the outlet-第36节
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left； and as the drag…end of Flood's beeves passed before us； standing in our stirrups we waved our hats in farewell to the lads； starting on their last tack for the Rosebud Agency。 Across the river were the dim outlines of two herds trailing upstream； being distinguishable from numerous others by the dust…clouds which marked the moving from the grazing cattle。 The course of the North Platte was southwest； and on the direction which we were holding； we would strike the river again during the afternoon at a bend some ten or twelve miles above。
Near the middle of the forenoon we were met by Hugh Morris。 He was discouraged； as it was well known now that his cattle would be tendered in competition with ours at Fort Buford。 There was no comparison between the beeves； ours being much larger； more uniform in weight； and in better flesh。 He looked over both Forrest's and Sponsilier's herds before meeting us； and was good enough judge of cattle to know that his stood no chance against ours； if they were to he received on tbeir merits。 We talked matters over for fully an hour； and I advised him never to leave Keith County until the last dollar in payment for his beeves was in hand。 Morris thought this was quite possible； as information had reached him that the buyers had recently purchased a remuda； and now； since they had failed to take possession of two of Lovell's herds； it remained to be seen what the next move would be。 He thought it quite likely； though； that a settlement could be effected whereby he would be relieved at Ogalalla。 Mutually hoping that all would turn out well； we parted until our paths should cross again。
We intercepted the North Fork again during the afternoon； watering from it for the last time； and the next morning struck the Blue River； the expected tributary。 Sponsilier maintained his position in the lead； but I was certain when we reached the source of the Blue； David would fall to the rear； as thenceforth there was neither trail nor trace； map nor compass。 The year before； Forrest and I had been over the route to the Pine Ridge Agency； and one or the other of us must take the lead across a dry country between the present stream and tributaries of the Niobrara。 The Blue possessed the attributes of a river in name only； and the third day up it； Sponsilier crossed the tributary to allow either Forrest or myself to take the lead。 Quince professed a remarkable ignorance and faulty memory as to the topography of the country between the Blue and Niobrara； and threw bouquets at me regarding my ability always to find water。 It is true that I had gone and returned across this arid belt the year before； but on the back trip it was late in the fall； and we were making forty miles a day with nothing but a wagon and remuda； water being the least of my troubles。 But a compromise was effected whereby we would both ride out the country anew； leaving the herds to lie over on the head waters of the Blue River。 There were several shallow lakes in the intervening country； and on finding the first one sufficient to our needs； the herds were brought up； and we scouted again in advance。 The abundance of antelope was accepted as an assurance of water； and on recognizing certain landmarks； I agreed to take the lead thereafter； and we turned back。 The seventh day out from the Blue； the Box Buttes were sighted； at the foot of which ran a creek by the same name； and an affluent of the Niobrara。 Contrary to expectations； water was even more plentiful than the year before； and we grazed nearly the entire distance。 The antelope were unusually tame； with six…shooters we killed quite a number by flagging； or using a gentle horse for a blind； driving the animal forward with the bridle reins； tacking frequently； and allowing him to graze up within pistol range。
The Niobrara was a fine grazing country。 Since we had over two months at our disposal； after leaving the North Platte； every advantage was given the cattle to round into form。 Ten miles was a day's move； and the different outfits kept in close touch with each other。 We had planned a picnic for the crossing of the Niobrara； and on reaching that stream during the afternoon； Sponsilier and myself crossed； camping a mile apart； Forrest remaining on the south side。 Wild raspberries had been extremely plentiful； and every wagon had gathered a quantity sufficient to make a pie for each man。 The cooks had mutually agreed to meet at Sponsilier's wagon and do the baking； and every man not on herd was present in expectation of the coming banquet。 One of Forrest's boys had a fiddle； and bringing it along； the festivities opened with a stag dance； the 〃ladies〃 being designated by wearing a horse…hobble loosely around their necks。 While the pies were baking； a slow process with Dutch ovens； I sat on the wagon…tongue and played the violin by the hour。 A rude imitation of the gentler sex； as we had witnessed in dance…halls in Dodge and Ogalalla； was reproduced with open shirt fronts； and amorous advances by the sterner one。
The dancing ceased the moment the banquet was ready。 The cooks had experienced considerable trouble in restraining some of the boys from the too free exercise of what they looked upon as the inalienable right of man to eat his pie when； where； and how it best pleased him。 But Sponsilier； as host； stood behind the culinary trio； and overawed the impetuous guests。 The repast barely concluded in time for the wranglers and first guard from Forrest's and my outfit to reach camp； catch night…horses； bed the cattle； and excuse the herders； as supper was served only at the one wagon。 The relieved ones； like eleventh…hour guests； came tearing in after darkness； and the tempting spread soon absorbed them。 As the evening wore on； the loungers gathered in several circles； and the raconteur held sway。 The fact that we were in a country in which game abounded suggested numerous stories。 The delights of cat…hunting by night found an enthusiast in each one present。 Every dog in our memory； back to early boyhood； was properly introduced and his best qualities applauded。 Not only cat…hounds but coon…dogs had a respectful hearing。
〃I remember a hound；〃 said Forrest's wrangler； 〃which I owned when a boy back in Virginia。 My folks lived in the foot…hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in that state。 We were just as poor as our poorest neighbors。 But if there was any one thing that that section was rich in it was dogs； principally hounds。 This dog of mine was four years old when I left home to go to Texas。 Fine hound； swallow marked； and when he opened on a scent you could always tell what it was that he was running。 I never allowed him to run with packs； but generally used him in treeing coon； which pestered the cornfields during roasting…ear season and in the fall。 Well； after I had been out in Texas about five years； I concluded to go back on a little visit to the old folks。 There were no railroads within twenty miles of my home； and I had to hoof it that distance； so I arrived after dark。 Of course my return was a great surprise to my folks； and we sat up late telling stories about things out West。 I had worked with cattle all the time； and had made one trip over the trail from Collin County to Abilene； Kansas。
〃My folks questioned me so fast that they gave me no show to make any inquiries in return； but I finally eased one in and asked about my dog Keiser； and was tickled to hear that he was still living。 I went out and called him； but he failed to show up； when mother explained his absence by saying that he often went out hunting alone now； since there was none of us boys at home to hunt with him。 They told me that he was no account any longer； that he had grown old and gray； and father said he was too slow on trail to be of any use。 I noticed that it was a nice damp night； and if my old dog had been there； I think I'd have taken a circle around the fields in the hope of hearing him sing once more。 Well； we went back into the house； and after talking awhile longer； I climbed into the loft and went to bed。 I didn't sleep very sound that night； and awakened several times。 About an hour before daybreak； I awoke suddenly and imagined I heard a hound baying faintly in the distance。 Finally I got up and opened the board window in the gable and listened。 Say； boys； I knew that hound's baying as well as I know my own saddle。 It was old Keiser； and he had something treed about a mile from the house； across a ridge over in some slashes。 I slipped on my clothes； crept downstairs； and taking my old man's rifle out of the rack； started to him。
〃It was as dark as a stack of black cats； but I knew every path and byway by heart。 I followed the fields as far as I could； and later； taking into the timber； I had to go around a long swamp。 An old beaver dam had once crossed the outlet of this marsh； and once I gained it； I gave a long yell to let the dog know that some one was coming。 He answered me； and quite a little while before day broke I reached him。 Did he know me？ Why； he knew me as easy as the little boy knew his pap。 Right now； I can't remember any simple thing in my whole life that moved me just as that little reunion of me and my dog； there in those woods that morning。 Why； he howled with delight。 He
