the outlet-第29节
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identity was suspected。 In reply to some inquiry； Tupps jerked his thumb over his shoulder as much as to say； 〃Next man。〃 I turned out and met the strangers； who had already noted the road brand； and politely answered every question。 One of the two offered me a cigar； and after lighting it； I did remember hearing one of my boys say that among the herds lying over on the head of Stinking Water was an 〃Open A〃 and 〃Drooping T；〃 but I was unable to recall the owner's or foremen's names。 Complimenting me on the condition of my beeves； and assuring me that I would have time to water my herd and reach the mesa beyond Ogalalla； they passed on down the column of cattle。
I had given the cook an order on an outfitting house for new supplies； saying I would call or send a draft in the morning。 A new bridge had been built across the Platte opposite the town； and when nearing the river； the commissary turned off the trail for it； but the horse…wrangler for the day gave the bridge a wide berth and crossed the stream a mile below the village。 The width of the river was a decided advantage in watering a thirsty herd； as it gave the cattle room to thrash around； filling its broad bed for fully a half mile。 Fortunately there were few spectators； but I kept my eye on the lookout for a certain faction； being well disguised with dust and dirt and a month's growth of beard。 As we pushed out of the river and were crossing the tracks below the railroad yards； two other herds were sighted coming down to the water； their remudas having forded above and below our cattle。 On scaling the bluffs； we could see the trail south of the Platte Road on which arose a great column of dust。 Lovell was waiting with the saddle stock in the hills beyond the town； and on striking the first good grass； the cattle fell to grazing while we halted to await the arrival of the wagon。 The sun was still several hours high； and while waiting for our commissary to come up； my employer and myself rode to the nearest point of observation to reconnoitre the rear。 Beneath us lay the hamlet； but our eyes were concentrated beyond the narrow Platte valley on a dust…cloud which hung midway down the farther slope。 As we watched； an occasional breeze wafted the dust aside； and the sinuous outline of a herd creeping forward greeted our vision。 Below the town were two other herds； distinctly separate and filling the river for over a mile with a surging mass of animals； while in every direction cattle dotted the plain and valley。 Turning aside from the panorama before us； my employer said：
〃Tom； you will have time to graze out a few miles and camp to the left of the trail。 I'll stay here and hurry your wagon forward； and wait for Bob and Quince。 That lead herd beyond the river is bound to be Jim's； and he's due to camp on this mesa to…night； so these outfits must give him room。 If Dave and Paul are still free to act； they'll know enough to water and camp on the south side of the Platte。 I'll stay at Flood's wagon to…night； and you had better send a couple of your boys into town and let them nose around。 They'll meet lads from the 'Open A' and 'drooping T' outfits； and I'll send Jim and Bob in； and by midnight we'll have a report of what's been done。 If any one but an officer takes possession of those two herds； it'll put us to the trouble of retaking them。 And I think I've got men enough here to do it。〃
CHAPTER XIII。 JUSTICE IN THE SADDLE
It was an hour after the usual time when we bedded down the cattle。 The wagon had overtaken us about sunset； and the cook's fire piloted us into a camp fully two miles to the right of the trail。 A change of horses was awaiting us； and after a hasty supper Tupps detailed two young fellows to visit Ogalalla。 It required no urging； I outlined clearly what was expected of their mission； requesting them to return by the way of Flood's wagon； and to receive any orders which my employer might see fit to send。 The horse…wrangler was pressed in to stand the guard of one of the absent lads on the second watch； and I agreed to take the other； which fell in the third。 The boys had not yet returned when our guard was called； but did so shortly afterward； one of them hunting me up on night…herd。
