the outlet-第38部分

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west　and　be　present　at　Paul's　delivery　at　Fort　Washakie。　So　you　see　I'll　have　to　depend　on　two　of　you　boys　going　up　to　Glendive　and　Miles　and　seeing　that　those　cow…towns　take　the　proper　view　of　this　quarantine　matter。　After　dinner　you'll　fall　back　and　bring　up　your　herds；　and　after　crossing　the　railroad　here；　the　outfits　will　graze　over　to　Buford。　We'll　leave　four　of　our　best　saddle　horses　here　in　a　pasture；　so　as　to　be　independent　on　our　return。　Since　things　have　changed　so；　the　chances　are　that　I'll　bring　Bob　Quirk　back　with　me；　as　I've　written　Flood　to　help　The　Rebel　sell　his　remuda　and　take　the　outfit　and　go　home。　Now　you　boys　decide　among　yourselves　which　two　of　you　will　go　up　the　Yellowstone　and　promote　the　enforcement　of　the　quarantine　laws。　Don't　get　the　impression　that　you　can't　do　this；　because　an　all…round　cowman　can　do　anything　where　his　interests　are　at　stake。　I'll　think　the　programme　out　a　little　more　clearly　by　the　time　you　bring　up　the　cattle。〃

The　herds　were　not　over　fifteen　miles　back　up　the　river　when　we　left　them　in　the　morning。　After　honoring　the　village　of　Little　Missouri　with　our　presence　for　several　hours；　we　saddled　up　and　started　to　meet　the　cattle。　There　was　no　doubt　in　my　mind　but　that　Sponsilier　would　be　one　of　the　two　to　go　on　the　proposed　errand　of　diplomacy；　as　his　years；　experience；　and　good　solid　sense　entitled　him　to　outrank　either　Forrest　or　myself。　I　knew　that　Quince　Would　want　to　go；　if　for　no　other　reason　than　to　get　out　of　working　the　few　days　that　yet　remained　of　the　drive。　All　three　of　us　talked　the　matter　of　quarantine　freely　as　we　rode　along；　yet　no　one　ventured　any　proposition　looking　to　an　agreement　as　to　who　should　go　on　the　diplomatic　mission。　I　was　the　youngest　and　naturally　took　refuge　behind　my　years；　yet　perfectly　conscious　that；　in　spite　of　the　indifferent　and　nonchalant　attitude　assumed；　all　three　of　us　foremen　were　equally　anxious　for　the　chance。　Matters　remained　undecided；　but　the　next　day　at　dinner；　Lovell　having　met　us　before　reaching　the　railroad；　the　question　arose　who　should　go　up　to　Miles　City。　Dave　and　Quince　were　also　eating　at　my　wagon；　and　when　our　employer　forced　ah　answer；　Sponsilier　innocently　replied　that　he　supposed　that　we　were　all　willing　to　leave　it　to　him。　Forrest　immediately　approved　of　Dave's　suggestion。　I　gave　my　assent；　and　old　man　Don　didn't　qualify；　hedge；　or　mince　his　words　in　appointing　the　committees　to　represent　the　firm　of　Lovell。

〃Jealous　of　each　other；　ain't　you？　Very　well；　I　want　these　herds　grazed　across　to　Buford　at　the　rate　of　four　miles　a　day。　Nothing　but　a　Mexican　pastor；　or　a　white　man　as　lazy　as　Quince　Forrest　can　fill　the　bill。　You're　listening；　are　you；　Quince？　Well；　after　the　sun　sets　to…night；　you're　in　charge　of　ten　thousand　beeves　from　here　to　the　mouth　of　the　Yellowstone。　I　want　to　put　every　ounce　possible　on　those　steers　for　the　next　twenty　days。　We　utay　have　to　make　a　comparison　of　cattle；　and　if　we　should；　I　want　ours　to　lay　over　the　opposition　like　a　double　eagle　does　over　a　lead　dime。　We　may　run　up　against　a　lot　of　red　tape　at　Fort　Buford；　but　if　there　is　a　lick　of　cow…sense　among　the　government　representatives；　we　want　our　beeves　to　speak　for　themselves。　Fat　animals　do　their　own　talking。　You　remember　when　every　one　was　admiring　the　fine　horse；　the　blind　man　said；　'Isn't　he　fat？'　Now；　Dave；　you　and　Tom　appoint　your　segundos；　and　we'll　all　catch　the　10：20　train　west　to…night。〃

I　dared　to　risk　one　eye　on　Forrest。　Inwardly　I　was　chuckling；　but　Quince　was　mincing　along　with　his　dinner；　showing　that　languid　indifference　which　is　inborn　to　the　Texan。　Lovell　continued　to　monopolize　the　conversation；　blowing　on　the　cattle　and　ribbing　up　Forrest　to　see　that　the　beeves　thenceforth　should　never　know　tire；　hunger；　or　thirst。　The　commissaries　had　run　low；　Sponsilier's　cook　had　been　borrowing　beans　from　us　for　a　week　past；　while　Parent　point…blank　refused　to　share　any　more　of　our　bacon。　The　latter　was　recognized　as　a　staple　in　trail…work；　and　it　mattered　not　how　inviting　the　beef　or　venison　might　be；　we　always　fell　back　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　cat