the outlet-第35章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to bacon with avidity。 When it came time to move out on the evening lap； Forrest's herd took the lead； the other two falling in behind； the wagons pulling out for town in advance of everything。 Jack Splann had always acted as segundo in my absence； and as he had overheard Lovell's orders to Forrest； there was nothing further for me to add； and Splann took charge of my 〃Open A's。〃
When changing mounts at noon； I caught out two of my best saddlers and tied one behind the chuckwagon； to be left with a liveryman in town。 Leaving old man Don with the cattle； all three of us foremen went into the village in order to secure a few staple supplies with which to complete the journey。
It can be taken for granted that Sponsilier and myself were feeling quite gala。 The former took occasion； as we rode along； to throw several bouquets at Forrest over his preferment； when the latter turned on us； saying： 〃You fellows think you're dd smart； now； don't you？ You're both purty good talkers； but neither one of you can show me where the rainbow comes in in rotting along with these measly cattle。 It's enough to make a man kick his own dog。 But I can see where the old man was perfectly right in sending you two up to Miles City。 When you fellows work your rabbit's foot； it will be Katy with those Washington City schemersmore than likely they'll not draw cards when they see that you are in the game… When it comes to the real sabe； you fellows shine like a tree full of owls。 Honest； it has always been a wonder to me that Grant didn't send for both of you when he was making up his cabinet。〃
The herds crossed the railroad about a mile west of Little Missouri Station。 The wagons secured the needed supplies； and pulled out down the river； leaving Sponsilier and myself foot…loose and free。
Lovell was riding a livery horse； and as neither of us expected him to return until it was too dark to see the cattle； we amused ourselves by looking over the town。 There seemed to be a great deal of freighting to outlying points； numerous ox and mule trains coming in and also leaving for their destinations。 Our employer came in about dusk； and at once went to the depot； as he was expecting a message。 One had arrived during his absence； and after reading it； he came over to Dave and me； saying：
〃It's from Mike Sutton。 I authorized him to secure the services of the best lawyer in the West； and he has just wired me that he has retained Senator Aspgrain of Sioux City； Iowa。 They will report at Fort Buford on September the 5th and will take care of any legal complications which may arise。 I don't know who this senator is； but Mike has orders not to spare any expense as long as we have the other fellow's money to fight with。 Well； if the Iowa lawyers are as good stuff as the Iowa troops were down in Dixie； that's all I ask。 Now； we'll get our suppers and then sack our saddleswhy； sure； you'll need them； every good cowman takes his saddle wherever he goes； though he may not have clothes enough with him to dust a fiddle。〃
CHAPTER XIX。 IN QUARANTINE
We reached Miles City shortly after midnight。 It was the recognized cattle centre of Montana at that time； but devoid of the high…lights which were a feature of the trail towns。 The village boasted the usual number of saloons and dance…houses； and likewise an ordinance compelling such resorts to close on the stroke of twelve。 Lovell had been there before； and led the way to a well…known hostelry。 The house was crowded； and the best the night clerk could do was to give us a room with two beds。 This was perfectly satisfactory； as it was a large apartment and fronted out on an open gallery。 Old man Don suggested we take the mattresses outside； but as this was my first chance to sleep in a bed since leaving the ranch in March； I wanted all the comforts that were due me。 Sponsilier likewise favored the idea of sleeping inside； and our employer yielded； taking the single bed on retiring。 The night was warm； and after thrashing around for nearly an hour； supposing that Dave and I were asleep； old man Don arose and quietly dragged his mattress outside。 Our bed was soft and downy； but in spite of the lateness of the hour and having been in our saddles at dawn； we tossed about； unable to sleep。 After agreeing that it was the mattress； we took the covering and pillows and lay down on the floor； falling into a deep slumber almost instantly。 〃Well； wouldn't that jar your eccentric；〃 said Dave to me the next morning； speaking of our inability to sleep in a bed。 〃I slept in one in Ogalalla； and I wasn't over…full either。〃
Lovell remained with us all the next day。 He was well known in Miles City； having in other years sold cattle to resident cowmen。 The day was spent in hunting up former acquaintances； getting the lay of the land； and feeling the public pulse on the matter of quarantine on Southern cattle。 The outlook was to our liking； as heavy losses had been sustained from fever the year before； and steps had already been taken to isolate all through animals until frost fell。 Report was abroad that there were already within the jurisdiction of Montana over one hundred and fifty thousand through Texas cattle； with a possibility of one third that number more being added before the close of the season。 That territory had established a quarantine camp on the Wyoming line； forcing all Texas stock to follow down the eastern side of the Powder River。 Fully one hundred miles on the north； a dead…line was drawn from Powderville on that watercourse eastward to a spur of the Powder River Mountains； thus setting aside a quarantine ground ample to accommodate half a million cattle。 Local range…riders kept all the native and wintered Texas cattle to the westward of the river and away from the through ones； which was easily done by riding lines； the Southern herds being held under constant control and hence never straying。 The first Texas herds to arrive naturally traveled north to the dead…line； and； choosing a range； went into camp until frost relieved them。 It was an unwritten law that a herd was entitled to as much grazing land as it needed； and there was a report about Miles City that the quarantine ground was congested with cattle halfway from Powderville to the Wyoming line。
