Chapter XVIII. The Little Missouri

by Andy Adams

　　A week later we crossed the Belle Fourche, sometimes called theNorth Fork of the Big Cheyenne. Like its twin sister on thesouth, it was a mountain river, having numerous affluents puttingin from the Black Hills, which it encircled on the north andwest. Between these two branches of the mother stream werenumerous tributaries, establishing it as the best watered countryencountered in our long overland cruise. Besides the splendidwatercourses which marked that section, numerous wagontrails,leading into the hills, were peopled with freighters. Long oxtrains, moving at a snail's pace, crept over hill and plain, thecommon carrier between the mines and the outside world. Thefascination of the primal land was there; the buttes stood likesentinels, guarding a king's domain, while the palisaded cliffsfrowned down, as if erected by the hand Omnipotent to mark theboundary of nations.Our route, after skirting the Black Hills, followed up the BelleFourche a few days, and early in August we crossed over to theLittle Missouri River. The divide between the Belle Fourche andthe latter stream was a narrow one, requiring little time tograze across it, and intercepting the Little Missouri somewherein Montana. The course of that river was almost due north, andcrossing and recrossing it frequently, we kept constantly intouch with it on our last northward tack. The river led throughsections of country now known as the Bad Lands, but we found anabundance of grass and an easy passage. Sponsilier held the leadall the way down the river, though I did most of the advancescouting, sometimes being as much as fifty miles in front of theherds. Near the last of the month we sighted Sentinel Butte andthe smoke of railroad trains, and a few days later all three ofus foremen rode into Little Missouri Station of the NorthernPacific Railway. Our arrival was expected by one man at least;for as we approached the straggling village, our employer wasrecognized at a distance, waving his hat, and a minute later allthree of us were shaking hands with Don Lovell. Mutual inquiriesfollowed, and when we reported the cattle fine as silk, havingnever known a hungry or thirsty hour after leaving the NorthPlatte, the old man brightened and led the way to a well-knownsaloon."How did I fare at Omaha?" said old man Don, repeating Forrest'squery. "Well, at first it was a question if I would be hung orshot, but we came out with colors flying. The United Statesmarshal who attempted to take possession of the cattle on theNorth Platte went back on the same train with us. He was feelingsore over his defeat, but Sutton cultivated his acquaintance, andin mollifying that official, showed him how easily failure couldbe palmed off as a victory. In fact, I think Mike overcolored thestory at my expense. He and the marshal gave it to the papers,and the next morning it appeared in the form of a sensationalarticle. According to the report, a certain popular federalofficer had gone out to Ogalalla to take possession of two herdsof cattle intended for government purposes; he had met withresistance by a lot of Texas roughs, who fatally shot one of hisdeputies, wounding several others, and killing a number of horsesduring the assault; but the intrepid officer had added to hislaurels by arresting the owner of the cattle and leader of theresisting mob, and had brought him back to face the charge ofcontempt in resisting service. The papers freely predicted that Iwould get the maximum fine, and one even went so far as tosuggest that imprisonment might teach certain arrogant cattlekings a salutary lesson. But when the hearing came up, Suttonplaced Jim Reed and me in the witness-box, taking the stand laterhimself, and we showed that federal court that it had beenbuncoed out of an order of injunctive relief, in favor of thebiggest set of ringsters that ever missed stretching hemp. Theresult was, I walked out of that federal court scot free. AndJudge Dundy, when he realized the injustice that he hadinflicted, made all three of us take dinner with him, fullyexplaining the pressure which had been brought to bear at thetime the order of relief was issued. Oh, that old judge was allright. I only hope we'll have as square a man as Judge Dundy atthe final hearing at Fort Buford. Do you see that sign overthere, where it says Barley Water and Bad Cigars? Well, put yourhorses in some corral and meet me there."There was a great deal of news to review. Lovell had returned toOgalalla; the body of Tolleston had been recovered and givendecent burial; delivery day of the three Indian herds was athand, bringing that branch of the season's drive to a close. Butthe main thing which absorbed our employer was the quarantinethat the upper Yellowstone country proposed enforcing againstthrough Texas cattle. He assured us that had