the outlet-第33章

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en　at　any　time；　rise　in　an　hour　and　fall　in　half　a　day。　Look　there　how　it　is　clearing　off　in　the　west；　the　river　will　be　fordable　this　evening　or　in　the　morning　at　the　furthest。　As　long　as　everything　is　safe；　what　do　we　care？　If　it　comes　to　a　pinch；　we　have　plenty　of　stray　beef；　berries　are　ripe；　and　I　reckon　if　we　cast　around　we　might　find　some　wild　onions。　I　have　lived　a　whole　month　at　a　time　on　nothing　but　land…terrapin；　they　make　larruping　fine　eating　when　you　are　cut　off　from　camp　this　way。　Blankets？　Never　use　them；　sleep　on　your　belly　and　cover　with　your　back；　and　get　up　with　the　birds　in　the　morning。　These　Lovell　outfits　are　getting　so　tony　that　by　another　year　or　two　they'll　insist　on　bathtubs；　Florida　water；　and　towels　with　every　wagon。　I　like　to　get　down　to　straight　beans　for　a　few　days　every　once　in　a　while；　it　has　a　tendency　to　cure　a　man　with　a　whining　disposition。　The　only　thing　that's　worrying　me；　if　we　get　cut　off；　is　the　laugh　that　Sponsilier　will　have　on　us。〃

We　all　knew　Forrest　was　bluffing。　The　fact　that　we　were　water…bound　was　too　apparent　to　admit　of　question；　and　since　the　elements　were　beyond　our　control；　there　was　no　telling　when　relief　would　come。　Until　the　weather　moderated　in　the　hills　to　the　west；　there　was　no　hope　of　crossing　the　river；　but　men　grew　hungry　and　nights　were　chilly；　and　bluster　and　bravado　brought　neither　food　nor　warmth。　A　third　wave　was　noticed　within　an　hour；　raising　the　water…gauge　over　a　foot。　The　South　Fork　of　the　Big　Cheyenne　almost　encircled　the　entire　Black　Hills　country；　and　with　a　hundred　mountain　affluents　emptying　in　their　tribute；　the　waters　commanded　and　we　obeyed。　Ordering　my　men　to　kill　a　beef；　I　rode　down　the　river　in　the　hopc　of　finding　Sponsilier　on　our　side；　and　about　noon　sighted　his　camp　and　cattle　on　the　opposite　bank。　A　group　of　men　were　dallying　along　the　shore；　but　being　out　of　hearing；　I　turned　back　without　exposing　myself。

On　my　return　a　general　camp　had　been　established　at　the　nearest　wood；　and　a　stray　killed。　Stakes　were　driven　to　mark　the　rise　or　fall　of　the　water；　and　we　settled　down　like　prisoners；　waiting　for　an　expected　reprieve。　Towards　evening　a　fire　was　built　up　and　the　two　sides　of　ribs　were　spitted　over　it；　our　only　chance　for　supper。　Night　fell　with　no　perceptible　change　in　the　situation；　the　weather　remaining　dry　and　clear。　Forrest's　outfit　had　been　furnished　horses　from　my　remuda　for　guard　duty；　and　about　midnight；　wrapping　ourselves　in　slickers；　we　lay　down　in　a　circle　with　our　feet　to　the　fire　like　cave…dwellers。　The　camp…fire　was　kept　up　all　night　by　the　returning　guards；　even　until　the　morning　hours；　when　we　woke　up　shivering　at　dawn　and　hurried　away　to　note　the　stage　of　the　water。　A　four…foot　fall　had　taken　place　during　the　night；　another　foot　was　added　within　an　hour　after　sun…up；　brightening　our　hopes；　when　a　tidal　wave　swept　down　the　valley；　easily　establishing　a　new　high…water　mark。　Then　we　breakfasted　on　broiled　beefsteak；　and　fell　back　into　the　hills　in　search　of　the　huckleberry；　which　abounded　in　that　vicinity。

A　second　day　and　night　passed；　with　the　water　gradually　falling。　The　third　morning　a　few　of　the　best　swimmers；　tiring　of　the　diet　of　beef　and　berries；　took　advantage　of　the　current　and　swam　to　the　other　shore。　On　returning　several　hours　later；　they　brought　back　word　that　Sponsilier　had　been　up　to　the　wagons　the　afternoon　before　and　reported　an　easy　crossing　about　five　miles　below。　By　noon　the　channel　had　narrowed　to　one　hundred　yards　of　swimming　water；　and　plunging　into　it　on　our　horses；　we　dined　at　the　wagons　and　did　justice　to　the　spread。　Both　outfits　were　anxious　to　move；　and　once　dinner　was　over；　the　commissaries　were　started　down　the　river；　while　we　turned　up　it；　looking　for　a　chance　to　swim　back　to　the　cattle。　Forrest　had　secured　a　fresh　mount　of　horses；　and　some　distance　above　the　dry　wash　we　again　took　to　the　water；　landing　on　the　opposite　side　between　a　quarter　and　half　mile　below。　Little　time　was　lost　in　starting　the　herds；　mine　in　the　lead；　while　the　wagons　got　away　well　in　advance；　accompanied　by　Forrest's　remuda　and　the　isolated　contingent　of　cattle。

