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es and the water。 The route was passable； with a short dry drive from the head of Stinking Water across to the Platte River； of which they were fully advised。 Keeping them in sight； we trailed along leisurely； and as we went down the northern slope of the divide approaching the Republican River； we were overtaken at noon by Don Lovell and Dave Sponsilier。
〃Quirk；〃 said the old man； as the two dismounted； 〃I was just telling Dave that twenty years ago this summer I carried a musket with Sherman in his march to the sea。 And here we are to…day； driving beef to feed the army in the West。 But that's neither here nor there under the present programme。 Jim Flood and I have talked matters over pretty thoroughly； and have decided to switch the foremen on the 'Open A' and 'drooping T' cattle until after Ogalalla is passed。 From their actions at Dodge； it is probable that they will try and arrest the foreman of those two herds as accessory under some charge or other。 By shifting the foremen； even if the ones in charge are detained； we will gain time and be able to push the Buford cattle across the North Platte。 The chances are that they will prefer some charges against me； and if they do； if necessary； we will all go to the lock…up together。 They may have spotters ahead here on the Republican； Dave will take charge of your 'Open A's' at once； and you will drop back and follow up with his cattle。 For the time being and to every stranger； you two will exchange names。 The Rebel is in charge of Forrest's cattle now； and Quince will drop back with Paul's herd。 Dave； here； gave me the slip on crossing the Texas Pacific in the lower country； but when we reach the Union Pacific； I want to know where he is； even if in jail。 And I may be right there with him； but we'll live high； for I've got a lot of their money。〃
Sponsilier reported his herd on the same side of the trail and about ten miles to our rear。 I had no objection to the change； for those arid plains were still to be preferred to the lock…up in Ogalalla。 My only regret was in temporarily losing my mount； but as Dave's horses were nearly as good； no objection was urged； and promising； in case either landed in jail； to send flowers； I turned back； leaving my employer with the lead herd。 Before starting； I learned that the 〃Drooping T〃 cattle were in advance of Sponsilier's； and as I soldiered along on my way back； rode several miles out of my way to console my old bunkie； The Rebel。 He took my chaffing good…naturedly and assured me that his gray hairs were a badge of innocence which would excuse him on any charge。 Turning； I rode hack with him over a mile； this being my first opportunity of seeing Forrest's beeves。 The steers were large and rangy； extremely uniform in ages and weight； and in general relieved me of considerable conceit that I had the best herd among the Buford cattle。 With my vanity eased； I continued my journey and reached Sponsilier's beeves while they were watering。 Again a surprise was in store for me； as the latter herd had； if any； the edge over the other two； while 〃The Apple〃 was by all odds the prettiest road brand I had ever seen。 I asked the acting segundo； a lad named Tupps； who cut the cattle when receiving； light was thrown on the situation by his reply。
〃Old man Don joined the outfit the day we reached Uvalde；〃 said he； 〃and until we began receiving； he poured it into our foreman that this year the cattle had to be something extramuy escogido； as the Mexicans say。 Well； the result was that Sponsilier went to work with ideas pitched rather high。 But in the first bunch received； the old man cut a pretty little four…year…old； fully a hundred pounds too light。 Dave and Mr。 Lovell had a set…to over the beef； the old man refusing to cut him back； but he rode out of the herd and never again offered to interfere。 Forrest was present； and at dinner that day old man Don admitted that he was too easy when receiving。 Sponsilier and Forrest did the trimming afterward； and that is the secret of these two herds being so uniform。〃
A general halt was called at the head of Stinking Water。 We were then within forty miles of Ogalalla； and a day's drive would put us within the jurisdiction of Keith County。 Some time was lost at this last water； waiting for the rear herds to arrive； as it was the intention to place the 〃Open A〃 and 〃Drooping T〃 cattle at the rear in crossing this dry belt。 At the ford on the Republican； a number of strangers were noticed； two of whom rode a mile or more with mc； and innocently asked numerous but leading questions。 I frankly answered every inquiry； and truthfully； with the exception of the names of the lead foreman and my own。 Direct； it was only sixty miles from the crossing on the Republican to Ogalalla； an easy night's ride； and I was conscious that our whereabouts would be known at the latter place the next morning。 For several days before starting across this arid stretch； we had watered at ten o'clock in the morning； so when Flood and Forrest came up； mine being the third herd to reach the last water； I was all ready to pull out。 But old man Don counseled another day's lie…over； as it would be a sore trial for the herds under a July sun； and for a full day twenty thousand beeves grazed in sight of each other on the mesas surrounding the head of Stinking Water。 All the herds were aroused with the dawn； and after a few hours' sun on the cattle； the Indian beeves were turned onto the water and held until the middle of the forenoon； when the start was made for the Platte and Ogalalla。
I led out with 〃The Apple〃 cattle； throwing onto the trail for the first ten miles； which put me well in advance of Bob Quirk and Forrest； who were in my immediate rear。 A well…known divide marked the halfway between the two waters； and I was determined to camp on it that night。 It was fully nine o'clock when we reached it； Don Lovell in the mean time having overtaken us。 This watershed was also recognized as the line of Keith County； an organized community； and the next morning expectation ran high as to what the day would bring forth。 Lovell insisted on staying with the lead herd； and pressing him in as horse…wrangler； I sent him in the lead with the remuda and wagon； while Levering fell into the swing with the trailing cattle。 A breakfast halt was made fully seven miles from the bed…ground； a change of mounts； and then up divide； across mesa； and down slope at the foot of which ran the Platte。 Meanwhile several wayfaring men were met； but in order to avoid our dust； they took the right or unbranded side of our herd on meeting； and passed on their way without inquiry。 Near noon a party of six men； driving a number of loose mounts and a pack…horse； were met； who also took the windward side。 Our dragmen learned that they were on their way to Dodge to receive a herd of range horses。 But when about halfway down the slope towards the river； two mounted men were seen to halt the remuda and wagon for a minute； and then continue on southward。 Billy Tupps was on the left point； myself next in the swing； and as the two horsemen turned out on the branded side； their identity was suspected。 In reply to some inquiry； Tupps jerked his thumb over his shoulder as much