the outlet-第2章

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e　Buford　contract　sets　the　day　of　delivery　for　September　15；　and　it's　going　to　take　close　figuring　to　make　a　cent。　The　main　contractors　are　all　right；　but　I'm　the　one　that's　got　to　scratch　his　head　and　figure　close　and　see　that　there's　no　leakages。　Your　freight　bill　alone　would　be　a　nice　profit。　It　may　cost　us　a　little　for　water　getting　out　of　Texas；　but　with　the　present　outlet　for　cattle；　it's　bad　policy　to　harass　the　herds。　Water　is　about　the　best　crop　some　of　those　settlers　along　the　trail；　have　to　sell；　and　they　ought　to　treat　us　right。〃

After　the　conference　was　over；　we　scattered　about　the　city；　on　various　errands；　expecting　to　take　the　night　train　home。　It　was　then　the　middle　of　February；　and　five　of　the　six　herds　were　already　purchased。　In　spite　of　the　large　numbers　of　cattle　which　the　trail　had　absorbed　in　previous　years；　there　was　still　an　abundance　of　all　ages；　anxious　for　a　market。　The　demand　in　the　North　had　constantly　been　for　young　cattle；　leaving　the　matured　steers　at　home。　Had　Mr。　Lovell's　contracts　that　year　called　for　forty　thousand　five　and　six　year　old　beeves；　instead　of　twenty；　there　would　have　been　the　same　inexhaustible　supply　from　which　to　pick　and　choose。　But　with　only　one　herd　yet　to　secure；　and　ample　offerings　on　every　hand；　there　was　no　necessity　for　a　hurry。　Many　of　the　herds　driven　the　year　before　found　no　sale；　and　were　compelled　to　winter　in　the　North　at　the　drover's　risk。　In　the　early　spring　of　'84；　there　was　a　decided　lull　over　the　enthusiasm　of　the　two　previous　years；　during　the　former　of　which　the　trail　afforded　an　outlet　for　nearly　seven　hundred　thousand　Texas　cattle。

In　regard　to　horses　we　were　well　outfitted。　During　the　summer　of　'83；　Don　Lovell　had　driven　four　herds；　two　on　Indian　contract　and　two　of　younger　cattle　on　speculation。　Of　the　latter；　one　was　sold　in　Dodge　for　delivery　on　the　Purgatory　River　in　southern　Colorado；　while　the　other　went　to　Ogalalla；　and　was　disposed　of　and　received　at　that　point。　In　both　cases　there　was　no　chance　to　sell　the　saddle　horses；　and　they　returned　to　Dodge　and　were　sent　to　pasture　down　the　river　in　the　settlements。　My　brother；　Bob　Quirk；　had　driven　one　of　the　other　herds　to　an　agency　in　the　Indian　Territory。　After　making　the　delivery；　early　in　August；　on　his　employer's　orders；　he　had　brought　his　remuda　and　outfit　into　Dodge；　the　horses　being　also　sent　to　pasture　and　the　men　home　to　Texas。　I　had　made　the　trip　that　year　to　the　Pine　Ridge　Agency　in　Dakota　with　thirty…five　hundred　beeves；　under　Flood　as　foreman。　Don　Lovell　was　present　at　the　delivery；　and　as　there　was　no　hope　of　effecting　a　sale　of　the　saddle　stock　among　the　Indians；　after　delivering　the　outfit　at　the　nearest　railroad；　I　was　given　two　men　and　the　cook；　and　started　back　over　the　trail　for　Dodge　with　the　remuda。　The　wagon　was　a　drawback；　but　on　reaching　Ogalalla；　an　emigrant　outfit　offered　me　a　fair　price　for　the　mules　and　commissary；　and　I　sold　them。　Lashing　our　rations　and　blankets　on　two　pack…horses；　we　turned　our　backs　on　the　Platte　and　crossed　the　Arkansaw　at　Dodge　on　the　seventh　day。

But　instead　of　the　remainder　of　the　trip　home　by　rail；　as　we　fondly　expected；　the　programme　had　changed。　Lovell　and　Flood　had　arrived　in　Dodge　some　ten　days　before；　and　looking　over　the　situation；　had　come　to　the　conclusion　it　was　useless　even　to　offer　our　remudas。　As　remnants　of　that　year's　drive；　there　had　concentrated　in　and　around　that　market　something　like　ten　thousand　saddle　horses。　Many　of　these　were　from　central　and　north　Texas；　larger　and　better　stock　than　ours；　even　though　care　had　been　used　in　selecting　the　latter。　So　on　their　arrival；　instead　of　making　any　effort　to　dispose　of　our　own；　the　drover　and　his　foreman　had　sized　up　the　congested　condition　of　the　market；　and　turned　buyers。　They　had　bought　two　whole　remudas；　and　picked　over　five　or　six　others　until　their　purchases　amounted　to　over　five　hundred　head。　Consequently　on　our　reaching　Dodge　with　the　Pine　Ridge　horses；　I　was　informed　that　they　were　going　to　send　all　the　saddle　stock　back　over　the　trail　to　the　ranch　and　that　I　was　to　have　charge　of　the　herd。　Had　the　trip　been　in　the　spring　and　the　other　way；　I　certainly　would　have　felt　elated　over　my　promotion。　Our　beef　herd　that　year　had　been　put　up　in　Dimmit　County；　and　from　there　to　the　Pine　Ridge　Agency　and　back　to　the　ranch　would　certainly　be　a　summer's　work　to　gratify　an　ordinary　ambition。

