Chapter XIX. In Quarantine

by Andy Adams

　　We reached Miles City shortly after midnight. It was therecognized cattle centre of Montana at that time, but devoid ofthe high-lights which were a feature of the trail towns. Thevillage boasted the usual number of saloons and dance-houses, andlikewise an ordinance compelling such resorts to close on thestroke of twelve. Lovell had been there before, and led the wayto a well-known hostelry. The house was crowded, and the best thenight clerk could do was to give us a room with two beds. Thiswas perfectly satisfactory, as it was a large apartment andfronted out on an open gallery. Old man Don suggested we take themattresses outside, but as this was my first chance to sleep in abed since leaving the ranch in March, I wanted all the comfortsthat were due me. Sponsilier likewise favored the idea ofsleeping inside, and our employer yielded, taking the single bedon retiring. The night was warm, and after thrashing around fornearly an hour, supposing that Dave and I were asleep, old manDon arose and quietly dragged his mattress outside. Our bed wassoft and downy, but in spite of the lateness of the hour andhaving been in our saddles at dawn, we tossed about, unable tosleep. After agreeing that it was the mattress, we took thecovering and pillows and lay down on the floor, falling into adeep slumber almost instantly. "Well, wouldn't that jar youreccentric," said Dave to me the next morning, speaking of ourinability to sleep in a bed. "I slept in one in Ogalalla, and Iwasn't over-full either."Lovell remained with us all the next day. He was well known inMiles City, having in other years sold cattle to resident cowmen.The day was spent in hunting up former acquaintances, getting thelay of the land, and feeling the public pulse on the matter ofquarantine on Southern cattle. The outlook was to our liking, asheavy losses had been sustained from fever the year before, andsteps had already been taken to isolate all through animals untilfrost fell. Report was abroad that there were already within thejurisdiction of Montana over one hundred and fifty thousandthrough Texas cattle, with a possibility of one third that numbermore being added before the close of the season. That territoryhad established a quarantine camp on the Wyoming line, forcingall Texas stock to follow down the eastern side of the PowderRiver. Fully one hundred miles on the north, a dead-line wasdrawn from Powderville on that watercourse eastward to a spur ofthe Powder River Mountains, thus setting aside a quarantineground ample to accommodate half a million cattle. Localrange-riders kept all the native and wintered Texas cattle to thewestward of the river and away from the through ones, which waseasily done by riding lines, the Southern herds being held underconstant control and hence never straying. The first Texas herdsto arrive naturally traveled north to the dead-line, and,choosing a range, went into camp until frost relieved them. Itwas an unwritten law that a herd was entitled to as much grazingland as it needed, and there was a report about Miles City thatthe quarantine ground was congested with cattle halfway fromPowderville to the Wyoming line.The outlook was encouraging. Quarantine was working a hardship toherds along the old Powder River route, yet their enforcedisolation was like a tempered wind to our cause and cattle, thelatter then leisurely grazing across Dakota from the LittleMissouri to the mouth of the Yellowstone. Fortune favored us inmany respects. About Miles City there was no concealment of ourmission, resulting in an old acquaintance of Lovell's loaning ushorses, while old man Don had no trouble in getting drafts cashedto the amount of two thousand dollars. What he expected to dowith this amount of money was a mystery to Dave and myself, amystery which instantly cleared when we were in the privacy ofour room at the hotel."Here, boys," said old man Don, throwing the roll of money on thebed, "divide this wad between you. There might be such a thing asusing a little here and there to sweeten matters up, and makingyourselves rattling good fellows wherever you go. Now in thefirst place, I want you both to understand that this money isclear velvet, and don't hesitate to spend it freely. Eat anddrink all you can, and gamble a little of it if that isnecessary. You two will saddle up in the morning and ride toPowderville, while I will lie around here a few days and try themarket for cattle next year, and then go on to Big Horn on my wayto the Crow Agency. Feel your way carefully; locate the herds ofField, Radcliff & Co., and throw everything in their way toretard progress. It is impossible to foretell what may happen,and for that reason only general orders can be