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all　them　back　and　smear　it　on　a　shade　deeper？　They　smelt　a　mouse　all　right；　and　when　their　cattle　reach　Cabin　Creek；　they'll　smell　the　rat　in　earnest。　Now；　set　out　the　little　and　big　bottle　and　everybody　have　a　cigar　on　the　side。　And　drink　hearty；　lads；　for　to…morrow　we　may　be　drinking　branch　water　in　a　quarantine　camp。〃

The　arrival　of　Field　and　Radcliff　was　accepted　as　a　defiance　to　the　local　cattle　interests。　Popular　feeling　was　intensified　when　it　was　learned　that　they　were　determined　not　to　recognize　any　local　quarantine；　and　were　secretly　inquiring　for　extra　men　to　guard　their　herds　in　passing　Glendive。　There　was　always　a　rabble　element　in　every　frontier　town；　and　no　doubt；　as　strangers；　they　could　secure　assistance　in　quarters　that　the　local　cowmen　would　spurn。　Matters　were　approaching　a　white　heat；　when　late　that　night　an　expected　courier　arrived；　and　reported　the　cattle　coming　through　at　the　rate　of　twenty　miles　a　day。　They　were　not　following　any　particular　trail；　traveling　almost　due　north；　and　if　the　present　rate　of　travel　was　maintained；　Cabin　Creek　would　be　reached　during　the　forenoon　of　the　7th。　This　meant　business；　and　the　word　was　quietly　passed　around　that　all　volunteers　were　to　be　ready　to　move　in　the　morning。　A　cowman　named　Retallac；　owner　of　a　range　on　the　Yellowstone；　had　previously　been　decided　on　as　captain；　and　would　have　under　him　not　less　than　seventy…five　chosen　men；　which　number；　if　necessary；　could　easily　be　increased　to　one　hundred。

Morning　dawned　on　a　scene　of　active　operations。　The　two　wagons　were　started　fully　an　hour　in　advance　of　the　cavalcade；　which　was　to　follow；　driving　a　remuda　of　over　two　hundred　saddle　horses。　Sponsilier　and　I　expected　to　accompany　the　outfit；　but　at　the　last　moment　our　plans　were　changed　by　an　incident　and　we　remained　behind；　promising　to　overtake　them　later。　There　were　a　number　of　old　buffalo　hunters　in　town；　living　a　precarious　life；　and　one　of　their　number　had　quietly　informed　Sheriff　Wherry　that　they　had　been　approached　with　an　offer　of　five　dollars　a　day　to　act　as　an　escort　to　the　herds　while　passing　through。　The　quarantine　captain　looked　upon　that　element　as　a　valuable　ally；　suggesting　that　if　it　was　a　question　of　money；　our　side　ought　to　be　in　the　market　for　their　services。　Heartily　agreeing　with　him；　the　company　of　guards　started；　leaving　their　captain　behind　with　Sponsilier　and　myself。　Glendive　was　a　county　seat；　and　with　the　assistance　of　the　sheriff；　we　soon　had　every　buffalo　hunter　in　the　town　corralled。　They　were　a　fine　lot　of　rough　men；　inclined　to　be　convivial；　and　with　the　assistance　of　Sheriff　Wherry；　coupled　with　the　high　standing　of　the　quarantine　captain；　on　a　soldier's　introduction　Dave　and　I　made　a　good　impression　among　them。　Sponsilier　did　the　treating　and　talking；　his　offer　being　ten　dollars　a　day　for　a　man　and　horse；　which　was　promptly　accepted；　when　the　question　naturally　arose　who　would　stand　sponsor　for　the　wages。　Dave　backed　off　some　distance；　and　standing　on　his　left　foot；　pulled　off　his　right　boot；　shaking　out　a　roll　of　money　on　the　floor。

〃There's　the　long　green；　boys；〃　said　he；　〃and　you　fellows　can　name　your　own　banker。　I'll　make　it　up　a　thousand；　and　whoever　you　say　goes　with　me。　Shall　it　be　the　sheriff；　or　Mr。　Retallac；　or　the　proprietor　of　the　Stock　Exchange？〃

