Chapter XX. On the Just and the Unjust

by Andy Adams

　　The quarantine guards returned to their camp. Our plans weresuddenly and completely upset, and not knowing which way to turn,Sponsilier and I, slightly crestfallen, accompanied the guards.It was already late in the evening, but Captain Ullmer tookadvantage of the brief respite granted him to clear the east halfof the valley of native cattle. Couriers were dispatched to soundthe warning among the ranches down the river, while a regularround-up outfit was mustered among the camps to begin thedrifting of range stock that evening. A few men were left at thetwo camps, as quarantine was not to be abandoned, and securingour borrowed horses, my partner and I bade our friends farewelland set out on our return for the Yellowstone. Merely touching atPowderville for a hasty supper, we held a northwest,cross-country course, far into the night, when we unsaddled torest our horses and catch a few hours' sleep. But sunrise foundus again in our saddles, and by the middle of the forenoon wewere breakfasting with our friends in Miles City.Fort Keogh was but a short distance up the river. That militaryinterference had been secured through fraud and deception, therewas not the shadow of a doubt. During the few hours which wespent in Miles, the cattle interests were duly aroused, and acommittee of cowmen were appointed to call on the post commanderat Keogh with a formidable protest, which would no doubt besupplemented later, on the return of the young lieutenant and histroopers. During our ride the night before, Sponsilier and I haddiscussed the possibility of arousing the authorities atGlendive. Since it was in the neighborhood of one hundred milesfrom Powderville to the former point on the railroad, the herdswould consume nearly a week in reaching there. A freight trainwas caught that afternoon, and within twenty-four hours afterleaving the quarantine camp on the Powder River, we had openedheadquarters at the Stock Exchange Saloon in Glendive. Onarriving, I deposited one hundred dollars with the proprietor ofthat bar-room, with the understanding that it was to be used ingetting an expression from the public in regard to the questionof Texas fever. Before noon the next day, Dave Sponsilier and TomQuirk were not only the two most popular men in Glendive, butquarantine had been decided on with ringing resolutions.Our standing was soon of the best. Horses were tendered us, andsaddling one I crossed the Yellowstone and started down the riverto arouse outlying ranches, while Sponsilier and a number oflocal cowmen rode south to locate a camp and a deadline. I wasabsent two days, having gone north as far as Wolf Island, where Irecrossed the river, returning on the eastern side of the valley.At no ranch which was visited did my mission fail of meetinghearty approval, especially on the western side of the river,where severe losses from fever had been sustained the fallbefore. One ranch on Thirteen Mile offered, if necessary, to sendevery man in its employ, with their own wagon and outfit ofhorses, free of all charge, until quarantine was lifted. But Isuggested, instead, that they send three or four men with theirhorses and blankets, leaving the remainder to be provided for bythe local committee. In my two days' ride, over fifty volunteerswere tendered, but I refused all except twenty, who were toreport at Glendive not later than the morning of the 6th. On myreturn to the railroad, all arrangements were completed and theoutlook was promising. Couriers had arrived from the south duringmy absence, bringing the news of the coming of the through Texascattle, and warning the local ranches to clear the way or takethe consequences. All native stock had been pushed west of thePowder and Yellowstone, as far north as Cabin Creek, which hadbeen decided on as the second quarantine-line. Daily reports werebeing received of the whereabouts of the moving herds, and at therate they were traveling, they would reach Cabin Creek about the7th. Two wagons had been outfitted, cooks employed, and couriersdispatched to watch the daily progress of the cattle, which, iffollowing the usual route, would strike the deadline somedistance south of Glendive.During the next few days, Sponsilier and I were social lions inthat town, and so great was our popularity we could have eithermarried or been elected to office. We limited our losses at pokerto so much an evening, and what we won from the merchant class weinvariably lost among the volunteer guards and cowmen, taking ourluck with a sangfroid which proved us dead-game sports, and madeus hosts of friends. We had contributed one hundred dollars tothe general quarantine fund, and had otherwise made ourselvespopular with all classes in the brief time at our command. Underthe pretense that we might receive orders at any time to overtakeour herds, we declined all leadership in the second campaignabout to be inaugurated against Texas fever. Dave and I were bothfeeling rather chesty over the masterful manner in which we hadaroused the popular feeling in favor of quarantine in our owninterest, at the same time making it purely a local movement. Wewere swaggering about like ward-heelers, when on the afternoon ofthe 5th the unexpected again happened. The business interests ofthe village usually turned out to meet the daily passengertrains, even the poker-games taking a recess until the cars wentpast. The arrival and departure of citizens of the place werenoted by every