the outlet-第27节
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s altogether too soon to shout。 To his anxious inquiries I replied that his very presence with the herd was a menace to its successful handling by the Mexican outfit。 He should throw all responsibility on the foreman； or take charge himself； which was impossible now； for an outfit which will sulk and mutiny once will do so again under less provocation。 When my curtain lecture was ended； the owner authorized me to call his outfit together and give them such instructions as I saw fit。
We sighted our cattle but once during the afternoon。 On locating the herd； two of my boys left us to return； hearing the message that the rest of us might not put in an appearance before morning。 All during the evening； I made it a point to cultivate the acquaintance of several vaqueros； and learned the names of their master and rancho。 Taking my cue from the general information gathered； when we encamped for the night and all hands； with the exception of those on herd； had finished catching horses； I attracted their attention by returning the six…shooter taken from their corporal at noontime。 Commanding attention； in their mother tongue I addressed myself to the Mexican foreman。
〃Felipe Esquibil；〃 said I； looking him boldly in the face； 〃you were foreman of this herd from Zavalla County； Texas； to the Arkansaw River； and brought your cattle through without loss or accident。
The herd changed owners at Dodge； but with the understanding that you and your vaqueros were to accompany the cattle to this gentleman's ranch in the upper country。 An accident happens； and because you are not in full control； you shift the responsibility and play the baby act by wanting to go home。 Had the death of one of your men occurred below the river； and while the herd was still the property of Don Dionisio of Rancho Los Olmus； you would have lost your own life before abandoning your cattle。 Now； with the consent and approval of the new owner； you are again invested with full charge of this herd until you arrive at the Platte River。 A new outfit will relieve you on reaching Ogalalla； and then you will he paid your reckoning and all go home。 In your immediate rear are five herds belonging to my employer； and I have already sent warning to them of your attempted desertion。 A fortnight or less will find you relieved； and the only safety in store for you is to go forward。 Now your employer is going to my camp for the night； and may not see you again before this herd reaches the Platte。 Remember； Don Felipe； that the opportunity is yours to regain your prestige as a corporaland you need it after to…day's actions。 What would Don Dionisio say if he knew the truth？ And do you ever expect to face your friends again at Los Olmus？ From a trusted corporal back to a sheep…shearer would be your rewardand justly。〃
Cederdall； Wolf； and myself shook hands with several vaqueros； and mounting our horses we started for my camp； taking the stranger with us。 Only once did he offer any protest to going。 〃Very well； then；〃 replied GG； unable to suppress his contempt； 〃go right back。 I'll gamble that you sheathe a knife before morning if you do。 It strikes me you don't sabe Mexicans very much。〃
Around the camp…fire that night； the day's work was reviewed。 My rather drastic treatment of the corporal was fully commented upon and approved by the outfit； yet provoked an inquiry from the irrepressible Parent。 Turning to the questioner； Burl Van Vedder said in dove…like tones： 〃Yes； dear； slapped him just to remind the varmint that his feet were on the earth； and that pawing the air and keening didn't do any good。 Remember； love； there was the living to be fed； the dead to bury； and the work in hand required every man to do his duty。 Now was there anything else you'd like to know？〃
CHAPTER XII。 MARSHALING THE FORCES
Both herds had watered in the Smoky during the afternoon。 The stranger's cattle were not compelled to go down to the crossing； but found an easy passage several miles above the regular ford。 After leaving the river； both herds were grazed out during the evening； and when darkness fell we were not over three miles apart； one on either side of the trail。 The Wyoming cowman spent a restless night； and early the next morning rode to the nearest elevation which would give him a view of his cattle。 Within an hour after sun…up he returned； elated over the fact that his herd was far in the lead of ours； camp being already broken； while we were only breakfasting。 Matters were working out just as I expected。 The mixed herd under the Mexican corporal； by moving early and late； could keep the lead of our beeves； and with the abundance of time at my disposal we were in no hurry。 The Kansas Pacific Railroad was but a few days' drive ahead； and I advised our guest to take the train around to Ogalalla and have a new outfit all ready to relieve the aliens immediately on their arrival。 Promising to take the matter under consideration； he said nothing further for several days； his cattle in the mean time keeping a lead of from five to ten miles。
The trail crossed the railroad at a switch east of Grinnell。 I was naturally expecting some word from Don Lovell； and it was my intention to send one of the boys into that station to inquire for mail。 There was a hostelry at Grinnell； several stores and a livery stable； all dying an easy death from the blight of the arid plain； the town profiting little or nothing from the cattle trade。 But when within a half…day's drive of the railway； on overtaking the herd after dinner； there was old man Don talking to the boys on herd。 The cattle were lying down； and rather than disturb them； he patiently bided his time until they had rested and arose to resume their journey。 The old man was feeling in fine spirits； something unusual； and declined my urgent invitation to go back to the wagon and have dinner。 I noticed that he was using his own saddle； though riding a livery horse； and in the mutual inquiries which were exchanged； learned that he had arrived at Grinnell but a few days before。 He had left Camp Supply immediately after Forrest and Sponsilier passed that point； and until Siringo came in with his report； he had spent the time about detective headquarters in Kansas City。 From intimate friends in Dodge； he had obtained the full particulars of the attempted but unsuccessful move of The Western Supply Company to take possession of his two herds。 In fact there was very little that I could enlighten him on； except the condition of the cattle； and they spoke for themselves； their glossy coats shining with the richness of silk。 On the other hand； my employer opened like a book。
〃Tom； I think we're past the worst of it；〃 said he。 〃Those Dodge people are just a trifle too officious to suit me； but Ogalalla is a cow…town after my own heart。 They're a law unto themselves up there； and a cowman stands some showa good one against thieves。 Ogalalla is the seat of an organized county； and the town has officers； it's true； but they've got sense enough to know which side their bread's buttered on； and a cowman who's on the square has nothing to fear in that town。 Yes； the whole gang； Tolleston and all； are right up here at Ogalalla now； bought a herd this week； so I hear； and expect to take two of these away from us the moment we enter Keith County。 Well； they may； I've seen bad men before take a town； but it was only a question of time until the plain citizens retook it。 They may try to bluff us； but if they do； we'll meet them a little over halfway。 Which one of your boys was it that licked Archie？ I want to thank him until such a time as I can reward him better。〃
The herd was moving out； and as Seay was working in the swing on the opposite side； we allowed the cattle to trail past； and then rode round and overtook him。 The two had never met before； but old man Don warmed towards Dorg； who recited his experience in such an inimitable manner that our employer rocked in his saddle in spasms of laughter。 Leaving the two together； I rode on ahead to look out the water； and when the herd came up near the middle of the afternoon； they were still inseparable。 The watering over； we camped for the night several miles south of the railroad； the mixed herd having crossed it about noon。 My guest of the past few days had come to a point requiring a decision and was in a quandary to know what to do。 But when the situation had been thoroughly reviewed between Mr。 Lovell and the Wyoming man； my advice was indorsed；to trust implicitly to his corporal； and be ready to relieve the outfit at the Platte。 Saddles were accordingly shifted； and the stranger； after professing a profusion of thanks； rode away on the livery horse by which my employer had arrived。 Once the man was well out of hearing； the old trail drover turned to my outfit and said：
〃Boys； there goes a warning that the days of the trail are numbered。 To make a success of any business； a little common sense is necessary。 Nine tenths of the investing in cattle to…day in the Northwest is being done by inexperienced men。 No other line of business could prosper in such incompetent hands； and it's foolish to think that cattle companies and individuals； nearly all tenderfeet at the business； can succeed。 They may for a time；