we gone by way ofWyoming and down the Powder River, the chances were that thelocal authorities would have placed us under quarantine untilafter the first frost. He assured us that the year before, Texasfever had played sad havoc among the native and wintered Southerncattle, and that Miles City and Glendive, live-stock centres onthe Yellowstone, were up in arms in favor of a rigid quarantineagainst all through cattle. If this proved true, it was certainlyan ill wind to drovers on the Powder River route; yet I failed tosee where we were benefited until my employer got down todetails."That's so," said he; "I forgot to tell you boys that when Reedand I went back to Ogalalla, we found Field, Radcliff & Co.buying beeves. Yes, they had bought a remuda of horses, rigged uptwo wagons, and hired men to take possession of our 'Open A' and'Drooping T' herds. But meeting with disappointment and havingthe outfit on their hands, they concluded to buy cattle and goahead and make the delivery at Buford. They simply had to do itor admit that I had called their hands. But Reed and I raisedsuch a howl around that town that we posted every man with beevesfor sale until the buyers had to pony up the cash for every hoofthey bought. We even hunted up young Murnane, the seller of theherd that Jim Reed ran the attachment on; and before old Jim andI got through with him, we had his promise not to move out ofKeith County until the last dollar was in hand. The buyersseemed to command all kinds of money, but where they expect tomake anything, even if they do deliver, beats me, as Reed and Ihave got a good wad of their money. Since leaving there, I havehad word that they settled with Murnane, putting a new outfitwith the cattle, and that they have ten thousand beef steers onthe way to Fort Buford this very minute. They are coming throughon the North Platte and Powder River route, and if quarantine canbe enforced against them until frost falls, it will give us aclear field at Buford on the day of delivery. Now it stands us inhand to see that those herds are isolated until after the 15thday of September."The atmosphere cleared instantly. I was well aware of the ravagesof splenic fever; but two decades ago every drover from Texasdenied the possibility of a through animal in perfect healthgiving a disease to wintered Southerners or domestic cattle, alsorobust and healthy. Time has demonstrated the truth, yet themanner in which the germ is transmitted between healthy animalsremains a mystery to this day, although there has been no lack oftheories advanced. Even the theorists differed as to the mannerof germ transmission, the sporule, tick, and ship fever being theleading theories, and each having its advocates. The latter wasentitled to some consideration, for if bad usage and the lack ofnecessary rest, food, and water will produce fever aboardemigrant steamships, the same privations might do it amonganimals. The overdriving of trail cattle was frequentlyunavoidable, dry drives and the lack of grass on arid wastesbeing of common occurrence. However, the presence of fever amongthrough cattle was never noticeable to the practical man, and ifit existed, it must have been very mild in form compared to itsvirulent nature among natives. Time has demonstrated that it isnecessary for the domestic animals to walk over and occupy thesame ground to contract the disease, though they may drink fromthe same trough or stream of water, or inhale each other's breathin play across a wire fence, without fear of contagion. Apeculiar feature of Texas fever was that the very cattle whichwould impart it on their arrival, after wintering in the Northwould contract it and die the same as natives. The isolation ofherds on a good range for a period of sixty days, or the fallingof frost, was recognized as the only preventive againsttransmitting the germ. Government rewards and experiments havenever demonstrated a theory that practical experience does notdispute.The only time on this drive that our attention had been called tothe fever alarm was on crossing the wagon trail running fromPierre on the Missouri River to the Black Hills. I was in thelead when a large bull train was sighted in our front, andshortly afterward the wagon-boss met me and earnestly begged thatI allow his outfit to pass before we crossed the wagon-road. Iknew the usual form of ridicule of a herd foreman, but the bossbull-whacker must have anticipated my reply, for he informed methat the summer before he had lost ninety head out of two hundredyoke of oxen. The wagon-master's appeal was fortified by asincerity which won his request, and I held up my cattle andallowed his train to pass in advance. Sponsilier's herd was outof sight in my rear, while Forrest was several miles to my left,and slightly behind me. The wagon-boss rode across and made asimilar request of Forrest, but