the outlet-第25节
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r saw her again； but wherever she is to…night； if my prayer counts； may God bless her！〃
Early in the evening I had warned my boys that we would start on our return at ten o'clock。 The hour was nearly at hand； and in reply to my inquiry if our portion of the beef had been secured； Jack Splann said that he had cut off half a loin； a side of ribs； and enough steak for breakfast。 Splann and I tied the beef to our cantle…strings； and when we returned to the group； Sponsilier was telling of the stampede of his herd in the Panhandle about a month before。 〃But that run wasn't a circumstance to one in which I figured once； and in broad daylight；〃 concluded Dave。 It required no encouragement to get the story； all we had to do was to give him time to collect his thoughts。
〃Yes； it was in the summer of '73；〃 he finally continued。 〃It was my first trip over the trail； and I naturally fell into position at the drag end of the herd。 I was a green boy of about eighteen at the time； having never before been fifty miles from the ranch where I was born。 The herd belonged to Major Hood； and our destination was Ellsworth； Kansas。 In those days they generally worked oxen to the chuck…wagons； as they were ready sale in the upper country； and in good demand for breaking prairie。 I reckon there must have been a dozen yoke of work…steers in our herd that year； and they were more trouble to me than all the balance of the cattle； for they were slothful and sinfully lazy。 My vocabulary of profanity was worn to a frazzle before we were out a week； and those oxen didn't pay any more attention to a rope or myself than to the buzzing of a gnat。
〃There was one big roan ox； called Turk； which we worked to the wagon occasionally； but in crossing the Arbuckle Mountains in the Indian Territory； he got tender…footed。 Another yoke was substituted； and in a few days Turk was on his feet again。 But he was a cunning rascal and had learned to soldier； and while his feet were sore； I favored him with sandy trails and gave him his own time。 In fact； most of my duties were driving that one ox； while the other boys handled the herd。 When his feet got wellI had toadied and babied him sohe was plum ruined。 I begged the foreman to put him back in the chuck team； but the cook kicked on account of his well…known laziness； so Turk and I continued to adorn the rear of the column。 I reckon the foreman thought it better to have Turk and me late than no dinner。 I tried a hundred different schemes to instill ambition and self…respect into that ox； but he was an old dog and contented with his evil ways。
〃Several weeks passed； and Turk and I became a standing joke with the outfit。 One morning I made the discovery that he was afraid of a slicker。 For just about a full half day； I had the best of him； and several times he was out of sight in the main body of the herd。 But he always dropped to the rear； and finally the slicker lost its charm to move him。 In fact he rather enjoyed having me fan him with itit seemed to cool him。 It was the middle of the afternoon； and Turk had dropped about a quarter…mile to the rear； while I was riding along beside and throwing the slicker over him like a blanket。 I was letting him carry it； and he seemed to be enjoying himself； switching his tail in appreciation； when the matted brush of his tail noosed itself over one of the riveted buttons on the slicker。 The next switch brought the yellow 'fish ' bumping on his heels； and emitting a blood…curdling bellow； he curved his tail and started for the herd。 Just for a minute it tickled me to see old Turk getting such a wiggle on him； but the next moment my mirth turned to seriousness； and I tried to cut him off from the other cattle； but he beat me； bellowing bloody murder。 The slicker was sailing like a kite； and the rear cattle took fright and began bawling as if they had struck a fresh scent of blood。 The scare flashed through the herd from rear to point； and hell began popping right then and there。 The air filled with dust and the earth trembled with the running cattle。 Not knowing which way to turn； I stayed right where I wasin the rear。 As the dust lifted； I followed up； and about a mile ahead picked up my slicker； and shortly afterward found old Turk； grazing contentedly。 With every man in the saddle； that herd ran seven miles and was only turned by the Cimarron River。 It was nearly dark when I and the roan ox overtook the cattle。 Fortunately none of the swing…men had seen the cause of the stampede； and I attributed it to fresh blood； which the outfit believed。 My verdant innocence saved my scalp that time； but years afterward I nearly lost it when I admitted to my old foreman what had caused the stampede that afternoon。 But I was a trail boss then and had learned my lesson。〃
