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ry　to　furnish　an　escort　for　this　man　and　his　herds　beyond　the　boundaries　of　this　military　reservation。〃　Looking　Lovell　in　the　face；　he　said：　〃You　have　justly　merited　a　severe　punishment；　and　I　shall　report　your　reflections　to　the　War　and　Indian　departments；　and　you　may　find　it　more　difficult　to　secure　contracts　in　the　future。　One　of　you　officers　detail　men　and　take　charge　of　this　man　until　the　escort　is　ready。　The　inquiry　is　adjourned。〃



CHAPTER　XXIV。　THE　WINTER　OF　OUR　DISCONTENT

The　inquiry　was　over　before　noon。　A　lieutenant　detailed　a　few　men　and　made　a　pretense　of　taking　possession　of　Lovell。　But　once　the　special　commissioner　was　out　of　sight；　the　farce　was　turned　into　an　ovation；　and　nearly　every　officer　in　the　post　came　forward　and　extended　his　sympathy。　Old　man　Don　was　visibly　affected　by　the　generous　manifestations　of　the　military　men　in　general；　and　after　thanking　each　one　personally；　urged　that　no　unnecessary　demonstration　should　be　made；　begging　that　the　order　of　escort　beyond　the　boundary　of　the　reservation　be　countermanded。　No　one　present　cared　to　suggest　it；　but　gave　assurance　that　it　would　be　so　modified　as　not　in　any　way　to　interfere　with　the　natural　movement　of　the　herds。　Some　little　time　would　be　required　to　outfit　the　forage…wagons　to　accommodate　the　cavalry　companies；　during　which　my　brother　rode　up；　leading　Lovell's　horse；　permission　was　given　to　leave　in　advance　of　the　escort；　and　we　all　mounted　and　quietly　rode　away。

The　sudden　turn　of　affairs　had；　disconcerted　every　man　in　the　three　outfits。　Just　what　the　next　move　would　be　was　conjecture　with　most　of　us；　though　every　lad　present　was　anxious　to　know。　But　when　we　were　beyond　the　immediate　grounds；　Lovell　turned　in　his　saddle　and　asked　which　one　of　us　foremen　wanted　to　winter　in　the　North。　No　one　volunteered；　and　old　man　Don　continued：　〃Anticipating　the　worst；　I　had　a　long　talk　this　morning　with　Sanders；　and　he　assured　me　that　our　cattle　would　go　through　any　winter　without　serious　loss。　He　suggested　the　Little　Missouri　as　a　good　range；　and　told　me　of　a　hay　ranch　below　the　mouth　of　the　Beaver。　If　it　can　be　bought　reasonably；　we　would　have　forage　for　our　horses；　and　the　railroad　is　said　to　be　not　over　forty　miles　to　the　south。　If　the　government　can　afford　to　take　the　risk　of　wintering　cattle　in　this　climate；　since　there　is　no　other　choice；　I　reckon　I'll　have　to　follow　suit。　Bob　and　I　will　take　fresh　horses　and　ride　through　to　the　Beaver　this　afternoon；　and　you　fellows　follow　up　leisurely　with　the　cattle。　Sanders　says　the　winters　are　dry　and　cold；　with　very　little　if　any　snowfall。　Well；　we're　simply　up　against　it；　there's　no　hope　of　selling　this　late　in　the　season；　and　nothing　is　left　ns　but　to　face　the　music　of　a　Northern　winter。〃

As　we　turned　in　to　ford　the　Missouri；　some　one　called　attention　to　a　cavalry　company　riding　out　from　their　quarters　at　the　post。　We　halted　a　moment；　and　as　the　first　one　entered　the　road；　the　second　one　swung　into　view；　followed　by　foragewagons。　From　maps　in　our　possession　we　knew　the　southern　boundary　of　the　Fort　Buford　military　reservation　must　be　under　twenty　miles　to　the　south；　and　if　necessary；　we　could　put　it　behind　us　that　afternoon。　But　after　crossing　the　river；　and　when　the　two　troops　again　came　in　view；　they　had　dropped　into　a　walk；　passing　entirely　out　of　sight　long　before　we　reached　Forrest's　camp。　Orders　were　left　with　the　latter　to　take　the　lead　and　make　a　short　drive　that　evening；　at　least　far　enough　to　convince　observers　that　we　were　moving。　The　different　outfits　dropped　out　as　their　wagons　were　reached；　and　when　my　remuda　was　sighted；　old　man　Don　ordered　it　brought　in　for　a　change　of　horses。　One　of　the　dayherders　was　at　camp　getting　dinner；　and　inviting　themselves　to　join　him；　my　employer　and　my　brother　helped　themselves　while　their　saddles　were　shifted　to　two　of　my　well…rested　mounts。　Inquiry　had　been　made　of　all　three　of　the　outfits　if　any　ranch　had　been　sighted　on　the　Beaver　while　crossing　that　creek；　but　the　only　recollection　among　the　forty…odd　men　was　that　of　Burl　Van　Vedder；　who　contended　that　a　dim　trail；　over　which　horses　had　passed　that　summer；　ran　down　on　the　south　side　of　the　stream。