that worthy refused to recognizethe right of way to a bull train at the expense of a trail herdof government beeves. Ungentlemanly remarks are said to havepassed between them, when the boss bull-whacker threw down thegauntlet and galloped back to his train. Forrest pushed on, withample time to have occupied the road in crossing, thus holding upthe wagon train. My herd fell to grazing, and Sponsilier rode upto inquire the cause of my halting. I explained the request ofthe wagon-master, his loss the year before and present fear offever, and called attention to the clash which was imminentbetween the long freight outfit in our front and Forrest's herdto the left, both anxious for the right of way. A number of usrode forward in clear view of the impending meeting. It wasevident that Forrest would be the first to reach the freightroad, and would naturally hold it while his cattle were crossingit. But when this also became apparent to the bull train, thelead teams drove out of the road and halted, the rear wagonspassing on ahead, the two outfits being fully a mile apart. Therewere abont twenty teams of ten yoke each, and when the first fiveor six halted, they unearthed old needle rifles and opened fireacross Forrest's front. Once the range was found, thoselong-range buffalo guns threw up the dust in handfuls in the leadof the herd, and Forrest turned his cattle back, while the bulltrain held its way, undisputed. It was immaterial to Forrest whooccupied the road first, and with the jeers of the freightersmingled the laughter of Sponsilier and my outfit, as John QuincyForrest reluctantly turned back.This incident served as a safety-valve, and whenever Forrestforged to the lead in coming down the Little Missouri, all thatwas necessary to check him was to inquire casually which held theright of way, a trail herd or a bull train.Throughout the North, Texas fever was generally accepted as afact, and any one who had ever come in contact with it once,dreaded it ever afterward. So when the devil was sick the devil amonk would be; and if there was any advantage in taking thecontrary view to the one entertained by all drovers, so long asour herds were free, we were not like men who could notexperience a change of opinion, if in doing so the wind wastempered to us. Also in this instance we were fighting an avowedenemy, and all is fair in love and war. And amid the fumes of badcigars, Sponsilier drew out the plan of campaign."Now, let's see," said old man Don, "tomorrow will be the 25thday of August. I've got to be at the Crow Agency a few daysbefore the 10th of next month, as you know we have a deliverythere on that date. Flood will have to attend to matters atRosebud on the 1st, and then hurry on west and be present atPaul's delivery at Fort Washakie. So you see I'll have to dependon two of you boys going up to Glendive and Miles and seeing thatthose cow-towns take the proper view of this quarantine matter.After dinner you'll fall back and bring up your herds, and aftercrossing the railroad here, the outfits will graze over toBuford. We'll leave four of our best saddle horses here in apasture, so as to be independent on our return. Since things havechanged so, the chances are that I'll bring Bob Quirk back withme, as I've written Flood to help The Rebel sell his remuda andtake the outfit and go home. Now you boys decide among yourselveswhich two of you will go up the Yellowstone and promote theenforcement of the quarantine laws. Don't get the impression thatyou can't do this, because an all-round cowman can do anythingwhere his interests are at stake. I'll think the programme out alittle more clearly by the time you bring up the cattle."The herds were not over fifteen miles back up the river when weleft them in the morning. After honoring the village of LittleMissouri with our presence for several hours, we saddled up andstarted to meet the cattle. There was no doubt in my mind butthat Sponsilier would be one of the two to go on the proposederrand of diplomacy, as his years, experience, and good solidsense entitled him to outrank either Forrest or myself. I knewthat Quince would want to go, if for no other reason than to getout of working the few days that yet remained of the drive. Allthree of us talked the matter of quarantine freely as we rodealong, yet no one ventured any proposition looking to anagreement as to who should go on the diplomatic mission. I wasthe youngest and naturally took refuge behind my years, yetperfectly conscious that, in spite of the indifferent andnonchalant attitude assumed, all three of us foremen were equallyanxious for the chance. Matters remained undecided; but the nextday at dinner, Lovell having met us before reaching the railroad,the question arose who should go up to Miles City. Dave andQuince were also eating at my wagon, and when our employer forcedan