theirlocation, as they were only a little more than an hour's ride fromOgalalla. There was no time to be lost, and as we hastily gatheredaround the old man, he said: "Ride for your outfits, boys, and bringalong every man you can spare. We'll meet north of the river aboutmidway between Quince's and Tom's camps. Bring all the cartridges youhave, and don't spare your horses going or coming. "

Priest's wagon was almost on a line with mine, though south of theriver. 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 Pauland myself tore down the mesa. After passing The Rebel's camp, I held mycourse as long as the footing was solid, but on encountering the firstsand, crossed the river nearly opposite the appointed rendezvous. TheNorth Platte was fordable at any point, flowing but a midsummer stageof water, with numerous wagon crossings, its shallow channel being aboutone hundred yards wide. I reined in my horse for the first time near themiddle of the stream, as the water reached my saddle-skirts; when I cameout on the other side, Priest and his boys were not a mile behind me. AsI turned down the river, casting a backward glance, squads of horsemenwere galloping in from several quarters and joining a larger one whichwas throwing up clouds of dust like a column of cavalry. In making acut-off to reach my camp, I crossed a sand dune from which I sighted themarshal's posse less than two miles distant. My boys were gambling amongthemselves, not a horse under saddle, and did not notice my approachuntil I dashed up. Three lads were on herd, but the rest, includingthe wrangler, ran for their mounts on picket, while Parent and myselfransacked the wagon for ammunition. Fortunately the supply of the latterwas abundant, and while saddles were being cinched on horses, the cookand I divided the ammunition and distributed it among the men. Thefew minutes' rest refreshed my horse, but as we dashed away, the boysyelling like Comanches, the five-mile ride had bested him and he fellslightly behind. As we turned into the open valley, it was a question ifwe or the marshal would reach the stream first; he had followed an oldwood road and would strike the river nearly opposite Forrest's camp. The horses were excited and straining every nerve, and as we nearedour crowd the posse halted on the south side and I noticed a conveyanceamong them in which were seated four men. There was a moment'sconsultation held, when the posse entered the water and began fordingthe 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 forwardseveral lengths of his horse, and with his hand motioned to them tohalt. The leaders stopped within easy speaking distance, the remainderof the posse halting in groups at their rear, when Lovell demanded themeaning of this demonstration. 

An inquiry and answer followed identifying the speakers. "In pursuanceof an order from the federal court of this jurisdiction, " continued themarshal, "I am vested with authority to take into my custody two herds, numbering nearly seven thousand beeves, now in your possession, andrecently sold to Field, Radcliff & Co. For government purposes. Ipropose to execute my orders peaceably, and any interference on yourpart will put you and your men in contempt of government authority. Ifresistance is offered, I can, if necessary, have a company of UnitedStates cavalry here from Fort Logan within forty-eight hours to enforcethe mandates of the federal court. Now my advice to you would be to turnthese cattle over without further controversy. "

"And my advice to you, " replied Lovell, "is to go back to your federalcourt and tell that judge that as a citizen of these United States, andone who has borne arms in her defense, I object to having snap judgmentrendered against me. If the honorable court which you have the pleasureto represent is willing to dispossess me of my property in favor ofa ring of government thieves, and on only hearing one side of thequestion, then consider me in contempt. I'll gladly go back to Omahawith you, but you can't so much as look at a hoof in my possession. Nowcall your troops, or take me with you for treating with scorn the ordersof your court. "

Meanwhile every man on our side had an eye on Archie Tolleston, whohad gradually edged forward until his horse stood beside that of themarshal. 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 defyyou without a demonstration of soldiers at your back? Now, the laugh'son you, and--"

"No, it's on you, " interrupted a voice at my back, accompanied by apistol report. My horse jumped forward, followed by a fusillade of shotsbehind me, when the hireling deputies turned and plunged into the river. Tolleston had wheeled his horse, joining the retreat, and as I broughtmy six-shooter into action and was in the act of leveling on him, hereeled from the saddle, but clung to the neck of his mount as the animaldashed into the water. I held my fire in the hope that he would right inthe saddle and afford me a shot, but he struck a swift current, releasedhis hold, and sunk out of sight. Above the din and excitement of themoment, I heard a voice which I recognized as Reed's, shouting, "Cutloose on that team, boys! blaze away at those harness horses!" Evidentlythe team had been burnt by random firing, for they were rearing andplunging, and as I fired my first shot at them, the occupants sprang outof the vehicle and the team ran away. A lull occurred in the shooting, to eject shells and refill cylinders, which Lovell took advantage of byordering back a number of impulsive lads, who were determined to followup the fleeing deputies. 

"Come back here, you rascals, and stop this shooting!" shouted the oldman. "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 withsugar-coated blandishments, ordinary men ought to be excusable. "

Six-shooters were returned to their holsters. Several horses and two menon our side had received slight flesh wounds, as there had been a randomreturn fire. The deputies halted well out of pistol range, covering theretreat of the occupants of the carriage as best they could, but leavingthree dead horses in plain view. As we dropped back towards Forrest'swagon, the team in the mean time having been caught, those on footwere picked up and given seats in the conveyance. Meanwhile a remuda ofhorses and two chuck-wagons were sighted back on the old wood road, buta horseman met and halted them and they turned back for Ogalalla. Onreaching our nearest camp, the posse south of the river had started ontheir return, leaving behind one of their number in the muddy waters ofthe North Platte. 

Late that evening, as we were preparing to leave for our respectivecamps, Lovell said to the assembled foremen: "Quince will take Reed andme into Ogalalla about midnight. If Sutton advises it, all three of uswill go down to Omaha and try and square things. I can't escape a severefine, 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. Itwas uncalled for, too, but he would butt in, and you fellows were allitching for the chance to finger a trigger. Now the understanding isthat you all start in the morning. "

CHAPTER XVI. CROSSING THE NIOBRARA

The parting of the ways was reached. On the morning of July 12, thedifferent outfits in charge of Lovell's drive in '84 started on threeangles of the compass for their final destination. The Rosebud Agency, where Flood's herd was to be delivered on September 1, lay to thenortheast in Dakota. The route was not direct, and the herd would beforced to make quite an elbow, touching on the different forks of theLoup in order to secure water. The Rebel and my brother would follow upon the south side of the North Platte until near old Fort Laramie, whentheir routes would separate, the latter turning north for Montana, while Priest would continue along the same watercourse to within a shortdistance of his destination. The Buford herds would strike due northfrom the first tributary putting in from above, which we would interceptthe second morning out. 

An early start was the order of the day. My beeves were pushed from thebed-ground with the first sign of dawn, and when the relief overtookthem, they were several miles back from the river and holding anorthwest course. My camp being the lowest one on the North Fork, Forrest and Sponsilier, also starting at daybreak, naturally took thelead, the latter having fully a five-mile start over my outfit. But aswe left the valley and came up on the mesa, there on an angle in ourfront, Flood's herd snailed along like an army brigade, anxious todispute our advance. The point-men veered our cattle slightly to theleft, and as the drag-end of Flood's beeves passed before us, standingin our stirrups we waved our hats in farewell to the lads, starting ontheir last tack for the Rosebud Agency. Across the river were the dimoutlines of two herds trailing upstream, being distinguishable fromnumerous others by the dust-clouds which marked the moving from thegrazing cattle. The course of the North Platte was southwest, and on thedirection which we were holding, we would strike the river again duringthe afternoon at a bend some ten or twelve miles above. 

Near the middle of the forenoon we were met by Hugh Morris. He wasdiscouraged, as it was well known now that his cattle would be tenderedin competition with ours at Fort Buford. There was no comparison betweenthe beeves, ours being much larger, more uniform in weight, and inbetter flesh. He looked over both Forrest's and Sponsilier's herdsbefore meeting us, and was good enough judge of cattle to know thathis stood no chance against ours, if they were to be received on theirmerits. We talked matters over for fully an hour, and I advised himnever to leave Keith County until the last dollar in payment forhis beeves was in hand. Morris thought this was quite possible, asinformation had reached him that the buyers had recently purchased aremuda, and now, since they had failed to take possession of two ofLovell's herds, it remained to be seen what the next move would be. Hethought it quite likely, though, that a settlement could be effectedwhereby he would be relieved at Ogalalla. Mutually hoping that all wouldturn out well, we parted until our paths should cross again. 

We intercepted the North Fork again during the afternoon, watering fromit for the last time, and the next morning struck the Blue River, theexpected tributary. Sponsilier maintained his position in the lead, butI was certain when we reached the source of the Blue, David would fallto the rear, as thenceforth there was neither trail nor trace, map norcompass. The year before, Forrest and I had been over the route to thePine Ridge Agency, and one or the other of us must take the leadacross a dry country between the present stream and tributaries of theNiobrara. The Blue possessed the attributes of a river in name only, andthe third day up it, Sponsilier crossed the tributary to allow eitherForrest or myself to take the lead. Quince professed a remarkableignorance and faulty memory as to the topography of the country betweenthe Blue and Niobrara, and threw bouquets at me regarding my abilityalways to find water. It is true that I had gone and returned acrossthis arid belt the year before, but on the back trip it was late in thefall, and we were making forty miles a day with nothing but a wagonand remuda, water being the least of my troubles. But a compromise waseffected whereby we would both ride out the country anew, leaving theherds to lie over on the head waters of the Blue River. There wereseveral shallow lakes in the intervening country, and on finding thefirst one sufficient to our needs, the herds were brought up, and wescouted again in advance. The abundance of antelope was accepted as anassurance of water, and on recognizing certain landmarks, I agreed totake the lead thereafter, and we turned back. The seventh day out fromthe Blue, the Box Buttes were sighted, at the foot of which ran acreek by the same name, and an affluent of the Niobrara. Contrary toexpectations, water was even more plentiful than the year before, andwe grazed nearly the entire distance. The antelope were unusually tame;with six-shooters we killed quite a number by flagging, or using agentle horse for a blind, driving the animal forward with the bridlereins, tacking frequently, and allowing him to graze up within pistolrange. 

The Niobrara was a fine grazing country. Since we had over two months atour disposal, after leaving the North Platte, every advantage was giventhe cattle to round into form. Ten miles was a day's move, and thedifferent outfits kept in close touch with each other. We had planneda picnic for the crossing of the Niobrara, and on reaching that streamduring the afternoon, Sponsilier and myself crossed, camping a mileapart, Forrest remaining on the south side. Wild raspberries had beenextremely plentiful, and every wagon had gathered a quantity sufficientto make a pie for each man. The cooks had mutually agreed to meet atSponsilier's wagon and do the baking, and every man not on herd waspresent in expectation of the coming banquet. One of Forrest's boyshad a fiddle, and bringing it along, the festivities opened with a stagdance, the "ladies" being designated by wearing a horse-hobble looselyaround their necks. While the pies were baking, a slow process withDutch ovens, I sat on the wagon-tongue and played the violin by thehour. A rude imitation of the gentler sex, as we had witnessed indance-halls in Dodge and Ogalalla, was reproduced with open shirtfronts, and amorous advances by the sterner one. 

The dancing ceased the moment the banquet was ready. The cooks hadexperienced considerable trouble in restraining some of the boys fromthe too free exercise of what they looked upon as the inalienable rightof man to eat his pie when, where, and how it best pleased him. ButSponsilier, as host, stood behind the culinary trio, and overawed theimpetuous guests. The repast barely concluded in time for the wranglersand first guard from Forrest's and my outfit to reach camp, catchnight-horses, bed the cattle, and excuse the herders, as supper wasserved only at the one wagon. The relieved ones, like eleventh-hourguests, came tearing in after darkness, and the tempting spread soonabsorbed them. As the evening wore on, the loungers gathered in severalcircles, and the raconteur held sway. The fact that we were in a countryin which game abounded suggested numerous stories. The delights ofcat-hunting by night found an enthusiast in each one present. Every dogin our memory, back to early boyhood, was properly introduced andhis best qualities applauded. Not only cat-hounds but coon-dogs had arespectful hearing. 

"I remember a hound, " said Forrest's wrangler, "which I owned when aboy back in Virginia. My folks lived in the foot-hills of the Blue RidgeMountains 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 wasdogs, principally hounds. This dog of mine was four years old when Ileft home to go to Texas. Fine hound, swallow marked, and when he openedon a scent you could always tell what it was that he was running. Inever allowed him to run with packs, but generally used him in treeingcoon, which pestered the cornfields during roasting-ear season andin the fall. Well, after I had been out in Texas about five years, Iconcluded to go back on a little visit to the old folks. There wereno railroads within twenty miles of my home, and I had to hoof it thatdistance, so I arrived after dark. Of course my return was a greatsurprise to my folks, and we sat up late telling stories about thingsout West. I had worked with cattle all the time, and had made one tripover the trail from Collin County to Abilene, Kansas. 

"My folks questioned me so fast that they gave me no show to make anyinquiries in return, but I finally eased one in and asked about my dogKeiser, and was tickled to hear that he was still living. I went out andcalled him, but he failed to show up, when mother explained his absenceby saying that he often went out hunting alone now, since there was noneof us boys at home to hunt with him. They told me that he was no accountany longer; that he had grown old and gray, and father said he was tooslow 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 aroundthe fields in the hope of hearing him sing once more. Well, we went backinto the house, and after talking awhile longer, I climbed into theloft and went to bed. I didn't sleep very sound that night, and awakenedseveral times. About an hour before daybreak, I awoke suddenly andimagined I heard a hound baying faintly in the distance. Finally I gotup 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 oldKeiser, and he had something treed about a mile from the house, acrossa 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 andbyway 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 beaverdam 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. Heanswered 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 movedme just as that little reunion of me and my dog, there in those woodsthat morning. Why, he howled with delight. He licked my face and handsand stood up on me with his wet feet and said just as plain as he couldthat he was glad to see me again. And I was glad to meet him, eventhough 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 anold 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 thehouse, he ran on ahead and told the folks what he had found. Yes, youbet he told them. He came near clawing all the clothing off them in hisdelight. That's one reason I always like a dog and a poor man--you can'tquestion their friendship. "

A circus was in progress on the other side of the wagon. From a largerock, Jake Blair was announcing the various acts and introducing theactors and actresses. Runt Pickett, wearing a skirt made out of ablanket and belted with a hobble, won the admiration of all as the onlyliving lady lion-tamer. Resuming comfortable positions on our side ofthe commissary, a lad named Waterwall, one of Sponsilier's boys, took upthe broken thread where Forrest's wrangler had left off. 

"The greatest dog-man I ever knew, " said he, "lived on the GuadalupeRiver. His name was Dave Hapfinger, and he had the loveliest vagabondtemperament of any man I ever saw. It mattered nothing what he wasdoing, all you had to do was to give old Dave a hint that you knew wherethere was fish to be caught, or a bee-course to hunt, and he would stopthe plow and go with you for a week if necessary. He loved hounds betterthan any man I ever knew. You couldn't confer greater favor than togive him a promising hound pup, or, seeking the same, ask for one ofhis raising. And he was such a good fellow. If any one was sick in theneighborhood, Uncle Dave always had time to kill them a squirrel everyday; and he could make a broth for a baby, or fry a young squirrel, in amanner that would make a sick man's mouth water. 

"When I was a boy, I've laid around many a camp-fire this way andlistened 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 themonth, thirty years before, when he went to mill one time and found apeculiar bird's nest on the way. Colonel Andrews, owner of several largeplantations, didn't like Dave, and threatened to prosecute him once forcutting 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 meresuspicion isn't sufficient proof. 

"Colonel Andrews was a haughty old fellow, blue-blooded and proud as apeacock, and about the only way Dave could get even with him was in hisown 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 anunusually big commotion at St. Peter's gate on his arrival. A troopof angels greeted him, still the Colonel seemed displeased at hisreception. But the welcoming hosts humored him forward, and on nearingthe throne, the Almighty, recognizing the distinguished arrival, vacatedthe throne and came down to greet the Colonel personally. At this markof appreciation, he relaxed a trifle, and when the Almighty insistedthat he should take the throne seat, Colonel Andrews actually smiled forthe first time on earth or in heaven. '

"Uncle Dave told this story so often that he actually believed ithimself. But finally a wag friend of Colonel Andrews told of a dreamwhich he had had about old Dave, which the latter hugely enjoyed. According to this second vagary, the old vagabond had also died and goneto heaven. There was some trouble at St. Peter's gate, as they refusedto admit dogs, and Uncle Dave always had a troop of hounds at hisheels. When he found that it was useless to argue the matter, he finallyyielded the point and left the pack outside. Once inside the gate hestopped, bewildered at the scene before him. But after waiting insidesome little time unnoticed, he turned and was on the point of asking thegate-keeper to let him out, when an angel approached and asked him tostay. 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 ofthe golden streets Uncle Dave recognized an old friend who had oncegiven him a hound pup. Excusing himself to the angel, he rushed over tohis former earthly friend and greeted him with warmth and cordiality. The two old cronies talked and talked about the things below, andfinally Uncle Dave asked if there was any hunting up there. The replywas disappointing. 

"Meanwhile the angel kept urging Uncle Dave forward to salute thethrone. But he loitered along, meeting former hunting acquaintances, and stopping with each for a social chat. When they finally neared thethrone, the patience of the angel was nearly exhausted; and as old Davelooked up and saw Colonel Andrews occupying the throne, he rebelled andrefused to salute, when the angel wrathfully led him back to the gateand kicked him out among his dogs. "

Jack Splann told a yarn about the friendship of a pet lamb and dog whichhe owned when a boy. It was so unreasonable that he was interrupted onnearly every assertion. Long before he had finished, Sponsilier checkedhis narrative and informed him that if he insisted on doling out fictionhe must have some consideration for his listeners, and at least tell itwithin reason. Splann stopped right there and refused to concludehis story, though no one but myself seemed to regret it. I had a trueincident about a dog which I expected to tell, but the audience hadbecome too critical, and I kept quiet. As it was evident that no moredog stories would be told, the conversation was allowed to drift atwill. The recent shooting on the North Platte had been witnessed bynearly every one present, and was suggestive of other scenes. 

"I have always contended, " said Dorg Seay, "that the man who can controlhis temper always shoots the truest. You take one of these fellows thatcan smile and shoot at the same time--they are the boys that I want tostand in with. But speaking of losing the temper, did any of you eversee a woman real angry, --not merely cross, but the tigress in her ragingand thirsting to tear you limb from limb? I did only once, but I havenever forgotten the occasion. In supreme anger the only superior to thiswoman I ever witnessed was Captain Cartwright when he shot the slayer ofhis only son. He was as cool as a cucumber, as his only shot proved, butyears afterward when he told me of the incident, he lost all controlof himself, and fire flashed from his eyes like from the muzzle of asix-shooter. 'Dorg, ' said he, unconsciously shaking me like a terrierdoes a rat, his blazing eyes not a foot from my face, 'Dorg, when I shotthat cowardly ---- -- -- ----, I didn't miss the centre of his foreheadthe width of my thumb nail. '

"But this woman defied a throng of men. Quite a few of the crowd hadassisted the night before in lynching her husband, and this meetingoccurred at the burying-ground the next afternoon. The woman's husbandwas a well-known horse-thief, a dissolute, dangerous character, and hadbeen warned to leave the community. He lived in a little village, andafter darkness the evening before, had crept up to a window and shota man sitting at the supper-table with his family. The murderer hadharbored a grudge against his victim, had made threats, and before hecould escape, was caught red-handed with the freshly fired pistol inhis hand. The evidence of guilt was beyond question, and a vigilancecommittee didn't waste any time in hanging him to the nearest tree. 