With　this　meagre　information　Lovell　and　my　brother　started。　A　late　dinner　over　and　the　herders　relieved；　we　all　rode　for　the　nearest　eminence　which　would　afford　us　a　view。　The　cavalry　were　just　going　into　camp　below　O'Brien's　ranch；　their　foragetrain　in　sight；　while　Forrest's　cattle　were　well　bunched　and　heading　south。　Sponsilier　was　evidently　going　to　start；　as　his　team　was　tied　up　and　the　saddle　stock　in　hand；　while　the　herd　was　crossing　over　to　the　eastern　side　of　the　Yellowstone。　We　dismounted　and　lay　around　for　an　hour　or　so；　when　the　greater　portion　of　the　boys　left　to　help　in　the　watering　of　our　herd；　the　remainder　of　us　doing　outpost　duty。　Forrest　had　passed　out　of　sight；　Sponsilier's　wagon　and　remuda　crossed　opposite　us；　going　up　the　valley；　followed　by　his　cattle　in　loose　grazing　order；　and　still　we　loitered　on　the　hill。　But　towards　evening　I　rode　down　to　where　the　cavalry　was　encamped；　and　before　I　had　conversed　very　long　with　the　officers；　it　was　clear　to　me　that　the　shorter　our　moves　the　longer　it　would　extend　their　outing。　Before　I　left　the　soldier　camp；　Sanders　arrived；　and　as　we　started　away　together；　I　sent　him　back　to　tell　the　officers　to　let　me　know　any　time　they　could　use　half　a　beef。　On　reaching　our　wagon；　the　boys　were　just　corralling　the　saddle　stock　for　their　night…horses；　when　Sanders　begged　me　to　sell　him　two　which　had　caught　his　fancy。　I　dared　not　offer　them；　but　remembering　the　fellow's　faithful　service　in　our　behalf；　and　that　my　employer　expected　to　remember　him；　I　ordered　him　to　pick；　with　Don　Lovell's　compliments；　any　horse　in　the　remuda　as　a　present。

The　proposition　stunned　Sanders；　but　I　insisted　that　if　old　man　Don　was　there；　he　would　make　him　take　something。　He　picked　a　good　horse　out　of　my　mount　and　stayed　until　morning；　when　he　was　compelled　to　return；　as　the　probabilities　were　that　they　would　receive　the　other　cattle　some　time　during　the　day。　After　breakfast；　and　as　he　was　starting　to　return；　he　said；　〃Well；　boys；　tell　the　old　man　that　I　don't　expect　ever　to　be　able　to　return　his　kindness；　though　I'd　ride　a　thousand　miles　for　the　chance。　One　thing　sure；　there　isn't　a　man　in　Dakota　who　has　money　enough　to　tempt　me　to　part　with　my　pelon。　If　you　locate　down　on　the　Little　Missouri；　drop　me　a　line　where　you　are　at；　and　if　Lovell　wants　four　good　men；　I　can　let　him　have　them　about　the　first　of　December。　You　through　lads　are　liable　to　be　seared　over　the　coming　winter；　and　a　few　acclimated　ones　will　put　backbone　in　his　outfit。　And　tell　the　old　man　that　if　I　can　ever　do　him　a　good　turn　just　to　snap　his　fingers　and　I'll　quit　the　governmenthe's　a　few　shades　whiter　than　it；　anyhow。〃

