the outlet-第13节
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y； I got my bearings。 By my reasoning； if the river yesterday was south of camp； this morning the wagon must be north of the river； so I headed in that direction。 Somehow or other I stopped my horse on the first little knoll； and looking back towards the bottom； I saw in a horseshoe which the river made a large bunch of cattle。 Of course I knew that all herds near about were through cattle and under herd； and the absence of any men in sight aroused my curiosity。 I concluded to investigate it； and riding back found over five hundred head of the cattle we had lost the night before。 'Here's a chance to make a record with my new boss；' I said to myself； and circling in behind； began drifting them out of the bottoms towards the uplands。 By ten o'clock I had got them to the first divide； when who should ride up but the owner； the old cowman himselfthe sure enough big auger。
〃'Well； son；' said my boss； 'you held some of them； didn't you？''yes；' I replied； surly as I could； giving him a mean look； 'I've nearly ridden this horse to death； holding this bunch all night。 If I had only had a good man or two with me； we could have caught twice as many。 What kind of an outfit are you working； anyhow； Captain？' And at dinner that day； the boss pointed me out to the others and said； 'That little fellow standing over there with the button shoes on is the only man in my outfit that is worth a 。'〃
The cook had finished his work； and now joined the circle。 Parent began regaling us with personal experiences； in which it was evident that he would prove the hero。 Fortunately； however； we were spared listening to his self…laudation。 Dorg Seay and Tim Stanley； bunkies； engaged in a friendly scuffle； each trying to make the other get a firebrand for his pipe。 In the tussle which followed； we were all compelled to give way or get trampled underfoot。 When both had exhausted themselves in vain； we resumed our places around the fire。 Parent； who was disgusted over the interruption； on resuming his seat refused to continue his story at the request of the offenders； replying； 〃The more I see of you two varmints the more you remind me of mule colts。〃
Once the cook refused to pick up the broken thread of his story； John Levering； our horse…wrangler； preempted the vacated post。 〃I was over in Louisiana a few winters ago with a horse herd；〃 said John； 〃and had a few experiences。 Of all the simple people that I ever met； the 'Cajin' takes the bakery。 You'll meet darkies over there that can't speak a word of anything but French。 It's nothing to see a cow and mule harnessed together to a cart。 One day on the road； I met a man； old enough to be my father； and inquired of him how far it was to the parish centre； a large town。 He didn't know； except it was a long； long ways。 He had never been there； but his older brother； once when he was a young man； had been there as a witness at court。 The brother was dead now； but if he was living and present； it was quite possible that he would remember the distance。 The best information was that it was a very long ways off。 I rode it in the mud in less than two hours； just about ten miles。
〃But that wasn't a circumstance to other experiences。 We had driven about three hundred horses and mules； and after disposing of over two thirds of them； my employer was compelled to return home； leaving me to dispose of the remainder。 I was a fair salesman； and rather than carry the remnant of the herd with me； made headquarters with a man who owned a large cane…brake pasture。 It was a convenient stopping…place； and the stock did well on the young cane。 Every week I would drive to some distant town eighteen or twenty head； or as many as I could handle alone。 Sometimes I would sell out in a few days； and then again it would take me longer。 But when possible I always made it a rule to get back to my headquarters to spend Sunday。 The owner of the cane…brake and his wife were a simple couple； and just a shade or two above the Arcadians。 But they had a daughter who could pass muster； and she took quite a shine to the 'Texas…Hoss…Man；' as they called me。 I reckon you understand now why I made that headquarters？there were other reasons besides the good pasturage。
〃Well； the girl and her mother both could read； but I have some doubt about the old man on that score。 They took no papers； and the nearest approach to a book in the house was an almanac three years old。 The women folks were ravenous for something to read； and each time on my return after selling out； I'd bring them a whole bundle of illustrated papers and magazines。 About my fourth return after more horses；I was mighty near one of the family by that time；when we were all seated around the fire one night； the women poring over the papers and admiring the pictures； the old man inquired what the news was over in the parish where I had recently been。 The only thing that I could remember was the suicide of a prominent man。 After explaining the circumstances； I went on to say that some little bitterness arose over his burial。 Owing to his prominence it was thought permission would be given to bury him in the churchyard。 But it seems there was some superstition about permitting a self…murderer to be buried in the same field as decent folks。 It was none of my funeral； and I didn't pay overmuch attention to the matter； but the authorities refused； and they buried him just outside the grounds； in the woods。
〃My host and I discussed the matter at some length。 He contended that if the man was not of sound mind； he should have been given his little six feet of earth among the others。 A horse salesman has to be a good second…rate talker； and being anxious to show off before the girl； I differed with her father。 The argument grew spirited yet friendly； and I appealed to the women in supporting my view。 My hostess was absorbed at the time in reading a sensational account of a woman shooting her betrayer。 The illustrations covered a whole page； and the girl was simply burning； at short range； the shirt from off her seducer。 The old lady was bogged to the saddle skirts in the story； when I interrupted her and inquired；'mother； what do you think ought to be done with a man who commits suicide？' She lowered the paper just for an instant； and looking over her spectacles at me replied； 'Well； I think any man who would do THAT ought to be made to support the child。'〃
No comment was offered。 Our wrangler arose and strolled away from the fire under the pretense of repicketing his horse。 It was nearly time for the guards to change； and giving the last watch orders to point the herd； as they left the bed…ground in the morning； back on an angle towards the trail； I prepared to turn in。 While I was pulling off my boots in the act of retiring； Clay Zilligan rode in from the herd to call the relief。 The second guard were bridling their horses； and as Zilligan dismounted； he said to the circle of listeners； 〃Didn't I tell you fellows that there was another herd just ahead of us？ I don't care if they didn't pass up the trail since we ye been laying over； they are there just the same。 Of course you can't see their camp…fire from here； but it's in plain view from the bed…ground； and not over four or five miles away。 If I remember rightly； there's a local trail comes in from the south of the Wichita River； and joins the Chisholm just ahead。 And what's more； that herd was there at nine o'clock this morning； and they haven't moved a peg since。 Well； there's two lads out there waiting to be relieved； and you second guard know where the cattle are bedded。〃
CHAPTER VI。 CAMP SUPPLY
In gala spirits we broke camp the next morning。 The herd had left the bed…ground at dawn； and as the outfit rode away to relieve the last guard； every mother's son was singing。 The cattle were a refreshing sight as they grazed forward； their ragged front covering half a mile in width。 The rest of the past few days had been a boon to the few tender…footed ones。 The lay…over had rejuvenated both man and beast。 From maps in our possession we knew we were somewhere near the western border of the Chickasaw Nation； while on our left was the reservation of three blanket tribes of Indians。 But as far as signs of occupancy were concerned； the country was unmarked by any evidence of civilization。 The Chisholm Cattle Trail； which ran from Red River to the Kansas line； had almost fallen into disuse； owing to encroachments of settlements south of the former and westward on the latter。 With the advancement of immigration； Abilene and Ellsworth as trail terminals yielded to the tide； and the leading cattle trace of the '70's was relegated to local use in '84。
The first guard was on the qui vive for the outfit whose camp…fire they had sighted the night before。 I was riding with Clay Zilligan on the left point； when he sighted what we supposed was a small bunch of cattle lying down several miles distant。 When we reached the first rise of ground； a band of saddle horses came in view； and while we were trying to locate their camp； Jack Splann from the opposite point attracted our attention and pointed straight ahead。 There a large band of cattle under herd greeted our view； compelling us to veer to the right and intersect the trail sooner than we in
