the outlet-第41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！


h　the　〃major…domo〃　protested。　Once　satisfied　of　the　justice　of　quarantine；　the　officer；　in　defense　of　his　action；　said：

〃Gentlemen；　I　am　under　instructions　to　give　these　herds；　intended　for　use　at　Fort　Buford；　a　three　days'　escort　beyond　this　quarantine　line。　I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　all　for　making　so　clear　the　necessity　of　isolating　herds　of　Texas　cattle；　and　that　little　or　no　hardship　may　attend　my　orders；　you　may　have　until　noon　to…morrow　to　drift　all　native　stock　west　of　the　Powder　River。　When　these　herds　encamp　for　the　night；　they　will　receive　instructions　not　to　move　forward　before　twelve　to…morrow。　I　find　the　situation　quite　different　from　reports；　nevertheless　orders　are　orders。〃



CHAPTER　XX。　ON　THE　JUST　AND　THE　UNJUST

The　quarantine　guards　returned　to　their　camp。　Our　plans　were　suddenly　and　completely　upset；　and　not　knowing　which　way　to　turn；　Sponsilier　and　I；　slightly　crestfallen；　accompanied　the　guards。　It　was　already　late　in　the　evening；　but　Captain　Ullnier　took　advantage　of　the　brief　respite　granted　him　to　clear　the　east　half　of　the　valley　of　native　cattle。　Couriers　were　dispatched　to　sound　the　warning　among　the　ranches　down　the　river；　while　a　regular　round…up　outfit　was　mustered　among　the　camps　to　begin　the　drifting　of　range　stock　that　evening。　A　few　men　were　left　at　the　two　camps；　as　quarantine　was　not　to　be　abandoned；　and　securing　our　borrowed　horses；　my　partner　and　I　bade　our　friends　farewell　and　set　out　on　our　return　for　the　Yellowstone。　Merely　touching　at　Powderville　for　a　hasty　supper；　we　held　a　northwest；　cross…country　course；　far　into　the　night；　when　we　unsaddled　to　rest　our　horses　and　catch　a　few　hours'　sleep。　But　sunrise　found　us　again　in　our　saddles；　and　by　the　middle　of　the　forenoon　we　were　breakfasting　with　our　friends　in　Miles　City。

Fort　Keogh　was　but　a　short　distance　up　the　river。　That　military　interference　had　been　secured　through　fraud　and　deception；　there　was　not　the　shadow　of　a　doubt。　During　the　few　hours　which　we　spent　in　Miles；　the　cattle　interests；　were　duly　aroused；　and　a　committee　of　cowmen　were　appointed　to　call　on　the　post　commander　at　Keogh　with　a　formidable　protest；　which　would　no　doubt　be　supplemented　later；　on　the　return　of　the　young　lieutenant　and　his　troopers。　During　our　ride　the　night　before；　Sponsilier　and　I　had　discussed　the　possibility　of　arousing　the　authorities　at　Glendive。　Since　it　was　in　the　neighborhood　of　one　hundred　miles　from　Powderville　to　the　former　point　on　the　railroad；　the　herds　would　consume　nearly　a　week　in　reaching　there。　A　freight　train　was　caught　that　afternoon；　and　within　twenty…four　hours　after　leaving　the　quarantine　camp　on　the　Powder　River；　we　had　opened　headquarters　at　the　Stock　Exchange　Saloon　in　Glendive。　On　arriving；　I　deposited　one　hundred　dollars　with　the　proprietor　of　that　bar…room；　with　the　understanding　that　it　was　to　be　used　in　getting　an　expression　from　the　public　in　regard　to　the　question　of　Texas　fever。　Before　noon　the　next　day；　Dave　Sponsilier　and　Tom　Quirk　were　not　only　the　two　most　popular　men　in　Glendive；　but　quarantine　had　been　decided　on　with　ringing　resolutions。

