the outlet-第34章

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r　got　down　to　details。

〃That's　so；〃　said　he；　〃I　forgot　to　tell　you　boys　that　when　Reed　and　I　went　back　to　Ogalalla；　we　found　Field；　Radcliff　&　Co。　buying　beeves。　Yes；　they　had　bought　a　remuda　of　horses；　rigged　up　two　wagons；　and　hired　men　to　take　possession　of　our　'Open　A'　and'drooping　T'　herds。　But　meeting　with　disappointment　and　having　the　outfit　on　their　hands；　they　concluded　to　buy　cattle　and　go　ahead　and　make　the　delivery　at　Buford。　They　simply　had　to　do　it　or　admit　that　I　had　called　their　hands。　But　Reed　and　I　raised　such　a　howl　around　that　town　that　we　posted　every　man　with　beeves　for　sale　until　the　buyers　had　to　pony　up　the　cash　for　every　hoof　they　bought。　We　even　hunted　up　young　Murnane；　the　seller　of　the　herd　that　Jim　Reed　ran　the　attachment　on；　and　before　old　Jim　and　I　got　through　with　him；　we　had　his　promise　not　to　move　out　of　Keith　County　until　the　last　dollar　was　in　hand。　The　buyers　seemed　to　command　all　kinds　of　money；　but　where　they　expect　to　make　anything；　even　if　they　do　deliver；　beats　me；　as　Reed　and　I　have　got　a　good　wad　of　their　money。　Since　leaving　there；　I　have　had　word　that　they　settled　with　Murnane；　putting　a　new　outfit　with　the　cattle；　and　that　they　have　ten　thousand　beef　steers　on　the　way　to　Fort　Buford　this　very　minute。　They　arg　coming　through　on　the　North　Platte　and　Powder　River　route；　and　if　quarantine　can　be　enforced　against　them　until　frost　falls；　it　will　give　us　a　clear　field　at　Buford　on　the　day　of　delivery。　Now　it　stands　us　in　hand　to　see　that　those　herds　are　isolated　until　after　the　15th　day　of　September。〃

The　atmosphere　cleared　instantly。　I　was　well　aware　of　the　ravages　of　splenic　fever；　but　two　decades　ago　every　drover　from　Texas　denied　the　possibility　of　a　through　animal　in　perfect　health　giving　a　disease　to　wintered　Southerners　or　domestic　cattle；　also　robust　and　healthy。　Time　has　demonstrated　the　truth；　yet　the　manner　in　which　the　germ　is　transmitted　between　healthy　animals　remains　a　mystery　to　this　day；　although　there　has　been　no　lack　of　theories　advanced。　Even　the　theorists　differed　as　to　the　manner　of　germ　transmission；　the　sporule；　tick；　and　ship　fever　being　the　leading　theories；　and　each　having　its　advocates。　The　latter　was　entitled　to　some　consideration；　for　if　bad　usage　and　the　lack　of　necessary　rest；　food；　and　water　will　produce　fever　aboard　emigrant　steamships；　the　same　privations　might　do　it　among　animals。　The　overdriving　of　trail　cattle　was　frequently　unavoidable；　dry　drives　and　the　lack　of　grass　on　arid　wastes　being　of　common　occurrence。　However；　the　presence　of　fever　among　through　cattle　was　never　noticeable　to　the　practical　man；　and　if　it　existed；　it　must　have　been　very　mild　in　form　compared　to　its　virulent　nature　among　natives。　Time　has　demonstrated　that　it　is　necessary　for　the　domestic　animals　to　walk　over　and　occupy　the　same　ground　to　contract　the　disease；　though　they　may　drink　from　the　same　trough　or　stream　of　water；　or　inhale　each　other's　breath　in　play　across　a　wire　fence；　without　fear　of　contagion。　A　peculiar　feature　of　Texas　fever　was　that　the　very　cattle　which　would　impart　it　on　their　arrival；　after　wintering　in　the　North　would　contract　it　and　die　the　same　as　natives。　The　isolation　of　herds　on　a　good　range　for　a　period　of　sixty　days；　or　the　falling　of　frost；　was　recognized　as　the　only　preventive　against　transmitting　the　germ。　Government　rewards　and　experiments　have　never　demonstrated　a　theory　that　practical　experience　does　not　dispute。

