the outlet-第14部分

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ng　the　herd；　Splann　and　I　took　fresh　mounts；　and　circling　around；　came　in　on　the　windward　side　of　the　creek。　As　we　crossed　it　half　a　mile　above　the　scene　of　disaster；　each　of　us　dipped　a　hand　in　the　water　and　tasted　it。　The　alkali　was　strong　as　concentrated　lye；　blistering　our　mouths　in　the　experiment。　The　creek　was　not　even　running；　but　stood　in　long；　deep　pools；　clear　as　crystal　and　as　inviting　to　the　thirsty　as　a　mountain　spring。　As　we　neared　the　dead　cattle；　Splann　called　my　attention　to　the　attitude　of　the　animals　when　death　relieved　them；　the　heads　of　fully　two　thirds　being　thrown　back　on　their　sides。　Many；　when　stricken；　were　unable　to　reach　the　bank；　and　died　in　the　bed　of　the　stream。　Making　a　complete　circle　of　the　ghastly　scene；　we　returned　to　our　own；　agreeing　that　between　five　and　six　hundred　cattle　had　met　their　fate　in　those　death…dealing　pools。

We　were　not　yet　out　of　the　woods。　On　our　return；　many　of　the　cattle　were　lying　down；　while　in　the　west　thunder…clouds　were　appearing。　The　North　Fork　of　the　Canadian　lay　on　our　left；　which　was　now　our　only　hope　for　water；　yet　beyond　our　reach　for　the　day。　Keeping　the　slight　divide　between　us　and　the　creek；　we　started　the　herd　forward。　Since　it　was　impossible　to　graze　them　in　their　thirsty　condition；　I　was　determined　to　move　them　as　far　as　possible　before　darkness　overtook　us。　But　within　an　hour　we　crossed　a　country　trail　over　which　herds　had　passed　on　their　way　northwest；　having　left　the　Chisholm　after　crossing　the　North　Fork。　At　the　first　elevation　which　would　give　me　a　view　of　the　creek；　another　scene　of　death　and　desolation　greeted　my　vision；　only　a　few　miles　above　the　first　one。　Yet　from　this　same　hill　I　could　easily　trace　the　meanderings　of　the　creek　for　miles　as　it　made　a　half　circle　in　our　front；　both　inviting　and　defying　us。　Turning　the　herd　due　south；　we　traveled　until　darkness　fell；　going　into　camp　on　a　high；　flat　mesa　of　several　thousand　acres。　But　those　evening　breezes　wafted　an　invitation　to　come　and　drink；　and　our　thirsty　herd　refused　to　bed　down。　To　add　to　our　predicament；　a　storm　thickened　in　the　west。　Realizing　that　we　were　confronting　the　most　dangerous　night　in　all　my　cattle　experience；　I　ordered　every　man　into　the　saddle。　The　remuda　and　team　were　taken　in　charge　by　the　wrangler　and　cook；　and　going　from　man　to　man；　I　warned　them　what　the　consequences　would　be　if　we　lost　the　herd　during　the　night；　and　the　cattle　reached　the　creek。

The　cattle　surged　and　drifted　almost　at　will；　for　we　were　compelled　to　hold　them　loose　to　avoid　milling。　Before　ten　o'clock　the　lightning　was　flickering　overhead　and　around　us；　revealing　acres　of　big　beeves；　which　in　an　instant　might　take　fright；　and　then；　God　help　us。　But　in　that　night　of　trial　a　mercy　was　extended　to　the　dumb　brutes　in　charge。　A　warm　rain　began　falling；　first　in　a　drizzle；　increasing　after　the　first　hour；　and　by　midnight　we　could　hear　the　water　slushing　under　our　horses'　feet。　By　the　almost　constant　flashes　of　lightning　we　could　see　the　cattle　standing　as　if　asleep；　in　grateful　enjoyment　of　the　sheeting　downpour。　As　the　night　wore　on；　our　fears　of　a　stampede　abated；　for　the　buffalo　wallows　on　the　mesa　filled；　and　water　was　on　every　hand。　The　rain　ceased　before　dawn；　but　owing　to　the　saturated　condition　underfoot；　not　a　hoof　lay　down　during　the　night；　and　when　the　gray　of　morning　streaked　the　east；　what　a　sense　of　relief　it　brought　us。　The　danger　had　passed。

