the outlet-第50节
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ment is liberal and insists on the best； the rank and file are worthy； and yet we don't always get what is ordered and well paid for。 Now； remember； comrade； if this difference comes to an issue； I'm right behind you； and we'll stand or be turned down together。〃
〃Thank you； Colonel；〃 replied Mr。 Lovell。 〃It does seem rather fortunate； my meeting up with a former business acquaintance； and at a time when I need him bad。 If I am successful in delivering on this Buford award； it will round out； during my fifteen years as a drover； over a hundred thousand cattle that I have sold to the government for its Indian and army departments。 There are no secrets in my business； the reason of my success is simple my cattle were always there on the appointed day； humanely handled； and generally just a shade better than the specifications。 My home country has the cattle for sale； I can tell within two bits a head what it will cost to lay them down here； and it's music to my ear to hear you insist on the best。 I agree with you that the firing…line is entitled to special consideration； yet you know that there are ringsters who fatten at the expense of the rank and file。 At present I haven't a word to say； but at noon to…morrow I shall tender the post commander at Ford Buford； through his quartermaster； ten thousand beeves； as a sub…contractor on the original award to The Western Supply Company。〃 The post commander； an elderly； white…haired officer； rode over and smilingly said： 〃Now； look here； my Texas friend； I'm afraid you are borrowing trouble。 True enough； there has been a protest made against our receiving your beeves； and I don't mince my words in saying that some hard things have been said about you。 But we happen to know something about your reputation and don't give credit for all that is said。 Your beeves are an eloquent argument in your favor； and if I were you I wouldn't worry。 It is always a good idea in this Western country to make a proviso； and unless the unforeseen happens； the quartermaster's cattle foreman will count your beeves to…morrow afternoon； and for the sake of your company； if we keep you a day or two longer settling up； I don't want to hear you kick。 Now； come on and go back with us to the post； as I promised my wife to bring you over to our house this evening。 She seems to think that a man from Texas with ten thousand cattle ought to have horns； and I want to show her that she's mistaken。 Come on； now； and not a damned word of protest out of you。〃
The military party started on their return； accompanied by Lovell。 The civilian attaches followed at a respectful distance； a number of us joining them as far as Sponsilier's camp。 There we halted； when Sanders insisted on an explanation of the remarks which had passed between our employer and his。 Being once more among his own； he felt no delicacy in asking for information which he would never think of doing with his superiors。 My brother gave him a true version of the situation； but it remained for Dave Sponsilier to add an outline of the opposition herds and outfits。
〃With humane treatment；〃 said Dave； 〃the cattle would have qualified under the specifications。 They were bought at Ogalalla； and any of the boys here will tell you that the first one was a good herd。 The market was all shot to pieces； and they picked them up at their own price。 But the owners didn't have cow…sense enough to handle the cattle； and put one of their own gang over the herds as superintendent。 They left Cabin Creek； below Glendive； on the morning of the 10th； and they'll have to travel nearly twenty miles a day to reach here by noon to…morrow。 Sanders； you know that gait will soon kill heavy cattle。 The outfits were made up of short…card men and dance…hall ornaments； wild enough to look at； but shy on cattle sabe。 Just so they showed up bad and wore a six…shooter； that was enough to win a home with Field and Radcliff。 If they reach here on time； I'll gamble there ain't ten horses in the entire outfit that don't carry a nigger brand。 And when it comes to the big conversation well； they've simply got the earth faded。〃
It was nearly sundown when we mounted our horses and separated for the day。 Bob Quirk returned to the post with the civilians； while I hastened back to my wagon。 I had left orders with Splann to water the herd a second time during the evening and thus insure an easy night in holding the cattle。 On my return； they were just grazing out from the river； their front a mile wide； making a pretty picture with the Yellowstone in the background。 But as I sat my horse and in retrospect reviewed my connection with the cattle before me and the prospect of soon severing it； my remuda came over a near…by hill in a swinging trot for their second drink。 Levering threw them into the river below the herd； and turning； galloped up to me and breathlessly asked： 〃Tom； did you see that dust…cloud up the river？ Well； the other cattle are coming。 The timber cuts off your view from here； besides the sun's gone down； but I watched their signal for half an hour from that second hill yonder。 Oh； it's cattle all right； I know the sign； even if they are ten miles away。〃
CHAPTER XXII。 A SOLDIER'S HONOR
Delivery day dawned with a heavy fog hanging over the valley of the Yellowstone。 The frosts had ceased； and several showers had fallen during the night； one of which brought our beeves to their feet； but they gave no serious trouble and resumed their beds within an hour。 There was an autumn feeling in the atmosphere； and when the sun arose； dispelling the mists； a glorious September day was ushered in。 The foliage of the timber which skirted either river was coloring from recent frosts； while in numerous places the fallen leaves of the cottonwood were littering the ground。 Enough rain had fallen to settle the dust； and the signal of the approaching herds； seen the evening before； was no longer visible。
The delay in their appearance； however； was only temporary。 I rode down to Sponsilier's camp early that morning and reported the observations of my wrangler at sundown。 No one at the lower wagon tad noticed the dust…clouds； and some one suggested that it might be a freight outfit returning unloaded； when one of the men on herd was seen signaling the camp's notice。 The attention of the day…herders； several miles distant； was centered on some object up the river； and mounting our horses； we rode for the nearest elevation； from which two herds were to be seen on the opposite side； traveling in trail formation。 There was no doubting their identity； and wondering what the day would bring forth； we rode for a better point of observation； when from behind a timbered bend of the river the lead of the last herd appeared。 At last the Yellowstone Valley held over twenty thousand beef cattle； in plain sight of each other； both factions equally determined on making the delivery on an award that required only half that number。 Dismounting； we kept the herds in view for over an hour； or until the last one had crossed the river above O'Brien's road…house； the lead one having disappeared out of sight over on the main Missouri。
This was the situation on the morning of September 15。 As we returned to Sponsilier's wagon； all the idle men about the camp joined our cavalcade； and we rode down and paid Forrest's outfit a social visit。 The latter were all absent； except the cook； but shortly returned from down the river and reported the opposition herds to be crossing the Missouri； evidently going to camp at Alkali Lake。
〃Well； I've been present at a good many deliveries；〃 said Quince Forrest； as he reined in his horse； 〃but this one is in a class by itself。 We always aimed to get within five or ten miles of a post or agency； but our friends made a worthy effort to get on the parade…ground。 They did the next best thing and occupied the grazing where the cavalry horses have been herded all summer。 Oh； their cattle will be hog…fat in a few days。 Possibly they expect to show their cattle in town； and not trouble the quartermaster and comandante to even saddle upthey're the very kind of people who wouldn't give anybody trouble if they could help it。 It wouldn't make so much difference about those old frontier officers or a common cowman； but if one of those young lieutenants was to get his feet wet； the chances are that those Washington City contractors would fret and worry for weeks。 Of course； any little inconvenience that any one incurred on their account； they'd gladly come all the way back from Europe to make it rightI don't think。〃
While we were discussing the situation； Bob Quirk arrived at camp。 He reported that Lovell； relying on the superiority of our beeves； had waived his right to deliver on the hour of high noon； and an inspection of the other cattle would be made that evening。 The waiver was made at the request of the leading officers of Fort Buford； all very friendly to the best interests of the service and coiisequently ours； and the object was to silence all subsequent controversy。 My brother admitted that some outside pressure had been brought to bear during the night； very antagonistic to the post commander； who was now more determined than ever to accept none but the best for their next year's meat s
