the outlet-第21节
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sed me to ignore any legal process served outside those bounds。 He was impatient to get away； and when he had put me in possession of everything to our advantage； we wrung each other's hands in farewell。 As the drive outlined by the cattle buyers would absorb the day； I felt no necessity of being in a hurry。 The absence of Dorg Seay was annoying； and the fellow had done us such valiant service； I felt in honor bound to secure his release。 Accordingly I wired the city marshal at Kinsley； and received a reply that Seay had been released early that morning； and had started overland for Dodge。 This was fortunate； and after settling all bills； I offered to pay the liveryman in advance for the rig in Seay's possession； assuring him by the telegram that it would return that evening。 He refused to make any settlement until the condition of both the animal and the conveyance bad been passed upon； and fearful lest Dorg should come back moneyless； I had nothing to do but await his return。 I was growing impatient to reach camp； there being no opportunity to send word to amy outfit； and the passing hours seemed days； when late in the afternoon Dorg Seay drove down the main street of Dodge as big as a government beef buyer。 The liveryman was pleased and accepted the regular rate； and Dorg and I were soon galloping out of town。 As we neared the first divide； we dropped our horses into a walk to afford them a breathing spell； and in reply to my fund of information； Seay said：
〃So Tolleston's telling that he licked me。 Well； that's a good one on this one of old man Seay's boys。 Archie must have been crazy with the heat。 The fact is that he had been trying to quit me for several days。 We had exhausted every line of dissipation； and when I decided that it was no longer possible to hold him； I insulted and provoked him into a quarrel； and we were both arrested。 Licked me； did he？ He couldn't lick his upper lip。〃
CHAPTER IX。 AT SHERIFF'S CREEK
The sun had nearly set when we galloped into Bob Quirk's camp。 Halting only long enough to advise my brother of the escape of Tolleston and his joining the common enemy； I asked him to throw any pursuit off our trail； as I proposed breaking camp that evening。 Seay and myself put behind us the few miles between the two wagons； and dashed up to mine just as the outfit were corralling the remuda for night…horses。 Orders rang out； and instead of catching our regular guard mounts； the boys picked the best horses in their strings。 The cattle were then nearly a mile north of camp； coming in slowly towards the bed…ground； but a half…dozen of us rushed away to relieve the men on herd and turn the beeves back。 The work…mules were harnessed in； and as soon as the relieved herders secured mounts； our camp of the past few days was abandoned。 The twilight of evening was upon us； and to the rattling of the heavily loaded wagon and the shouting of the wrangler in our rear were added the old herd songs。 The cattle； without trail or trace to follow； and fit ransom for a dozen kings in pagan ages； moved north as if imbued with the spirit of the occasion。
A fair moon favored us。 The night was an ideal one for work； and about twelve o'clock we bedded down the herd and waited for dawn。 As we expected to move again with the first sign of day； no one cared to sleep； our nerves were under a high tension with expectation of what the coming day might bring forth。 Our location was an unknown quantity。 All agreed that we were fully ten miles north of the Saw Log； and； with the best reasoning at my command； outside the jurisdiction of Ford County。 The regular trail leading north was some six or eight miles to the west； and fearful that we had not reached unorganized territory； I was determined to push farther on our course before veering to the left。 The night halt； however； afforded us an opportunity to compare notes and arrive at some definite understanding as to the programme of the forthcoming day。 〃Quirk； you missed the sight of your life；〃 said Jake Blair； as we dismounted around the wagon； after bedding the cattle； 〃by not being there when the discovery was made that these 'Open A's' were Don Lovell's cattle。 Tolleston； of course； made the discovery； but I think he must have smelt the rat in advance。 Archie and the buyers arrived for a late dinner； and several times Tolleston ran his eye over one of the boys and asked； 'Haven't I met you somewhere？' but none of them could recall the meeting。 Then he got to nosing around the wagon and noticing every horse about camp。 