one, and strangers were looked upon with timidity,very much as in all simple communities. Not taking any interestin the passing trains, Sponsilier was writing a letter to hisgirl in Texas, while I was shaking dice for the cigars with thebartender of the Stock Exchange, when the Eastbound arrived.After the departure of the train, I did not take any notice ofthe return of the boys to the abandoned games, or the influx ofpatrons to the house, until some one laid a hand on my shoulderand quietly said, "Isn't your name Quirk?"Turning to the speaker, I was confronted by Mr. Field and Mr.Radcliff, who had just arrived by train from the west. Admittingmy identity, I invited them to have a cigar or liquidrefreshment, inquiring whence they had come and where theircattle were. To my surprise, Fort Keogh was named as their lastrefuge, and the herds were reported to cross the railroad withinthe next few days. Similar questions were asked me, but beforereplying, I caught Sponsilier's eye and summoned him with a wink.On Dave's presenting himself, I innocently asked the pair if theydid not remember my friend as one of the men whom they had underarrest at Dodge. They grunted an embarrassed acknowledgment,which was returned in the same coin, when I proceeded to informthem that our cattle crossed the railroad at Little Missouri tendays before, and that we were only waiting the return of Mr.Lovell from the Crow Agency before proceeding to our destination.With true Yankee inquisitiveness, other questions followed, thetrend of which was to get us to admit that we had something to dowith the present activities in quarantining Texas cattle. But Iavoided their leading queries, and looked appealingly atSponsilier, who came to my rescue with an answer born of themoment."Well, gentlemen," said Dave, seating himself on the bar andleisurely rolling a cigarette, "that town of Little Missouri isabout the dullest hole that I was ever water-bound in. Honestly,I'd rather be with the cattle than loafing in it with money in mypocket. Now this town has got some get-up about it; I'll kiss aman's foot if he complains that this burg isn't sporty enough forhis blood. They've given me a run here for my white alley, and Istill think I know something about that game called draw-poker.But you were speaking about quarantine. Yes; there seems to havebeen a good many cattle lost through these parts last fall. Youought to have sent your herds up through Dakota, where there isno native stock to interfere. I'd hate to have cattle coming downthe Powder River. A friend of mine passed through here yesterday;his herd was sold for delivery on the Elkhorn, north of here, andhe tells me he may not be able to reach there before October. Hesaw your herds and tells me you are driving the guts out of them.So if there's anything in that old 'ship-fever theory,' you oughtto be quarantined until it snows. There's a right smart talkaround here of fixing a dead-line below somewhere, and if you gettied up before reaching the railroad, it won't surprise me alittle bit. When it comes to handling the cattle, old man Don hasthe good hard cow-sense every time, but you shorthorns give me apain.""What did I tell you?" said Radcliff, the elder one, to hispartner, as they turned to leave.On nearing the door, Mr. Field halted and begrudgingly said, "Seeyou later, Quirk.""Not if I see you first," I replied; "you ain't my kind ofcowmen."Not even waiting for them to pass outside, Sponsilier, from hiselevated position, called every one to the bar to irrigate. Theboys quit their games, and as they lined up in a double row, Davebegged the bartenders to bestir themselves, and said to hisguests: "Those are the kid-gloved cowmen that I've been tellingyou about--the owners of the Texas cattle that are coming throughhere. Did I hang it on them artistically, or shall I call themback and smear it on a shade deeper? They smelt a mouse allright, and when their cattle reach Cabin Creek, they'll smell therat in earnest. Now, set out the little and big bottle andeverybody have a cigar on the side. And drink hearty, lads, forto-morrow we may be drinking branch water in a quarantine camp."The arrival of Field and Radcliff was accepted as a defiance tothe local cattle interests. Popular feeling was intensified whenit was learned that they were determined not to recognize anylocal quarantine, and were secretly inquiring for extra men toguard their herds in passing Glendive. There was always a rabbleelement in every frontier town, and no doubt, as strangers, theycould secure assistance in quarters that the local cowmen wouldspurn. Matters were approaching a white heat, when late thatnight an expected courier arrived, and reported the cattle comingthrough at the rate of twenty miles a day. They were notfollowing any particular trail, traveling almost due north, andif the present rate of travel was maintained, Cabin Creek wouldbe reached during the forenoon of the 7th. This meant business,and the word was quietly passed around that all volunteers wereto be ready to move in the morning. A cowman named Retallac,owner of a range on the Yellowstone, had previously been decidedon as captain, and would have under him not less thanseventy-five chosen men, which number, if necessary, could easilybe increased to one hundred.Morning dawned on a scene of active operations. The two wagonswere started fully an hour in advance of the cavalcade, which wasto follow, driving a remuda of over two hundred saddle horses.Sponsilier