answer, Sponsilier innocently replied that he supposed that wewere all willing to leave it to him. Forrest immediately approvedof Dave's suggestion. I gave my assent, and old man Don didn'tqualify, hedge, or mince his words in appointing the committeesto represent the firm of Lovell."Jealous of each other, ain't you? Very well; I want these herdsgrazed across to Buford at the rate of four miles a day. Nothingbut a Mexican pastor, or a white man as lazy as Quince Forrestcan fill the bill. You're listening, are you, Quince? Well, afterthe sun sets to-night, you're in charge of ten thousand beevesfrom here to the mouth of the Yellowstone. I want to put everyounce possible on those steers for the next twenty days. We mayhave to make a comparison of cattle, and if we should, I wantours to lay over the opposition like a double eagle does over alead dime. We may run up against a lot of red tape at FortBuford, but if there is a lick of cow-sense among the governmentrepresentatives, we want our beeves to speak for themselves. Fatanimals do their own talking. You remember when every one wasadmiring the fine horse, the blind man said, 'Isn't he fat?' Now,Dave, you and Tom appoint your segundos, and we'll all catch the10:20 train west to-night."I dared to risk one eye on Forrest. Inwardly I was chuckling, butQuince was mincing along with his dinner, showing that languidindifference which is inborn to the Texan. Lovell continued tomonopolize the conversation, blowing on the cattle and ribbing upForrest to see that the beeves thenceforth should never knowtire, hunger, or thirst. The commissaries had run low;Sponsilier's cook had been borrowing beans from us for a weekpast, while Parent point-blank refused to share any more of ourbacon. The latter was recognized as a staple in trail-work, andit mattered not how inviting the beef or venison might be, wealways fell back to bacon with avidity. When it came time to moveout on the evening lap, Forrest's herd took the lead, the othertwo falling in behind, the wagons pulling out for town in advanceof everything. Jack Splann had always acted as segundo in myabsence, and as he had overheard Lovell's orders to Forrest,there was nothing further for me to add, and Splann took chargeof my "Open A's."When changing mounts at noon, I caught out two of my bestsaddlers and tied one behind the chuckwagon, to be left with aliveryman in town. Leaving old man Don with the cattle, all threeof us foremen went into the village in order to secure a fewstaple supplies with which to complete the journey.It can be taken for granted that Sponsilier and myself werefeeling quite gala. The former took occasion, as we rode along,to throw several bouquets at Forrest over his preferment, whenthe latter turned on us, saying: "You fellows think you're d--dsmart, now, don't you? You're both purty good talkers, butneither one of you can show me where the rainbow comes in inrotting along with these measly cattle. It's enough to make a mankick his own dog. But I can see where the old man was perfectlyright in sending you two up to Miles City. When you fellows workyour rabbit's foot, it will be Katy with those Washington Cityschemers--more than likely they'll not draw cards when they seethat you are in the game--When it comes to the real sabe, youfellows shine like a tree full of owls. Honest, it has alwaysbeen a wonder to me that Grant didn't send for both of you whenhe was making up his cabinet."The herds crossed the railroad about a mile west of LittleMissouri Station. The wagons secured the needed supplies, andpulled out down the river, leaving Sponsilier and myselffoot-loose and free.Lovell was riding a livery horse, and as neither of us expectedhim to return until it was too dark to see the cattle, we amusedourselves by looking over the town. There seemed to be a greatdeal of freighting to outlying points, numerous ox and muletrains coming in and also leaving for their destinations. Ouremployer came in about dusk, and at once went to the depot, as hewas expecting a message. One had arrived during his absence, andafter reading it, he came over to Dave and me, saying:"It's from Mike Sutton. I authorized him to secure the servicesof the best lawyer in the West, and he has just wired me that hehas retained Senator Aspgrain of Sioux City, Iowa. They willreport at Fort Buford on September the 5th and will take care ofany legal complications which may arise. I don't know who thissenator is, but Mike has orders not to spare any expense as longas we have the other fellow's money to fight with. Well, if theIowa lawyers are as good stuff as the Iowa troops were down inDixie, that's all I ask. Now, we'll get our suppers and then sackour saddles--why, sure, you'll need them; every good cowman takeshis saddle wherever he goes, though he may not have clothesenough with him to dust a fiddle."