the outlet-第15部分

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！


ith　me；　I　struck　out　for　Dodge　in　the　falling　darkness。　On　reaching　the　first　divide；　we　halted　long　enough　to　locate　the　camp…fires　along　the　Mulberry　to　our　rear；　while　above　and　below　and　beyond　the　river；　fires　flickered　like　an　Indian　encampment。　The　lights　of　Dodge　were　inviting　us；　and　after　making　a　rough　estimate　of　the　camps　in　sight；　we　rode　for　town；　arriving　there　between　ten　and　eleven　o'clock。　The　Dodge　House　was　a　popular　hostelry　for　trail　men　and　cattle　buyers；　and　on　our　making　inquiry　of　the　night　clerk　if　a　Mr。　Siringo　was　stopping　there；　we　were　informed　that　he　was；　but　had　retired。　I　put　up　a　trivial　excuse　for　seeing　him；　the　clerk　gave　me　the　number　of　his　room；　and　Tussler　and　I　were　soon　closeted　with　him。　The　detective　was　a　medium…sized；　ordinary　man；　badly　pock…marked；　with　a　soft；　musical　voice；　and　apparently　as　innocent　as　a　boy。　In　a　brief　preliminary　conversation；　he　proved　to　be　a　Texan；　knowing　every　in　and　out　of　cattle；　having　been　bred　to　the　occupation。　Our　relations　to　each　other　were　easily　established。　Reviewing　the　situation　thoroughly；　he　informed　me　that　he　had　cultivated　the　acquaintance　of　the　parties　holding　the　assignment　of　the　Buford　award。　He　had　represented　to　them　that　he　was　the　fiscal　agent　of　some　six　herds　on　the　trail　that　year；　three　of　which'　were　heavy　beeves；　and　they　had　agreed　to　look　them　over；　provided　they　arrived　before　the　15th　of　the　month。　He　further　assured　me　that　the　parties　were　mere　figureheads　of　The　Supply　Company；　that　they　were　exceedingly　bearish　on　the　market；　gloating　over　the　recent　depreciation　in　prices；　and　perfectly　willing　to　fatten　on　the　wreck　and　ruin　of　others。

It　was　long　after　midnight　when　the　consultation　ended。　Appointing　an　hour　for　showing　the　herd　the　next　day；　or　that　one　rather；　Tussler　and　I　withdrew；　agreeing　to　be　out　of　town　before　daybreak。　But　the　blaze　of　gambling　and　the　blare　of　dance…halls　held　us　as　in　a　siren's　embrace　until　the　lights　dimmed　with　the　breaking　of　dawn。　Mounting　our　horses；　we　forded　the　river　east　of　town　and　avoided　the　herds；　which　were　just　arising　from　their　bed…grounds。　On　the　divide　we　halted。　Within　the　horizon　before　us；　it　is　safe　to　assert　that　one　hundred　thousand　cattle　grazed　in　lazy　contentment；　all　feeding　against　the　morning　breeze。　Save　for　the　freshness　of　early　summer；　with　its　background　of　green　and　the　rarified　atmosphere　of　the　elevated　plain；　the　scene　before　us　might　be　compared　to　a　winter　drift　of　buffalo；　ten　years　previous。　Riding　down　the　farther　slope；　we　reached　our　camp　in　time　for　a　late　breakfast；　the　fifteen…mile　ride　having　whetted　our　appetites。　Three　men　were　on　herd；　and　sending　two　more　with　instructions　to　water　the　cattle　an　hour　before　noon；　Tussler　and　I　sought　the　shade　of　the　wagon　and　fell　asleep。　It　was　some　time　after　midday　when；　on　sighting　the　expected　conveyance　approaching　our　camp；　the　cook　aroused　us。　Performing　a　rather　hasty　ablution；　I　met　the　vehicle；　freshened；　and　with　my　wits　on　tap。　I　nearly　dragged　the　detective　from　the　livery　rig；　addressing　him　as　〃Charley；〃　and　we　made　a　rough　ado　over　each　other。　Several　of　the　other　boys　came　forward　and；　shaking　hands；　greeted　him　with　equal　familiarity。　As　two　strangers　alighted　on　the　opposite　side；　the　detective　took　me　around　and　they　were　introduced　as　Mr。　Field　and　Mr。　Radcliff；　prospective　beef　buyers。　The　boys　had　stretched　a　tarpaulin；　affording　ample　shade；　and　Parent　invited　every　one　to　dinner。　The　two　strangers　were　rather　testy；　but　Siringo　ate　ravenously；　repeatedly　asking　for　things　which　were　usually　kept　in　a　well…stocked　chuck…wagon；　meanwhile　talking　with　great　familiarity　with　Tussler　and　me。

