按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； as Reed and I have got a good wad of their money。 Since leaving there； I have had word that they settled with Murnane； putting a new outfit with the cattle； and that they have ten thousand beef steers on the way to Fort Buford this very minute。 They arg coming through on the North Platte and Powder River route； and if quarantine can be enforced against them until frost falls； it will give us a clear field at Buford on the day of delivery。 Now it stands us in hand to see that those herds are isolated until after the 15th day of September。〃
The atmosphere cleared instantly。 I was well aware of the ravages of splenic fever； but two decades ago every drover from Texas denied the possibility of a through animal in perfect health giving a disease to wintered Southerners or domestic cattle； also robust and healthy。 Time has demonstrated the truth； yet the manner in which the germ is transmitted between healthy animals remains a mystery to this day； although there has been no lack of theories advanced。 Even the theorists differed as to the manner of germ transmission； the sporule； tick； and ship fever being the leading theories； and each having its advocates。 The latter was entitled to some consideration； for if bad usage and the lack of necessary rest； food； and water will produce fever aboard emigrant steamships； the same privations might do it among animals。 The overdriving of trail cattle was frequently unavoidable； dry drives and the lack of grass on arid wastes being of common occurrence。 However； the presence of fever among through cattle was never noticeable to the practical man； and if it existed； it must have been very mild in form compared to its virulent nature among natives。 Time has demonstrated that it is necessary for the domestic animals to walk over and occupy the same ground to contract the disease； though they may drink from the same trough or stream of water； or inhale each other's breath in play across a wire fence； without fear of contagion。 A peculiar feature of Texas fever was that the very cattle which would impart it on their arrival； after wintering in the North would contract it and die the same as natives。 The isolation of herds on a good range for a period of sixty days； or the falling of frost； was recognized as the only preventive against transmitting the germ。 Government rewards and experiments have never demonstrated a theory that practical experience does not dispute。
The only time on this drive that our attention had been called to the fever alarm was on crossing the wagon trail running from Pierre on the Missouri River to the Black Hills。 I was in the lead when a large bull train was sighted in our front； and shortly afterward the wagon…boss met me and earnestly begged that I allow his outfit to pass before we crossed the wagon…road。 I knew the usual form of ridicule of a herd foreman； but the boss bullwhacker must have anticipated my reply； for he informed me that the summer before he had lost ninety head out of two hundred yoke of oxen。 The wagon…master's appeal was fortified by a sincerity which won his request； and I held up my cattle and allowed his train to pass in advance。 Sponsilier's herd was out of sight in my rear； while Forrest was several miles to my left； and slightly behind me。 The wagon…boss rode across and made a similar request of Forrest； but that worthy refused to recognize the right of way to a bull train at the expense of a trail herd of government beeves。 Ungentlemanly remarks are said to have passed between them； when the boss bull…whacker threw down the gauntlet and galloped back to his train。 Forrest pushed on； with ample time to have occupied the road in crossing； thus holding up the wagon train。 My herd fell to grazing； and Sponsilier rode up to inquire the cause of my halting。 I explained the request of the wagon…master； his loss the year before and present fear of fever； and called attention to the clash which was imminent between the long freight outfit in our front and Forrest's herd to the left； both anxious for the right of way。 A number of us rode forward in clear view of the impending meeting。 It was evident that Forrest would be the first to reach the freight road； and would naturally hold it while his cattle were crossing it。 Bitt when this also became apparent to the bull train； the lead teams drove out of the road and halted； the rear wagons passing on ahead； the two outfits being fully a mile apart。 There were abont twenty teams of ten yoke each； and when the first five or six halted； they unearthed old needle rifles and opened fire across Forrest's front。 Once the range was found； those long…range buffalo guns threw up the dust in handfuls in the lead of the herd； and Forrest turned his cattle back； while the bull train held its way； undisputed。 It was immaterial to Forrest who occupied the road first； and with the jeers of the freighters mingled the laughter of Sponsilier and my outfit； as John Quincy Forrest reluctantly turned back。
This incident served as a safety…valve； and whenever Forrest forged to the lead in coming down the Little Missouri； all that was necessary to check him was to inquire casually which held the right of way； a trail herd or a bull train。
Throughout the North； Texas fever was generally accepted as a fact； and any one who had ever come in contact with it once； dreaded it ever afterward。 So when the devil was sick the devil a monk would be； and if there was any advantage in taking the contrary view to the one entertained by all drovers； so long as our herds were free； we were not like men who could not experience a change of opinion； if in doing so the wind was tempered to us。 Also in this instance we were fighting an avowed enemy； and all is fair in love and war。 And amid the fumes of bad cigars； Sponsilier drew out the plan of campaign。
〃Now； let's see；〃 said old man Don； 〃tomorrow will be the 25th day of August。 I've got to be at the Crow Agency a few days before the 10th of next month； as you know we have a delivery there on that date。 Flood will have to attend to matters at Rosebud on the 1st； and then hurry on west and be present at Paul's delivery at Fort Washakie。 So you see I'll have to depend on two of you boys going up to Glendive and Miles and seeing that those cow…towns take the proper view of this quarantine matter。 After dinner you'll fall back and bring up your herds； and after crossing the railroad here； the outfits will graze over to Buford。 We'll leave four of our best saddle horses here in a pasture； so as to be independent on our return。 Since things have changed so； the chances are that I'll bring Bob Quirk back with me； as I've written Flood to help The Rebel sell his remuda and take the outfit and go home。 Now you boys decide among yourselves which two of you will go up the Yellowstone and promote the enforcement of the quarantine laws。 Don't get the impression that you can't do this； because an all…round cowman can do anything where his interests are at stake。 I'll think the programme out a little more clearly by the time you bring up the cattle。〃
The herds were not over fifteen miles back up the river when we left them in the morning。 After honoring the village of Little Missouri with our p