the outlet-第24节
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permission； after our work was over； to patronize the sutler's store and buy knick…knacks from the booths。 There was always some little money amongst soldiers； even in prison； and I was occasionally furnished money by my messmates to buy bread from a baker's wagon which was outside the walls。 Well； after I had traded a few times with the baker's boy； I succeeded in corrupting him。 Yes； had him stealing from his employer and selling to me at a discount。 I was a good customer； and being a prisoner； there was no danger of my meeting his employer。 You see the loaves were counted out to him； and he had to return the equivalent or the bread。 At first the bread cost me ten cents for a small loaf； but when I got my scheme working； it didn't cost me five cents for the largest loaves the boy could steal from the bakery。 I worked that racket for several months； and if we hadn't been exchanged； I'd have broke that baker； sure。
〃But the most successful scheme I worked was stealing the kidneys out of beef while we were handling it。 It was some distance from the wharf to the warehouse； and when I'd get a hind quarter of beef on my shoulder； it was an easy trick to burrow my hand through the tallow and get a good grip on the kidney。 Then when I'd throw the quarter down in the warehouse； it would be minus a kidney； which secretly found lodgment in a large pocket in the inside of my shirt。 I was satisfied with one or two kidneys a day when I first worked the trick； but my mess caught on； and then I had to steal by wholesale to satisfy them。 Some days； when the guards were too watchful； I couldn't get very many； and then again when things were lax； 'Elijah's Raven' would get a kidney for each man in our mess。 With the regular allowance of rations and what I could steal； when the Texas troops were exchanged； our mess was ragged enough； but pig…fat； and slick as weasels。 Lord love you； but we were a great mess of thieves。〃
Nearly all of Flood's old men were with him again； several of whom were then in Forrest's camp。 A fight occurred among a group of saddle horses tied to the front wheel of the wagon； among them being the mount of John Officer。 After the belligerents had been quieted； and Officer had removed and tied his horse to a convenient tree； he came over and joined our group； among which were the six trail bosses。 Throwing himself down among us； and using Sponsilier for a pillow and myself for footstool； he observed：
〃All you foremen who have been over the Chisholm Trail remember the stage…stand called Bull Foot； but possibly some of the boys haven't。 Well； no matter； it's just about midway between Little Turkey Creek and Buffalo Springs on that trail； where it runs through the Cherokee Strip。 I worked one year in that northern countrylots of Texas boys there too。 It was just about the time they began to stock that country with Texas steers； and we rode lines to keep our cattle on their range。 You bet； there was riding to do in that country then。 The first few months that these Southern steers are turned loose on a new range； Lord！ but they do love to drift against a breeze。 In any kind of a rain…storm； they'll travel farther in a night than a whole outfit can turn them back in a day。
〃Our camp was on the Salt Fork of the Cimarron； and late in the fall when all the beeves had been shipped； the outfit were riding lines and loose…herding a lot of Texas yearlings； and mixed cattle； natives to that range。 Up in that country they have Indian summer and Squaw winter； both occurring in the fall。 They have lots of funny weather up there。 Well； late one evening that fall there came an early squall of Squaw winter； sleeted and spit snow wickedly。 The next morning there wasn't a hoof in sight； and shortly after daybreak we were riding deep in our saddles to catch the lead drift of our cattle。 After a hard day's ride； we found that we were out several hundred head； principally yearlings of the through Texas stock。 You all know how locoed a bunch of dogies can getwe hunted for three days and for fifty miles in every direction； and neither hide； hair； nor hoof could we find。 It was while we were hunting these cattle that my yarn commences。