and I expected to accompany the outfit, but at thelast moment our plans were changed by an incident and we remainedbehind, promising to overtake them later. There were a number ofold buffalo hunters in town, living a precarious life, and one oftheir number had quietly informed Sheriff Wherry that they hadbeen approached with an offer of five dollars a day to act as anescort to the herds while passing through. The quarantine captainlooked upon that element as a valuable ally, suggesting that ifit was a question of money, our side ought to be in the marketfor their services. Heartily agreeing with him, the company ofguards started, leaving their captain behind with Sponsilier andmyself. Glendive was a county seat, and with the assistance ofthe sheriff, we soon had every buffalo hunter in the towncorralled. They were a fine lot of rough men, inclined to beconvivial, and with the assistance of Sheriff Wherry, coupledwith the high standing of the quarantine captain, on a soldier'sintroduction Dave and I made a good impression among them.Sponsilier did the treating and talking, his offer being tendollars a day for a man and horse, which was promptly accepted,when the question naturally arose who would stand sponsor for thewages. Dave backed off some distance, and standing on his leftfoot, pulled off his right boot, shaking out a roll of money onthe floor."There's the long green, boys," said he, "and you fellows canname your own banker. I'll make it up a thousand, and whoever yousay goes with me. Shall it be the sheriff, or Mr. Retallac, orthe proprietor of the Stock Exchange?"Sheriff Wherry interfered, relieving the embarrassment inappointing a receiver, and vouched that these two Texans weregood for any reasonable sum. The buffalo hunters approved,apologizing to Sponsilier, as he pulled on his boot, forquestioning his financial standing, and swearing allegiance inevery breath. An hour's time was granted in which to saddle andmake ready, during which we had a long chat with Sheriff Wherryand found him a valuable ally. He had cattle interests in thecountry, and when the hunters appeared, fifteen strong, hemounted his horse and accompanied us several miles on the way."Now, boys," said he, at parting, "I'll keep an eye over thingsaround town, and if anything important happens, I'll send acourier with the news. If those shorthorns attempt to offer anyopposition, I'll run a blazer on them, and if necessary I'll jugthe pair. You fellows just buffalo the herds, and the sheriff'soffice will keep cases on any happenings around Glendive. It'sunderstood that night or day your camp can be found on CabinCreek, opposite the old eagle tree. Better send me word as soonas the herds arrive. Good luck to you, lads."Neither wagons nor guards were even sighted during our threehours' ride to the appointed campground. On our arrival tentswere being pitched and men were dragging up wood, while the cookswere busily preparing a late dinner, the station being fullyfifteen miles south of the railroad. Scouts were thrown outduring the afternoon, corrals built, and evening found thequarantine camp well established for the comfort of itsninety-odd men. The buffalo hunters were given special attentionand christened the "Sponsilier Guards;" they took again tooutdoor life as in the old days. The report of the scouts wassatisfactory; all three of the herds had been seen and wouldarrive on schedule time. A hush of expectancy greeted this news,but Sponsilier and I ridiculed the idea that there would be anyopposition, except a big talk and plenty of bluffing."Well, if that's what they rely on," said Captain Retallac, "thenthey're as good as in quarantine this minute. If you feel certainthey can't get help from Fort Keogh a second time, those herdswill be our guests until further orders. What we want to do nowis to spike every possible chance for their getting any help, andthe matter will pass over like a summer picnic. If you boys thinkthere's any danger of an appeal to Fort Buford, the militaryauthorities want to be notified that the Yellowstone Valley hasquarantined against Texas fever and asks their cooperation inenforcing the same.""I can fix that," replied Sponsilier. "We have lawyers at Bufordright now, and I can wire them the situation fully in themorning. If they rely on the military, they will naturallyappeal to the nearest post, and if Keogh and Buford turn themdown, the next ones are on the Missouri River, and at thatdistance cavalry couldn't reach here within ten days. Oh, I thinkwe've got a grapevine twist on them this time."Sponsilier sat up half the night wording a message to ourattorneys at Fort Buford. The next morning found me bright andearly on the road to Glendive with the dispatch, the sending ofwhich would deplete my cash on hand by several dollars, but whatdid we care for expense when we had the money and orders to spendit? I regretted my absence from the quarantine camp, as I wasanxious to be present on the arrival of the herds, and againwatch the "major-domo" run on the rope and fume and charge invain. But the importance of blocking assistance was so urgentthat I would gladly have ridden to Buford if necessary. In thatbracing atmosphere it was a fine morning for the ride, and I wasrapidly crossing the country, when a vehicle, in the dip of theplain, was sighted several miles ahead. I was following no road,but when the driver of the conveyance saw me he turned across myfront and signaled. On meeting the rig, I could hardly