In　the　mean　time　and　before　our　arrival；　Flood　had　brought　up　all　the　stock　and　wagons　from　the　settlement；　and　established　a　camp　on　Mulberry　Creek；　south　of　Dodge　on　the　trail。　He　had　picked　up　two　Texans　who　were　anxious　to　see　their　homes　once　more；　and　the　next　day　at　noon　we　started。　The　herd　numbered　a　thousand　and　sixty　head；　twenty　of　which　were　work…mules。　The　commissary　which　was　to　accompany　us　was　laden　principally　with　harness；　and　waving　Flood　farewell；　we　turned　homeward；　leaving　behind　unsold　of　that　year's　drive　only　two　wagons。　Lovell　had　instructed　us　never　to　ride　the　same　horse　twice；　and　wherever　good　grass　and　water　were　encountered；　to　kill　as　much　time　as　possible。　My　employer　was　enthusiastic　over　the　idea；　and　well　he　might　be；　for　a　finer　lot　of　saddle　horses　were　not　in　the　possession　of　any　trail　drover；　while　those　purchased　in　Dodge　could　have　been　resold　in　San　Antonio　at　a　nice　profit。　Many　of　the　horses　had　run　idle　several　months　and　were　in　fine　condition。　With　the　allowance　of　four　men　and　a　cook；　a　draft…book　for　personal　expenses；　and　over　a　thousand　horses　from　which　to　choose　a　mount；　I　felt　like　an　embryo　foreman；　even　if　it　was　a　back　track　and　the　drag　end　of　the　season。　Turning　everything　scot　free　at　night；　we　reached　the　ranch　in　old　Medina　in　six　weeks；　actually　traveling　about　forty　days。

But　now；　with　the　opening　of　the　trail　season　almost　at　hand；　the　trials　of　past　years　were　forgotten　in　the　enthusiasm　of　the　present。　I　had　a　distinct　recollection　of　numerous　resolves　made　on　rainy　nights；　while　holding　a　drifting　herd；　that　this　was　positively　my　last　trip　over　the　trail。　Now；　however；　after　a　winter　of　idleness；　my　worst　fear　was　that　I　might　be　left　at　home　with　the　ranch　work；　and　thus　miss　the　season's　outing　entirely。　There　were　new　charms　in　the　Buford　contract　which　thrilled　me；its　numerical　requirements；　the　sight　of　the　Yellowstone　again；　and　more；　to　be　present　at　the　largest　delivery　of　the　year　to　the　government。　Rather　than　have　missed　the　trip；　I　would　have　gladly　cooked　or　wrangled　the　horses　for　one　of　the　outfits。

On　separating；　Lovell　urged　his　foreman　and　myself　to　be　at　the　depot　in　good　time　to　catch　our　train。　That　our　employer's　contracts　for　the　year　would　require　financial　assistance；　both　of　us　were　fully　aware。　The　credit　of　Don　Lovell　was　gilt　edge；　not　that　he　was　a　wealthy　cowman；　but　the　banks　and　moneyed　men　of　the　city　recognized　his　business　ability。　Nearly　every　year　since　he　began　driving　cattle；　assistance　had　been　extended　him；　but　the　promptness　with　which　he　had　always　met　his　obligations　made　his　patronage　desirable。

Flood　and　I　had　a　number　of　errands　to　look　after　for　the　boys　on　the　ranch　and　ourselves；　and；　like　countrymen；　reached　the　depot　fully　an　hour　before　the　train　was　due。　Not　possessed　of　enough　gumption　to　inquire　if　the　westbound　was　on　time；　we　loitered　around　until　some　other　passengers　informed　us　that　it　was　late。　Just　as　we　were　on　the　point　of　starting　back　to　town；　Lovell　drove　up　in　a　hack；　and　the　three　of　us　paced　the　platform　until　the　arrival　of　the　belated　train。