〃The big augers of the outfit lived in Wichita； Kansas。 Their foreman； Bibleback Hunt； and myself were returning from hunting this missing bunch of yearlings when night overtook us； fully twenty…five miles from camp。 Then this Bull Foot stage came to mind； and we turned our horses and rode to it。 It was nearly dark when we reached it； and Bibleback said for me to go in and make the talk。 I'll never forget that nice little woman who met me at the door of that sod shack。 I told her our situation； and she seemed awfully gracious in granting us food and shelter for the night。 She told us we could either picket our horses or put them in the corral and feed them hay and grain from the stage…company's supply。 Now； old Bibleback was what you might call shy of women； and steered clear of the house until she sent her little boy out and asked us to come in。 Well； we sat around in the room； owly…like； and to save my soul from the wrath to come； I couldn't think of a word that was proper to say to the little woman； busy getting supper。 Bibleback was worse off than I was； he couldn't do anything but look at the pictures on the wall。 What was worrying me was； had she a husband？ Or what was she doing away out there in that lonesome country？ Then a man old enough to be her grandfather put in an appearance。 He was friendly and quite talkative； and I built right up to him。 And then we had a supper that I distinctly remember yet。 Well； I should say I doit takes a woman to get a good supper； and cheer it with her presence； sitting at the head of the table and pouring the coffee。
This old man was a retired stage…driver； and was doing the wrangling act for the stage…horses。 After supper I went out to the corral and wormed the information out of him that the woman was a widow； that her husband had died before she came there； and that she was from Michigan。 Amongst other things that I learned from the old man was that she had only been there a few months； and was a poor but deserving woman。 I told Bibleback all this after we had gone to bed； and we found that our finances amounted to only four dollars； which she was more than welcome to。 So the next morning after breakfast； when I asked her what I owed her for our trouble； she replied so graciously： 'Why； gentlemen； I couldn't think of taking advantage of your necessity to charge you for a favor that I'm only too happy to grant。' 'Oh；' said I； 'take this； anyhow；' laying the silver on the corner of the table and starting for the door； when she stopped me。 'One moment； sir； I can't think of accepting this。 Be kind enough to grant my request；' and returned the money。 We mumbled out some thanks； bade her good…day； and started for the corral； feeling like two sheep thieves。 While we were saddling up will you believe it？… …her little boy came out to the corral and gave each one of us as fine a cigar as ever I buttoned my lip over。 Well； fellows； we had had it put all over us by this little Michigan woman； till we couldn't look each other in the face。 We were accustomed to hardship and neglect； but here was genuine kindness enough to kill a cat。
〃Until we got within five miles of our camp that morning； old Bibleback wouldn't speak to me as we rode along。 Then he turned halfway in his saddle and said： 'What kind of folks are those？' 'I don't know；' I replied； 'what kind of people they are； but I know they are good ones。' 'Well； I'll get even with that little woman if it takes every son in my war…bags；' said Hunt。
〃When within a mile of camp； Bibleback turned again in his saddle and asked； 'When is Christmas？' 'In about five weeks；' I answered。'do you know where that big Wyoming stray ranges？' he next asked。 I trailed onto his game in a second。 'Of course I do。' 'Well；' says he； 'let's kill him for Christmas and give that little widow every ounce of the meat。 It'll be a good one on her； won't it？ We'll fool her a plenty。 Say nothing to the others；' he added； and giving our horses the rein we rode into camp on a gallop。
〃Three days before Christmas we drove up this Wyoming stray and beefed him。 We hung the beef up overnight to harden in the frost； and the next morning bright and early； we started for the stagestand with a good pair of ponies to a light wagon。 We reached the widow's place about eleven o'clock； and against her protests that she had no use for so much； we hung up eight hundred pounds of as fine beef as you ever set your peepers on。 We wished her a merry Christmas； jumped into the wagon； clucked to the ponies； and merely hit the high places getting away。 When we got well out of sight of the housewell； I've seen mule colts play and kid goats cut up their antics； I've seen children that was frolicsome； but for a man with gray hair on his head； old Bibleback Hunt that day was the happiest mortal I ever saw。 He talked to the horses； he sang songs； he played Injun； and that Christmas was a merry one； for the debt was paid and our little widow had beef to throw to the dogs。 I never saw her again； but wherever she is to…night； if my prayer counts； may God bless her！〃
Early in
