the outlet-第26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！


。　But　old　man　Don　counseled　another　day's　lie…over；　as　it　would　be　a　sore　trial　for　the　herds　under　a　July　sun；　and　for　a　full　day　twenty　thousand　beeves　grazed　in　sight　of　each　other　on　the　mesas　surrounding　the　head　of　Stinking　Water。　All　the　herds　were　aroused　with　the　dawn；　and　after　a　few　hours'　sun　on　the　cattle；　the　Indian　beeves　were　turned　onto　the　water　and　held　until　the　middle　of　the　forenoon；　when　the　start　was　made　for　the　Platte　and　Ogalalla。

I　led　out　with　〃The　Apple〃　cattle；　throwing　onto　the　trail　for　the　first　ten　miles；　which　put　me　well　in　advance　of　Bob　Quirk　and　Forrest；　who　were　in　my　immediate　rear。　A　well…known　divide　marked　the　halfway　between　the　two　waters；　and　I　was　determined　to　camp　on　it　that　night。　It　was　fully　nine　o'clock　when　we　reached　it；　Don　Lovell　in　the　mean　time　having　overtaken　us。　This　watershed　was　also　recognized　as　the　line　of　Keith　County；　an　organized　community；　and　the　next　morning　expectation　ran　high　as　to　what　the　day　would　bring　forth。　Lovell　insisted　on　staying　with　the　lead　herd；　and　pressing　him　in　as　horse…wrangler；　I　sent　him　in　the　lead　with　the　remuda　and　wagon；　while　Levering　fell　into　the　swing　with　the　trailing　cattle。　A　breakfast　halt　was　made　fully　seven　miles　from　the　bed…ground；　a　change　of　mounts；　and　then　up　divide；　across　mesa；　and　down　slope　at　the　foot　of　which　ran　the　Platte。　Meanwhile　several　wayfaring　men　were　met；　but　in　order　to　avoid　our　dust；　they　took　the　right　or　unbranded　side　of　our　herd　on　meeting；　and　passed　on　their　way　without　inquiry。　Near　noon　a　party　of　six　men；　driving　a　number　of　loose　mounts　and　a　pack…horse；　were　met；　who　also　took　the　windward　side。　Our　dragmen　learned　that　they　were　on　their　way　to　Dodge　to　receive　a　herd　of　range　horses。　But　when　about　halfway　down　the　slope　towards　the　river；　two　mounted　men　were　seen　to　halt　the　remuda　and　wagon　for　a　minute；　and　then　continue　on　southward。　Billy　Tupps　was　on　the　left　point；　myself　next　in　the　swing；　and　as　the　two　horsemen　turned　out　on　the　branded　side；　their　identity　was　suspected。　In　reply　to　some　inquiry；　Tupps　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Next　man。〃　I　turned　out　and　met　the　strangers；　who　had　already　noted　the　road　brand；　and　politely　answered　every　question。　One　of　the　two　offered　me　a　cigar；　and　after　lighting　it；　I　did　remember　hearing　one　of　my　boys　say　that　among　the　herds　lying　over　on　the　head　of　Stinking　Water　was　an　〃Open　A〃　and　〃Drooping　T；〃　but　I　was　unable　to　recall　the　owner's　or　foremen's　names。　Complimenting　me　on　the　condition　of　my　beeves；　and　assuring　me　that　I　would　have　time　to　water　my　herd　and　reach　the　mesa　beyond　Ogalalla；　they　passed　on　down　the　column　of　cattle。

