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ntine　guards。　A　relief　was　rushed　away　for　the　herders；　and　when　the　latter　came　in；　they　reported　having　sighted　the　posse　from　Powderville；　heading　across　country　for　the　twin　buttes。　Meanwhile　a　breakfast　had　been　bolted　by　the　guards；　Sponsilier；　and　myself；　and　swinging　into　our　saddles；　we　rounded　a　bluff　bend　of　the　creek　and　rode　for　the　rendezvous；　some　three　miles　distant。　I　noticed　by　the　brands　that　nearly　every　horse　in　that　country　had　been　born　in　Texas；　and　the　short　time　in　which　we　covered　the　intervening　miles　proved　that　the　change　of　climate　had　added　to　their　stability　and　bottom。　Our　first　glimpse　of　the　meeting…point　revealed　the　summit　of　the　buttes　fairly　covered　with　horsemen。　From　their　numbers　it　was　evident　that　ours　was　the　last　contingent　to　arrive；　but　before　we　reached　the　twin　mounds；　the　posse　rode　down　from　the　lookout　and　a　courier　met　and　turned　us　from　our　course。　The　lead　herd　had　been　sighted　in　trail　formation　but　a　few　miles　distant；　heading　north；　and　it　was　the　intention　to　head　them　at　the　earliest　moment。　The　messenger　inquired　our　numbers；　and　reported　those　arrived　at　forty…five；　making　the　posse　when　united　a　few　over　sixty　men。

A　juncture　of　forces　was　effected　within　a　mile　of　the　lead　herd。　It　was　a　unique　posse。　Old　frontiersmen；　with　patriarchal　beards　and　sawed…off　shotguns；　chewed　their　tobacco　complacently　as　they　rode　forward　at　a　swinging　gallop。　Beardless　youths；　armed　with　the　old　buffalo　guns　of　their　fathers；　led　the　way　as　if　an　Indian　invasion　had　called　them　forth。　Soldiers　of　fortune；　with　Southern　accents；　who　were　assisting　in　the　conquest　of　a　new　empire；　intermingled　with　the　hurrying　throng；　and　two　men　whose　home　was　in　Medina　County；　Texas；　looked　on　and　approved。　The　very　horses　had　caught　the　inspiration　of　the　moment；　champing　bits　in　their　effort　to　forge　to　the　front　rank；　while　the　blood…stained　slaver　coated　many　breasts　or　driveled　from　our　boots。　Before　we　met　the　herd　a　halt　was　called；　and　about　a　dozen　men　were　deployed　off　on　each　flank；　while　the　main　body　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　cattle。　The　latter　were　checked　by　the　point…men　and　turned　back　when　within　a　few　hundred　yards　of　the　main　posse。　Several　horsemen　from　the　herd　rode　forward；　and　one　politely　inquired　the　meaning　of　this　demonstration。　The　question　was　met　by　a　counter　one　from　Captain　Ullmer；　who　demanded　to　know　the　reason　why　these　cattle　should　trespass　on　the　rights　of　others　and　ignore　local　quarantine。　The　spokesman　in　behalf　of　the　herd　turned　in　his　saddle　and　gave　an　order　to　send　some　certain　person　forward。　Sponsilier　whispered　to　me　that　this　fellow　was　merely　a　segundo。　〃But　wait　till　the　'major…domo'　arrives；〃　he　added。　The　appearance　of　the　posse　and　the　halting　of　the　herd　summoned　that　personage　from　the　rear　to　the　front；　and　the　next　moment　he　was　seen　galloping　up　the　column　of　cattle。　With　a　plausible　smile　this　high　mogul；　on　his　arrival；　repeated　the　previous　question；　and　on　a　similar　demand　from　the　captain　of　the　posse；　he　broke　into　a　jolly　laugh　from　which　he　recovered　with　difficulty。