given. Andremember, I don't want to see that money again if there is anychance to use it."Powderville was a long day's ride from Miles City. By making anearly start and resting a few hours at noon, we reached thatstraggling outpost shortly after nightfall. There was aroad-house for the wayfaring man and a corral for his beast, ageneral store, opposition saloons, and the regulation blacksmithshop, constituting the business interests of Powderville. Asarriving guests, a rough but cordial welcome was extended us bythe keeper of the hostelry, and we mingled with the othertravelers, but never once mentioning our business. I was uneasyover the money in our possession; not that I feared robbery, butmy mind constantly reverted to it, and it was with difficultythat I refrained from continually feeling to see that it wassafe. Sponsilier had concealed his in his boot, and as we rodealong, contended that he could feel the roll chafing his ankle. Ihad tied two handkerchiefs together, and rolling my share in oneof them, belted the amount between my overshirt and undershirt.The belt was not noticeable, but in making the ride that day, myhand involuntarily went to my side where the money lay, theaction never escaping the notice of Sponsilier, who constantlytwitted me over my nervousness. And although we were tired asdogs after our long ride, I awoke many times that night and feltto see if my money was safe; my partner slept like a log.Several cowmen, ranching on the lower Powder River, hadheadquarters at this outpost. The next morning Sponsilier and Imade their acquaintance, and during the course of the day got aclear outline of the situation. On the west the river was therecognized dead-line to the Wyoming boundary, while two camps offive men each patroled the dividing line on the north, driftingback the native stock and holding the through herds inquarantine. The nearest camp was some distance east ofPowderville, and saddling up towards evening we rode out andspent the night at the first quarantine station. A wagon and twotents, a relay of saddle horses, and an arsenal of long-rangefirearms composed the outfit. Three of the five men on duty wereTexans. Making ourselves perfectly at home, we had no trouble inlocating the herds in question, they having already sounded thetocsin to clear the way, claiming government beef recognized nolocal quarantine. The herds were not over thirty miles to thesouth, and expectation ran high as to results when an attemptshould be made to cross the deadline. Trouble had alreadyoccurred, where outfits respecting the quarantine were trespassedupon by three herds, making claim of being under governmentprotection and entitled to the rights of eminent domain.Fortunately several of the herds on the immediate line had beenbought at Ogalalla and were in possession of ranch outfits whoowned ranges farther north, and were anxious to see quarantineenforced. These local cowmen would support the establishedauthority, and trouble was expected. Sponsilier and I widened thebreach by denouncing these intruders as the hirelings of a set ofringsters, who had no regard for the rights of any one, andvolunteered our services in enforcing quarantine against them thesame as others.Our services were gratefully accepted. The next morning we werefurnished fresh horses, and one of us was requested, as we werestrangers, to ride down the country and reconnoitre the advanceof the defiant drovers. As I was fearful that Field or Radcliffmight be accompanying the herds, and recognize me, Sponsilierwent instead, returning late that evening."Well, fellows," said Dave, as he dismounted at the quarantinecamp, "I've seen the herds, and they propose to cross thisdead-line of yours as easily as water goes through a gourdfunnel. They'll be here by noon to-morrow, and they've got thebig conversation right on tap to show that the governmentcouldn't feed its army if it wasn't for a few big cowmen likethem. There's a strange corporal over the three herds and they'reworking on five horses to the man. But the major-domo's the wholeworks; he's a windy cuss, and intimates that he has a card or twoup his sleeve that will put these quarantine guards to sleep whenhe springs them. He's a new man to me; at least he wasn't withthe gang at Ogalalla."During the absence of my partner, I had ridden the dead-line onthe north. A strip of country five miles wide was clear of cattleabove the boundary, while below were massed four herds, claimingthe range from the mountains to the Powder River. The leader ofthe quarantine guards, Fred Ullmer, had accompanied me on theride, and on our return we visited three of the outfits, urgingthem to hold all their reserve forces subject to call, in case anattempt was made to force the dead-line. At