〃Well；〃 said he； turning his horse and circling with me； 〃we caught onto everything that was adrift。 The Rebel and Sponsilier were both in town； in charge of two deputies。 Flood and your brother went in with us； and with the lads from the other outfits； including those across the river； there must have been twenty…five of Lovell's men in town。 I noticed that Dave and The Rebel were still wearing their six…shooters； while among the boys the arrests were looked upon as quite a joke。 The two deputies had all kinds of money； and wouldn't allow no one but themselves to spend a cent。 The biggest one of the twothe one who gave you the cigarwould say to my boss： 'Sponsilier； you're a trail foreman from Texasone of Don Lovell's boss menbut you're under arrest； your cattle are in my possession this very minute。 You understand that； don't you？ Very well； then； everybody come up and have a drink on the sheriff's office。' That was about the talk in every saloon and dance…hall visited。 But when we proposed starting back to camp； about midnight； the big deputy said to Flood： 'I want you to tell Colonel Lovell that I hold a warrant for his arrest； urge him not to put me to the trouble of coming out after him。 If he had identified himself to me this afternoon； he could have slept on a goose…hair bed to…night instead of out there on the mesa； on the cold ground。 His reputation in this town would entitle him to three meals a day； even if he was under arrest。 Now； we'll have one more； and tell the damned old rascal that I'll expect him in the morning。'〃
We rode out the watch together。 On returning to Flood's camp； they had found Don Lovell awake。 the old man was pleased with the report； but sent me no special word except to exercise my own judgment。 The cattle were tired after their long tramp of the day before； the outfit were saddle weary； and the first rays of the rising sun flooded the mesa before men or animals offered to arise。 But the duties of another day commanded us anew； and with the cook calling us； we rose to meet them。 I was favorably impressed with Tupps as a segundo； and after breakfast suggested that he graze the cattle over to the North Platte； cross it； and make a permanent camp。 This was agreed to； half the men were excused for the day； and after designating； beyond the river； a clump of cottonwoods where the wagon would be found； seven of us turned and rode back for Ogalalla。 With picked mounts under us； we avoided the other cattle which could be seen grazing northward； and when fully halfway to town； there before us on the brink of the mesa loomed up the lead of a herd。 I soon recognized Jack Splann on the point； and taking a wide circle； dropped in behind him； the column stretching back a mile and coining up the bluffs； forty abreast like an army in loose marching order。 I was proud of those 〃Open A's；〃 they were my first herd； and though in a hurry to reach town； I turned and rode back with them for fully a mile。
Splann was acting under orders from Flood； who had met him at the ford that morning。 If the cattle were in the possession of any deputy sheriff； they had failed to notify Jack； and the latter had already started for the North Platte of his own accord。 The 〃Drooping T〃 cattle were in the immediate rear under Forrest's segundo； and Splann urged me to accompany him that forenoon； saying： 〃From what the boys said this morning； Dave and Paul will not be given a hearing until two o'clock this afternoon。 I can graze beyond the North Fork by that time； and then we'll all go back together。 Flood's right behind here with the 'drooping T's；' and I think it's his intention to go all the way to the river。 Drop back and see him。〃
The boys who were with me never halted； but had ridden on towards town。 When the second herd began the ascent of the mesa； I left Splann and turned back； waiting on the brink for its arrival。 As it would take the lead cattle some time to reach me； I dismounted； resting in the shade of my horse。 But my rest was brief； for the clattering hoofs of a cavalcade of horsemen were approaching； and as I arose； Quince Forrest and Bob Quirk with a dozen or more men dashed up and halted。 As their herds were intended for the Crow and Fort Washakie agencies； they would naturally follow up the south side of the North Platte； and an hour or two of grazing would put them in camp。 The Buford cattle； as well as Flood's herd； were due to cross this North Fork of the mother Platte within ten miles of Ogalalla； their respective routes thenceforth being north and northeast。 Forrest； like myself； was somewhat leary of entering the town； and my brother and the boys passed on shortly； leaving Quince behind。 We discussed every possible phase of what might happen in case we were recognized； which was almost certain if Tolleston or the Dodge buyers were encountered。 But an overweening hunger to get into Ogalalla was dominant in us； and under the excuse of settling for our supplies； after the herd passed； we remounted our horses； Flood joining us； and rode for the haml
