the outlet-第38章

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　were　reported　to　cross　the　railroad　within　the　next　few　days。　Similar　questions　were　asked　me；　but　before　replying；　I　caught　Sponsilier's　eye　and　summoned　him　with　a　wink。　On　Dave's　presenting　himself；　I　innocently　asked　the　pair　if　they　did　not　remember　my　friend　as　one　of　the　men　whom　they　had　under　arrest　at　Dodge。　They　grunted　an　embarrassed　acknowledgment；　which　was　returned　in　the　same　coin；　when　I　proceeded　to　inform　them　that　our　cattle　crossed　the　railroad　at　Little　Missouri　ten　days　before；　and　that　we　were　only　waiting　the　return　of　Mr。　Lovell　from　the　Crow　Agency　before　proceeding　to　our　destination。　With　true　Yankee　inquisitiveness；　other　questions　followed；　the　trend　of　which　was　to　get　us　to　admit　that　we　had　something　to　do　with　the　present　activities　in　quarantining　Texas　cattle。　But　I　avoided　their　leading　queries；　and　looked　appealingly　at　Sponsilier；　who　came　to　my　rescue　with　an　answer　born　of　the　moment。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　said　Dave；　seating　himself　on　the　bar　and　leisurely　rolling　a　cigarette；　〃that　town　of　Little　Missouri　is　about　the　dullest　hole　that　I　was　ever　water…bound　in。　Honestly；　I'd　rather　be　with　the　cattle　than　loafing　in　it　with　money　in　my　pocket。　Now　this　town　has　got　some　get…up　about　it；　I'll　kiss　a　man's　foot　if　he　complains　that　this　burg　isn't　sporty　enough　for　his　blood。　They've　given　me　a　run　here　for　my　white　alley；　and　I　still　think　I　know　something　about　that　game　called　draw…poker。　But　you　were　speaking　about　quarantine。　Yes；　there　seems　to　have　been　a　good　many　cattle　lost　through　these　parts　last　fall。　You　ought　to　have　sent　your　herds　up　through　Dakota；　where　there　is　no　native　stock　to　interfere。　I'd　hate　to　have　cattle　coming　down　the　Powder　River。　A　friend　of　mine　passed　through　here　yesterday；　his　herd　was　sold　for　delivery　on　the　Elkhorn；　north　of　here；　and　he　tells　me　he　may　not　be　able　to　reach　there　before　October。　He　saw　your　herds　and　tells　me　you　are　driving　the　guts　out　of　them。　So　if　there's　anything　in　that　old　'ship…fever　theory；'　you　ought　to　be　quarantined　until　it　snows。　There's　a　right　smart　talk　around　here　of　fixing　a　dead…line　below　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　shorthorns　give　me　a　pain。〃

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　said　Radcliff；　the　elder　one　said　to　his　partner；　as　they　turned　to　leave。

On　nearing　the　door；　Mr。　Field　halted　and　begrudgingly　said；　〃See　you　later；　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　elevated　position；　called　every　one　to　the　bar　to　irrigate。　The　boys　quit　their　games；　and　as　they　lined　up　in　a　double　row；　Dave　begged　the　bartenders　to　bestir　themselves；　and　said　to　his　guests：　〃Those　are　the　kid…gloved　cowmen　that　I've　been　telling　you　aboutthe　owners　of　the　Texas　cattle　that　are　coming　through　here。　Did　I　hang　it　on　them　artistically；　or　shall　I　call　them　back　and　smear　it　on　a　shade　deeper？　They　smelt　a　mouse　all　right；　and　when　their　cattle　reach　Cabin　Creek；　they'll　smell　the　rat　in　earnest。　Now；　set　out　the　little　and　big　bottle　and　everybody　have　a　cigar　on　the　side。　And　drink　hearty；　lads；　for　to…morrow　we　may　be　drinking　branch　water　in　a　quarantine　camp。〃