each camp I tookevery possible chance to sow the seeds of dissension and hatredagainst the high-handed methods of The Western Supply Company.Defining our situation clearly, I asked each foreman, in casethese herds defied local authority, who would indemnify theowners for the loss among native cattle by fever betweenPowderville and the mouth of the Yellowstone. Would the drovers?Would the government? Leaving these and similar thoughts fortheir consideration, Ullmer and I had arrived at the firstquarantine station shortly before the return of my partner.Upon the report of Sponsilier, Ullmer was appointed captain, andlost no time in taking action. After dark, a scout was sent toCamp No. 2, a meeting-place was appointed on Wolf Creek below,and orders were given to bring along every possible man from thelocal outfits and to meet at the rendezvous within an hour aftersun-up the next morning. Ullmer changed horses and left forPowderville, assuring us that he would rally every man interestedin quarantine, and have his posse below, on the creek by sunrise.The remainder of us at headquarters were under orders to bringall the arms and ammunition, and join the quarantine forces atthe meeting-place some five miles from our camp. We were also totouch at and command the presence of one of the four outfitswhile en route. I liked the determined action of Captain Ullmer,who I learned had emigrated with his parents to Montana when aboy, and had grown into manhood on the frontier. Sponsilier waslikewise pleased with the quarantine leader, and we lay awake farinto the night, reviewing the situation and trying to anticipateany possible contingency that might thwart our plans. But to ourbest reasoning the horizon was clear, and if Field, Radcliff &Co.'s cattle reached Fort Buford on the day of delivery, well, itwould be a miracle.Fresh horses were secured at dawn, and breakfast would be secureden route with the cow outfit. There were a dozen large-calibrerifles in scabbards, and burdening ourselves with two heavy gunsto the man and an abundance of ammunition, we abandonedQuarantine Station No. 1 for the time being. The camp which wewere to touch at was the one nearest the river and north of WolfCreek, and we galloped up to it before the sun had even risen.Since everything was coming our way, Sponsilier and I observed astrict neutrality, but a tow-headed Texan rallied the outfit,saying:"Make haste, fellows, and saddle up your horses. Those threeherds which raised such a rumpus up on Little Powder have sentdown word that they're going to cross our dead-line to-day ifthey have to prize up hell and put a chunk under it. We havedecided to call their bluff before they even reach the line, andmake them show their hand for all this big talk. Here's half adozen guns and cartridges galore, but hustle yourselves. Fredwent into Powderville last night and will meet us above at thetwin buttes this morning with every cowman in town. All the otheroutfits have been sent for, and we'll have enough men to make ourbluff stand up, never fear. From what I learn, these herds belongto a lot of Yankee speculators, and they don't give a tinker'sdam if all the cattle in Montana die from fever. They're nobetter than anybody else, and if we allow them to go through,they'll leave a trail of dead natives that will stink us out ofthis valley. Make haste, everybody."I could see at a glance that the young Texan had touched theirpride. The foreman detailed three men to look after the herd, andthe balance made hasty preparations to accompany the quarantineguards. A relief was rushed away for the herders; and when thelatter came in, they reported having sighted the posse fromPowderville, heading across country for the twin buttes.Meanwhile a breakfast had been bolted by the guards, Sponsilier,and myself, and swinging into our saddles, we rounded a bluffbend of the creek and rode for the rendezvous, some three milesdistant. I noticed by the brands that nearly every horse in thatcountry had been born in Texas, and the short time in which wecovered the intervening miles proved that the change of climatehad added to their stability and bottom. Our first glimpse of themeeting-point revealed the summit of the buttes fairly coveredwith horsemen. From their numbers it was evident that ours wasthe last contingent to arrive; but before we reached the twinmounds, the posse rode down from the lookout and a courier metand turned us from our course. The lead herd had been sighted intrail formation but a few miles distant, heading north, and itwas the intention to head them at the earliest moment. Themessenger inquired our numbers, and reported those arrived atforty-five, making the posse when united a few over sixty men.A juncture of forces was