"The burying took place the next afternoon. The murdered man was apopular citizen, and the village and country turned out to pay theirlast respects. But when the services were over, a number of us lingeredbehind, as it was understood that the slayer as well as his victim wouldbe interred in the same grounds. A second grave had been prepared, andwithin an hour a wagon containing a woman, three small children, andseveral Mexicans drove up to the rear side of the inclosure. There wasno mistaking the party, the coffin was carried in to the open grave, when every one present went over to offer friendly services. But as weneared the little group the woman picked up a shovel and charged onus like a tigress. I never saw such an expression of mingled anger andanguish in a human countenance as was pictured in that woman's face. Weshrank from her as if she had been a lioness, and when at last she foundher tongue, every word cut like a lash. Livid with rage, the spittlefrothing from her mouth, she drove us away, saying:

"'Oh, you fiends of hell, when did I ask your help? Like the curs youare, you would lick up the blood of your victim! Had you been friends tome or mine, why did you not raise your voice in protest when they werestrangling the life out of the father of my children? Away, you cowardlyhounds! I've hired a few Mexicans to help me, and I want none of yoursympathy in this hour. Was it your hand that cut him down from the treethis morning, and if it was not, why do I need you now? Is my shame notenough in your eyes but that you must taunt me further? Do my innocentchildren want to look upon the faces of those who robbed them of afather? If there is a spark of manhood left in one of you, show itby leaving me alone! And you other scum, never fear but that you willclutter hell in reward for last night's work. Begone, and leave me withmy dead!'"

The circus had ended. The lateness of the hour was unobserved by any oneuntil John Levering asked me if he should bring in my horse. It lackedless than half an hour until the guards should change, and it was hightime our outfit was riding for camp. The innate modesty of my wrangler, in calling attention to the time, was not forgotten, but instead ofpermitting him to turn servant, I asked him to help our cook look afterhis utensils. On my return to the wagon, Parent was trying to quiet anervous 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 ofForrest's men, hoping to make the animal buck, attempted to place abriar stem under the horse's tail. Sponsilier detected the movement intime to stop it, and turning to the culprit, said: "None of that, mybully boy. I have no objection to killing a cheap cow-hand, but thesecooks have won me, hands down. If ever I run across a girl who can makeas good pies as we had for supper, she can win the affections of myyoung and trusting heart. "

CHAPTER XVII. WATER-BOUND

Our route was carrying us to the eastward of the Black Hills. Theregular trail to the Yellowstone and Montana points was by the way ofthe Powder River, through Wyoming; but as we were only grazing across toour destination, the most direct route was adopted. The first week afterleaving the Niobrara was without incident, except the meeting with aband of Indians, who were gathering and drying the wild fruit in whichthe country abounded. At first sighting their camp we were uneasy, holding the herd close together; but as they proved friendly, we relaxedand shared our tobacco with the men. The women were nearly all of onestature, short, heavy, and repulsive in appearance, while the men weretall, splendid specimens of the aborigines, and as uniform in a dozenrespects as the cattle we were driving. Communication was impossible, except by signs, but the chief had a letter of permission from the agentat Pine Ridge, allowing himself and band a month's absence from thereservation on a berrying expedition. The bucks rode with us for hours, silently absorbed in the beeves, and towards evening turned and gallopedaway for their encampment. 

It must have been the latter part of July when we reached the South Forkof the Big Cheyenne River. The lead was first held by one and thenthe other herd, but on reaching that watercourse, we all found it moreformidable 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 orthe other. Sponsilier happened to be in the lead, and Forrest and myselfheld back to await the decision of the veteran foreman. The river ranon a northwest angle where we encountered it, and Dave followed down itsome distance looking for a crossing. The herds were only three or fourmiles apart, and assistance could have been rendered each other, but itwas hardly to be expected that an older foreman would ask either adviceor help from younger ones. Hence Quince and myself were in no hurry, nor did we intrude ourselves on David the pathfinder, but sought out acrossing up the river and on our course. A convenient riffle was soonfound in the river which would admit the passage of the wagons withoutrafting, if a cut-bank on the south side could be overcome. There wasan abrupt drop of about ten feet to the water level, and I argued thata wagon-way could be easily cut in the bank and the commissaries loweredto the river's edge with a rope to the rear axle. Forrest also favoredthe idea, and I was authorized to cross the wagons in case a suitableford could be found for the cattle. My aversion to manual labor wasquite pronounced, yet John Q. Forrest wheedled me into accepting thetask of making a wagon-road. About a mile above the riffle, a dry washcut a gash in the bluff bank on the opposite side, which promised thenecessary passageway for the herds out of the river. The slope on thesouth side was gradual, affording an easy inlet to the water, the onlydanger being on the other bank, the dry wash not being over thirty feetwide. But we both agreed that by putting the cattle in well above thepassageway, even if the current was swift, an easy and successful fordwould result. Forrest volunteered to cross the cattle, and together wereturned to the herds for dinner. 

Quince allowed me one of his men besides the cook, and detailed ClayZilligan to assist with the wagons. We took my remuda, the spades andaxes, and started for the riffle. The commissaries had orders to followup, and Forrest rode away with a supercilious air, as if the crossing ofwagons was beneath the attention of a foreman of his standing. Severalhours of hard work were spent with the implements at hand in cutting thewagon-way through the bank, after which my saddle horses were drivenup and down; and when it was pronounced finished, it looked more like abeaver-slide than a roadway. But a strong stake was cut and driveninto the ground, and a corral-rope taken from the axle to it; withoutdetaching the teams, the wagons were eased down the incline and crossedin safety, the water not being over three feet deep in the shallows. Iwas elated over the ease and success of my task, when Zilligan calledattention to the fact that the first herd had not yet crossed. Thechosen ford was out of sight, but had the cattle been crossing, we couldhave easily seen them on the mesa opposite. "Well, " said Clay, "thewagons are over, and what's more, all the mules in the three outfitscouldn't bring one of them back up that cliff. "

We mounted our horses, paying no attention to Zilligan's note ofwarning, and started up the river. But before we came in view of theford, a great shouting reached our ears, and giving our horses therowel, we rounded a bend, only to be confronted with the river full ofcattle which had missed the passageway out on the farther side. A glanceat the situation revealed a dangerous predicament, as the swift waterand the contour of the river held the animals on the farther side orunder the cut-bank. In numerous places there was footing on the narrowledges to which the beeves clung like shipwrecked sailors, constantlycrowding each other off into the current and being carried downstreamhundreds of yards before again catching a foothold. Above and below thechosen ford, the river made a long gradual bend, the current and deepestwater naturally hugged the opposite shore, and it was impossible for thecattle to turn back, though the swimming water was not over forty yardswide. As we dashed up, the outfit succeeded in cutting the train ofcattle and turning them back, though fully five hundred were in theriver, while not over one fifth that number had crossed in safety. Forrest was as cool as could be expected, and exercised an elegantcommand of profanity in issuing his orders. 

"I did allow for the swiftness of the current, " said he, in reply to acriticism of mine, "but those old beeves just drifted downstream like alot of big tubs. The horses swam it easy, and the first hundred cattlestruck the mouth of the wash square in the eye, but after that theymisunderstood it for a bath instead of a ford. Oh, well, it's live andlearn, 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 wasattempted. About three quarters of a mile down the river the cut-bankshifted to the south side. If the cattle could swim that distance therewas an easy landing below. The beeves belonged to Forrest's herd, andI declined the proffered leadership, but plans were outlined and westarted the work of rescue. Only a few men were left to look after themain herds, the remainder of us swimming the river on our horses. Oneman was detailed to drive the contingent which had safely forded, downto the point where the bluff bank shifted and the incline commenced onthe north shore. The cattle were clinging, in small bunches, under thecut-bank like swallows to a roof for fully a quarter-mile below themouth of the dry wash. Divesting ourselves of all clothing, a squad ofsix of us, by way of experiment, dropped over the bank and pushed intothe river about twenty of the lowest cattle. On catching the full forceof the current, which ran like a mill-race, we swept downstream at arapid pace, sometimes clinging to a beef's tail, but generally swimmingbetween the cattle and the bluff. The force of the stream drove themagainst the bank repeatedly, but we dashed water in their eyes andpushed them off again and again, and finally landed every steer. 

The Big Cheyenne was a mountain stream, having numerous tributariesheading in the Black Hills. The water was none too warm, and when wecame out the air chilled us; but we scaled the bluff and raced backafter more cattle. Forrest was in the river on our return, but I orderedhis wrangler to drive all the horses under saddle down to the landing, in order that the men could have mounts for returning. This expeditedmatters, and the work progressed more rapidly. Four separate squads weredrifting the cattle, but in the third contingent we cut off too manybeeves and came near drowning two fine ones. The animals in questionwere large and strong, but had stood for nearly an hour on a slipperyledge, frequently being crowded into the water, and were on the verge ofcollapse from nervous exhaustion. They were trembling like leaves whenwe pushed them off. Runt Pickett was detailed to look especially afterthose two, and the little rascal nursed and toyed and played with themlike a circus rider. They struggled constantly for the inshore, but Runtrode their rumps alternately, the displacement lifting their heads outof the water to good advantage. When we finally landed, the two bigfellows staggered out of the river and dropped down through sheerweakness, a thing which I had never seen before except in wild horses. 

A number of the boys were attacked by chills, and towards evening hadto be excused for fear of cramps. By six o'clock we were reduced to twosquads, with about fifty cattle still remaining in the river. Forrestand I had quit the water after the fourth trip; but Quince had a mannamed De Manse, a Frenchman, who swam like a wharf-rat and who stayed tothe finish, while I turned my crew over to Runt Pickett. The latter wasraised on the coast of Texas, and when a mere boy could swim all day, with or without occasion. Dividing the remaining beeves as near equallyas 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 momentlater in taking the water, and as pretty and thrilling a race as I everwitnessed was in progress. The latter practiced a trick, when catching afavorable current, of dipping the rump of a steer, thus lifting his foreparts and rocking him forward like a porpoise. When a beef droppedto the rear, this process was resorted to, and De Manse promised toovertake Pickett. From our position on the bank, we shouted to Runt todip his drag cattle in swift water; but amid the din and splash of thestruggling swimmers our messages failed to reach his ears. De Manse wasgaining slowly, when Pickett's bunch were driven inshore, a number ofthem catching a footing, and before they could be again pushed off, theFrenchman's cattle were at their heels. A number of De Manse's men wereswimming shoreward of their charges, and succeeded in holding theirbeeves off the ledge, which was the last one before the landing. Theremaining hundred yards was eddy water; and though Pickett fought hard, swimming among the Frenchman's lead cattle, to hold the two bunchesseparate, they mixed in the river. As an evidence of victory, however, when the cattle struck a foothold, Runt and each of his men mounted abeef and rode out of the water some distance. As the steers recoveredand attempted to dislodge their riders, they nimbly sprang from theirbacks and hustled themselves into their ragged clothing. 

I breathed easier after the last cattle landed, though Forrest contendedthere was never any danger. At least a serious predicament had beenblundered into and handled, as was shown by subsequent events. At noonthat day, rumblings of thunder were heard in the Black Hills country tothe west, a warning to get across the river as soon as possible. Sothe situation at the close of the day was not a very encouraging oneto either Forrest or myself. The former had his cattle split in twobunches, while I had my wagon and remuda on the other side of the riverfrom my herd. But the emergency must be met. I sent a messenger afterour wagon, it was brought back near the river, and a hasty supper wasordered. Two of my boys were sent up to the dry wash to recross theriver and drift our cattle down somewhere near the wagon-crossing, thusseparating the herds for the night. I have never made claim to beingoverbright, but that evening I did have sense or intuition enough totake our saddle horses back across the river. My few years of trail lifehad taught me the importance of keeping in close touch with our baseof subsistence, while the cattle and the saddle stock for handling themshould under no circumstances ever be separated. Yet under existingconditions it was impossible to recross our commissary, and darknessfell 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 thenorthwest, threatening falling weather, and hasty preparations were madeto move down the stream in search of a crossing. In fording the river tobreakfast, my outfit agreed that there had been no perceptible changein the stage of water overnight, which quickened our desire to move atonce. The two wagons were camped close together, and as usual Forrestwas indifferent and unconcerned over the threatening weather; he hadleft his remuda all night on the north side of the river, and hadactually turned loose the rescued contingent of cattle. I did not mincemy words in giving Mr. Forrest my programme, when he turned on me, saying: "Quirk, you have more trouble than a married woman. What do Icare 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 yoursgets wet. But you go right ahead and follow up Sponsilier; he may notfind a crossing this side of the Belle Fourche. I can take spades andaxes, and in two hours' time cut down and widen that wagon-way until theherds 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 laborwith an axe or spade. During our short acquaintance that had been putto the test too often to admit of question; but I encouraged him to flyright at the bank, assuring him that in case his tools became heated, there was always water at hand to cool them. The wrangler had rustledin the wagon-mules for our cook, and Forrest was still ridiculing myanxiety to move, when a fusillade of shots was heard across and up theriver. Every man at both wagons was on his feet in an instant, not oneof us even dreaming that the firing of the boys on herd was a warning, when Quince's horsewrangler galloped up and announced a flood-wavecoming down the river. A rush was made for our horses, and we struck forthe ford, dashing through the shallows and up the farther bank withoutdrawing rein. With a steady rush, a body of water, less than a miledistant, greeted our vision, looking like the falls of some river, rolling forward like an immense cylinder. We sat our horses inbewilderment of the scene, though I had often heard Jim Flood describethe sudden rise of streams which had mountain tributaries. Forrest andhis men crossed behind us, leaving but the cooks and a horse-wrangler onthe farther side. It was easily to be seen that all the lowlands alongthe river would be inundated, so I sent Levering back with orders tohook up the team and strike for tall timber. Following suit, Forrestsent two men to rout the contingent of cattle out of a bend which wasnearly a mile below the wagons. The wave, apparently ten to twelve feethigh, moved forward slowly, great walls lopping off on the side andflooding out over the bottoms, while on the farther shore every crannyand arroyo claimed its fill from the avalanche of water. The cattle onthe south side were safe, grazing well back on the uplands, so we gavethe oncoming flood our undivided attention. It was traveling at therate of eight to ten miles an hour, not at a steady pace, but sometimesalmost halting when the bottoms absorbed its volume, only to catch itsbreath and forge ahead again in angry impetuosity. As the water passedus on the bluff bank, several waves broke over and washed around ourhorses' feet, filling the wagon-way, but the main volume rolled acrossthe narrow valley on the opposite side. The wagons had pulled outto higher ground, and while every eye was strained, watching for therescued beeves to come out of the bend below, Vick Wolf, who happenedto look upstream, uttered a single shout of warning and dashed away. Turning in our saddles, we saw within five hundred feet of us a secondwave about half the height of the first one. Rowels and quirts wereplied with energy and will, as we tore down the river-bank, making agradual circle until the second bottoms were reached, outriding theflood by a close margin. 

The situation was anything but encouraging, as days might elapse beforethe water would fall. But our hopes revived as we saw the contingentof about six hundred beeves stampede out of a bend below and across theriver, followed by two men who were energetically burning powderand flaunting slickers in their rear. Within a quarter of an hour, ahalfmile of roaring, raging torrent, filled with floating driftwood, separated us from the wagons which contained the staples of life. But inthe midst of the travail of mountain and plain, the dry humor of the menwas irrepressible, one of Forrest's own boys asking him if he felt anyuneasiness now about his salt and sugar. 

"Oh, this is nothing, " replied Quince, with a contemptuous wave of hishand. "These freshets are liable to happen at any time; rise in an hourand fall in half a day. Look there how it is clearing off in thewest; the river will be fordable this evening or in the morning at thefurthest. As long as everything is safe, what do we care? If it comes toa pinch, we have plenty of stray beef; berries are ripe, and I reckonif we cast around we might find some wild onions. I have lived a wholemonth at a time on nothing but land-terrapin; they make larruping fineeating when you are cut off from camp this way. Blankets? Never usethem; sleep on your belly and cover with your back, and get up with thebirds in the morning. These Lovell outfits are getting so tony thatby another year or two they'll insist on bathtubs, Florida water, andtowels with every wagon. I like to get down to straight beans for afew days every once in a while; it has a tendency to cure a man with awhining disposition. The only thing that's worrying me, if we get cutoff, is the laugh that Sponsilier will have on us. "

We all knew Forrest was bluffing. The fact that we were water-bound wastoo apparent to admit of question, and since the elements were beyondour control, there was no telling when relief would come. Until theweather moderated in the hills to the west, there was no hope ofcrossing the river; but men grew hungry and nights were chilly, andbluster and bravado brought neither food nor warmth. A third wave wasnoticed within an hour, raising the water-gauge over a foot. TheSouth Fork of the Big Cheyenne almost encircled the entire BlackHills country, and with a hundred mountain affluents emptying in theirtribute, the waters commanded and we obeyed. Ordering my men to killa beef, I rode down the river in the hope of finding Sponsilier on ourside, and about noon sighted his camp and cattle on the opposite bank. Agroup of men were dallying along the shore, but being out of hearing, Iturned 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 ofthe water, and we settled down like prisoners, waiting for an expectedreprieve. Towards evening a fire was built up and the two sides of ribswere spitted over it, our only chance for supper. Night fell with noperceptible change in the situation, the weather remaining dry andclear. Forrest's outfit had been furnished horses from my remuda forguard duty, and about midnight, wrapping ourselves in slickers, welay down in a circle with our feet to the fire like cave-dwellers. Thecamp-fire was kept up all night by the returning guards, even until themorning hours, when we woke up shivering at dawn and hurried away tonote the stage of the water. A four-foot fall had taken place during thenight, another foot was added within an hour after sun-up, brighteningour hopes, when a tidal wave swept down the valley, easily establishinga new high-water mark. Then we breakfasted on broiled beefsteak, andfell back into the hills in search of the huckleberry, which abounded inthat vicinity. 

A second day and night passed, with the water gradually falling. Thethird morning a few of the best swimmers, tiring of the diet of beef andberries, took advantage of the current and swam to the other shore. Onreturning several hours later, they brought back word that Sponsilierhad been up to the wagons the afternoon before and reported an easycrossing about five miles below. By noon the channel had narrowed to onehundred yards of swimming water, and plunging into it on our horses, we dined at the wagons and did justice to the spread. Both outfits wereanxious to move, and once dinner was over, the commissaries were starteddown the river, while we turned up it, looking for a chance to swim backto the cattle. Forrest had secured a fresh mount of horses, and somedistance above the dry wash we again took to the water, landing on theopposite side between a quarter and half mile below. Little time waslost in starting the herds, mine in the lead, while the wagons gotaway well in advance, accompanied by Forrest's remuda and the isolatedcontingent of cattle. 