The　arrival　of　Field　and　Radcliff　was　accepted　as　a　defiance　to　the　local　cattle　interests。　Popular　feeling　was　intensified　when　it　was　learned　that　they　were　determined　not　to　recognize　any　local　quarantine；　and　were　secretly　inquiring　for　extra　men　to　guard　their　herds　in　passing　Glendive。　There　was　always　a　rabble　element　in　every　frontier　town；　and　no　doubt；　as　strangers；　they　could　secure　assistance　in　quarters　that　the　local　cowmen　would　spurn。　Matters　were　approaching　a　white　heat；　when　late　that　night　an　expected　courier　arrived；　and　reported　the　cattle　coming　through　at　the　rate　of　twenty　miles　a　day。　They　were　not　following　any　particular　trail；　traveling　almost　due　north；　and　if　the　present　rate　of　travel　was　maintained；　Cabin　Creek　would　be　reached　during　the　forenoon　of　the　7th。　This　meant　business；　and　the　word　was　quietly　passed　around　that　all　volunteers　were　to　be　ready　to　move　in　the　morning。　A　cowman　named　Retallac；　owner　of　a　range　on　the　Yellowstone；　had　previously　been　decided　on　as　captain；　and　would　have　under　him　not　less　than　seventy…five　chosen　men；　which　number；　if　necessary；　could　easily　be　increased　to　one　hundred。

Morning　dawned　on　a　scene　of　active　operations。　The　two　wagons　were　started　fully　an　hour　in　advance　of　the　cavalcade；　which　was　to　follow；　driving　a　remuda　of　over　two　hundred　saddle　horses。　Sponsilier　and　I　expected　to　accompany　the　outfit；　but　at　the　last　moment　our　plans　were　changed　by　an　incident　and　we　remained　behind；　promising　to　overtake　them　later。　There　were　a　number　of　old　buffalo　hunters　in　town；　living　a　precarious　life；　and　one　of　their　number　had　quietly　informed　Sheriff　Wherry　that　they　had　been　approached　with　an　offer　of　five　dollars　a　day　to　act　as　an　escort　to　the　herds　while　passing　through。　The　quarantine　captain　looked　upon　that　element　as　a　valuable　ally；　suggesting　that　if　it　was　a　question　of　money；　our　side　ought　to　be　in　the　market　for　their　services。　Heartily　agreeing　with　him；　the　company　of　guards　started；　leaving　their　captain　behind　with　Sponsilier　and　myself。　Glendive　was　a　county　seat；　and　with　the　assistance　of　the　sheriff；　we　soon　had　every　buffalo　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's　introduction　Dave　and　I　made　a　good　impression　among　them。　Sponsilier　did　the　treating　and　talking；　his　offer　being　ten　dollars　a　day　for　a　man　and　horse；　which　was　promptly　accepted；　when　the　question　naturally　arose　who　would　stand　sponsor　for　the　wages。　Dave　backed　off　some　distance；　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　your　own　banker。　I'll　make　it　up　a　thousand；　and　whoever　you　say　goes　with　me。　Shall　it　be　the　sheriff；　or　Mr。　Retallac；　or　the　proprietor　of　the　Stock　Exchange？〃

Sheriff　Wherry　interfered；　relieving　the　embarrassment　in　appointing　a　receiver；　and　vouched　that　these　two　Texans　were　good　for　any　reasonable　sum。　The　buffalo　hunters　approved；　apologizing　to　Sponsilier；　as　he　pulled　on　his　boot；　for　questioning　his　financial　standing；　and　swearing　allegiance　in　every　breath。　An　hour's　time　was　granted　in　which　to　saddle　and　make　ready；　during　which　we　had　a　long　chat　with　Sheriff　Wherry　and　found　him　a　valuable　ally。　He　had　cattle　interests　in　the　country；　and　when　the　hunters　appeared；　fifteen　strong；　he　mounted　his　horse　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　anything　important　happens；　I'll　send　a　courier　with　the　news。　If　those　shorthorns　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　around　Glendive。　It's　understood　that　night　or　day　your　camp　can　be　found　on　Cabin　Creek；　opposite　the　old　eagle　tree。　Better　send　me　word　as　soon　as　the　herds　arrive。　Good　luck　to　you；　lads。〃