〃Why；　gentlemen；〃　said　he；　every　word　dripping　with　honeyed　sweetness；　〃this　is　entirely　uncalled　for。　I　assure　you　that　it　was　purely　an　oversight　on　my　part　that　I　did　not　send　you　word　in　advance　that　these　herds　of　mine　are　government　cattle　and　not　subject　to　local　quarantine。　My　associates　are　the　largest　army　contractors　in　the　country；　these　cattle　are　due　at　Fort　Buford　on　the　15th　of　this　month；　and　any　interference　on　your　part　would　be　looked　upon　as　an　insult　to　the　government。　In　fact；　the　post　commander　at　Fort　Laramie　insisted　that　he　be　permitted　to　send　a　company　of　cavalry　to　escort　us　across　Wyoming；　and　assured　us　that　a　troop　from　Fort　Keogh；　if　requested；　would　meet　our　cattle　on　the　Montana　line。　The　army　is　jealous　over　its　supplies；　but　I　declined　all　military　protection；　knowing　that　I　had　but　to　show　my　credentittls　to　pass　unmolested　anywhere。　Now；　if　you　care　to　look　over　these　papers；　you　will　see　that　these　cattle　are　en　route　to　Fort　Buford；　on　an　assignment　of　the　original　contract；　issued　by　the　secretary　of　war　to　The　Western　Supply　Company。　Very　sorry　to　put　you　to　all　this　trouble；　but　these　herds　must　not　be　interfered　with。　I　trust　that　you　gentlemen　understand　that　the　government　is　supreme。〃

As　the　papers　mentioned　were　produced；　Sponsilier　kicked　me　on　the　shin；　gave　me　a　quiet　wink；　and　nodded　towards　the　documents　then　being　tendered　to　Captain　Ullmer。　Groping　at　his　idea；　I　rode　forward；　and　as　the　papers　were　being　returned　with　a　mere　glance　on　the　part　of　the　quarantine　leader；　I　politely　asked　if　I　might　see　the　assignment　of　the　original　contract。　But　a　quizzical　smile　met　my　request；　and　shaking　out　the　heavy　parchment；　he　rapped　it　with　the　knuckles　of　his　disengaged　hand；　remarking　as　he　returned　it　to　his　pocket；　〃Sorry；　but　altogether　too　valuable　to　allow　out　of　my　possession。　Just　what　I　would　have　done　with　the　beribboned　document；　except　to　hand　it　over　to　Sponsilier；　is　beyond　me；　yet　I　was　vaguely　conscious　that　its　destruction　was　of　importance　to　our　side　of　the　matter　at　issue。　At　the　same　instant　in　which　my　request　was　declined；　the　big　medicine　man　turned　to　Captain　Ullmer　and　suavely　remarked；　〃You　found　everything　as　represented；　did　you？〃

〃Why；　I　heard　your　statement；　and　I　have　also　heard　it　disputed　from　other　sources。　In　fact　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　you　except　to　enforce　the　quarantine　now　established　by　the　cattlemen　of　eastern　Montana。　If　you　have　any　papers　showing　that　your　herds　were　wintered　north　of　latitude　37；　you　can　pass；　as　this　quarantine　is　only　enforced　against　cattle　from　south　of　that　degree。　This　territory　lost　half　a　million　dollars'　worth　of　native　stock　last　fall　from　Texas　fever；　and　this　season　they　propose　to　apply　the　ounce　of　preventive。　You　will　have　ample　time　to　reach　your　destination　after　frost　falls；　and　your　detention　by　quarantine　will　be　a　good　excuse　for　your　delay。　Now；　unless　you　can　convince　me　that　your　herds　are　immune；　I'll　show　you　a　good　place　to　camp　on　the　head　of　Wolf　Creek。　It　will　probably　be　a　matter　of　ten　to　fifteen　days　before　the　quarantine　is　lifted；　and　we　are　enforcing　it　against　citizens　of　Montana　and　Texas　alike；　and　no　exception　can　be　made　in　your　case。〃

〃But；　my　dear　sir；　this　is　not　a　local　or　personal　matter。　Whatever　you　do；　don't　invite　the　frown　of　the　government。　Let　me　warn　you　not　to　act　in　haste。　Now；　remember〃

〃You　made　your　cracks　that　you　would　cross　this　quarantine　line；〃　interrupted　Ullmer；　bristlingly；　〃and　I　want　you　to　find　out　your　mistake。　There　is　no　occasion　for　further　words；　and　you　can　either　order　your　outfit　to　turn　your　cattle　east；　or　I'll　send　men　and　do　it　myself。〃