Sponsilier was expecting us, and on the appearance of our wagons, movedout to a new camp and gave us a clear crossing. A number of the boyscame down to the river with him, and several of them swam it, meetingthe cattle a mile above and piloting us into the ford. They had assuredme that there might be seventy-five yards of swimming water, with agradual entrance to the channel and a half-mile of solid footing atthe outcome. The description of the crossing suited me, and putting ourremuda in the lead, we struck the muddy torrent and crossed it withouta halt, the chain of swimming cattle never breaking for a single moment. Forrest followed in our wake, the one herd piloting the other, andwithin 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 BigCheyenne. Meanwhile Sponsilier had been quietly sitting his horse belowthe main landing, his hat pulled down over his eye, nursing the humor ofthe situation. As Forrest came up out of the water with the rear guardof 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, wehad huckleberry pie and venison galore, but your men told me that youhad quit eating with the wagon. I was pained to hear that you and Tomhave both gone plum hog-wild, drinking out of cowtracks and living onwild garlic and land-terrapin, just like Injuns. Honest, boys, I hate tosee good men go wrong that way. "

CHAPTER XVIII. THE LITTLE MISSOURI

A week later we crossed the Belle Fourche, sometimes called the NorthFork of the Big Cheyenne. Like its twin sister on the south, it wasa mountain river, having numerous affluents putting in from the BlackHills, which it encircled on the north and west. Between these twobranches of the mother stream were numerous tributaries, establishingit as the best watered country encountered in our long overland cruise. Besides the splendid watercourses which marked that section, numerouswagontrails, leading into the hills, were peopled with freighters. Longox trains, moving at a snail's pace, crept over hill and plain, thecommon carrier between the mines and the outside world. The fascinationof the primal land was there; the buttes stood like sentinels, guardinga king's domain, while the palisaded cliffs frowned down, as if erectedby the hand Omnipotent to mark the boundary of nations. 

Our route, after skirting the Black Hills, followed up the Belle Fourchea few days, and early in August we crossed over to the Little MissouriRiver. The divide between the Belle Fourche and the latter stream was anarrow one, requiring little time to graze across it, and interceptingthe Little Missouri somewhere in Montana. The course of that river wasalmost due north, and crossing and recrossing it frequently, we keptconstantly in touch with it on our last northward tack. The river ledthrough sections of country now known as the Bad Lands, but we found anabundance of grass and an easy passage. Sponsilier held the lead all theway down the river, though I did most of the advance scouting, sometimesbeing as much as fifty miles in front of the herds. Near the last of themonth we sighted Sentinel Butte and the smoke of railroad trains, and afew days later all three of us foremen rode into Little Missouri Stationof the Northern Pacific Railway. Our arrival was expected by one manat least; for as we approached the straggling village, our employer wasrecognized at a distance, waving his hat, and a minute later all threeof us were shaking hands with Don Lovell. Mutual inquiries followed, andwhen we reported the cattle fine as silk, having never known a hungry orthirsty hour after leaving the North Platte, the old man brightened andled 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 wecame out with colors flying. The United States marshal who attempted totake possession of the cattle on the North Platte went back on thesame train with us. He was feeling sore over his defeat, but Suttoncultivated his acquaintance, and in mollifying that official, showed himhow easily failure could be palmed off as a victory. In fact, I thinkMike overcolored the story at my expense. He and the marshal gave itto the papers, and the next morning it appeared in the form of asensational article. According to the report, a certain popular federalofficer had gone out to Ogalalla to take possession of two herds ofcattle intended for government purposes; he had met with resistance bya lot of Texas roughs, who fatally shot one of his deputies, woundingseveral others, and killing a number of horses during the assault; butthe intrepid officer had added to his laurels by arresting the owner ofthe cattle and leader of the resisting mob, and had brought him backto face the charge of contempt in resisting service. The papers freelypredicted that I would get the maximum fine, and one even went so far asto suggest that imprisonment might teach certain arrogant cattle kingsa salutary lesson. But when the hearing came up, Sutton placed Jim Reedand me in the witness-box, taking the stand later himself, and weshowed that federal court that it had been buncoed out of an order ofinjunctive relief, in favor of the biggest set of ringsters that evermissed stretching hemp. The result was, I walked out of that federalcourt scot free. And Judge Dundy, when he realized the injustice thathe had inflicted, made all three of us take dinner with him, fullyexplaining the pressure which had been brought to bear at the time theorder of relief was issued. Oh, that old judge was all right. I onlyhope we'll have as square a man as Judge Dundy at the final hearing atFort Buford. Do you see that sign over there, where it says Barley Waterand 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 toOgalalla; the body of Tolleston had been recovered and given decentburial; delivery day of the three Indian herds was at hand, bringingthat branch of the season's drive to a close. But the main thing whichabsorbed our employer was the quarantine that the upper Yellowstonecountry proposed enforcing against through Texas cattle. He assuredus that had we gone by way of Wyoming and down the Powder River, thechances were that the local authorities would have placed us underquarantine until after the first frost. He assured us that the yearbefore, Texas fever had played sad havoc among the native and winteredSouthern cattle, and that Miles City and Glendive, live-stock centres onthe Yellowstone, were up in arms in favor of a rigid quarantine againstall through cattle. If this proved true, it was certainly an ill windto drovers on the Powder River route; yet I failed to see where we werebenefited until my employer got down to details. 

"That's so, " said he; "I forgot to tell you boys that when Reed and Iwent back to Ogalalla, we found Field, Radcliff & Co. Buying beeves. Yes, they had bought a remuda of horses, rigged up two wagons, andhired men to take possession of our 'Open A' and 'Drooping T' herds. Butmeeting with disappointment and having the outfit on their hands, theyconcluded 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. ButReed and I raised such a howl around that town that we posted every manwith beeves for sale until the buyers had to pony up the cash for everyhoof they bought. We even hunted up young Murnane, the seller of theherd that Jim Reed ran the attachment on; and before old Jim and I gotthrough with him, we had his promise not to move out of Keith Countyuntil the last dollar was in hand. The buyers seemed to command allkinds of money, but where they expect to make anything, even if theydo 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 thousandbeef steers on the way to Fort Buford this very minute. They are comingthrough on the North Platte and Powder River route, and if quarantinecan be enforced against them until frost falls, it will give us a clearfield at Buford on the day of delivery. Now it stands us in hand to seethat those herds are isolated until after the 15th day of September. "

The atmosphere cleared instantly. I was well aware of the ravages ofsplenic fever; but two decades ago every drover from Texas denied thepossibility of a through animal in perfect health giving a disease towintered Southerners or domestic cattle, also robust and healthy. Time has demonstrated the truth, yet the manner in which the germ istransmitted between healthy animals remains a mystery to this day, although there has been no lack of theories advanced. Even the theoristsdiffered as to the manner of germ transmission, the sporule, tick, andship fever being the leading theories, and each having its advocates. The latter was entitled to some consideration, for if bad usage andthe lack of necessary rest, food, and water will produce fever aboardemigrant steamships, the same privations might do it among animals. Theoverdriving of trail cattle was frequently unavoidable, dry drives andthe lack of grass on arid wastes being of common occurrence. However, the presence of fever among through cattle was never noticeable to thepractical man, and if it existed, it must have been very mild in formcompared to its virulent nature among natives. Time has demonstratedthat it is necessary for the domestic animals to walk over and occupythe same ground to contract the disease, though they may drink from thesame trough or stream of water, or inhale each other's breath in playacross a wire fence, without fear of contagion. A peculiar feature ofTexas fever was that the very cattle which would impart it on theirarrival, after wintering in the North would contract it and die the sameas natives. The isolation of herds on a good range for a period of sixtydays, or the falling of frost, was recognized as the only preventiveagainst transmitting the germ. Government rewards and experiments havenever demonstrated a theory that practical experience does not dispute. 

The only time on this drive that our attention had been called to thefever alarm was on crossing the wagon trail running from Pierre on theMissouri River to the Black Hills. I was in the lead when a large bulltrain was sighted in our front, and shortly afterward the wagon-bossmet me and earnestly begged that I allow his outfit to pass before wecrossed the wagon-road. I knew the usual form of ridicule of a herdforeman, but the boss bull-whacker must have anticipated my reply, forhe informed me that the summer before he had lost ninety head out oftwo hundred yoke of oxen. The wagon-master's appeal was fortified by asincerity which won his request, and I held up my cattle and allowed histrain 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. Thewagon-boss rode across and made a similar request of Forrest, but thatworthy refused to recognize the right of way to a bull train at theexpense of a trail herd of government beeves. Ungentlemanly remarks aresaid to have passed between them, when the boss bull-whacker threw downthe gauntlet and galloped back to his train. Forrest pushed on, withample time to have occupied the road in crossing, thus holding up thewagon train. My herd fell to grazing, and Sponsilier rode up to inquirethe cause of my halting. I explained the request of the wagon-master, his loss the year before and present fear of fever, and called attentionto the clash which was imminent between the long freight outfit in ourfront 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. Itwas evident that Forrest would be the first to reach the freight road, and would naturally hold it while his cattle were crossing it. But whenthis also became apparent to the bull train, the lead teams drove out ofthe road and halted, the rear wagons passing on ahead, the two outfitsbeing fully a mile apart. There were about twenty teams of ten yokeeach, and when the first five or six halted, they unearthed old needlerifles 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 leadof the herd, and Forrest turned his cattle back, while the bull trainheld its way, undisputed. It was immaterial to Forrest who occupied theroad first, and with the jeers of the freighters mingled the laughterof Sponsilier and my outfit, as John Quincy Forrest reluctantly turnedback. 

This incident served as a safety-valve, and whenever Forrest forged tothe lead in coming down the Little Missouri, all that was necessary tocheck him was to inquire casually which held the right of way, a trailherd 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 everafterward. So when the devil was sick the devil a monk would be; andif there was any advantage in taking the contrary view to the oneentertained by all drovers, so long as our herds were free, we were notlike men who could not experience a change of opinion, if in doing sothe wind was tempered to us. Also in this instance we were fighting anavowed enemy, and all is fair in love and war. And amid the fumes of badcigars, Sponsilier drew out the plan of campaign. 

"Now, let's see, " said old man Don, "tomorrow will be the 25th day ofAugust. I've got to be at the Crow Agency a few days before the 10thof next month, as you know we have a delivery there on that date. Floodwill have to attend to matters at Rosebud on the 1st, and then hurry onwest and be present at Paul's delivery at Fort Washakie. So you see I'llhave to depend on two of you boys going up to Glendive and Miles andseeing that those cow-towns take the proper view of this quarantinematter. After dinner you'll fall back and bring up your herds, and aftercrossing the railroad here, the outfits will graze over to Buford. We'llleave four of our best saddle horses here in a pasture, so as to beindependent on our return. Since things have changed so, the chances arethat I'll bring Bob Quirk back with me, as I've written Flood to helpThe Rebel sell his remuda and take the outfit and go home. Now you boysdecide among yourselves which two of you will go up the Yellowstone andpromote the enforcement of the quarantine laws. Don't get the impressionthat you can't do this, because an all-round cowman can do anythingwhere his interests are at stake. I'll think the programme out a littlemore clearly by the time you bring up the cattle. "

The herds were not over fifteen miles back up the river when we leftthem in the morning. After honoring the village of Little Missouri withour presence for several hours, we saddled up and started to meet thecattle. There was no doubt in my mind but that Sponsilier would be oneof the two to go on the proposed errand of diplomacy, as his years, experience, and good solid sense entitled him to outrank either Forrestor myself. I knew that Quince would want to go, if for no other reasonthan 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 whoshould go on the diplomatic mission. I was the youngest and naturallytook refuge behind my years, yet perfectly conscious that, in spite ofthe indifferent and nonchalant attitude assumed, all three of us foremenwere equally anxious for the chance. Matters remained undecided; but thenext day at dinner, Lovell having met us before reaching the railroad, the question arose who should go up to Miles City. Dave and Quincewere also eating at my wagon, and when our employer forced an answer, Sponsilier innocently replied that he supposed that we were all willingto 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 hiswords in appointing the committees to represent the firm of Lovell. 

"Jealous of each other, ain't you? Very well; I want these herds grazedacross to Buford at the rate of four miles a day. Nothing but a Mexicanpastor, 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 theYellowstone. I want to put every ounce possible on those steers for thenext twenty days. We may have to make a comparison of cattle, and if weshould, I want ours to lay over the opposition like a double eagledoes over a lead dime. We may run up against a lot of red tape atFort Buford, but if there is a lick of cow-sense among the governmentrepresentatives, we want our beeves to speak for themselves. Fat animalsdo their own talking. You remember when every one was admiring thefine horse, the blind man said, 'Isn't he fat?' Now, Dave, you andTom appoint your segundos, and we'll all catch the 10:20 train westto-night. "

I dared to risk one eye on Forrest. Inwardly I was chuckling, but Quincewas mincing along with his dinner, showing that languid indifferencewhich is inborn to the Texan. Lovell continued to monopolize theconversation, blowing on the cattle and ribbing up Forrest to see thatthe beeves thenceforth should never know tire, hunger, or thirst. Thecommissaries had run low; Sponsilier's cook had been borrowing beansfrom us for a week past, while Parent point-blank refused to share anymore 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 alwaysfell back to bacon with avidity. When it came time to move out on theevening lap, Forrest's herd took the lead, the other two falling inbehind, the wagons pulling out for town in advance of everything. Jack Splann had always acted as segundo in my absence, and as he hadoverheard Lovell's orders to Forrest, there was nothing further for meto add, and Splann took charge of my "Open A's. "

When changing mounts at noon, I caught out two of my best saddlers andtied 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 intothe village in order to secure a few staple supplies with which tocomplete the journey. 

It can be taken for granted that Sponsilier and myself were feelingquite gala. The former took occasion, as we rode along, to throw severalbouquets 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'reboth purty good talkers, but neither one of you can show me where therainbow comes in in rotting along with these measly cattle. It's enoughto make a man kick his own dog. But I can see where the old man wasperfectly right in sending you two up to Miles City. When you fellowswork your rabbit's foot, it will be Katy with those Washington Cityschemers--more than likely they'll not draw cards when they see that youare in the game--When it comes to the real sabe, you fellows shine likea tree full of owls. Honest, it has always been a wonder to me thatGrant 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 MissouriStation. The wagons secured the needed supplies, and pulled out down theriver, leaving Sponsilier and myself foot-loose and free. 

Lovell was riding a livery horse, and as neither of us expected him toreturn until it was too dark to see the cattle, we amused ourselves bylooking over the town. There seemed to be a great deal of freighting tooutlying points, numerous ox and mule trains coming in and also leavingfor their destinations. Our employer came in about dusk, and at oncewent to the depot, as he was expecting a message. One had arrived duringhis 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 thebest lawyer in the West, and he has just wired me that he has retainedSenator Aspgrain of Sioux City, Iowa. They will report at Fort Bufordon September the 5th and will take care of any legal complications whichmay arise. I don't know who this senator is, but Mike has orders not tospare any expense as long as we have the other fellow's money to fightwith. Well, if the Iowa lawyers are as good stuff as the Iowa troopswere down in Dixie, that's all I ask. Now, we'll get our suppers andthen sack our saddles--why, sure, you'll need them; every good cowmantakes his saddle wherever he goes, though he may not have clothes enoughwith him to dust a fiddle. "

CHAPTER XIX. IN QUARANTINE

We reached Miles City shortly after midnight. It was the recognizedcattle centre of Montana at that time, but devoid of the high-lightswhich were a feature of the trail towns. The village boasted the usualnumber of saloons and dance-houses, and likewise an ordinance compellingsuch resorts to close on the stroke of twelve. Lovell had been therebefore, 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 twobeds. This was perfectly satisfactory, as it was a large apartmentand fronted out on an open gallery. Old man Don suggested we take themattresses outside, but as this was my first chance to sleep in a bedsince leaving the ranch in March, I wanted all the comforts that weredue me. Sponsilier likewise favored the idea of sleeping inside, and ouremployer yielded, taking the single bed on retiring. The night was warm, and after thrashing around for nearly an hour, supposing that Dave and Iwere 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 andhaving been in our saddles at dawn, we tossed about, unable to sleep. After agreeing that it was the mattress, we took the covering andpillows and lay down on the floor, falling into a deep slumber almostinstantly. "Well, wouldn't that jar your eccentric, " said Dave to me thenext morning, speaking of our inability to sleep in a bed. "I slept inone in Ogalalla, and I wasn't over-full either. "

Lovell remained with us all the next day. He was well known in MilesCity, having in other years sold cattle to resident cowmen. The day wasspent in hunting up former acquaintances, getting the lay of the land, and feeling the public pulse on the matter of quarantine on Southerncattle. The outlook was to our liking, as heavy losses had beensustained from fever the year before, and steps had already been takento isolate all through animals until frost fell. Report was abroad thatthere were already within the jurisdiction of Montana over one hundredand fifty thousand through Texas cattle, with a possibility of onethird that number more being added before the close of the season. Thatterritory had established a quarantine camp on the Wyoming line, forcingall Texas stock to follow down the eastern side of the Powder River. Fully one hundred miles on the north, a dead-line was drawn fromPowderville on that watercourse eastward to a spur of the Powder RiverMountains, thus setting aside a quarantine ground ample to accommodatehalf a million cattle. Local range-riders kept all the native andwintered Texas cattle to the westward of the river and away from thethrough ones, which was easily done by riding lines, the Southern herdsbeing held under constant control and hence never straying. The firstTexas herds to arrive naturally traveled north to the dead-line, and, choosing a range, went into camp until frost relieved them. It was anunwritten law that a herd was entitled to as much grazing land as itneeded, and there was a report about Miles City that the quarantineground was congested with cattle halfway from Powderville to the Wyomingline. 

The outlook was encouraging. Quarantine was working a hardship to herdsalong the old Powder River route, yet their enforced isolation waslike a tempered wind to our cause and cattle, the latter then leisurelygrazing across Dakota from the Little Missouri to the mouth of theYellowstone. Fortune favored us in many respects. About Miles City therewas no concealment of our mission, resulting in an old acquaintance ofLovell's loaning us horses, while old man Don had no trouble in gettingdrafts cashed to the amount of two thousand dollars. What he expected todo with this amount of money was a mystery to Dave and myself, a mysterywhich instantly cleared when we were in the privacy of our room at thehotel. 

"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 usinga little here and there to sweeten matters up, and making yourselvesrattling good fellows wherever you go. Now in the first place, I wantyou both to understand that this money is clear velvet, and don'thesitate to spend it freely. Eat and drink all you can, and gamble alittle of it if that is necessary. You two will saddle up in the morningand ride to Powderville, while I will lie around here a few days and trythe market for cattle next year, and then go on to Big Horn on my wayto 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 onlygeneral orders can be given. And remember, I don't want to see thatmoney again if there is any chance to use it. "

Powderville was a long day's ride from Miles City. By making an earlystart and resting a few hours at noon, we reached that stragglingoutpost shortly after nightfall. There was a road-house for thewayfaring man and a corral for his beast, a general store, oppositionsaloons, and the regulation blacksmith shop, constituting the businessinterests of Powderville. As arriving guests, a rough but cordialwelcome was extended us by the keeper of the hostelry, and we mingledwith the other travelers, but never once mentioning our business. I wasuneasy over the money in our possession; not that I feared robbery, butmy mind constantly reverted to it, and it was with difficulty that Irefrained from continually feeling to see that it was safe. Sponsilierhad concealed his in his boot, and as we rode along, contended thathe could feel the roll chafing his ankle. I had tied two handkerchiefstogether, and rolling my share in one of them, belted the amount betweenmy overshirt and undershirt. The belt was not noticeable, but in makingthe ride that day, my hand involuntarily went to my side where the moneylay, the action never escaping the notice of Sponsilier, who constantlytwitted me over my nervousness. And although we were tired as dogs afterour long ride, I awoke many times that night and felt to see if my moneywas safe; my partner slept like a log. 