The Rebel； who was encamped several miles up the creek； summoned his men； and we all arose and scattered after our horses。 There was quite a cavalcade going our way； and as we halted within the light of the fires for the different outfits to gather； Flood rode up； and calling Forrest； said： 〃In the absence of any word from old man Don； we might as well all pull out in the morning。 More than likely we'll hear from him at Grinnell； and until we reach the railroad； the Buford herds had better take the lead。 I'll drag along in the rear； and if there's another move made from Dodge； you will have warning。 Now； that's about all； except to give your cattle plenty of time； don't hurry。 S'long； fellows。〃
CHAPTER XI。 ALL IN THE DAY'S WORK
The next morning the herds moved out like brigades of an army on dress…parade。 Our front covered some six or seven miles； the Buford cattle in the lead； while those intended for Indian delivery naturally fell into position on flank and rear。 My beeves had enjoyed a splendid rest during the past week； and now easily took the lead in a steady walk； every herd avoiding the trail until necessity compelled us to reenter it。 The old pathway was dusty and merely pointed the way； and until rain fell to settle it； our intention was to give it a wide berth。 As the morning wore on and the herds drew farther and farther apart； except for the dim dust…clouds of ten thousand trampling feet on a raw prairie； it would have been difficult for us to establish each other's location。 Several times during the forenoon； when a swell of the plain afforded us a temporary westward view； we caught glimpses of Forrest's cattle as they snailed forward； fully five miles distant and barely noticeable under the low sky…line。 The Indian herds had given us a good start in the morning； and towards evening as the mirages lifted； not a dust…signal was in sight； save one far in our lead。
The mouth of June； so far； had been exceedingly droughty。 The scarcity of water on the plains between Dodge and Ogalalla was the dread of every trail drover。 The grass； on the other hand； had matured from the first rank growth of early spring into a forage； rich in sustenance； from which our beeves took on flesh and rounded into beauties。 Lack of water being the one drawback； long drives； not in miles but hours； became the order of the day； from four in the morning to eight at night； even at an ox's pace； leaves every landmark of the day far in the rear at nightfall。 Thus for the next few days we moved forward； the monotony of existence broken only by the great variety of mirage； the glare of heat…waves； and the silent signal in the sky of other voyageurs like ourselves。 On reaching Pig Boggy； nothing but pools greeted us； while the regular crossing was dry and dusty and paved with cattle bones。 My curiosity was strong enough to cause me to revisit the old bridge which I had helped to build two seasons before； though unused； it was still intact； a credit to the crude engineering of Pete Slaughter。 After leaving the valley of the Solomon； the next running water was Pawnee Fork； where we overtook and passed six thousand yearling heifers in two herds； sold the winter before by John Blocker for delivery in Montana。 The Northwest had not yet learned that Texas was the natural breeding…ground for cattle； yet under favorable conditions in both sections； the ranchman of the South could raise one third more calves from an equal number of cows。
The weather continued hot and sultry。 Several times storms hung on our left for hours which we hoped would reach us； and at night the lightning flickered in sheets； yet with the exception of cooling the air； availed us nothing。 But as we encamped one night on the divide before reaching the Smoky River； a storm struck us that sent terror to our hearts。 There were men in my outfit； and others in Lovell's employ； who were from ten to twenty years my senior； having spent almost their lifetime in the open； who had never before witnessed such a night。 The atmosphere seemed to be overcharged with electricity； which played its pranks among us； neither man nor beast being exempt。 The storm struck the divide about two hours after the cattle had been bedded； and from then until dawn every man was in the saddle； the herd drifting fully three miles during the night。 Such keen flashes of lightning accompanied by instant thunder I had never before witnessed； though the rainfall； after the first dash； was light in quantity。 Seve