The　〃major…domo〃　turned　and　galloped　back　to　his　men；　a　number　of　whom　had　congregated　near　at　hand。　The　next　moment　he　returned　and　haughtily　threatened　to　surrender　the　cattle　then　and　there　unless　he　was　allowed　to　proceed。　〃Give　him　a　receipt　for　his　beeves；　Fred；〃　quietly　remarked　an　old　cowman；　gently　stroking　his　beard；　〃and　I'll　take　these　boys　over　here　on　the　right　and　start　the　cattle。　That　will　be　the　safest　way；　unless　the　gentleman　can　indemnify　us。　I　lost　ten　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　stock　last　fall；　and　as　a　citizen　of　Montana　I　have　objections　to　leaving　a　trail　of　fever　from　here　to　the　mouth　of　the　Yellowstone。　And　tell　him　he　can　have　a　bond　for　his　cattle；〃　called　back　the　old　man　as　he　rode　out　of　hearing。

The　lead　herd　was　pointed　to　the　east；　and　squads　of　men　rode　down　and　met　the　other　two；　veering　them　off　on　an　angle　to　the　right。　Meanwhile　the　superintendent　raved；　pleaded；　and　threatened　without　avail；　but　finally　yielded　and　refused　the　receipt。　and　dispossession　of　his　cattle。　This　was　just　what　the　quarantine　captain　wanted；　and　the　dove　of　peace　began　to　shake　its　plumage。　Within　an　hour　all　three　of　the　herds　were　moving　out　for　the　head　of　Wolf　Creek；　accompanied　only　by　the　quarantine　guards；　the　remainder　of　the　posse　returning　to　their　homes　or　their　work。　Having　ample　time　on　our　hands；　Sponsilier　and　I　expected　to　remain　at　Station　No。　1　until　after　the　10th　of　September；　and　accordingly　made　ourselves　at　home　at　that　camp。　To　say　that　we　were　elated　over　the　situation　puts　it　mildly；　and　that　night　the　two　of　us　lost　nearly　a　hundred　dollars　playing　poker　with　the　quarantine　guards。　A　strict　vigilance　was　maintained　over　the　herds　in　question；　but　all　reports　were　unanimous　that　they　were　contentedly　occupying　their　allotted　range。

But　at　noon　on　the　third　day　of　the　enforced　isolation；　a　messenger　from　Powderville　arrived　at　the　first　station。　A　troop　of　cavalry　from　Fort　Keogh；　accompanied　by　a　pack…train；　had　crossed　the　Powder　River　below　the　hamlet；　their　avowed　mission　being　to　afford　an　escort　for　certain　government　beef；　then　under　detention　by　the　local　authorities。　The　report　fell　among　us　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　Ample　time　had　elapsed　for　a　messenger　to　ride　to　the　Yellowstone；　and；　returning　with　troops；　pilot　them　to　the　camps　of　Field；　Radcliff　&　Co。　A　consultation　was　immediately　held；　but　no　definite　line　of　action　had　been　arrived　at　when　a　horseman　from　one　of　the　lower　camps　dashed　up　and　informed　us　that　the　three　herds　were　already　trailing　out　for　the　dead…line；　under　an　escort　of　cavalry。　Saddling　up；　we　rallied　what　few　men　were　available；　determined　to　make　a　protest；　at　least；　in　the　interest　of　humanity　to　dumb　brutes。　We　dispatched　couriers　to　the　nearest　camps　and　the　outer　quarantine　station；　but　before　a　posse　of　twenty　men　arrived；　the　lead　herd　was　within　a　mile　of　the　dead…line；　and　we　rode　out。　and　met　them。　Fully　eighty　troopers；　half　of　which　rode　in　column　formation　in　front；　halted　us　as　we　approached。　Terse　and　to　the　point　were　the　questions　and　answers　exchanged　between　the　military　arm　of　the　government　and　the　quarantine　authorities　of　Montana。　When　the　question　arose　of　indemnity　to　citizens；　in　case　of　death　to　native　cattle；　a　humane　chord　was　touched　in　the　young　lieutenant　in　command；　resulting　in　his　asking　several　questions；　to　which　the　〃major…domo〃　protested。　Once　satisfied　of　the　justice　of　quarantine；　the　officer；　in　defense　o