The　herd　had　already　left　the　bed…ground；　headed　south。　About　five　miles　above　O'Brien's；　we　recrossed　to　the　eastern　side　of　the　Yellowstone；　and　for　the　next　three　days　moved　short　distances；　the　military　always　camped　well　in　our　rear。　The　fourth　morning　I　killed　a　beef；　a　forage…wagon　came　forward　and　took　half　of　it　back　to　the　cavalry　camp　with　our　greetings　and　farewell；　and　we　parted　company。　Don　Lovell　met　us　about　noon；　elated　as　a　boy　over　his　purchase　of　the　hay　ranch。　My　brother　had　gone　on　to　the　railroad　and　thence　by　train　to　Miles　City　to　meet　his　remuda　and　outfit。　〃Boys；　I　have　bought　you　a　new　home；〃　was　the　greeting　of　old　man　Don；　as　he　dismounted　at　our　noon　camp。　〃There's　a　comfortable　dugout；　stabling　for　about　ten　horses；　and　seventy…five　tons　of　good　hay　in　the　stack。　The　owner　was　homesick　to　get　back　to　God's　country；　and　he'll　give　us　possession　in　ten　days。　Bob　will　be　in　Little　Missouri　to…day　and　order　us　a　car　of　sacked　corn　from　Omaha；　and　within　a　month　we'll　be　as　snug　as　they　are　down　in　old　Medina。　Bob's　outfit　will　go　home　from　Miles；　and　if　he　can't　sell　his　remuda　he'll　bring　it　up　here。　Two　of　these　outfits　can　start　back　in　a　few　days；　and　afterward　the　camp　will　be　reduced　to　ten　men。〃

Two　days　later　Forrest　veered　off　and　turned　his　cattle　loose　below　the　junction　of　the　Beaver　with　the　Little　Missouri。　Sponsilier　crossed　the　former；　scattering　his　beeves　both　up　and　down　the　latter；　while　I　cut　mine　into　a　dozen　bunches　and　likewise　freed　them　along　the　creek。　The　range　was　about　ten　miles　in　length　along　the　river；　and　a　camp　was　established　at　either　end　where　men　would　be　stationed　until　the　beeves　were　located。　The　commissaries　had　run　low；　there　was　a　quiet　rivalry　as　to　which　outfits　should　go　home；　and　we　all　waited　with　bated　breath　for　the　final　word。　I　had　Dorg　Seay　secretly　inform　my　employer　that　I　had　given　Sanders　a　horse　without　his　permission；　hoping　that　it　might　displease　him。　But　the　others　pointed　out　the　fact　that　my　outfit　had　far　the　best　remuda；　and　that　it　would　require　well…mounted　men　to　locate　and　hold　that　number　of　cattle　through　the　winter。　Old　man　Don　listened　to　them　all；　and　the　next　morning；　as　all　three　of　us　foremen　were　outlining　certain　improvements　about　the　hay　ranch　with　him；　he　turned　tb　me　and　said：

〃Tom；　I　hear　you　gave　Sanders　a　horse。　Well；　that　was　all　right；　although　it　strikes　me　you　were　rather　liberal　in　giving　him　the　pick　of　a　choice　remuda。　But　it　may　all　come　right　in　the　long　run；　as　Bob　and　I　have　decided　to　leave　you　and　your　outfit　to　hold　these　cattle　this　winter。　So　divide　your　men　and　send　half　of　them　down　to　Quince's　camp；　and　have　your　cook　and　wrangler　come　over　to　Dave's　wagon　to　bring　back　provision　and　the　horses；　as　we'll　start　for　the　railroad　in　the　morning。　I　may　not　come　back；　but　Bob　will；　and　he'll　see　that　you　are　well　fixed　for　the　winter　before　he　goes　home。　After　he　leaves；　I　want　you　to　write　me　every　chance　you　have　to　send　a　letter　to　the　railroad。　Now；　I　don't　want　any　grumbling　out　of　you　or　your　men；　you're　a　disgrace　to　the　state　that　raised　you　if　you　can't　handle　cattle　anywhere　that　any　other　man　can。〃

I　felt　all　along　it　would　fall　to　me；　the　youngest　of　six　foremen；　and　my　own　dear　brother　consigning　me　to　a　winter　in　the　North；　while　he　would　bask　in　the　sunshine　of　our　own　sunny　South！　It　was　hard　to　face；　but　I　remembered　that　the　fall　before　it　had　been　my　lot　to