Several cowmen, ranching on the lower Powder River, had headquarters atthis 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 Wyomingboundary, while two camps of five men each patroled the dividing line onthe north, drifting back the native stock and holding the through herdsin quarantine. The nearest camp was some distance east of Powderville, and saddling up towards evening we rode out and spent the night atthe first quarantine station. A wagon and two tents, a relay of saddlehorses, and an arsenal of long-range firearms composed the outfit. Threeof the five men on duty were Texans. Making ourselves perfectly at home, we had no trouble in locating the herds in question, they having alreadysounded the tocsin to clear the way, claiming government beef recognizedno local quarantine. The herds were not over thirty miles to the south, and expectation ran high as to results when an attempt should be madeto cross the deadline. Trouble had already occurred, where outfitsrespecting the quarantine were trespassed upon by three herds, makingclaim of being under government protection and entitled to the rights ofeminent domain. Fortunately several of the herds on the immediate linehad been bought at Ogalalla and were in possession of ranch outfits whoowned ranges farther north, and were anxious to see quarantine enforced. These local cowmen would support the established authority, and troublewas expected. Sponsilier and I widened the breach by denouncing theseintruders as the hirelings of a set of ringsters, who had no regardfor the rights of any one, and volunteered our services in enforcingquarantine against them the same as others. 

Our services were gratefully accepted. The next morning we werefurnished fresh horses, and one of us was requested, as we werestrangers, to ride down the country and reconnoitre the advance ofthe defiant drovers. As I was fearful that Field or Radcliff mightbe 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 yoursas easily as water goes through a gourd funnel. They'll be here by noonto-morrow, and they've got the big conversation right on tap to showthat the government couldn't feed its army if it wasn't for a few bigcowmen like them. There's a strange corporal over the three herds andthey're working on five horses to the man. But the major-domo's thewhole works; he's a windy cuss, and intimates that he has a card or twoup his sleeve that will put these quarantine guards to sleep when hesprings them. He's a new man to me; at least he wasn't with the gang atOgalalla. "

During the absence of my partner, I had ridden the dead-line on thenorth. A strip of country five miles wide was clear of cattle above theboundary, while below were massed four herds, claiming the range fromthe mountains to the Powder River. The leader of the quarantine guards, Fred Ullmer, had accompanied me on the ride, and on our return wevisited three of the outfits, urging them to hold all their reserveforces subject to call, in case an attempt was made to force thedead-line. At each camp I took every possible chance to sow the seedsof dissension and hatred against the high-handed methods of The WesternSupply Company. Defining our situation clearly, I asked each foreman, incase these herds defied local authority, who would indemnify the ownersfor the loss among native cattle by fever between Powderville and themouth of the Yellowstone. Would the drovers? Would the government?Leaving these and similar thoughts for their consideration, Ullmer and Ihad arrived at the first quarantine station shortly before the return ofmy partner. 

Upon the report of Sponsilier, Ullmer was appointed captain, and lostno time in taking action. After dark, a scout was sent to Camp No. 2, ameeting-place was appointed on Wolf Creek below, and orders were givento bring along every possible man from the local outfits and to meetat the rendezvous within an hour after sun-up the next morning. Ullmerchanged horses and left for Powderville, assuring us that he would rallyevery man interested in quarantine, and have his posse below, on thecreek by sunrise. The remainder of us at headquarters were under ordersto bring all the arms and ammunition, and join the quarantine forces atthe meeting-place some five miles from our camp. We were also to touchat and command the presence of one of the four outfits while en route. I liked the determined action of Captain Ullmer, who I learned hademigrated with his parents to Montana when a boy, and had grown intomanhood on the frontier. Sponsilier was likewise pleased with thequarantine leader, and we lay awake far into the night, reviewing thesituation and trying to anticipate any possible contingency that mightthwart our plans. But to our best reasoning the horizon was clear, andif Field, Radcliff & Co. 's cattle reached Fort Buford on the day ofdelivery, well, it would be a miracle. 

Fresh horses were secured at dawn, and breakfast would be secured enroute with the cow outfit. There were a dozen large-calibre rifles inscabbards, and burdening ourselves with two heavy guns to the man and anabundance of ammunition, we abandoned Quarantine Station No. 1 for thetime being. The camp which we were to touch at was the one nearest theriver and north of Wolf Creek, and we galloped up to it before the sunhad even risen. Since everything was coming our way, Sponsilier and Iobserved a strict neutrality, but a tow-headed Texan rallied the outfit, saying:

"Make haste, fellows, and saddle up your horses. Those three herdswhich raised such a rumpus up on Little Powder have sent down word thatthey're going to cross our dead-line to-day if they have to prize uphell and put a chunk under it. We have decided to call their bluffbefore they even reach the line, and make them show their hand forall this big talk. Here's half a dozen guns and cartridges galore, buthustle yourselves. Fred went into Powderville last night and will meetus above at the twin buttes this morning with every cowman in town. Allthe other outfits have been sent for, and we'll have enough men to makeour bluff stand up, never fear. From what I learn, these herds belong toa lot of Yankee speculators, and they don't give a tinker's dam if allthe cattle in Montana die from fever. They're no better than anybodyelse, and if we allow them to go through, they'll leave a trail of deadnatives 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 balancemade hasty preparations to accompany the quarantine guards. A relief wasrushed away for the herders; and when the latter came in, they reportedhaving sighted the posse from Powderville, heading across country forthe twin buttes. Meanwhile a breakfast had been bolted by the guards, Sponsilier, and myself, and swinging into our saddles, we rounded abluff bend of the creek and rode for the rendezvous, some three milesdistant. I noticed by the brands that nearly every horse in that countryhad been born in Texas, and the short time in which we covered theintervening miles proved that the change of climate had added to theirstability and bottom. Our first glimpse of the meeting-point revealedthe summit of the buttes fairly covered with horsemen. From theirnumbers it was evident that ours was the last contingent to arrive; butbefore we reached the twin mounds, the posse rode down from the lookoutand a courier met and turned us from our course. The lead herd had beensighted in trail formation but a few miles distant, heading north, andit was the intention to head them at the earliest moment. The messengerinquired our numbers, and reported those arrived at forty-five, makingthe posse when united a few over sixty men. 

A juncture of forces was effected within a mile of the lead herd. It wasa unique posse. Old frontiersmen, with patriarchal beards and sawed-offshotguns, chewed their tobacco complacently as they rode forward at aswinging gallop. Beardless youths, armed with the old buffalo guns oftheir fathers, led the way as if an Indian invasion had called themforth. Soldiers of fortune, with Southern accents, who were assisting inthe conquest of a new empire, intermingled with the hurrying throng, andtwo men whose home was in Medina County, Texas, looked on and approved. The very horses had caught the inspiration of the moment, champing bitsin their effort to forge to the front rank, while the blood-stainedslaver coated many breasts or driveled from our boots. Before we met theherd a halt was called, and about a dozen men were deployed off on eachflank, while the main body awaited the arrival of the cattle. The latterwere checked by the point-men and turned back when within a few hundredyards of the main posse. Several horsemen from the herd rode forward, and one politely inquired the meaning of this demonstration. Thequestion was met by a counter one from Captain Ullmer, who demanded toknow the reason why these cattle should trespass on the rights of othersand ignore local quarantine. The spokesman in behalf of the herd turnedin his saddle and gave an order to send some certain person forward. Sponsilier whispered to me that this fellow was merely a segundo. "Butwait till the 'major-domo' arrives, " he added. The appearance of theposse and the halting of the herd summoned that personage from the rearto the front, and the next moment he was seen galloping up the column ofcattle. With a plausible smile this high mogul, on his arrival, repeatedthe previous question, and on a similar demand from the captain ofthe posse, he broke into a jolly laugh from which he recovered withdifficulty. 

"Why, gentlemen, " said he, every word dripping with honeyed sweetness, "this is entirely uncalled for. I assure you that it was purely anoversight on my part that I did not send you word in advance that theseherds of mine are government cattle and not subject to local quarantine. My associates are the largest army contractors in the country, thesecattle are due at Fort Buford on the 15th of this month, and anyinterference on your part would be looked upon as an insult to thegovernment. In fact, the post commander at Fort Laramie insisted that hebe permitted to send a company of cavalry to escort us across Wyoming, and assured us that a troop from Fort Keogh, if requested, would meetour cattle on the Montana line. The army is jealous over its supplies, but I declined all military protection, knowing that I had but to showmy credentials to pass unmolested anywhere. Now, if you care to lookover these papers, you will see that these cattle are en route toFort Buford, on an assignment of the original contract, issued by thesecretary of war to The Western Supply Company. Very sorry to put you toall this trouble, but these herds must not be interfered with. I trustthat you gentlemen understand that the government is supreme. "

As the papers mentioned were produced, Sponsilier kicked me on theshin, gave me a quiet wink, and nodded towards the documents then beingtendered to Captain Ullmer. Groping at his idea, I rode forward, andas the papers were being returned with a mere glance on the part of thequarantine leader, I politely asked if I might see the assignment of theoriginal contract. But a quizzical smile met my request, and shaking outthe heavy parchment, he rapped it with the knuckles of his disengagedhand, remarking as he returned it to his pocket, "Sorry, but altogethertoo valuable to allow out of my possession. " Just what I would have donewith the beribboned document, except to hand it over to Sponsilier, is beyond me, yet I was vaguely conscious that its destruction was ofimportance to our side of the matter at issue. At the same instant inwhich my request was declined, the big medicine man turned to CaptainUllmer and suavely remarked, "You found everything as represented, didyou?"

"Why, I heard your statement, and I have also heard it disputed fromother sources. In fact I have nothing to do with you except to enforcethe quarantine now established by the cattlemen of eastern Montana. If you have any papers showing that your herds were wintered north oflatitude 37, you can pass, as this quarantine is only enforced againstcattle from south of that degree. This territory lost half a milliondollars' worth of native stock last fall from Texas fever, and thisseason they propose to apply the ounce of preventive. You will haveample time to reach your destination after frost falls, and yourdetention by quarantine will be a good excuse for your delay. Now, unless you can convince me that your herds are immune, I'll show youa good place to camp on the head of Wolf Creek. It will probably be amatter of ten to fifteen days before the quarantine is lifted, and weare enforcing it against citizens of Montana and Texas alike, and noexception can be made in your case. "

"But, my dear sir, this is not a local or personal matter. Whatever youdo, don't invite the frown of the government. Let me warn you not to actin haste. Now, remember--"

"You made your cracks that you would cross this quarantine line, "interrupted Ullmer, bristlingly, "and I want you to find out yourmistake. There is no occasion for further words, and you can eitherorder your outfit to turn your cattle east, or I'll send men and do itmyself. "

The "major-domo" turned and galloped back to his men, a number of whomhad congregated near at hand. The next moment he returned and haughtilythreatened to surrender the cattle then and there unless he was allowedto proceed. "Give him a receipt for his beeves, Fred, " quietly remarkedan old cowman, gently stroking his beard, "and I'll take these boys overhere 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 objectionsto 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 manas he rode out of hearing. 

The lead herd was pointed to the east, and squads of men rode down andmet the other two, veering them off on an angle to the right. Meanwhilethe superintendent raved, pleaded, and threatened without avail, butfinally yielded and refused the receipt and dispossession of his cattle. This was just what the quarantine captain wanted, and the dove of peacebegan to shake its plumage. Within an hour all three of the herdswere moving out for the head of Wolf Creek, accompanied only by thequarantine guards, the remainder of the posse returning to their homesor their work. Having ample time on our hands, Sponsilier and I expectedto remain at Station No. 1 until after the 10th of September, andaccordingly made ourselves at home at that camp. To say that we wereelated over the situation puts it mildly, and that night the two of uslost nearly a hundred dollars playing poker with the quarantine guards. A strict vigilance was maintained over the herds in question, butall reports were unanimous that they were contentedly occupying theirallotted range. 

But at noon on the third day of the enforced isolation, a messenger fromPowderville arrived at the first station. A troop of cavalry from FortKeogh, accompanied by a pack-train, had crossed the Powder River belowthe hamlet, their avowed mission being to afford an escort for certaingovernment beef, then under detention by the local authorities. Thereport fell among us like a flash of lightning. Ample time had elapsedfor a messenger to ride to the Yellowstone, and, returning with troops, pilot them to the camps of Field, Radcliff & Co. A consultation wasimmediately held, but no definite line of action had been arrived atwhen a horseman from one of the lower camps dashed up and informed usthat the three herds were already trailing out for the dead-line, under an escort of cavalry. Saddling up, we rallied what few men wereavailable, determined to make a protest, at least, in the interest ofhumanity to dumb brutes. We dispatched couriers to the nearest camps andthe 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 andmet them. Fully eighty troopers, half of which rode in column formationin front, halted us as we approached. Terse and to the point werethe questions and answers exchanged between the military arm of thegovernment and the quarantine authorities of Montana. When the questionarose of indemnity to citizens, in case of death to native cattle, ahumane chord was touched in the young lieutenant in command, resultingin his asking several questions, to which the "major-domo" protested. Once satisfied of the justice of quarantine, the officer, in defense ofhis action, said:

"Gentlemen, I am under instructions to give these herds, intended foruse at Fort Buford, a three days' escort beyond this quarantine line. I am very much obliged to you all for making so clear the necessityof isolating herds of Texas cattle, and that little or no hardship mayattend my orders, you may have until noon to-morrow to drift all nativestock west of the Powder River. When these herds encamp for the night, they will receive instructions not to move forward before twelveto-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 suddenlyand completely upset, and not knowing which way to turn, Sponsilier andI, slightly crestfallen, accompanied the guards. It was already latein the evening, but Captain Ullmer took advantage of the brief respitegranted him to clear the east half of the valley of native cattle. Couriers were dispatched to sound the warning among the ranches down theriver, while a regular round-up outfit was mustered among the camps tobegin the drifting of range stock that evening. A few men were left atthe two camps, as quarantine was not to be abandoned, and securing ourborrowed horses, my partner and I bade our friends farewell and set outon our return for the Yellowstone. Merely touching at Powderville fora hasty supper, we held a northwest, cross-country course, far intothe 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 ofthe forenoon we were breakfasting with our friends in Miles City. 

Fort Keogh was but a short distance up the river. That militaryinterference had been secured through fraud and deception, there was notthe shadow of a doubt. During the few hours which we spent in Miles, the cattle interests were duly aroused, and a committee of cowmen wereappointed to call on the post commander at Keogh with a formidableprotest, which would no doubt be supplemented later, on the return ofthe young lieutenant and his troopers. During our ride the nightbefore, Sponsilier and I had discussed the possibility of arousing theauthorities at Glendive. Since it was in the neighborhood of one hundredmiles from Powderville to the former point on the railroad, the herdswould consume nearly a week in reaching there. A freight train wascaught that afternoon, and within twenty-four hours after leaving thequarantine camp on the Powder River, we had opened headquarters at theStock Exchange Saloon in Glendive. On arriving, I deposited one hundreddollars with the proprietor of that bar-room, with the understandingthat it was to be used in getting an expression from the public inregard to the question of Texas fever. Before noon the next day, DaveSponsilier and Tom Quirk were not only the two most popular men inGlendive, but quarantine had been decided on with ringing resolutions. 

Our standing was soon of the best. Horses were tendered us, and saddlingone I crossed the Yellowstone and started down the river to arouseoutlying ranches, while Sponsilier and a number of local cowmen rodesouth to locate a camp and a deadline. I was absent two days, havinggone north as far as Wolf Island, where I recrossed the river, returningon the eastern side of the valley. At no ranch which was visited did mymission fail of meeting hearty approval, especially on the western sideof the river, where severe losses from fever had been sustained the fallbefore. One ranch on Thirteen Mile offered, if necessary, to send everyman in its employ, with their own wagon and outfit of horses, free ofall charge, until quarantine was lifted. But I suggested, instead, thatthey send three or four men with their horses and blankets, leaving theremainder to be provided for by the local committee. In my two days'ride, over fifty volunteers were tendered, but I refused all excepttwenty, who were to report at Glendive not later than the morning of the6th. On my return to the railroad, all arrangements were completed andthe outlook was promising. Couriers had arrived from the south duringmy 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 secondquarantine-line. Daily reports were being received of the whereabouts ofthe moving herds, and at the rate they were traveling, they wouldreach Cabin Creek about the 7th. Two wagons had been outfitted, cooksemployed, and couriers dispatched to watch the daily progress of thecattle, which, if following the usual route, would strike the deadlinesome distance south of Glendive. 

During the next few days, Sponsilier and I were social lions in thattown, and so great was our popularity we could have either married orbeen elected to office. We limited our losses at poker to so much anevening, and what we won from the merchant class we invariably lostamong the volunteer guards and cowmen, taking our luck with a sangfroidwhich proved us dead-game sports, and made us hosts of friends. We hadcontributed one hundred dollars to the general quarantine fund, and hadotherwise made ourselves popular with all classes in the brief time atour command. Under the pretense that we might receive orders at any timeto overtake our herds, we declined all leadership in the second campaignabout to be inaugurated against Texas fever. Dave and I were bothfeeling rather chesty over the masterful manner in which we had arousedthe popular feeling in favor of quarantine in our own interest, at thesame time making it purely a local movement. We were swaggering aboutlike ward-heelers, when on the afternoon of the 5th the unexpected againhappened. The business interests of the village usually turned out tomeet the daily passenger trains, even the poker-games taking a recessuntil the cars went past. The arrival and departure of citizens ofthe place were noted by every one, and strangers were looked uponwith timidity, very much as in all simple communities. Not taking anyinterest in the passing trains, Sponsilier was writing a letter tohis girl in Texas, while I was shaking dice for the cigars with thebartender of the Stock Exchange, when the Eastbound arrived. After thedeparture of the train, I did not take any notice of the return of theboys 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 yourname 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, Iinvited them to have a cigar or liquid refreshment, inquiring whencethey had come and where their cattle were. To my surprise, Fort Keoghwas named as their last refuge, and the herds were reported to cross therailroad within the next few days. Similar questions were asked me, butbefore replying, I caught Sponsilier's eye and summoned him with a wink. On Dave's presenting himself, I innocently asked the pair if they didnot remember my friend as one of the men whom they had under arrest atDodge. They grunted an embarrassed acknowledgment, which was returned inthe same coin, when I proceeded to inform them that our cattle crossedthe railroad at Little Missouri ten days before, and that we were onlywaiting the return of Mr. Lovell from the Crow Agency before proceedingto our destination. With true Yankee inquisitiveness, other questionsfollowed, the trend of which was to get us to admit that we hadsomething to do with the present activities in quarantining Texascattle. But I avoided their leading queries, and looked appealingly atSponsilier, who came to my rescue with an answer born of the moment. 