Sponsilier　was　expecting　us；　and　on　the　appearance　of　our　wagons；　moved　out　to　a　new　camp　and　gave　us　a　clear　crossing。　A　number　of　the　boys　came　down　to　the　river　with　him；　and　several　of　them　swam　it；　meeting　the　cattle　a　mile　above　and　piloting　us　into　the　ford。　They　had　assured　me　that　there　might　be　seventy…five　yards　of　swimming　water；　with　a　gradual　entrance　to　the　channel　and　a　half…mile　of　solid　footing　at　the　outcome。　The　description　of　the　crossing　suited　me；　and　putting　our　remuda　in　the　lead；　we　struck　the　muddy　torrent　and　crossed　it　without　a　halt；　the　chain　of　swimming　cattle　never　breaking　for　a　single　moment。　Forrest　followed　in　our　wake；　the　one　herd　piloting　the　other；　and　within　an　hour　after　our　arrival　at　the　lower　ford；　the　drag…end　of　the　〃　Drooping　T〃　herd　kicked　up　their　heels　on　the　north　bank　of　the　Big　Cheyenne。　Meanwhile　Sponsilier　had　been　quietly　sitting　his　horse　below　the　main　landing；　his　hat　pulled　down　over　his　eye；　nursing　the　humor　of　the　situation。　As　Forrest　came　up　out　of　the　water　witb　the　rear　guard　of　his　cattle；　the　opportunity　was　too　good　to　be　overlooked。

〃Hello；　Quince；〃　said　Dave；　〃how　goes　it；　old　sport？　Do　you　keep　stout？　I　was　up　at　your　wagon　yesterday　to　ask　you　all　down　to　supper。　Yes；　we　had　huckleberry　pie　and　venison　galore；　but　your　men　told　me　that　you　had　quit　eating　with　the　wagon。　I　was　pained　to　hear　that　you　and　Tom　have　both　gone　plum　hog…wild；　drinking　out　of　cowtracks　and　living　on　wild　garlic　and　land…terrapin；　just　like　Injuns。　Honest；　boys；　I　hate　to　see　good　men　go　wrong　that　way。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII。　THE　LITTLE　MISSOURI

A　week　later　we　crossed　the　Belle　Fourche；　sometimes　called　the　North　Fork　of　the　Big　Cheyenne。　Like　its　twin　sister　on　the　south；　it　was　a　mountain　river；　having　numerous　affluents　putting　in　from　the　Black　Hills；　which　it　encircled　on　the　north　and　west。　Between　these　two　branches　of　the　mother　stream　were　numerous　tributaries；　establishing　it　as　the　best　watered　country　encountered　in　our　long　overland　cruise。　Besides　the　splendid　watercourses　which　marked　that　section；　numerous　wagontrails；　leading　into　the　hills；　were　peopled　with　freighters。　Long　ox　trains；　moving　at　a　snail's　pace；　crept　over　hill　and　plain；　the　common　carrier　between　the　mines　and　the　outside　world。　The　fascination　of　the　primal　land　was　there；　the　buttes　stood　like　sentinels；　guarding　a　king's　domain；　while　the　palisaded　cliffs　frowned　down；　as　if　erected　by　the　hand　Omnipotent　to　mark　the　boundary　of　nations。

Our　route；　after　skirting　the　Black　Hills；　followed　up　the　Belle　Fourche　a　few　days；　and　early　in　August　we　crossed　over　to　the　Little　Missouri　River。　The　divide　between　the　Belle　Fourche　and　the　latter　stream　was　a　narrow　one；　requiring　little　time　to　graze　across　it；　and　intercepting　the　Little　Missouri　somewhere　in　Montana。　The　course　of　that　river　was　almost　due　north；　and　crossing　and　recrossing　it　frequently；　we　kept　constantly　in　touch　with　it　on　our　last　northward　tack。　The　river　led　through　sections　of　country　now　known　as　the　Bad　Lands；　but　we　found　an　abundance　of　grass　and　an　easy　passage。　Sponsilier　held　the　lead　all　the　way　down　the　river；　though　I　did　most　of　the　advance　scouting；　sometimes　being　as　much　as　fifty　miles　in　front　of　the　herds。　Near　the　last　of　the　month　we　sighted　Sentinel　Butte　and　the　smoke　of　railroad　trains；　and　a　few　days　later　all　three　of　us　foremen　rode　into　Little　Missouri　Station　of　the　Northern　Pacific　Railway。　Our　arrival　was　expected　by　one　man　at　least；　for　as　we　approached　the　straggling　village；　our　employer　was　recognized　at　a　distance；　waving　his　hat；　and　a　minute　later　all　three　of　us　were　shaking　hands　with　Don　Lovell。　Mutual　inquiries　followed；　and　when　we　reported　the　cattle　fine　as　silk；　having　never　known　a　hungry　or　thirsty　hour　after　leaving　the　North　Platte；　the　old　man　brightened　and　led　the　way　to　a　wellknown　saloon。