Sheriff　Wherry　interfered；　relieving　the　embarrassment　in　appointing　a　receiver；　and　vouched　that　these　two　Texans　were　good　for　any　reasonable　sum。　The　buffalo　hunters　approved；　apologizing　to　Sponsilier；　as　he　pulled　on　his　boot；　for　questioning　his　financial　standing；　and　swearing　allegiance　in　every　breath。　An　hour's　time　was　granted　in　which　to　saddle　and　make　ready；　during　which　we　had　a　long　chat　with　Sheriff　Wherry　and　found　him　a　valuable　ally。　He　had　cattle　interests　in　the　country；　and　when　the　hunters　appeared；　fifteen　strong；　he　mounted　his　horse　and　accompanied　us　several　miles　on　the　way。　〃Now；　boys；〃　said　he；　at　parting；　〃I'll　keep　an　eye　over　things　around　town；　and　if　anything　important　happens；　I'll　send　a　courier　with　the　news。　If　those　shorthorns　attempt　to　offer　any　opposition；　I'll　run　a　blazer　on　them；　and　if　necessary　I'll　jug　the　pair。　You　fellows　just　buffalo　the　herds；　and　the　sheriff's　office　will　keep　cases　on　any　happenings　around　Glendive。　It's　understood　that　night　or　day　your　camp　can　be　found　on　Cabin　Creek；　opposite　the　old　eagle　tree。　Better　send　me　word　as　soon　as　the　herds　arrive。　Good　luck　to　you；　lads。〃

Neither　wagons　nor　guards　were　even　sighted　during　our　three　hours'　ride　to　the　appointed　campground。　On　our　arrival　tents　were　being　pitched　and　men　were　dragging　up　wood；　while　the　cooks　were　busily　preparing　a　late　dinner；　the　station　being　fully　fifteen　miles　south　of　the　railroad。　Scouts　were　thrown　out　during　the　afternoon；　corrals　built；　and　evening　found　the　quarantine　camp　well　established　for　the　comfort　of　its　ninety…odd　men。　The　buffalo　hunters　were　given　special　attention　and　christened　the　〃Sponsilier　Guards；〃　they　took　again　to　outdoor　life　as　in　the　old　days。　The　report　of　the　scouts　was　satisfactory；　all　three　of　the　herds　had　been　seen　and　would　arrive　on　schedule　time。　A　hush　of　expectancy　greeted　this　news；　but　Sponsilier　and　I　ridiculed　the　idea　that　there　would　he　any　opposition；　except　a　big　talk　and　plenty　of　bluffing。

〃Well；　if　that's　what　they　rely　on；〃　said　Captain　Retallac；　〃then　they're　as　good　as　in　quarantine　this　minute。　If　you　feel　certain　they　can't　get　help　from　Fort　Keogh　a　second　time；　those　herds　will　be　our　guests　until　further　orders。　What　we　want　to　do　now　is　to　spike　every　possible　chance　for　their　getting　any　help；　and　the　matter　will　pass　over　like　a　summer　picnic。　If　you　boys　think　there's　any　danger　of　an　appeal　to　Fort　Buford；　the　military　authorities　want　to　be　notified　that　the　Yellowstone　Valley　has　quarantined　against　Texas　fever　and　asks　their　cooperation　in　enforcing　the　same。〃

〃I　can　fix　that；〃　replied　Sponsilier。　〃We　have　lawyers　at　Buford　right　now；　and　I　can　wire　them　the　situation　fully　in　the　morning。　If　they　rely　on　the　military；　they　will　naturally　appeal　to　the　nearest　post；　and　if　Keogh　and　Buford　turn　them　down；　the　next　ones　are　on　the　Missouri　River；　and　at　that　distance　cavalry　couldn't　reach　here　within　ten　days。　Oh；　I　think　we've　got　a　grapevine　twist　on　them　this　time。〃