The outlook was encouraging。 Quarantine was working a hardship to herds along the old Powder River route； yet their enforced isolation was like a tempered wind to our cause and cattle； the latter then leisurely grazing across Dakota from the Little Missouri to the mouth of the Yellowstone。 Fortune favored us in many respects。 About Miles City there was no concealment of our mission； resulting in an old acquaintance of Lovell's loaning us horses； while old man Don had no trouble in getting drafts cashed to the amount of two thousand dollars。 What he expected to do with this amount of money was a mystery to Dave and myself； a mystery which instantly cleared when we were in the privacy of our room at the hotel。
〃Here； boys；〃 said old man Don； throwing the roll of money on the bed； 〃divide this wad between you。 There might be such a thing as using a little here and there to sweeten matters up； and making yourselves rattling good fellows wherever you go。 Now in the first place； I want you both to understand that this money is clear velvet； and don't hesitate to spend it freely。 Eat and drink all you can； and gamble a little of it if that is necessary。 You two will saddle up in the morning and ride to Powderville； while I will lie around here a few days and try the market for cattle next year； and then go on to Big Horn on my way to the Crow Agency。 Feel your way carefully； locate the herds of Field； Radcliff & Co。； and throw everything in their way to retard progress。 It is impossible to foretell what may happen； and for that reason only general orders can be given。 And remember； I don't want to see that money again if there is any chance to use it。〃
Powderville was a long day's ride from Miles City。 By making an early start and resting a few hours at noon； we reached that straggling outpost shortly after nightfall。 There was a road…house for the wayfaring man and a corral for his beast； a general store； opposition saloons； and the regulation blacksmith shop； constituting the business interests of Powderville。 As arriving guests； a rough but cordial welcome was extended us by the keeper of the hostelry； and we mingled with the other travelers； but never once mentioning our business。 I was uneasy over the money in our possession； not that I feared robbery； but my mind constantly reverted to it； and it was with difficulty that I refrained from continually feeling to see that it was safe。 Sponsilier had concealed his in his boot； and as we rode along； contended that he could feel the roll chafing his ankle。 I had tied two handkerchiefs together； and rolling my share in one of them； belted the amount between my overshirt and undershirt。 The belt was not noticeable； but in making the ride that day； my hand involuntarily went to my side where the money lay； the action never escaping the notice of Sponsilier； who constantly twitted me over my nervousness。 And although we were tired as dogs after our long ride； I awoke many times that night and felt to see if my money was safe； my partner slept like a log。
Several cowmen； ranching on the lower Powder River； had headquarters at this outpost。 The next morning Sponsilier and I made their acquaintance； and during the course of the day got a clear outline of the situation。 On the west the river was the recognized dead…line to the Wyoming boundary； while two camps of five men each patroled the dividing line on the north； drifting back the native stock and holding the through herds in quarantine。 The nearest camp was some distance east of Powderville； and saddling up towards evening we rode out and spent the night at the first quarantine station。 A wagon and two tents； a relay of saddle horses； and an arsenal of long…range firearms coinposed the outfit。 Three of the five men on duty were Texans。 Making ourselves perfectly at home； we had no trouble in locating the herds in question； they having already sounded the toesin to clear the way； claiming government beef recognized no local quarantine。 The herds were not over thirty miles to the south； and expectation ran high as to results when an attempt should be made to cross the deadline。 Trouble had already occurred； where outfits respecting the quarantine were trespassed upon by three herds； making claim of being under government protection and entitled to the rights of eminent domain。 Fortunately several of the herds on the immediate line had been bought at Ogalalla and were in possession of ranch outfits who owned ranges farther north； and were anxious to see quarantine enforced。 These local cowmen would support the established authority； and trouble was expected。 Sponsilier and I widened the breach by denouncing these intruders as the hirelings of a set of ringsters； who had no regard for the rights of any one； and volunteered our services in enforcing quarantine against them the same as others。
Our services were gratefully accepted。 The next morning we were furnished fresh horses； and one of us was requested； as we were strangers； to ride down the country and reconnoitre the ad