〃Well；　boys；　everything　looks　serene；〃　said　our　employer；　when　we　had　walked　to　the　farther　end　of　the　depot。　〃I　can　get　all　the　money　I　need；　even　if　we　shipped　part　way；　which　I　don't　intend　to　do。　The　banks　admit　that　cattle　are　a　slow　sale　and　a　shade　lower　this　spring；　and　are　not　as　free　with　their　money　as　a　year　or　two　ago。　My　bankers　detained　me　over　an　hour　until　they　could　send　for　a　customer　who　claimed　to　have　a　very　fine　lot　of　beeves　for　sale　in　Lasalle　County。　That　he　is　anxious　to　sell　there　is　no　doubt；　for　he　offered　them　to　me　on　my　own　time；　and　agrees　to　meet　any　one's　prices。　I　half　promised　to　come　back　next　week　and　go　down　with　him　to　Lasalle　and　look　his　cattle　over。　If　they　show　up　right；　there　will　be　no　trouble　in　buying　them；　which　will　complete　our　purchases。　It　is　my　intention；　Jim；　to　give　you　the　herd　to　fill　our　earliest　delivery。　Our　next　two　occur　so　near　together　that　you　will　have　to　represent　me　at　one　of　them。　The　Buford　cattle；　being　the　last　by　a　few　weeks；　we　will　both　go　up　there　and　see　it　over　with。　There　are　about　half　a　dozen　trail　foremen　anxious　for　the　two　other　herds；　and　while　they　are　good　men；　I　don't　know　of　any　good　reason　for　not　pushing　my　own　boys　forward。　I　have　already　decided　to　give　Dave　Sponsilier　and　Quince　Forrest　two　of　the　Buford　herds；　and　I　reckon；　Tom；　the　last　one　will　fall　to　you。

The　darkness　in　which　we　were　standing　shielded　my　egotism　from　public　view。　But　I　am　conscious　that　I　threw　out　my　brisket　several　inches　and　stood　straight　on　my　bow…legs　as　I　thanked　old　man　Don　for　the　foremanship　of　his　sixth　herd。　Flood　was　amused；　and　told　me　afterward　that　my　language　was　extravagant。　There　is　an　old　superstition　that　if　a　man　ever　drinks　out　of　the　Rio　Grande；　it　matters　not　where　he　roams　afterward；　he　is　certain　to　come　back　to　her　banks　again。　I　had　watered　my　horse　in　the　Yellowstone　in　'82；　and　ever　afterward　felt　an　itching　to　see　her　again。　And　here　the　opportunity　opened　before　me；　not　as　a　common　cow…hand；　but　as　a　trail　boss　and　one　of　three　in　filling　a　five　million　pound　government　beef　contract！　But　it　was　dark　and　I　was　afoot；　and　if　I　was　a　trifle　〃chesty；〃　there　had　suddenly　come　new　colorings　to　my　narrow　world。

On　the　arrival　of　the　train；　several　other　westward…bound　cowmen　boarded　it。　We　all　took　seats　in　the　smoker；　it　being　but　a　two　hours'　run　to　our　destination。　Flood　and　I　were　sitting　well　forward　in　the　car；　the　former　almost　as　elated　over　my　good　fortune　as　myself。　〃Well；　won't　old　Quince　be　all　puffed　up；〃　said　Jim　to　me；　〃when　the　old　man　tells　him　he's　to　have　a　herd。　Now；　I've　never　said　a　word　in　favor　of　either　one　of　you。　Of　course；　when　Mr。　Lovell　asked　me　if　I　knew　certain　trail　foremen　who　were　liable　to　be　idle　this　year；　I　intimated　that　he　had　plenty　of　material　in　his　employ　to　make　a　few　of　his　own。　The　old　man　may　be　a　trifle　slow　on　reaching　a　decision；　but　once　he　makes　up　his　mind；　he's　there　till　the　cows　come　home。　Now；　all　you　and　Quince　need　to　do　is　to　make　good；　for　you　couldn't　ask　for　a　better　man　behind　you。　In　making　up　your　outfit；　you　want　to　know　every　man　you　hire；　and　give　a　preference　to　gray　hairs；　for　they're　not　so　liable　to　admire　their　shadow　in　sunny　or　get　homesick　in　falling　weather。　Tom；　where　you　made　a　ten…strike　with　the　old　man　was　in　accepting　that　horse　herd　at　Dodge　last　fall。　Had　you　made　a　whine　or　whimper　then；　the　chances　are　you　wouldn't　be　bossing　a　herd　this　year。　Lovell　is　a　cowman　who　likes　to　see　a　fellow　take　his　medicine　with　a　smile。〃



CHAPTER　II。　ORGANIZING　THE　FORCES

Don　Lovell　and　Jim　Flood　returned　from　Lasalle　County　on　the　last　day　of　February。　They　had　spent　a　week　along　the　Upper　Nueces；　and　before　returning　to　the　ranch　closed　a