"Well, gentlemen, " said Dave, seating himself on the bar and leisurelyrolling a cigarette, "that town of Little Missouri is about the dullesthole that I was ever water-bound in. Honestly, I'd rather be with thecattle than loafing in it with money in my pocket. Now this town has gotsome get-up about it; I'll kiss a man's foot if he complains that thisburg isn't sporty enough for his blood. They've given me a run herefor my white alley, and I still think I know something about that gamecalled draw-poker. But you were speaking about quarantine. Yes; thereseems to have been a good many cattle lost through these parts lastfall. You ought to have sent your herds up through Dakota, where thereis no native stock to interfere. I'd hate to have cattle coming down thePowder River. A friend of mine passed through here yesterday; his herdwas sold for delivery on the Elkhorn, north of here, and he tells mehe may not be able to reach there before October. He saw your herds andtells me you are driving the guts out of them. So if there's anythingin that old 'ship-fever theory, ' you ought to be quarantined until itsnows. There's a right smart talk around here of fixing a dead-linebelow 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 shorthornsgive me a pain. "

"What did I tell you?" said Radcliff, the elder one, to his partner, asthey turned to leave. 

On nearing the door, Mr. Field halted and begrudgingly said, "See youlater, 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 elevatedposition, called every one to the bar to irrigate. The boys quit theirgames, and as they lined up in a double row, Dave begged the bartendersto bestir themselves, and said to his guests: "Those are the kid-glovedcowmen that I've been telling you about--the owners of the Texas cattlethat are coming through here. Did I hang it on them artistically, orshall I call them back and smear it on a shade deeper? They smelt amouse all right, and when their cattle reach Cabin Creek, they'll smellthe rat in earnest. Now, set out the little and big bottle and everybodyhave a cigar on the side. And drink hearty, lads, for to-morrow we maybe drinking branch water in a quarantine camp. "

The arrival of Field and Radcliff was accepted as a defiance to thelocal cattle interests. Popular feeling was intensified when it waslearned that they were determined not to recognize any local quarantine, and were secretly inquiring for extra men to guard their herds inpassing Glendive. There was always a rabble element in every frontiertown, and no doubt, as strangers, they could secure assistance inquarters that the local cowmen would spurn. Matters were approachinga white heat, when late that night an expected courier arrived, andreported the cattle coming through at the rate of twenty miles a day. They were not following any particular trail, traveling almost duenorth, and if the present rate of travel was maintained, Cabin Creekwould be reached during the forenoon of the 7th. This meant business, and the word was quietly passed around that all volunteers were to beready to move in the morning. A cowman named Retallac, owner of a rangeon the Yellowstone, had previously been decided on as captain, and wouldhave under him not less than seventy-five chosen men, which number, ifnecessary, could easily be increased to one hundred. 

Morning dawned on a scene of active operations. The two wagons werestarted fully an hour in advance of the cavalcade, which was to follow, driving a remuda of over two hundred saddle horses. Sponsilier and Iexpected to accompany the outfit, but at the last moment our plans werechanged by an incident and we remained behind, promising to overtakethem later. There were a number of old buffalo hunters in town, livinga precarious life, and one of their number had quietly informed SheriffWherry that they had been approached with an offer of five dollars a dayto act as an escort to the herds while passing through. The quarantinecaptain looked upon that element as a valuable ally, suggesting that ifit was a question of money, our side ought to be in the market for theirservices. Heartily agreeing with him, the company of guards started, leaving their captain behind with Sponsilier and myself. Glendive was acounty seat, and with the assistance of the sheriff, we soon had everybuffalo 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'sintroduction Dave and I made a good impression among them. Sponsilierdid the treating and talking, his offer being ten dollars a day for aman and horse, which was promptly accepted, when the question naturallyarose who would stand sponsor for the wages. Dave backed off somedistance, 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 yourown banker. I'll make it up a thousand, and whoever you say goes withme. Shall it be the sheriff, or Mr. Retallac, or the proprietor of theStock Exchange?"

Sheriff Wherry interfered, relieving the embarrassment in appointing areceiver, and vouched that these two Texans were good for any reasonablesum. The buffalo hunters approved, apologizing to Sponsilier, as hepulled on his boot, for questioning his financial standing, and swearingallegiance in every breath. An hour's time was granted in which tosaddle and make ready, during which we had a long chat with SheriffWherry and found him a valuable ally. He had cattle interests in thecountry, and when the hunters appeared, fifteen strong, he mounted hishorse 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 anythingimportant happens, I'll send a courier with the news. If thoseshorthorns 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 aroundGlendive. It's understood that night or day your camp can be found onCabin Creek, opposite the old eagle tree. Better send me word as soon asthe herds arrive. Good luck to you, lads. "

Neither wagons nor guards were even sighted during our three hours' rideto the appointed campground. On our arrival tents were being pitched andmen were dragging up wood, while the cooks were busily preparing a latedinner, the station being fully fifteen miles south of the railroad. Scouts were thrown out during the afternoon, corrals built, and eveningfound the quarantine camp well established for the comfort of itsninety-odd men. The buffalo hunters were given special attention andchristened the "Sponsilier Guards;" they took again to outdoor life asin the old days. The report of the scouts was satisfactory; all threeof the herds had been seen and would arrive on schedule time. A hush ofexpectancy greeted this news, but Sponsilier and I ridiculed the ideathat there would be any opposition, except a big talk and plenty ofbluffing. 

"Well, if that's what they rely on, " said Captain Retallac, "thenthey're as good as in quarantine this minute. If you feel certain theycan't get help from Fort Keogh a second time, those herds will be ourguests until further orders. What we want to do now is to spike everypossible chance for their getting any help, and the matter will passover like a summer picnic. If you boys think there's any danger of anappeal to Fort Buford, the military authorities want to be notifiedthat the Yellowstone Valley has quarantined against Texas fever and askstheir cooperation in enforcing the same. "

"I can fix that, " replied Sponsilier. "We have lawyers at Buford rightnow, and I can wire them the situation fully in the morning. If theyrely on the military, they will naturally appeal to the nearest post, and if Keogh and Buford turn them down, the next ones are on theMissouri River, and at that distance cavalry couldn't reach here withinten 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 atFort Buford. The next morning found me bright and early on the road toGlendive with the dispatch, the sending of which would deplete my cashon hand by several dollars, but what did we care for expense when wehad the money and orders to spend it? I regretted my absence from thequarantine camp, as I was anxious to be present on the arrival of theherds, and again watch the "major-domo" run on the rope and fume andcharge in vain. But the importance of blocking assistance was so urgentthat I would gladly have ridden to Buford if necessary. In that bracingatmosphere it was a fine morning for the ride, and I was rapidlycrossing the country, when a vehicle, in the dip of the plain, wassighted several miles ahead. I was following no road, but when thedriver of the conveyance saw me he turned across my front and signaled. On meeting the rig, I could hardly control myself from laughingoutright, for there on the rear seat sat Field and Radcliff, extremelygruff and uncongenial. Common courtesies were exchanged betweenthe driver and myself, and I was able to answer clearly his leadingquestions: Yes; the herds would reach Cabin Creek before noon; theold eagle tree, which could be seen from the first swell of the plainbeyond, marked the quarantine camp, and it was the intention to isolatethe herds on the South Fork of Cabin. "Drive on, " said a voice, and, inthe absence of any gratitude expressed, I inwardly smiled in reward. 

I was detained in Glendive until late in the day, waiting for anacknowledgment of the message. Sheriff Wherry informed me that the onlymove attempted on the part of the shorthorn drovers was the arrestof Sponsilier and myself, on the charge of being accomplices in theshooting of one of their men on the North Platte. But the sheriffhad assured the gentlemen that our detention would have no effect onquarantining their cattle, and the matter was taken under advisement anddropped. It was late when I started for camp that evening. The drovershad returned, accompanied by their superintendent, and were occupyingthe depot, burning the wires in every direction. I was risking nochances, and cultivated the company of Sheriff Wherry until theacknowledgment arrived, when he urged me to ride one of his horses inreturning to camp, and insisted on my taking a carbine. Possibly thiswas fortunate, for before I had ridden one third the distance to thequarantine camp, I met a cavalcade of nearly a dozen men from theisolated herds. When they halted and inquired the distance to Glendive, one of their number recognized me as having been among the quarantineguards at Powderville. I admitted that I was there, turning my horse sothat the carbine fell to my hand, and politely asked if any one hadany objections. It seems that no one had, and after a few commonplaceinquiries 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 thesmall hours of morning. There had been nothing dramatic in the meetingbetween the herds and the quarantine guards, the latter force havingbeen augmented by visiting ranchmen and their help, until protest wouldhave been useless. A routine of work had been outlined, much stricterthan at Powderville, and a surveillance of the camps was constantlymaintained. Not that there was any danger of escape, but to see thatthe herds occupied the country allotted to them, and did not pollute anymore territory than was necessary. The Sponsilier Guards were given aneasy day shift, and held a circle of admirers at night, recounting andliving over again "the good old days. " Visitors from either side of theYellowstone were early callers, and during the afternoon the sherifffrom Glendive arrived. I did not know until then that Mr. Wherry wasa candidate for reelection that fall, but the manner in which he mixedwith the boys was enough to warrant his election for life. Whatendeared him to Sponsilier and myself was the fund of information hehad collected, and the close tab he had kept on every movement of theopposition drovers. He told us that their appeal to Fort Keogh forassistance had been refused with a stinging rebuke; that a courier hadstarted 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, butthat distance could be easily covered by a special train in case ofgovernment interference. 

It rained on the afternoon of the 9th. The courier had returned fromFort Buford on the north, unsuccessful, as had also Mr. Radcliff fromFort Lincoln on the Missouri River to the eastward. The latter post hadreferred the request to Keogh, and washed its hands of intermeddling ina country not tributary to its territory. The last hope of interferencewas gone, and the rigors of quarantine closed in like a siege withevery gun of the enemy spiked. Let it be a week or a month before thequarantine was lifted, the citizens of Montana had so willed it, andtheir wish was law. Evening fell, and the men drew round the fires. Theguards buttoned their coats as they rode away, and the tired ones drewtheir blankets around them as they lay down to sleep. Scarcely a starcould be seen in the sky overhead, but before my partner or myselfsought our bed, a great calm had fallen, the stars were shining, and thenight had grown chilly. 

The old buffalo hunters predicted a change in the weather, but beyondthat they were reticent. As Sponsilier and I lay down to sleep, weagreed that if three days, even two days, were spared us, those cattlein quarantine could never be tendered at Fort Buford on the appointedday of delivery. But during the early hours of morning we were arousedby the returning guards, one of whom halted his horse near our blanketsand shouted, "Hey, there, you Texans; get up--a frost has fallen!"

Sure enough, it had frosted during the night, and the quarantine waslifted. When day broke, every twig and blade of grass glistened insilver sheen, and the horses on picket stood humped and shivering. Thesun arose upon the herds moving, with no excuse to say them nay, andorders were issued to the guards to break camp and disperse to theirhomes. As we rode into Glendive that morning, sullen and defeated bya power beyond our control, in speaking of the peculiarity of theintervention, Sponsilier said: "Well, if it rains on the just and theunjust 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 inGlendive, after which we would shake its dust from our feet. Very fewof the quarantine guards returned to town, and with the exception ofSheriff Wherry, none of the leading cowmen, all having ridden directfor their ranches. Long before the train arrived which would carry us toLittle Missouri, the opposition herds appeared and crossed the railroadwest of town. Their commissaries entered the village for supplies, whilethe "major-domo, " surrounded by a body-guard of men, rode about on hismiserable palfrey. The sheriff, fearing a clash between the victoriousand the vanquished, kept an eye on Sponsilier and me as we walked thestreets, freely expressing our contempt of Field, Radcliff & Co. , theirhenchmen and their methods. Dave and I were both nerved to desperation;Sheriff Wherry, anxious to prevent a conflict, counciled with theopposition drovers, resulting in their outfits leaving town, while theprincipals took stage across to Buford. 

Meanwhile Sponsilier had wired full particulars to our employer at BigHorn. It was hardly necessary, as the frost no doubt was general allover Montana, but we were anxious to get into communication with Lovellimmediately on his return to the railroad. We had written him fromMiles of our failure at Powderville, and the expected second stand atGlendive, and now the elements had notified him that the oppositionherds were within striking distance, and would no doubt appear at Bufordon or before the day of delivery. An irritable man like our employerwould neither eat nor sleep, once the delivery at the Crow Agency wasover, until reaching the railroad, and our message would be awaiting himon his return to Big Horn. Our train reached Little Missouri early inthe evening, and leaving word with the agent that we were expectingimportant messages from the west, we visited the liveryman and inquiredabout the welfare of our horses. The proprietor of the stable informedus that they had fared well, and that he would have them ready for us onan hour's notice. It was after dark and we were at supper when the firstmessage came. An immediate answer was required, and arising from thetable, we left our meal unfinished and hastened to the depot. From thenuntil midnight, messages flashed back and forth, Sponsilier dictatingwhile I wrote. As there was no train before the regular passenger thenext day, the last wire requested us to have the horses ready to meetthe Eastbound, saying that Bob Quirk would accompany Lovell. 

That night it frosted again. Sponsilier and I slept until noon the nextday without awakening. Then the horses were brought in from pasture, andpreparation was made to leave that evening. It was in the neighborhoodof ninety miles across to the mouth of the Yellowstone, and the chanceswere that we would ride it without unsaddling. The horses had had a twoweeks' rest, and if our employer insisted on it, we would breakfast withthe herds the next morning. I was anxious to see the cattle again andrejoin my outfit, but like a watched pot, the train was an hour late. Sponsilier and I took advantage of the delay and fortified the innerman against the night and the ride before us. This proved fortunate, asLovell and my brother had supper en route in the dining-car. A runningseries of questions were asked and answered; saddles were shaken out ofgunny-sacks and cinched on waiting horses as though we were startingto a prairie fire. Bob Quirk's cattle had reached the Crow Agency insplendid condition, the delivery was effected without a word, and oldman Don was in possession of a letter from Flood, saying everything hadpassed smoothly at the Rosebud Agency. 

Contrary to the expectation of Sponsilier and myself, our employer wasin a good humor, fairly walking on the clouds over the success of histwo first deliveries of the year. But amid the bustle and rush, in viewof another frosty night, Sponsilier inquired if it would not be a goodidea 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-humoredapproval. "Here, Tom, fork this horse and take the pitch out of him, " hecontinued; "I don't like the look of his eye. " But before I could reachthe horse, one of my own string, Bob Quirk had mounted him, when intestimony of the nutritive qualities of Dakota's grasses, he arched hisspine like a true Texan and outlined a worm-fence in bucking a circle. 

The start was made during the gathering dusk. Sponsilier furtherlifted the spirits of our employer, as we rode along, by a clear-cutdescription of the opposition cattle, declaring that had they everequaled ours, the handling they had received since leaving Ogalalla, compared to his, would class them with short twos in the spring againstlong threes in the fall. Within an hour the stars shone out, and afterfollowing the river some ten miles, we bore directly north untilBeaver Creek was reached near midnight. The pace was set at about aneight-mile, steady clip, with an occasional halt to tighten cinches orshift 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 finishafter daybreak. Early in the night we were conscious that a frost wasfalling, and several times Sponsilier inquired if no one cared for a nipfrom his bottle. Bob Quirk started the joke on Dave by declining; oldman Don uncorked the flask, and, after smelling of the contents, handedit back with his thanks. I caught onto their banter, and not wishingto spoil a good jest, also declined, leaving Sponsilier to drink alone. During the night, whenever conversation lagged, some one was certain tomake reference to the remarks which are said to have passed between thegovernors of the Carolinas, or if that failed to provoke a rise, askdirect if no one had something to ward off the chilly air. After beingrefused several times, Dave had thrown the bottle away, meeting thesejests with the reply that he had a private flask, but its quality wassuch that he was afraid of offending our cultivated tastes by asking usto join him. 

Day broke about five in the morning. We had been in the saddle nearlyten hours, and were confident that sunrise would reveal some landmark toidentify our location. The atmosphere was frosty and clear, and once thegray of dawn yielded to the rising sun, the outline of the Yellowstonewas easily traced on our left, while the bluffs in our front shieldeda view of the mother Missouri. In attempting to approach the latter weencountered some rough country and were compelled to turn towards theformer, crossing it, at O'Brien's roadhouse, some seven miles above themouth. The husbanded reserves of our horses were shaken out, and shortlyafterward smoke-clouds from camp-fires, hanging low, attracted ourattention. The herds were soon located as they arose and grazed awayfrom their bed-grounds. The outfits were encamped on the eastern side ofthe Yellowstone; and before leaving the government road, we sighted inour front a flag ascending to greet the morning, and the location ofFort Buford was established. Turning towards the cattle, we rode for thelower wagon and were soon unsaddling at Forrest's camp. The latterhad arrived two days before and visited the post; he told us thatthe opposition were there in force, as well as our own attorneys. Thearrival of the cattle under contract for that military division was themain topic of discussion, and Forrest had even met a number of civilianemployees of Fort Buford whose duties were to look after the governmentbeeves. The foreman of these unenlisted attaches, a Texan named Sanders, had casually ridden past his camp the day before, looking over thecattle, and had pronounced them the finest lot of beeves tendered thegovernment since his connection with that post. 

"That's good news, " said Lovell, as he threw his saddle astride thefront wheel of the wagon; "that's the way I like to hear my cattlespoken about. Now, you boys want to make friends with all thosecivilians, and my attorneys and Bob and I will hobnob around with theofficers, and try and win the good will of the entire post. You want tochange your camp every few days and give your cattle good grazing andlet them speak for themselves. Better kill a beef among the outfits, andinsist on all callers staying for meals. We're strangers here, and wewant to make a good impression, and show the public that we were bornwhite, even if we do handle cattle for a living. Quince, tie up thehorses for us, and after breakfast Bob and I will look over the herdsand then ride into Fort Buford. --Trout for breakfast? You don't meanit!"