〃How　did　I　fare　at　Omaha？〃　said　old　man　Don；　repeating　Forrest's　query。　〃Well；　at　first　it　was　a　question　if　I　would　be　hung　or　shot；　but　we　came　out　with　colors　flying。　The　United　States　marshal　who　attempted　to　take　possession　of　the　cattle　on　the　North　Platte　went　back　on　the　same　train　with　us。　He　was　feeling　sore　over　his　defeat；　but　Sutton　cultivated　his　acquaintance；　and　in　mollifying　that　official；　showed　him　how　easily　failure　could　be　palmed　off　as　a　victory。　In　fact；　I　think　Mike　overcolored　the　story　at　my　expense。　He　and　the　marshal　gave　it　to　the　papers；　and　the　next　morning　it　appeared　in　the　form　of　a　sensational　article。　According　to　the　report；　a　certain　popular　federal　officer　had　gone　out　to　Ogalalla　to　take　possession　of　two　herds　of　cattle　intended　for　government　purposes；　he　had　met　with　resistance　by　a　lot　of　Texas　roughs；　who　fatally　shot　one　of　his　deputies；　wounding　several　others；　and　killing　a　number　of　horses　during　the　assault；　but　the　intrepid　officer　had　added　to　his　laurels　by　arresting　the　owner　of　the　cattle　and　leader　of　the　resisting　mob；　and　had　brought　him　hack　to　face　the　charge　of　contempt　in　resisting　service。　The　papers　freely　predicted　that　I　would　get　the　maximum　fine；　and　one　even　went　so　far　as　to　suggest　that　imprisonment　might　teach　certain　arrogant　cattle　kings　a　salutary　lesson。　But　when　the　hearing　came　up；　Sutton　placed　Jim　Reed　and　me　in　the　witness…box；　taking　the　stand　later　himself；　and　we　showed　that　federal　court　that　it　had　been　buncoed　out　of　an　order　of　injunctive　relief；　in　favor　of　the　biggest　set　of　ringsters　that　ever　missed　stretching　hemp。　The　result　was；　I　walked　out　of　that　federal　court　scot　free。　And　Judge　Dundy；　when　he　realized　the　injustice　that　he　had　inflicted；　made　all　three　of　us　take　dinner　with　him；　fully　explaining　the　pressure　which　had　been　brought　to　bear　at　the　time　the　order　of　relief　was　issued。　Oh；　that　old　judge　was　all　right。　I　only　hope　we'll　have　as　square　a　man　as　Judge　Dundy　at　the　final　hearing　at　Fort　Buford。　Do　you　see　that　sign　over　there；　where　it　says　Barley　Water　and　Bad　Cigars？　Well；　put　your　horses　in　some　corral　and　meet　me　there。〃

There　was　a　great　deal　of　news　to　review。　Lovell　had　returned　to　Ogalalla；　the　body　of　Tolleston　had　been　recovered　and　given　decent　burial；　delivery　day　of　the　three　Indian　herds　was　at　hand；　bringing　that　branch　of　the　season's　drive　to　a　close。　But　the　main　thing　which　absorbed　our　employer　was　the　quarantine　that　the　upper　Yellowstone　country　proposed　enforcing　against　through　Texas　cattle。　He　assured　us　that　had　we　gone　by　way　of　Wyoming　and　down　the　Powder　River；　the　chances　were　that　the　local　authorities　would　have　placed　us　under　quarantine　until　after　the　first　frost。　He　assured　us　that　the　year　before；　Texas　fever　had　played　sad　havoc　among　the　native　and　wintered　Southern　cattle；　and　that　Miles　City　and　Glendive；　live…stock　centres　on　the　Yellowstone；　were　up　in　arms　in　favor　of　a　rigid　quarantine　against　all　through　cattle。　If　this　proved　true；　it　was　certainly　an　ill　wind　to　drovers　on　the　Powder　River　route；　yet　I　failed　to　see　where　we　were　benefited　until　my　employer　got　down　to　details。

〃That's　so；〃　said　he；　〃I　forgot　to　tell　you　boys　that　when　Reed　and　I　went