登陆注册
5378400000063

第63章 TOLLESTON BUTTS IN(3)

"Well, boys," said Lovell, as we came in after picketing our horses, "Reed, here, wins out, but we're just as much at sea as ever.I've looked the situation over from a dozen different viewpoints, and the only thing to do is graze across country and tender our cattle at Fort Buford.It's my nature to look on the bright side of things, and yet I'm old enough to know that justice, in a world so full of injustice, is a rarity.By allowing the earnest-money paid at Dodge to apply, some kind of a compromise might be effected, whereby I could get rid of two of these herds, with three hundred saddle horses thrown back on my hands at the Yellowstone River.I might dispose of the third herd here and give the remuda away, but at a total loss of at least thirty thousand dollars on the Buford cattle.But then there's my bond to The Western Supply Company, and if this herd of Morris's fails to respond on the day of delivery, I know who will have to make good.An Indian uprising, or the enforcement of quarantine against Texas fever, or any one of a dozen things might tie up the herd, and September the 15th come and go and no beef offered on the contract.I've seen outfits start out and never get through with the chuck-wagon, even.Sutton's advice is good;we'll tender the cattle.There is a chance that we'll get turned down, but if we do, I have enough indemnity money in my possession to temper the wind if the day of delivery should prove a chilly one to us.I think you had all better start in the morning."The old man's review of the situation was a rational one, in which Jim Reed and the rest of us concurred.Several of the foremen, among them myself, were anxious to start at once, but Lovell urged that we kill a beef before starting and divide it up among the six outfits.He also proposed to Flood that they go into town during the afternoon and freely announce our departure in the morning, hoping to force any issue that might be smouldering in the enemy's camp.The outlook for an early departure was hailed with delight by the older foremen, and we younger and more impulsive ones yielded.The cook had orders to get up something extra for dinner, and we played cards and otherwise lounged around until the midday meal was announced as ready.A horse had been gotten up for Lovdll to ride and was on picket, all the relieved men from the attached herd were at Bob's wagon for dinner, and jokes and jollity graced the occasion.But near the middle of the noon repast, some one sighted a mounted man coming at a furious pace for the camp, and shortly the horseman dashed up and inquired for Lovell.We all arose, when the messenger dismounted and handed my employer a letter.Tearing open the missive, the old man read it and turned ashy pale.The message was from Mike Sutton, stating that a fourth member of the ring had arrived during the forenoon, accompanied by a United States marshal from the federal court at Omaha; that the officer was armed with an order of injunctive relief; that he had deputized thirty men whom Tolleston had gathered, and proposed taking possession of the two herds in question that afternoon.

"Like hell they will," said Don Lovell, as he started for his horse.His action was followed by every man present, including the one-armed guest, and within a few minutes thirty men swung into saddles, subject to orders.The camps of the two herds at issue were about four and five miles down and across the river, and no doubt Tolleston knew of their location, as they were only a little more than an hour's ride from Ogalalla.There was no time to be lost, and as we hastily gathered around the old man, he said: "Ride for your outfits, boys, and bring along every man you can spare.We'll meet north of the river about midway between Quince's and Tom's camps.Bring all the cartridges you have, and don't spare your horses going or coming."Priest's wagon was almost on a line with mine, though south of the river.Fortunately I was mounted on one of the best horses in my string, and having the farthest to go, shook the kinks out of him as old Paul and myself tore down the mesa.After passing The Rebel's camp, I held my course as long as the footing was solid, but on encountering the first sand, crossed the river nearly opposite the appointed rendezvous.The North Platte was fordable at any point, flowing but a midsummer stage of water, with numerous wagon crossings, its shallow channel being about one hundred yards wide.I reined in my horse for the first time near the middle of the stream, as the water reached my saddle-skirts;when I came out on the other side, Priest and his boys were not a mile behind me.As I turned down the river, casting a backward glance, squads of horsemen were galloping in from several quarters and joining a larger one which was throwing up clouds of dust like a column of cavalry.In making a cut-off to reach my camp, I crossed a sand dune from which I sighted the marshal's posse less than two miles distant.My boys were gambling among themselves, not a horse under saddle, and did not notice my approach until I dashed up.Three lads were on herd, but the rest, including the wrangler, ran for their mounts on picket, while Parent and myself ransacked the wagon for ammunition.