It was true, however, and our appetites did them justice. Forrestreported Splann as having arrived a day late, and now encamped the lastherd up the valley. Taking our horses with us, Dave and I set outto look up our herds and resume our former positions. I rode throughSponsilier's cattle while en route to my own, and remembered the firstimpression they had made on my mind, --their uniformity in size andsmoothness of build, --and now found them fatted into finished form, theherd being a credit to any drover. Continuing on my way, I interceptedmy own cattle, lying down over hundreds of acres, and so contentedthat I refused to disturb them. Splann reported not over half a dozensore-footed ones among them, having grazed the entire distance fromLittle Missouri, giving the tender cattle a good chance to recover. Iheld a circle of listeners for several hours, in recounting Sponsilier'sand my own experiences in the quarantine camps, and our utter finalfailure, except that the opposition herds had been detained, which wouldforce them to drive over twenty miles a day in order to reach Buford ontime. On the other hand, an incident of more than ordinary moment hadoccurred with the cattle some ten days previous. The slow movement ofthe grazing herds allowed a great amount of freedom to the boys and wastaken advantage of at every opportunity. It seems that on approachingBeaver Creek, Owen Ubery and Runt Pickett had ridden across to it forthe purpose of trout-fishing. They were gone all day, having struck thecreek some ten or twelve miles west of the cattle, expecting to fishdown it and overtake the herds during the evening. But about noon theydiscovered where a wagon had been burned, years before, and near by werefive human skeletons, evidently a family. It was possibly the work ofIndians, or a blizzard, and to prove the discovery, Pickett had broughtin one of the skulls and proposed taking it home with him as a mementoof the drive. Parent objected to having the reminder in the wagon, and arow resulted between them, till Splann interfered and threw the gruesomerelic 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 depotfor other posts farther west on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. The nearest railroad connection was Glendive, seventy-six miles up thelatter stream, though steamboats took advantage of freshets in the riverto transport immense supplies from lower points on the Missouri wherethere were rail connections. From Buford westward, transportation waseffected by boats of lighter draft and the regulation wagon train. Itwas recognized as one of the most important supply posts in the West; asearly as five years previous to this date, it had received in a singlesummer as many as ten thousand beeves. Its provision for cavalry wasone of its boasted features, immense stacks of forage flanking thosequarters, while the infantry barracks and officers' quarters were largeand comfortable. A stirring little town had sprung up on the outside, affording the citizens employment in wood and hay contracts, andbecoming the home of a large number of civilian employees, the postbeing the mainstay of the village. 

After settling our quarantine bills, Sponsilier and I each had moneyleft. Our employer refused even to look at our expense bills untilafter the delivery, but urged us to use freely any remaining funds incultivating the good will of the citizens and soldiery alike. Forrestwas accordingly supplied with funds, with the understanding that he wasto hunt up Sanders and his outfit and show them a good time. The beefforeman was soon located in the quartermaster's office, and, having beenconnected with the post for several years, knew the ropes. He had cometo Buford with Texas cattle, and after their delivery had accepteda situation under the acting quartermaster, easily rising to theforemanship through his superior abilities as a cowman. It was like ameeting of long-lost brothers to mingle again with a cow outfit, andthe 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 himselfwere Texans, and before we parted, every rascal had promised to visit usthe next day and look over all the cattle. 

The next morning Bob Quirk put in an early appearance at my wagon. Hehad passed the other outfits, and notified us all to have the cattleunder convenient herd, properly watered in advance, as the postcommandant, quartermaster, and a party of minor officers were going toride out that afternoon and inspect our beeves. Lovell, of course, wouldaccompany them, and Bob reported him as having made a ten-strike withthe officers' mess, not being afraid to spend his money. Fortunately thepresent quartermaster at Buford was a former acquaintance of Lovell, the two having had business transactions. The quartermaster had beenconnected with frontier posts from Fort Clark, Texas, to his presentposition. According to report, the opposition were active and waging anaggressive campaign, but not being Western men, were at a disadvantage. Champagne had flowed freely at a dinner given the night before by ouremployer, during which Senator Aspgrain, in responding to a toast, hadpaid the army a high tribute for the part it had played in reclaimingthe last of our western frontier. The quartermaster, in replying, hadfelicitously remarked, as a matter of his own observation, that theCalifornian's love for a horse was only excelled by the Texan's love fora cow, to which, amid uproarious laughter, old man Don arose and bowedhis acknowledgment. 

My brother changed horses and returned to Sponsilier's wagon. Dave hadplanned to entertain the post beef outfit for dinner, and had insistedon Bob's presence. They arrived at my herd near the middle of theforenoon, and after showing the cattle and remuda, we all returned toSponsilier's camp. These civilian employees furnished their own mounts, and were anxious to buy a number of our best horses after the deliverywas over. Not even a whisper was breathed about any uncertainty of ourfilling the outstanding contract, yet Sanders was given to understandthat Don Lovell would rather, if he took a fancy to him, give a man ahorse than sell him one. Not a word was said about any opposition to ourherds; that would come later, and Sanders and his outfit were too goodjudges 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 untilthe arrival of the military party. The herds had been well wateredabout noon and drifted out on the first uplands, and we intercepted thecavalcade before it reached Sponsilier's herd. They were mounted onfine cavalry horses, and the only greeting which passed, aside from amilitary salute, was when Lovell said: "Dave, show these officers yourbeeves. 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 themveterans of the civil war, others having spent their lifetime on ourwestern frontier, while a few were seeing their first year's serviceafter leaving West Point. In looking over the cattle, the post commanderand quartermaster were taken under the wing of Sanders, who, as onlya man could who was born to the occupation, called their attention toevery fine point about the beeves. After spending fully an hour withSponsilier's herd, the cavalcade proceeded on to mine, Lovell rejoiningthe party, but never once attempting to draw out an opinion, and againexcusing himself on reaching my cattle. I continued with the military, answering every one's questions, from the young lieutenant's tothe veteran commandant's, in which I was ably seconded by thequartermaster's foreman. My cattle had a splendid fill on them andeloquently spoke their own praises, yet Sanders lost no opportunity toenter a clincher in their favor. He pointed out beef after beef, andvouched for the pounds net they would dress, called attention to theirsameness in build, ages, and general thrift, until one would havesupposed that he was a salesman instead of a civilian employee. 

My herd was fully ten miles from the post, and it was necessary for themilitary to return that evening. Don Lovell and a number of the boys hadhalted at a distance, and once the inspection was over, we turned androde back to the waiting group of horsemen. On coming up, a number ofthe officers dismounted to shift saddles, preparatory to starting ontheir return, when the quartermaster halted near our employer and said:

"Colonel Lovell, let me say to you, in all sincerity, that in mytwenty-five years' experience on this frontier, I never saw a finerlot of beeves tendered the government than these of yours. My positionrequires that I should have a fair knowledge of beef cattle, and theperquisites of my office in a post of Buford's class enable me to employthe best practical men available to perfect the service. I rememberthe quality of cattle which you delivered four years ago to me at FortRandall, when it was a six-company post, yet they were not as fine a lotof beeves as these are. I have always contended that there was nothingtoo good in my department for the men who uphold the colors of ourcountry, especially on the front line. You have been a soldier yourselfand know that I am talking good horsesense, and I want to say to youthat whatever the outcome of this dispute may be, if yours are the bestcattle, you may count on my support until the drums beat tattoo. Thegovernment is liberal and insists on the best; the rank and file areworthy, 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 rightbehind you, and we'll stand or be turned down together. "

"Thank you, Colonel, " replied Mr. Lovell. "It does seem ratherfortunate, my meeting up with a former business acquaintance, and ata time when I need him bad. If I am successful in delivering on thisBuford award, it will round out, during my fifteen years as a drover, over a hundred thousand cattle that I have sold to the government forits Indian and army departments. There are no secrets in my business;the reason of my success is simple--my cattle were always there on theappointed day, humanely handled, and generally just a shade better thanthe specifications. My home country has the cattle for sale; I can tellwithin two bits a head what it will cost to lay them down here, and it'smusic to my ear to hear you insist on the best. I agree with you thatthe firing-line is entitled to special consideration, yet you know thatthere are ringsters who fatten at the expense of the rank and file. Atpresent I haven't a word to say, but at noon to-morrow I shall tenderthe post commander at Ford Buford, through his quartermaster, tenthousand beeves, as a sub-contractor on the original award to TheWestern Supply Company. " The post commander, an elderly, white-hairedofficer, rode over and smilingly said: "Now, look here, my Texas friend, I'm afraid you are borrowing trouble. True enough, there has been aprotest made against our receiving your beeves, and I don't mince mywords in saying that some hard things have been said about you. But wehappen to know something about your reputation and don't give credit forall 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 thisWestern country to make a proviso; and unless the unforeseen happens, the quartermaster's cattle foreman will count your beeves to-morrowafternoon; and for the sake of your company, if we keep you a day or twolonger settling up, I don't want to hear you kick. Now, come on and goback with us to the post, as I promised my wife to bring you over to ourhouse this evening. She seems to think that a man from Texas with tenthousand cattle ought to have horns, and I want to show her that she'smistaken. Come on, now, and not a damned word of protest out of you. "

The military party started on their return, accompanied by Lovell. Thecivilian attaches followed at a respectful distance, a number of usjoining them as far as Sponsilier's camp. There we halted, when Sandersinsisted on an explanation of the remarks which had passed between ouremployer and his. Being once more among his own, he felt no delicacyin asking for information--which he would never think of doing with hissuperiors. My brother gave him a true version of the situation, but itremained for Dave Sponsilier to add an outline of the opposition herdsand outfits. 

"With humane treatment, " said Dave, "the cattle would have qualifiedunder the specifications. They were bought at Ogalalla, and any of theboys here will tell you that the first one was a good herd. The marketwas all shot to pieces, and they picked them up at their own price. Butthe owners didn't have cow-sense enough to handle the cattle, and putone of their own gang over the herds as superintendent. They left CabinCreek, below Glendive, on the morning of the 10th, and they'll haveto travel nearly twenty miles a day to reach here by noon to-morrow. Sanders, you know that gait will soon kill heavy cattle. The outfitswere made up of short-card men and dance-hall ornaments, wild enough tolook at, but shy on cattle sabe. Just so they showed up bad and wore asix-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 theentire outfit that don't carry a nigger brand. And when it comes to thebig conversation--well, they've simply got the earth faded. "

It was nearly sundown when we mounted our horses and separated for theday. Bob Quirk returned to the post with the civilians, while I hastenedback to my wagon. I had left orders with Splann to water the herd asecond time during the evening and thus insure an easy night in holdingthe cattle. On my return, they were just grazing out from the river, their front a mile wide, making a pretty picture with the Yellowstonein the background. But as I sat my horse and in retrospect reviewed myconnection with the cattle before me and the prospect of soon severingit, my remuda came over a near-by hill in a swinging trot for theirsecond drink. Levering threw them into the river below the herd, andturning, galloped up to me and breathlessly asked: "Tom, did you seethat dust-cloud up the river? Well, the other cattle are coming. Thetimber cuts off your view from here, besides the sun's gone down, but Iwatched 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 milesaway. "

CHAPTER XXII. A SOLDIER'S HONOR

Delivery day dawned with a heavy fog hanging over the valley of theYellowstone. The frosts had ceased, and several showers had fallenduring the night, one of which brought our beeves to their feet, butthey 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. Thefoliage of the timber which skirted either river was coloring fromrecent frosts, while in numerous places the fallen leaves of thecottonwood were littering the ground. Enough rain had fallen to settlethe dust, and the signal of the approaching herds, seen the eveningbefore, was no longer visible. 

The delay in their appearance, however, was only temporary. I rode downto Sponsilier's camp early that morning and reported the observationsof my wrangler at sundown. No one at the lower wagon had noticed thedust-clouds, and some one suggested that it might be a freight outfitreturning unloaded, when one of the men on herd was seen signaling thecamp's notice. The attention of the day-herders, several miles distant, was centered on some object up the river; and mounting our horses, werode for the nearest elevation, from which two herds were to be seen onthe opposite side, traveling in trail formation. There was no doubtingtheir identity; and wondering what the day would bring forth, we rodefor a better point of observation, when from behind a timbered bend ofthe river the lead of the last herd appeared. At last the YellowstoneValley held over twenty thousand beef cattle, in plain sight of eachother, both factions equally determined on making the delivery on anaward that required only half that number. Dismounting, we kept theherds in view for over an hour, or until the last one had crossed theriver above O'Brien's road-house, the lead one having disappeared out ofsight over on the main Missouri. 

This was the situation on the morning of September 15. As we returnedto Sponsilier's wagon, all the idle men about the camp joined ourcavalcade, and we rode down and paid Forrest's outfit a social visit. The latter were all absent, except the cook, but shortly returned fromdown the river and reported the opposition herds to be crossing theMissouri, evidently going to camp at Alkali Lake. 

"Well, I've been present at a good many deliveries, " said QuinceForrest, as he reined in his horse, "but this one is in a class byitself. We always aimed to get within five or ten miles of a postor agency, but our friends made a worthy effort to get on theparade-ground. They did the next best thing and occupied the grazingwhere the cavalry horses have been herded all summer. Oh, their cattlewill be hog-fat in a few days. Possibly they expect to show their cattlein town, and not trouble the quartermaster and comandante to even saddleup--they're the very kind of people who wouldn't give anybody trouble ifthey could help it. It wouldn't make so much difference about thoseold frontier officers or a common cowman, but if one of those younglieutenants was to get his feet wet, the chances are that thoseWashington City contractors would fret and worry for weeks. Of course, any little inconvenience that any one incurred on their account, they'dgladly come all the way back from Europe to make it right--I don'tthink. "

While we were discussing the situation, Bob Quirk arrived at camp. Hereported that Lovell, relying on the superiority of our beeves, hadwaived his right to deliver on the hour of high noon, and an inspectionof the other cattle would be made that evening. The waiver was made atthe request of the leading officers of Fort Buford, all very friendly tothe best interests of the service and consequently ours, and the objectwas to silence all subsequent controversy. My brother admitted thatsome outside pressure had been brought to bear during the night, veryantagonistic to the post commander, who was now more determined thanever to accept none but the best for their next year's meat supply. Awell-known congressman, of unsavory reputation as a lobbyist in aidingand securing government contracts for his friends, was the latestaddition to the legal forces of the opposition. He constantly mentionedhis acquaintances in the War Department and maintained an air ofassurance which was very disconcerting. The younger officers in thepost were abashed at the effrontery of the contractors and their legalrepresentatives, and had even gone so far as to express doubts as tothe stability of their positions in case the decision favored Lovell'scattle. Opinion was current that a possible shake-up might occur atBuford after the receipt of its beef supply, and the more timorous oneswere anxious to get into the right wagon, instead of being relegated tosome obscure outpost. 

It was now evident that the decisive issue was to occur over thedelivery of the contending herds. Numerous possibilities arose in myimagination, and the various foremen advanced their views. A generalbelief that old man Don would fight to the last was prevalent, andamidst the discussions pro and con, I remarked that Lovell could take afinal refuge behind the indemnity in hand. 

"Indemnity, hell!" said Bob Quirk, giving me a withering look; "what issixty-five thousand dollars on ten thousand beeves, within an hour ofdelivery and at thirty-seven and a half a head? You all know that theold man has strained his credit on this summer's drive, and he's gotto 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, butif this delivery falls down, it will leave him holding the sack. On theother hand, if it goes through, he will be, financially, an independentman for life. And while he knows the danger of delay, he consented asreadily as any of us would if asked for a cigarette-paper. He may comeout 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 alwayscame out on top, but in real life, especially in cattle, it's quitedifferent. "

My brother's words had a magical effect. Sponsilier asked forsuggestions, when Bob urged that every man available go into the postand accompany the inspection party that afternoon. Since Forrest andhimself were unknown, they would take about three of the boys withthem, cross the Missouri, ride through and sum up the opposition cattle. Forrest approved of the idea, and ordered his cook to bestir himselfin getting up an early dinner. Meanwhile a number of my boys had riddendown to Forrest's wagon, and I immediately dispatched Clay Zilligan backto my cattle to relieve Vick Wolf and inform the day-herders that wemight not return before dark. Wolf was the coolest man in my employ, hadfigured in several shooting scrapes, and as he was a splendid shot, I wanted to send him with Forrest and my brother. If identified asbelonging to Lovell's outfits, there was a possibility that insult mightbe offered the boys; and knowing that it mattered not what the oddswere, it would be resented, I thought it advisable to send a man whohad smelt powder at short range. I felt no special uneasiness about mybrother, in fact he was the logical man to go, but a little precautionwould do no harm, and I saw to it that Sponsilier sent a goodrepresentative. 

About one o'clock we started, thirty strong. Riding down theYellowstone, the three detailed men, Quince Forrest, and my brother soonbore off to the left and we lost sight of them. Continuing on down theriver, we forded the Missouri at the regular wagon-crossing, and withinan hour after leaving Forrest's camp cantered into Fort Buford. Sandersand his outfit were waiting in front of the quartermaster's office, thehour for starting having been changed from two to three, which affordedample time to visit the sutler's bar. Our arrival was noticed about thebarracks, and evidently some complaint had been made, as old man Donjoined us in time for the first round, after which he called Dave andme aside. In reply to his inquiry regarding our presence, Sponsilierinformed him that we had come in to afford him an escort, in case hewished to attend the inspection of the opposition herds; that if therewas any bulldozing going on he needn't stand behind the door. Daveinformed him that Bob and Quince and three of the other boys would meetus at the cattle, and that he need feel no hesitancy in going if it washis wish. It was quite evident that Mr. Lovell was despondent, but hetook courage and announced his willingness to go along. 

"It was my intention not to go, " said he, "though Mr. Aspgrain andSutton both urged that I should. But now since you boys all feel thesame way, I believe I'll go. Heaven and earth are being moved to havethe other cattle accepted, but there are a couple of old war-horses atthe head of this post that will fight them to the last ditch, and thensome. I'm satisfied that my beeves, in any market in the West, are worthten dollars a head more than the other ones, yet there is an effortbeing made to turn us down. Our claims rest on two points, --superiorityof the beef tendered, and the legal impossibility of a transfer fromthemselves, a corporation, to themselves as individuals. If there isno outside interference, I think we will make the delivery beforenoon to-morrow. Now, I'll get horses for both Mr. Sutton and SenatorAspgrain, and you see that none of the boys drink too much. Sanders andhis outfit are all right, and I want you lads to remind me to rememberhim before we leave this post. Now, we'll all go in a little party byourselves, and I don't want a word out of a man, unless we are asked foran opinion from the officers, as our cattle must argue our cause. "

A second drink, a cigar all round, and we were ready to start. Aswe returned to our mounts, a bustle of activity pervaded the post. Orderlies were leading forth the best horses, officers were appearing inriding-boots and gauntlets, while two conveyances from a livery in townstood waiting to convey the contractors and their legal representatives. Our employer and his counsel were on hand, awaiting the start, when thequartermaster and his outfit led off. There was some delay among theofficers over the change of a horse, which had shown lameness, while theringsters were all seated and waiting in their vehicles. Since none ofus knew the trail to Alkali Lake, some one suggested that we follow upthe quartermaster and allow the military and conveyances to go by thewagon-road. But Lovell objected, and ordered me forward to notice thetrail and course, as the latter was a cut-off and much nearer than byroad. I rode leisurely past the two vehicles, carefully scanning everyface, when Mr. Field recognized and attempted to halt me, but I answeredhim with a contemptuous look and rode on. Instantly from the rigs camecries of "Stop that man!" "Halt that cowboy!" etc. , when an orderlystepped in front of my horse and I reined in. But the shouting and mydetention were seen and heard, and the next instant, led by MikeSutton, our men dashed up, scaring the teams, overturning both of theconveyances, and spilling their occupants on the dusty ground. I admitthat we were a hard-looking lot of cow-hands, our employer's grievancewas our own, and just for an instant there was a blue, sulphuric tingein the atmosphere as we accented our protest. The congressman scrambledto his feet, sputtering a complaint to the post commander, and whenorder was finally restored, the latter coolly said:

"Well, Mr. Y-----, when did you assume command at Fort Buford? Anyorders that you want given, while on this military reservation, pleasesubmit them to the proper authorities, and if just, they will receiveattention. What right have you or any of your friends to stop a manwithout due process? I spent several hours with these men a few daysago and found them to my liking. I wish we could recruit the last one ofthem into our cavalry. But if you are afraid, I'll order out a troop ofhorse to protect you. Shall I?"