controlmyself from laughing outright, for there on the rear seat satField and Radcliff, extremely gruff and uncongenial. Commoncourtesies were exchanged between the driver and myself, and Iwas able to answer clearly his leading questions: Yes; the herdswould reach Cabin Creek before noon; the old eagle tree, whichcould be seen from the first swell of the plain beyond, markedthe quarantine camp, and it was the intention to isolate theherds on the South Fork of Cabin. "Drive on," said a voice, and,in the absence of any gratitude expressed, I inwardly smiled inreward.I was detained in Glendive until late in the day, waiting for anacknowledgment of the message. Sheriff Wherry informed me thatthe only move attempted on the part of the shorthorn drovers wasthe arrest of Sponsilier and myself, on the charge of beingaccomplices in the shooting of one of their men on the NorthPlatte. But the sheriff had assured the gentlemen that ourdetention would have no effect on quarantining their cattle, andthe matter was taken under advisement and dropped. It was latewhen I started for camp that evening. The drovers had returned,accompanied by their superintendent, and were occupying thedepot, burning the wires in every direction. I was risking nochances, and cultivated the company of Sheriff Wherry until theacknowledgment arrived, when he urged me to ride one of hishorses in returning to camp, and insisted on my taking a carbine.Possibly this was fortunate, for before I had ridden one thirdthe distance to the quarantine camp, I met a cavalcade of nearlya dozen men from the isolated herds. When they halted andinquired the distance to Glendive, one of their number recognizedme as having been among the quarantine guards at Powderville. Iadmitted that I was there, turning my horse so that the carbinefell to my hand, and politely asked if any one had anyobjections. It seems that no one had, and after a few commonplaceinquiries were exchanged, we passed on our way.There was great rejoicing on Cabin Creek that night. Songs weresung, and white navy beans passed current in numerous poker-gamesuntil the small hours of morning. There had been nothing dramaticin the meeting between the herds and the quarantine guards, thelatter force having been augmented by visiting ranchmen and theirhelp, until protest would have been useless. A routine of workhad been outlined, much stricter than at Powderville, and asurveillance of the camps was constantly maintained. Not thatthere was any danger of escape, but to see that the herdsoccupied the country allotted to them, and did not pollute anymore territory than was necessary. The Sponsilier Guards weregiven an easy day shift, and held a circle of admirers at night,recounting and living over again "the good old days." Visitorsfrom either side of the Yellowstone were early callers, andduring the afternoon the sheriff from Glendive arrived. I did notknow until then that Mr. Wherry was a candidate for reelectionthat fall, but the manner in which he mixed with the boys wasenough to warrant his election for life. What endeared him toSponsilier and myself was the fund of information he hadcollected, and the close tab he had kept on every movement of theopposition drovers. He told us that their appeal to Fort Keoghfor assistance had been refused with a stinging rebuke; that acourier had started the evening before down the river for FortBuford, and that Mr. Radcliff had personally gone to Fort AbrahamLincoln to solicit help. The latter post was fully one hundredand fifty miles away, but that distance could be easily coveredby a special train in case of government interference.It rained on the afternoon of the 9th. The courier had returnedfrom 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 itshands of intermeddling in a country not tributary to itsterritory. The last hope of interference was gone, and the rigorsof quarantine closed in like a siege with every gun of the enemyspiked. Let it be a week or a month before the quarantine waslifted, the citizens of Montana had so willed it, and their wishwas law. Evening fell, and the men drew round the fires. Theguards buttoned their coats as they rode away, and the tired onesdrew their blankets around them as they lay down to sleep.Scarcely a star could be seen in the sky overhead, but before mypartner or myself sought our bed, a great calm had fallen, thestars were shining, and the night had grown chilly.The old buffalo hunters predicted a change in the weather, butbeyond that they were reticent. As Sponsilier and I lay down tosleep, we agreed that if three days, even two days, were sparedus, those cattle in quarantine could never be tendered at FortBuford on the appointed day of delivery. But during the earlyhours of morning we were aroused by the returning guards, one ofwhom halted his horse near our blankets and shouted, "Hey, there,you Texans; get up--a frost has fallen!"Sure enough, it had frosted during the night, and the quarantinewas lifted. When day broke, every twig and blade of grassglistened in silver sheen, and the horses on picket stood humpedand shivering. The sun arose upon the herds moving, with noexcuse to say them nay, and orders were issued to the guards tobreak camp and disperse to their homes. As we rode into Glendivethat morning, sullen and defeated by a power beyond our control,in speaking of the peculiarity of the intervention, Sponsiliersaid: "Well, if it rains on the just and the unjust alike, whyshouldn't it frost the same."