effected within a mile of the lead herd.It was a unique posse. Old frontiersmen, with patriarchal beardsand sawed-off shotguns, chewed their tobacco complacently as theyrode forward at a swinging gallop. Beardless youths, armed withthe old buffalo guns of their fathers, led the way as if anIndian invasion had called them forth. Soldiers of fortune, withSouthern accents, who were assisting in the conquest of a newempire, intermingled with the hurrying throng, and two men whosehome was in Medina County, Texas, looked on and approved. Thevery horses had caught the inspiration of the moment, champingbits in their effort to forge to the front rank, while theblood-stained slaver coated many breasts or driveled from ourboots. Before we met the herd a halt was called, and about adozen men were deployed off on each flank, while the main bodyawaited the arrival of the cattle. The latter were checked by thepoint-men and turned back when within a few hundred yards of themain posse. Several horsemen from the herd rode forward, and onepolitely inquired the meaning of this demonstration. The questionwas met by a counter one from Captain Ullmer, who demanded toknow the reason why these cattle should trespass on the rights ofothers and ignore local quarantine. The spokesman in behalf ofthe herd turned in his saddle and gave an order to send somecertain person forward. Sponsilier whispered to me that thisfellow was merely a segundo. "But wait till the 'major-domo'arrives," he added. The appearance of the posse and the haltingof the herd summoned that personage from the rear to the front,and the next moment he was seen galloping up the column ofcattle. With a plausible smile this high mogul, on his arrival,repeated the previous question, and on a similar demand from thecaptain of the posse, he broke into a jolly laugh from which herecovered with difficulty."Why, gentlemen," said he, every word dripping with honeyedsweetness, "this is entirely uncalled for. I assure you that itwas purely an oversight on my part that I did not send you wordin advance that these herds of mine are government cattle and notsubject to local quarantine. My associates are the largest armycontractors in the country, these cattle are due at Fort Bufordon the 15th of this month, and any interference on your partwould be looked upon as an insult to the government. In fact, thepost commander at Fort Laramie insisted that he be permitted tosend a company of cavalry to escort us across Wyoming, andassured us that a troop from Fort Keogh, if requested, would meetour cattle on the Montana line. The army is jealous over itssupplies, but I declined all military protection, knowing that Ihad but to show my credentials to pass unmolested anywhere. Now,if you care to look over these papers, you will see that thesecattle are en route to Fort Buford, on an assignment of theoriginal contract, issued by the secretary of war to The WesternSupply Company. Very sorry to put you to all this trouble, butthese herds must not be interfered with. I trust that yougentlemen understand that the government is supreme."As the papers mentioned were produced, Sponsilier kicked me onthe shin, gave me a quiet wink, and nodded towards the documentsthen being tendered to Captain Ullmer. Groping at his idea, Irode forward, and as the papers were being returned with a mereglance on the part of the quarantine leader, I politely asked ifI might see the assignment of the original contract. But aquizzical smile met my request, and shaking out the heavyparchment, he rapped it with the knuckles of his disengaged hand,remarking as he returned it to his pocket, "Sorry, but altogethertoo valuable to allow out of my possession." Just what I wouldhave done with the beribboned document, except to hand it over toSponsilier, is beyond me, yet I was vaguely conscious that itsdestruction was of importance to our side of the matter at issue.At the same instant in which my request was declined, the bigmedicine man turned to Captain Ullmer and suavely remarked, "Youfound everything as represented, did you?""Why, I heard your statement, and I have also heard it disputedfrom other sources. In fact I have nothing to do with you exceptto enforce the quarantine now established by the cattlemen ofeastern Montana. If you have any papers showing that your herdswere wintered north of latitude 37, you can pass, as thisquarantine is only enforced against cattle from south of thatdegree. This territory lost half a million dollars' worth ofnative stock last fall from Texas fever, and this season theypropose to apply the ounce of preventive. You will have ampletime to reach your destination after frost falls, and yourdetention by quarantine will be a good excuse for your delay.Now, unless you