"I'm not at all afraid, " replied Mr. Raddiff, "but feel under obligationto protect my counsel. If you please, Colonel. "

"Captain O'Neill, " said the commandant, turning to that officer, "orderout your troop and give these conveyances ample protection from nowuntil their return from this cattle inspection. Mr. Lovell, if you wishto be present, please ride on ahead with your men. The rest of us willproceed at once, and as soon as the escort arrives, these vehicles willbring 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 hadridden out of hearing. "Every time they bluff, call their hand, andthey'll soon get tired running blazers. I want to give notice right nowthat the first mark of disrespect shown me, by client or attorney, I'llslap him then and there, I don't care if he is as big as a giant. We areup 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 oppositeside, that's my long suit. The history of this case shows that theopposition has no regard for the rights of others, and it is up to us totry 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 anylobbyist that ever left Washington City. "

Alkali Lake was some little distance from the post. All three of theherds were holding beyond it, a polite request having reached them tovacate the grazing-ground of the cavalry horses. Lovell still insistedthat we stand aloof and give the constituted authorities a free, untrammeled hand until the inspection was over. The quartermaster andhis assistants halted on approaching the first herd, and giving thema wide berth, we rode for the nearest good point of observation. The officers galloped up shortly afterward, reining in for a shortconversation, but entering the first herd before the arrival of theconveyances and their escort. When the latter party arrived, the nearestone of the three herds had been passed upon, but the contractors stoodon the carriage seats and attempted to look over the cordon of troopers, formed into a hollow square, which surrounded them. The troop weremounted on chestnut horses, making a pretty sight, and I think theyenjoyed 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 giventhe cattle a thorough going-over and reported finding two "Circle Dot"beeves among the opposition steers. The chances are that they had walkedoff a bed-ground some night while holding at Ogalalla and had beenabsorbed into another herd before morning. My brother announced hisintention of taking them back with us, when Sponsilier taunted him withthe fact that there might be objections offered. 

"That'll be all right, Davy, " replied Bob; "it'll take a bigger andbetter outfit than these pimps and tin-horns to keep me from claimingmy own. You just watch and notice if those two steers don't go back withForrest. Why, they had the nerve to question our right even to look themover. It must be a trifle dull with the GIRLS down there in Ogalallawhen all these 'babies' have to turn out at work or go hungry. "

Little time was lost in inspecting the last herd. The cattle were thrownentirely too close together to afford much opportunity in looking themover, and after riding through them a few times, the officers rode awayfor a consultation. We had kept at a distance from the convoy, perfectlycontented so long as the opposition were prisoners of their ownchoosing. Captain O'Neill evidently understood the wishes of hissuperior officer, and never once were his charges allowed within hailingdistance of the party of inspection. As far as exerting any influencewas concerned, for that matter, all of us might have remained back atthe post and received the report on the commander's return. Yet therewas a tinge of uncertainty as to the result, and all concerned wantedto hear it at the earliest moment. The inspection party did not keep uslong in waiting, for after a brief conference they turned and rode forthe contractors under escort. We rode forward, the troop closed up inclose formation about the two vehicles, and the general tension rose tothat of rigidity. We halted quietly within easy hearing distance, andwithout noticing us the commandant addressed himself to the occupants ofthe conveyances, who were now standing on the seats. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, with military austerity, "the quality andcondition of your cattle places them beyond our consideration. Beefintended for delivery at this post must arrive here with sufficientflesh to withstand the rigors of our winter. When possible to securethem, we prefer Northern wintered cattle, but if they are not available, and we are compelled to receive Southern ones, they must be of the firstquality in conformation and flesh. It now becomes my duty to say to youthat your beeves are rough, have been over-driven, are tender-footed andotherwise 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 ofexultation escaped one of our party, but the nervous strain ratherintensified. 

Mr. Y----, the congressman, made the first move. Quietly alighting fromthe vehicle, he held a whispered conversation with his associates, verycomposedly turned to the commandant, and said:

"No doubt you are aware that there are higher authorities than the postcommander and quartermaster of Fort Buford. This higher court to which Irefer saw fit to award a contract for five million pounds of beef to bedelivered at this post on foot. Any stipulations inserted or omitted inthat article, the customary usages of the War Department would govern. If you will kindly look at the original contract, a copy of which is inyour possession, you will notice that nothing is said about the qualityof the cattle, just so the pounds avoirdupois are there. The governmentdoes not presume, when contracting for Texas cattle, that they willarrive here in perfect order; but so long as the sex, age, and weighthave been complied with, there can be no evasion of the contract. Myclients are sub-contractors, under an assignment of the original award, are acting in good faith in making this tender, and if your decisionis against them, we will make an appeal to the War Department. I am notpresuming to tell you your duty, but trust you will take this matterunder full advisement before making your decision final. "

"Mr. Y--, I have received cattle before without any legal adviceor interference of higher authority. Although you have ignored hispresence, there is another man here with a tender of beef who isentitled to more than passing consideration. He holds a sub-contractunder the original award, and there is no doubt but he is also acting ingood faith. My first concern as a receiving agent of this government isthat the goods tendered must be of the first quality. Your cattle fallbelow our established standards here, while his will take rank as thefinest lot of beeves ever tendered at this post, and therefore he isentitled to the award. I am not going to stand on any technicalitiesas to who is legally entitled to make this delivery; there have beencharges and counter-charges which have reached me, the justice of whichI cannot pass on, but with the cattle it is quite different. I lack butfive years of being retired on my rank, the greater portion of whichservice has been spent on this frontier, and I feel justified in thedecision made. The government buys the best, insists on its receivingagents demanding the same, and what few remaining years I serve theflag, there will be no change in my policy. "

There was a hurried conference. The "major-domo" was called into theconsultation, after which the congressman returned to the attack. 

"Colonel, you are forcing us to make a protest to the War Department. Ascommander at Fort Buford, what right have you to consider the tenderof any Tom, Dick, or Harry who may have cattle to sell? Armed withan assignment of the original award, we have tendered you the poundsquantity required by the existing contract, have insisted on theacceptance of the same, and if refused, our protest will be in the WarOffice before that sun sets. Now, my advice is--"

"I don't give a damn for you nor your advice. My reputation as a soldieris all I possess, and no man can dictate to nor intimidate me. My pastrecord is an open book and one which I am proud of; and while I have thehonor to command at Fort Buford, no threats can terrify nor cause me todeviate from my duty. Captain O'Neill, attend orders and escort thesevehicles back to their quarters. "

The escort loosened out, the conveyances started, and the inspection wasover. 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 heldthe "Circle Dot" steers, my brother and a number of the boys gallopedon ahead and cut out the animals before our arrival. On entering thewagon-road near the post, the military cavalcade halted a moment for usto come up. Lovell was in the lead, and as we halted the commandant saidto him: "We have decided to receive your cattle in the morning--aboutten o'clock if that hour will be convenient. I may not come over, butthe quartermaster's Mr. Sanders will count for us, and you cowmen oughtto agree on the numbers. We have delayed you a day, and if you will putin a bill for demurrage, I will approve it. I believe that is all. We'llexpect you to spend the night with us at the post. I thought it best toadvise 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 thepost, while we continued on south, fording the Missouri above Forrest'scamp. The two recovered beeves were recognized by their ranch brands asbelonging in Bee County, thus identifying them as having escaped fromBob 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 animalroamed, there was always a man near by who could identify the brandand give the bovine's past history. With the prospects bright for a newowner on the morrow, these two wayfarers found lodgment among our ownfor the night. 

But when another day dawned, it brought new complications. Instead ofthe early arrival of any receiving party, the appointed hour passed, noon came, and no one appeared. I had ridden down to the lower campsabout the latter hour, yet there was no one who could explain, neitherhad any word from the post reached Forrest's wagon. Sponsilier suggestedthat we ride into Buford, and accordingly all three of us foremenstarted. When we sighted the ford on the Missouri, a trio of horsemenwere just emerging from the water, and we soon were in possession of thefacts. Sanders, my brother, and Mike Sutton composed the party, andthe latter explained the situation. Orders from the War Departmenthad reached Fort Buford that morning, temporarily suspending the postcommander and his quartermaster from receiving any cattle intended forthat post, and giving notice that a special commissioner was then enroute from Minneapolis with full authority in the premises. The orderwas signed by the first quartermaster and approved by the head of thatdepartment; there was no going behind it, which further showed thestrength that the opposition were able to command. The little attorneywas wearing his war-paint, and we all dismounted, when Sandersvolunteered some valuable points on the wintering of Texas cattle inthe North. Sutton made a memorandum of the data, saying if opportunityoffered he would like to submit it in evidence at the final hearing. Thegeneral opinion was that a court of inquiry would be instituted, and ifsuch was the case, our cause was not by any means hopeless. 

"The chances are that the opposition will centre the fight on anassignment of the original contract which they claim to hold, " said thelawyer, in conclusion. "The point was advanced yesterday that we wereintruders, while, on the other hand, the government was in honor boundto recognize its outstanding obligation, no matter in whose hands it waspresented, so long as it was accompanied by the proper tender. A greatdeal will depend on the viewpoint of this special commissioner; he maybe a stickler for red tape, with no concern for the service, as werethe post commander and quartermaster. Their possession of the originaldocument will be self-evident, and it will devolve on us to show thatthat assignment was illegal. This may not be as easy as it seems, forthe chances are that there may be a dozen men in the gang, with numerousstool-pigeons ready and willing to do their bidding. This contract maydemonstrate the possibility of a ring within a ring, with everythingworking to the same end. The absence of Honest John Griscom at thisdelivery is significant as proving that his presence at Dodge andOgalalla was a mistake. You notice, with the exception of Field andRadcliff, they are all new men. Well, another day will tell the story. "

The special commissioner could not arrive before the next morning. Anambulance, with relay teams, had left the post at daybreak for Glendive, and would return that night. Since the following promised to be adecisive day, we were requested to bring every available man and reportat Fort Buford at an early hour. The trio returned to the post and weforemen to our herds. My outfit received the news in anything but acheerful mood. The monotony of the long drive had made the men restless, and the delay of a single day in being finally relieved, when lookedforward to, was doubly exasperating. It had been over six months sincewe left the ranch in Medina, and there was a lurking suspicion among anumber of the boys that the final decision would be against our cattleand that they would be thrown back on our hands. There was a generalanxiety among us to go home, hastened by the recent frosty nights anda common fear of a Northern climate. I tried to stem this feeling, promising a holiday on the morrow and assuring every one that we stillhad a fighting chance. 

We reached the post at a timely hour the next morning. Only three menwere left with each herd, my wrangler and cook accompanying us for theday. Parent held forth with quite a dissertation on the legal aspects ofthe case, and after we forded the river, an argument arose between himand 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 goesafter. You remember the Indian and the white man were at a loss to knowhow to divide the turkey and the buzzard, but in the end poor man gotthe 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 youthought they did. The moment that cattle declined five to seven dollarsa head, The Western Supply Company didn't trouble themselves as to thelegality or the right or wrong, but proceeded to take advantage of thesituation at once. Neal, when you've lived about twenty-five years onthe cold charity of strangers, you'll get over that blind confidence andbecome wary and cunning. It might be a good idea to keep your eye opento-day for your first lesson. Anyhow don't rely too strong on the rightor justice of anything, but keep a good horse on picket and your powderdry. "

The commissioner had arrived early that morning and would take upmatters at once. Nine o'clock was set for the hearing, which would takeplace in the quartermaster's office. Consultations were being held amongthe two factions, and the only ray of light was the reported frigidityof the special officer. He was such a superior personage that ordinarymortals felt a chill radiating from his person on their slightestapproach. His credentials were from the War Department and were such asto leave no doubt but that he was the autocrat of the situation, beforewhom all should render homage. A rigid military air prevailed about thepost and grounds, quite out of the ordinary, while the officers' bar wasempty and silent. 

The quartermaster's office would comfortably accommodate about onehundred persons. Fort Buford had been rebuilt in 1871, the adobebuildings giving place to frame structures, and the room in which thehearing was to be held was not only commodious but furnished with goodtaste. Promptly on the stroke of the hour, and escorted by the postadjutant, the grand mogul made his appearance. There was nothingstriking about him, except his military bearing; he was rather young andwalked so erect that he actually leaned backward a trifle. There was noprelude; he ordered certain tables rearranged, seated himself at one, and called for a copy of the original contract. The post adjutant hadall the papers covering the situation in hand, and the copy was placedat the disposal of the special commissioner, who merely glanced atthe names of the contracting parties, amount and date, and handed thedocument back. Turning to the table at which Lovell and his attorneyssat, he asked for the credentials under which they were tendering beevesat Fort Buford. The sub-contract was produced, some slight memorandumwas made, and it was passed back as readily as was the original. Theopposition were calmly awaiting a similar request, and when it came, in offering the papers, Congressman Y---- took occasion to remark: "Ourtender is not only on a sub-contract, but that agreement is fortified byan assignment of the original award, by and between the War Departmentand The Western Supply Company. We rely on the latter; you will findeverything regular. "

The customary glance was given the bulky documents. Senator Aspgrain wasawaiting 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 highfunctionary. A frozen silence pervaded the room. "There is no occasionfor any remarks in this matter, " austerely replied the governmentspecialist. "Our department regularly awarded the beef contract for thispost to The Western Supply Company. There was ample competition onthe award, insuring the government against exorbitant prices, and therequired bonds were furnished for the fulfillment of the contract. Rightthen and there all interest upon the part of the grantor ceased untilthe tender was made at this post on the appointed day of delivery. Inthe interim, however, it seems that for reasons purely their own, thegrantees saw fit to sub-let their contract, not once but twice. Ourdepartment amply protected themselves by requiring bonds, and thesub-contractors should have done the same. That, however, is not thematter at issue, but who is entitled to deliver on the original award. Fortunately that point is beyond question; an assignment of the originalhas always been recognized at the War Office, and in this case theholders of the same are declared entitled to deliver. There is onlyone provision, --does the article of beef tendered qualify under thespecifications? That is the only question before making this decisionfinal. 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 Suttongrasped the opportunity of calling him to testify in regard to winteringSouthern cattle in the North. After stating his qualifications asa citizen and present occupation, he was asked by the commissionerregarding his experience with cattle to entitle his testimony toconsideration. "I was born to the occupation in Texas, " replied thewitness. "Five years ago this summer I came with beef cattle from UvaldeCounty, that State, to this post, and after the delivery, accepteda situation under the quartermaster here in locating and holding thegovernment's beeves. At present I am foreman and have charge of allcattle delivered at or issued from this post. I have had five years'experience in wintering Texas cattle in this vicinity, and have nohesitancy in saying that it is a matter of the utmost importance thatsteers should be in the best possible flesh to withstand our winters. The losses during the most favorable seasons have averaged from one tofive per cent. , while the same cattle in a severe season will lose fromten to twenty-five, all depending on the condition of the stock with thebeginning of cold weather. Since my connection with this post we havealways received good steers, and our losses have been light, but aboveand below this military reservation the per cent. Loss has run as highas 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 thislocality in buying and holding beef on its own account. You may nowstate 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 iftheir 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 thecoming one prove as hard a winter as '82 was, there would be a loss offully one half these cattle. At least that was my opinion as expressedto the post commander and quartermaster at the inspection, and theyagreed with me. There are half a dozen other boys here whose views onwintering cattle can be had--and they're worth listening to. "

This testimony was the brutal truth, and though eternal, was sadlyout of place. The opposition lawyers winced; and when Sutton asked ifpermission would be given to hear the testimony of the post commanderand quartermaster, both familiar with the quality of cattle thegovernment had been receiving for years, the commissioner, havingadmitted damaging testimony, objected on the ground that they were undersuspension, and military men were not considered specialists outsidetheir own vocation. Other competent witnesses were offered and objectedto, simply because they would not admit they were experts. Takingadvantage of the opening, Congressman Y---- called attention to a fewfacts in passing. This unfortunate situation, he said, in substance, wasdeeply regretted by his clients and himself. The War Department wasto be warmly commended for sending a special commissioner to hear thematter at issue, otherwise unjust charges might have been preferredagainst old and honored officers in the service. However, if specialistswere to be called to testify, and their testimony considered, as to whatper cent. Of cattle would survive a winter, why not call on the weatherprophets to testify just what the coming one would be? He ridiculed theattestations of Sanders as irrelevant, defiantly asserting that the onlyquestion at issue was, were there five million pounds of dressed beef inthe tender of cattle by Field, Radcliff & Co. He insisted on the letterin the bond being observed. The government bought cattle one yearwith another, and assumed risks as did other people. Was there any manpresent to challenge his assertion that the pounds quantity had beentendered?

There was. Don Lovell arose, and addressing the special commissioner, said: "Sir, I am not giving my opinion as an expert but as a practicalcowman. If the testimony of one who has delivered over ninety thousandcattle to this government, in its army and Indian departments, is ofany service to you, I trust you will hear me patiently. No exception istaken to your ruling as to who is entitled to deliver on the existingaward; that was expected from the first. I have been contracting beef tothis government for the past fifteen years, and there may be tricks inthe 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 itsgut-eating wards as poor a lot of cattle as I am satisfied that youare going to receive at the hands of Field, Radcliff & Co. I acceptthe challenge that there are not five million pounds of dressed beefin their tender to-day, and what there is would be a disgrace to anycommonwealth to feed its convicts. True, these cattle are not intendedfor immediate use, and I make the counter-assertion that this governmentwill never kill out fifty per cent. Of the weight that you acceptto-day. Possibly you prefer the blandishments of a lobbyist to theopinion of a practical cowman like Sanders. That's your privilege. Yourefuse to allow us to show the relationship between The Western SupplyCompany and the present holders of its assignment, and in doing so Icharge you with being in collusion with these contractors to defraud thegovernment!"

"You're a liar!" shouted Congressman Y----, jumping to his feet. Theonly reply was a chair hurled from the hand of Sutton at the head of theoffender, instantly followed by a rough house. Several officerspresent sprang to the side of the special commissioner, but fortunatelyrefrained from drawing revolvers. I was standing at some distancefrom the table, and as I made a lunge forward, old man Don was hurledbackward into my arms. He could not whip a sick chicken, yet hisuncontrollable anger had carried him into the general melee and he hadbeen roughly thrown out by some of his own men. They didn't want him inthe fight; they could do all that was necessary. A number of soldierswere present, and while the officers were frantically commanding themto restore order, the scrap went merrily on. Old man Don struggled withmight and main, cursing me for refusing to free him, and when one of thecontractors was knocked down within easy reach, I was half tempted toturn him loose. The "major-domo" had singled out Sponsilier and wastrying issues with him, Bob Quirk was dropping them right and left, whenthe deposed commandant sprang upon a table, and in a voice like the hissof an adder, commanded peace, and the disorder instantly ceased. 