Sponsilier　sat　up　half　the　night　wording　a　message　to　our　attorneys　at　Fort　Buford。　The　next　morning　found　me　bright　and　early　on　the　road　to　Glendive　with　the　dispatch；　the　sending　of　which　would　deplete　my　cash　on　hand　by　several　dollars；　but　what　did　we　care　for　expense　when　we　had　the　money　and　orders　…to　spend　it？　I　regretted　my　absence　from　the　quarantine　camp；　as　I　was　anxious　to　be　present　on　the　arrival　of　the　herds；　and　again　watch　the　〃major…domo〃　run　on　the　rope　and　fume　and　charge　in　vain。　But　the　importance　of　blocking　assistance　was　so　urgent　that　I　would　gladly　have　ridden　to　Buford　if　necessary。　In　that　bracing　atmosphere　it　was　a　fine　morning　for　the　ride；　and　I　was　rapidly　crossing　the　country；　when　a　vehicle；　in　the　dip　of　the　plain；　was　sighted　several　miles　ahead。　I　was　following　no　road；　but　when　the　driver　of　the　conveyance　saw　me　he　turned　across　my　front　and　signaled。　On　meeting　the　rig；　I　could　hardly　control　myself　from　laughing　outright；　for　there　on　the　rear　seat　sat　Field　and　Radcliff；　extremely　gruff　and　uncongenial。　Common　courtesies　were　exchanged　between　the　driver　and　myself；　and　I　was　able　to　answer　clearly　his　leading　questions：　Yes；　the　herds　would　reach　Cabin　Creek　before　noon；　the　old　eagle　tree；　which　could　be　seen　from　the　first　swell　of　the　plain　beyond；　marked　the　quarantine　camp；　and　it　was　the　intention　to　isolate　the　herds　on　the　South　Fork　of　Cabin。　〃Drive　on；〃　said　a　voice；　and；　in　the　absence　of　any　gratitude　expressed；　I　inwardly　smiled　in　reward。

I　was　detained　in　Glendive　until　late　in　the　day；　waiting　for　an　acknowledgment　of　the　message。　Sheriff　Wherry　informed　me　that　the　only　move　attempted　on　the　part　of　the　shorthorn　drovers　was　the　arrest　of　Sponsilier　and　myself；　on　the　charge　of　being　accomplices　in　the　shooting　of　one　of　their　men　on　the　North　Platte。　But　the　sheriff　had　assured　the　gentlemen　that　our　detention　would　have　no　effect　on　quarantining　their　cattle；　and　the　matter　was　taken　under　advisement　and　dropped。　It　was　late　when　I　started　for　camp　that　evening。　The　drovers　had　returned；　accompanied　by　their　superintendent；　and　were　occupying　the　depot；　burning　the　wires　in　every　direction。　I　was　risking　no　chances；　and　cultivated　the　company　of　Sheriff　Wherry　until　the　acknowledgment　arrived；　when　he　urged　me　to　ride　One　of　his　horses　in　returning　to　camp；　and　insisted　on　my　taking　a　carbine。　Possibly　this　was　fortunate；　for　before　I　had　ridden　one　third　the　distance　to　the　quarantine　camp；　I　met　a　cavalcade　of　nearly　a　dozen　men　from　the　isolated　herds。　When　they　halted　and　inquired　the　distance　to　Glendive；　one　of　their　number　recognized　me　as　having　been　among　the　quarantine　guards　at　Powderville。　I　admitted　that　I　was　there；　turning　my　horse　so　that　the　carbine　fell　to　my　hand；　and　politely　asked　if　any　one　had　any　objections。　It　seems　that　no　one　had；　and　after　a　few　commonplace　inquiries　were　exchanged；　we　passed　on　our　way。

There　was　great　rejoicing　on　Cabin　Creek　that　night。　Songs　were　sung；　and　white　navy　beans　passed　current　in　numerous　poker…games　until　the　small　hours　of　morning。　There　had　been　nothing　dramatic　in　the　meeting　between　the　herds　and　the　quarantine　guards；　the　latter　force　having　been　augmented　by　visiting　ranchmen　and　their　help；　until　protest　would　have　been　useless。　A　routine　of　work　had　been　outlined；　much　stricter　than　at　Powderville；　and　a　surveillance　of　the　camps　was　constantly　maintained。　Not　that　there　was　any　danger　of　escape；　but　to　see　that　the　herds　occupied　the　country　allotted　to　them；　and　did　not　pollute　any　more　territory　than　was　necessary。　The　Sponsilier　Guards　were　given　an　easy　day　shift；　and　held　a　circle　of　admirers　at　night；　recounting　and　living　over　again　〃the　good　old　days。〃　Visitors　from　either　side　of　the　Yellowstone　were　early　callers；　and　during　the　afternoon　the　sheriff　from　Glendive　arrived。　I　did　not　know　until　then　that　Mr。　Wherry　was　a　candidate　for　reelection　tha