Near　noon　that　day；　and　within　a　few　miles　of　the　North　Fork；　we　rounded　an　alkaline　plain　in　which　this　deadly　creek　had　its　source。　Under　the　influence　of　the　season；　alkali　had　oozed　up　out　of　the　soil　until　it　looked　like　an　immense　lake　under　snow。　The　presence　of　range　cattle　in　close　proximity　to　this　creek；　for　we　were　in　the　Cherokee　Strip；　baffled　my　reasoning；　but　the　next　day　we　met　a　range…rider　who　explained　that　the　present　condition　of　the　stream　was　unheard　of　before；　and　that　native　cattle　had　instinct　enough　to　avoid　it。　He　accounted　for　its　condition　as　due　to　the　dry　season；　there　being　no　general　rains　sufficient　to　flood　the　alkaline　plain　and　thoroughly　flush　the　creek。　In　reply　to　an　inquiry　as　to　the　ownership　of　the　unfortunate　herds；　he　informed　me　that　there　were　three；　one　belonging　to　Bob　Houston；　another　to　Major　Corouthers；　and　the　third　to　a　man　named　Murphy；　the　total　loss　amounting　to　about　two　thousand　cattle。

》From　this　same　range…man　we　also　learned　our　location。　Camp　Supply　lay　up　the　North　Fork　some　sixty　miles；　while　a　plain　trail　followed　up　the　first　bottom　of　the　river。　Wishing　to　avoid；　if　possible；　intersecting　the　western　trail　south　of　Dodge；　the　next　morning　I　left　the　herd　to　follow　up；　and　rode　into　Camp　Supply　before　noon。　Lovell　had　sighted　me　a　mile　distant；　and　after　a　drink　at　the　sutler's　bar；　we　strolled　aside　for　a　few　minutes'　chat。　Once　I　had　informed　him　of　the　locality　of　the　herd　and　their　condition；　he　cautioned　me　not　to　let　my　business　be　known　while　in　the　post。　After　refreshing　the　inner　man；　my　employer　secured　a　horse　and　started　with　me　on　my　return。　As　soon　as　the　flag　over　Supply　faded　out　of　sight　in　our　rear；　we　turned　to　the　friendly　shade　of　the　timber　on　the　North　Fork　and　dismounted。　I　felt　that　the　precaution　exercised　by　the　drover　was　premonitory　of　some　revelation；　and　before　we　arose　from　the　cottonwood　log　on　which　we　took　seats；　the　scales　had　fallen　from　my　eyes　and　the　atmosphere　of　mystery　cleared。

〃Tom；〃　said　my　employer；　〃I　am　up　against　a　bad　proposition。　I　am　driving　these　Buford　cattle；　you　understand；　on　a　sub…contract。　I　was　the　second　lowest　bidder　with　the　government；　and　no　sooner　was　the　award　made　to　The　Western　Supply　Company　than　they　sent　an　agent　who　gave　me　no　peace　until　they　sublet　their　contract。　Unfortunately　for　me；　when　the　papers　were　drawn；　my　regular　attorney　was　out　of　town；　and　I　was　compelled　to　depend　on　a　stranger。　After　the　articles　were　executed；　I　submitted　the　matter　to　my　old　lawyer；　he　shook　his　head；　arguing　that　a　loophole　had　been　left　open；　and　that　I　should　have　secured　an　assignment　of　the　original　contract。　After　studying　the　matter　over；　we　opened　negotiations　to　secure　a　complete　relinquishment　of　the　award。　But　when　I　offered　the　company　a　thousand　dollars　over　and　above　what　they　admitted　was　their　margin；　and　they　refused　it；　I　opened　my　eyes　to　the　true　situation。　If　cattle　went　up；　I　was　responsible　and　would　have　to　fill　my　contract；　if　they　went　down；　the　company　would　buy　in　the　cattle　and　I　could　go　to　hell　in　a　hand…basket　for　all　they　cared。　Their　bond　to　the　government　does　me　no　good；　and　beyond　that　they　are　irresponsible。　Beeves　have　broken　from　four　to　five　dollars　a　head；　and　unless　I　can　deliver　these　Buford　herds　on　my　contract；　they　will　lose　me　fifty　thousand　dollars。〃