I　had　given　the　cook　an　order　on　an　outfitting　house　for　new　supplies；　saying　I　would　call　or　send　a　draft　in　the　morning。　A　new　bridge　had　been　built　across　the　Platte　opposite　the　town；　and　when　nearing　the　river；　the　commissary　turned　off　the　trail　for　it；　but　the　horse…wrangler　for　the　day　gave　the　bridge　a　wide　berth　and　crossed　the　stream　a　mile　below　the　village。　The　width　of　the　river　was　a　decided　advantage　in　watering　a　thirsty　herd；　as　it　gave　the　cattle　room　to　thrash　around；　filling　its　broad　bed　for　fully　a　half　mile。　Fortunately　there　were　few　spectators；　but　I　kept　my　eye　on　the　lookout　for　a　certain　faction；　being　well　disguised　with　dust　and　dirt　and　a　month's　growth　of　beard。　As　we　pushed　out　of　the　river　and　were　crossing　the　tracks　below　the　railroad　yards；　two　other　herds　were　sighted　coming　down　to　the　water；　their　remudas　having　forded　above　and　below　our　cattle。　On　scaling　the　bluffs；　we　could　see　the　trail　south　of　the　Platte　Road　on　which　arose　a　great　column　of　dust。　Lovell　was　waiting　with　the　saddle　stock　in　the　hills　beyond　the　town；　and　on　striking　the　first　good　grass；　the　cattle　fell　to　grazing　while　we　halted　to　await　the　arrival　of　the　wagon。　The　sun　was　still　several　hours　high；　and　while　waiting　for　our　commissary　to　come　up；　my　employer　and　myself　rode　to　the　nearest　point　of　observation　to　reconnoitre　the　rear。　Beneath　us　lay　the　hamlet；　but　our　eyes　were　concentrated　beyond　the　narrow　Platte　valley　on　a　dust…cloud　which　hung　midway　down　the　farther　slope。　As　we　watched；　an　occasional　breeze　wafted　the　dust　aside；　and　the　sinuous　outline　of　a　herd　creeping　forward　greeted　our　vision。　Below　the　town　were　two　other　herds；　distinctly　separate　and　filling　the　river　for　over　a　mile　with　a　surging　mass　of　animals；　while　in　every　direction　cattle　dotted　the　plain　and　valley。　Turning　aside　from　the　panorama　before　us；　my　employer　said：

〃Tom；　you　will　have　time　to　graze　out　a　few　miles　and　camp　to　the　left　of　the　trail。　I'll　stay　here　and　hurry　your　wagon　forward；　and　wait　for　Bob　and　Quince。　That　lead　herd　beyond　the　river　is　bound　to　be　Jim's；　and　he's　due　to　camp　on　this　mesa　to…night；　so　these　outfits　must　give　him　room。　If　Dave　and　Paul　are　still　free　to　act；　they'll　know　enough　to　water　and　camp　on　the　south　side　of　the　Platte。　I'll　stay　at　Flood's　wagon　to…night；　and　you　had　better　send　a　couple　of　your　boys　into　town　and　let　them　nose　around。　They'll　meet　lads　from　the　'Open　A'　and　'drooping　T'　outfits；　and　I'll　send　Jim　and　Bob　in；　and　by　midnight　we'll　have　a　report　of　what's　been　done。　If　any　one　but　an　officer　takes　possession　of　those　two　herds；　it'll　put　us　to　the　trouble　of　retaking　them。　And　I　think　I've　got　men　enough　here　to　do　it。〃　


CHAPTER　XIII。　JUSTICE　IN　THE　SADDLE

It　was　an　hour　after　the　usual　time　when　we　bedded　down　the　cattle。　The　wagon　had　overtaken　us　about　sunset；　and　the　cook's　fire　piloted　us　into　a　camp　fully　two　miles　to　the　right　of　the　trail。　A　change　of　horses　was　awaiting　us；　and　after　a　hasty　supper　Tupps　detailed　two　young　fellows　to　visit　Ogalalla。　It　required　no　urging；　I　outlined　clearly　what　was　expected　of　their　mission；　requesting　them　to　return　by　the　way　of　Flood's　wagon；　and　to　receive　any　orders　which　my　employer　might　see　fit　to　send。　The　horse…wrangler　was　pressed　in　to　stand　the　guard　of　one　of　the　absent　lads　on　the　second　watch；　and　I　agreed　to　take　the　other；　which　fell　in　the　third。　The　boys　had　not　yet　returned　when　our　guard　was　called；　but　did　so　shortly　afterward；　one　of　them　hunting　me　up　on　night…herd。

