the outlet-第35节
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ocation； as they were only a little more than an hour's ride from Ogalalla。 There was no time to be lost； and as we hastily gathered around the old man； he said： 〃Ride for your outfits； boys； and bring along every man you can spare。 We'll meet north of the river about midway between Quince's and Tom's camps。 Bring all the cartridges you have； and don't spare your horses going or coming。〃
Priest's wagon was almost on a line with mine； though south of the river。 Fortunately I was mounted on one of the best horses in my string； and having the farthest to go； shook the kinks out of him as old Paul and myself tore down the mesa。 After passing The Rebel's camp； I held my course as long as the footing was solid； but on encountering the first sand； crossed the river nearly opposite the appointed rendezvous。 The North Platte was fordable at any point； flowing but a midsummer stage of water； with numerous wagon crossings； its shallow channel being about one hundred yards wide。 I reined in my horse for the first time near the middle of the stream； as the water reached my saddle…skirts； when I came out on the other side； Priest and his boys were not a mile behind me。 As I turned down the river； casting a backward glance； squads of horsemen were galloping in from several quarters and joining a larger one which was throwing up clouds of dust like a column of cavalry。 In making a cut…off to reach my camp； I crossed a sand dune from which I sighted the marshal's posse less than two miles distant。 My boys were gambling among themselves； not a horse under saddle； and did not notice my approach until I dashed up。 Three lads were on herd； but the rest； including the wrangler； ran for their mounts on picket； while Parent and myself ransacked the wagon for ammunition。 Fortunately the supply of the latter was abundant； and while saddles were being cinched on horses； the cook and I divided the ammunition and distributed it among the men。 The few minutes' rest refreshed my horse； but as we dashed away； the boys yelling like Comanches； the five…mile ride had bested him and he fell slightly behind。 As we turned into the open valley； it was a question if we or the marshal would reach the stream first； he had followed an old wood road and would strike the river nearly opposite Forrest's camp。 The horses were excited and straining every nerve； and as we neared our crowd the posse halted on the south side and I noticed a conveyance among them in which were seated four men。 There was a moment's consultation held； when the posse entered the water and began fording the stream； the vehicle and its occupants remaining on the other side。 We had halted in a circle about fifty yards back from the river…bank； and as the first two men came out of the water； Dou Lovell rode forward several lengths of his horse； and with his hand motioned to them to halt。 The leaders stopped within easy speaking distance； the remainder of the posse halting in groups at their rear； when Lovell demanded the meaning of this demonstration。
An inquiry and answer followed identifying the speakers。 〃In pursuance of an order from the federal court of this jurisdiction；〃 continued the marshal； 〃I am vested with authority to take into my custody two herds； numbering nearly seven thousand beeves； now in your possession； and recently sold to Field； Radcliff & Co。 for government purposes。 I propose to execute my orders peaceably； and any interference on your part will put you and your men in contempt of government authority。 If resistance is offered； I can； if necessary； have a company of United States cavalry here from Fort Logan within forty…eight hours to enforce the mandates of the federal court。 Now my advice to you would be to turn these cattle over without further controversy。〃
〃And my advice to you；〃 replied Lovell； 〃is to go back to your federal court and tell that judge that as a citizen of these United States； and one who has borne arms in her defense； I object to having snap judgment rendered against me。 If the honorable court which you have the pleasure to represent is willing to dispossess me of my property in favor of a ring of government thieves； and on only hearing one side of the question； then consider me in contempt。 I'll gladly go back to Omaha with you； but you can't so much as look at a hoof in my possession。 Now call your troops； or take me with you for treating with scorn the orders of your court。〃
Meanwhile every man on our side had an eye on Archie Tolleston； who had gradually edged forward until his horse stood beside that of the marshal。 Before the latter could frame a reply to Lovell's ultimatum； Tolleston said to the federal officer：
〃Didn't my employers tell you that the old would defy you without a demonstration of soldiers at your back？ Now； the laugh's on you； and 〃
〃No； it's on you；〃 interrupted a voice at my back； accompanied by a pistol report。 My horse jumped forward； followed by a fusillade of shots behind me； when the hireling deputies turned and plunged into the river。 Tolleston had wheeled his horse； joining the retreat； and as I brought my six…shooter into action and was in the act of leveling on him； he reeled from the saddle； but clung to the neck of his mount as the animal dashed into the water。 I held my fire in the hope that he would right in the saddle and afford me a shot； but he struck a swift current； released his hold； and sunk out of sight。 Above the din and excitement of the moment； I heard a voice which I recognized as Reed's； shouting； 〃Cut loose on that team； boys！ blaze away at those harness horses！〃 Evidently the team had been burnt by random firing； for they were rearing and plunging； and as I fired my first shot at them； the occupants sprang out of the vehicle and the team ran away。 A lull occurred hi the shooting； to eject shells and refill cylinders； which Lovell took advantage of by ordering back a number of impulsive lads； who were determined to follow up the fleeing deputies。
〃Come back here； you rascals； and stop this shooting！〃 shouted the old man。 〃Stop it； now； or you'll land me in a federal prison for life！ Those horsemen may be deceived。 When federal courts can be deluded with sugar…coated blandishments； ordinary men ought to be excusable。〃
Six…shooters were returned to their holsters。 Several horses and two men on our side had received slight flesh wounds； as there had been a random return fire。 The deputies halted well out of pistol range； covering the retreat of the occupants of the carriage as best they could； but leaving three dead horses in plain view。 As we dropped back towards Forrest's wagon； the team in the mean time having been caught； those on foot were picked up and given seats in the conveyance。 Meanwhile a remuda of horses and two chuck…wagons were sighted back on the old wood road； but a horseman met and halted them and they turned back for Ogalalla。 On reaching our nearest camp； the posse south of the river had started on their return； leaving behind one of their number in the muddy waters of the North Platte。
Late that evening； as we were preparing to leave for our respective camps； Lovell said to the assembled foremen： 〃Quince will take Reed and me into Ogalalla about midnight。 If Sutton advises it； all three of us will go down to Omaha and try and square things。 I can't escape a severe fine； but what do I care as long as I have their money to pay it with？ The killing of that fool boy worries me more than a dozen fines。 It was uncalled for； too； but he would butt in； and you fellows were all itching for the chance to finger a trigger。 Now the understanding is that you all start in the morning。〃
CHAPTER XVI。 CROSSING THE NIOBRARA
The parting of the ways was reached。 On the morning of July 12； the different outfits in charge of Lovell's drive in '84 started on three angles of the compass for their final destination。 The Rosebud Agency； where Flood's herd was to be delivered on September 1； lay to the northeast in Dakota。 The route was not direct； and the herd would be forced to make quite an elbow； touching on the different forks of the Loup in order to secure water。 The Rebel and my brother would follow up on the south side of the North Platte until near old Fort Laramie； when their routes would separate； the latter turning north for Montana； while Priest would continue along the same watercourse to within a short distance of his destination。 The Buford herds would strike due north from the first tributary putting in from above； which we would intercept the second morning out。
An early start was the order of the day。 My beeves were pushed from the bed…ground with the first sign of dawn； and when the relief overtook them； they were several miles back from the river and holding a northwest course。 My camp being the lowest one on the North Fork； Forrest and Sponsilier； also starting at daybreak； naturally took the lead； the latter having fully a five…mile start over my outfit。 But as we left the valley and came up on the mesa； there on an angle in our front； Flood's herd snailed along like an army brigade； anxious to dispute our advance。 The point…men veered our cattle slightly to the left； and as the drag…end of Flood's beeves passed before us； standing in our stirrups we waved our