The　only　time　on　this　drive　that　our　attention　had　been　called　to　the　fever　alarm　was　on　crossing　the　wagon　trail　running　from　Pierre　on　the　Missouri　River　to　the　Black　Hills。　I　was　in　the　lead　when　a　large　bull　train　was　sighted　in　our　front；　and　shortly　afterward　the　wagon…boss　met　me　and　earnestly　begged　that　I　allow　his　outfit　to　pass　before　we　crossed　the　wagon…road。　I　knew　the　usual　form　of　ridicule　of　a　herd　foreman；　but　the　boss　bullwhacker　must　have　anticipated　my　reply；　for　he　informed　me　that　the　summer　before　he　had　lost　ninety　head　out　of　two　hundred　yoke　of　oxen。　The　wagon…master's　appeal　was　fortified　by　a　sincerity　which　won　his　request；　and　I　held　up　my　cattle　and　allowed　his　train　to　pass　in　advance。　Sponsilier's　herd　was　out　of　sight　in　my　rear；　while　Forrest　was　several　miles　to　my　left；　and　slightly　behind　me。　The　wagon…boss　rode　across　and　made　a　similar　request　of　Forrest；　but　that　worthy　refused　to　recognize　the　right　of　way　to　a　bull　train　at　the　expense　of　a　trail　herd　of　government　beeves。　Ungentlemanly　remarks　are　said　to　have　passed　between　them；　when　the　boss　bull…whacker　threw　down　the　gauntlet　and　galloped　back　to　his　train。　Forrest　pushed　on；　with　ample　time　to　have　occupied　the　road　in　crossing；　thus　holding　up　the　wagon　train。　My　herd　fell　to　grazing；　and　Sponsilier　rode　up　to　inquire　the　cause　of　my　halting。　I　explained　the　request　of　the　wagon…master；　his　loss　the　year　before　and　present　fear　of　fever；　and　called　attention　to　the　clash　which　was　imminent　between　the　long　freight　outfit　in　our　front　and　Forrest's　herd　to　the　left；　both　anxious　for　the　right　of　way。　A　number　of　us　rode　forward　in　clear　view　of　the　impending　meeting。　It　was　evident　that　Forrest　would　be　the　first　to　reach　the　freight　road；　and　would　naturally　hold　it　while　his　cattle　were　crossing　it。　Bitt　when　this　also　became　apparent　to　the　bull　train；　the　lead　teams　drove　out　of　the　road　and　halted；　the　rear　wagons　passing　on　ahead；　the　two　outfits　being　fully　a　mile　apart。　There　were　abont　twenty　teams　of　ten　yoke　each；　and　when　the　first　five　or　six　halted；　they　unearthed　old　needle　rifles　and　opened　fire　across　Forrest's　front。　Once　the　range　was　found；　those　long…range　buffalo　guns　threw　up　the　dust　in　handfuls　in　the　lead　of　the　herd；　and　Forrest　turned　his　cattle　back；　while　the　bull　train　held　its　way；　undisputed。　It　was　immaterial　to　Forrest　who　occupied　the　road　first；　and　with　the　jeers　of　the　freighters　mingled　the　laughter　of　Sponsilier　and　my　outfit；　as　John　Quincy　Forrest　reluctantly　turned　back。

This　incident　served　as　a　safety…valve；　and　whenever　Forrest　forged　to　the　lead　in　coming　down　the　Little　Missouri；　all　that　was　necessary　to　check　him　was　to　inquire　casually　which　held　the　right　of　way；　a　trail　herd　or　a　bull　train。

Throughout　the　North；　Texas　fever　was　generally　accepted　as　a　fact；　and　any　one　who　had　ever　come　in　contact　with　it　once；　dreaded　it　ever　afterward。　So　when　the　devil　was　sick　the　devil　a　monk　would　be；　and　if　there　was　any　advantage　in　taking　the　contrary　view　to　the　one　entertained　by　all　drovers；　so　long　as　our　herds　were　free；　we　were　not　like　men　who　could　not　experience　a　change　of　opinion；　if　in　doing　so　the　wind　was　tempered　to　us。　Also　in　this　instance　we　were　fighting　an　avowed　enemy；　and　all　is　fair　in　love　and　war。　And　amid　the　fumes　of　bad　cigars；　Sponsilier　drew　out　the　plan　of　campaign。

〃Now；　let's　see；〃　said　old　man　Don；　〃tomorrow　will　be　the　25th　day　of　August。　I've　got　to　be　at　the　Crow　Agency　a　few　days　before　the　10th　of　next　month；　as　you　know　we　have　a　delivery　there　on　that　date。　Flood　will　have　to　attend　to　matters　at　Rosebud　on　the　1st；　and　then　hurry　on　west　and　be　present　at　Paul's　delivery　at　Fort　Washakie。　So　you　see　I'll　have　to　depend　on　two　of　you　boys　going　up　to　Glendive　and　Miles　and　seeing　that　those　cow…towns　take　the　proper　view　of　this　quarantine　matter。　After　dinner　you'll　fall　back　and　bring　up　your　herds；　and　after　crossing　the　railroad　here；　the　outfits　will　graze　over　to　Buford。　We'll　leave　four　of　our　best　saddle　horses　here　in　a　pasture；　so　as　to　be　independent　on　our　return。　Since　things　have　changed　so；　the　chances　are　that　I'll　bring　Bob　Quirk　back　with　me；　as　I've　written　Flood　to　help　The　Rebel　sell　his　remuda　and　take　the　outfit　and　go　home。　Now　you　boys　decide　among　yourselves　which　two　of　you　will　go　up　the　Yellowstone　and　promote　the　enforcement　of　the　quarantine　laws。　Don't　get　the　impression　that　you　can't　do　this；　because　an　all…round　cowman　can　do　anything　where　his　interests　are　at　stake。　I'll　think　the　programme　out　a　little　more　clearly　by　the　time　you　bring　up　the　cattle。〃