Neither　wagons　nor　guards　were　even　sighted　during　our　three　hours'　ride　to　the　appointed　campground。　On　our　arrival　tents　were　being　pitched　and　men　were　dragging　up　wood；　while　the　cooks　were　busily　preparing　a　late　dinner；　the　station　being　fully　fifteen　miles　south　of　the　railroad。　Scouts　were　thrown　out　during　the　afternoon；　corrals　built；　and　evening　found　the　quarantine　camp　well　established　for　the　comfort　of　its　ninety…odd　men。　The　buffalo　hunters　were　given　special　attention　and　christened　the　〃Sponsilier　Guards；〃　they　took　again　to　outdoor　life　as　in　the　old　days。　The　report　of　the　scouts　was　satisfactory；　all　three　of　the　herds　had　been　seen　and　would　arrive　on　schedule　time。　A　hush　of　expectancy　greeted　this　news；　but　Sponsilier　and　I　ridiculed　the　idea　that　there　would　he　any　opposition；　except　a　big　talk　and　plenty　of　bluffing。

〃Well；　if　that's　what　they　rely　on；〃　said　Captain　Retallac；　〃then　they're　as　good　as　in　quarantine　this　minute。　If　you　feel　certain　they　can't　get　help　from　Fort　Keogh　a　second　time；　those　herds　will　be　our　guests　until　further　orders。　What　we　want　to　do　now　is　to　spike　every　possible　chance　for　their　getting　any　help；　and　the　matter　will　pass　over　like　a　summer　picnic。　If　you　boys　think　there's　any　danger　of　an　appeal　to　Fort　Buford；　the　military　authorities　want　to　be　notified　that　the　Yellowstone　Valley　has　quarantined　against　Texas　fever　and　asks　their　cooperation　in　enforcing　the　same。〃

〃I　can　fix　that；〃　replied　Sponsilier。　〃We　have　lawyers　at　Buford　right　now；　and　I　can　wire　them　the　situation　fully　in　the　morning。　If　they　rely　on　the　military；　they　will　naturally　appeal　to　the　nearest　post；　and　if　Keogh　and　Buford　turn　them　down；　the　next　ones　are　on　the　Missouri　River；　and　at　that　distance　cavalry　couldn't　reach　here　within　ten　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　at　Fort　Buford。　The　next　morning　found　me　bright　and　early　on　the　road　to　Glendive　with　the　dispatch；　the　sending　of　which　would　deplete　my　cash　on　hand　by　several　dollars；　but　what　did　we　care　for　expense　when　we　had　the　money　and　orders　…to　spend　it？　I　regretted　my　absence　from　the　quarantine　camp；　as　I　was　anxious　to　be　present　on　the　arrival　of　the　herds；　and　again　watch　the　〃major…domo〃　run　on　the　rope　and　fume　and　charge　in　vain。　But　the　importance　of　blocking　assistance　was　so　urgent　that　I　would　gladly　have　ridden　to　Buford　if　necessary。　In　that　bracing　atmosphere　it　was　a　fine　morning　for　the　ride；　and　I　was　rapidly　crossing　the　country；　when　a　vehicle；　in　the　dip　of　the　plain；　was　sighted　several　miles　ahead。　I　was　following　no　road；　but　when　the　driver　of　the　conveyance　saw　me　he　turned　across　my　front　and　signaled。　On　meeting　the　rig；　I　could　hardly　control　myself　from　laughing　outright；　for　there　on　the　rear　seat　sat　Field　and　Radcliff；　extremely　gruff　and　uncongenial。　Common　courtesies　were　exchanged　between　the　driver　and　myself；　and　I　was　able　to　answer　clearly　his　leading　questions：　Yes；　the　herds　would　reach　Cabin　Creek　before　noon；　the　old　eagle　tree；　which　could　be　seen　from　the　first　swell　of　the　plain　beyond；　marked　the　quarantine　camp；　and　it　was　the　intention　to　isolate　the　herds　on　the　South　Fork　of　Cabin。　〃Drive　on；〃　said　a　voice；　and；　in　the　absence　of　any　gratitude　expressed；　I　inwardly　smiled　in　reward。

I　was　detained　in　Glendive　until　late　in　the　day；　waiting　for　an　acknowledgment　of　the　message。　Sheriff　Wherry　informed　me　that　the　only　move　attempted　on　the　part　of　the　shorthorn　drovers　was　the　arrest　of　Sponsilier　and　myself；　on　the　charge　of　being　accomplices　in　the　shooting　of　one　of　their　men　on　the　North　Platte。　But　the　sheriff　had　assured　the　gentlemen　that　our　detention　would　have　n