The row had lasted only a few seconds. The opposing sides stood glaringdaggers at each other, when the commissioner took occasion to administera reproof to all parties concerned, referring to Texas in not verycomplimentary terms. Dave Sponsilier was the only one who had thetemerity to offer any reply, saying, "Mr. Yank, I'll give you onehundred dollars if you'll point me out the grave of a man, woman, orchild who starved to death in that state. "

A short recess was taken, after which apologies followed, and thecommissioner resumed the hearing. A Western lawyer, named Lemeraux, made a very plausible plea for the immediate acceptance of the tender ofField, Radcliff & Co. He admitted that the cattle, at present, were notin as good flesh as his clients expected to offer them; that they hadleft the Platte River in fine condition, but had been twice quarantineden route. He was cautious in his remarks, but clearly intimated that hadthere been no other cattle in competition for delivery on this award, there might have been no quarantine. In his insinuations, the fact wasadroitly brought out that the isolation of their herds, if not directlychargeable to Lovell and his men, had been aided and abetted by them, retarding the progress of his clients' beeves and forcing them to travelas fast as twenty-five miles a day, so that they arrived in a jadedcondition. Had there been no interference, the tender of Field, Radcliff& Co. Would have reached this post ten days earlier, and rest would soonhave restored the cattle to their normal condition. In concluding, heboldly made the assertion that the condition of his client's tender ofbeef was the result of a conspiracy to injure one firm, that anotherdrover might profit thereby; that right and justice could be conservedonly by immediately making the decision final, and thus fearlesslysilencing any and all imputations reflecting on the character of thisgovernment's trusted representatives. 

The special commissioner assumed an air of affected dignity andannounced that a conclusion had been arrived at. Turning to old man Don, he expressed the deepest regret that a civilian was beyond his power topunish, otherwise he would have cause to remember the affront offeredhimself; not that he personally cared, but the department of governmentwhich he had the honor to serve was jealous of its good name. Under thecircumstances he could only warn him to be more guarded hereafter inchoosing his language, and assured Lovell that it was in his power toescort any offender off that military reservation. Pausing a moment, heresumed a judicial air, and summed up the situation:

"There was no occasion, " said he, in an amiable mood, "to refer thisincident to the War Department if the authorities here had gone abouttheir work properly. Fortunately I was in Minneapolis adjusting someflour 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. Ourdepartment is perfectly familiar with these petty jealousies, whichusually accompany awards of this class, and generally emanate fromdisappointed and disgruntled competitors. The point is well taken bycounsel that the government does not anticipate the unforeseen, andit matters not what the loss may be from the rigors of winter, thecontractor is exempt after the day of delivery. If the cattle weredelayed en route, as has been asserted, and it was necessary to makeforced drives in order to reach here within the specified time, all thisshould be taken into consideration in arriving at a final conclusion. On his reinstatement, I shall give the quartermaster of this postinstructions, in receiving these cattle, to be governed, not so much bytheir present condition as by what they would have been had there beenno interference. Now in behalf of the War Department, I declare theaward to The Western Supply Company, and assigned to Field, Radcliff, and associates, to have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of allparties concerned. This closes the incident, and if there is nothingfurther, the inquiry will stand adjourned without date. "

"One moment, if you please, " said Don Lovell, addressing thecommissioner and contractors; "there is a private matter existingbetween Field, Radcliff & Co. And myself which demands an understandingbetween us. I hold a sum of money, belonging to them, as indemnityagainst loss in driving ten thousand cattle from Southern Texas to thispost. That I will sustain a heavy loss, under your decision, is beyondquestion. I am indemnified to the amount of about six dollars and ahalf a head, and since the government is exempt from garnishment andthe contractors are wholly irresponsible, I must content myself with themoney in hand. To recover this amount, held as indemnity, suit hasbeen threatened against me. Of course I can't force their hands, butI sincerely hope they will feel exultant enough over your kangaroodecision to file their action before taking their usual outing inEurope. They will have no trouble in securing my legal address, myrating can be obtained from any commercial agency, and no doubt theirattorneys are aware of the statute of limitation in my state. I believethat's all, except to extend my thanks to every one about Fort Bufordfor the many kind attentions shown my counsel, my boys, and myself. Tomy enemies, I can only say that I hope to meet them on Texas soil, andwill promise them a fairer hearing than was accorded me here to-day. Mr. Commissioner, I have always prided myself on being a good citizen, haveborne arms in defense of my country, and in taking exception to yourdecision I brand you as the most despicable member of The WesternSupply Company. Any man who will prostitute a trust for a moneyconsideration--"

"That's enough!" shouted the special commissioner, rising. "Orderly, call the officer of the day, and tell him I want two companies ofcavalry to furnish an escort for this man and his herds beyond theboundaries of this military reservation. " Looking Lovell in the face, hesaid: "You have justly merited a severe punishment, and I shall reportyour reflections to the War and Indian departments, and you may find itmore difficult to secure contracts in the future. One of you officersdetail men and take charge of this man until the escort is ready. Theinquiry is adjourned. "

CHAPTER XXIV. THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT

The inquiry was over before noon. A lieutenant detailed a few men andmade a pretense of taking possession of Lovell. But once the specialcommissioner was out of sight, the farce was turned into an ovation, andnearly every officer in the post came forward and extended his sympathy. Old man Don was visibly affected by the generous manifestations of themilitary men in general, and after thanking each one personally, urgedthat no unnecessary demonstration should be made, begging that the orderof escort beyond the boundary of the reservation be countermanded. Noone present cared to suggest it, but gave assurance that it would be somodified as not in any way to interfere with the natural movement of theherds. Some little time would be required to outfit the forage-wagonsto accommodate the cavalry companies, during which my brother rode up, leading Lovell's horse, permission was given to leave in advance of theescort, and we all mounted and quietly rode away. 

The sudden turn of affairs had disconcerted every man in the threeoutfits. Just what the next move would be was conjecture with mostof us, though every lad present was anxious to know. But when we werebeyond the immediate grounds, Lovell turned in his saddle andasked which one of us foremen wanted to winter in the North. No onevolunteered, and old man Don continued: "Anticipating the worst, I hada long talk this morning with Sanders, and he assured me that our cattlewould go through any winter without serious loss. He suggested theLittle Missouri as a good range, and told me of a hay ranch below themouth of the Beaver. If it can be bought reasonably, we would haveforage for our horses, and the railroad is said to be not over fortymiles to the south. If the government can afford to take the risk ofwintering cattle in this climate, since there is no other choice, Ireckon I'll have to follow suit. Bob and I will take fresh horses andride through to the Beaver this afternoon, and you fellows follow upleisurely 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 leftus but to face the music of a Northern winter. "

As we turned in to ford the Missouri, some one called attention to acavalry company riding out from their quarters at the post. We halted amoment, and as the first one entered the road, the second one swung intoview, followed by forage-wagons. From maps in our possession we knew thesouthern boundary of the Fort Buford military reservation must be undertwenty miles to the south, and if necessary, we could put it behind usthat afternoon. But after crossing the river, and when the two troopsagain came in view, they had dropped into a walk, passing entirely outof sight long before we reached Forrest's camp. Orders were left withthe latter to take the lead and make a short drive that evening, at least far enough to convince observers that we were moving. Thedifferent outfits dropped out as their wagons were reached, and when myremuda was sighted, old man Don ordered it brought in for a change ofhorses. One of the dayherders was at camp getting dinner, and invitingthemselves to join him, my employer and my brother helped themselveswhile their saddles were shifted to two of my well-rested mounts. Inquiry had been made of all three of the outfits if any ranch hadbeen sighted on the Beaver while crossing that creek, but the onlyrecollection among the forty-odd men was that of Burl Van Vedder, whocontended 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 latedinner over and the herders relieved, we all rode for the nearesteminence which would afford us a view. The cavalry were just going intocamp below O'Brien's ranch, their forage-train in sight, while Forrest'scattle were well bunched and heading south. Sponsilier was evidentlygoing 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 portionof the boys left to help in the watering of our herd, the remainder ofus doing outpost duty. Forrest had passed out of sight, Sponsilier'swagon and remuda crossed opposite us, going up the valley, followed byhis cattle in loose grazing order, and still we loitered on the hill. But towards evening I rode down to where the cavalry was encamped, andbefore I had conversed very long with the officers, it was clear tome that the shorter our moves the longer it would extend their outing. Before I left the soldier camp, Sanders arrived, and as we started awaytogether, I sent him back to tell the officers to let me know any timethey could use half a beef. On reaching our wagon, the boys were justcorralling the saddle stock for their night-horses, when Sanders beggedme 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 thatmy employer expected to remember him, I ordered him to pick, with DonLovell's compliments, any horse in the remuda as a present. 

The proposition stunned Sanders, but I insisted that if old man Don wasthere, he would make him take something. He picked a good horse out ofmy mount and stayed until morning, when he was compelled to return, asthe probabilities were that they would receive the other cattle sometime 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 beable to return his kindness, though I'd ride a thousand miles for thechance. One thing sure, there isn't a man in Dakota who has money enoughto tempt me to part with my pelon. If you locate down on the LittleMissouri, drop me a line where you are at, and if Lovell wants four goodmen, I can let him have them about the first of December. You throughlads are liable to be scared over the coming winter, and a fewacclimated ones will put backbone in his outfit. And tell the old manthat if I can ever do him a good turn just to snap his fingers and I'llquit the government--he's a few shades whiter than it, anyhow. "

The herd had already left the bed-ground, headed south. About five milesabove O'Brien's, we recrossed to the eastern side of the Yellowstone, and for the next three days moved short distances, the militaryalways camped well in our rear. The fourth morning I killed a beef, aforage-wagon came forward and took half of it back to the cavalry campwith our greetings and farewell, and we parted company. Don Lovell metus about noon, elated as a boy over his purchase of the hay ranch. Mybrother had gone on to the railroad and thence by train to Miles Cityto meet his remuda and outfit. "Boys, I have bought you a new home, " wasthe greeting of old man Don, as he dismounted at our noon camp. "There'sa comfortable dugout, stabling for about ten horses, and seventy-fivetons of good hay in the stack. The owner was homesick to get back toGod's country, and he'll give us possession in ten days. Bob will be inLittle Missouri to-day and order us a car of sacked corn from Omaha, andwithin a month we'll be as snug as they are down in old Medina. Bob'soutfit will go home from Miles, and if he can't sell his remuda he'llbring it up here. Two of these outfits can start back in a few days, andafterward the camp will be reduced to ten men. "

Two days later Forrest veered off and turned his cattle loose below thejunction of the Beaver with the Little Missouri. Sponsilier crossed theformer, scattering his beeves both up and down the latter, while I cutmine into a dozen bunches and likewise freed them along the creek. Therange was about ten miles in length along the river, and a camp wasestablished at either end where men would be stationed until the beeveswere located. The commissaries had run low, there was a quiet rivalry asto which outfits should go home, and we all waited with bated breath forthe final word. I had Dorg Seay secretly inform my employer that Ihad given Sanders a horse without his permission, hoping that it mightdisplease him. But the others pointed out the fact that my outfit hadfar the best remuda, and that it would require well-mounted men tolocate and hold that number of cattle through the winter. Old man Donlistened to them all, and the next morning, as all three of us foremenwere outlining certain improvements about the hay ranch with him, heturned 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 ofa choice remuda. But it may all come right in the long run, as Bob andI have decided to leave you and your outfit to hold these cattle thiswinter. 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 bringback provision and the horses, as we'll start for the railroad in themorning. I may not come back, but Bob will, and he'll see that you arewell fixed for the winter before he goes home. After he leaves, I wantyou 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 adisgrace to the state that raised you if you can't handle cattleanywhere that any other man can. "

I felt all along it would fall to me, the youngest of six foremen; andmy own dear brother consigning me to a winter in the North, while hewould 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 athousand saddle horses home to the ranch, and that I had swaggered asa trail foreman afterward as the result. It had always been my luck tohave to earn every little advance or promotion, while others seemed tofall into them without any effort. Bob Quirk never saw the day that hewas half the all-round cowman that I was; yet he was above me and couldadvise, and I had to obey. 

On the morning of the 25th of September, 1884, the two outfits startedfor the railroad, leaving the remainder of us in a country, save for thecattle, so desolate that there was no chance even to spend our wages. Icommitted to memory a curtain lecture for my brother, though somehow orother it escaped me and was never delivered. We rode lines between theupper and lower wagons, holding the cattle loosely on a large range. Adelightful fall favored us, and before the first squall of winter cameon, the beeves had contented themselves as though they had been born onthe Little Missouri. Meanwhile Bob's wagon and remuda arrived, the carof corn was hauled to our headquarters, extra stabling was built, andwe settled down like banished exiles. Communication had been opened withFort Buford, and in the latter part of October the four promised menarrived, when Bob Quirk took part of my outfit and went home, leavingme ten men. Parent remained as cook, the new men assimilated easily, afiddle was secured, and in fulfillment of the assertion of Sanders, wepicked up courage. Two grain-fed horses, carefully stabled, were allowedto each man, the remainder of our large number of saddle stock runningfree on the range. 

To that long winter on the Little Missouri a relentless memory turns inretrospect. We dressed and lived like Eskimos. The first blizzard struckus early in December, the thermometer dropped sixty degrees in twelvehours, but in the absence of wind and snow the cattle did not leavethe breaks along the river. Three weeks later a second one came, and wecould not catch the lead animals until near the railroad; but the stormdrove them up the Little Missouri, and its sheltering banks helped us tocheck our worst winter drift. After the first month of wintry weather, the dread of the cold passed, and men and horses faced the work asthough it was springtime in our own loved southland. The months rolledby scarcely noticed. During fine weather Sanders and some of his boystwice dropped down for a few days, but we never left camp except to sendletters 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 havingescaped us during the winter. The latter part of May we sold fourhundred saddle horses to some men from the upper Yellowstone. Early inJune a wagon was rigged out, extra men employed, and an outfit sent twohundred miles up the Little Missouri to attend the round-ups. Theywere gone a month and came in with less than five hundred beeves, whichrepresented our winter drift. Don Lovell reached the ranch during thefirst week in July. One day's ride through the splendid cattle, and oldman Don lost his voice, but the smile refused to come off. Everythingwas coming his way. Field, Radcliff & Co. Had sued him, and the juryawarded him one-hundred thousand dollars. His bankers had unlimitedconfidence in his business ability; he had four Indian herds on thetrail and three others of younger steers, intended for the LittleMissouri ranch. Cattle prices in Texas had depreciated nearly one halfsince the spring before--"a good time for every cowman to strain hiscredit and enlarge his holdings, " my employer assured me. 

Orders were left that I was to begin shipping out the beeves early inAugust. It was the intention to ship them in two and three train-loadlots, and I was expecting to run a double outfit, when a landslide cameour way. The first train-load netted sixty dollars a head at Omaha--butthey were beeves; cods like an ox's heart and waddled as they walked. Wehad just returned from the railroad with the intention of shipping twotrain-loads more, when the quartermaster and Sanders from Fort Bufordrode into the ranch under an escort. The government had lost forty percent. Of the Field-Radcliff cattle during the winter just passed, andwere in the market to buy the deficiency. The quartermaster wanted athousand beeves on the first day of September and October each, anddouble that number for the next month. Did we care to sell that amount?A United States marshal, armed with a search-warrant, could not havefound Don Lovell in a month, but they were promptly assured thatour beef steers were for sale. It is easy to show prime cattle. Thequartermaster, Sanders, and myself rode down the river, crossed overand came up beyond our camp, forded back and came down the Beaver, andI knew the sale was made. I priced the beeves, delivered at Buford, atsixty-five dollars a head, and the quartermaster took them. 

Then we went to work in earnest. Sanders remained to receive the firstcontingent for Buford, which would leave our range on the 25th of eachmonth. A single round-up and we had the beeves in hand. The next morningafter Splann left for the mouth of the Yellowstone, I started southfor the railroad with two train-loads of picked cattle. Professionalshippers took them off our hands at the station, accompanied them enroute to market, and the commission house in Omaha knew where to remitthe proceeds. The beef shipping season was on with a vengeance. Oursaddle stock had improved with a winter in the North, until one wasequal to two Southern or trail horses. Old man Don had come on in themean time, and was so pleased with my sale to the army post that hereturned to Little Missouri Station at once and bought two herds ofthree-year-olds at Ogalalla by wire. This made sixteen thousand steercattle 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 finecattle ranch, and we want to get in on the flood-tide. There is alwaysa natural wealth in a new country, and the goldmines of this one are inits grass. The instinct that taught the buffalo to choose this as theirsummer and winter range was unerring, and they found a grass at handthat would sustain them in any and all kinds of weather. This countryto-day is just what Texas was thirty years ago. All the early settlersat home grew rich without any effort, but once the cream of the virginland is gone, look out for a change. The early cowmen of Texas flatterthemselves on being shrewd and far-seeing--just about as much as I waslast fall, when I would gladly have lost twenty-five thousand dollarsrather than winter these cattle. Now look where I will come out, all dueto the primitive wealth of the land. From sixty to sixty-five dollars ahead beats thirty-seven and a half for our time and trouble. "

The first of the through cattle arrived early in September. They avoidedour range for fear of fever, and dropped in about fifteen miles belowour headquarters on the Little Missouri. Dorg Seay was one of the threeforemen, Forrest and Sponsilier being the other two, having followed thesame route as our herds of the year before. But having spent a winterin the North, we showed the through outfits a chilling contempt. I hadribbed up Parent not even to give them a pleasant word about our wagonor headquarters; and particularly if Bob Quirk came through with oneof the purchased herds, he was to be given the marble heart. One outfitloose-herded the new cattle, the other two going home, and about themiddle of the month, my brother and The Rebel came trailing in withthe last two herds. I was delighted to meet my old bunkie, and had himremain over until the last outfit went home, when we reluctantly partedcompany. Not so, however, with Bob Quirk, who haughtily informed me thathe came near slapping my cook for his effrontery. "So you are anotherone of these lousy through outfits that think we ought to make a fussover you, are you?" I retorted. "Just you wait until we do. Every one ofyou except old Paul had the idea that we ought to give you a receptionand ask you to sleep in our beds. I'm glad that Parent had the gumptionto give you a mean look; he'll ride for me next year. "

The month of October finished the shipping. There was a magic in thatNorthern climate that wrought wonders in an animal from the South. Little wonder that the buffalo could face the blizzard, in a country ofhis own choosing, and in a climate where the frost king held high revelfive months out of the twelve. There was a tonic like the iron of winein the atmosphere, absorbed alike by man and beast, and its possessorlaughed at the fury of the storm. Our loss of cattle during the firstwinter, traceable to season, was insignificant, while we sold out overtwo hundred head more than the accounts called for, due to the presenceof strays, which went to Buford. And when the last beef was shipped, thefinal delivery concluded to the army, Don Lovell was a quarter-milliondollars to the good, over and above the contract price at which hefailed to deliver the same cattle to the government the fall before. 

As foreman of Lovell's beef ranch on the Little Missouri I spent fivebanner years of my life. In '89 the stock, good-will, and range weresold to a cattle syndicate, who installed a superintendent and postedrules for the observance of its employees. I do not care to say why, butin a stranger's hands it never seemed quite the same home to a few of uswho were present when it was transformed into a cattle range. Late thatfall, some half-dozen of us who were from Texas asked to be relieved andreturned to the South. A traveler passing through that country to-daywill hear the section about the mouth of the Beaver called only by thesyndicate name, but old-timers will always lovingly refer to it as theDon Lovell Ranch.