The road…brand on the cattle threw him off the scent just for a second； but when he began reading the ranch…brands； he took a new hold。 As he looked over the remuda； the scent seemed to get stronger； and when he noticed the 'Circle Dot' on those work…mules； he opened up and bayed as if he had treed something。 And sure enough he had； for you know； Tom； those calico lead mules belonged in his team last year； and he sw&re he'd know them in hell； brand or no brand。 When Archie announced the outfit； lock； stock； and barrel； as belonging to Don Lovell； the old buyers turned pale as ghosts； and the fat one took off his hat and fanned himself。 That act alone was worth the price of admission。 But when we boys were appealed to； we were innocent and likewise ignorant； claiming that we always understood that the herd belonged to the Marshall estate； but then we were just common hands and not supposed to know the facts in the case。 Tolleston argued one way； and we all pulled the other； so they drove away； looking as if they hoped it wasn't true。 But it was the sight of your life to see that fat fellow fan himself as he kept repeating； 'I thought you boys hurried too much in buying these cattle。'
The guards changed hourly。 No fire was allowed； but Parent set out all the cold food available； and supplementing this with canned goods； we had a midnight lunch。 Dorg Seay regaled the outfit with his recent experience； concealing nothing； and regretfully admitting that his charge had escaped before the work was finished。 A programme was outlined for the morrow； the main feature of which was that； in case of pursuit； we would all tell the same story。 Dawn came between three and four on those June mornings； and with the first streak of gray in the east we divided the outfit and mounted our horses； part riding to push the cattle off their beds and the others to round in the remuda。 Before the herd had grazed out a half…mile； we were overtaken by half the outfit on fresh mounts； who at once took charge of the herd。 When the relieved men had secured horses； I remained behind and assisted in harnessing in the team and gathering the saddle stock； a number of which were missed for lack of proper light。 With the wagon once started； Levering and myself soon had the full remuda in hand and were bringing up the rear in a long； swinging trot。 Before the sun peeped over the eastern horizon； we passed the herd and overtook the wagon； which was bumping along over the uneven prairie。 Ordering the cook to have breakfast awaiting us beyond a divide which crossed our front； I turned back to the herd； now strung out in regular trailing form。 The halt ahead would put us full fifteen miles north of our camp on the Saw Log。 An hour later； as we were scaling the divide； one of the point…men sighted a posse in our rear； coming after us like fiends。 I was riding in the swing at the time； the herd being strung out fully a mile； and on catching first sight of the pursuers； turned and hurried to the rear。 To my agreeable surprise； instead of a sheriff's posse； my brother and five of his men galloped up and overtook us。
〃Well； Tom； it's a good thing you moved last night；〃 said Bob； as he reined in his reeking horse。 〃A deputy sheriff and posse of six men had me under arrest all night； thinking I was the Quirk who had charge of Don Lovell's 'Open A' herd。 Yes； they came to my camp about midnight； and I admitted that my name was Quirk and that we were holding Lovell's cattle。 They guarded me until morning；I slept like an innocent babe myself；when the discovery was made that my herd was in a 'Circle Dot' road…brand instead of an 'Open A；' which their warrant called for。 Besides； I proved by fourteen competent witnesses； who had known me for years； that my name was Robert Burns Quirk。 My outfit told the posse that the herd they were looking for were camped three miles below； but had left during the afternoon before； and no doubt were then beyond their bailiwick。 I gave the posse the horse…laugh； but they all went down the creek； swearing they would trail down that herd of Lovell's。 My cattle are going to follow up this morning； so I thought I'd ride on ahead and be your guest in case there is any fun to…day。〃
The auxiliary was welcomed。 The beeves moved on up the divide like veterans assaulting an intrenchment。 On reaching a narrow mesa on the summit； a northwest breeze met the leaders； and facing it full in the eye； the herd was allowed to tack westward as they went down the farther slope。 This watershed afforded a fine view of the surrounding country； and from its apex I scanned our rear for miles without detecting any sign of animate life。 》From our elevation； the plain dipped away in every direction。 Far to