〃Have　you　any　intimation　that　they　expect　to　buy　in　other　cattle？〃　I　inquired。

〃Yes。　I　have　had　a　detective　in　my　employ　ever　since　my　suspicions　were　aroused。　There　are　two　parties　in　Dodge　this　very　minute　with　the　original　contract；　properly　assigned；　and　they　are　looking　for　cattle　to　fill　it。　That's　why　I'm　stopping　here　and　lying　low。　I　couldn't　explain　it　to　you　sooner；　but　you　understand　now　why　I　drove　those　Buford　herds　in　different　road　brands。　Tom；　we're　up　against　it；　and　we've　got　to　fight　the　devil　with　fire。　Henceforth　your　name　will　be　Tom　McIndoo；　your　herd　will　be　the　property　of　the　Marshall　estate；　and　their　agent；　my　detective；　will　be　known　as　Charles　Siringo。　Any　money　or　supplies　you　may　need　in　Dodge；　get　in　the　usual　form　through　the　firm　of　Wright；　Beverly　&　Co。they　understand。　Hold　your　herd　out　south　on　Mulberry；　and　Siringo　will　have　notice　and　be　looking　for　you；　or　you　can　find　him　at　the　Dodge　House。　I've　sent　a　courier　to　Fort　Elliott　to　meet　Dave　and　Quince；　and　once　I　see　them；　I'll　run　up　to　Ogalalla　and　wait　for　you。　Now；　until　further　orders；　remember　you　never　knew　a　man　by　the　name　of　Don　Lovell；　and　by　all　means　don't　forget　to　use　what　wits　Nature　gave　you。〃



CHAPTER　VII。　WHEN　GREEK　MEETS　GREEK

It　was　late　that　night　when　I　reached　the　herd。　Before　I　parted　with　my　employer　we　had　carefully　reviewed　the　situation　in　its　minutest　details。　Since　the　future　could　not　be　foreseen；　we　could　only　watch　and　wait。　The　Texan　may　have　his　shortcomings；　but　lack　of　fidelity　to　a　trust　is　not　one　of　them；　and　relying　on　the　metal　of　my　outfit；　I　at　once　put　them　in　possession　of　the　facts。　At　first　their　simple　minds　could　hardly　grasp　the　enormity　of　the　injustice　to　our　employer；　but　once　the　land　lay　clear；　they　would　gladly　have　led　a　forlorn　hope　in　Don　Lovell's　interests。　Agitation　oyer　the　matter　was　maintained　at　white　heat　for　several　days；　as　we　again　angled　back　towards　the　Cimarron。　Around　the　camp…fires　at　night；　the　chicanery　of　The　Western　Supply　Company　gave　place　to　the　best　stories　at　our　command。　〃There　ought　to　be　a　law；〃　said　Runt　Pickett；　in　wrathy　indignation；　〃making　it　legal　to　kill　some　people；　same　as　rattlesnakes。　Now；　you　take　a　square　gambler　and　I　don't　think　anything　of　losing　my　money　against　his　game；　but　one　of　these　sneaking；　under…dealing；　top…and…bottom…business　pimps；　I　do　despise。　You　can　find　them　in　every　honest　calling；　same　as　vultures　hover　round　when　cattle　are　dying。　Honest；　fellows；　I'd　just　dearly　love　to　pull　on　a　rope　and　watch　one　of　the　varmints　make　his　last　kick。〃

Several　days　of　showery　weather　followed。　Crossing　the　Cimarron；　we　followed　up　its　north　slope　to　within　thirty　miles　of　the　regular　western　trail。　Not　wishing　to　intercept　it　until　necessity　compelled　us；　when　near　the　Kansas　line　we　made　our　last　tack　for　Dodge。　The　rains　had　freshened　the　country　and　flushed　the　creeks；　making　our　work　easy；　and　early　in　the　month　of　June　we　reached　the　Mulberry。　Traveling　at　random；　we　struck　that　creek　about　twenty　miles　below　the　trail；　and　moved　up　the　stream　to　within　a　short　distance　of　the　old　crossing。　The　presence　of　a　dozen　other　herds　holding　along　it　forced　us　into　a　permanent　camp　a　short　half…day's　ride　from　the　town。　The　horse…wrangler　was　pressed　into　service　in　making　up　the　first　guard　that　night；　and　taking　Morg　Tussler　with　me；　I　struck　out　for　Dodge　in　the　falling　darkness。　On　reaching　the　first　divide；　we　halted　long