can convince me that your herds are immune, I'llshow you a good place to camp on the head of Wolf Creek. It willprobably be a matter of ten to fifteen days before the quarantineis lifted, and we are enforcing it against citizens of Montanaand Texas alike, and no exception can be made in your case.""But, my dear sir, this is not a local or personal matter.Whatever you do, don't invite the frown of the government. Let mewarn you not to act in haste. Now, remember--""You made your cracks that you would cross this quarantine line,"interrupted Ullmer, bristlingly, "and I want you to find out yourmistake. There is no occasion for further words, and you caneither order your outfit to turn your cattle east, or I'll sendmen and do it myself."The "major-domo" turned and galloped back to his men, a number ofwhom had congregated near at hand. The next moment he returnedand haughtily threatened to surrender the cattle then and thereunless he was allowed to proceed. "Give him a receipt for hisbeeves, Fred," quietly remarked an old cowman, gently strokinghis beard, "and I'll take these boys over here on the right andstart the cattle. That will be the safest way, unless thegentleman can indemnify us. I lost ten thousand dollars' worth ofstock last fall, and as a citizen of Montana I have objections toleaving a trail of fever from here to the mouth of theYellowstone. And tell him he can have a bond for his cattle,"called back the old man as he rode out of hearing.The lead herd was pointed to the east, and squads of men rodedown and met the other two, veering them off on an angle to theright. Meanwhile the superintendent raved, pleaded, andthreatened without avail, but finally yielded and refused thereceipt and dispossession of his cattle. This was just what thequarantine captain wanted, and the dove of peace began to shakeits plumage. Within an hour all three of the herds were movingout for the head of Wolf Creek, accompanied only by thequarantine guards, the remainder of the posse returning to theirhomes or their work. Having ample time on our hands, Sponsilierand I expected to remain at Station No. 1 until after the 10th ofSeptember, and accordingly made ourselves at home at that camp.To say that we were elated over the situation puts it mildly, andthat night the two of us lost nearly a hundred dollars playingpoker with the quarantine guards. A strict vigilance wasmaintained over the herds in question, but all reports wereunanimous that they were contentedly occupying their allottedrange.But at noon on the third day of the enforced isolation, amessenger from Powderville arrived at the first station. A troopof cavalry from Fort Keogh, accompanied by a pack-train, hadcrossed the Powder River below the hamlet, their avowed missionbeing to afford an escort for certain government beef, then underdetention by the local authorities. The report fell among us likea flash of lightning. Ample time had elapsed for a messenger toride to the Yellowstone, and, returning with troops, pilot themto the camps of Field, Radcliff & Co. A consultation wasimmediately held, but no definite line of action had been arrivedat when a horseman from one of the lower camps dashed up andinformed us that the three herds were already trailing out forthe dead-line, under an escort of cavalry. Saddling up, werallied what few men were available, determined to make aprotest, at least, in the interest of humanity to dumb brutes.We dispatched couriers to the nearest camps and the outerquarantine station; but before a posse of twenty men arrived, thelead herd was within a mile of the dead-line, and we rode out andmet them. Fully eighty troopers, half of which rode in columnformation in front, halted us as we approached. Terse and to thepoint were the questions and answers exchanged between themilitary arm of the government and the quarantine authorities ofMontana. When the question arose of indemnity to citizens, incase of death to native cattle, a humane chord was touched in theyoung lieutenant in command, resulting in his asking severalquestions, to which the "major-domo" protested. Once satisfied ofthe justice of quarantine, the officer, in defense of his action,said:"Gentlemen, I am under instructions to give these herds, intendedfor use at Fort Buford, a three days' escort beyond thisquarantine line. I am very much obliged to you all for making soclear the necessity of isolating herds of Texas cattle, and thatlittle or no hardship may attend my orders, you may have untilnoon to-morrow to drift all native stock west of the PowderRiver. When these herds encamp for the night, they will receiveinstructions not to move forward before twelve to-morrow. I findthe situation quite different from reports; nevertheless ordersare orders."