Fortunately the supply of the latter was abundant, and while saddles were being cinched on horses, the cook and I divided the ammunition and distributed it among the men.The few minutes'

同类推荐
  • Poems of Cheer

    Poems of Cheer

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail

    The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说梵摩难国王经

    佛说梵摩难国王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 长水日抄

    长水日抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大乘法界无差别论疏并序

    大乘法界无差别论疏并序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我的写手太健忘

    我的写手太健忘

    刚刚关掉QQ,准备把自己关进小黑屋赶稿子的黎若晴,接到了来自编辑周慕白的电话。他不是睡着了吗?她有些困惑地将电话接了起来,周慕白那比平时高了好几度的声音在寂静无人的夜里听起来特别凶神恶煞:“黎若晴!你什么时候能治治你健忘的毛病?!同一个问题,我前前后后回答你不下三遍,你怎么就是记不住呢?你的脑子都是用来装什么的?”黎若晴举着电话愣了半晌才说道:“哦,原来稿子已经排期了啊。”电话那头传来一阵闷响,听着像是有人从椅子上摔了下去。“排了就好,我放心了。谢谢啊,周编。”黎若晴对着电话诚恳地笑了笑,尽管此刻快呕血的周慕白并不能看见。鉴于她的态度不错,周慕白粗声粗气地应了一声,算是接受了她的致谢。
  • 快乐历史一本通:趣味中国史

    快乐历史一本通:趣味中国史

    打开尘封的历史,可以阅读文明的厚重,可以追寻时光的脚步,可以增加人生的领悟。人们常说:以史为鉴可以知兴替。人们读历史,不只是为了寻求知识,追寻事情的究竟,怀念伟大的古人,更重要的是寻找进步的力量,激励自己不断前进。
  • 丫环·郡主

    丫环·郡主

    身世堪怜的孤女蝶儿身入王府做了丫鬟乖巧的性子,出众的才气被王爷安排在了生得美艳但胸无点墨而且任性刁蛮的郡主身边做丫头清静淡泊的性子、聪明却不张扬的好脾气赢得了所有人的喜爱,包括这府里的小王爷……随郡主陪嫁至最受皇上宠爱的三皇子府圆房之夜,新娘子却没有见红,惹得本来就冷酷无情的三皇子大怒新娘子所爱非人,伤心之下跳水自尽,小蝶儿挺身相救,一桩喜事差点变成了悲剧却不料灵魂错位,小丫头上了郡主的身活过来了,却要代替她在三皇子的盛怒之下活下去更不幸的是两月后还发现这身躯有了孩子,而皇子却不认这孩子这,这,这,故事到底如何发展,实在是难于预料……--------------------------------------------------------------------推荐几位好姐妹的书,都不错的哦,大家等更新的时候可以去看看大姐如雪,俏皮王妃酷王爷四妹火焰传说,丑女当自强六妹山上草乱红九妹凌镜那夜,谁是我相公?五妹不予这个奶爸有点酷七妹醉恋冥王的小妖后暝月流水富可敌国之相公宝贝
  • 今世说

    今世说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 校霸独宠拽丫头

    校霸独宠拽丫头

    她好玩好吃,做事三心二意闯祸连连,进入风华第一天她将全校女生梦寐以求的校草给强吻了!不仅如此还一时手痒还去打擂台,以为赢了会得到神马奖励,却不知道那是众女生为校霸举办的比武招亲!“宝贝儿,你是我的人了!”校霸一脸邪笑。某女一脸甜笑,“可惜你不是我的菜!”说完,扮个鬼脸想要逃,谁知校霸一把将她捉住,再次邪笑,“你是我的菜就可以了!”
  • 离婚不是一件容易的事

    离婚不是一件容易的事

    婚后三年,他们的爱情败给了时间和空间的距离,他出轨了,从此新欢旧爱成了鱼和熊掌。
  • 广播电视综合知识

    广播电视综合知识

    本书主要讲述广播电视综合知识、从业资格考试、资格考试、认证。
  • 600题让你精通心理学4

    600题让你精通心理学4

    “一个人完全可以用心理学的方式来彻底解剖。无论你身在何处,无论你从事什么职业,无论你在家庭中承担什么角色,无论你在人生的哪个阶段,心理学始终是对你最有帮助的一门学问。”本书荟萃100多个问题,配以通俗易懂的讲解,全面介绍了心理学领域的基础知识,让你一学就通!
  • 四库全书精编4

    四库全书精编4

    《四库全书》可以称为中华传统文化最丰富最完备的集成之作。中国文、史、哲、理、工、医,几乎所有的学科都能够从中找到它的源头和血脉,几乎所有关于中国的新兴学科都能从这里找到它生存发展的泥土和营养。
  • 乡村小妖孽

    乡村小妖孽

    美女师父传授他绝世神功、超凡医术后飘然离去。为了寻找师父,他只能高调行事。他相信,只有高调才能在茫茫人海中寻找到美女师父!