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！
from Glendive arrived。 I did not know until then that Mr。 Wherry was a candidate for reelection that fall； but the manner in which he mixed with the boys was enough to warrant his election for life。 What endeared him to Sponsilier and myself was the fund of information he had collected； and the close tab he had kept on every movement of the opposition drovers。 He told us that their appeal to Fort Keogh for assistance had been refused with a stinging rebuke； that a courier had started the evening before down the river for Fort Buford； and that Mr。 Radcliff had personally gone to Fort Abraham Lincoln to solicit help。 The latter post was fully one hundred and fifty miles away； but that distance could be easily covered by a special train in case of government interference。
It rained on the afternoon of the 9th。 The courier had returned from Fort Buford on the north； unsuccessful； as had also Mr。 Radcliff from Fort Lincoln on the Missouri River to the eastward。 The latter post had referred the request to Keogh； and washed its hands of intermeddling in a country not tributary to its territory。 The last hope of interference was gone； and the rigors of quarantine closed in like a siege with every gun of the enemy spiked。 Let it be a week or a month before the quarantine was lifted； the citizens of Montana had so willed it； and their wish was law。 Evening fell； and the men drew round the fires。 The guards buttoned their coats as they rode away； and the tired ones drew their blankets around them as they lay down to sleep。 Scarcely a star could be seen in the sky overhead； but before my partner or myself sought our bed； a great calm had fallen； the stars were shining； and the night had grown chilly。
The old buffalo hunters predicted a change in the weather； but beyond that they were reticent。 As Sponsilier and I lay down to sleep； we agreed that if three days； even two days； were spared us； those cattle in quarantine could never be tendered at Fort Buford on the appointed day of delivery。 But during the early hours of morning we were aroused by the returning guards； one of whom halted his horse near our blankets and shouted； 〃Hey； there； you Texans； get upa frost has fallen！〃
Sure enough； it had frosted during the night； and the quarantine was lifted。 When day broke； every twig and blade of grass glistened in silver sheen； and the horses on picket stood humped and shivering。 The sun arose upon the herds moving； with no excuse to say them nay； and orders were issued to the guards to break camp and disperse to their homes。 As we rode into Glendive that morning； sullen and defeated by a power beyond our control； in speaking of the peculiarity of the intervention； Sponsilier said： 〃Well； if it rains on the just and the unjust alike； why shouldn't it frost the same。〃
CHAPTER XXI。 FORT BUFORD
We were at our rope's end。 There were a few accounts to settle In Glendive； after which we would shake its dust from our feet。 Very few of the quarantine guards returned to town； and with the exception of Sheriff Wherry； none of the leading cowmen； all having ridden direct for their ranches。 Long before the train arrived which would carry us to Little Missouri； the opposition herds appeared and crossed the railroad west of town。 Their commissaries entered the village for supplies； while the 〃major…domo；〃 surrounded by a body…guard of men； rode about on his miserable palfrey。 The sheriff； fearing a clash between the victorious and the vanquished； kept an eye on Sponsilier and me as we walked the streets； freely expressing our contempt of Field； Radcliff & Co。； their henchmen and their methods。 Dave and I were both nerved to desperation； Sheriff Wherry； anxious to prevent a conflict； counciled with the opposition drovers； resulting in their outfits leaving town； while the principals took stage across to Buford。
Meanwhile Sponsilier had wired full particulars to our employer at Big Horn。 It was hardly necessary； as the frost no doubt was general all over Montana； but we were anxious to get into communication with Lovell immediately on his return to the railroad。 We had written him from Miles of our failure at Powderville； and the expected second stand at Glendive； and now the elements had notified him that the opposition herds were within striking distance； and would no doubt appear at Buford on or before the day of delivery。 An irritable man like our employer would neither eat nor sleep； once the delivery at the Crow Agency was over； until reaching the railroad； and our message would be awaiting him on his return to Big Horn。 Our train reached Little Missouri early in the evening； and leaving word with the agent that we were expecting important messages from the west； we visited the liveryman and inquired about the welfare of our horses。 The proprietor of the stable informed us that they had fared well； and that he would have them ready for us on an hour's notice。 It was after dark and we were at supper when the first message came。 An immediate answer was required； and arising from the table； we left our meal unfinished and hastened to the depot。 》From then until midnight； messages flashed back and forth； Sponsilier dictating while I wrote。 As there was no train before the regular passenger the next day； the last wire requested us to have the horses ready to meet the Eastbound； saying that Bob Quirk would accompany Lovell。
That night it frosted again。 Sponsilier and I slept until noon the next day without awakening。 Then the horses were brought in from pasture； and preparation was made to leave that evening。 It was in the neighborhood of ninety miles across to the mouth of the Yellowstone； and the chances were that we would ride it without unsaddling。 The horses had had a two weeks' rest； and if our employer insisted on it； we would breakfast with the herds the next morning。 I was anxious to see the cattle again and rejoin my outfit； but like a watched pot； the train was an hour late。 Sponsilier and I took advantage of the delay and fortified the inner man against the night and the ride before us。 This proved fortunate； as Lovell and my brother had supper en route in the dining…car。 A running series of questions were asked and answered； saddies were shaken out of gunny…sacks and cinched on waiting horses as though we were starting to a prairie fire。 Bob Quirk's cattle had reached the Crow Agency in splendid condition； the delivery was effected without a word； and old man Don was in possession of a letter from Flood； saying everything had passed smoothly at the Rosebud Agency。
Contrary to the expectation of Sponsilier and myself； our employer was in a good humor； fairly walking on the clouds over the success of his two first deliveries of the year。 But amid the bustle and rush； in view of another frosty night； Sponsilier inquired if it would not be a good idea to fortify against the chill； by taking along a bottle of brandy。 〃Yes； two of them if you want to；〃 said old man Don； in good…humored approval。 〃Here； Tom； fork this horse and take the pitch out of him；〃 he continued； 〃I don't like the look of his eye。〃 But before I could reach the horse； one of my own string； Bob Quirk had mounted him； when in testimony of the nutritive quali