The　strangers　said　little；　but　were　amused　at　the　lightness　of　our　dinner　chat。　I　could　see　at　a　glance　that　they　were　not　cowmen。　They　were　impatient　to　see　the　cattle；　and　when　dinner　was　over；　I　explained　to　them　that　the　men　on　herd　would　be　relieved　for　dinner　by　those　in　camp；　and　orders　would　be　given；　if　it　was　their　wish；　to　throw　the　cattle　compactly　together。　To　this　Siringo　objected。　〃No；　Mac；〃　said　he；　〃that　isn't　the　right　way　to　show　beeves。　Here；　Morg；　listen　to　me；　I'm　foreman　for　the　time　being。　When　you　relieve　the　other　lads；　edge　in　your　cattle　from　an　ordinary　loose　herd　until　you　have　them　on　two　or　three　hundred　acres。　Then　we　can　slowly　drive　through　them　for　an　hour　or　so；　or　until　these　gentlemen　are　satisfied。　They're　not　wild；　are　they；　Mac？〃

I　assured　every　one　that　the　cattle　were　unusually　gentle；　that　we　had　not　had　a　run　so　far；　but　urged　caution　in　approaching　them　with　a　conveyance。　As　soon　as　the　relief　started；　I　brought　in　the　livery　team　off　picket；　watered；　and　harnessed　them　into　the　vehicle。　It　was　my　intention　to　accompany　them　on　horseback；　but　Siringo　hooted　at　the　idea；　and　Mr。　Radcliff　and　I　occupied　the　back　seat；　puffing　splendid　cigars。　We　met　the　relieved　men　coming　in；　who　informed　us　that　the　herd　was　just　over　the　hill　on　the　south　side　of　the　creek。　On　reaching　the　gentle　rise；　there　below　us　grazed　the　logy；　lazy　beeves；　while　the　boys　quietly　rode　round；　silently　moving　them　together　as　instructed。　Siringo　drove　to　their　lead；　and　halting；　we　allowed　the　cattle　to　loiter　past　us　on　either　side　of　the　conveyance。　It　was　an　easy　herd　to　show；　for　the　pounds　avoirdupois　were　there。　Numerous　big　steers；　out　of　pure　curiosity；　came　up　near　the　vehicle　and　innocently　looked　at　us　as　if　expecting　a　dole　or　sweetmeat。　A　snap　of　the　finger　would　tarn　them；　showing　their　rounded　buttocks；　and　they　would　rejoin　the　guard　of　honor。　If　eyes　could　speak；　the　invitation　was　timidly　extended；　〃Look　at　me；　Mr。　Buyer。〃　We　allowed　the　herd　to　pass　by　us；　then　slowly　circled　entirely　around　them；　and　finally　drove　back　and　forth　through　them　for　nearly　two　hours；　when　the　prospective　buyers　expressed　themselves　as　satisfied。

But　the　fiscal　agent　was　not。　Calling　two　of　the　boys；　he　asked　for　the　loan　of　their　horses　and　insisted　that　the　buyers　ride　the　cattle　over　and　thoroughly　satisfy　themselves　on　the　brands。　The　boys　gladly　yielded；　and　as　Mr。　Field　and　Mr。　Radcliff　mounted　to　ride　away；　the　detective　halted　them　long　enough　to　say：　〃Now；　gentlemen；　I　wish　to　call　your　attention　to　the　fact　that　over　one　half　the　herd　are　in　the　single　Marshall　ranch　brand。　There　are　also　some　five　hundred　head　in　the　'8=8；'　that　being　an　outside　ranch；　but　belonging　to　the　estate。　I　am　informed　that　the　remainder　of　nearly　a　thousand　were　turned　in　by　neighboring　ranchmen　in　making　up　the　herd；　and　you'll　find　those　in　various　mixed　brands。　If　there's　a　hoof　among　them　not　in　the　'Open　A'　road；　we'll　cut　them　out　for　fear　of　trouble　to　the　buyer。　I　never　sold　a　man　cattle　in　my　life　who　wasn't　my　customer　ever　afterward。　You　gentlemen　are　strangers　to　me；　and　for　that　reason　I　conceal　nothing。　Now　look　them　over　carefully；　and　keep　a　sharp　lookout　for　strayscattle　not　in　the　road　brand。〃

