the outlet-第10节
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yet gifted with a sunny disposition which atoned for his numerous mistakes。
With the Blue Mountains as our guiding star； we kept to the westward of that landmark； crossing the Llano River opposite some Indian mounds。 On reaching the divide between this and the next water； we sighted two dust…clouds to the westward。 They were ten to fifteen miles distant； but I was anxious to hear any word of Sponsilier or Forrest； and sent Jake Blair to make a social call。 He did not return until the next day； and reported the first herd as from the mouth of the Pecos； and the more distant one as belonging to Jesse Presnall。 Blair had stayed all night with the latter； and while its foreman was able to locate at least a dozen trail herds in close proximity； our two from Uvalde had neither been seen nor heard of。 Baffled again； necessity compelled us to turn within touch of some outfitting point。 The staples of life were running low in our commissary； no opportunity having presented itself to obtain a new supply since we left the ranch in Medina over a month before。 Consequently； after crossing the San Saba； we made our first tack to the eastward。
Brady City was an outfitting point for herds on the old western trail。 On coming opposite that frontier village； Parent and I took the wagon and went in after supplies； leaving the herd on its course； paralleling the former route。 They had instructions to camp on Brady Creek that night。 On reaching the supply point； there was a question if we could secure the simple staples needed。 The drive that year had outstripped all calculations； some half…dozen chuck…wagons being in waiting for the arrival of a freight outfit which was due that morning。 The nearest railroad was nearly a hundred miles to the eastward； and all supplies must be freighted in by mule and ox teams。 While waiting for the freight wagons； which were in sight several miles distant； I made inquiry of the two outfitting stores if our Buford herds had passed。 If they had； no dealings had taken place on the credit of Don Lovell； though both merchants knew him well。 Before the freight outfit arrived； some one took Abb Blocker； a trail foreman for his brother John； to task for having an odd ox in his wheel team。 The animal was a raw； unbroken 〃TL〃 bull； surly and chafing under the yoke； and attracted general attention。 When several friends of Blocker； noticing the brand； began joking him； he made this explanation： 〃No； I don't claim him； but he came into my herd the other night and got to hossing my steers around。 We couldn't keep him out； and I thought if he would just go along； why we'd put him under the yoke and let him hoss that chuck…wagon to amuse himself。 One of my wheelers was getting a little tenderfooted； anyhow。〃
On the arrival of the freight outfit； short shift was made in transferring a portion of the cargo to the waiting chuck…wagons。 As we expected to reach Abilene； a railroad point； within a week； we took on only a small stock of staple supplies。 Having helped ourselves； the only delay was in getting a clerk to look over our appropriation； make out an itemized bill； and receive a draft on my employer。 When finally the merchant in person climbed into our wagon and took a list of the articles； Parent started back to overtake the herd。 I remained behind several hours； chatting with the other foremen。
None of the other trail bosses had seen anything of Lovell's other herds； though they all knew him personally or by reputation； and inquired if he was driving again in the same road brand。 By general agreement； in case of trouble； we would pick up each other's cattle； and from half a cent to a cent a head was considered ample remuneration in buying water in Texas。 Owing to the fact that many drovers had shipped to Red River； it was generally believed that there would be no congestion of cattle south of that point。 All herds were then keeping well to the westward； some even declaring their intention to go through the Panhandle until the Canadian was reached。
Two days later we came into the main trail at the crossing of the Colorado River。 Before we reached it； several ominous dust…clouds hung on our right for hours； while beyond the river were others； indicating the presence of herds。 Summer weather had already set in； and during the middle of the day the glare of heat…waves and mirages obstructed our view of other wayfarers like ourselves； but morning and evening we were never out of sight of their signals。 The banks of the river at the ford were trampled to the level of the water； while at both approach and exit the ground was cut into dust。 On our arrival； the stage of water was favorable； and we crossed without a halt of herd； horses； or commissary。 But there was little inducement to follow the old trail。 Washed into ruts by the seasons； the grass on either side eaten away for miles； there was a look of desolation like that to be seen in the wake of an army。 As we felt under obligations to touch at Abilene within a few days； there was a constant skirmish for grass within a reasonable distance of the trail； and we were early； fully two thirds of the drive being in our rear。 One sultry morning south of Buffalo Gap； as we were grazing past the foot of Table Mountain； several of us rode to the summit of that butte。 From a single point of observation we counted twelve herds within a space of thirty miles both south and north； all moving in the latter direction。
When about midway between the Gap and the railroad we were met at noon one day by Don Lovell。 This was his first glimpse of my herd； and his experienced eye took in everything from a broken harness to the peeling and legibility of the road brand。 With me the condition of the cattle was the first requisite； but the minor details as well as the more important claimed my employer's attention。 When at last； after riding with the herd for an hour； he spoke a few words of approbation on the condition； weight； and uniformity of the beeves； I felt a load lifted from my shoulders。 That the old man was in a bad humor on meeting us was evident； but as he rode along beside the cattle； lazy and large as oxen； the cockles of his heart warmed and he grew sociable。 Near the middle of the afternoon； as we were in the rear； looking over the drag steers； he complimented me on having the fewest tender…footed animals of any herd that had passed Abilene since his arrival。 Encouraged； I ventured the double question as to how this one would average with the other Buford herds； and did he know their whereabouts。 As I recall his reply； it was that all Nueces Valley cattle were uniform； and if there was any difference it was due to carelessness in receiving。 In regard to the locality of the other herds； it was easily to be seen that he was provoked about something。
〃Yes； I know where they are；〃 said he； snappishly； 〃but that's all the good it does me。 They crossed the railroad； west； at Sweetwater； about a week ago。 I don't blame Quince； for he's just trailing along； half a day behind Dave's herd。 But Sponsilier； knowing that I wanted to see him； had the nerve to write me a postal card with just ten words on it； saying that all was well and to meet him in Dodge。 Tom； you don't know what a satisfaction it is to me to spend a day or so with each of the herds。 But those rascals didn't pay any more attention to me than if I was an old woman。 There was some reason for itsore…footed cattle； or else they have skinned up their remudas and didn't want me to see them。 If I drive a hundred herds hereafter； Dave Sponsilier will stay at home as far as I'm concerned。 He may think it's funny to slip past； but this court isn't indulging in any levity just at present。 I fail to see the humor in having two outfits with sixty…seven hundred cattle somewhere between the Staked Plain and No…Man's…Land； and unable to communicate with them。 And while my herds are all contracted； mature beeves have broke from three to five dollars a head in price since these started； and it won't do to shout before we're out of the woods。 Those fool boys don't know that； and I can't get near enough to tell them。〃
I knew better than to ask further questions or offer any apologies for others。 My employer was naturally irritable； and his abuse or praise of a foreman was to be expected。 Previously and under the smile of prosperity； I had heard him laud Sponsilier； and under an imaginary shadow abuse Jim Flood； the most experienced man in his employ。 Feeling it was useless to pour oil on the present troubled waters； I excused myself； rode back； and ordered the wagon to make camp ahead about four miles on Elm Creek。 We watered late in the afternoon； grazing thence until time to bed the herd。 When the first and second guards were relieved to go in and catch night…horses and get their supper； my employer remained behind with the cattle。 While feeding during the evening； we allowed the herd to scatter over a thousand acres。 Taking advantage of the loose order of the beeves； the old man rode back and forth through them until approaching darkness compelled us to throw them together on the bedground。 Even after the first guard took charge； the drover loitered behind； reluctant to leave until the last steer had lain down； and all during the night； s