Our　standing　was　soon　of　the　best。　Horses　were　tendered　us；　and　saddling　one　I　crossed　the　Yellowstone　and　started　down　the　river　to　arouse　outlying　ranches；　while　Sponsilier　and　a　number　of　local　cowmen　rode　south　to　locate　a　camp　and　a　deadline。　I　was　absent　two　days；　having　gone　north　as　far　as　Wolf　Island；　where　I　recrossed　the　river；　returning　on　the　eastern　side　of　the　valley。　At　no　ranch　which　was　visited　did　my　mission　fail　of　meeting　hearty　approval；　especially　on　the　western　side　of　the　river；　where　severe　losses　from　fever　had　been　sustained　the　fall　before。　One　ranch　on　Thirteen　Mile　offered；　if　necessary；　to　send　every　man　in　its　employ；　with　their　own　wagon　and　outfit　of　horses；　free　of　all　charge；　until　quarantine　was　lifted。　But　I　suggested；　instead；　that　they　send　three　or　four　men　with　their　horses　and　blankets；　leaving　the　remainder　to　be　provided　for　by　the　local　committee。　In　my　two　days'　ride；　over　fifty　volunteers　were　tendered；　but　I　refused　all　except　twenty；　who　were　to　report　at　Glendive　not　later　than　the　morning　of　the　6th。　On　my　return　to　the　railroad；　all　arrangements　were　completed　and　the　outlook　was　promising。　Couriers　had　arrived　from　the　south　during　my　absence；　bringing　the　news　of　the　coming　of　the　through　Texas　cattle；　and　warning　the　local　ranches　to　clear　the　way　or　take　the　consequences。　All　native　stock　had　been　pushed　west　of　the　Powder　and　Yellowstone；　as　far　north　as　Cabin　Creek；　which　had　been　decided　on　as　the　second　quarantine…line。　Daily　reports　were　being　received　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　moving　herds；　and　at　the　rate　they　were　traveling；　they　would　reach　Cabin　Creek　about　the　7th。　Two　wagons　had　been　outfitted；　cooks　employed；　and　couriers　dispatched　to　watch　the　daily　progress　of　the　cattle；　which；　if　following　the　usual　route；　would　strike　the　deadline　some　distance　south　of　Glendive。

During　the　next　few　days；　Sponsilier　and　I　were　social　lions　in　that　town；　and　so　great　was　our　popularity　we　could　have　either　married　or　been　elected　to　office。　We　limited　our　losses　at　poker　to　so　much　an　evening；　and　what　we　won　from　the　merchant　class　we　invariably　lost　among　the　volunteer　guards　and　cowmen；　taking　our　luck　with　a　sangfroid　which　proved　us　dead…game　sports；　and　made　us　hosts　of　friends。　We　had　contributed　one　hundred　dollars　to　the　general　quarantine　fund；　and　had　otherwise　made　ourselves　popular　with　all　classes　in　the　brief　time　at　our　command。　Under　the　pretense　that　we　might　receive　orders　at　any　time　to　overtake　our　herds；　we　declined　all　leadership　in　the　second　campaign　about　to　be　inaugurated　against　Texas　fever。　Dave　and　I　were　both　feeling　rather　chesty　over　the　masterful　manner　in　which　we　had　aroused　the　popular　feeling　in　favor　of　quarantine　in　our　own　interest；　at　the　same　time　making　it　purely　a　local　movement。　We　were　swaggering　about　like　ward…heelers；　when　on　the　afternoon　of　the　5th　the　unexpected　again　happened。　The　business　interests　of　the　village　usually　turned　out　to　meet　the　daily　passenger　trains；　even　the　poker…games　taking　a　recess　until　the　cars　went　past。　The　arrival　and　departure　of　citizens　of　the　place　were　noted　by　every　one；　and　strangers　were　looked　upon　with　timidity；　very　much　as　in　all　simple　communities。　Not　taking　any　interest　in　the　passing　trains；　Sponsilier　was　writing　a　letter　to　his　girl　in　Texas；　while　I　was　shaking　dice　for　the　cigars　with　the　bartender　of　the　Stock　Exchange；　when　the　Eastbound　arrived。　After　the　departure　of　the　train；　I　did　not　take　any　notice　of　the　return　of　the　boys　to　the　abandoned　gamed；　or　the　influx　of　patrons　to　the　house；　until　some　one　laid　a　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　quietly　said；　〃Isn't　your　name　Quirk？〃