I　knew　there　were　about　twenty　strays　in　the　herd；　and　informed　Siringo　to　that　effect；　but　the　cattle　buyers　noticed　only　two；　a　red　and　a　roan；　which　again　classed　them　as　inexperienced　men　among　cattle。　We　returned　to　camp；　not　a　word　being　said　about　trading；　when　the　buyers　suggested　returning　to　town。　Siringo　looked　at　his　watch；　asked　if　there　was　anything　further　they　wished　to　see　or　know；　and　expressed　himself　like　a　true　Texan；　〃that　there　was　ample　time。〃　I　was　the　only　one　who　had　alighted；　and　as　they　started　to　drive　away；　I　said　to　Siringo：　〃Charley；　let　me　talk　to　you　a　minute　first。　You　see　how　I'm　situated　here…　…too　many　neighbors。　I'm　going　to　ride　north　of　town　to…morrow；　and　if　I　can　find　a　good　camp　on　Saw　Log；　why　I'll　move　over。　We　are　nearly　out　of　supplies；　anyhow；　and　the　wagon　can　go　by　town　and　load　up。　There's　liable　to　be　a　mix…up　here　some　night　on　the　Mulberry；　and　I'd　rather　be　excused　than　present。〃

〃That's　all　right；　Mac；　that's　just　what　I　want　you　to　do。　If　we　trade；　we'll　make　the　deal　within　a　day　or　two；　and　if　not　you　can　start　right　on　for　Ogalalla。　I've　been　selling　cattle　the　last　few　years　to　the　biggest　feeders　in　Nebraska；　and　I'm　not　a　little　bit　afraid　of　placing　those　'Open　A's。'　About　four　months　full　feed　on　corn　will　fit　those　steers　to　go　to　any　market。　Drop　into　town　on　your　way　back　from　the　Saw　Log　to…morrow。〃

That　evening　my　brother　Bob　rode　into　camp。　He　had　seen　our　employer　at　Supply；　and　accordingly　understood　the　situation。　The　courier　had　returned　from　Fort　Elliott　and　reported　his　mission　successful；　he　had　met　both　Forrest　and　Sponsilier。　The　latter　had　had　a　slight　run　in　the　Panhandle　during　a　storm；　losing　a　few　cattle；　which　he　recovered　the　next　day。　For　fear　of　a　repetition；　Forrest　had　taken　the　lead　thereafter；　and　was　due　at　Supply　within　a　day　or　two。　Flood　and　Priest　had　passed　Abilene；　Texas；　in　safety；　but　no　word　had　reached　our　employer　since；　and　it　was　believed　that　they　had　turned　eastward　and　would　come　up　the　Chisholm　Trail。　Bob　reported　the　country　between　Abilene　and　Doan's　Crossing　as　cut　into　dust　and　barren　of　sustenance；　many　weak　cattle　having　died　in　crossing　the　dry　belt。　But　the　most　startling　news；　seriously　disturbing　us　both；　was　that　Archie　Tolleston　was　stationed　at　Doan's　Crossing　on　Red　River　as　a　trail…cutter。　He　had　come　up　from　the　south　to　Wichita　Falls　by　train　with　trail　cattle；　and　finding　no　opening　as　a　foreman；　had　accepted　the　position　of　inspector　for　some　Panhandle　cattle　companies。　He　and　Bob　had　had　a　friendly　chat；　and　Archie　admitted　that　it　was　purely　his　own　hot…headedness　which　prevented　his　being　one　of　Lovell's　foremen　on　the　present　drive。　The　disturbing　feature　was；　that　after　leaving　headquarters　in　Medina　County；　he　had　gone　into　San　Antonio；　where　he　met　a　couple　of　strangers　who　partially　promised　him　a　job　as　trail　boss；　in　case　he　presented　himself　in　Dodge　about　June　15。　They　had　intimated　to　him　that　it　was　possible　they　would　need　a　foreman　or　two　who　knew　the　trail　from　the　Arkansaw　to　the　Yellowstone　and　Missouri　River　country。　Putting　this　and　that　together；　the　presence　of　Archie　Tolleston　in　Dodge　was　not　at　all　favorable　to　the　working　out　of　our　plans。　〃And　Arch　isn't　the　man　to　forget　a　humiliation；〃　concluded　Bob；　to　wh