The　herds　were　not　over　fifteen　miles　back　up　the　river　when　we　left　them　in　the　morning。　After　honoring　the　village　of　Little　Missouri　with　our　presence　for　several　hours；　we　saddled　up　and　started　to　meet　the　cattle。　There　was　no　doubt　in　my　mind　but　that　Sponsilier　would　be　one　of　the　two　to　go　on　the　proposed　errand　of　diplomacy；　as　his　years；　experience；　and　good　solid　sense　entitled　him　to　outrank　either　Forrest　or　myself。　I　knew　that　Quince　Would　want　to　go；　if　for　no　other　reason　than　to　get　out　of　working　the　few　days　that　yet　remained　of　the　drive。　All　three　of　us　talked　the　matter　of　quarantine　freely　as　we　rode　along；　yet　no　one　ventured　any　proposition　looking　to　an　agreement　as　to　who　should　go　on　the　diplomatic　mission。　I　was　the　youngest　and　naturally　took　refuge　behind　my　years；　yet　perfectly　conscious　that；　in　spite　of　the　indifferent　and　nonchalant　attitude　assumed；　all　three　of　us　foremen　were　equally　anxious　for　the　chance。　Matters　remained　undecided；　but　the　next　day　at　dinner；　Lovell　having　met　us　before　reaching　the　railroad；　the　question　arose　who　should　go　up　to　Miles　City。　Dave　and　Quince　were　also　eating　at　my　wagon；　and　when　our　employer　forced　ah　answer；　Sponsilier　innocently　replied　that　he　supposed　that　we　were　all　willing　to　leave　it　to　him。　Forrest　immediately　approved　of　Dave's　suggestion。　I　gave　my　assent；　and　old　man　Don　didn't　qualify；　hedge；　or　mince　his　words　in　appointing　the　committees　to　represent　the　firm　of　Lovell。

〃Jealous　of　each　other；　ain't　you？　Very　well；　I　want　these　herds　grazed　across　to　Buford　at　the　rate　of　four　miles　a　day。　Nothing　but　a　Mexican　pastor；　or　a　white　man　as　lazy　as　Quince　Forrest　can　fill　the　bill。　You're　listening；　are　you；　Quince？　Well；　after　the　sun　sets　to…night；　you're　in　charge　of　ten　thousand　beeves　from　here　to　the　mouth　of　the　Yellowstone。　I　want　to　put　every　ounce　possible　on　those　steers　for　the　next　twenty　days。　We　utay　have　to　make　a　comparison　of　cattle；　and　if　we　should；　I　want　ours　to　lay　over　the　opposition　like　a　double　eagle　does　over　a　lead　dime。　We　may　run　up　against　a　lot　of　red　tape　at　Fort　Buford；　but　if　there　is　a　lick　of　cow…sense　among　the　government　representatives；　we　want　our　beeves　to　speak　for　themselves。　Fat　animals　do　their　own　talking。　You　remember　when　every　one　was　admiring　the　fine　horse；　the　blind　man　said；　'Isn't　he　fat？'　Now；　Dave；　you　and　Tom　appoint　your　segundos；　and　we'll　all　catch　the　10：20　train　west　to…night。〃

I　dared　to　risk　one　eye　on　Forrest。　Inwardly　I　was　chuckling；　but　Quince　was　mincing　along　with　his　dinner；　showing　that　languid　indifference　which　is　inborn　to　the　Texan。　Lovell　continued　to　monopolize　the　conversation；　blowing　on　the　cattle　and　ribbing　up　Forrest　to　see　that　the　beeves　thenceforth　should　never　know　tire；　hunger；　or　thirst。　The　commissaries　had　run　low；　Sponsilier's　cook　had　been　borrowing　beans　from　us　for　a　week　past；　while　Parent　point…blank　refused　to　share　any　more　of　our　bacon。　The　latter　was　recognized　as　a　staple　in　trail…work；　and　it　mattered　not　how　inviting　the　beef　or　venison　might　be；　we　always　fell　back　to　bacon　with　avidity。　When　it　came　time　to　move　out　on　the　evening　lap；　Forrest's　herd　took　the　le