Turning　to　the　speaker；　I　was　confronted　by　Mr。　Field　and　Mr。　Radcliff；　who　had　just　arrived　by　train　from　the　west。　Admitting　my　identity；　I　invited　them　to　have　a　cigar　or　liquid　refreshment；　inquiring　whence　they　had　come　and　where　their　cattle　were。　To　my　surprise；　Fort　Keogh　was　named　as　their　last　refuge；　and　the　herds　were　reported　to　cross　the　railroad　within　the　next　few　days。　Similar　questions　were　asked　me；　but　before　replying；　I　caught　Sponsilier's　eye　and　summoned　him　with　a　wink。　On　Dave's　presenting　himself；　I　innocently　asked　the　pair　if　they　did　not　remember　my　friend　as　one　of　the　men　whom　they　had　under　arrest　at　Dodge。　They　grunted　an　embarrassed　acknowledgment；　which　was　returned　in　the　same　coin；　when　I　proceeded　to　inform　them　that　our　cattle　crossed　the　railroad　at　Little　Missouri　ten　days　before；　and　that　we　were　only　waiting　the　return　of　Mr。　Lovell　from　the　Crow　Agency　before　proceeding　to　our　destination。　With　true　Yankee　inquisitiveness；　other　questions　followed；　the　trend　of　which　was　to　get　us　to　admit　that　we　had　something　to　do　with　the　present　activities　in　quarantining　Texas　cattle。　But　I　avoided　their　leading　queries；　and　looked　appealingly　at　Sponsilier；　who　came　to　my　rescue　with　an　answer　born　of　the　moment。

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　said　Dave；　seating　himself　on　the　bar　and　leisurely　rolling　a　cigarette；　〃that　town　of　Little　Missouri　is　about　the　dullest　hole　that　I　was　ever　water…bound　in。　Honestly；　I'd　rather　be　with　the　cattle　than　loafing　in　it　with　money　in　my　pocket。　Now　this　town　has　got　some　get…up　about　it；　I'll　kiss　a　man's　foot　if　he　complains　that　this　burg　isn't　sporty　enough　for　his　blood。　They've　given　me　a　run　here　for　my　white　alley；　and　I　still　think　I　know　something　about　that　game　called　draw…poker。　But　you　were　speaking　about　quarantine。　Yes；　there　seems　to　have　been　a　good　many　cattle　lost　through　these　parts　last　fall。　You　ought　to　have　sent　your　herds　up　through　Dakota；　where　there　is　no　native　stock　to　interfere。　I'd　hate　to　have　cattle　coming　down　the　Powder　River。　A　friend　of　mine　passed　through　here　yesterday；　his　herd　was　sold　for　delivery　on　the　Elkhorn；　north　of　here；　and　he　tells　me　he　may　not　be　able　to　reach　there　before　October。　He　saw　your　herds　and　tells　me　you　are　driving　the　guts　out　of　them。　So　if　there's　anything　in　that　old　'ship…fever　theory；'　you　ought　to　be　quarantined　until　it　snows。　There's　a　right　smart　talk　around　here　of　fixing　a　dead…line　below　somewhere；　and　if　you　get　tied　up　before　reaching　the　railroad；　it　won't　surprise　me　a　little　bit。　When　it　comes　to　handling　the　cattle；　old　man　Don　has　the　good　hard　cow…sense　every　time；　but　you　shorthorns　give　me　a　pain。〃

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　said　Radcliff；　the　elder　one　said　to　his　partner；　as　they　turned　to　leave。

On　nearing　the　door；　Mr。　Field　halted　and　begrudgingly　said；　〃See　you　later；　Quirk。〃

〃Not　if　I　see　you　first；〃　I　replied；　〃you　ain't　my　kind　of　cowmen。〃

Not　even　waiting　for　them　to　pass　outside；　Sponsilier；　from　his　elevated　position；　called　every　one　to　the　bar　to　irrigate。　The　boys　quit　their　games；　and　as　they　lined　up　in　a　double　row；　Dave　begged　the　bartenders　to　bestir　themselves；　and　said　to　his　guests：　〃Those　are　the　kid…gloved　cowmen　that　I've　been　telling　you　aboutthe　owners　of　the　Texas　cattle　that　are　coming　through　here。　Did　I　hang　it　on　them　artistically；　or　shall　I　call　them　back　and　smear　it　on　a　shade　deeper？　They　smelt　a　mouse　all　right；　and　when　their　cattle　re