〃Well；〃　said　he；　turning　his　horse　and　circling　with　me；　〃we　caught　onto　everything　that　was　adrift。　The　Rebel　and　Sponsilier　were　both　in　town；　in　charge　of　two　deputies。　Flood　and　your　brother　went　in　with　us；　and　with　the　lads　from　the　other　outfits；　including　those　across　the　river；　there　must　have　been　twenty…five　of　Lovell's　men　in　town。　I　noticed　that　Dave　and　The　Rebel　were　still　wearing　their　six…shooters；　while　among　the　boys　the　arrests　were　looked　upon　as　quite　a　joke。　The　two　deputies　had　all　kinds　of　money；　and　wouldn't　allow　no　one　but　themselves　to　spend　a　cent。　The　biggest　one　of　the　twothe　one　who　gave　you　the　cigarwould　say　to　my　boss：　'Sponsilier；　you're　a　trail　foreman　from　Texasone　of　Don　Lovell's　boss　menbut　you're　under　arrest；　your　cattle　are　in　my　possession　this　very　minute。　You　understand　that；　don't　you？　Very　well；　then；　everybody　come　up　and　have　a　drink　on　the　sheriff's　office。'　That　was　about　the　talk　in　every　saloon　and　dance…hall　visited。　But　when　we　proposed　starting　back　to　camp；　about　midnight；　the　big　deputy　said　to　Flood：　'I　want　you　to　tell　Colonel　Lovell　that　I　hold　a　warrant　for　his　arrest；　urge　him　not　to　put　me　to　the　trouble　of　coming　out　after　him。　If　he　had　identified　himself　to　me　this　afternoon；　he　could　have　slept　on　a　goose…hair　bed　to…night　instead　of　out　there　on　the　mesa；　on　the　cold　ground。　His　reputation　in　this　town　would　entitle　him　to　three　meals　a　day；　even　if　he　was　under　arrest。　Now；　we'll　have　one　more；　and　tell　the　damned　old　rascal　that　I'll　expect　him　in　the　morning。'〃

We　rode　out　the　watch　together。　On　returning　to　Flood's　camp；　they　had　found　Don　Lovell　awake。　the　old　man　was　pleased　with　the　report；　but　sent　me　no　special　word　except　to　exercise　my　own　judgment。　The　cattle　were　tired　after　their　long　tramp　of　the　day　before；　the　outfit　were　saddle　weary；　and　the　first　rays　of　the　rising　sun　flooded　the　mesa　before　men　or　animals　offered　to　arise。　But　the　duties　of　another　day　commanded　us　anew；　and　with　the　cook　calling　us；　we　rose　to　meet　them。　I　was　favorably　impressed　with　Tupps　as　a　segundo；　and　after　breakfast　suggested　that　he　graze　the　cattle　over　to　the　North　Platte；　cross　it；　and　make　a　permanent　camp。　This　was　agreed　to；　half　the　men　were　excused　for　the　day；　and　after　designating；　beyond　the　river；　a　clump　of　cottonwoods　where　the　wagon　would　be　found；　seven　of　us　turned　and　rode　back　for　Ogalalla。　With　picked　mounts　under　us；　we　avoided　the　other　cattle　which　could　be　seen　grazing　northward；　and　when　fully　halfway　to　town；　there　before　us　on　the　brink　of　the　mesa　loomed　up　the　lead　of　a　herd。　I　soon　recognized　Jack　Splann　on　the　point；　and　taking　a　wide　circle；　dropped　in　behind　him；　the　column　stretching　back　a　mile　and　coining　up　the　bluffs；　forty　abreast　like　an　army　in　loose　marching　order。　I　was　proud　of　those　〃Open　A's；〃　they　were　my　first　herd；　and　though　in　a　hurry　to　reach　town；　I　turned　and　rode　back　with　them　for　fully　a　mile。

Splann　was　acting　under　orders　from　Flood；　who　had　met　him　at　the　ford　that　morning。　If　the　cattle　were　in　the　possession　of　any　deputy　sheriff；　they　had　failed　to　notify　Jack；　and　the　latter　had　already　started　for　the　North　Platte　of　his　own　accord。　The　〃Drooping　T〃　cattle　were　in　the　immediate　rear　under　Forrest's　segundo；　and　Splann　urged　me　to　accompany　him　that　forenoon；　saying：　〃From　what　the　boys　said　this　morning；　Dave　and　Paul　will　not　be　given　a　hearing　until　two　o'clock　this　afternoon。　I　can　graze　beyond　the　North　Fork　by　that　time；　and　then　we'll　all　go　back　together。　Flood's　right　behind　here　with　the　'drooping　T's；'　and　I　think　it's　his　intention　to　go　all　the　way　to　the　river。　Drop　back　and　see　him。〃

The　boys　who　were　with　me　never　halted；　but　had　ridden　on　towards　town。　When　the　second　herd　began　the　ascent　of　the　mesa；　I　left　Splann　and　turned　back；　waiting　on　the　brink　for　its　arrival。　As　it　would　take　the　lead　cattle　some　time　to　reach　me；　I　dismounted；　resting　in　the　shade　of　my　horse。　But　my　rest　was　brief；　for　the　clattering